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outstanding local newspaperFr Fv Cscutv YarsSt. Ptr Baptst Cathlc Mass Mda Aards

www.ikoreorter.wes.com e-mai: [email protected]

regional exponent for progressvol. xx, no. 1 Bicol, the philippines july 1 - 7, 2012

3rd Floor, GERONIMO BLDG., BARLIN ST., NAGA CITY (054) 472-57-71 TELEFAX: (054) 475-62-62 CP 0921-3183720 / 0919-2822901 / 0920-5337766

19 Years of serving the Bicolanos

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Iriga LGU, PNR ink pact

on pedestrians safetyP-7

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Atty. TONY (APA) ACYATAN

through IMF is small it will be a vital partof the global nancial aid package.

Improvement of the world economywill insure the employment of ourOFWs, wherever they may be. This isan assurance that our FX inows willcontinue. The Philippines regularlyborrows from IMF and the World Bank toprop up our nances, and to service ourforeign obligations. Who knows, in duetime we will be back as a big borrower requiring global succor to nance our

needed projects. Offering help to othersin their time of need is an investment.

RETIREES: The realty industry isencouraged to address the housingand welfare needs of retirees, more sothose receiving FX pensions. It is a wisedirective pointing to potential, enrichingbusiness elds. Programs for retirees likeretirement villages should insure peacefulday-to-day living, complete with healthcare amenities and recreation. Retirementhomes are better-situated away (but nottoo far) from the madding crowd.

Marketing strategies for retireesmust consider leisure and entertainmentfacilities, healthcare and wellness.Realty sales programs should not justtarget senior wards, but must includejunior retirees or those who have availedof early retirement programs. Thus

their villages should be proximate tosupermarkets and business outlets.Realtors must not limit strategies toproperty sales. There are other relatedincome areas.

FAKE DRUGS: Everyone shouldbeware! Out there, there is an explosionof counterfeit drugs and these are soldaround the world. We are at great riskbecause recent ndings point to nearbyChina as a major source of fake drugs(and other merchandise, too). If youhate China for the bullying that ourpeople are suffering now refrain frompatronizing Chinese goods that oodour country. (Our OFWs should also beadvised to nd work elsewhere).

Using fake drugs can be deadly instead of being a health-restorer. Thereis no guarantee that costlier drugs are

genuine. Even the name drug storesare known to be victims of fake dealers.I am not an ardent user of drugs, relyingmost of the time on the recuperativecapacity of my physical body. Mycontract with the Lord is He will callme to join Him when my time has trulycome and my missions are fully done.Praise God!

WISDOM: Viewing our lives from

heavens vantage point, we see that our

misfortunes are teaching lessons.

(Atty. APA chairs Acyatan & Co.,CPAs-DFK International is PICPA pastpresident and Hall-of-Famer, past chair ofASEAN Federation of CPAs, and ACPAPPLifetime Achievement Awardee).

REVERSAL? Many Pinoys arewondering why the Bangko Sentral of

a poor country (Philippines) is lendingUS$1.0 billion to the InternationalMonetary Fund from which institution weused to borrow to balance our nances.The question is why lend our meagerfunds instead of just using said dollarsto fund our economic requirements likehelping the poverty-stricken population,building more schools, and giving jobs toour unemployed?

Those are simplistic, illogicalarguments. The source of the loan is ourgross international reserves. The GIR isowned by the Bangko Sentraland thesecannot just be used for our governmentexpenditures. So also, our small loan toIMF (for the Financial Transaction Planto bail out economically-stressed Eurocountries) is an investment. Its just likereclassifying our GIR funds from foreign

bonds to investments with IMF. Suchgesture will raise Phls image in thenancial world.

LOW INCOME: The IMF investmentrate of return .003 (3/10%) per annum.Oppositors say this is low compared to ourborrowing rate. The reason why returnson deposits for both pesos and foreigncurrencies are currently down is becauseof the economic downturns in industrializedcountries. The nancial situation is notconducive to savings, but rather towardsexpenditures. Even if our assistance

PHL BSP lends to IMF

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salvador d. flor

A

QUestIoN

of

PRIvILeGe

Long before people argue in favorof giving economic value to the air webreathe, the water we drink, the treeshadow that gives us shade, an Indianchief in the early days of the greatAmerican continent had already puteconomic value on the wilderness homeof his people.

But the economic value was beyondpecuniary equivalent. meaning no

amount of money was enough to buy hiswilderness, not even tons of gold.

Putting economic or market value onnatural resources like forests and lakesand rivers is called green accountingwhich is the current craze today.

