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PHOTO B Y IAN MAR NEBRES LEE
D RON E
RAFAEL RACSO V. VITAN Layout and Graphics Design
ARMIE GUNAY Layout and Design Assistant
ANSELMO B. MAÑOWebsite Administrator
FLORENCIO T. MONGOSO, JR. REUEL M. OLIVEREditorial Consultants
This quarterly magazine is published by the
City Government of Naga, thru the City Publications Office
and the City Events, Protocol and Public Information
Office, with editorial office at City Hall Compound,
J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City 4400 Philippines
Tel: +63 54 881-8328Email: [email protected]
Web: www.naga.gov.ph
JOSE V. COLLERASYLRANJELVIC C. VILLAFLOR
REYNALDO T. BAYLONPhotographers
IAN MAR P. NEBRES LEEDrone Shots
ALLEN L. REONDANGAALEC FRANCIS A.SANTOSPAUL JOHN F. BARROSA
Technical Advisers
JOHN G. BONGATCity Mayor
NELSON S. LEGACIONCity Vice Mayor
JOSE B. PEREZEditor
JASON B. NEOLAManaging Editor
A Quarterly Magazine of theCity Government of Naga
Bicol, Philippines
ISSN 2094-9383
Vol. 7, No. 4 | October - December 2016
ARMIE B. GUNAYSHARMAINE ZEN O. MANZANO
Writers
CHRISTOPHER E. ANTONIORUEL P. SANDUCO
Circulation
R O B I N S O N S P L A C E N A G A (f o regro u n d, right) which is nearing
completion, with the Bangko S entral ng Pilipinas and the N IC C D octors’ H ospital
lying across it, poises to become another imposing landmark that at this early
stage is already turning Roxas Avenue (o therw ise k n o w n as M agsay say D ive rsio n
H ighw ay ) into a new beehive of business activities.
TABL E OF CONTENTS
The “Naga SMILES to the World” logo is composed of the two baybayin characters, na and ga.
Na, shaped like a mountain, provides a strong foundation for the Narra tree which grew abundantly along the Naga River while a zigzag line denotes the majestic Malabsay Falls.
Ga, shaped like a farmer’s plow, is symbolic of the Nagueño’s agricultural roots and hardworking personality.
The baybayin Naga characters rest on a wave-like element which represents the Naga River and the serpent, which is read in Sanskrit as naga.
This new branding for Naga, launched in 2010 by the dynamic Bongat administration, envisions a more livable city that is world-class.
The “An Maogmang Lugar” logo is an attempt to capture Naga as we want it to be – a city that is progressive and yet environment-friendly, where the people freely participate in the day-to-day affairs of the government, and where culture and arts are flourishing.
The stylized design of “NAGA” represents the city’s aggressive march towards modernization and progress. The sky-blue background, the Narra tree, and the Naga River represent our people’s desire for an ecologically-balanced community.
The ring of people surrounding the entire design shows the Nagueños’ participatory mechanism which is part and parcel of the city’s way of doing things. It also shows the people’s concern and unity in everything that is good for the city.
Today, the city, as Maogmang Lugar, aims to portray more than a happy place but a happy people who are the true beneficiaries of everything good that is happening in the city.
