SC Justices Carpio, Leonen grace UC law studes’ event
BAGUIO CITY -- The University of the Cordilleras College of Law launched their Legal Aid Program here at People’s Park Monday.
The event was part of UC Law Week wherein Associate Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio who discussed arbitral awards Thursday on the West Philippine Sea along with Justice Marvic Leonen at the UC theater.
UC students and law professors held activities as part of Law Week the past five years, said Ralph Malicdem, club chancellor of UC Barristers Club.
Malicdem added this program is also a way to give back to the community for the support they have given to the University, providing free legal consultation and assistance and also free notarial services where instructors from the UC College of Law who are lawyers gave advice and notarial services to the participants.
The event is independently organized by UC, but they urged government agencies like Social Security System, PhilHealth and Dept. of Labor and Employment to disseminate their programs during the occasion.
Lawyer Roney Jone Gandeza, a UC law professor said the event was a social development experience for the College of Law because they want their students to experience first-hand how it is to handle a problem, how it is to prepare a document and how to notarize documents.
“It’s all part of corporate social responsibility of UC, Gandeza added. As part of the UC Law Week, the legal aid program was held until March 21.
Law Week also has other programs like community outreach where students go to barangays and institutions to give support to local folks in community development and clean-up drive. -- Rey Joel B. Guerrero
Tobacco fest held in Villaviciosa, Abra
VILLAVICIOSA, Abra – This town held its 6th tobacco festival last March 16 to March 18 led by mayor Joese W. Lagen Jr. with participation of several barangays. The festival consisted of parade of farmers, multi-sectoral night where municipal employees gave special numbers. A grand parade with drum and lyre, cultural presentations and dance competition were also held. A raffle draw was also conducted. Each barangay had booths that showcased their own products with “Pinaka” awards for longest string beans to the largest watermelons.
Several artists also performed during the last night of the festival right after the awarding ceremony.
The whole festival revolved around their product which is tobacco. -- Gaius Cabrera
Trinidad, Korean officials sign ‘sisterhood’ MOA
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet –Officials of this town and Jinnjeon City, South Korea signed here March 1 a “sisterhood” memorandum of agreement opening both areas to each other in fostering cultural, social, tourism and educational ties.
Valred Olsim, tourism officer 1 said the memorandum will benefit both parties and will have an effect on the education and help farmers with the technology from Korea. -- Aleja Joy sison
San Juan LGU gets ‘high satisfaction’ from citizens
SAN JUAN, Abra -- The local government unit of San Juan got a 93.24 percent overall satisfaction rating in the Citizen Satisfaction Index System survey.
First in Abra and one among 31 cities and towns in the Philippines, San Juan was chosen in this pilot program of the Department of Interior and Local Government aimed to assess the level of accountability, transparency, participation and responsiveness of LGUs to needs of its people.
It is used to assess the service delivery performance of the LGU s based largely on knowledge, experience and perception of the people.
CSIS reflects whether the people are satisfied or not with the programs implemented and services delivered by the LGU, explained Florida Garcia of DILG-Cordillera.
San Juan got 96.58% satisfaction rating in health services, 90% in education support, 84.46% in social welfare, 93.24% in governance and response, 91.22 in public works and infrastructure, 89.04% in environmental management and 80.56% in economic and investment promotion.
“The results prove that San Juan LGU is doing very well. Continue to do your work and aim for a 100% to inspire other LGUs in your feat,” remarked DILG Provincial Director Millicent M. Cariño.
DILG tied up with the Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology as partner learning research institute in the conduct of the survey among 150 randomly selected respondents composed of 75 males and 75 females. -- Ginalyn B. Brioso
4,512 students served in dental health caravan in Mt. Province
BONTOC, Mountain Province -- A total of 4,512 high school and elementary students including day care children and the community benefited from dental health caravan conducted by public health dentists and dental aides in the province.
This was in line with the celebration of this year’s Dental Health Month with the theme “Ngiping Inaalagaan at Pinagyaman, Hatid ay di Kukupas Kailanman.”
Dental Month is celebrated in the month of February of every year pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 559, s. 2004 signed by then President Gloria M. Arroyo.
