Northern Philippine Times

By Freddie Lazaro

BANGUED, Abra – Provincial officials said the military and police will display the highest sense of professionalism in the midterm elections in May.

The assurance came after President Duterte said he is certain the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) will remain non-partisan in the polls.

Gov. Ma. Jocelyn Valera-Bernos, a reserve lieutenant colonel in the Philippine Army, said the “will of the electorate” will be guarded with utmost care.

Earlier, the Commission on Elections (Comelec), police and military renewed their commitment in ensuring honest, fair, and peaceful elections.

Abra had earlier activated “Abra Shield”, a unique public safety force composed of 1501st Regional Mobile First Battalion, 22nd Special Action Company, PNP-Special Action Force, and Provincial Mobile Force Company to implement the gun ban and to intensify operations against loose firearms and private armed groups.

Aside from setting up checkpoints, the police has stepped up foot and mobile patrols all over the province.

The Army unit stationed in the province had pledged to support the local police operations while strengthening its counter-insurgency campaign.

Bernos appealed to the policemen and soldiers not to be enticed by politicians. She reminded them to always be on the side of the law and perform their mandate “to serve the country and their fellow Filipinos.”

PARACELIS, Mountain Province -- Hundreds of Indigenous Peoples in this town were given free medical, dental and wellness services by a group composed of women to celebrate the National Women’s Month.

"We are very happy, lucky and thankful to Happy Hearts because a medical mission was conducted here after several years considering the long hours of travel," said Councilor Djarma Rafael who chairs the local legislative council’s committee on women and children on Sunday.

Paracelis, about eight hours away from Baguio City, was reached by the group around 6 a.m. on March 9 for an outreach program in celebration of the National Women’s Day every March, which is simultaneous with the worldwide observance of the International Women’s Day.

The outreach lasted until evening, with some of the patients coming from far-flung villages to avail of free services and supplies.

Rafael said the group provided free medical checkup; dental services, blood sugar screening, and wellness. Medicines were also given free as part of the women’s month celebration.

The councilor said many women and children in the town are underserved in terms of health providers and medical assistance considering the geographical location of the municipality.

"Paracelis has a big population, even the district hospital cannot accommodate the whole area and of course the number of health workers is also a problem," she said.

Paracelis, a second-class municipality which relies heavily on agriculture, has a population of 26,476.

"There are a lot of women and children here who cannot afford to go to the hospital and have themselves checked so this is a great opportunity for them to take advantage of the presence of medical practitioners who are giving their services for free and even giving free medicines," she said.

Rafael said due to their distance from the center of the province in Bontoc, it is seldom that organizations conduct outreach and provide free medical assistance for the residents of Paracelis.

She said that with the financial condition of the families, especially for the mothers, health is the least of their priority.

She said the local government is trying to do its best to provide quality health services for the constituents, but is still not enough. As such, Rafael expressed gratitude that “Happy Hearts” visited them.

"There are some medical activities here being conducted by the Rural Health Unit (RHU) but it is not enough, not everyone can avail of it especially those who are living in the outskirts," she said.

Alice Lambayog, 21, who came with her two children said it breaks her heart that she cannot bring her children to the doctor even if they are not feeling well.

"Hindi naman kami mayaman para makapag-pagamot sa hospital. Hirap na kaming makapaghanap ng pera para sa pagkain sa pang-araw -araw, kaya malaking bagay yung mga ganitong bagay sa amin, libreng patingin, libreng gamot (We're not rich to have ourselves checked at the hospital. We have difficulty earning money to sustain our daily lives and to be able to avail of free checkup and free medicine is really a big help to us)," she said.

She brought her two-year-old son whose head had been filled with sored scabies and her daughter, who has cough and colds.

They are among the 328 indigent women and children in the town who received medical aid. A handful of men also availed of the free services.

Aside from medical and dental, a wellness service was also provided by two physical therapists who gave treatment sessions and taught the patients how to manage back pains and “frozen shoulders” that can affect the movements.

Happy Hearts is a group composed of high school batchmates from St. Louis Girls High School in Baguio City to volunteer their services.

Dr. Marie Jorilyn Bahingawan of Itogon, who joined the group in Paracelis said it was a happy experience giving time and her skills to other people, not only from her town in Benguet.

Happy Hearts resident dentist Rowena Aquino Pascual said for almost 10 years now, several outreach activities like medical missions, feeding, gift giving or a mixture of such services have been conducted in several towns in La Union and Pangasinan.

She said that those activities were done in partnership with other Baguio-based groups and organizations, and even individuals who give their services for free. The event was also supported by The Generics Pharmacy of JG Summit Holdings.

