Cagayan Valley

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At last, natural rains fall in southern C. Valley

2007-08-07T03:45:00.000-07:00

At last, natural rains fall in southern C. Valley

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya  Before, they prayed for an end to the torrential rains, and so, the long dry spell came. Now that they're again praying for rain again, will the floods be far behind?

As if in answer to the prayers, the first more-than-an-hour-long non-stop natural rainfall in about two months fell in this southern part of Cagayan Valley starting the other day (5 Aug.).

Local agriculture officials said that significant hectares of dried rice fields, especially in this capital town and in neighboring towns of Solano, Bagabag and Villaverde basically got their first taste of natural rainfall after almost two 'rainless' months

Dr. Gumersindo Lasam, director of the Department of Agriculture for Cagayan Valley, said that they have been conducting cloud seeding operations since last week to create artificial rainfall so as to cushion the impact of the prolonged dry spell in the region, which is now practically under the state of calamity as a result of the said catastrophe.

"Let's pray for more rains to come and that we won't be needing cloud seeding operations anymore," said Lasam.

Government weather officials said that the natural rainfall which came out the other day could be a positive sign that rains would start to fall at last. Earlier, the government's Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical and Scientific Administration forecasted that at least two typhoons are expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility, particularly in Northern Luzon .

"Thanks God, it's raining. At least our dried farmlands had somehow rejuvenated," said Manong Adong, a rice farmer in Solano town.

But before everybody could start jumping with joy about it, yesterday's natural rains didn't make any significant difference in the areas that mattered most, like the Magat dam in neighboring Isabela province, which provides irrigation waters to more than 100,000 hectares of farmlands in the region, with Isabela, the country's topmost rice and corn producing province, the biggest beneficiary of the dam's irrigation services.

Despite this fact, the farmers in the province were still happy concerning the rains, believing this will in a way help alleviate their dying crops.

"Hopefully, the rains are a sign that things are already back to normal and that we will still be able to have a bumper harvest," said Manong Tino of Villaverde town, which is one of the drought-hit areas in this landlocked province, considered to be the region's vegetable capital.

But in other provinces like Isabela, the rains appear only to have fallen within the general area of the southern parts of the region and barely if ever reached the vicinity of the Magat dam.

The two-month dry spell has already affected almost P1-billion worth of agricultural crops throughout the region, with the biggest cost of damage recorded in Isabela province with some P300,000 worth of rice, corn and other crops, including fishery resources destroyed, followed by Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.

The second-biggest province in the country and its biggest rice and corn producer per hectare, Isabela was the second province in Northern Luzon to have been declared under a state of calamity after the province of La Union in the Ilocos region.

After Isabela, the other provinces of the region consequently were likewise declared under state of calamity by their provincial governments, beginning with Cagayan Gov. Alvaro Antonio, followed by Quirino Gov. Dakila Cua while Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Luisa Cuaresma is expected to issue a calamity state declaration anytime within the week.

Quirino alone lost more than P60 million worth of crops due to the extended drought, but "This figure may and will probably increase if drought sustains. We passed a resolution upon my motion to seek aid from (the) national government and realign their programs to address the imminent calamity in Cagayan Valley ," Cua said.

Likewise, Nueva Vizcaya, considered to be the region's vegetable capital, is losing close to P100 million worth of damaged crops due to drought.

"We are still collating data to be presented to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board) before we would formally declare the province under the state of calamity," she said.

Over the week, the Regional Development Council led by Bishop Villena called on President Arroyo for the immediate release of funds for the drought-stricken areas in the region. Such assistance would be utilized for repair of irrigation facilities, fund assistance for affected farmers, further conduct of cloud seeding operations and other related programs and activities.

The long dry spell, which earlier brought the Magat dam in Ramon, Isabela to a critical water level, the first time in seven years, had affected more than 100,000 hectares of agricultural lands, both irrigated and rain fed, in the region.

Cagayan Valley's four mainland provinces - Isabela, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino account for at least 40 percent of the country's palay and corn production. CCL

LOCAL OFFICIALS APPEAL FOR FUND ASSISTANCE

2007-08-07T03:28:00.000-07:00

LOCAL OFFICIALS APPEAL FOR FUND ASSISTANCE

Entire Cagayan Valley now under

calamity state due to extended drought

BY CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

TUGUEGARAO CITY Practically the whole region of Cagayan Valley, which accounts for around forty-percent of the country's total rice production, is now under state of calamity as a result of the long dry spell that has been hitting the whole of northern Luzon during the past few weeks.

Meanwhile, local officials in the region's five mainland provinces - Isabela, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya and Qurino - called on the national government for fund assistance amid the alarming reports of crops losses, which already reached closed to a billion pesos as a result of the extended drought.

This country's northernmost province of Cagayan, the region's second top rice producer, has joined Isabela in declaring itself under the calamity state, practically placing the entire region, the topmost rice and corn-producing region in the country, under such state due to the extended drought.

Yesterday, Cagayan Gov. Alvaro Antonio, following consultation with various concerned government and non-government agencies, declared the province under calamity state as a result of the prolonged dry spell, which if it will continue without letup may result in the total damage to millions of pesos of agricultural crops and possible shortage to the staple food.

According to latest reports, more than 19,000 hectares of rice fields as well as 21,000 hectares of corn lands in the province have already been severely affected or damaged by the catastrophe.

Over the week, the Regional Development Council (RDC) chaired by Catholic Church Bishop Ramon Villena of the Diocese of Bayombong (Nueva VIzcaya and Quirino) called on President Arroyo for financial assistance to cushion the effect of the drought to thousands of rice, corn and vegetable farmers, including owners of freshwater farms in the region.

Earlier, Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca declared her province under state of calamity after losses of close to P300 million worth of damaged agricultural crops were recorded as a result of the extended dry spell, which government weather officials said could last beyond this month.

This was followed the other day (03 Aug) by the province of Quirino with Gov. Dakila Cua saying that more than P50 million worth of damaged rice and corn crops have already been recorded.

"This figure may and will probably increase if drought sustains. We passed a resolution upon my motion to seek aid from (the) national government and realign their programs to address the imminent calamity in Cagayan Valley," Cua said.

Likewise, Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Luisa Lloren-Cuaresma yesterday said she would meet officials as well as representatives of concerned government and non-government agencies to discuss measures to soften the impact of the drought on the economy of the province, especially the farmers.

Already, Nueva Vizcaya, considered to be the region's vegetable capital, is losing close to P100 million worth of damaged crops due to drought.

"We are still collating data to be presented to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board) before we would formally declare the province under the state of calamity," she said.

The RDC members led by Bishop Villena called on President Arroyo for the immediate release of funds for the drought-stricken areas in the region. Such assistance would be utilized for repair of irrigation facilities, fund assistance for affected farmers, further conduct of cloud seeding operations and other related programs and activities.

Cagayan and Isabela in the Cagayan Valley region as well as Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija in the Ilocos and Central Luzon regions, respectively, which are all suffering from drought, account for at least 60 percent of the country's palay production.

La Union, also a major tobacco producing province in the Ilocos region, had been the very first local government unit to declare a calamity state within its jurisdictions.

The long dry spell, which earlier brought the Magat dam in Ramon, Isabela to a critical water level, the first time in seven years, had affected some 770 hectares of rainfed ricelands and 40,530 hectares of cornlands in Isabela, aside from irrigated rice lands and fishponds that were also severely affected by the drought.

According to Isabela-based Agriculture officials, at least 40 hectares of the affected area of rainfed riceland have no chance of recovery, which is also true with 11,444 hectares of corn land .

For irrigated rice land, about 2,440 hectares of irrigated rice land in Isabela, which has the country's highest production of rice in terms of output per hectare, may not be serviced for lack of irrigation water. CCL

Quirino now under calamity state, too

2007-08-07T03:27:00.000-07:00

Quirino now under calamity state, too

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

CABARROGUIS, Quirino  The provincial government here is all set to declare the province under a state of calamity like practically all provinces in Cagayan Valley, if not in Northern Luzon.

This came after the provinces of La Union and Isabela had previously declared states of calamity based on the level of damage wrought by the dry spell in their areas.

Quirino Gov. Dakila Cua said the province's sangguniang panlalawigan or provincial board is set to pass a resolution Tuesday declaring the whole province as a calamity area.

Cua also said the regional development council of Cagayan Valley had likewise passed a resolution on his motion to "seek aid from national government and realign their programs to address the imminent calamity" in the region

"The provincial agriculture officer has given us a partial estimate of damage to crops at around P58 million. This figure may and will probably increase if the drought (continues)," Cua said.

With a state of calamity already proclaimed in Isabela and similar declarations in the works and to be made by other provincial governments, including Qurino, the whole Cagayan Valley region would be under state of calamity.

The earliest to declare a state of calamity in the region, after La Union in the Ilocos region, Isabela had experienced loss of more than P300 million in cash crops, bulk of which were damage to corn plants.

Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca, after being apprised of the extent of the damage brought by the extended drought immediately placed her province, the country's major rice and corn producer under the calamity state.

Meanwhile, Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Luisa lloren Cuaresma indicated that like Quirino officials, she is mulling to have the province declared a calamity area by its provincial board.

"We still have to study the collated documents regarding the matter," Cuaresma said, dealing with the said incipient drought which according to Congressional reports has already caused P87 million worth of damage in the said province.

"We still have to attach all the documents to our letter of request as the board will not just automatically declare a state of calamity without proof," Cuaresma further said.

Cagayan Gov. Alvaro Antonio, in the meantime, said his administration would make similar moves to study the situation in the province before making a request to the provincial board for a calamity declaration. CCL

Vizcaya now losing P63-M worth of crops to drought

2007-08-07T03:26:00.001-07:00

Vizcaya now losing P63-M worth of crops to drought

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya - More than P63 million worth of agricultural produce had already been damaged here as a result of the long dry spell, which is also hitting this landlocked province, considered to be the region's vegetable capital.

According to the latest damage assessment report by the local agriculture office, the extent of damage could increase to alarming levels if the dry spell continues until the end of the month.

Nueva Vizcaya, like its neighboring Benguet province, is a known producer of vegetables like cabbage, lettuce, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, potato and beans. It provides significant amount of its agriculture produce to the metropolis.

At present, Felipe Borja, assistant provincial agriculture officer, said that more than 2,000 hectares of agricultural lands planted with rice, corn, vegetables and fruits have already been damaged due to the drought.

