CATBALOGAN, Samar –
In support to President Gloria Macapagal-Aroroyo’s 8 by ’08 priority
programs on Green Philippines, Basey LGU gathered more than 300 well
meaning individuals from Basey and other government agencies to a
massive jathropa and coconut planting on June 22, 2007.
The massive tree
planting activity dubbed as “Baktas Kabub’wason” (Walk for the Future)
was well attended by the 62nd Infantry Battalion, students from the
Valeriano C. Yancha Memorial Agricultural School (VCYMAS), LGU
officials, officials from the 57 barangays, Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR) Provincial Environment and Natural
resources Officer (PENRO) and Community Environment and Natural
Resources Officer (CENRO), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and
Samar media.
Originally initiated
for the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Agrarian Reform
Communities (ARCs) Baktas Kabub’wason was conceptualized by SB Anita
Ogrimen, Mayor Vic Labuac, commanding officer of 62nd IB LtCol. Jonathan
Ponce and DAR’s visionary Chito dela Torre who also heads the
Provincial Agrarian reform Support Services Office.
Although Basey Mayor
Vic Labuac and SB Anita Ogrimen failed to get a fresh mandate from
Basey, both officials actively attended to the tree planting and other
corollary activities.
The site, some 30
kilometers from Basey proper is a part of 86-hectare public land being
maintained by the Samar State College of Agriculture and Forestry (SSCAF)
said Labuac.
It was named BIO-FUEL
MICROFOREST Baktas Kabub’wason Pilot Project Site, located in Barangay
Balante, Basey Samar.
Samar PENRO George
Guillermo who joined the activity on the site urged the media to take
pictures as it is rare, he said to mobilize such number to ‘green the
countryside’.
When PENRO Guillermo
was asked why jathropa, he cited the economic benefits of the plant
which he said, just abound in the wild. He cited that Philippine
Forest Corporation has assured farmers that it is willing to buy
jatropha fruits.
Jathropa curcas,
is a multi-use, multi-benefit plant that grows well in arid regions in
marginal soil, thriving on even the poorest stony soil unsuitable for
food crops, said CENRO Elias Aya-ay.
Jathropa curcas
seed can be used as Bio-diesel for any diesel engine without
modification. Some 31 to 37% of oil is extracted from a jatropha seed,
PENRO Guillermo added.
PCA Samar Chief
meanwhile assisted the others who opted to plant coconuts. Some 230
coconut seedlings of wawa and orange dwarf varieties were withdrawn
from the PCA Regional Nursery. Wawa known for its rich sap can be used
in tuba (wine) and vinegar manufacture.
Re-elected SB member
Anita Avila and Barangay Villa Aurora Chieftain Meliton Lancanan also
vowed to plant some more in their private lands as they both believe
in the economic importance of the otherwise wild plant.
Search for Miss
Pintados - a search for a cause, more than just a beauty search
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
June
24, 2007
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– What makes the Search for the Miss Pintados different from the
usual beauty tilts is its being a beauty and talent Search with a
cause, that of making the candidates appreciate the qualities and
values of a true Filipina, realize the spirit of volunteerism and
their social responsibility particularly for the well-being of the
street children of the Region.
Caring for
disadvantaged fellowmen and working for them without waiting anything
in return is most fulfilling, this is what the 2007 Miss Pintados
candidates realized as they shared “An Afternoon with the Street
Children” at the Family Park, Magsaysay Boulevard, Tacloban City, on
June 23.
More than one hundred
street children from all over the City of
Tacloban
and the 15 semi finalists for Miss Pintados 2007 enjoyed the afternoon
being treated to the terrific magicians from the 8th Infantry Division
of the Philippine Army courtesy of Major General Armando Cunanan.
Watching the street
children and the candidates playing parlor games together, watching
with awe at the antics of the soldier magicians, eating the same food,
this writer wonders who was enjoying more. Who is who? To the writer,
the players are all the same youthful children playing and sharing fun
together, no barriers, no rich or poor, no one beautiful and ugly.
There is a wonderful
law of nature which states that the three things we crave most in life
– happiness, freedom and peace of mind – are always attained by giving
them to someone else.
The candidates do not
discover and enhance their God-endowed talents, they also find their
heart and happiness in sharing their time and charm in bringing
happiness to the street children.
This is the secret why
the Search for the Miss Pintados continuous to attract contestants
every year for the last twenty years, it is a search with a
difference. This is the reason why most of the Miss Pintados
candidates become volunteers to the various Pintados Foundation
undertakings long after the Search. This is the secret to the success
and more beautiful aura of the candidates after the Search.