If a country fails , for instance, to stopthe denudation of its rainforests, it losesnot only this natural wealth but losesbillions, even trillion of pesos worth ofbald mountains.

Not only are the rainforests destroyedbut also the home of wild life andeverything that is in them, the unpollutedair, the fresh spring water, the peace andquiet you cannot nd in the city.

The letter of the Indian chief to USPresident Franklin Pierce who offered tobuy Indian lands in the northwest in l854expressed in a very clear language whatpeople today are taking for granted.

How can you buy or sell the sky, thewarmth of the land? If we do not own thefreshness of the air and the sparkle ofthe water, how can you buy them,? theIndian chief said.

Continuing, he said, There is no quietplace in the white mans cities, no place

to hear the unfurling of the leaves inspring and the rustle of an insectswings.

There are ner things in this worldthat money cannot buy, the wildernesswhich provides man with a sanctuaryfrom the noise, the pollution, the harshweather. It cannot buy the pleasureone gets at the sight of a wild oweron a hillside.

It was the Indians birthright-theforests, the rivers, the lakes, the wildanimals, the lovers call of insects atnight, the rustling of the leaves on awindy evening. Without the wilderness,they would have none of these things.

No amount of money can buy moreyears in your life. That is beyond thereach of your material possessions.

To people in the big city who areused to seeing big buildings instead oftall trees, there is nothing magical in thewilderness of the American Indian chief.But to those not happy with progressthat offers nothing but emptiness, there

What moe caot u

Weekly ReflectionFR. ALLAN S. FENIX

AmplierAmong the seven sacraments, the sacraments of Baptism,

Eucharist and Matrimony are the most wonderful ones since itis when our parishioners are in the highest point of their lives.

Everything is new, fresh and beautiful. There are the happyand celebratory parents and their godparents. The well-dressedgroom and bride together with their sponsors, bestmen, brides-maid, gifts.... and a hearty reception besides, later.

How about the other sacraments such as the sacraments ofReconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick and Dying in whichour parishioners are at their lowest and most unattractive pointin their lives? This indeed entails an extraordinary amount ofcharity on the part of us, priests.

Due to the size of the place where I am presently assigned,it was divided into two vicariates. A vicariate is an ecclesiasti-cal district comprising a number of parishes headed by a vicarforane.

It was on one of this occasion when we have our jointvicarial meeting wherein one of the point at issue was re-garding hospital patients still making outside requests for thesacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and Dying when, infact, a fulltime hospital chaplain is assigned and to which thechaplain responded that he is all alone ministering to a verylarge hospital. Besides this, he is also aficted with some ill-nesses of his own.

I, on my part, upon hear ing his statements, immediately ap-proached him and volunteered myself to take up some hourscovering for him in case he is away for his day off.

And it so happened that a week after I started my volunteerapostolate, the chaplain had his second stroke which neces-sitates him to go on a leave of absence for a few months orso.

In the last few months that I have been devoting my timeadministering the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick andDying at that public hospital, I noticed that I felt a sense ofstrong fulllment in my vocation, as a priest. I overheard bed-ridden patients and their loved ones beside them expressingtheir heartfelt thank yous as I passed them with the holywater and oil in my hands. I saw a number of patients whoare already at the last throes of life or who have just died afew moments after I arrived in their wards...

When I rst started, since I still dont know the labyrinthineparts of the hospital, the patients with whom I am able to

reach out to were so limited. As customary in that institution, Iwould usually just wait at the chaplaincy ofce for any request.However, one day, while going through the place, I noticed thatthere were big common patient wards to which I can do a massreach out only if I have something to help me extend my voiceamidst the noise. I was able to do it when I was able to borrowa megaphone from one of the departments.

With the positive response from the patients with whom Iadministered the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick andDying, I urged the hospital pastoral council to buy a betterone- an amplier to extend farther my voice.

To make the long story short, a portable amplier was pro-vided and a system was put in place in the hospital whereinthere is a daily scheduled ward to be visited. For those in in-dividual rooms, their room doors are requested to be openedwhile I, an assigned nurse and the portable amplier poweredON nish our rounds of praying, blessing and anointing themwith the holy water and oil. This is besides the regular visits tothe most critical areas of the hospital like the Medical IntensiveCare Unit ( MICU ), the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit ( PICU ),

the Surgical Intensive Care Unit ( SICU ), Cardiac Care Unit (CCU ), Dialysis Section....