"If no rains will fall in the next 15 days then the lands affected by the dry spell would increase to more than 3,500 hectares," Borja said.

The Department of Agriculture has been conducting cloud seeding operations in the region's four mainland provinces for a week now to cushion the impact of the extend dry spell, which government weather officials fear could last beyond August.

However, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) here said the cloud seeding failed to improve the water level at the Magat Dam Hydroelectric and Irrigation Project based in Ramon, Isabela.

According to latest reports, the water level at the dam was around five meters above the critical level of which if no rains would fall within the week, it would fall below critical, forcing irrigation officials to lower the percentage of irrigationwater being released or worse, it would temporarily halt its operations.

The Magat Dam, once Asia's biggest, provides irrigation to more than 100 hectares of farm lands in Cagayan Valley, with Isabela, the country's topmost rice and corn producer, as the biggest beneficiary of the dam's operations.

Besides its irrigation services which is being manned by NIA, the more than two-decade-old Magat dam also provides 500 megawatts of electric power to the Luzon grid.

Earlier this week, Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca declared a state of calamity throughout the province after the agricultural damage wrought by the long dry spell already reached close to P300 million.

The province of La Union in the Ilocos region was the first to declare a state of calamity as a result of the drought. Local officials of other provinces in Northern Luzon, such as Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Quirino, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur are also contemplating to place their areas under calamity state.

Recently, President Arroyo ordered the immediate release of more than P3.5 billion for the repair of irrigation facilities, cloud seeding operations, cash assistance for farmers, provision of agricultural inputs and other related programs and activities to soften the impact of the calamity.

Malacañang is also contemplating to ask Coingress to provide her special powers to combat the adverse effects of the extended drought to the economy. CCL

DISPLACED VILLAGERS BACK TO WORK

2007-08-07T03:26:00.000-07:00

DISPLACED VILLAGERS BACK TO WORK

MGB renews UK mining firm's

permit for Vizcaya exploration project

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has renewed the exploration permit of a British-owned mining firm which temporarily stopped its government-authorized exploration activities late last month after it failed to secure the renewal before the lapse of the said permit, The STAR learned yesterday (8 Aug.).

Meanwhile, more than 100 local residents employed with MTL Philippines Inc., who were earlier temporarily terminated from work as a result of the stoppage are expected to return to work following the approval of the mining firm's exploration permit, including community teachers whose remunerations are being supported by it.

MTL Philippines Inc., which had been conducting an exploration project in Barangay Runruno in nearby Quezon town since 2005, was granted another two-year exploration permit by the said agency. The renewal came after the lapse of the firm's previous two-year exploration permit last July 25.

MGB national Director Horacio Ramos signed the foreign firms' exploration permit the other day (02 Aug), according to engineer Jerrysal Mangaong, MGB director for Cagayan Valley.

Although nothing was mentioned about it, sources here speculated that the MGB's delay in issuing the renewal of exploration permit may have been due to a complaint letter of Gov. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma to then Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes pinpointing mining activities as one of the culprits in the occurrence of landslides and flash floods in the place last year. This was in addition to the previous lobbying by the Catholic Church-led anti-mining groups in the area.

"Like any government agency, MGB of course sent people to the place to investigate the real situation of the place," the source said.

Earlier, Cuaresma filed a letter-complaint to Reyes on the activities of MTL and seeking the revocation of its exploration permit, saying she was "convinced that the conduct of any mining activity would enhance the probability of another massive landslide in Quezon town."

However, geologists from the MGB's regional office based in Tuguegarao City, said the cause of last year's flashfloods and landslides was due to lack of natural vegetation and the place being a geological hazard, and not due to the ongoing exploration activities.

Mangaoang said that long-time illegal cutting of trees, kaingin farming and the dynamite-induced illegal small-scale mining were also attributed as contributory factors to last year's flashfloods in Runruno village, which is around 2 km. from this capital town.

Meanwhile, during and immediately before the stoppage, the barangay officials, supported by more than 1,500 residents of Runruno expressed support for MTL, citing the mining firm's many development projects and economic assistance to the village in terms of direct employment and other commercial transactions.

Even the municipal government of Quezon under Mayor Aurelio Salunat, a political ally of Cuaresma, had likewise shown its appreciation for what the MTL had done in terms of development projects and scholarships in technical courses for poor but deserving out-of-school youths or all those barangay residents willing to learn new marketable skills.

MTL executives were bullish about the prospects of gold, copper, molybdenum and other mineral deposits in the area to be highly commercial in volume. They expect that in their second exploration phase they will be able to determine the commercial viability of their project.

Runruno, about two hours from this capital town, is a traditional mining village with many undocumented small-scale miners utilizing unregulated deadly explosives, which already resulted in the killing of undetermined numbers of illegal miners. The provincial government has been calling for the stoppage of their operations but instead their illegal activities mushroomed. CCL

Vizcaya bishop breaks silence on 'kissing priest', apologizes to flock

2007-08-07T03:22:00.000-07:00

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya  After nearly three weeks of keeping mum, the diocese of Bayombong has finally come out with a statement, copy of which was received by The STAR yesterday (02 August), expressing "sincere apology" to the Church faithful for an incident that may have "scandalized, hurt and offended" them.

Bayombong Bishop Ramon Villena's statement, officially came out the other day, was obviously dealing with an incident last July 17 involving a priest of the diocese of Bayombong who, police said, created trouble inside a videoke bar in nearby Bambang town for being drunk and refusing to pay and allegedly making sexual advances on a guest relations officer there.

Bishop Villena vowed that the Church give its "just and proper action on the matter" that would eventually redound to "the good of God's Church.

Last July 17, based on police report, a Catholic priest, who was identified later as Father Elmer Saludares entered, along with two others, the Estrella's Videoke bar in Barangay San Antonio Bambang town here during the wee hours.

Police Inspector Avelino Cuntapay, officer-in-charge of the town's police office, said that the Fr. Saludares, of Saint Anne's Parish of neighboring Dupax Del Norte town, was accused by a videoke bar lady worker for biting her lips while kissing her, and later slapped here, causing trouble inside the bar.

The lady was identified by the police as Jenelyn Abello, 25, a guest relations officer at the said videoke bar.

Worst, according to police, the priest, reportedly drunk, even went wild, allegedly even ignoring some pleas for him to be pacified and allegedly refusing to pay. A responding cop, identified as one PO1 Jason Morales, said that it was only later after the police arrived that the priest agreed to calm down and pay his bills.

Two days after the news broke out, Villena reportedly restrained his priests from commenting on the issue.

Villena's statement read in part: "as your humble bishop and shepherd, I on behalf of the clergy in the diocese of Bayombong, apologize to you who have been in one way or another scandalized, hurt and offended by the news reports last week against one of our priests."

The bishop went on to ask "for your kind understanding and forgiveness, I thank you for the continued support and trust that you give us, your pastors, notwithstanding our human weaknesses."

"With this, I together with the clergy of the diocese, assure you of our just and proper action on the matter for our good and the good of God's Church," said the bishop in his one-page statement. CCL

CLOUD SEEDING FAILS TO RAISE WATER LEVELS IN MAGAT DAM

2007-08-07T03:20:00.000-07:00

CLOUD SEEDING FAILS TO RAISE WATER LEVELS IN MAGAT DAM

Quirino gov mulls financial

assistance for drought victims

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

CABARROGUIS,. Quirino The provincial government here said yesterday (30 July) it is mulling over the possibility of giving financial assistance to those hundreds of farmers in the province who are adversely affected by the ongoing dry spell.

Gov. Dakila Cua told The STAR in a telephone interview that this was just one of the things his administration was taking into consideration as a way of solving the said drought which has affected some 400,000 hectares of rice and corn land in the province.

"We are still assessing the damage in the province and we need to actually pinpoint the areas most severely damaged by the dry spell before we can execute a plan of action to solve the problem," Cua said.

"One thing is sure, however. We cannot afford to see our constituents suffer as a result of the drought," the youthful governor said.

Meanwhile, a source from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in the region said the results of the ongoing cloud seeding in the region which began Saturday have so-far not been sufficient enough to cause any significant rise in the water level of the Magat dam.

"If substantial amount of rainfall is felt in the watershed areas surrounding the Magat dam, then continuous rain of from three to five days will make a difference. But as in any cloud seeding process, you are not absolutely sure where the rains will eventually fall," said Edwin Pasion, NIA's flood forecasting officer here.

Meanwhile, DA regional director Gumersindo Lasam confirmed that cloud seeding had indeed started in the region last Saturday.

He, however, refused to make additional comments or to quantify the total extent of damage of the ongoing drought, saying he did not want to preempt Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap on the matter.

Yap was scheduled to have a press conference on the issue at the Magat dam yesterday. He had gone on an evaluation of the Pantabangan, San Roque and Magat dams in Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Isabela, respectively to see the extent of the drop in the water levels of the said dams since the beginning of the dry spell.

"We cannot as yet give any figures on the extent and cost of damage to agricultural crops in the region, but we are consulting on ways to alleviate this matter," Lasam said.

Cua, son of Quirino Rep. Junie Evangelista Cua and former Gov. and Rep. Mary Ann Cua, added that if it comes out in their evaluation that providing financial assistance is "the proper thing to do" in order to jump-start the economic recovery of his farmer-constituents, "then in that case, we will do it."

Farmers had expressed hope that with the eventual coming of the rains, everything will be solved, including the critical level in the Magat dam and the resultant intermittent brownouts brought about by the lack of available water in the dam to run the turbines.

Quirino is one of the hardest hit areas of the Cagayan Valley region which was aggravated by the reduction of water supply for irrigation from the Magat Dam in Ramon, Isabela, which went down 30 percent.

Meanwhile, neighboring Isabela province, the second biggest province in the country, is now considered the top rice and corn producer per hectare in the country, even besting the traditional rice bowl, Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon.

Built during the early 1980's, the Magat Dam, once the biggest in the entire Southeast Asia, irrigates more than 150,000 hectares of agricultural lands in southern Cagayan Valley region, with Isabela the biggest beneficiary of its irrigation waters. It also provides at least 500 megawatts of electric power for the Luzon grid.