One very good example
is that Miss Sheena Marie Cubillo, the reigning Miss Pintados who is a
nurse by profession is now helping mother the Miss Pintados
candidates. The beautiful Miss Rhea Mangacat, a former Ms. Pintados
beauty who is now a flight stewardess of the Philippine Airlines will
come home on June 27 just to be of help during the Search for Miss
Pintados 2007 Pageant, the night of the same day.
Indeed, there is no
beautifier of complexion or form or behavior, like the wish to scatter
joy and not pain to the people who need people. It is good to share a
meal with disadvantaged, and bring joy to those who have almost
forgotten what smile and joy is all about.
For as long as the
Search for Miss Pintados of the Pintados Foundation is able to
mobilize people into action, building real people and future leaders
in the process, able to build real people, and for as long as the
people will continue to accept and support the cause of the street
children, the Search for Miss Pintados is here to stay.
Borongan is now the
first city of Eastern Samar
By ALICE NICART (PIA Borongan)
June
21, 2007
BORONGAN, Eastern
Samar – In what can be called an overwhelming victory, Boronganons
gave an overwhelming 10,176 “Yes” votes for its cityhood against the
3,452 “No” in the Plebiscite held yesterday which thus converted
Borongan town into a component city of Eastern Samar province.
The seemingly hot
issue has finally been halted when majority of the votes was revealed
midway of the municipal canvass.
Asked why couldn’t it
be more (the number of votes cast) as in the recently held national
election, a COMELEC officer who requested anonymity said the plurality
of votes is what matters between the affirmative and the negative.
It was observed
though, that voters came in trickles to the voting precincts up to the
midday but the electoral process still revealed that more people are
in wanting for change; to become a dweller in a city with better
social services.
Towards the end of the
canvass however and when the cityhood issue became crystal clear, an
informal program and party was done at the plaza where the cityhood
advocates and supporters sang and danced in jubilation.
In his message Mayor
Fidel Anacta thanked all the supporters for the cityhood and appealed
further for calmness and sobriety of those who had different views
from theirs in the LGU and instead cooperate and contribute their
ideas for a well meaningful development plan for Borongan city.
“Human naman an
election, timaha ta na an gibinirubingkil. Kay an amon paniguro ha LGU
in dire la para ha amon kundi para han aton kabataan ug han nasunod pa
nga mga henerasyon”, said Mayor Anacta who is fondly called “Spanky”.
(Election is over, let us now put to rest this politicking. Our
intention at the LGU has never been for our own good but for our
children and the next generation).
In a short interview
this morning, Mayor Anacta was consistent in his vision. Asked what
are the next steps, he said the establishment of a city hospital is of
his paramount importance, because of the numerous patients who
approach him everyday. He wants to provide them better health care and
services, he added. He also hopes to find a bigger workplace for the
city government employees because that the present one is small and
considering that five new mandatory divisions will be put in place, he
concluded.
Yesterday’s plebiscite
was graced by COMELEC Regional Director Adolfo Ybańez and some of his
support staff. Regional Election Atty. Richard Japson was also
present with Atty. Corazon Montallana. Noticeable also were the
municipal election officers who gave their hand as well for the entire
process.
The Non-Working Day
Proclamation for yesterday’s big event in Borongan was signed by
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.
46th IB partners with
Kiwanis International to distribute books to Samar schools
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA
Samar)
June 21, 2007
CATBALOGAN, Samar –
The 46th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, led by Lt. Col
Luis Vincent Tacderas based in San Jorge, Samar has partnered with the
Kiwanis International and Asia Books Foundation to distribute 11 boxes
of library books to schools in Samar.
In a simple
distribution ceremony for Kiwanis Book Bank Project, Marit
Stinus-Remonde, Secretary of Division IA (Cebu and Bohol) a Danish
national who is the wife of Cerge Remonde spearheaded the
distribution.
Kiwanis International
is a thriving organization of service and community-minded individuals
who support children and young adults around the world. More than
600,000 Kiwanis-family members in 96 countries make their mark by
responding to the needs of their communities and pooling their
resources to address worldwide issues, said Ms. Remonde.
Ms. Milagros Fabilonia,
principal of San Jorge Central Elementary School accepted the books
for her 700 pupils.
Fabilonia said that
the book-giving was very timely for the books issued to them by DepEd
were damaged with the flooding late last year.