I am so happy that through that portable amplier my voicewas extended to all corners where a patient awaits and listensas Jesus Christ, through me, says to them; TALITHA KOUM ,which means; Little girl, I say to you, get up !!! Mark 5: 41

has none. The Bicol Medical Center is forpatients of the Bicol Region, not Cam. Suronly. We have a provincial Health Ofcein Bula, Cam. Sur but it is not a hospital.They say that the district hospitals underthe provincial government are functioningonly as clinics from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00

p.m. and not as hospitals because itdoes not have the required personnels,equipments, medicines, bed capacities,etc. There is no doctor on duty at night,

supposing there is food poisoning or an

epidemic or diarrhea? Where will peoplego? Health services should be availableto everybody at all times.

********IV. Heatha. 11,634 patients served (Operation

Reach-out, Medical/Dental Missionaannually)

b. Established Municipal Hospitals,District Hospitals and Co-authorized theEstablishment of Bicol Medical Center(R.A. 8058)

c. Php 8.5 M per year worth ofMedical Assistance provided to indigentpatients (BMC & PGH)

d. Provided sphygmomanometer to299 barangay health units

V. Tourisma. Passed into laws R.A. 9444 &

R.A. 9445 Declaring Atulayan and LahuyGroup of Islands as Tourism Zonesb. Street Lighting of National Arterial

Roads in Poblacion Areas within

I have been informed a long time ago

how difcult it is to get a private room inour hospitals here in Naga City and weactually experienced it when my husbandneeded to be hospitalized last month inthe Mother Seton Hospital. There were somany patients needing rooms and therewere none available. It took more than oneday to get a room. We also looked at otherprivate hospitals and the situation is thesame. There is hospital room shortage andthis should be addressed by the nationaland local governments. Two balikbayansfrom New York came and got sick becauseof the hot weather. They tried to get a roomin the hospital but there was none.

Our national and local governmentskeep pushing the tourism industry andrightly so I hope they also include theavailability of hospitals where tourists cango, not just the destination, food, hotels,

sports, recreation facilities, etc.Ac co rd ing to so me do ct or s fr omRinconada, it would help if the people ofthe province has a provincial hospital but it

Hospital Rooms Shortage and Continuation of the Fuentebellas of Cam. Sur

NENITA FuENTEBELLA-PEONES

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Tours ad Trave I Focus

DR. MARILISSA J. AMPuANPresident, Bicol Association of Tourism

and Hospitality Educators (BATHE)

How to develop our local tourismindustry in a manner that would benetthe underdeveloped communities ofMetro Naga is a challenge that mustbe addressed with bold initiatives bythe local government units through theLocal Chief Executives. Metro Naga

Development Council as an alliance of 15LGU members was organized to enhancelocal capabilities in partnership with theprivate sector for the purpose of identifyingand developing tourism destinations,products and services. The idea is to bringlocal economic development to the smallestcommunities of Metro Naga with the endview of creating economic opportunitiesfor our people and the reduction of povertyincidence in this growth area of tourism.Series of seminar workshop conductedincluding consultations with stakeholdersrevealed choke points and at the sametime identied the measures to be donefor the improvement of tourism operationin Metro Naga. The rst is the realizationthat eco-cultural tourism sector is laggingbehind as compared to other areas in Bicol.For this, we must raise the competitiveness

of Metro Naga Eco Cultural Tourism forthe expansion and upgrading of tourismofferings. Another weakness is the factthat Metro Naga is not being activelypromoted as a tourist destination. Thisin itself calls for an approach to marketand promote Metro Naga as alternativetourism site. Also the lack of marketdiversity was pointed out as a perceivedproblem and for this to be resolved astimulus for the inow of tourists to Metro-Naga must be worked out.

Notwithstanding the tourism boomin Camarines Sur the same must belinked with the labor sector especiallythe poor and marginalized sectors ofour community. Special mention are thewomen, farmers, sher folks, handicraftproducers and other workers in relationto local tourism development. The goal is

to strengthen their economic participationthrough product development marketing forthe purpose of making it possible for themto benet from the growth of tourism.

The private sector for reasons givenin the analysis that was made must beinvolved in the growth of Metro Nagatourism industry. The medium and longerterm goal is to encourage investments frombusinesses by way of support mechanismsthrough policies offering incentives,infrastructure in transportation and other

facilities that would attract tourists. MetroNaga Chamber of Commerce and Industrywould play an important role in providingthe needed assistance to businessand at the same serve as a conduit topublic and private partnership. The needto upgrade the capabilities of tourismfront liners through skills training mustbe given extra attention. In this area ofconcern the academe in coordinationwith travel and tour operators includinghotel, resort and restaurant owners shouldwork hand in hand in addressing thisperceived problem. For this purpose thelocal government units of the Metro NagaDevelopment Council comprising NagaCity, Pili, Camaligan, Pamplona, Pasacao,San Fernando, Milaor, Minalabac, Bula,Gainza, Canaman, Magarao, Bombon,Calabanga and Ocampo will play an

important role in the establishment of anenabling environment for tourism growth.This would include policy formulation andthe installation of systems to streamline

processing of business permits andsimplify regulations on businessenterprises. These would in effectmake the place business friendly andcompetitive to stimulate economicgrowth and development.