Last year, as part of its rehabilitation efforts, the national government sold the Magat Dam's power component to the Aboitiz group of companies with the irrigation component still being run by the government through the NIA. CCL

Minor dies of STD, outbreak feared

2007-08-07T03:16:00.000-07:00

Minor dies of STD, outbreak feared

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

SOLANO, Nueva Vizcaya Health authorities here expressed alarm over the possible outbreak of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) following the death of a minor working in several entertainment places here due to the said disease.

Dr. Antonio Parong, technical assistant of the Department of Health (DOH) here, yesterday said that STD like syphilis and gonorrhea may have had affected other persons here, especially those working in clubs and bars after a 16-year old girl died of complications arising from a sexually transmitted disease.

The girl, according to Parong, succumbed to STD complications last July 23, following more than a week of confinement at the Veterans Regional Hospital in the neighboring capital town of Bayombong .

The woman, whose identity was not disclosed by authorities, had reportedly worked as a commercial sex worker in several clubs or bars here and neighboring towns before reportedly going freelance.

"The problem here is that while she was no longer working in a club, she was allegedly taking customers on her own, which meant that she had not undergone health examination as required," said councilor Regie Valino-Valdez, health committee chairman of the town's municipal council.

Valino, likewise, expressed fear that some persons, especially those whom the girl have sex with, were already carrying the said disease and may pass it on to their spouses or partners.

Being a commercial center, the town of Solano also has the "notoriety" of having most of the so-called commercial sex workers in the province, with others clustered in Bayombong town, in Bambang town, in Dupax del Sur town and Bagabag town, the gateway to Ifugao province.

She said that a multi-agency task force is now being formed to strictly monitor the operations of entertainment places here, including hotels and inns as well as those working in said places, especially those engaging in commercial sex. CCL

Continued dry spell threatens

2007-08-07T03:15:00.003-07:00

Continued dry spell threatens

150,000 has. of rice, corn lands in Isabela

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

ILAGAN, Isabela - The continued below-normal level of rainfall could eventually cause the destruction of thousands of hectares of rice and corn lands in Cagayan Valley, especially in this country's second largest province, which is also the country's top-most rice and corn-producing province, sources from the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) here said.

Edwin Pasion, NIA's flood forecasting officer here said that with the present critical level of the Magat Dam and Hydroelectric Power Project in Ramon, Isabela, which is just five meter above the critical level of 156 meters, they have been forced to reduce the irrigation outflow from the dam's irrigation component by 30 percent.

"This means that instead of being able to irrigate the ricefields unhampered, we will have to schedule the irrigation of the different sectors covered by our area, in order to fully serve all our clients," Pasion said.

Passion expressed fear that if the lack of rainfall persists until August, the dam will reach the critical level, the first to happen in seven years, which would mean a drastic reduction of irrigation supply to more than 100,000 hectares of rice and corn lands here, excluding the more than 50,000 hectares in some parts of Quirino and southern Cagayan, which also depend their irrigation waters from the Magat Dam.

"If this happens, then there will be areas which we will not be able to serve at all, meaning that these rice and corn fields will be left to the mercy of nature," Pasion said.

This possible scenario has created alarm among rice and corn farmers here who said the continued drought could result in a drastic reduction in their output come harvest time.

"What is worse, we might not even have any rice or corn to harvest if the dry spell continues until next month," said farmer Rodrigo Valdez in the vernacular.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical and Scientific Administration said that the dry spell could continue even beyond August of this year.

Isabela is the top rice and corn producer in the whole country in terms of output per hectare, besting even Nueva Ecija, which was formerly considered as the country's rice bowl.

Isabela environment office ris country's forester of the year

2007-08-07T03:15:00.002-07:00

Isabela environment officer is country's forester of the year

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

ILAGAN, Isabela - The Society of Filipino Foresters Inc. (SFFI) has chosen this province's environment officer as this year's outstanding forester in the country, besting other nominees from all over the country.

Forester Felix Taguba, provincial environment and natural resources officer (PENRO) of this province, was named outstanding forester of the year for his dedicated, versatile and productive service as a protector of the environment, especially in this part of the country where one of the country's remaining forests have been ably protected and preserved under his stewardship.

Taguba, who rose from the ranks, received the award in a ceremony held at Alment Hotel and Inland Resort, in Butuan City , Agusan del Norte, last July 22, which also culminated the five-day annual convention of the country's foresters and SFFI's 59th anniversary.

The selection and awards committee of the Society of Filipino Foresters Inc. cited Taguba for his "26 years of dedicated, versatile and productive service as a government forester."

"It's such an honor to be recognized by one's own peers and the recognition is sweetest, it being given as a result of the years of service one has wholeheartedly given to the community at large," said Taguba, whose leadership was credited for the series of confiscations and recoveries of some 500,000 board feet of illegally sourced out forest trees last year.

Taguba's award was given in relation to his outstanding achievements regarding the preservation of the environment and the forest resources in the province of Isabela , the biggest province in terms of area in the region and the second in the whole country.

Taguba bested all other competitors in the nationwide competition, including his closest rival, a fellow provincial environment and natural resources officer from Caraga region, as a result of the outstanding service provided by his office in terms of defending the environment and natural resources in the province, particularly its forest cover and mineral resources.

They were the two finalists chosen from out of a batch of nominees from throughout the country. CCL

Minor dies in fistfight with schoolmate

2007-08-07T03:15:00.001-07:00

Minor dies in fistfight with schoolmate

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

CAUAYAN CITY He dreamed of becoming a soldier one day but all this crumbled with his untimely demise.

Thirteen-year old Jomar Corpuz, the oldest among three siblings of a farming family in this Isabela city, met his tragic end during a fistfight with a 15-year old classmate, whom he reportedly had a grudge with last July 24.

According to reports, the two, both high school sophomores, had engaged in a fistfight few meters away from the government-run Sillawit National High School where they were both studying.

This, according to some witnesses, took place while all the teachers and employees and most of the students were busy with the weekly morning's flag-raising ceremony.

Police said the victim accidentally banged his had on a hard surface while they were wrestling with the suspect, causing him to vomit blood and immediately lose consciousness.

Jomar, according to his mother, Marlyn, died just before they could reach the nearest hospital where his teachers and schoolmates rushed him to. He reportedly succumbed to internal hemorrhage.

Superintendent Danilo Asirit, city police director, said that following further investigations, they would turn over the suspect into the custody of the city's social welfare office for appropriate action since he was a minor. He said that a case of homicide could be charged against him.

"Our son dreamed of becoming a soldier someday. He wants to extricate us from poverty and also help his younger siblings in their schooling. He is really responsible child, even helping his father in the farm during weekends," said the 35-year old grieving mother.

The victim's relatives said that the boy asked one of them to accompany him to school as somebody was threatening him along the way, but no one paid heed as everybody were busy with their household and farming chores.

The victim and the suspect, reportedly both nursing a grudge with each other, accidentally met near the school premises, and eventually engaged in an argument, which led to a fistfight that ended in the tragic incident. CCL

Tribal officials face charges for blockingentry of foreign-backed mining equipment

2007-08-07T03:15:00.000-07:00

Tribal officials face charges for blocking

entry of foreign-backed mining equipment

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya Around 1,000 people from various villages of Kasibu town staged a demonstration in front of the Dumlao Justice Hall here the other day (23 July) in support of some of their village officials charged for obstructing the entry of a foreign mining firm's exploration equipment earlier this month.

At the same time, the village folk, backed by various anti-mining advocates led by Church-based organizations, also reiterated their opposition to the government-sanctioned exploration activities in their area, saying that such project would eventually lead to large-scale mining operation, thereby endangering their environment.

Among those charged by the mining firm Oxiana Philippines, a local subsidiary of an Australian-based mining giant, which is set to conduct exploration activities in the villages of Pao and Kakiduguen and other adjacent areas in Kasibu's eastern side were Alejo Tuguinay, barangay chairman of Kakiduguen; Mariano Maddela, barangay chairman of Pao; Manuel Binuya, barangay chairman of Dine; and Filimon, barangay chairman of Pacquet.

The villagers, included those charged by Oxiana, were one in denouncing what they said were the evils of mining, saying they did not want the pollution resulting from the said extractive activity to leach into their rice fields and rivers.

Earlier, the Oxiana Philippines, a different entity from the more popular another Australian-owned mining firm Oceana Gold, which operates the multibillion national government-backed Didipio Gold-Copper Project in an adjacent village here, was granted a permit by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' Mine and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to conduct exploration activities for gold, copper and other minerals believed to be rich in the area.

Engineer Jerrysal Mangaoang, MGB director for Cagayan Valley , said that the granting of Oxiana's exploration permit came about after majority of the indigenous Bugkalot residents, whose ancestral domain claim had partly fallen inside the company's exploration zone, agreed to endorse the exploration project.

But Maddela, also a full-blooded Bugkalot, took exception to this, saying not all the Bugkalots in the area are in favor of the exploration activities.

The opponents to the mining exploration by Oxiana, like other anti-mining groups, have previously received encouragement from the Church-based Diocesan Social Action Center (DSAC).

The Oxiana exploration activity is the latest in the number of mining exploration activities being undertaken in the province, which now also hosts the Didipio Gold-Copper Project, the region's first-ever large-scale mining, since the enactment of the 1995 Mining Act.

According to the MGB, the exploration stage by Oxiana is one in which a mining firm confirms the amount of minerals available in commercial quantities in an area and the exact location of the said mineral lodes. CCL

New NVizcaya police to tap radio groups, barangay officials vs. criminals

2007-08-07T03:14:00.001-07:00

New NVizcaya police to tap radio groups, barangay officials vs. criminals

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (July 30) -- Newly-installed Philippine National Police provincial director Sr. Supt. Segundo Duran here said efforts are being made inorder to communicate with various radio organizations and local officials in the province for their assistance in going after criminals.

Duran, who succeeded Sr. Supt. Cesar Javier said that while the province enjoyed a reduction of crimes during the first semester of this year, there is a need to sustain the efforts to prevent the increase of criminal cases in the province.

"I believe that by tapping the help of radio groups and barangay officials, we can improve the peace and order situation of our province," Duran said.

According to Duran, past experiences revealed that radio groups and barangay officials have become a potent partner in preventing crimes due to their communication assistance, mobility and visibility.

Duran said the revival of these groups will be sustained for their anti-criminality programs and projects.