Public health dentists and dental aides in the province led by Dr. Natividad T. Orprecio of Department of Health – provincial office here launched the celebration Besao town in partnership with the municipal government and the Besao District Hospital.
The team also conducted dental health caravan in the municipalities of Bauko, Bontoc, Natonin, Sabangan, and Tadian with support of local government units.
Of the total clients served, the team conducted free oral examination to 2,318; oral prophylaxis/scaling to 866; tooth extraction to 1,117; filling to 8; pit and fissure sealant to 203. A total of 600 brushes and toothpaste from the DOH were also distributed.
Other activities conducted include lectures on oral health to schools and during family development sessions; radio guesting in the local radio stations in the province, and advocacy/information, education campaign among government employees. -- Juliet B. Saley
Baguio market summit approved
BAGUIO CITY – The city council passed a resolution calling for the conduct of a market, trade and commerce summit here to improve and further develop the present market, trade and commerce situation in the city.
It also envisions to make the Baguio City Public Market as the Summer Capital’s main tourist attraction that is safe, drug and crime-free, clean and orderly that may be achieved through an inter-agency and concerned stakeholders effort being established and interventions to be set up to deal with the “myriad of problems that have long been weighing down the area”.
Councilor Leandro Yangot, Jr., the measure’s author, revealed that as the chair of the august body’s committee on market, trade and commerce, he has held a dialogue with market stakeholders as an initial move for the conduct of a summit to gather and thresh out all the concerns to make business relations in the market thriving yet organized.
The resolution points out that the Baguio City Public Market, being the “face of the city”, is supposed to showcase best practices in market, trade and commerce to tourists and the community it serves and confident that workable plans could be achieved.
“There is a need to synergize all efforts in achieving this goal,” the approved measure said.
It stated the summit’s aim is to make the city market a world-class market. “If not, at least make it presentable to Baguiotes including domestic and foreign tourists,” the measure added.
“The conduct of a market, trade and commerce summit will allow various stakeholders to take active part in injecting their inputs relative to the multifarious issues and concerns surrounding the city’s market, trade and commerce industry, evaluate these concerns and come up with short-term, medium-term and long-term plans and solutions,” it stated.-Gaby Keith and Cassey Francis
Abra opens 100th anniversary
rites with Centennial Bazaar
BANGUED, Abra -- The Abra Centennial celebration is on here with the hoisting of municipal banners by all local chief executives and launching of Centennial Bazaar at the Abra Sports Complex.
A time to promote the bamboo industry, exhibits are designed bamboo products time like frog-like hamper, centennial cup and trophies, bamboo electric fan, bamboo kiosk for couples, recycle bins, vases and picture frames, tall bamboo lampshades, double-decked rocking chair with food tray and many more, are exhibited for the first earning the admiration of the public.
Gov. Maria Jocelyn V. Bernos cited exhibitors and bamboo advocates who made the Centennial Bazaar possible. She also asked the Department of Trade and Industry who partnered with them in this event to continually support all other government programs and projects to hoist up economic development of the Abrenios.
Special guest DTI regional director Myrna Pablo congratulated Abra for its 100 years and for the one- of- a- kind bamboo display she saw like the bamboo electric fan made in Tubo.
“Ang galing naman. It’s my first time to see something like this,” she commended as she switched it on.
As one of the top bamboo producing provinces in the country that produce one of the best varieties of bamboos and quality bamboo products, Pablo urged the provincial government to invite experts from Manila to enhance their bamboo products so they can become world class and compete in the global market especially in ASEAN. -- Ginalyn B. Brioso
BFP-Kalinga brings fire awareness drive to villages
CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga– The Bureau of Fire Protection provincial office is bringing its fire safety education drive to the barangay level.
This is to give more focus on Fire Prevention Month’s theme, “Buhay at ari-arian ay pahalagahan, ingat sa sunog ay sa sariling bahay simulan.”
Fire Chief Insp. Ramil Borja, BFP-Kalinga chief said their office kicked-off the provincewide information-education sortie at Barangay Lanna, here, where barangay officials and residents were lectured and trained on fire prevention and response. More barangays will follow.