It was Tacderas who
facilitated the distribution since it was him who was introduced to
Remonde during the Asean Summit in Cebu. Tacderas then expressed his
desire to bridge between
Samar schools and
Kiwanis for the noble purpose.
Aside from San Jorge,
Daram, Matuginao and San Jose de Buan were also recipients of the
books.
Remonde said that this
event is under the Kiwanis Book Bank Project. The project does not
require any counterpart from intended beneficiaries, it is just
required that they have, and maintain a library.
Aside from
distributing books, Kiwanis is also committed to support health and
nutrition program that could otherwise affect children and their
development.
Books were also
distributed to Samar School of Agriculture and Forestry (SSCAF) in San
Jorge with books intended for their newly-opened courses in
Criminology, Hotel and Restaurant Management and Practical Nursing.
BFAR prepares for 1st
Eastern Visayas Mariculture Congress
By MARIVIC ALCOBER (PIA 8)
June
20, 2007
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– To ensure the successful conduct of the “1st Eastern Visayas
Mariculture Congress” which will be held at the Tacloban Convention
Center, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Region 8
through the efforts of its Regional Director Ernesto Hilvano, in
coordination with other government and non-government organizations,
is now on its toes preparing for said Congress.
In a recently called
inter-agency meeting, BFAR Regional Director bared that the proposed
two-day Mariculture Congress which carries the theme “Mariculture
Parks: The New Frontier to Economic Growth”, is tentatively scheduled
on October 17-18, 2007.
During the meeting, it
was agreed that the proposed Steering Committee will compose of Dir.
Hilvano as Chairman, and Leyte Provincial Governor Jericho “Icot”
Petilla and Dr. Gil Asoy as Co-Chairmen, while the member agencies
are: the Office of the Presidential Assistant, Department of
Agriculture, Department of Trade & Industry, Department of Science &
Technology, National Economic & Development Authority, Department of
Tourism, Philippine Information Agency, and the Tacloban City Mayor’s
Office. Likewise, said Committee will also be joined by the Regional
Fisherfolk Representative, and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese
Chamber of Commerce.
To make sure that all
matters regarding the Mariculture Congress will be readily attended
to, the offices involved were divided into inter-agency working
committees and were given their respective assignments suited to their
functions.
The proposed
activities involved during said Congress, which will have an expected
participants of 1,000 coming from Leyte and Samar, will be technical
sessions, exhibit, and industry tours to be conducted on the second
day.
The recommended areas
for the field tours are the
Mariculture
Park
in San Juanico Strait, with Dr. Asoy as tour coordinator; and the
Mariculture Zone in Quinapondan. Projects to be visited include the
seaweed farms; aquaculture; pearl culture; hatcheries; oyster culture;
sea urchin culture; fish sanctuary – Lawaan; and Leyte, Leyte. The
group will also visit the McArthur Park and other historical sites in
the area.
The Mariculture
Congress aims to serve as a venue for investors from the private
sector, research experts and government agencies to discuss modern
technologies and current issues to promote a modernized, profitable
and sustainable mariculture industry. At the same time, it plans to
tackle technical and social aspects and issues of mariculture park
and/or zone establishment.
Trillanes probe asked
to open safehouses, secret detention places
Press Release
By KARAPATAN
June 19, 2007
QUEZON CITY,
Philippines – The Philippine human rights alliance KARAPATAN
welcomed the planned probe on extrajudicial killings of former soldier
and now senator-elect Antonio Trillanes.
KARAPATAN Secretary
General Marie Hilao-Enriquez said, “We laud Senator Trillanes for this
move to put the Arroyo administration to task for the unabated
extrajudicial killings.”
KARAPATAN likewise
welcomes the pronouncements made by top anti-Arroyo military officials
who said that they will provide the detained senator-elect with
evidence once he begins work in the Senate next month.
KARAPATAN asked for
the Trillanes probe to open safehouses, military camps and pinpoint
secret places of detention to determine the fate of victims of
enforced disappearances. “This will bring an end to the sufferings of
relatives of hundreds of victims who continue to go through the pain
of loss and uncertainty over the fate of their loved ones,” Hilao-Enriquez
added.
“We hope that the
investigation would bring more uniformed men and women who are
in-the-know out of the woodwork to really bring the perpetrators to
the bar of justice and ascertain the fate of those who were abducted
and are missing up to now,” Hilao-Enriquez said.