"With our registered physicians, dentists, physical therapists, medical technologists and nurses, we have provided medical and dental services, physical therapy wellness lecture and treatment sessions and did blood sugar testing," she said.

Pascual also said that the outreach was made possible with the help of several other supporters who continue to believe in the group’s endeavors. -- PNA

By Raymund Catindig

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan — A barangay captain and two watchmen are facing criminal charges for allegedly beating up a 15-year-old student in Aparri, Cagayan on March 8.

Police said Francis Jet Arimas, chairman of Barangay Bukig, Cornelio Tierro and Arnold Bugarin reportedly accosted and beat up the victim after receiving reports of illegal gambling involving students at the Bukig National Agricultural and Technical School.

The incident was reportedly witnessed by students and teachers.

A complaint for violation of the Anti-Child Abuse Law was filed against the barangay officials.

BAGUIO CITY – Aside from its many attractions, this Summer Capital is being pushed as “honeymooners” wedding destination of the north.

The city council approved on first reading an ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro Yangot, Jr., which stated all hotels will be required to prepare a honeymooner’s wedding package to those who decide to be wed in the city and avail of their hotel facilities or services.

Under the proposed ordinance, hotel owners and operators, who are supportive of the program, shall receive a 10-percent exemption from payment of business taxes of the gross sales or receipts for each honeymoon package hosted.

The ordinance tasked the City Treasury Office, in coordination with the Baguio Tourism Council, to monitor and implement the guidelines necessary for the successful implementation of the measure.

Yangot said Baguio City was famous not only as a premier tourist destination, but also a honeymooners’ haven located north of the country.

He said the city was the ideal place for newly-weds because of its natural cool climate where air conditioning is round the clock and the air is filled with the fresh scent of pine.

He added the city’s declaration as a honeymooner’s haven could also be enhanced by the beautiful hotels and gardens perfect for a dream wedding at reasonable and minimum cost.

According to him, it will be appropriate and fitting for the City Council to formally declare Baguio City as Honeymooner’s Haven, as well as support its establishment as the wedding destination of the north with the adoption of the measure that is seen as one of the major drivers of the local economy.

The ordinance stipulated many couples from different parts of the world opt to hold important events in their lives in Baguio City because of its cool and unique climate that is why there is always a significant number of visitors who flock to the city during weekends and holidays because its good weather is a natural pull for people to frequent the city.

For the past several years, a good number of beautiful hotels have started to be built in strategic areas around the city with venues for gatherings and special occasions of groups who prefer holding their important occasions in the city.

In the early 1900s, the American colonizers discovered Kafagway as a suitable rest and recreation area for top government and military officials during summer and renamed it Baguio City in 1903, and transferring colonial government functions to the new city, earning its name Summer Capital.

By Jojo Riñoza

DAGUPAN CITY – Towns in Pangasinan downstream of the San Roque Dam will be least affected by the impending dry spell, an official the firm operating the dam said.

“We have enough water in San Roque (dam) to address the irrigation requirements of farmlands in several municipalities downstream,” according to Tommy Valdez, vice president for corporate affairs of the San Roque Power Corporation.

Valdez said the San Roque Multipurpose Project (SRMP) “is basically for irrigation and that one the reasons why the level in the watershed should be maintained at the end of the rainy season.

Most eastern and central agricultural towns of the province benefit from the irrigation coming from the dam, among them San Manuel, Asingan, Villasis, Urdaneta, Binalonan, Laoac, Malasiqui, Alcala, Tayug, Sta. Maria, Rosales, Balungao, Calasiao, Mapandan and Manaoag, as well as San Manuel in Tarlac.

The 200-meter-high, 1.2-km-long dam on the Agno River is the largest in the Philippines.

CABUGAO, Ilocos Sur -- The Supreme Court has been asked to look into the validity of an arrest warrant issued against Mayor Edward Cobangbang of this town by a supposedly suspended judge.

The Filipino League of Advocates for Good Governance (FLAGG) last week questioned the order issued by acting Cabugao Regional Trial Court Judge Raphiel Alzate for the arrest of Cobangbang and 18 others.

The order stemmed from a case involving the closure of a local beach resort with the operator and a four-year-old boy trapped inside.

The National Bureau of Investigation is now hunting down Cobangbang who was ordered arrested over the padlocking of a government-owned resort with its operator and four-year-old son trapped inside.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said NBI agents have joined the manhunt for Cobangbang after Ilocos Sur police failed to serve a warrant of arrest for serious illegal detention and grave coercion.