In the past, these groups have shown a significant help in terms of police assistance in the province. One of their major accomplishments, is the busting of a counterfeiting syndicate and confiscation of fake peso bills in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya. (PIA NVizcaya)

Judge fines Campbell suspect's

2007-08-07T03:14:00.000-07:00

Judge fines Campbell suspect's

counsel P100 for skipping trial

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

LAGAWE, Ifugao The regional trial court judge (RTC) hearing the murder trial of the self-confessed killer of an American Peace Corps volunteer last April, charged the other day (23 July) his defense counsel with a fine of P100 for causing delay in the trial, adding a little color to a trial session generally lacking in "fireworks."

Judge Esther Piscozo-Flor of RTC-Banaue Branch 34, who is hearing the murder case filed against Juan Donald Duntugan, self-confessed killer of American Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell, slapped Duntugan's counsel, lawyer Pedro Mayam-o, with a fine of P100 for skipping the scheduled afternoon session of the hearing held last July 23 without informing the court.

The case, still in its pretrial stages, could have entered directly to the trial stage during the next hearing on Aug. 20-21 had Mayam-o not been absent in the afternoon reportedly without advising the judge.

"He had been here the whole morning and had not intimated to me that he would not be attending the afternoon session of this hearing," Flor said, who explained that the fine was actually a fee for postponing the proceedings, which would go to the Judicial Development Fund and the Special Allowance for Judges.

"This could reach as high as the discretion of the judge deems appropriate. Like, if attorney Mayam-o will not show himself again on the next hearing he will be fined P150 and so on," said the lady judge.

Both the prosecution led by provincial prosecutor Joseph Tumapang and the four-man private prosecutor team from the Baguio-based Agranzamendez Liceralde Gallardo and Associates law firm headed by University of the Cordilleras law dean Reynaldo Agranzamendez, as well as Mayam-o, a former provincial board member here, spent the whole morning without incident, going through the mountain of evidence to be presented by both sides in the course of the trial proper.

Mayam-o's sudden French leave almost led to the immediate postponement of the case once again due to lack of defense representation, were it not for the appearance of lawyer Eugene Ballitang, collaborating counsel for the defense, who was forced to make his appearance earlier after being informed by prosecutor Tumapang of the situation.

Ballitang likewise requested the court to postpone the pretrial to a later date as he had not yet studied the documents and so that he would appear before the court in more appropriate attire.

Flor re-scheduled the next hearing of the case on Aug. 20-21 for the continuation of the pretrial and trial proper.

According to reports, Mayam-o had excused himself to colleagues in the absence of the judge, saying he had to attend the burial of a relative, and that he would be replaced by Ballitang. But Ballitang said later to the judge that he was not informed that he would appear at that time.

Unconfirmed reports have it that Mayam-o had felt slighted when informed that Duntugan's family took another counsel aside from him.

Lead private prosecutor Reynaldo Agranzamendez said they were ready for the coming trial on Aug. 20-21. "We in the prosecution are ready, which may not be true for the defense, as they seem to be having problems over defense representation," Agranzamendez said, adding that they would be presenting nine witnesses during the next trial dates in addition to the tons of evidence at hand.

Meanwhile, Campbell 's killing which happened in Batad, Banaue town last April appears to have negatively affected the issuance of visas to Cordillerans, especially from this province, an official of the government's National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) said.

The ranking NCIP official, who requested for anonymity, said the Campbell killing had allegedly caused the stricter issuance of visas to Cordillerans wishing to enter their countries by officials of various embassies in Manila , especially the US Embassy.

"We know that this is an isolated incident but one cannot avoid for the various embassies to be wary about people from the region. In fact, some Cordillerans had even suggested not telling embassy officials one is from the Cordillera, or particularly Ifugao," the NCIP executive said.

Information had likewise reached the NCIP, the official said, that various embassies in the country had also issued travel advisories to citizens to avoid the Cordillera, particularly Ifugao province, due to the incident.

Local officials, when learning about the discrimination allegedly displayed against their constituents when seeking visas, said that the Campbell case should not be used to get back at them, saying the incident is purely an isolated one that does not truly picture the case of the Ifugao people.

"We Ifugaos put the woman in a pedestal. The Campbell case cannot be used as a picture of the way of life of the Ifugao," said Ifugao Rep. Solomon Chungalao, who admitted the incident had some impact on the economy, especially in the tourism industry of the province, host to the world's renowned Ifugao Terraces.

Other local officials, likewise, admitted that the Campbell issue had an effect on the province's tourism industry, one of the major revenue sources for the local government units.

Restaurant owners and hotel operators as well as tour guides in Banaue town which is commonly visited by tourists admitted that the Campbell killing had resulted in almost 50 percent reduction in the number of local and foreign tourists visiting their place.

Last April 8, shortly after arriving for a brief vacation here, Campbell, 40, was declared missing by a masseuse whom she contracted to service her while staying at a rented room in Batad. Her body was found weeks later half-buried in a canal.

Almost three weeks after, the 25-year-old Duntugan surrendered to authorities and confessed owning up to the crime.

Duntugan had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge despite owning up to the killing, saying he did not kill Campbell on purpose, but thought it was a neighbor with whom he had a grudge. CCL

PAGASA says Nueva Vizcaya under below-normal rainfall

2007-08-07T03:13:00.002-07:00

PAGASA says Nueva Vizcaya under below-normal rainfall

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (July 30) -- Official of the Philippine Atmospheric and Geophysical Scientific Administration(PAGASA) Friday said the province is under below normal rainfall.

Officials made the report as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called on all Filipinos to conserve water in the wake of a possible critical water shortage brought by a "dry spell" now sweeping across the country.

Arroyo also ordered national government agencies to prepare for the worst and ordered the impounding and use of shallow tube wells as short - term solution and rehabilitation of deep wells, water harvesting, planting of drought resistant crops, modifying the cropping calendar and monitoring ground water levels as long term solution.

Nueva Vizcaya was included under the below normal rainfall by PAGASA along with Metro Manila, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Cavite and Agusan del Norte.

"The country, particularly Luzon island is experiencing an "extended" dry spell for the past two months, when the rainy season should have started. The "weird" weather was an offshoot of climate change wherein global temperatures increased due to greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, that trap the heat from the sun," PAGASA explained in their weather current forecast.

It further said that Metro Manila and parts of Luzon are already meteorologically, agriculturally and hydrologically experiencing drought which include red tide areas, warmer than normal air, blackouts, forest fires and health-related concerns.

A state of drought condition could be declared in areas with no rainfall for three consecutive months, PAGASA added. (PIA NVizcaya)

Tuguegarao hosts int'l nursing camp and conferences

2007-08-07T03:13:00.001-07:00

Tuguegarao hosts int'l nursing camp and conferences

Tuguegarao City (23 July) -- A three-day International Nursing Camp and Conference was hosted by the St. Paul University Philippines recently.

The three-day nursing Camp cum Conference was in coordination with the Global Scholarship Alliance USA.

Conference objectives include discussion with colleagues and experts on the various challenges and opportunities that impact on nursing and health care; identification of models and best practices and strategies to meet these challenges; development and strengthening bonds and forging new partnership to enhance professionalism among new friends and colleagues around the world.

Internationally-acclaimed plenary speakers, exciting and invigorating camp activities, worldwide opportunities for professional networking, cultural discoveries and opportunities to benchmark with other professionals are some of the highlights of the event.

St. Paul University, having earned its niche among the global centers of learning, it being the first Catholic University in Asia, the first private university in the Philippines to be ISO 9001 certifies and having been granted full autonomy status by the Philippines Commission on Higher Education is proudly qualified to host this world class event. (DOT/PIA agayan)

MGB: Mining not cause of flashfloods in NV village

2007-08-07T03:13:00.000-07:00

MGB: Mining not cause of flashfloods in NV village

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya - Mining was not the major cause of flashfloods and landslides that hit a mountain village here sometime last year and also claimed the lives of at least eight residents, according to a report of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), which The STAR obtained yesterday (31 July).

This report came in the wake of a complaint letter of Gov. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma to Environment Sec. Angelo Reyes, seeking the revocation of the exploration permit of a British-owned mining firm in the remote mountain village of Runruno in Quezon town here due to its allegedly being liable to cause landslides and flashfloods that were experienced last year.

"I still distinctly recall the devastation that the area sustained at the onset of typhoon Paeng in October last year. I was able to conduct an ocular inspection immediately after typhoon Paeng and I was able to personally witness that Barangay Runruno in Quezon town was literally covered with mud and soil debris caused by the massive erosions," said Cuaresma, who added that she was "convinced that the conduct of any mining activity would enhance the probability of another massive landslide in Quezon town."

"Perhaps, instead of mining, what the area needs is rehabilitation or even reforestation," said Cuaresma in his letter to Reyes dated July 2, 2007.

However, according to senior geologists from the MGB's regional office based in Tuguegarao City , the cause of last year's flashfloods and landslides was due to lack of natural vegetation and the place being a geological hazard.

Engr. Jerrysal Mangaoang, MGB director for Cagayan Valley , said that long-time illegal cutting of trees, kaingin farming and illegal small-scale mining were also attributed as contributory factors to last year's flashfloods and landslides in the traditionally mining Runruno village, which is around 2 km. from this capital town.

In their findings with regard to last year's flashfloods and landslides in Barangay Runruno, Quezon, senior geologists Marinelle Monteclaro and Felicitas Piligan reported that prior to the incident which took place at between around midnight and 2 am of Oct. 30, or during the height of typhoon Paeng, it had been already raining straight for almost a week.

Aside from this, they said, the area where the landslides and flashfloods took place had already experienced similar incidents previously.

Meanwhile, the barangay chairman and Runruno viollagers, in a separate letter and manifesto, expressed support for the exploration project of the British-owned MTL-Philippines (Metals Explorations), which the governor had opposed in her letter to Reyes.

"The people of Runruno strongly support MTL Philippines in their exploration activity because of the numerous jobs generated by their activity and the generous assistance in community developments, mainly in education, health and protection of the environment," said Dodoy Rafael, Runruno village chief.

The manifesto signed by more than 1,000 villagers, meanwhile, sought the understanding of the governor saying that if MTL operations would stop, "the more illegal loggers will rise in number, the more forests will be denuded, employment will be curtailed, more sickness and communicable disease will spread, and all of us would become hungry and thirsty, uneducated, we will be deprived of decent living that all redound to make us thieves, criminals and (similar persons)."