The celebration of Fire Prevention Month in the province also includes revitalization of Barangay Fire Brigades as community-based response teams while BFP fire fighters are called to the area in case of a fire.
The BFP-Kalinga also included in its activities literary contests on fire safety and prevention in schools to raise awareness among the students.
Borja said the IEC campaign should target students who are effective multipliers of information, enabling them to reach out to more homes in the community.
Students and teachers of St. Tonis College in this city were already given lectures of fire safety and prevention.
The BFP is also getting ready for the regional fire Olympics to be held in Abra. This annual event is part of the Fire Prevention Month celebration every March. -- Larry Lopez
DOT, partners launch Project ‘Puraw’ village painting
BAGUIO CITY -- The Department of Tourism and its partners formally launched project “Puraw” or the White Roofs Community Painting Project for Quirino Hill here recently.
Heading the launching ceremony and memorandum of agreement signing were DOT officials headed by Undersecretary Alma Jimenez and DOT Cordillera regional director Venus Tan, Environment and Natural Resources regional director Ralph Pablo, mayor Maurico Domogan, Rep. Mark Go and Boysen Philippines vice president for marketing Ruben Cueto.
Officials of the involved community barangays were also present.
Project “Puraw (an Ilocano term for white)” is part of DOT’s REV – BLOOM, an urban tourism redevelopment program and awareness campaign that aims to rev – up, revive, re – visit and revitalize potential destinations in Baguio and nearby Benguet towns.
Through Boysen paints, roofs of the houses in Quirino Hill numbering about 1,500 will be painted white to give the community a cool color.
A touch of green paint will also be used to give an artistic look to the community.
Tan said Project “Puraw” will not only make Quirino Hill a tourist attraction but it will be the first climate change – adaptive community in the country.
The white paint she said, will help protect the eco –system in the area as it will also reduce the effect of heat brought by global warming
Cueto said the painting of the houses in Quirino Hill will start this month.
Project Puraw is the second community painting project of DOT under REV – BLOOM, an initiative of Tan. The first is the giant art mural for the community of STOBOSA in Km. 3 in nearby La Trinidad, Benguet. -- E. Sison
Free anti-rabies vaccination available in Benguet barangays
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Pet owners may now bring their dogs and cats and avail of the free anti-rabies vaccinations in designated areas in respective barangays in benguet.
Dr. Miriam Tiongan, Provincial Veterinarian Office chief, this is in line declaration of every March as Rabies Awareness Month towards the attainment of a rabies-free status. With the continuing activities on rabies prevention and awareness, it is hoped that rabies-free status will be attained by 2020.
Governor Crescencio Pacalso hopes the province will attain a rabies-free status sooner. “Rabies even if fatal is 100 percent preventable through massive vaccination. We will rekindle the program so that everybody will help promote,” he said.
For an area to be declared rabies-free, it has to satisfy requirements such as at least 80 percent vaccination of dog population, existence of ordinance in municipalities on rabies prevention, consistent zero record of rabid cases whether dogs or humans, Dr. Arlene Sagayo of the Department of Agriculture said.
Last year, the province reached 87 percent accomplishment of dogs vaccinated or equivalent to 30,698 with the Department of Health focusing on the preventive aspect and allotting funding for the purchase of animal vaccines.
Rabies Awareness Program with the theme, “Rabies Iwasan, Alaga’y Pabakunahan”, was launched in the province through a motorcade, lectures, vaccination and briefing of vaccinators.
Pacalso enjoined pet owners to bring their pets in designated venues of the barangays. He likewise sought the help of barangay officials to help in its dissemination. -- Susan C. Aro
Kalinga Treasures Trade Fair rakes in P6.6-M sales
TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Organizers of this year’s Kalinga Treasures Trade Fair recorded record-high sales of P6, 602,365.
Aurora Sanet of the Trade and Industry provincial office, lead organizer of the event, said they targeted P5 million in sales this year considering that people of the province suffered massive losses from super typhoon “Lawin” October last year.
The comparative sales in the annual fair had remarkably risen from P4.8M in 2015 to P6.4M in 2016 and 6.6M, this year.
Sanet attributed the sales performance to the increasing innovative skills of producers with DTI’s continuing product development and marketing assistance.