“The NBI has tapped... agents to arrest Mayor Cobangbang pursuant to the warrant issued by the RTC,” Guevarra said, referring to the order of Cabugao Regional Trial Court Branch 24 Judge Raphiel Alzate.

Guevarra said prosecutors would also seek the issuance of a hold departure order against Cobangbang.

The Dept. of the Interior and Local Government had appointed Vice Mayor Deogracias Jose Victorino Savellano as acting mayor of Cabugao.

The DILG regional office said Cobangbang is “temporarily incapacitated” to perform the responsibilities of a town mayor in view of the charges he is facing.

Cobangbang and 18 others were ordered arrested after the court upheld the finding of probable cause by the Dept. of Justice in the complaint filed by resort operator Virginia Ong.

The DOJ granted the petition for review that Ong filed and reversed the April 23, 2018 resolution of the provincial prosecutor’s office that dismissed the charges for lack of probable cause.

The elements of serious illegal detention were present in the case, noting that a private individual was detained by a public official without lawful basis, according to the DOJ.

Ong, her son and some of her employees were forced to stay in the padlocked resort until their lawyer and the police arrived the following day.

The court said the offense is non-bailable.

Prior to the incident, Cobangbang demanded that Ong and her employees leave the resort. Ong refused, saying her lease contract is until 2025.

BAGUIO CITY – Visitors from Laguna and one from Bataan who came here for the Panagbenga Festival main highlights last March 10 were stripped of their belongings worth thousands of pesos and valuables by thieves in the dead of night.

A police report said the theft happened around 2:30 to 4 a.m. that night at No. 15 Mines View.

Policed did not discount possibility of an inside job.

Complainants staying and working Laguna were named as Kevin Comita Cordoves, 27, DRRM employee whose Iphone 6 worth P8,000 was taken; Nathaniel Sabado Molinas, 25, municipal encoder whose DSLR camera with lens and charger worth P80,000 and cash worth P7,000 were taken and Jobert Amparado Novenario, 34, DRRM employee whose Azuz phone worth P7,000, cash worth P2,100 and bag with clothes were taken.

Other victims were Annie Santa Ana Angat, 40, municipal employee whose power bank, charger, Iphone and cash worth P7,000 were stolen; Jasper Agustin Monfero, 41, municipal employee whose buddy bag, cell phone charger, cash of P5,000 were taken and Krich Villasurda Monfero, 29, municipal nurse.

Taken from Monfero were Samsung Plus worth P16,000.

Also victimized were Ruel Piswenga Borgonia, 48, municipal driver whose cash worth P8,500 was taken; Pablito Pabs Platero, 26 whose Iphone 6S worth P 16,000.00 was stolen; Coleen Sabado Sulebet, 19, of Pilar Bataan whose two power banks, cash worth P600, IPAD worth P30,000 were stolen and Bon Bryan Cordova Palacol, 25, DRRM.

Taken from the latter were cash worth P2,500 and LG V20 worth P12,500.

Also stolen from Marcial De Guzman Tado, 22, municipal CCTV operator were Calvin Klien bag with power bank, sunglasses.

Andreus Ben Hur Villasorda Monfero, 32, executive assistant of Laguna also lost cash worth of P50,000 to thieves.

Investigation disclosed that unidentified suspect/s used the main door as their point of entry and exit. While inside the house, suspect/s proceeded to the rooms of the victims which were not locked then took the items. Interview conducted with the victims revealed they only discovered the theft when they woke up around 5 a.m. They said they did not hear any dog bark. No CCTV was also installed in the area.

LICUAN-BAAY, Abra – Police are investigating if there was foul play in the death of a farmer who allegedly drowned here at Panaklisan falls, Barangay Nalbuan Wednesday identified as Nelson Banganan Bagni, 57, married.

The incident was relayed to police by a municipal Disaster official identified as Erosbon Layugan, 30 prompting police led byVan Kimber G. Kitong who found the victim already dead.

Investigation disclosed that around 4:30 p.m. that day, water supply of the victim stopped so the victim went to fix their water pipeline from its source at Panaklisan Falls located which is located at a cliff.

The victim did not come back making his wife uncomfortable as it was getting dark.

His relatives decided to look for him and at around 8:30 p.m. of same date the victim’s body was found lifeless at said falls by Ifrahim Waset together with his companions.

The victim’s head was injured.

By Alpine L. Killa

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Some 50 Junior High School students were toured in farm tourism sites in this capital town March 6 to orient them on role of the youth in promotion of tourism through the use of social media.

The participants were students from Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School (MPGCHS) who have subjects on photography and video production.

Municipal Tourism Officer Caren Guinayen said this was the first time an educational tour on farm tourism catering to junior high school students was initiated and funded by the Bontoc Local Government Unit through its Municipal Tourism Office.