1 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 2
3 Mayor’s Message
4 Nague ñ os celebrate Kamundagan Festival
9 Naga hosts Bicol Regional Tourism Summit 13 Halyao Awardees honored
17 Siruma, Naga ink sisterhood accord
19 Ravaged but unbowed
27 Ombudsman hails Naga for anti-corruption program
29 Naga is outstanding corn achiever
29 City Councilor Nene de Asis leads as RIC national president
30 Naga City Health office gets P3.8M dental van
31 Ceppio, press corps bring cheers to kids, indigent families
35 Bordado encourages students to take up agri courses
36 Naga’s Salvar Buhay: Light at the end of the tunnel
39 City pushes Gardening with bandwagon effect
41 Naga District Jail, Warden: Country’s best
42 BMC to put up teen wellness center
43 Naga is best anti-rabies implementer
44 Reduction of maternal-infant deaths pressed
45 Eco-Park up for re-development
46 Action Center vs natural, man-made hazards
SP HIGHLIGHTS
47 Investment programs for world-class and self-reliant caring Naga
50 Closure of Balatas dumpsite impends
51 Industrial economic zone in the works
By SHARMAINE ZEN MANZANO
a m u n d a g a nFest iva l 2016K
T RUL Y THE M OST W ON D ERFUL TI M E OF THE Y EA R! Fo r t h e Ci t y o f SM I L ES, t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e
y u l e t i d e s e a s o n i s n o t j u s t a l l a b o u t d e c o r a t i n g t h e l a n d m a r k s w i t h t w i n k l i n g l i g h t s , s t a r s a n d g l i t t e r s , f a n c y r e d a n d g r e e n m i s t l e t o e s , p i n e t r e e s a n d d o z e n s o f Sa n t a Cl a u s b u t a l s o a w e l l - p r e p a r e d n i g h t f o r o u r c h i l d r e n , t o u r i s t s a n d s p e c t a t o r s . Th i s y e a r ’ s K a m u n d a g a n Fe s t i v a l , a s i d e f r o m t h e Ch r i s t m a s l i g h t i n g c e r e m o n i e s , r e vi v e d t h e “ K i r i k i t i ” o r Fe s t i v a l o f L i g h t s Pa r a d e a n d St r e e t D a n c e , h i g h l i g h t i n g t h e c i t y ’ s v a r i a n t c o l o r s a n d s t r o n g s e n s e o f p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h i s s o c i a l e v e n t .
PHO
TO BY R
AC
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VIT
AN
PHO
TOS
BY
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AN
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VIC
VIL
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OR
CONTINGENTS from different barangays
showcase theiryuletide performances
during the conduct of the K amundagan
Festival 2 0 1 6 .
N a g u e Ñ o s c e l e b r a t e
3 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 4
WE all hoped that we would have a
joyful Holiday Season, and we
did. But not after we celebrated on the eve of
Christmas when we had our Noche Buena and
offered prayers of thanksgiving for the blessings
that we had and will have as the New Year
approaches. But God works in mysterious ways.
The next day we were bracing for an
impending typhoon. Barely had the 25th of
December -- the birthday of our Lord Jesus
-- ended when Typhoon Nina unleashed its
fury and darkness fell with winds pounding our
homes at more than 200 kilometers per hour.
The following morning, we saw uprooted
trees, toppled electric posts, and houses
whose roofs were blown away. All the colorful
Christmas decors around our plaza with its
towering Christmas tree were timely removed
before they could be strewn to pieces by the
typhoon’s wrath, razed to the ground like
abandoned toys after a naughty child’s play.
It was the strongest typhoon to strike Bicol
in 10 years that many say had stronger impact
than when Typhoon Reming hit Bicol in 2006.
Nina made its 1st landfall in Bato, Catanduanes
at 6:30 pm on Sunday, December 25, then its
2nd landfall in Sagñay, Camarines Sur around
9:30 pm. Hardest hit in the province were the
City of Naga (especially its upland barangays at
the foot of Mt. Isarog)
and the adjoining
towns of
Minalabac,
Milaor, Pili,
Bato, and
Ocampo.
Of
course, Bicol
is not new
to storms and typhoons, the more devastating
ones had come and gone but here we are
continuously building our city. And every
time, especially to Nagueños, preparedness,
resilience and determination stand in the
way to deliverance and recovery. Before the
week was over, we had cleaned our streets,
the fallen trees and electric posts cleared for
passing vehicles. The centro and adjoining
barangays had their power supply restored
although it took sometime in other areas
due to the extent of damage and problems
of equipment supply in the power system
restoration works but most of Naga’s electric
lines were glowing again in time to welcome
the New Year! Soon, we reached out to those
worst hit, giving them relief goods, cash and
materials to help rebuild their homes.
Resilience, one of our strongest
characters as a strong, empowered, and
collaborative people, makes us even sturdier
after every crisis and typhoon. While we
failed to roll with Typhoon Nina’s punches,
we always quickly rise ready to fight in the
next round. At the outset, our preparedness
and readiness with regards to disaster risk
mitigation and management had made
our people more secure, resulting to zero
casualty in the city. We also pre-empted
sudden floods because of our effective newly-
constructed storm drainage system and the
recently-completed Naga River revetment
and rehabilitation project, the latter in
collaboration with the office of then Rep. Leni
Robredo of Camarines Sur’s 3rd district.
