DILG spearheads
Climate Change Adaptation summit for LCEs, NGOs
By MYLES COLASITO
January
21, 2011
TACLOBAN CITY – The
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), in partnership
with local and foreign experts on climate change adaptation, conferred
with local officials and representatives from concerned sectors
nationwide on January 18, 2011 to discuss ways and means in
mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.
DILG Secretary Jesse
M. Robredo said some 200 officials from “calamity-prone” local
government units (LGUs), and representatives from the academe and
other stakeholders took part in the two-day summit on climate change
adaptation held at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City.
“The participants were
briefed and taught during the conference on how they can enhance their
capabilities on alleviating the adverse effects of climate change
while sustaining their local economic development efforts,” the DILG
chief said.
During the conference,
all participants identified, studied and documented existing
practices, tools and programs of local and international institutions
on climate change adaptation focused on securing economic development.
Also tackled were
topics such as climate change adaptation strategy based on Philippine
experience, and effective local economic development strategies for
climate change challenges and its economic and fiscal issues.
With the theme
“Climate Change Adaptation for Local Economic Development (CCA4LED),”
the conference was spearheaded by the DILG through its Local
Government Academy in cooperation with the Local Government Training
and Research Institute Network (LOGOTRI) of Asia-Pacific and the
Philippines,
Asia-Pacific UN partners, Governments of Canada and Spain and the
Local Government Support Program for Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED).
Aside from the sharing
of knowledge and practices on climate change resiliency, the
participants were also thought on the subject of local economic
development principles and processes on agriculture, fisheries,
tourism, food security, water resources and business development.
According to studies,
the Asia Pacific Region, which has 60 percent of the world’s
population and economic activities and is largely focused on coastal
areas, agriculture and eco-tourism, is highly-vulnerable to the
adverse effects of climate change.
For its part, the
Philippines has been identified as among the global disaster hotspots
and even ranks eight among countries most exposed to multiple hazards.
President Benigno
Aquino III, who conducted an ocular visit in the rain-soaked and
calamity-stricken areas of Albay, Southern Leyte and Agusan del Norte,
has recognized climate change as a global environmental problem that
should be met with “swift and long term actions.” (DILG
Office of Public Affairs)
BIR in Eastern Visayas
surpasses 2010 collection goal; cites help of stakeholders
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
January
21, 2011
TACLOBAN CITY – The
Bureau of Internal Revenue in
Eastern Visayas has surpassed its P3.9 billion collection target in
2010, having already collected P4.050 billion in taxes last year.
BIR Regional Director
Alert Alocilja said that the 2010 collection exceeded the assigned
goal by P78.602 or 1.98 %.
Director Alert
Alocilja said that the 2010 revenue collection is higher by 24.72%
compared to 2009’s P3.24 billion actual collection.
With this
extra-ordinary achievement, Director Alocilja shared the accolades
with his hardworking staff & personnel both in the regional and
district offices.
He also extended his
gratitude and commendation to all individual and business taxpayers,
NGAs, NGOs, LGUs, PICPA, LCCI, other socio-civic organizations and tax
practitioners in the Leyte-Samar Region, whose support and cooperation
thru correct and prompt tax payments.
The good director also
cited local media’s unwavering support in effective tax information
dissemination that enable BIR Eastern Visayas to meet BIR National
Office expectations as it valiantly continues its tradition of
consistently surpassing its collection goal for nearly a decade now.
Once again, RR-14’s
pilot district, Tacloban City’s Revenue District No. 88, emerged as
top grosser with its overall collections of P1,771,589,369.79 that
surpassed its P1,633,167,000.00 collection goal with a wide margin of
P138,422,369.79, equivalent to 8.48%.
Similarly, all the
other five Districts registered positive performance for 2010 by
generating increased revenues over that of Tax Year 2009. Ormoc
(Western Leyte) recorded total collection of P949.09 million,
Catbalogan (Samar) with P487.45 million, Maasin (Southern Leyte) with
P319.69 million, Catarman (Northern Samar) with P278.68 million, and
Borongan (Eastern Samar) with P242.66 million.
All revenue field
offices in the region registered an increase from the target ranging
from 11.26% to 32.78%. About 60% of collection came from income taxes.