The transportation, food and corresponding fees to include the entrance fees and environmental fees were shouldered by the Bontoc LGU.

The activity aimed to equip participants with necessary knowledge on the different tourism sites in Bontoc, encourage students to become tourism ambassadors, and promote Bontoc as a tourism destination through the use of social media. Guinayen added that this was also a way to promote farm tourism in the municipality as it is one of the main thrust of the Department of Tourism.

She said through farm tourism, people will be encouraged to go back into farming and create dependable source of income. Also, the activity will be an avenue for the students to put into practice what they have learned in school considering that photography and video production is now integrated in their subject in school.

Among the sites visited were the Bontoc Dairy Farm owned by Fonet Modesto Dirige, Lanfang Farm owned by the family of Ben Ayochok, Blue Farm owned by Dan Evert and Shirley Sokoken, Khayad Orange and Dragon Fruit Plant Farm owned by Lynda Khayad and Demo Farm managed by the Bontoc LGU through the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist. Also, the participants have the chance to visit the Maligcong Rice Terraces.

Guinayen said students were oriented to take photos and videos of farm tourism sites they visited and process these using skills they learned in school on photography and video editing to produce outputs.

Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey approved the proposal citing capabilities of the youth in promotion of tourism destinations of Bontoc through skills they learned in school and through responsible and effective social media posting.

The participants were accompanied by their teachers and were assisted by staff from the Municipal Tourism Office along with students taking up Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management at the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) who are having on the job training at the Municipal Tourism Office

By Liezle Basa-Inigo

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- The Provincial Veterinary Office appealed to the public to help lessen the number of rabies cases in Pangasinan with the observance of National Rabies Awareness Month this March.

Report said 25 towns and four cities in Pangasinan were declared as high risk areas due to cases of rabies in these places.

The Provincial Veterinary Office is encouraging all pet owners to have their dogs vaccinated to avoid getting infected with rabies virus.

Likewise, the agency is urging to support the advocacy of attaining a rabies-free community.

The high risk areas include the towns of Agno, Aguilar, Alcala, Asingan, Balungao, Bani, Bautista, Bayambang, Binmaley, Bolinao, Calasiao, Lingayen, Mabini, Malasiqui, Mangaldan, Mangatarem, Natividad, Rosales, San Fabian, San Jacinto, San Quintin, Sta. Barbara, Sto. Tomas, Tayug and Urbiztondo, and the cities of Alaminos, Dagupan, San Carlos and Urdaneta.

This was based on the confirmed rabies cases recorded by the Provincial Veterinary Office for the year 2018.

Dr. Jovito Tabarejos, assistant provincial veterinarian, advised dog owners down at the barangay levels to subject their pets for vaccination, and to prevent dogs from straying in their community to protect people from any rabies infection from dogs.

TUBA, Benguet – A miner died of gas poisoning here inside an abandoned tunnel here Wednesday around 10:30 p.m.

Ulyssis Tomilas Florendo, 26, a resident of Camp 4, Kennon Road identified the victim as his uncle Albert Basilio, 55, single, of Sitio Balococ, Camp 4.

Investigation disclosed the victim was missing for two days. The relatives of Basilio tried to locate him but resulted futile.

At about 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Macario Florendo, elder brother of the victim, decided to enter the abandoned adit and discovered the lifeless body of the victim around 80-100 feet deep from the entrance of the tunnel.

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan -- A Marine was electrocuted at a naval base in Sta. Ana, Cagayan on Wednesday.

Police said Cpl. Joces Camacho of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-10 accidentally touched a live wire while repairing an electrical connection at around 9:30 a.m.

The victim was pronounced dead on arrival at the Fr. Gerry Felippeto Memorial Foundation Hospital.

By Liezle Basa-Inigo

TUGUEGARAO CITY – The Cagayan Valley police warned parents and guardians to be extra careful after a student attending a Scout Junior-Senior Jamboree in Ballesteros town, Cagayan, drowned.

Cagayan Valley police director Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino, said here at Camp Adduru the death of 12-year-old Vince Lucina, a Grade 6 pupil of Solana Elementary School, should serve as warning to those planning to travel to tourist destinations this summer.

Espino earlier ordered the police to set up public assistance centers ahead of the influx of people in resorts and other tourist destinations in the region.

Lucina drowned last Sunday in the lagoon inside the Jamboree site.

The boy was rushed to the Ballesteros District Hospital where he was declared dead.