Resilience is that ineffable quality that
allows us to be knocked down temporarily
and come back stronger than ever. We are
a resilient people because of our positive
attitude, optimism, the ability to see failure
as a form of helpful feedback, and our
confidence in both our leaders and our fellow
constituents that Naga will remain to be
dynamic and sustainable because of its people.
It is a given fact that the Bicol Region
where Naga is located is one of the most
hazard-prone areas in the country. Nestled at
the foot of Mt. Isarog, the city is vulnerable
to flooding and heavy rains that prompted it
to build storm drainages and clean its rivers.
We learned to be vigilant, alert and ready as
we persistently preach that awareness and
education are keys to disaster preparedness.
More than our continuing effort to
enhance the citizens’ awareness on disaster
mitigation, we also highlight the importance
of DRRM programs in restoring economic
livelihood and productivity after the storm.
Our experience with typhoons and
other forms of crisis tells us that two other
qualities that make as the Most Competitive
Component City in the country, aside from
our high competitive index on economic
dynamism, infrastructure and governance
are resilience and sustainability.
Resiliency is the ability to recover
readily and even expand our original
positive state. Even after misfortune, we, as
a resilient people, are blessed with such an
outlook that we are able to strive harder and
become even more defined in our goals and
behavior by nurturing sustainability.
To us, there are three pillars of
sustainability that define our healthy
relationship with nature, economic resource
and social responsibility. These are:
Environmental sustainability or the
ability to protect and nourish our natural
resources and surroundings, fight pollution
and alleviate the negative effects of climate
change;
Economic sustainability or the ability
to support a defined level of economic
resource and production and;
Social sustainability which is the
ability of our community, such as Naga,
to function at a defined level of social
well-being that include, but not limited to,
community building, health and wellness,
as well as sense of accomplishment and
personal fulfillment.
THE 3 r d d a y o f D e c e m b e r s t a r t e d w i t h a b a n g ! Th e c i t y o f f i c i a l s , w i t h g r e e n t o p s , e n t e r e d t h e K i n a s t i l y o h a n St r e e t w i t h f u l l s m i l e s a n d h a n d w a vi n g t o t h e c r o w d , f o l l o w e d b y t h e f i v e n o n - c o m p e t i n g b a r a n g a y s : o f f i c i a l s o f B a r a n g a y L e r m a , Sa n Fr a n c i s c o , Ca r o l i n a , D a y a n g d a n g
a n d Pe n a f r a n c i a w i t h t h e i r e y e - c a t c h i n g f l o a t s a n d o u t f i t s ; e n t e r t a i n i n g e v e r y o n e w i t h t h e i r p r o p s .
I m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e St r e e t D a n c e Pa r a d e , a l i v e l y Pr o d u c t i o n N u m b e r w i t h t h e Ci t y Of f i c i a l s s e n t p o s i t i v e vi b e s t o t h e c r o w d , f o l l o w e d b y t h e c e r e m o n i a l l i g h t i n g o f Ch r i s t m a s l a n t e r n s .
Fi r s t L a d y Fa r a h B o n g a t , t h i s y e a r ’ s K a m u n d a g a n Fe s t i v a l Ch a i r p e r s o n , t h a n k e d a n d c o n g r a t u l a t e d t h e o f f i c e s a n d b a r a n g a y o f f i c i a l s f o r t h e i r e f f o r t s t o m a k e t h e e v e n t a s u c c e s s . A c c o r d i n g t o h e r , “ i t i s t r u l y o u r p l e a s u r e t o m a k e t h i s y e a r ’ s K a m u n d a g a n Fe s t i v a l a m e m o r a b l e o n e . Th i s i s f o r e v e r y o n e b e c a u s e w e w i s h y o u a l l a
m e r r y a n d c o l o r f u l Ch r i s t m a s c e l e b r a t i o n . ”
Tw e n t y - t w o p a r t i c i p a t i n g b a r a n g a y s e n l i v e n e d t h e n i g h t w i t h t h e i r s t r e e t d a n c e a l l t h e w a y f r o m Pa n g a n i b a n D r i v e t o Pl a z a Q u e z o n .