It is therefore incumbent upon said

LGUs to formulate and implement theneeded policies, ordinances, programsand projects suited for said areas underthe guidance and tutelage of the MetroNaga Development Council. Thesepolicy structures and implementingmechanisms should be institutionalizedto avoid the risk of shifting prioritieswhen local leadership changes fromtime to time. The Municipal Mayors aslocal chief executives should be thedriving force of each and every localgovernment unit. These would includethe passage of resolutions on the creationand/or revitalization of Tourism Councils,adoption of environmental laws andother development dimensions. LocalChief Executives are therefore importantin making the foundations on which theMetro Naga Development Council

Local Economics Development strategywill be launched.

With Camarines Sur now as oneof the favorite tourist destination inthe country, Metro Naga must beguided by the prescribed stages intooling up its tourism initiatives the endgoal of which is to reduce the povertyincidence in the area. This objectivecan be attained through the principle ofbalanced economic development whichwill bring to this growth area tourists andinvestments thereby realizing the growthand development of Metro Naga byway of widening the channels for tourisminow. Barring unforseen circumstances,tourism livelihood opportunities for ourpeople would in all probability catapultthe province as the most improvedtourist haven in the entire country. Thiswould in effect make Camarines Surwith Metro Naga leading the wayas a model for tourism growth anddevelopment.

Ma-Decemer AffairLike most teenagers, my two teen-aged grandsons, ages 16

and 15 are booming with energy and enthusiasm for anythingmodern. They have been gifted by their father with sophisticatedcellular phones while I stil l sport an old Nokia but which I nd veryeffective in making calls and sending text messages as well asreceiving the same. They are aware of the latest in music anddance and even the latest trends in fashion. Well, that makesthem very normal.

Now, they have started to become very conscious with theopposite gender. I would hear them talk of their crushes. And ofcourse, they ask me a lot of questions about dating, getting intoa relation, and the likes. I tell them these come very normallyfor their age. If there is something I am very serious about, itis telling them to keep away from older girls and gays. Theycan have girl friends their age because being of the same age,they would have similar outlook on life and sex. It would be wiseto chose their girl friends from among their schoolmates. Thatway, they are very sure they know who they areare they thelazy type of students or its opposite? Are they good in classor stupid? Are they respectful, honest and know and practicetheir GMRC or good manners and right conduct? Do they go tochurch or elsewhere?

Getting into a relation with someone older their age can bevery risky. The older girl can just manipulate them and can evencajole them into doing something they might regret later. Theycould just be toying with them. Imagine if my 16 or 15 year- oldgrandson has for a girl friend a graduating college student. I cannot imagine them years from now if they get to become veryserious and nd themselves marrying each other. After a fewyears, the girl will be quite very old already while the boy is stillvery young looking. I can not imagine that. I hate even just tothink about it. I do not see anything wrong for a much older mangetting involved with a much younger woman. Many marriageof this kind end up very successfully. We have known manysuch cases. Fred Elizalde marrying Liza Macuja but not VickyBelo marrying Hayden Kho. Well they are not into a relation anylonger. Zha Zha Padilla was talking on tv that Dolphy will very

soon turn 84 while she will turn 48. What a lucky coincidenceof number. Email [email protected]

inner chessby J. HEnRy DAnICAn

The Teacher i a Chagig Eviromet

b lAllIE AMOROSO JARDInElzeferio Arroo High Schoo, Iriga Cit

As a teacher, I have opened my eyes to a lot of things abouteducation and also about life. I have learned that the life of ateacher can be one wonderful phase for someone who hadplaced upon her shoulder the task of building lives of youngpeople. The task of building lives of persons especially in theirformative years is not easy. These persons are young highschool students who do not quite know if they are still kidsor already adults. These young adults can be so vulnerable.And the teacher stands to be their strongest support in buildingthemselves. I am much pretty aware of this and as a teacher,I have taken upon myself the responsibility of seeing thesechildren through in a changing environment.