The MTL, which had been conducting exploration activities for gold, copper and other commercially-viable minerals, had temporarily stopped operations after its two-year exploration permit expired last July 25. MTL executives, however, expressed optimism that the national government, through the DENR would renew their application for extension for another two years in due time.

More than 100 residents were laid off as a result of the MTL's 'temporary' stoppage of operation, pending the renewal for extension of its exploration project. CCL

Army overruns abandoned rebel camp in Isabela

2007-08-07T03:12:00.001-07:00

AFTER 2-HR FIREFIGHT WITH 3 REBELS DEAD

Army overruns abandoned rebel camp in Isabela

BY CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

CAMP MELCHOR F. DELA CRUZ, UPI, GAMU, Isabela - Army troops under the 5th Infantry Divison (ID) here overran an abandoned camp of the traditionally Maoist New People's Army after a two-hour gunbattle that led to the death of three rebels in a remote mountain village in this province the other day (30 July).

According to Maj. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, his men from the 52nd Division Reconnaissance Company (DRC), were conducting combat operations early Sunday morning in sitio Lumalog, Barangay Cadsalan in San Mariano town when they came across the camp which had been tipped off to them earlier by informants. The said camp was allegedly being used by the rebels as a staging point for its various armed activities.

Sensing the presence of the Army troops nearby, the rebels then responded, resulting in a 2-hour firefight which led to the deaths of the still untidentified rebels and the wounding of several others of their comrades who were able to escape.

Also injured during the said gunbattle which started at around 6:30 am was Pfc. Jose Fernandez who was immediately evacuated from the encounter site by a Philippine Air Force UH-1H (Huey) helicopter and taken back to camp for immediate treatment.

Consisting of 20 bunkers capable of housing 60 rebels, a kitchen, a classroom-cum-mess hall, latrine and three guard posts, the camp yielded an M16 rifle with serial number defaced, five hand grenades, high-explosives detonating cords, electrical wire and materials, medical and dental paraphernalia, ten jungle packs and four sacks of other personal belongings and documents.

The three rebel fatalities were taken by the troops to the nearest mortuary in town to be given a decent funeral later.

General Maclang later commended his men for a job well done, likewise praising what he said was "the selfless concern and courage of the informants" who contributed much to the success of the operations.

The incident only proved that the rebels were indeed drastically losing their support from the masses, Maclang said, adding that military intelligence had shown rebel strength on a downturn from around 1,000 in 1999 to around 450 last year CCL

Hundreds of residents lose jobs as mining firm stops explorations in N.Vizcaya

2007-08-07T03:12:00.000-07:00

Hundreds of residents lose jobs as mining firm stops explorations in N.Vizcaya

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya The lives of hundreds of residents of a remote village in the mountainous town of Quezon here took a turn for the worst recently after the British-owned mining firm MTL Philippines was forced to temporarily stop its ongoing exploration activities in the area, causing some 160 persons directly employed with the firm to become economically displaced.

Aside from this an additional hundreds more also were affected by the firm's sudden temporary stoppage of operations in mountain Runruno village, including some 20 day care and grade school teachers being financially supported by the firm and a number of scholars taking up technical courses with through the memorandum of agreement signed by the mining firm, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the other government agencies and nongovernmental organization.

The mining firm, which filed for extension of exploration permit some 60 days or two months before its expiration date last July 25, had decided to temporarily stop its exploratory activity since then due to the complaints of several anti-mining residents as well as the letter of Gov. Luisa Lloren-Cuaresma pinning the blame on mining activities as the cause of last year's flashflood in the area, Leo Sosa, project manager of MTL Philippines' Runruno project, said.

"Due to the persistent complaints that the company is receiving from the anti-mining group followed by the letter of Governor Cuaresmato the (DENR) Secretaryopposing our exploration activities in Runruno(and) calling for the withdrawal of our exploration permit, our company has decided to temporarily suspend our exploration activities effective July 25" Sosa said.

Ironically, only months earlier, as keynote speaker during the induction of the officers of MTL Philippines Inc.Runruno Livelihood Foundation, the governor expressed her "great appreciation" to the mining firm for its assistance being rendered to the Runruno villagers.

This same sentiment of appreciation was likewise conveyed recently by Mayor Aurelio Salunat for all the assistance the mining firm had provided his town.

Lawyer Rosalie Soriano, who heads the project's administrative office, meanwhile told the province labor office here that most directly affected by the temporary cessation of field activities by the firm are some 94 field personnel taking part in the regular field exploration activities.

"The 66 regular employees will be maintained , however employees involved directly in the drilling activities will be assigned to other tasks during the said temporary (stoppage)," she added.

Those engaged in the ongoing replanting and rehabilitation of the exploration area will not also be affected by the stoppage and will continue their activities, MTL officials further said.

A report from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau regional office, however, indicated that, contrary to the contention of the anti-mining groups and as cited by Cuaresma, mining activities were not the cause for the flash floods that caused major destruction in the village that also claimed the lives of at least eight persons last year.

"The devastation (was caused)by different events that occurred either simultaneously or one after the other ," said Marinell Monteclaro and Felicitas Piligan, senior geologists of the MGB regional office in Tuguegarao City, but none of these were attributable to mining.

Runruno, around two hours from this capital town, has been the subject of small-scale mining activities, and recently series of exploration activities, latest of which was the British-owned MTL-Philippines.

The village is said to be commercially rich in gold, copper and other mineral deposits. CCL

Magat dam nears critical level,

2007-08-07T03:11:00.000-07:00

Magat dam nears critical level,

to halt operations in 3 days?

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

ILAGAN, Isabela - The Magat dam in Ramon, Isabela may temporarily halt operations in three to five days if the dry spell continues as the dam's water level slowly approaches the 156-meter critical level, officials from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) here said yesterday (28 July).

This could result in a drastic reduction in rice and corn production in the province and the rest of Cagayan Valley from the destruction to thousands more hectares of standing rice and corn plants in Cagayan Valley, especially in this province, the country's second largest province, NIA officials here said.

This in turn has raised fears of a possible sharp increase in the prices of rice and corn in the metropolis since Isabela, the top rice and corn-producing province in the country, together with neighboring Nueva Ecija province supplies most its rice and corn needs .

Already, corn farmers in 19 out of the 36 towns of Isabela province, facing a similar fate as their fellow rice farmers, have already lost around 63,000 metric tons of corn worth some P215 million due to the dry spell, according to local officials from the Department of Agriculture here.

These losses came from around 8,299 hectares of corn land whose production was completely destroyed, out of the roughly 35,000 hectares of corn affected by the dry spell. Some 27,000 more hectares were said to have still recoverable produce, provided the rains arrive anytime soon.

Edwin Pasion, NIA's flood forecasting officer here, said that with the present critical level of the Magat Dam and Hydroelectric Power Project in Ramon, Isabela, just five meters above the critical level of 156 meters, they have been forced to reduce the irrigation outflow from the dam's irrigation component by 30 percent.

"This means that instead of being able to irrigate the rice fields unhampered, we will have to schedule the irrigation of the different sectors covered by our area, in order to fully serve all our clients," Pasion said.

Pasion expressed fear that if the lack of rainfall persists until August, the dam will reach the critical stage, the first to happen in seven years, which would mean a drastic reduction of irrigation supply to more than 100,000 hectares of rice and corn lands here, excluding the more than 50,000 hectares in some parts of Quirino and southern Cagayan, which also depend their irrigation waters from the dam.

"If this happens, then there will be areas which we will not be able to serve at all, meaning that these rice and corn fields will be left at the mercy of nature," he said, adding that the only possible solution would be cloud seeding.

This possible scenario has created alarm among thousands of rice and corn farmers here who said the continued drought could result in a drastic reduction in their output come harvest time.

"What is worse, we might not even have any rice or corn to harvest if the dry spell continues until next month," said farmer Rodrigo Valdez in the vernacular.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical and Scientific Administration said that the dry spell could continue even beyond August of this year.

Danilo Tumamao, Isabela provincial agricultural officer, said however that now was not yet the time to panic as the drought-stricken areas was only a portion of the total area planted to rice and corn. All would still be well, provided the rains arrive within the next two to three weeks, he said.

Isabela farmers had expressed hope that with the eventual coming of the rains, everything will be solved, including the critical level in the Magat dam and the resultant intermittent brownouts brought about by the lack of available water in the dam to run the turbines.

Isabela is the top rice and corn producer in the whole country in terms of output per hectare, besting even Nueva Ecija, which was formerly considered as the country's rice bowl.

NV officials alarmed over girl's death, fear of STD outbreak

2007-08-07T03:10:00.000-07:00

NV officials alarmed overgirl's death, fear of STD outbreak

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

SOLANO, Nueva Vizcaya Health authorities of this landlocked province's premier commercial town have expressed alarm over the possible outbreak of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) following the death of a minor working in several entertainment places here due to the said disease.

Dr. Antonio Parong, technical assistant of the Department of Health (DOH) here, said that STD like syphilis and gonorrhea may have had affected other persons here, especially those working in clubs and bars after a 16-year old girl died of complications arising from a sexually transmitted disease.

The girl, according to Parong, succumbed to STD complications last July 23, following more than a week of confinement at the Veterans Regional Hospital in the neighboring capital town of Bayombong .

The woman, whose identity was not disclosed by authorities from the municipal health office, had reportedly worked as a commercial sex worker in several clubs or bars here and neighboring towns before reportedly going freelance.

"The problem here is that while she was no longer working in a beerhouse or club, she was allegedly taking customers on her own, which meant that she had not undergone health examination as required by local authorities," said councilor Regie Valino-Valdez, health committee chairman of the town's municipal council.

Valino, likewise, expressed fear that some persons, especially those whom the girl have sex with, were already carrying the said disease and may pass it on to their spouses or partners.

"What we fear is a possible epidemic of STD ," she said.

Valino said the local government, in partnership with DOH and other concerned authorities would go for more strict surveillance of those engaging in the so-called entertainment or escort industry in the town.

"Stricter rules and penalties would be imposed against operators of these entertainment places," she said. CCL

TESDA, mining firm help establish

2007-08-07T03:08:00.000-07:00

EXPERT WELDER. A villager of Runruno, Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya, hones his newly acquired skills as a world-class welder which he received from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority as a result of a memorandum of agreement between TESDA, MTL Philippines, the Quezon town government, their barangay council and Kasibu National Agricultural School. Some were able to train further or be employed with foreign firms in Subic Bay Free Port. BY CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

TESDA, mining firm help establish

tech school in remote N. Vizcaya village

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) here and the British owned mining firm Metals Exploration (MTL) Philippines based in a village of Quezon town have teamed up with several other government agencies and nongovernment organizations to put up a technical school in the said village.