Ev e r y o n e n o t i c e d t h e c u t e p e r f o r m a n c e o f t h e l a s t c o n t i n g e n t , B a r a n g a y M a b o l o d u r i n g t h e e x h i b i t i o n c o n t e s t . G u y s a n d g a l s f r o m t h e s a i d c o n t i n g e n t a w e d t h e p e o p l e w i t h c h a r m a n d s m i l e s i n t h e i r r e d r i b b o n s , f u r r y b o a s a n d p o l k a - d o t s l i k e M i c k e y a n d M i n n i e M o u s e . W i t h t h e i r w a r m a n d e n t e r t a i n i n g d a n c e n u m b e r s , t h e y r e c e i v e d P1 0 , 0 0 0 c a s h p r i z e f o r B e s t Ex h i b i t i o n D a n c e .
Co n t i n g e n t N u m b e r 2 1 , B a r a n g a y Co n c e p c i o n Pe q u e n a , e m e r g e d a s t h e 2 n d r u n n e r u p , w i n n i n g a n a i r - c o n d i t i o n i n g p a c k a g e w i t h 2 s e t s o f 1 . 5 HP a i r -c o n d i t i o n i n g u n i t w o r t h P9 0 , 0 0 0 .
Co n t i n g e n t N u m b e r 1 4 , B a r a n g a y B a g u m b a y a n N o r t e , w i t h t h e i r k i d s d r e s s e d i n r e d , g r e e n a n d y e l l o w r u f f l e s a n d m o d i f i e d Fi l i p i n i a n a d r e s s e s , e m e r g e d a s t h e 1 s t r u n n e r u p . I t r e c e i v e d a s o u n d s y s t e m p a c k a g e w i t h 6 p c s p o w e r e d s p e a k e r s , 1 s e t 8 - c h a n n e l m i x e r a n d 2 m i c r o p h o n e s w o r t h P1 5 0 , 0 0 0 .
Th e w i n n i n g s t r e e t d a n c e r s , c o n t i n g e n t n u m b e r 9 , B a r a n g a y B a g u m b a y a n Su r , s m o o t h l y s w a y e d a n d d a n c e d
BARANGAY and city officials, together with the constituents of Naga, join the street light parade in their colorful costumes and creatively-designed props, marking the start of the Kamundagan Festival.
PHOTOS B Y SYLRANJELVIC VILLAFLOR
5 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 6
IT is the time of the
year when all roads
lead to home, celebrating
joy with children and long
holidays.
CITY OFFICIALS lead the ceremonial switch-on of lights to mark the start of the 2016 Kamundagan Festival.
FIRST LADY FARAH BONGAT, as the chair of this year’s festival, delivers her Christmas message to the spectators of the event.
PHOTOS B Y SYLRANJELVIC VILLAFLOR
7 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 8
t o t h e y u l e t i d e m u s i c i n t h e i r w h i t e a n d s k y b l u e o u t f i t s . A s i d e f r o m w i n n i n g t h e B e s t St r e e t D a n c e , t h e y a l s o e m e r g e d a s t h e B e s t i n Co s t u m e . Th e s e “ b l u e f a i r i e s a n d e l v e s ” m a d e a u n i q u e i m p r e s s i o n f r o m t h e s e a o f r e d a n d g r e e n s h a d e s w i t h t h e i r c o o l c o l o r s . Th e i r a t t r a c t i v e c o s t u m e a n d s u p e r b D i s n e y -i n s p i r e d p e r f o r m a n c e e a r n e d t h e m t h e t o p s p o t f o r t h i s y e a r ’ s K i r i k i t i St r e e t D a n c e Co m p e t i t i o n . Th e y w o n a Co m p u t e r Ce n t e r Pa c k a g e w i t h 1 0 s e t s o f c o m p u t e r , a p r i n t e r , L A N Ca b l e s a n d s w i t c h w o r t h P2 6 0 , 0 0 0 p l u s P1 0 , 0 0 0 f o r B e s t St r e e t D a n c e a n d P1 5 , 0 0 0 c a s h p r i z e f o r B e s t i n Co s t u m e .
K a m u n d a g a n Fe s t i v a l t h i s y e a r , a l t h o u g h c e l e b r a t e d a n n u a l l y i n c e l e b r a t i o n o f t h e o p e n i n g o f t h e Ch r i s t m a s s e a s o n , h a s c o n t r i b u t e d g r e a t l y t o u p l i f t i n g t h e a t m o s p h e r e o f t h e t r u e e s s e n c e o f Ch r i s t m a s .