This accomplishment,
Director Alocilja said, is attributed to voluntary compliance, which
accounts to 97% of our regional performance last year. About 3% of the
collection was achieved through enforcement of tax laws.
Director Alocilja also
stressed that enforcement activities have contributed a lot in
creating a voluntary compliance environment among taxpayers in the
region last year.
Enforcement campaign
like Oplan Kandado has an impact on voluntary compliance because of
fear factor. If you keep on investigating delinquent payers, monitor
them for violations, other payers become apprehensive in paying their
taxes, Director Alocilja added.
For Oplan Kandado
alone, the BIR regional office here has collected P15.83 million
penalties that lead to closures of 24 establishments in the region
last year.
The campaign is
very effective to raise the level of compliance among establishments
in Eastern Visayas, Director Alocilja said.
Gov’t grants off-site
release of P9.114 M to 4Ps beneficiaries of Saint Bernard
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
January
21, 2011
TACLOBAN CITY –
About 745 beneficiaries of the National Government’s Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) received their cash grants amounting
to P9.114 million right there in their hometown at Saint Bernard,
Southern Leyte.
The Pantawid Pamilyang
Pilipino Program Team of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) responded at once to the request of Mayor Rico
Rentuza of Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte for an off-site release of
condition cash grant, after his municipality declared a State of
Calamity.
The team, headed by
the Regional Director of DSWD Field Office VIII, Leticia Corillo,
together with the head of the partner agency, Vice-President of the
Land bank of the Philippines (LBP), Alex Lorayes, successfully
released P9.114 million to the beneficiaries last January 15, 2011 at
the Saint Bernard Municipal Gymnasium.
The original schedule
for the release of the Conditional Cash Grants for an over-the counter
pay-out was last January 11 at the Landbank of the Philippines Sogod,
Southern Leyte Branch.
However, the
municipality has declared a State of Calamity last January 5, 2011 by
the Sangguniang Bayan upon the recommendation of the Municipal
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) because of
landslides and flashfloods which affected thousands of families
including nine Pantawid Pamilya barangays namely, Bolod-Bolod,
Cabagawan, Catmon, Himbangan, Himdag-an, Lipanto, Mahayahay, Panian
and San Isidro.
The MDRRMC has ordered
full evacuation of some barangays due to recurring heavy rains and
minor landslides. All individuals currently in the evacuation centers
were advised to stay there until further notice.
With the said
scenario, the local government unit was prompted to request from DSWD
and LBP to conduct off-site release, with the assurance that it will
provide security in the area where the event will be held.
Relief Operations at
San Jose de Buan ongoing
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
January
20, 2011
TACLOBAN CITY –
Relief operations to the isolated town of San Jose de Buan town in the
province is still ongoing, reports coming from the 8th Infantry
Division commanding officer and the municipal agriculturist stated.
Without let up and
unmindful of the obstacles that hindered them for days from finally
reaching the isolated town, the relief operations team went on,
knowing that at the end of the road are people who are hungry not only
of food but also of care from their fellowmen.
Major General Mario
Chan through a text message informed that three KM450 off-road
vehicles transported 63 sacks of GMA Kapuso Foundation relief goods
from Barangay Calapi, Motiong, Samar at 10:50 in the morning of
January 20.
The relief goods
arrived at Barangay Babaclayon at San Jose de Buan at 11:30 in the
morning.
At press time, at
about 12:19 noontime, 20 sacks are being transported by foot from
Babaclayon to the pick up point at San Jose de Buan for further
transporting by military trucks to the town proper of San Jose de Buan.
The helicopter of the
Philippine Air Force attempted to bring in relief goods in the morning
of January 19 but it was aborted due to inclement weather condition.
On January 17, joint
forces of the military, police and local residents were able to clear
the landslide debris that blocked the road going to San Jose de Buan
poblacion.
Also on January 17,
relief goods from the GMA Kapuso Foundation reached the town but the
team was able to distribute very limited number of food packs because
of bad weather.
Mr. Rafael Llauderes,
the OIC Municipal Agriculturist of San Jose de Buan said that on
January 19, the helicopter of the Tactical Operations Group of the
Philippine Air Force attempted to bring in relief goods to San Jose de
Buan, but the operations was aborted because of bad weather.
However, relief
operations of the local government unit under the leadership of Mayor
Rebato went on, and were able to dispose 180 bags of rice plus
sardines and instant noodles.