The said move of TESDA, MTL, the municipality of Quezon , the barangay council of Runruno where the mining exploration is being undertaken and the Kasibu National Agricultural School in neighboring Kasibu town was made in response to the growing request of residents for technical training in the area.

For generations, many residents of Runruno had been toiling it out in the sun as small-scale miners, panning for the fleeting speck of gold or else putting themselves in harm's way in unsafe mine entrances in their search for a better life.

All based in a traditional mining village, the said small-scale miners once lived a hand-to-mouth existence, with no alternative to their knowledge of gold panning or being mine workers, waiting for the lucky find that would give them instant wealth.

Now, the said small scale miners and their fellow villagers like several kainging farmers and out-of-school youths no longer have to do all this or even put themselves in dangerous situations through the knowledge of world class welding which they acquired through the aid of the training.

Earlier, MTL through its Rural Livelihood Foundation, forged an agreement with its partners to provide alternative livelihood skills to former small scale miners and other residents in the area affected by its mining exploration.

According to Dr. Ernie Mendoza, senior vice president for corporate services for MTL Philippines, the training was made to provide the out-of-school youths in the area a chance to acquire skills that would make them employable in the world market.

"We decided that we were not helping the people in the community enough if we could not provide them with skills that they could use anywhere in the world," said Mendoza, concurrent RLF executive director, who said that they had originally sent two batches to TESDA's training center in Tuguegarao City.

The first batch, consisting of a handful of residents, took up shielded-metal arch welding and gas-metal arch welding in the regional training institute and are now deep in their on-the-job training at the Subic Bay Free Port with a Swedish firm which into the production of high quality, precision tank cleaning equipment.

The second batch,, who were more than double the number of the first batch, were just as lucky or even luckier by being immediately hired by a Korean firm based in Subic where they should have conducted their on-the job training

Melanie Valenciano, community development head of MTL Philippines' RLF, said that the success of the training has greatly encouraged the local residents to fully participate in the activities provides by the said agency.

But likewise the very success of the two batches made the proponents realize the infeasibility of alwas sending batches to Tuguegarao City for training.

"We eventurally realized that continuously sending trainees to Tuguegarao is not economically prudent in the long run so we decided to bring the economic skills trainings to the community through the putting up of the technical school," she added.

Manuel Hiadan, TESDA provincial head, other technical courses to be provided the residents of Runruno through the said MOA, aside from shielded arch welding, like automotive, machine shop, heavy equipment operation, garments, crop and animal production and food processing.

For his part, Quezon Mayor Aurelio Salunat could not help but express his appreciation for the chance being provided the out-of-school youths of the barangay and others interested by the said skills trainings provided through MTL, TESDA and other agencies.

"With this welcome move, we foresee the increased development of our town in terms of having provided our residents with additional skills that they could use," Salunat said. CCL

Isabela env't officer wins as nat'l forester of year

2007-08-07T03:07:00.001-07:00

AWARDEE. Forester Felix Taguba, provincial environment and natural resources officer of DENR Isabela, proudly shows off his certificate as outstanding forester of the year after receiving it during the 59th anniversary of the Society of Filipino Foresters, Inc. held at Butuan City . BY CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

Isabela env't officer wins as nat'l forester of year

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

ILAGAN, Isabela It was in recognition of "26 years of dedicated, versatile and productive service as a government forester" that eventually gave him the nod of the judges and his peers.

For this, forester Felix Taguba, provincial environment and natural resources officer (PENRO) of this province, was named outstanding forester of the year during the recent awarding ceremonies of the Society of Filipino Foresters Inc., at Alment Hotel and Inland Resort, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, last July 18-22.

This year's outstanding forester, upon receiving the said award during the occasion of the national convention, experts' forum and 59th anniversary of the SFFI, expressed thanks to his colleagues in the forestry profession for their recognition of his humble achievements.

Taguba bested all other competitors in the nationwide competition, including his closest rival, a fellow provincial environment and natural resources officer from Caraga region, as a result of the outstanding service provided by his office in terms of defending the environment and natural resources in the province of Isabela , particularly its forest cover and mineral resources.

They were the two finalists chosen from out of a batch of nominees from throughout the country. CCL

Anti-mining rallyists in N. Vizcaya

2007-08-07T03:07:00.000-07:00

Anti-mining rallyists in N. Vizcaya

villages vow to maintain blockade

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcayu Anti-mning villagers in the eastern part of mountainous Kasibu town here whose leaders had earlier been charged by a foreign-owned mining firm for blocking the entry of its exploration equipment into their respective villages vowed to remain firm in their opposition to the said mining firm's planned actions by maintaining their blockade, although promising this would remain peaceful.

This happened even as the Nueva Vizcaya police here sent a contingent to ensure that the confrontation between the anti-mining villagers and the managers of Oxiana Philippines at its planned exploration site in Pao, Kasibu town remained on the level and to prevent violence from breaking out from the flaring tempers of the both parties.

Earlier, Oxiana had filed charges in the court for obstruction of operations and disturbance of the peace to some 20 barangay leaders in the villages of Pao, Kakiduguen, Dine, Pacquet and other nearby villages.

Among those charged were the barangay chairmen of the said four villages, namely, Mariano Maddela, Antonio Tuguinay, Manuel Binuya and Filimon Blanco, respectively.

According to Senior Superintendent Segundo Duran, Nueva Vizcaya police director, the police contingent was sent to the areas in order to prevent the breaking out of violence during the confrontation which has remained tense due to the stand-off between the two sides.

Earlier, Oxiana Philippines was able to obtain an exploration permit from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau's regional office in Tuguegarao City after it successfully convinced most Bugkalots residing within the firm's exploration area which also falls within their tribal ancestral domain claim with the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)..

The approval of the said residents from the said indigenous group , formerly known as the Ilongots, as well as from the NCIP, was necessary before Oxiana could begin exploration activities in the area.

The anti-mining rallyists however questioned whether there was sufficient approval given to the project since the side of the other indigenous groups who are not originally from the place and cannot claim it as their ancestral domain was not taken into consideration.

Meanwhile, Maddela, who is also a Bugkalot, expressed doubt whether all or most Bugkalots, support the exploration activities of Oxiana which is a different firm from the more popular Oceana Gold which manages the now operational Didipio Gold-Copper Project in west-central Kasibu,. CCL

Fw: Super regions not a gimmick but a blueprint for our future - PGMA

2007-08-07T03:05:00.000-07:00

Super regions not a gimmick but a blueprint for our future - PGMA

Manila (25 July) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday said the creation of Super regions in the country is not made for political purposes but it should serve as a pathway for Filipinos towards development.

In her State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the House of Congress, President Arroyo reiterated her commitment to fulfill the plans and programs designed to operationalize the Super Regions which she unveiled during her SONA last year.

The Super Regions are composed of Mindanao, Central Philippines, North Luzon Agri-Business Quadrangle (NLAQ), Luzon Urban Beltway and the Cyber Corridor.

The President, in an optimistic mood said the creation of Super Regions was intended to spread development away from an inequitable concentration in Metro Manila.

"Hindi lamang Metro Manila ang Pilipinas. The Super regions was not a gimmick for the occasion but the blueprint for building our future," she said.

According to Arroyo, recent developments and accomplishments within the NLAQ were the completion of at least 200 kilometer road project which is under the NLAQ's plan to build 1,000 kilometer farm-to-market roads.

Airports, the president said were also being constructed to spur transportation and growth within the NLAQ such as the airport in Baler and Casiguran in Aurora including roads.

The upgrading of the Batanes airport, she said will be done before the end of the year including another one in Alaminos, Pangasinan.

Other developments in NLAQ, Arroyo said are the expansion of the San Vicente naval airstrip with the help of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority(CEZA) and the private sector, agribusiness ecozone to be built in Lallo town in Cagayan, the Tarlac-La Union Toll Road, Poro Point international terminal, the lengthening of the Bagabag Airport in Nueva Vizcaya, inclusion of some towns of Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela and Quirino in the geo-hazard mapping for 700 cities and towns in the country and the putting up and expansion of the Bangui Bay Wind Power Project to generate savings from usage of fuel. (PIA NVizcaya)

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NVizcaya OFW center workers optimistic on consular assistance to ASEAN nationals

2007-08-07T03:04:00.002-07:00

NVizcaya OFW center workers optimistic on consular assistance to ASEAN nationals

Judith Fragata who serves as one of the ACVOW secretariat here said the proposal which is set to be approved tomorrow(July 30) with the on-going 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, would facilitate the speedy protection and security of migrant workers.

"Most often, when crisis or conflicts erupt, we usually encounter problems such as confusion, fear, security and protection from OFWs. If this will be approved, all we need to do is to inform and educate their families inorder to convince them of their welfare while they are caught during crisis situations," she said.

During the Israel-Lebanon conflict, ACVOW acted on many cases of migrant workers, extending counselling and communication assistance between OFWs and their families in the province.

"Once the SOP will be formulated, OFWs would be assured of receiving immediate help and care in a safe place," Fragata said.

The consular assistance to ASEAN nationals caught in conflict or crisis situations which was initiated by the Philippines was one of the agreements reached moments before the start of the AMM.

Department of oreign Affairs, spokesperson Claro Cristobal said the initiative was one of the offshoots of the AMM theme which is "One Caring and Sharing Community," designed to foster stronger cooperation for the protection of their nationals in third countries.

"The basic principle embodied in the SOP is for an ASEAN member country to provide assistance to nationals of another ASEAN state similar to that given to its own nationals, based on capacities and resources of the relevant missions during a crisis," Cristobal said.

The SOP will institutionalize a set of procedures governing future cooperation among ASEAN member countries on matters involving their nationals in crisis situations.

The DFA said that under the SOP, an ASEAN country that does not have a consular mission in a third country can seek formal assistance from another ASEAN country that has a mission in that third country to assist their nationals who are in crisis situations.