This year, the top-selling sector was furniture with P2,305,605 followed by wearables-gifts-home-decors – P1,944,380; processed foods – P1,167,656; ornamentals – 738,414 and other sectors – P446,310.
Sanet reported that 19 of the 99 exhibitors came from the provinces of Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet and Baguio City.
The fair was organized as part of the highlights of the annual celebration of the province’s founding anniversary.
Sanet lauded the Chamber of Kalinga Producers, Inc. (CKAPI) which is working for the development of micro-business in the province, for leading with DTI the organization and conduct of the annual trade fair. – Larry T. Lopez
DOLE, PDEA join forces for drug-free workplaces
BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment - Regional Coordinating Council and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency - Cordillera are joining hands against illegal drugs in the Cordillera Administrative Region.
The RCC and PDEA-CAR will convene to finalize signing of the memorandum of agreement which is aimed at strengthening the fight against this social menace.
DOLE-CAR regional director Exequiel Ronie A. Guzman, chairman of the RCC and PDEA-CAR regional director Edgar Afalla agreed on provisions, roles and responsibilities of both agencies for programs and activities against drug abuse in the Cordillera especially in workplaces.
Guzman said under the MOA, the primary role of PDEA-CAR is to provide technical assistance to DOLE-CAR and the RCC such as resource speakers, information materials for information drives and activities and to assist on drug-related concerns.
DOLE Department Order No. 53, series of 2003 requires all establishments to adopt drug-free workplace policy and program to ensure a safe and healthy workforce. It is mandatory to all private establishments employing 10 or more workers to formulate and implement drug abuse prevention and control program in the workplace and also to adopt a policy against dangerous drug use and alcoholic abuse among its employees.
Workplace policies and programs on drug abuse prevention and control to be adopted by companies shall include, among others, advocacy, education, and training; drug testing program for officers and employees; treatment, rehabilitation, and referral; and monitoring and evaluation. -- Patrick T.Rillorta
TESDA- Mt. Province
gives free haircut to inmates
BONTOC, Mountain Province– The Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) provincial office conducted free haircut for inmates of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology here.
Christine Oliquiano of TESDA here said the “GupitparakayKardo” project was in partnership with the Mystique Touch Salon and Spa, Kellers Salon, Cres Parlor and the Thween’s Parlor. Some 19 inmates of 53 inmates were beneficiaries of the project. -- Juliet B. Saley
Air monitoring machines to be put up in Baguio
BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera office of the Environmental Management Bureau said the government plans to install ambient air monitoring machines in all urban centers in the country to closely monitor the air quality in the said areas.
Reynaldo S. Digamo, EMB-CAR regional director, said the installation of ambient air monitoring machines in urban centers is part of the medium-term development plan of the agency for the years 2017-2022 to help in the implementation of updated programs and interventions key to having clean air.
The EMB-CAR official said it is unfortunate that the earlier P300 million allocated by the agency for the purchase of air monitoring machines to be installed nationwide has reverted to the general fund as part of the capital outlay of their central office after the lapse of two years, thus, the need for them to re-strategize how to acquire the needed machines for the urban centers.
He claimed the EMB-CAR is eyeing the purchase of state-of-the-art ambient air monitoring machines to be installed in urban areas in the country instead of the traditional mobile monitoring stations to be able to continuously get the actual data on the prevailing air quality in the said areas. -- Dexter A. See
Tabuk collects P13M from business permits, licenses
CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga – The city’s intensified regulatory drive on business operation had yielded P13, 898,999 in fees from applications and renewals of business permits and licenses.
Olive Mendoza of the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) reported business accounted P13, 287,524 while tricycle permits contributing P611, 475.
CTO records show there were 1,407 business owners and 1,665 tricycle operators that applied for permit and license renewals.
Because of the high number of transactions, the city government extended until Jan. 31 the “no-penalty” application and renewal of business permits and licenses from its Jan. 20 deadline.
Ralph Matammu, head of the City Business Permit and Licensing Section, said after the extension in application, late applicants are charged extra fees as penalty.