Mr. Llauderes said
that the people are really in dire need of food after having been
isolated for several days.
He also expressed
appreciation to the military particularly the 34th Infantry Battalion
for not leaving the municipality alone. Instead, the troopers led in
finding ways to make the necessary temporary repairs to make the roads
and the timber bridges passable even by just single motorcycles.
Rice shortage looms in
Eastern Samar
By NINFA QUIRANTE, PIA Borongan
January
20, 2011
BORONGAN, Eastern
Samar – Officials in Eastern Samar fear a rice shortage in the
offing due to excessive rains in the past weeks.
According to
Provincial Agriculturist Jesus Agda, the floods damaged 70% of the
province’s rice farms. The supply of rice seeds for the next planting
season is also expected to dwindle due to the continuous rains.
Farm animals in nine
towns across the province also took a beating as damage to this sector
reached P6 million as of Provincial Veterinary Office’s most recent
report. Also according to the report, in the town of Maslog alone,
the damages to farm animals rose to almost a million pesos.
Local officials are
concerned about the state of the main source of livelihood for most
people in Eastern Samar which is farming.
In most towns, farmers
still use carabaos to plow fields in the absence of tractors.
In an interview with
Leyte-Samar Daily Express, Department of Agriculture Region 8 Director
Leo Cañeda revealed that the department has initiated a rehabilitation
program for farmers who were affected by the recent calamities. The
farmers can get rice seeds at a subsidized price from the department.
Recent reports also
reveal that the DA is planning to test submergence-tolerant rice
varieties to help farmers in the region often stricken by storms and
heavy rains. With the incessant rains, and La Niña, using rice seeds
that can withstand the floods will help farmers in the rice-producing
region.
The Office of the
Provincial Social Welfare estimates the total damages to the province
at P300M.
C4CC: Change the form
of government, not the economic provisions of the Constitution
By RICO CAJIFE
January
19, 2011
TACLOBAN CITY – It
is time to review and change the Constitution, but the change should
focus on ushering in a federal form of government, not its national
economy and patrimony provisions – this was made clear by the
Coalition for a Citizens' Constitution (C4CC) yesterday.
C4CC is a network of
non-government organizations and NGO networks with members in 19
provinces that was established in 2004 to oppose the various moves in
Congress to revise the constitution through a Constituent Assembly
(Con-Ass). Instead, the group has been batting for a more democratic
and participatory Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) and for changes
to further democratization such as a federal form of government to
give way to more decentralized governance.
"We welcome the
consensus now for a Con-Con among the various proponents of Charter
Change, but we think that focusing on the economic provisions would be
a mistake", Cezar Belangel, C4CC Coordinator said.
C4CC said that the
National Economy and Patrimony provision for 60-40% ownership in
strategic industries should be maintained and that the control and
benefit provisions in the Constitution should even be made stronger to
make asset reform in the local industries and other sectors, such as
agrarian and fisheries, more effective and sustainable.
C4CC has been calling
for asymmetric federalism that gives more autonomy to regions where
asset reforms and good governance have been substantially achieved.
C4CC also expressed
its full support for former Chief Justice Reynato Puno and the bishops
who have stated that now is the right time to start widespread and
in-depth consultations among the public. "The different basic sectors
and marginalized groups should be represented and their voices heard
through public consultations now and when a Con-Con is convened",
Belangel said. "We support Chief Justice Puno's proposals to
de-politicize the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), ensure the
independence of the judiciary and to have a more broadly
representative Congress", he added. For C4CC, this would mean
reforming the party-list system and having more party list
representatives in Congress and other changes.
Death toll rises to
17, 1 missing due to flooding, landslide in Eastern Visayas
By RODRIGO S. VICTORIA, PIA 8
January
19, 2011
TACLOBAN CITY – The
number of reported casualties due to flooding and landslide in Eastern Visayas has now climbed to 17 based on the latest list of casualties
from DOH.
In a report from the
Health Emergency Management Staff (HEMS) of the Department of Health (DOH)
in Eastern Visayas as of 4 o’clock in the afternoon of January 18,
2011, the reported 17 casualties came from five out of the six
provinces and from a city in Eastern Visayas affected by flooding and
landslide.
The DOH report also
reported an 11 year old boy still missing as of this writing in Brgy.