In case of imminent danger, however, "a citizen of an ASEAN member country may directly seek assistance from the missions of other ASEAN member countries or go directly to shelters or sanctuaries provided by their missions," the DFA said. (PIA Vizcaya)

No fireworks yet in Campbell killer's case

2007-08-07T03:04:00.001-07:00

BUT DELAY ENSUES FROM DEFENSE COUNSEL'S ABSENCE

No fireworks yet in Campbell killer's case

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

LAGAWE, Ifugao The murder trial of Juan Donald Duntugan, self-confessed killer of American Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell last April, pushed through yesterday with practically no "fireworks" as both the prosecution and defense went through the tedious task in the preliminary conference of going through the list of evidence both sides would be presenting in the course of the trial proper.

Both the prosecution led by provincial prosecutor Joseph Tumapang and the four-man private prosecutor team from the Baguio-based Agranzamendez Licerald Gallardo and Associates law firm headed by University of the Cordilleras law dean Reynaldo Agranzamendez, as well as Duntugan's defense counsel Pedro Mayam-o, a former provincial board member here, took the whole morning to go through the mountain of evidence to be presented by both sides in the course of the trial proper.

The temper changed somewhat in the afternoon for what should have been the pre-trial conference, however, after Mayam-o hurriedly left for a personal commitment without allegedly informing Judge Esther Piscozo-Flor of Regional Trial Court Branch 34 about the matter, which almost led to the immediate postponement of the case once again due to lack of defense representation.

Luckily, the void made by Mayam-o's sudden unexplained absence was filled because of the appearance of lawyer Eugene Ballitang, collaborating counsel for the defense, who should have made his appearance only during the course of the trial proper but was forced to make his appearance earlier after being informed by prosecutor Tumapang of the situation.

Ballitang then requested the court to postpone the pretrial to a later date as he had not yet studied the documents and was not in proper court attire, being only in T-shirt and jeans.

Judge Flor acceded to the said request and re-scheduled the next hearing of the case on Aug. 20 for the continuation of the pre-trial in the morning and trial in the afternoon, and on the whole day of Aug. 21 for the continuation of the trial proper.

Flor, however, also slapped a P100 fine on Mayam-o for being absent in the afternoon without any sufficient reason.

It was reported the Mayam-o had excused himself to colleagues, saying he had to attend the burial of a relative, and that he would be replaced by Ballitang. Ballitang, however, said he was not apprised of the hearing and had to excuse himself to the judge for his "improper attire."

Ballitang likewise told the judge that although he had been contracted by the family of the suspect only as a collaborating counsel, he was willing to take over as lead counsel if the needed arises.

Unconfirmed reports have it that Mayam-o had felt slighted when informed that Duntugan's family took another counsel aside from him.

Lead private prosecutor Reynaldo Agranzamendez said they were ready for the coming trial on Aug. 20-21. "We in the prosecution are ready. I don't know about the defense, as there seems to be a problem over defense representation," Agranzamendez said, adding that they would be presenting nine witnesses during the next trial dates in addition to the tons of evidence at hand.

According to the ranking NCIP official, who requested for anonymity, the killing had allegedly caused officials of various embassies, especially the US Embassy in Manila , to be stricter in issuing visas to residents from the Cordillera provinces wishing to enter their countries.

Almost three weeks after, the 25-year-old Duntugan surrendered to authorities through a Manila-based giant television network and confessed owning up to the crime.

"We know that this is an isolated incident but one cannot avoid for the various embassies to be wary about people from the region. It makes it as if the region is a lawless place. In fact, some Cordillerans had even suggested that one should not tell embassy officials that you are from the Cordillera, or particularly Ifugao," the NCIP executive said.

The official likewise said that information had likewise reached their office that the various embassies in the country had also issued travel advisories to their citizens to avoid going to the Cordillera, particularly Ifugao province, as a result of the incident.

Even before the police filed murder charges against Duntugan, a source from the provincial prosecutor's office in Lagawe had implied that US embassy and Peace Corps officials had been pressuring their office to file murder charges against the suspect. This had been later denied by US embassy officials who said they have full trust and confidence in the Philippine judicial system.

Duntugan had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge despite owning up to the killing, saying he did not kill Campbell on purpose, but thought it was a neighbor with whom he had a grudge.

Ifugao Rep. Solomon Chungalao, a member of the Atienza wing of the Liberal Party, it is not right for anyone to generalize matters when the case was just an isolated crime incident.

"We Ifugaos put the woman in a pedestal. The Campbell case cannot picture the way of life of the Ifugao," said Chungalao, who admitted the incident had some impact on the economy, especially in the tourism industry of the province, host to the renowned Ifugao Terraces, declared the 8th wonder of the world and one of the international heritage sites.

Other local officials, likewise, admitted that the Campbell issue had an effect on the province's tourism industry, one of the major revenue sources for the local government units here.

"The ordinary farmers here in Ifugao don't know about this Campbell case," said Hingyon Mayor Ramon Tinawi.

However, a restaurant owner in Bangaan village in Banaue town which is commonly visited by tourists admitted that the Campbell killing had resulted in almost 50 percent reduction in the number of local and foreign tourists visiting their place.

"In fact, many of the foreign tourists had cancelled their previous reservations while the remaining tourists, mostly locals, now come in trickles," the restaurant owner said in Filipino.

The same sentiment is also shared by other store owners as well as operators of hotels and inns and tour guides.CCL

Gov't on track with revenue, zero deficit targets

2007-08-07T03:04:00.000-07:00

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (July 27) -- Finance Secretary Margarito Teves on Thursday said the government is still on the right path of achieving its revenue targets and zero budget deficits by the end of this year.

Citing the recent fiscal situation of the country, Teves said lower debt payments of 10.5 percent in the first half of the year further boosted this development due to huge savings and interest payments.

He said the government's payment of P350.52-billion worth of principal debt resulted to the generation of savings as much as P4.2 billion in debt service requirement for every P1.00 appreciation against the dollar and another P5.1 billion for every decline in domestic interest rates.

According to Teves, the government intends to raise P1.236 trillion in revenues next year which is more than enough to fund the proposed budget of P1.227 trillion which includes the projects that were announced by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her State of the Nation Address(SONA).

"The combined revenues from both tax and non-tax sources will keep the government on track with its fiscal consolidation program without sacrificing infrastructure development to enhance competitiveness and provide better social services for our people," Teves in a statement said.

To support this efforts, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs(BOC) are intensifying tax administration programs, including the adoption of technology-based measures and governance initiatives to strengthen collection efficiency.

The BIR will conduct massive tax-compliance audit nationwide on 30 percent of taxpayers registered in their offices before the year ends. Examiners will also prioritize businesses suspected of falling short of their supposed tax remittances in past years based on the bureau's "benchmarking" method.

These efforts, BIR officials said were geared towards the generation of P844.95 billion in revenues while the BOC will collect P254.5 billion which will be complemented by non-tax revenues such as the proceeds from the privatization and higher dividends from Government - Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), Government Financial Institutions (GFIs) and Social Security Institutions (SSis).

The proceeds from the privatization could reach P100 billion this year according to BIR officials which is enough to offset the tax collection shortfall in the first half of the year.

The government would be selling its shares from the Philippine National Oil Co-Energy Development Corp. (PNOC_EDC) amounting to P50 billion and San Miguel Corporation worth P50 billion. (PIA NVizcaya)

2 young rebels surrender in Nueva Vizcaya

2007-08-07T03:01:00.000-07:00

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (July 27) -- Two minors who had been members of the New People's Army operating in the province surrendered recently to police authorities here.

Police Sr. Superintendent Segundo Duran, acting provincial director said the two female rebels whom he identified only as Ka Beth and Ka Mina inorder to hide their real identities decided to go back to the fold of the law after they were invited by their colleagues to join them in the mountains.

"The two surrenderees were already taught with basic knowledge and skills as NPA guerilla. They are about to join their operation in the mountains. In fact, their comrades were already looking for them," Duran said.

According to Duran, the communist rebels have exploited the recent political campaign to visit their targeted villages, mostly remote ones in the province.

The two surrenderees, he said came from barangay Sanguit, an upland community in Dupax del Sur town.

He added that the communist rebels were trying to penetrate the remote villages to intensify their recruitment and mass-based support.

Duran said the two surrenderees will be presented to local officials later as they are now under technical interrogation. (PIA NVizcaya) [top]

IMF exec cites vital reforms in RP

2007-08-06T07:43:00.003-07:00

IMF exec cites vital reforms in RP

by Ben Moses Ebreo

Tuguegarao City (3 August) -- A top official of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently lauded the country's several adoption of policies which he said are vital reforms for uplifting the plight of the poor and serve as mechanisms needed towards globalization.

"We also need to make sure that the fruits of growth are widely shared and that the poorest people are protected from the costs of adjustment…. Some of these policies are already being put into practice here in the Philippines," said Rodrigo de Rato, IMF managing director.

He said the government's increase in investment in education and technology would reduce inequality, which has become the main reason why the benefits of improved technology have accrued disproportionately to the richest countries and to the richest and best educated people in all countries.

"The way to address this source is not to turn our backs on new technology but to widen access to it and to education in technology," De Rato said.

He also cited that the government's building up of telecommunications infrastructure and reducing the cost of international calls has stimulated growth in information and communications technology which increased employment over the last six years.

De Rato also stressed that he was pleased when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo emphasized development of physical infrastructure as well as human capital in her State of the Nation Address(SONA) last week.

He also lauded the country for exemplifying to implement the Value Added Tax law where part of its proceeds was used to reduce excises on kerosene and to increase spending on infrastructure and social services, thereby offsetting the effect on the poor.

"Government's can keep the global economy growing strongly by continuing good policies and by acting to contain key risks in inergy and financial markets. They can also increase support for globalization and help their own poorest citizens by taking steps to address inequality. The Philippines is leading the way in several areas," De Rato said. (PIA NVizcaya)

NVizcaya officials outline program for development

2007-08-06T07:43:00.001-07:00

by Ben Moses Ebreo

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (August 3) -- In support to the national government's operationalization of the Super Economic Regions to spur local development, the provincial government here has prioritized local programs designed to uplift the economic conditions of the marginalized sector.

Tina Sanchez-Gurat, Public Affairs and Information Assistance Division(PAIAD) information officer said the provincial government, headed by governor Luisa Cuaresma and vice governor Jose Gambito reiterated their priority concerns and programs from 2006 to 2010 on infrastructure, health, education, livelihood, agricultural support, tourism development.

Sanchez, during the weekly radio program "Vizcaya Reports" over DWRV said the following were discussed during a review and assessment activity in Palawan recently, attended by department heads of the provincial government family.