The task of a teacher to build young people and look forwardto their fulllment as persons is truly challenging and this, ateacher accepts and she uses her very best to respond to thechallenge. This calls for a particular kind of response from ateacher who is worth her salt. That is why the Department ofEducation has not stopped to work on new measures, newstrategies, new techniques to make the teacher responsive tothe time and consequently, produce the best results in termsof graduates who are ready to take lifes challenges as well.It means these are persons who are ready for a career andlive productive lives, become economically independent andresponsible citizens of the country,

Today. the education sector of Philippine society is focusedon the new curriculum that has just been implemented startingthis school year. The K+12 curriculum is now eyed as thesolution to a problem that the new Education Secretary hasseen. So, here comes the new curriculum now popularly knownas the K+12 program.

For years, the Philippines has been left behind in theinternational education scene. It appears that our high school

graduates are not ready for work and our second year collegestudents are mere high school graduates in other placesoutside the country. In effect, they are not qualied for workslined up for college graduates. With these new curriculum nowin effect, teachers have opened their mind towards to this newprogram meant no less than for the Filipino student but mostspecially the graduates to become globally competitive.

The Philippine Educational system has undergone a lot ofchanges and each change is perceived to improve the system.This is very good for the country as well as for the students. Forexample, the use of the mother tongue in the rst grade in theelementary level has been designed to improve comprehensionby the very young elementary pupils who are just starting theirschooling and using the vernacular to teach them would makethem feel at home and thus contribute to their understanding.

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Iriga LGU, PNR ink pacton pedestrian safety

b AnA-lIzA S. MACATAnGAy

IRIGA CITY -- The city

government and PhilippineNational Railways (PNR)

has signed a memorandum

of agreement (MOA) that

will help prevent accidents

in the rails.

PNR General Manager Jun

Ragrario said that they will

offer a P1,000 honorarium per

month to whoever will man

the railroad crossing and en-

sure that the warning signs are

visible for traversing pedes-

skycrapercity.com

AlFElOR-GAzMEn RAGRAGIO

trians and vehicles. The LGU

in turn will provide the barri-

cades and the signages.

Mayor Madelaine Alfelor-Gazmen said that a schedule

of the train trips will be pro-

vided by PNR that will serve

as guide for the agman to

ensure that warning signals

and barricades are properly in

place.

PNR can not resolve this

alone. The community should

also take part and of course

the LGU. We are also thinking

of a tripartite agreement, like

involving the businessmen

in this endeavor for a more

effective implementation of

safety standards regarding

railroad crossings located in

various barangays here in Iri-

ga, Gazmen added.

A recent train tragedy was

when a tricycle was hit by

Mayon Ltd., an ordinary train

bound to Manito, Albay, when

the driver persisted in crossing

the railroad tracks despite the

blowing of horns and warn-

ing by bystanders. On board

the tricycle is a young teacher

who perished together with a

group of high school studentswho are about to go their re-

spective schools. This inci-

dent killed six passengers and

wounded eight others.

This also caught the atten-

tion of Transportation Secre-

tary Mar Roxas who immedi-

ately ordered for the thorough

investigation of the said mis-

hap that happened Friday

last week at the boundary of

Barangay San Isidro and San

Agustin this city.

Gazmen said that her pri-

mordial concern now is the

safety of her constituents, par-

ticularly those settlers along

the PNR sites. She has also

spoken with the group of tri-

cycle drivers with regards to

overloading of passengers.

We have informal set-

tlers where the PNR railroad

traverse and we are thinking

of how we can reconcile with

the legalities and of course the

safety of our people, Gazmen

said in an interview.

PNR said that the cross-

ing where the accident hap-

pened is unauthorized and is

not part of the 256 existing

permissible railroad crossings

operated by their ofce. Train

drivers know the ofcially

permitted crossings where

they are taught to slow down

and be watchful of crossing

pedestrians. At a speed of 35

kph, a one-kilometer distance

is required for the train to

come to a full stop.

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Message of ThanksThe bereaved family of the late

ReCHILDA R. JoveNof Libmanan, Camarines Sur

(who joined her Creator on June 24, 2012at the age of 67)

wish to express

our heartfelt gratitude and sincerest

appreciation to relatives and friends

who comforted and condoled with us,

offered Holy Masses and prayers,

sent owers, cards of sympathy,visited and kept vigil

and who in countless other ways,

supported us in our time of sorrow.

DIOS MABALOS PO.

There was a time when all subjects in school except Filipinowere taught in English. The students responded positively butsomehow it put to test our sense of nationalism but never mind,English, after all, is one of the ofcial languages in the country,that, being the language used in higher academic institutions

and in business. That many Filipinos speak English is an edgewhen they le their applications for jobs particularly overseas.So, it is not surprising that even up to now, many academicinstitutions especially exclusive schools still impose a SpeakEnglish policy.