Under the revenue campaign of the city-LGU, business establishments and tricycle operators with no proper permits are dealt with accordingly, Matammu said. -- Larry T. Lopez
NNC to put up 10 Nutriskwela community radio stations
LAGAWE, Ifugao- - More Nutriskwela Community Radio (NCR) stations will be put up in the country this year to empower the community through dissemination of correct, relevant and up-to-date nutrition and health information.
Jovita Raval of the National Nutrition Council said part of the council’s plan for 2017 is the putting up of 10 new stations under phase 5 of the Nutriskwela Community Radio Network Program (NCRNP). Currently, there are 35 existing nutriskwela community radio stations nationwide.
Raval said the NNC will also support upgrading of 10 existing stations and conduct refresher training courses to selected stations. It will also conduct monitoring visits and other activities to help strengthen NCRs nationwide.
The NCRNP of the NNC was borne out of a need for a long-term and cost-efficient strategy to address the problem of hunger and malnutrition in the Philippines through the use of radio, the most available form of mass media.
The NRCNP involves the setting up of non-profit, non-partisan community radio stations and the training of broadcast personnel in areas of the country with high malnutrition prevalence and which do not have easy access to broadcast media.
Nutriskwela Community Radio aims to empower the community through the dissemination of correct, relevant and up-to-date nutrition and health information, as well as educational and developmental information from all relevant sectors of the community, government agencies, and non-government organizations.
The first phase of the project was implemented in 2008 with five community radio stations established.
In 2010, the second phase of the Nutriskwela Community Radio Network Program was implemented with the establishment of another 10 stations while in 2012, 10 stations were established under phase 3 and in 2015 another 10 stations were put-up under phase 4.
In the Cordillera, NCR stations are Radyo Kiphodan, DZNC-FM 99.1 MHz in Lagawe, Ifugao; Radyo Kabinnulig, DZNA-FM 99.7 MHz in Lagangilang , Abra, and Radyo Kasaranay, DZNQ-FM 96.7 MHz, in Luna, Apayao . -- Marcelo B. Lihgawon
May declared Farmers
Month in Baguio
BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved a resolution declaring the month of May as Farmers Month in the city in recognition of the role of farmers in the overall development of the city for over a century now.
The resolution authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr. stated with the technological advancement and agricultural modernization, the farmers and agricultural practitioners in the city can actively take part in the celebration so they could also benefit from the programs, projects, and activities of the government.
In the city, Yangot disclosed there remain many areas utilized for agricultural purposes that serve as the major source of livelihood particularly for the residents of outlying barangays like Sto. Tomas School Area, Sto. Tomas Proper, Bakakeng Central, Bakakeng Norte/Sur, Camp 7, Loakan Proper, Loakan Liwanag, Happy Hallow, Baguio Country Club, Gibraltar, Pinsao Proper, Pinsao Pilot Project, Ambiong, and other areas.
Under the newly approved city land use plan, several areas in the city had been identified as agricultural zones due to the presence of agricultural lands being tilled by farmers for domestic and commercial requirements.
For several years now, Yangot said Baguio has not celebrated Farmers Month because the city was presumed to have no agricultural lands and farming is not being reportedly practiced. – Dexter A. See
OPVet to dog owners: Inject pets against rabies
BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The Office of the Provincial Veterinary urged dog owners to have their pets vaccinated against rabies to eradicate the disease in the province.
Provincial Veterinarian Rodel Bagawi told government employees here the OPVet and the Municipal Agricultural Offices will conduct anti-rabies mass vaccination as one highlight of the observance of the National Rabies Awareness Month this March.
The yearly dog anti-rabies vaccination drive is in support to the national government’s campaign of rabies-free Philippines by 2020.
Bagawi said pet owners can bring their pets to their respective MAOs or to the OPVet for the free anti-rabies immunization.
Barangays officials can also coordinate with their MAO for the scheduling of the anti-rabies vaccination in their barangays.
Veterinarians said mass vaccination of dogs is the most effective way of controlling and eradicating rabies, which is one cause of deaths among humans.They said rabies can be eradicated if all dog owners will have their pets three months old and above vaccinated. -- Andrew Doga-ong
DOLE urges employers to abide by Kasambahay law
BANGUED, Abra -- The Department of Labor and Employment - Abra urged families with kasambahay or domestic workers to abide with Republic Act No. 10361 known as Batas Kasambahay of 2013.