Mabuhay, Sogod, Southern Leyte.
The province of
Eastern Samar recorded the highest number of casualties with 8
followed by Southern Leyte - 4, Northern Samar - 2 and the provinces
of Leyte, and Samar with 1 casualty each and Tacloban City with 1
casualty, based on the DOH report.
The report cited that
eight of the 17 reported casualties died due to drowning, three from
asphyxia 2º suffocation from mudslide, one asphyxiation 2° drowning,
one hypoxia due to drowning while the rest died in evacuation centers
due to diseases.
The latest reported
time of death was recorded on January 12, 2011 in Brgy. 2, Maslog,
Eastern Samar and in Brgy. Mahagnao, Burauen,Leyte as reflected in the
DOH report.
The DOH report also
shown two persons injured and admitted in Brgy Bolodbolod, St.
Bernard, Southern Leyte.
Based on the number of
person injured but not admitted as per DOH report,
Eastern Samar
has 20, Samar - 6, Southern Leyte - 4 and Tacloban City - 3.
According to Dr.
Fidelita D. Dico, HEMS Regional Coordinator of DOH 8, her office
continued providing updates on health situations in the areas affected
by flooding and landslide in Eastern Visayas.
RDRRMC 8 pegs damage
to infrastructure in Eastern Visayas at P600.678M
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
January
19, 2011
TACLOBAN CITY – The
flooding and landslides caused by torrential rains in
Eastern Visayas have already caused P600.678 Million worth of damages
to infrastructure as of
10:00 o’clock in the
morning of January 18.
Mr. Rey Gozon, officer
in charge of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council, said that the amount was based on reports the office received
from the different provincial disaster risk reduction and management
council.
The province of
Northern Samar reported the biggest amount of damage to various
infrastructures in the amount of P402 Million. Damage to infra in the
second district of Northern Samar was pegged at P316.5 Million while
damage to infra in the first district was placed at P85.5 Million.
In the province of
Samar, the total amount of damage to infrastructure was estimated at
P80.9 Million with the second district of Samar reporting a bigger
amount of damages at P55.4 Million over that of the first district
which was pegged at P25.5 Million.
Leyte reported a total
infrastructure damage of P60.475 Million with the third district
getting the biggest damage placed at P29.95 Million.
Southern Leyte has
reported P30.750 Million damages to infrastructure while
Eastern Samar pegged the damage to infrastructure in the province to
P25.174 Million.
Tacloban City on the
other hand, reported P1.379 Million worth of damage to infrastructure.
Mr. Gozon stressed
that these figures are just partial reports as the municipalities have
not reported yet and because the calamity is still ongoing as of
January 18 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning.
All the reported
damages to infrastructure are categorized as national.
Logging Ban must
include forest communities in decision making for effective
implementation – Greenpeace
Press Release
January
19, 2011
QUEZON CITY –
Greenpeace today commended President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s
initiative to introduce a nationwide log ban and called upon him to be
resolute and demonstrate that the Executive Order to implement such a
ban ensures a tangible improvement in forest governance and law
enforcement.
“Together with the
logging ban, it is important that the Executive Order also considers a
participatory land use planning process based on the needs and rights
of forest dependent communities with a view to protecting the climate
and biodiversity. For the ban to be effective, investment in
alternatives to logging that will support local development and
sustainable forest use for the benefit of local communities is
critical. This can be achieved by establishing and ensuring the
participatory management of protected forest areas,” said Mark Dia,
Philippine Country Representative of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.
Forest destruction
contributes one-fifth of the total global emissions – more than the
emissions from cars, planes and trains around the world combined.
Last year, Greenpeace
and other member organizations of the EcoWaste Coalition held a survey
– the Green Electoral Initiative (GEI) – among Presidential aspirants,
regarding their intentions for the environment. Aquino had promised
very concrete steps to stop illegal logging and curb the corruption
that allowed loggers to circumvent environmental protection laws.
Aquino had indicated that his administration would “engage the police
and military authorities, local communities and local government
agencies in a sustained, vigorous campaign to seize illegally cut logs
and prevent further clearing of primary forests.”