BAGUIO CITY-- Members of the Santo Tomas Forest Reserve Management Council (STFRMC) agreed Tuesday to improve enforcement of the court-issued permanent environment protection order (PEPO) preventing human activity like entry of tourists inside the reservation within this city and Tuba, Benguet.

“We have now a strengthened checkpoint with the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources). More than 1,700 vehicles were prevented entry to Mt. Santo Tomas from January to March as reported by the Tuba police,” Carlos Arida Sr., Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office chief, said during a meeting of the task force.

"That’s how serious. Kung hindi natin siya mamu-monitor at mare-regulate, there will come a time na lalong lalaki ang environmental problems natin (if we cannot monitor and will not regulate [entry of tourists and vehicles], there will come a time when the environmental problem will be massive),” Arida said.

Arida said the task force has ordered the police to look at the different entry points to Mt. Santo Tomas to prevent the entry of unauthorized persons.

The Court of Appeals (CA) issued a PEPO on May 2015 to the Mt. Santo Tomas Forest Reserve in Tuba, Benguet following the case filed by former Catholic Church Bishop Carlito Cenzon and Archbishop Socrates Villegas, claiming the reservation's degradation.

The court ordered a halt in all activities inside the reservation -- including a stop in the expansion of existing farms and habitation, as well as the stoppage of all business activities in the area covering barangays Tabaan Norte, Tabaan Sur, Twin Peaks and Poblacion.

The court also ordered the prevention of entry of non-residents to the area.

During the meeting, Arida said the police also sought to be furnished with a copy of the base-map, which will allow them to identify the actual boundaries of the reservation.

Arida said the DENR has completed the survey and installation of monuments of the reservation, which will make it easy to provide the request of the police.

He said there is a need to boost the information drive, explaining to the people the “writ of kalikasan” and the PEPO issued by the Court of Appeals.

Included as members of the council are peoples’ organizations, which would teach people farming skills to shift to organic farming.

“We want to intensify the IEC (information education campaign). Some residents are being used so that some can enter. It is unfortunate that entry of tourists continue to happen despite the prohibition which some enterprising people use in making gains,” Arida said.

“This is a challenging task but we are bent on complying with the court’s order,” he added.

He said the municipality has been tasked to act to stop any business establishment in Santo Tomas from operating, which would cease the influx of tourists in the area.

Arida said the council submitted its long-term protection and management plan for the Mt. Santo Tomas reservation to the DENR central office for funding of the programs.

He said the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Cordillera is also preparing the conduct of a Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) for the implementation of the long term plan for Mount Sto. Tomas.

“The DENR, PNP showed a detailed order of what they are doing as dictated by the court. Tuba had not also issued any permit to operate any business, allowed registration of a tax declaration and we are complying with the quarterly reportorial requirement of the court,” Arida said. -- PNA

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – A drinking spree between four caretakers of a farm here turned deadly when one shot the other dead Tuesday around 8:30 p.m.

A police report said the incident happened at the Baac Farm in Callagdao, Bulanao wherein victim was identified as Joe Dugyawe, 45, married of Purok 5, Barangay Gobgob, of this city.

The victim with his two co-caretakers including the suspect, Sylvestre Camiso, of of Banneng, Callaccad, Tabuk were having a drinking spree when the victim left the two of his peers and went to the kitchen for dinner together with two new caretakers of said farm.

While eating the suspect said he still wanted to continue drinking and get another bottle of liquor but Dugyawe tried to prevent Camiso from drinking that made that got the latter irked.

The victim went out from the kitchen but he was followed by the suspect and shot him once at his right shoulder. The suspect thenfled the farm.

Police are still trying to locate the suspect. Recovered from the crime scene was one spent shell of M16 riffle. The cadaver of the victim was brought to Tampco Funeral Parlor.

Fire burns mountain near Philex Mines

By PNA and Ronamee Galangco

BAGUIO CITY – Lack of training and equipment of fire fighters in the Bureau of Fire Protection is hampering the government agency in fighting forest fires, BFP officials said even as fire engulfed around 10 hectares of forest at Sitio Pukis, Ampucao in Itogon, Benguet around 10 a.m. Wednesday near the open pit of Philex Mines.

Local firemen, Philex Fire Brigade and volunteers tried to stop the fire but it razed vegetation going downhill up to Bomolo of Philex Mines and slowly subsided after burning around 10 hectares of forest.

The fire was stopped by rain around 5 p.m. that day. No person was injured during the incident.

This, as BFP and Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources officials in the Cordillera on Tuesday said 165 fire incidents have been recorded from Jan. 1 to March 12 this year, which led to the destruction of 797 hectares of forest lands.