I t i s t h e t i m e o f t h e y e a r w h e n a l l r o a d s l e a d t o h o m e , c e l e b r a t i n g j o y s w i t h c h i l d r e n a n d l o n g h o l i d a y s b u t f o r t h e c i t y , t h i s f e s t i v a l i s a l s o a t i m e f o r s i m p l e j o y s a n d b r i g h t c o l o r s w h i l e p r o m o t i n g s e n s e o f c o m m u n i t y b e t w e e n p e o p l e ; c r e a t i n g b o n d s t h r o u g h t e a m w o r k t o a c h i e v e f u l f i l l m e n t a n d m e m o r a b l e vi c t o r i e s .
9 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016
TOURISM i s a n i n d u s t r y t h a t h a s w o v e n i t s e l f i n t o t h e f a b r i c o f Ph i l i p p i n e N a t i o n a l D e v e l o p m e n t . ” A m e a n i n g f u l s t a t e m e n t f r o m t h e
w e l c o m e r e m a r k s o f D OT Un d e r s e c r e t a r y A l m a Ri t a J i m e n e z a s s h e r e a d t h e m e s s a g e o f D OT Se c r e t a r y W a n d a Tu l f o - Te o a t t h e o p e n i n g o f t h e 2 0 1 6 B i c o l Re g i o n a l To u r i s m Su m m i t a t Th e Te n t , A v e n u e Pl a z a Ho t e l o n N o v e m b e r 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 .
Th e s u m m i t ’ s a h i s t o r i c g a t h e r i n g o f v a r i o u s s t a k e h o l d e r s o f t h e r e g i o n ’ s t o u r i s m i n d u s t r y w a s a t t e n d e d b y d e l e g a t e s f r o m l o c a l G o v e r n m e n t u n i t s , t o u r i s m r e l a t e d e s t a b l i s h m e n t s a n d t h e a c a d e m e p r e s e n t , e a g e r t o l e a r n f i r s t - h a n d t h e c u r r e n t s t a t e a n d p o t e n t i a l o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d B i c o l ’ s t o u r i s m i n d u s t r y .
D e l e g a t e s a n d g u e s t s o f t h e Su m m i t w e r e
w e l c o m e d b y a f e s t i v e p e r f o r m a n c e b y t h e G r a n d vi e w El e m e n t a r y Sc h o o l V o y a d o r e s D a n c e r s w i n n e r o f t h e 2 0 1 6 V o y a d o r e s Fe s t i v a l , a n d t h e EL N OTA L I CO D r u m b e a t e r s f r o m So r s o g o n . Th e p r o g r a m p r o p e r s t a r t e d w i t h a s o l e m n s o n g o f f e r e d b y t h e Un i v e r s i t y o f N u e v a Ca c e r e s G l e e Cl u b f o l l o w e d b y t h e s i n g i n g o f t h e Ph i l i p p i n e N a t i o n a l A n t h e m . A b r e a t h t a k i n g p e r f o r m a n c e b y t h e M A G S
D a n c e r s o f I r i g a Ci t y , a c c o m p a n i e d b y t h e EL N OTA L I CO D r u m b e a t e r s m a r k e d t h e o p e n i n g s a l v o o f t h e Su m m i t . I n h i s w e l c o m e r e m a r k s , N a g a Ci t y M a y o r J o h n G . B o n g a t r e c o g n i z e d t h e e f f o r t s a n d a c h i e v e m e n t s o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f To u r i s m B i c o l h e a d e d b y Re g i o n a l D i r e c t o r M a r i a On g - Ra v a n i l l a a n d M r . A l e c Fr a n c i s A . Sa n t o s , Ch i e f - o f - Of f i c e o f t h e N a g a ’ s A r t s , Cu l t u r e a n d To u r i s m Of f i c e a n d a c k n o w l e d g e d t h e i n f l u e n c e o f t h e t o u r i s m i n d u s t r y i n t h e g r o w t h o f N a g a Ci t y . Th e V i c e - Pr e s i d e n t M a r i a L e o n o r G . Ro b r e d o , a l s o w e l c o m e d d e l e g a t e s a n d p a r t i c i p a n t s t h r o u g h a vi d e o m e s s a g e . A l s o p r e s e n t a t t h e o p e n i n g p r o g r a m o f t h e s u m m i t w e r e So r s o g o n G o v e r n o r Ro b e r t L e e Ro d r i g u e z a , L e g a z p i Ci t y M a y o r N o e l Ro s a l , L i g a o Ci t y M a y o r Pa t r i c i a G . A l s u a , a n d B i c o l Re g i o n a l To u r i s m Co u n c i l Ch a i r m a n D a n i e l D e L e o n .