The human rights group
lambasted the Arroyo government for coddling the general referred to
by the two military officers to be responsible for the physical
elimination of activists. “What Trillanes and the unnamed generals
refer to as ‘mission orders’ and death squads from the military
intelligence is consistent with the Arroyo government’s enhanced
national internal security plan,” Hilao-Enriquez said.
As early as 2005,
KARAPATAN has attributed extrajudicial killings and enforced
disappearances to a national policy of the Arroyo government, Oplan
Bantay Laya I and II, which they say “consider civilians to be fair
target on allegations of being communist sympathizers.” In March 2007,
UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary
Executions Prof. Philip Alston said that one of the causes of the
killings is the “vilification, labelling or guilt by association... of
a wide range of groups – including human rights advocates, indigenous
organizations, religious groups, student groups, agrarian reform
advocates, and others” to be classified as ‘fronts’ and then as
‘enemies of the state’ that are accordingly considered to be
legitimate targets.”
Since Ms. Arroyo
assumed presidency in 2001, KARAPATAN recorded 863 civilian victims of
extrajudicial killings by suspected state security forces, among them
411 activists belonging to different political organizations. 180
persons have been victims of enforced disappearance. Many more have
been abducted and were missing for days before surfacing dead or
incarcerated.
Borongan holds Grand
Rally for cityhood
By ALICE NICART (PIA Borongan)
June
19, 2007
BORONGAN, Eastern
Samar – Exactly two days before the Plebiscite which will convert Borongan town into a component city of Eastern Samar province, a grand
rally was conducted last night at the town’s plaza which bore the
theme: “Yes to progress, yes to cityhood!”.
In his welcome talk,
the three timer mayor, Fidel Anacta Jr. appealed to the audience to
consider the future of Borongan’s generation, the children and the
poor who are assured of more benefits once the economic rewards of
being a city are put in place.
He further appealed
apparently to his political rivals to set aside once and for all,
politicking, and instead create a unified stance for “Yes” vote in the
Plebiscite tomorrow, Wednesday, June 20. According to Anacta, “It’s
now or never” saying further that if Borongan will not achieve it this
time, it (cityhood) shall not happen anymore in the future adding that
the Local Government Code’s annual income requirement is getting
higher. He said that the current requirement by which Borongan had
been exempted is already pegged at P100M while it has only completed
the P20M as previously required. He stressed that no other sector,
organization, much less, persona could ever offer such a huge amount
which could change tremendously the lives of the Boronganons for good.
Likewise, reelected
councilor Danny Amboy revealed an honest personal feeling when he
approached the microphone. According to him he has started shying off
himself from the public when the cityhood issue and increased IRA
began to be talked about in just any place of Borongan because
according to him a negative perception of some narrow-minded people
has reached them in the municipal hall, which said that the new IRA
will be divided among themselves. Amboy dismissed the wrong notion and
appealed likewise for their critics to be reasonable.
That nasty rumor was
vindicated by the supportive pronouncement of big time businessman (at
least by Borongan standard) Oscar Ty who owns the famous Uptown Mall.
“Oca” as friends call him expressed support to the cityhood, which
according to him is sent likewise by his business comrades. He said
that there is no problem with them because once the economic activity
becomes busy, that would mean more investments, more money in
circulation, more competition and cheaper goods, products and
services.
DTI Provincial Chief
Eleanor Alido also explained her view. At present, according to her,
we buy more of our raw materials and agri products from outside
Eastern Samar and with this act, the province’s money flows out of the
place and never returns. When some finances could be granted for
farming and livelihood as in acquiring more IRA allocation to provide
assistance to marginalized sectors, then it can spell a difference in
the lives of the Boronganons. She jibed that the cityhood thing is
like winning the jackpot Lotto game that there is no reason why people
should not vote “Yes”.
However, in his
closing remarks, SBM Jessie Solidon expressed dismay over the negative
stance of a candidate he voted for he said, in the recently held
provincial election. The Veterinarian turned legislator said what a
waste of his vote when he heard of the crackling negativism of the
elected lady. He said he thought that she would go for development of
the people and place and not assert of Borongan being “not yet ready?”
Nonetheless, Solidon’s
sinking mood was thwarted by a resounding applause of the audience as
though telling him that the lady’s remark was “no big deal”, because
the cityhood will obtain the plurality of the votes.
The grand rally was
attended by barangay officials, municipal and provincial employees and
the several others who opted to stay outside the plaza fence while
they listened to the speakers.