Senior Supt. Sofia Mendoza, BFP-Cordillera regional director, said out of the 165 fire incidents, 122 were grass and forest fires, 36 structural fire incidents with 27 of them being residential and seven “other” fires.

The BFP estimated the cost of damage due to fire incidents at P20.94 million.

Meanwhile, Augusto Lagon, Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources Cordillera assistant regional director for technical services, said the 122 grass and forest fires had an estimated damage of P4.31 million.

Lagon said 704.23 hectares of natural forests and 92.96 hectares of plantation forests have been destroyed due to “kaingin” or slash and burn farming, arson, indiscriminate throwing of cigarette butts, unattended burning of garbage, and campers who are unable to control the fire from their food burners.

Lagon said most of the forest fires occurred in Benguet involving 683.4 hectares; 88.8 hectares in Kalinga; and 24.95 hectares in Mountain Province.

In a separate interview, Benguet Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) chief Carlos Arida Sr. said based on their assessment, as a result of the aerial survey on March 8, the forest fires were correlated to farming.

“Kasi kung makikita mo ang start ng fire nasa tuktok pababa na parang ang purpose as expansion ng agricultural farms (If you can see, the fire started at the top of the mountain going down which indicates that they are expanding their agricultural farms),” Arida said.

He said filing a case is not feasible due to the difficulty of looking for witnesses.

Arida, however, said they have a case in Mankayan where they caught the perpetrator and the case was amicably settled. The perpetrator paid a fine amounting to the cost of the reforestation of the burned area.

Arida said they have recorded 19 forest fires in all municipalities of Benguet.

He said the fire in January 2018 in Mt. Pulag, which was caused by the uncontrolled fire from the cooking equipment of a camper, is still being heard in court.

He said the parents of the accused in the criminal case sought for the settlement of the administrative case and was fined the amount of P53,900 as a compromise agreement.

The fire destroyed around 23,600 hectares at the summit area of the mountain.

The DENR closed the area for about six months to allow the grass to grow again, preventing hikers from going up to the summit. Campers are only allowed up to the second camp site.

Mt. Pulag has become popular because of the sea of clouds seen by mountain hikers in the area.

In Baguio City, Fire Chief Insp. Roberto Aragon said due to the inaccessibility of forest fire areas, it took at least three days to suppress recent fires completely.

He also added that the techniques and equipment used by BFP personnel are designed to fight structural fires.

However, Fire Fighters of Christ, a non-government organization, is now training BOF personnel here to be better equipped and trained to handle future fire incidents.

Based on the statistics given by Aragon and submitted to the BFP, there were a total of 77 fire incidents in Baguio City, 54 of which were forest fires, 12 grass fires, 8 residential fires, 2 non-residential fires, and one vehicular fire incident.

Damage to properties of these fires was pegged at P2 million. -- PNA

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA Mountain Province -- Two heads of the Dept. of Education- Mountain Province were charged for not filing their Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SALN) and not declaring their assets in violation of Republic Act 6713 Section 8 in relation to Section 7 of RA 3019 of the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

DepEd provincial superintendent Sally Ullalim and Sagada National High School principal SIxto Daluyen Jr. and were charged for alleged violation of said laws in complaints filed at the Office of the Ombudsman. .

Based on certification from the records officer of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon, no available SALN was on file for Daluyen Jr for the years 2010, 2011 and 2014.

RA 6713 provides that “public officials and employees have an obligation to accomplish and submit declarations under oath of, and the public has the right to know, their assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests including those of their spouses and of unmarried children under 18 years of age living in their households.”

Records from the Office of the Ombudsman revealed that in his SALN for 2008,

Daluyen Jr allegedly did not disclose his real properties particularly that of a residential lot in Batalao, Sagada inherited in 1998, a house constructed in Batalao, Sagada in 1995 and a house constructed in Baguio City in 1998.

In the same manner Daluyen Jr allegedly also did not disclose his real properties/ assets in his SALN for 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017 as required in Section 7 of RA 3019 which provides for a true, detailed and sworn statement of assets and liabilities.

RA 3019 provides that every public officer shall prepare a “true detailed and sworn statement of assets and liabilities, including a statement of the amounts and sources of his income, the amounts of his personal and family expenses and the amount of income taxes paid for the next preceding calendar year.”

In the same development, it was revealed by the records officer of the Office of the Ombudsman that Ullalim had no available SALN for years 2010, 2014 and 2017.

Also, in her SALN for 2008 and 2009, Ullalim did not disclose her real properties acquired on or before 2009 particularly that of a house constructed at Guinzadan Sur, Bauko in 1988, another house constructed at Guinzadan in 2004 and a lot inherited in 1986.