These varied changes in our educational system haveplaced the teacher in a position where she has to adopt to thechanging times and get exposed to the changing environment.As a teacher, I believe I have responded to the call for apositive stand in all the doings in the education department,I have likewise learned to adopt to new systems aware thatwhatever changes, if they be changes or innovations, as wellas new methods and techniques have been well thought of bywell meaning people whose aim is to improve the quality ofeducation in the country and in the end, improve the life of ourpeople and face a much brighter future,

the teacher in a changing . . .

Partidoc. Electrication of Island barangaysVI. potae Water Sstem for 10 Tows, partido District

(Costructio Cost US$15M)a. Partido Water Supply System now provides potable

water to thousands of households in all Partido townsVII. Educatio: Quait Educatio programa. Established the Partido State University and Philippine

Science High School Bicol Campusb. Established several National High Schools in all townsc. Provided Scholarship Grants to thousands of students and

teachers (Funding Php44.4M)d. Distributed Computers to Central Elementary and High

Schoolse. Established Computer Laboratories (equipped with

servers, printers, scanners, internet access)f. Accessed the Mobile Information Technology Classroom of

DOST Science Education Institute(Project Cost Php8M)g. Provided Trainings for Pre-school Teachers and Day Care

Workers

VII. povert Icidece Drastica Reduced 8.63% from55.98% (year 2000) to 47.35 (latest). bico 48.40%

from my window . . .

is no better place to stay.One was a Taiwanese girl, Echo Chen, author of the Sahara

Desert, who preferred to live in the Sahara. Not only becauseshe loved the brutal and beautiful rolling burning land butalso because her ex-soldier husband, Jose Diaz, worked at aphosphate mine nearby.

Despite the very harsh weather-too hot during the day andtoo cold at night-she said she would not exchange it for another

home.What had mesmerized Echo Chen is what has thrilled

people watching the beautiful sunset in Manila Bay.And speaking of the sunset, the poorest Pinoy does not

have the time to view the sunset because, according to thePhilippine Political Law book on destitute Pinoy, he worriesabout the oil to light the lamp at night.

It is bad enough that he is very poor in earthly things. It isdoubly bad that he has little time to uplift his spirit. But that isno reason to sulk.

The rich have everything that money can buy but theirmoney cannot buy real happiness.

a question of . . .

gether, he added.

He pointed out that by en-

deavoring to achieve this featas a whole would ensure that

this dream would be com-

pleted faster.

Through our shared ef-

forts, we are beginning to

realize the dreams we share

with the Filipino people. We

have, in fact, been steadily

and noticeably upgrading the

Filipino dream. With your

help -- imagine the impossi-

bilities we can make possible,

and achieve, the President

said. -rck

aquino . . .

proven their worth in vari-ous occasions. One of the

honors that they brought to

the university was when they

were adjudged as the Grand

Champion during the Voya-

dores Competition held last

year at the Metropolitan Ca-

thedral Grounds as part of the

Penafrancia Festivity.

UNEP contingent was

also able to seize other major

awards which include Best in

Costume and Best in Music,

Best street dancers, Best in

Street Dance and Best in Pil-

grim Dance.

Pesimo said that this

years workshop will containmodules on dramaturgy, the-

atre concepts and practices

and different dance genres

but would focus more on

contemporary dance.

We believe that this en-

deavor will not only develop

the skills of our participants

but will instill in them the

value of discipline and self

worth, Pesimo said in clos-

ing.

unep-cca . . .

DSWDs to exec visits DosoDonsol, Sorsogon a well-

known tourist destination

in the Bicol region was vis-

ited by DSWDs Top Ex-

ecutive Corazon Dinky

Juliano-Soliman last Fri-day (June 22), not to look

for Butandings (whale

sharks) but to interact

with DSWDs program

beneciaries, partners and

stakeholders.

During her visit, Secretary

Soliman was warmly wel-

comed by the Local Govern-

ment Ofcials, partners and

beneciaries.

We are thankful for Sec-

retary Solimans visit. She is

the rst National Secretary

who went to Donsol not for

leisure purposes but to sit

down and meet with the local

ofcials and discuss or plan

out interventions that wouldbe of help to the community,

said Councilors Rey Aquino

and Mary Ingrid Bonaobra.

A Consultation Meeting

with the local ofcials and

members of Pantawid Pami-

lyas Municipal Advisory

Committee (MAC) as well

as KALAHI-CIDSS Munici-

pal Inter-Agency Committee

(MIAC) was attended by the

Secretary. The group pro-

vided feedback as to their ex-

periences as well as accom-

plishments and presented

recommendations to improve

program implementation and

partnership.

Meanwhile, forty (40)program recipients shared

testimonies as to how DSWD

programs helped alleviate

their plight. A dialogue with

the secretary followed in

which beneciaries had the

chance to clarify issues re-

garding program implemen-

tation.