She said that the priority programs will be pursued alongside with the national government's projects under the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle(NLAQ) which include the rehabilitation of the Bagabag Airport, provision of post harvest facilities and improvement of access roads in the province.

"The governor reiterated during the activity in Palawan the value of saving inorder to sufficiently fund the projects under the outlined development programs and if there are savings that will be generated, additional projects will come in," Sanchez said.

Vice governor Jose Gambito in a similar interview over the provincial government's radio program admitted that the good rapport between the executive department and the legislative department has produced tangible programs and projects in view such as the construction of roads and bridges, school buildings and educational facilities, accommodation of provincially-paid teachers and improved health services among others.

He added that with the operationalization of the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal(NVAT), farmers increased their income and more have been benefited from the project.

"The improvement of the lives of the Novo Vizcayanos is a shared vision between the executive and the legislative branches of the provincial government. We will continue to work harder to give our constituents more of what they need," Gambito said. (PIA NVizcaya) [top]

Nutrition program gets support from NVizcaya town officials

2007-08-06T07:42:00.001-07:00

by Ben Moses Ebreo

BAYOBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (August 3) -- Newly elected municipal officials of Aritao town headed by mayor Lucita Tan recently expressed their full support and cooperation with the implementation of various programs and projects under the national government's nutrition program.

Tan made her commitment during the recent 2007 municipal nutrition program held in their town.

"With the help of the vice mayor and members of the Sangguniang Bayan, I am sure that the program will make it even better as far as the implementation of the program is concerned," she said.

Tan also encouraged her department heads to sign the pledge of commitment in support to the implementation of the nutrition programs and projects in their municipality.

The signing of the pledge of commitment was witnessed by municipal employees, health personnel and nutrition program implementers.

Tan also expressed gratitude to the volunteer workers of the nutrition program for their hard work in advancing the cause of the program while receiving a minimal compensation.

Aritao town has been a Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition(CROWN) award for maintaining the Green Banner Award for the past three years. (PIA NVizcaya)

DOST projects get backing of NVizcaya

2007-08-06T07:40:00.000-07:00

by Ben Moses Ebreo

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (August 3) – The priority projects of the Department of Science and Technology(DOST) here recently received an overwhelming support from the provincial government here headed by governor Luisa Cuaresma.

Teresita Tabaog, DOST provincial director said the supported projects under their Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading or SET-UP were welcomed by the provincial officials during their formal presentation, coinciding with the blessing and inauguration of their office within the provincial capitol compound.

SET-UP is DOST's flagship program in carrying out its mandate on technology transfer and commercialization.

Tabaog said the supported projects under their SET-UP program are Tatang's Vinegar of LLM Food Products, involving the adoption of mixed fruit vinegar and acetator technologies of DOST; the adoption of DOST's upgraded mushroom technologies by the Luyang Women's Association and the equipment upgrading for the Abot Palad's Products.

She said the establishment of a Satellite Toll Packaging Center is underway to provide services among the increasing and growing small medium enterprises and food processing businesses in the province. (PIA NVizcaya)

PAGASA says Nueva Vizcaya under below-normal rainfall

2007-07-31T10:27:00.000-07:00

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (July 30) -- Official of the Philippine Atmospheric and Geophysical Scientific Administration(PAGASA) Friday said the province is under below normal rainfall.

Officials made the report as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called on all Filipinos to conserve water in the wake of a possible critical water shortage brought by a "dry spell" now sweeping across the country.

Arroyo also ordered national government agencies to prepare for the worst and ordered the impounding and use of shallow tube wells as short - term solution and rehabilitation of deep wells, water harvesting, planting of drought resistant crops, modifying the cropping calendar and monitoring ground water levels as long term solution.

Nueva Vizcaya was included under the below normal rainfall by PAGASA along with Metro Manila, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Cavite and Agusan del Norte.

"The country, particularly Luzon island is experiencing an "extended" dry spell for the past two months, when the rainy season should have started. The "weird" weather was an offshoot of climate change wherein global temperatures increased due to greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, that trap the heat from the sun," PAGASA explained in their weather current forecast.

It further said that Metro Manila and parts of Luzon are already meteorologically, agriculturally and hydrologically experiencing drought which include red tide areas, warmer than normal air, blackouts, forest fires and health-related concerns.

A state of drought condition could be declared in areas with no rainfall for three consecutive months, PAGASA added. (PIA NVizcaya)

MGB: Mining not cause of flashfloods in NV village

2007-07-31T10:23:00.001-07:00

DYING FOREST ZONE. A forest cover in the remote mountain boundary of Quezon and Kasibu towns in Nueva Vizcaya is shorn of natural vegetation caused by slash-and-burn farmers who convert them into plantations. Indiscriminate hillside farming was believed to be one of the major reasons for the flash floods that hit the village of Runruno , Quezon last year, which also claimed a number of lives. By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya - Mining was not the major cause of flashfloods and landslides that hit a mountain village here sometime last year and also claimed the lives of at least eight residents, according to a report of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), which The STAR obtained yesterday (31 July).

This report came in the wake of a complaint letter of Gov. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma to Environment Sec. Angelo Reyes, seeking the revocation of the exploration permit of a British-owned mining firm in the remote mountain village of Runruno in Quezon town here due to its allegedly being liable to cause landslides and flashfloods that were experienced last year.

"I still distinctly recall the devastation that the area sustained at the onset of typhoon Paeng in October last year. I was able to conduct an ocular inspection immediately after typhoon Paeng and I was able to personally witness that Barangay Runruno in Quezon town was literally covered with mud and soil debris caused by the massive erosions," said Cuaresma, who added that she was "convinced that the conduct of any mining activity would enhance the probability of another massive landslide in Quezon town."

"Perhaps, instead of mining, what the area needs is rehabilitation or even reforestation," said Cuaresma in his letter to Reyes dated July 2, 2007.

However, according to senior geologists from the MGB's regional office based in Tuguegarao City , the cause of last year's flashfloods and landslides was due to lack of natural vegetation and the place being a geological hazard.

Engr. Jerrysal Mangaoang, MGB director for Cagayan Valley , said that long-time illegal cutting of trees, kaingin farming and illegal small-scale mining were also attributed as contributory factors to last year's flashfloods and landslides in the traditionally mining Runruno village, which is around 2 km. from this capital town.

In their findings with regard to last year's flashfloods and landslides in Barangay Runruno, Quezon, senior geologists Marinelle Monteclaro and Felicitas Piligan reported that prior to the incident which took place at between around midnight and 2 am of Oct. 30, or during the height of typhoon Paeng, it had been already raining straight for almost a week.

Aside from this, they said, the area where the landslides and flashfloods took place had already experienced similar incidents previously.

Meanwhile, the barangay chairman and Runruno viollagers, in a separate letter and manifesto, expressed support for the exploration project of the British-owned MTL-Philippines (Metals Explorations), which the governor had opposed in her letter to Reyes.

"The people of Runruno strongly support MTL Philippines in their exploration activity because of the numerous jobs generated by their activity and the generous assistance in community developments, mainly in education, health and protection of the environment," said Dodoy Rafael, Runruno village chief.

The manifesto signed by more than 1,000 villagers, meanwhile, sought the understanding of the governor saying that if MTL operations would stop, "the more illegal loggers will rise in number, the more forests will be denuded, employment will be curtailed, more sickness and communicable disease will spread, and all of us would become hungry and thirsty, uneducated, we will be deprived of decent living that all redound to make us thieves, criminals and (similar persons)."

The MTL, which had been conducting exploration activities for gold, copper and other commercially-viable minerals, had temporarily stopped operations after its two-year exploration permit expired last July 25. MTL executives, however, expressed optimism that the national government, through the DENR would renew their application for extension for another two years in due time.

More than 100 residents were laid off as a result of the MTL's 'temporary' stoppage of operation, pending the renewal for extension of its exploration project. CCL

NVizcaya OFW center workers optimistic on consular assistance to ASEAN nationals

2007-07-31T10:14:00.001-07:00

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (July 30) -- Workers of the Assistance Council For Vizcayano Overseas Workers(ACVOW) here welcomed the proposal on the draft Standard Operating Procedure(SOP) on extending consular assistance by ASEAN missions in third countries to nationals of ASEAN member countries in crisis situations.

Judith Fragata who serves as one of the ACVOW secretariat here said the proposal which is set to be approved tomorrow(July 30) with the on-going 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, would facilitate the speedy protection and security of migrant workers.

"Most often, when crisis or conflicts erupt, we usually encounter problems such as confusion, fear, security and protection from OFWs. If this will be approved, all we need to do is to inform and educate their families inorder to convince them of their welfare while they are caught during crisis situations," she said.

During the Israel-Lebanon conflict, ACVOW acted on many cases of migrant workers, extending counselling and communication assistance between OFWs and their families in the province.

"Once the SOP will be formulated, OFWs would be assured of receiving immediate help and care in a safe place," Fragata said.

The consular assistance to ASEAN nationals caught in conflict or crisis situations which was initiated by the Philippines was one of the agreements reached moments before the start of the AMM.

Department of oreign Affairs, spokesperson Claro Cristobal said the initiative was one of the offshoots of the AMM theme which is "One Caring and Sharing Community," designed to foster stronger cooperation for the protection of their nationals in third countries.

"The basic principle embodied in the SOP is for an ASEAN member country to provide assistance to nationals of another ASEAN state similar to that given to its own nationals, based on capacities and resources of the relevant missions during a crisis," Cristobal said.

The SOP will institutionalize a set of procedures governing future cooperation among ASEAN member countries on matters involving their nationals in crisis situations.

The DFA said that under the SOP, an ASEAN country that does not have a consular mission in a third country can seek formal assistance from another ASEAN country that has a mission in that third country to assist their nationals who are in crisis situations.

In case of imminent danger, however, "a citizen of an ASEAN member country may directly seek assistance from the missions of other ASEAN member countries or go directly to shelters or sanctuaries provided by their missions," the DFA said. (PIA Vizcaya)

New NVizcaya police to tap radio groups, barangay officials vs. criminals

2007-07-31T10:07:00.001-07:00

"I believe that by tapping the help of radio groups and barangay officials, we can improve the peace and order situation of our province," Duran said.

Duran said the revival of these groups will be sustained for their anti-criminality programs and projects.