A public officer or employee found to have failed to file his or her SALN in accordance with law is penalized with dismissal from service together with the accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and bar from taking civil service examinations

CITY HALL BEAT

Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Fifty one residents of North Sanitary Camp now have the chance to own the lots they have been occupying for decades near the Baguio Sewerage Treatment Plant after the city government approved their application for the disposition of said lots in their favor.

The lot allocates last Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Agreement or Deed of Sale with the city government represented by Mayor Mauricio Domogan and witnessed by City Council Committee on Urban Planning, Lands and Housing Chair Councilor Edgar Avila and North Sanitary Camp Punong Barangay Virgilio Orca allowing them to purchase the lots from the city government.

Under the MOA, the grantees can buy the lot owned by the city measuring 5,554 square meters at P2,500 per square meter or a total cost of P13,885,000 as determined by the City’s Appraisal Committee.

Avila’s committee worked out the processing of the applications for which he said the applicants waited for 15-20 years.

The city’s approval was by virtue of Resolution No. 197 series of 1989 which approved the awarding of lots to the occupants and which paved the way for the conduct of a subdivision survey of the area.

The city council in Resolution No. 10 series of 2019 approved the sale and authorized the mayhor to enter into a MOA with the occupants.

Meanwhile, Avila said that 118 long-time residents of Teacher’s Camp-Cabinet Hill who were affected by Proclamation 613 “Amending Proclamation No. 290, Dated July 18, 1988 which Established the Teachers’ Camp Reservation, Baguio City, by Excluding from its Operation a Portion of the Land Embraced Therein Situated in Res. Sec. “C” and “F”, Baguio City and Reserving the Same for Housing Site Purposes Open for Disposition in Favor of the Actual Occupants” were also awarded the lots they have been occupying also last Tuesday.

On March 28, a total of 100 lot applicants at the San Luis-San Roque area who have settled at the city-owned cemetery lot will also be given the chance to own the lots.

Proceeds of the sale will be used to purchase a cemetery lot at a new site.

***

Mayor Mauricio Domogan last week directed the monitoring of electric and fuel consumption of the city government in compliance with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program of the national government.

The mayor tasked General Services Officer Eugene Buyucan to do the monitoring and to prepare and submit semi-annual report to the Dept. of Energy.

In Memorandum Mo. 55 series of 2019, the mayor reminded all departments and offices to switch off lights, computer sets and other electrical equipment when not in use.

He also urged departments to strictly require the accomplishment of trip tickets before the use of all motor vehicles owned by the city government.

To ensure that the “no approved driver’s trip ticket-no travel” policy is observed, the mayor tasked the security guards of the GMT Interlink Security Management Corp. to require drivers to present an approved trip ticket before using service vehicles to go out of the premises of City hall areas especially during weekends and holidays.

The EE&C Program of the DOE aims to standardize energy efficiency and conservation measures in the country by regulating the use of energy efficient technologies in buildings.

It was carried in the EE&C Act approved last January 16 by both Houses of Congress.

The Act “provides for the Local Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan as well as the inclusion of Energy Conserving Design on Buildings in the issuance of building permits,” according to the DOE.

“An Interagency Energy Efficiency and Conservation Committee will also be created for the implementation of the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP), which aims to reduce government agencies' consumption of electricity and petroleum products.”

COMMUNITY BILLBOARD

Wabilyn Mana-od

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The just concluded 5th Kataguan Caravan Drive for Life has reached an initial amount of P348,000 as of March 23 and collectibles of P160,000 to complete the amount of P508,000.

The caravan was initiated by the late Rep. Maximo B. Dalog in 2015 wherein the Office of the Congressman worked in partnership with the Kataguan Dialysis Patients Organization Incorporated to help generate funds for the weekly and lifelong dialysis treatment of patients diagnosed to have chronic kidney sisease.

In 2017, the family of the late congressman was determined to continue the legacy of their father when they formed a non-stock corporation through the Maximo B Dalog Foundation.

The MBDF primarily aims to maintain and act as a non-profit foundation for granting medical assistance to poor/indigent patients suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease.

The MBDF had partnered with the Kataguan Organization making the caravan an annual activity for benefit of kidney patients.

In an interview with lawyerCyphrine Maxcel Dalog, treasurer of MBDF, she said that aside from the idea of helping out our brothers and sisters raise fund to augment their financial and medical needs, the caravan also aims to promote tourist destination and the beauty of Mountain Province. She added that since its inception, it had been participated mostly by professionals, relatives of dialysis patients, government employees, hospital employees, business owners and Filipinos who vacation from abroad.