According to DSWD

Regional Director Remia

Tapispisan, aside from moni-

toring the implementation

DSWD Secretary Corazon Dinky Juliano-Soliman poses withDirector Remia Tapispisan,Vice-Mayor Emeterio Belmonteand the Pantawid Pamilya benefciaries during her visit in

Donsol, Sorsogon last June 22, 2012.

of various programs of the

department, Secretary Soli-

man also looked into the op-

erationalization of DSWDs

Convergence Strategy. Said

strategy harmonizes the

agencys three core social

protection programs namely:

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino

Program, Sustainable Liveli-

hood Program and KALAHI-

CIDSS to generate greater

impact on poverty reduction.

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DEQUITO

DA ANNIveRsARYAgricuture Secretar proceso J. Acaa (4th from eft) eads the ceeratio of the Deartmet ofAgricultures 114th anniversary with the launch of a Food Staples Sufciency Program (FSSP)

oic documet, ad triute to former DA secretaries. The DA, origia amed Deartmetof Agricuture ad Maufacturig, was amog the seve atioa agecies created the 1stphiiie Reuic presidet Emiio Aguiado o Jue 23, 1898. Amog the former DA chiefswho atteded were Sorsogo 1st District Reresetative Savador H. Escudero III (right), whoreceived a DA lifetime Achievemet Award, boho 3rd District Reresetative Arthur C. ya(3rd from eft), ad Domigo F. pagaia, who was rereseted Dr. Jess biamira. TheFSSp is the aer food securit rogram of the Aquio admiistratio that aims to achievesufciency in rice and major staples by end of 2013, and enhance the countrys agricultural and

shery productivity and global competitiveness. Also shown (from left) are DA Undersecretary

Joe Rudias, Orieta Midoro 2d District Re. Re Umai, ad DA Assistat Secretar adatioa rice rogram coordiator Date Deima. (photo Jose lucas, Iformatio Service)

DPWH 5 clbrats114th annirsaryby MARlOn A. lOTERTE

LEGAZPI CITY -- The

Department of Public Works

and Highways (DPWH) cele-

brated its 114th Anniversary

last June 23 with the theme,

DPWH: Katiwalian ay La-

banan, para sa Bayan.

Consistent with the policy

direction of the present na-

tional leadership, DPWH

Secretary Rogelio L. Singson

ordered this year the change

going into developmental ac-

tivities.

Our Secretary called for

a week-long Nationwide Op-

eration Clean-up and Mainte-

nance on all our national roads

and ood control structures for

the period June 18-23, said

DPWH 5 regional directorDanilo Dequito during a radio

interview.

Dequito added that among

the activities that were con-

ducted by the regional and

district engineering ofces

included cleaning of the road

right-of-way of all illegal

structures and informal set-

tlers; cleaning and beauti-

cation of roadsides through

planting green plants and

ornamentals and vegetation

control; clearing all ood con-

trol structures, esteros, rivers,

creeks, and open waterways

from obstructions; installation

of correct directional signs instrategic areas of the national

roads; and repainting of all pe-

destrian lanes, guardrails, cen-

terline and edge line.

The week-long activity in

the agencys regional ofce

here started with the launch-

ing of operation clean-up led

by DPWH 5 key ofcials at

WRAPPING UP GbC/DAnREy

The international humanitarian organization Action Against

Hunger (ACF) represented by Country Director Philippines

Eric Fort (center, lower photo) and Head of Base Rico Bentulan

(left) turned over during closure ceremonies held Wednesday,

June 27 at the Villa del Rey of the Provincial Capitol Complex,

numerous projects designed to improve the quality of life of

people in the rural areas, improve delivery of basic services

and reduce disaster vulnerability in selected population

clusters, received in behalf of Gov. LRay Villafuerte and the

people of CamSur by Vice Governor Fortunato C. Pea (right).

Top photo shows the ensuing signing of a memorandum of

understanding between the ACF and program stakeholders

confrming continued support to sustain completed and on-

going projects with Balatan Mayor Ernesto Bagasbas and

Luzena Bermeo, head of EDMERO.

the ofce compound and at the

nearby estero.

Painting of guardrails on the

approaches of Yawa Bridge,

Rawis, Legazpi City was also

included.

Last Friday, DPWH 5 of-

cials and employees likewisestaged a two-kilometer Run

Against Corruption from the

national road of Lidong, Sto.

Domingo, Albay all the way to

Mayon Volcano Natural Park.Tree planting was also held

by the group on the designat-

ed area by the Department of

Environment and Natural Re-

sources.