Deputy presidential
spokesperson Abigail Valte had announced last weekend that the
President is considering the possibility of an executive order for a
total log ban nationwide. The announcement was made following recent
devastation brought about by heavy rains in a number of vulnerable
areas in the country that suffered landslides and other debilitating
effects from extreme weather events, soil erosion and other impacts of
environmental degradation.
According to the
United Nations International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), droughts
and typhoons will intensify, putting the most vulnerable and least
prepared countries at greater risk to impacts of climate change. The
Philippines has been ranked as seventh in a list of ten countries most
vulnerable to extreme weather events.
Dia added that Aquino
had made the commitment in the GEI survey that, for his first 100 days
in office, he would push ‘to enact a law, as mandated by the
Constitution, to delineate once and for all forest lines in the
country, as a clear basis for crafting a comprehensive national land
use policy, as well as for the definition of watersheds and fragile
ecosystems.’
“We should all hold
the President to these promises he made because it will affect all of
us, rich or poor. We are already feeling the effects of climate
change in our daily lives. Both the science and people’s experiences
on the ground are overtaking earlier predictions made regarding the
impacts of climate change. But the solutions are all already before
us. The only thing needed is political will and cooperation among
people, government and industry. The survival of humanity should take
precedence over profit, power or greed. But steadfast leadership and
cooperation will surely get us there,” Dia concluded.
DENR adopts the
Philippine Reference System of 1992 in its surveying and mapping
activities
By PURIFICACION S. DALOOS
January
19, 2011
TACLOBAN CITY –
Secretary Ramon Paje of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) issued a mandate to all DENR offices in the country
to adopt the Philippine Reference System of 1992 (PRS 92) in all
surveying and mapping activities of the DENR.
PRS 92 is a
homogeneous network of geodetic control points, marked by survey
monuments or mojons, established using the Global Positioning System.
It was established in 1989-1992 through an Australian assisted project
of the DENR. PRS 92 upgraded the old national geodetic network called
Philippine Geodetic Network established by the United States Coast and
Geodetic Survey in 1901 to 1946.
Pursuant to the
mandates of the previous Presidents of the Philippines through
Executive Order No. 45 series of 1993, as amended by EO 280 series of
2000 and E.O. No. 321 series of 2004, the PRS 92 became the standard
reference system for all surveys and mapping activities in the
country.
Effective January
2011, Secretary Paje ordered that all surveys, maps and plans being
undertaken by the DENR from the Central down to its field offices,
shall be compliant with PRS 92 as requirement for its approval.
Regional Executive
Director Primitivo C. Galinato, Jr. disclosed that said order of
Secretary Paje is a great help in land disposition and management.
“By adopting the PRS 92 system in all surveys and mapping activities
of the DENR, it will solve the problem of creating apparent overlaps
and gaps between adjoining parcels of land. This will also
standardize the mapping system in the country so that a particular
point or space on the ground will have only one location in any
official Philippine map. I just wish that succeeding mandates shall
be given to other mapping and surveying agencies like the Departments
of Agrarian Reform, Public Works and Highways, Agriculture, National
Irrigation Administration, among others, so that we can harmonize all
our convergence activities”, Galinato quipped.
Regional Technical
Director Ramon S. Unay of the Land Management Service of the DENR
disclosed that the Land Management Service through its Field Network
Survey Party is currently establishing Geodetic Control Points or
“mojons” under the PRS 92 program. “These mojons are being
established in the barangays and towns all over the region. These
mojons serve as the standard reference points for all surveying and
mapping activities. Since these are all established in the barangays
and towns, we call on the cooperation of the local government units,
who are adopters of these mojons, to help the DENR in advocating the
significance of these mojons and enjoin their respective constituents
to protect and help preserve these mojons so that it can serve its
purpose”, RTD Unay remarked.
These mojons have
indirect impact to the constituents. Together with other components of
PRS 92, successful implementation of the program help to complete and
maintain the national geodetic network and integrate old surveys and
maps into the network for the sustainable management and development
of the country’s natural resources and to establish more accurate
spatial positioning for infrastructure and other activities.
Generally, this will facilitate the implementation of poverty
alleviation, economic development, as well as climate change
mitigation programs of the government.
Missing fishermen in
Eastern Samar now safely home
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE, PIA Borongan
January
19, 2011
BORONGAN, Eastern
Samar – The two fishermen reported missing since Saturday are now
safely home after 24 hours of being wildly tossed at sea.