The 5th Kataguan caravan was participated by six motorcycles and 39 vehicles from donors and sponsors.

From the Eyeb grounds, the caravan passed through major thoroughfares of four municipalities in Mountain Province namely, Bontoc, Sabangan, Bauko and Tadian then back to Bauko municipal grounds for the program and lunch.

According to Jennifer Tuzon, treasurer of the Kataguan Organization, based from their record there are 157 members at present who are having their weekly dialysis treatment in different dialysis centers in the country.

She recalled that when they started the organization, there were just 29 members.

The MBDF and Kataguan Organization officers and members extended their appreciation and thanks to the following sponsors and donors: Mountain Province Second District Engineering Office, Mountain Province State Polytechnic College, Mountain Province First District Engineering Office, Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital, San Vicente High School Faculty and Staff Student and PTA, Mr. Ryan Mangusan, Mountain Province Electric Cooperative, JABEN construction, AIP construction, JBA construction, MJS Construction, APO construction, Sadlan Construction, HC Cassiw construction, UPLAND Construction, OLCO Construction, Engr. Daniel Peckley, Mr. Clarence Dalog, Reynaldo Del Amor, Dax Olsim, Mayor Franklin Odsey, Mayor Johnson Bantog II, Mayor Abraham Akilit, Mayor James Pooten Jr., Engr. Edward Latawan, Novie Afidchao, Joaquin Nacnas, Clark Ngaya, Evelio Timario, Aijays Marketing, Rosalinda Belagan, Yolanda Awing, MRC store, PM Aglipay, Besy Wangwang, Rosemarie Archog, Theodore Marrero, Edwin Falag-ey, Engr. Jerry Chimicag, Dencio Bula-ay, Mr. Russel Tupac, Atty. Edward Chumawar, Engr. Edward Likigan, Dr. Nenita Lizardo, TESDA Mountain Province, Engr. Winston Daoas, Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan, Dr. Raquel Tannao Kanongkong, Mayor Venancio Lipawen, SB Members of Sabangan, SB Members of Besao, SB Members of Sagada, Engr. Victor Komicho, Mr. Edward Chaokas, Mr. Abe Fagyan, Mr. Junior Chaokas, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Atty. Sergio Milan, Julius Likigan and Atty. Wilson Kalangeg.

Likewise, MBDF and KDPOI extended their appreciation and thanks to the following: Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Red Cross- Mountain Province, Fr. Micheal Tokoyen, Bontoc General Hospital, Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital, Provincial Health Office, Mountain Province Riders Club, Provincial Information Office, Radyo ng Bayan, and the Mountain Province Police Provincial Office, the Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School for the usual support and assistance in the success of the activity.

HAPPY WEEKEND

Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province - To take an active role among barangay officials in the prevention of forest fires was emphasized during a gathering of a 100 plus barangay officials along with officers from the provincial government and Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources and Bureau of Fire Protection and other government agencies last March 26.

Following a forum here conducted by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources and BFP with the provincial government, the Liga ng mga Barangay was particularly included in the formation of an interagency task group with cooperation of multi-sectoral groups including church and media.

The activity was bound by a memorandum of understanding between the provincial government, DENR, BFP, Departments of Interior and Local Government and Education, National Defense, Science and Technology Information and Communications Technology Social Welfare and Development, Agriculture and Health.

Others were Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Red Cross- Mountain Province.

The IATG was formed to coordinate with concerned agencies enforcement of environmental laws and protection of the public from environmental related threats and destruction.

An action planning followed which identified the crucial role of barangays in forest fire protection and strategies to do this to be further refined in detailed planning by the IATG this second week of April.

In said event, Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan said the role of barangay officials is crucial in the protection of forests. Lacwasan added P100,000 was is programmed as incentive to a barangay with no forest fires.

This as a resolution on prevention of forest fires was passed by the recent provincial peace and order council for the allocation of P100,000 for a barangay having incurred no forest fires in a year.

As per report from BFP- Mountain Province Supt. Floyd Toyokan, there are 46 forest fire incidents from January to March this year having razed some 96 hectares of mountain land most especially in the municipalities of Bontoc, Sagada, Bauko in that order with an estimated damage cost of some P1.9 million.

This, apart from other undocumented and un-investigated forest fires in the different parts of the Province.

Sadanga had zero forest fire and there must be some good practices why Sadanga has no mountain fires; followed by Natonin with only one incident of forest fire in the past three months.

In said forum, a covenant was signed by the 100 plus participants forwarding their commitment to protect the mountains particularly from forest fires agreeing that the protection of the mountains from any form of destruction is a responsibility of all. For one, to obey customary laws and ordinances on forest fire prevention.

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