DOLE provincial head George Lubin, Jr. cited rights and privileges of kasambahay in the Philippines of which the employers are bound to observe and comply with.
Under the law, domestic workers are entitled to a minimum wage, daily rest period of 8 hours, 13th month pay, 5 days annual service incentive leave with pay, and weekly rest period of uninterrupted 24 hours.
The kasambahay is likewise entitled to an employment contract, pay slips and certificate of employment, Lubin said.
Kasambahay should be provided with the mandatory coverage of Social Security System and Philhealth and PAGIBIG. Premium payments shall be paid by the employer. The kasambahay with monthly wage of P5, 000 and above per month however, will pay his share in the premium payment contributions. -- Maria Teresa B. Beñas
Abrañean Canada migrants sponsor 20 tech voc scholars
PIDIGAN, Abra --The Annak ti Abra in Canada has given sponsored 20 scholars in electrical installation and maintenance training at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority training center in this town. The scholars graduated Feb. 28 from four-month training that started November last year.
Buenavic Q. Bersalona, head and founder of the Annak ti Abra-Canada, said the organization provided free tuition, assessment and certificate fees, two sets of uniform, complete set of tool kits, notebooks, pens and grocery items to all the 20 scholars from the municipalities of Lagayan, Licuan-Baay, Bangued, Manabo, Pilar, San Juan, Daguioman, and Tayum.
The Annak ti Abra also paid for the dormitory of 15 students who came from far-flung municipalities.
Lawyer Marco M. Bautista, ex-mayor of San Juan and longtime partner of TESDA in its programs, urged graduates to be more responsible and responsive to needs of their own local communities by making use of their skills also for public service while waiting for opportunities for employment to hone their skills and earn a living.
Carmelita Bersalona urged graduates to apply their training for self-enhancement, uplift their families, help in the development of their communities and contribute to development of the country.
In related development, Bersalona granted the request of Fely Balingoay, municipal coordinator of the Annak ti Abra in Canada for Manabo, of seven plastic tables and 40 chairs to community of Sitio Tigtiggaak, San Ramon West, Manabo last March 3. -- Maria Teresa B. Beñas
North Abra inter-local health zone adjudged Cordillera’s best
DOLORES, Abra -- The Department of Health awarded the Inter-Local Health Zone (ILHZ) of three municipalities of northern Abra as the most functional ILHZ in Cordillera during recent Gawad Kalusugan regional awarding.
The DOLASAN, which stands for Dolores, Lagangilang and San Juan, ILHZ, has been successful in discouraging home deliveries and promoting facility-based deliveries and in eradicating mother and child mortality in the area.
The DOH defines an ILHZ as “clustering of contiguous local government units (municipalities, component cities of a province/s) with a core referral hospital (district or provincial hospital) wherein preventive primary public health care is integrated with hospital care. It is a district health system in a devolved set-up in which the component local government units cooperate in health operations to better protect the collective health of the catchment community, assure access of individuals in the catchment community to a range of services necessary to meet their health care needs, and to manage more efficiently and equitably the cooperating LGUs’ resources for health”
Support of local officials through legislation and funding coupled with diligence of municipal health officers in implementation of the guidelines of mother and child health care delivery system, a tripartite program of DOH, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the local government units resulted to good implementation of ILHZ.
The Dolasan ILHZ has a lot of good practices in implementation of mother and child care program particularly regular pre-natal check-ups, delivery in birthing facility, and post-partum care to ensure zero mortality among mother and child.
The mother and child health care program expanded from programmed birthing only in birthing facilities to catering all sorts of health care services to ensure public health and safety and responsiveness of rural health units at all times.
Dolores Mayor Robert Victor G. Seares, Jr., chairman of Dolasan ILHZ together with Mayors Patrocinio Abaya of Lagayan and Meynardo Bautista of San Juan as co-chairs, have sustained support to their RHUs headed by Doctors Darbie Madriaga, Rubie Rose Orosco and Edgar Bernardino. -- Maria Teresa B. Benas