We have encountered

many problems on the road

going to the desired transfor-

mation program of His Excel-

lency, President Benigno S.

Aquino III. But in my opinion,

we are on the right track. As

our Honorable Secretary said

in his anniversary message:

we are now reaping signicant

milestones in terms of good

governance, transparency and

accountability, Dequito con-cluded.

The Philippines largest

national flag carrier, Cebu

Pacic Air (PSE:CEB) re-

duces fuel surcharges on do-

mestic flights by as much as

20%, to further lower fares

for its passengers.

The following fuel sur-

charge reductions are effective

starting June 25, 2012:

from Manila to Visayas,

Mindanao and select Luzon

routes (less P100) from Manila to select Lu-

zon routes (less P50)

from Visayas to Luzon and

Mindanao and within Visayas

(less P50)

from Mindanao to Visayas

and within Mindanao (less

P50)

Fuel surcharges are added

CEB lowers fuel surcharge on all domestic flightsto air fares to help airlines all

over the world offset the rising

cost of fuel, which is a major

cost component for airlines.

We are committed to offer-

ing the public the lowest all-in

fares in all the routes we oper-

ate. Now, CEBs all-in lowest

fares will be even more afford-

able to business and leisure

travelers in the Philippines,

said CEB VP for Marketing

and Distribution Candice Iyog.CEB will continue to look

for ways to make ying acces-

sible to everyone, with the ex-

pected delivery of three more

brand-new Airbus A320 in the

2nd half of the year. More air-

craft will make a difference in

supporting the growth of Phil-

ippine tourism and trade, she

added.

CEB introduces its reduced

domestic fuel surcharge with

a sale from Manila to Visayas

(P888 all-in seat sale), and

from Manila to Mindanao

(P1,188 all-in seat sale). This

is available from June 25 to

27, 2012 or until seats last, for

travel from August 25 to Octo-ber 31, 2012.

Passengers can also buy

P688 all-in seats on its two

newest domestic routes: Davao-

Puerto Princesa and Davao-

Kalibo (Boracay). These new

routes will be launched on Au-

gust 2, 2012.

All-in domestic fares are

inclusive of fuel surcharge, ad-

ministration fee, aviation secu-

rity fee, 12% VAT and 7 kilos

hand carry baggage allowance,

but exclusive of check-in bag-

gage.

Meanwhile, an internation-

al seat sale to China (Beijing,

Guangzhou, Shanghai or Xia-

men), Korea (Seoul or Busan),Hong Kong and Macau is also

available, for travel from Au-

gust 1 to October 31, 2012.

For bookings and inqui-

ries, guests can go to www.

cebupacicair.com, or call the

reservation hotlines (02) 7020-

888 or (032) 230-8888. The

latest seat sales can also be

found on CEBs ofcial Twit-

ter and Facebook pages.

CEB currently operates 10

Airbus A319, 20 Airbus A320

and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. Its

eet of 38 aircraft with an

average age of 3.6 years is

the largest aircraft eet in the

Philippines. Between 2012 and

2021, Cebu Pacic will take

delivery of 22 more Airbus

A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo

aircraft orders. It is slated to

begin long-haul services in the

3rd quarter of 2013.

In its 16th year of opera-

tions, CEB has own over 60

million passengers. It provides

access to the most extensive

network in the Philppines, with

32 domestic and 19 interna-

tional destinations. The airline

also remains a pioneer in the

Philippine aviation industry

by being the rst to offer web

check-in, self check-in, e-tick-

eting, and Lite Fares.

JULY 2012

7/31/2019 July 1-7, 2012

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july 1 - 7, 201210

(Turn to page 8)

MANILA - President Be-

nigno S. Aquino III vowed

on Wednesday to continue

his advocacy to rid gov-

ernment of corruption and

eradicate poverty by pursu-

ing the removal and pros-

ecution of other corrupt

ofcials in government and

implementing further re-forms in order to sustain

the momentum gained from

his advocacy.

In his speech keynoting

the International Conference

on Public Administration and

Governance, a gathering of

governance experts, at the

EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in

Mandaluyong City, the Presi-

dent enjoined all Filipinos to

join him in this campaign.

Clearly, our reforms have

won us momentum. And it is

up to us, to all of uswheth-

er in the private or public

sectorto maintain this mo-

mentum, the President said.

There remain serious

challenges ahead. The prob-

lem of poverty is one that

must be solved. There are

still corrupt ofcials who

will be prosecuted and jailed.

The changes we envision are

massive, and these changes

cannot be enacted by a single

ofce. We have to do it to-

Aquino vows to goafter corruptgovt officials

pres. AQUInO

july 1-7, 2012

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