Th e k e y n o t e s p e a k e r , D OT Un d e r s e c r e t a r y A l m a Ri t a J i m e n e z d i s c u s s e d t h e t h e m e o f t h e s u m m i t , “ Pr o m o t i n g G r o w t h a n d Co m p e t i t i v e n e s s t h r o u g h Su s t a i n a b l e To u r i s m D e v e l o p m e n t . ” He r s p e e c h f o c u s e d o n Ec o To u r i s m a n d G l o b a l To u r i s m i n c l u d i n g G r e e n To u r i s m a n d Et h i c a l To u r i s m . Sh e d e f i n e d Su s t a i n a b l e To u r i s m a s a r e s p o n s i b l e w a y o f t r a v e l i n g t o n a t u r a l a r e a s w h e r e t o u r i s t s a n d t h e g o v e r n m e n t s h o u l d p r o t e c t t h e d e s t i n a t i o n , c o n s e r v e t h e e n vi r o n m e n t , s u s t a i n t h e w e l l - b e i n g o f t h e l o c a l p e o p l e a n d i n v o l v e s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a n d e d u c a t i o n a s w e l l a s , i t m u s t i m p r o v e t h e l i v e s o f t h e Fi l i p i n o s .
Hi m i g K a p i t o l y o , c o m p o s e d o f p r o vi n c i a l g o v e r n m e n t e m p l o y e e s o f So r s o g o n , a n d t h e N a g a V i e w A d v e n t i s t I s a r o g Co n c o r d , s e r e n a d e d g u e s t s a n d d e l e g a t e s o v e r l u n c h .
Bicol Regional Tourism Summit
By JOHN PAUL M. NANTES
Sa l e e M o r a o f D OT B i c o l , r e p r e s e n t i n g D i r . Ra v a n i l l a s t a r t e d t h e a f t e r n o o n s e s s i o n w i t h t h e o v e r vi e w o f t h e B i c o l Re g i o n a l Su m m i t , h i g h l i g h t i n g t h e f a c t t h a t t o u r i s m i s s e e n a s a n e c o n o m i c a c t i vi t y w i t h t h e g r e a t e s t p o t e n t i a l f o r w o r l d w i d e e x p a n s i o n , a n d a n e n g i n e f o r e c o n o m i c g r o w t h . Th e o v e r vi e w w a s t h e n f o l l o w e d b y t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e c o n v e n o r o f t h e 2 0 1 6 B i c o l Re g i o n a l To u r i s m Su m m i t a n d N a g a Ci t y ’ s To u r i s m Of f i c e r M r . A l e c Fr a n c i s A . Sa n t o s . I n h i s p r e s e n t a t i o n , h e d i s c u s s e d t h e c o m p e t i t i v e a d v a n t a g e o f i n c l u s i v e a n d r e s p o n s i v e t o u r i s m d e v e l o p m e n t c u r r e n t l y b e i n g e n j o y e d i n N a g a Ci t y . He w e n t o n t o t h e v a r i o u s e x p e r i e n c e s o f A CTO i n e s t a b l i s h i n g a f o o t h o l d t o j u m p s t a r t N a g a Ci t y ’ s t o u r i s m i n d u s t r y , u l t i m a t e l y r e s u l t i n g i n a n i n f l u x o f b o t h i n v e s t m e n t s a n d t o u r i s t s .
Th e t h i r d s p e a k e r , M r . D a n i e l Co r p u z , Co n s u l t a n t o f t h e D OT- N TD P 2 0 1 6 - 2 0 2 2 , d i s c u s s e d t h e Pr o s p e c t s f o r t h e Ph i l i p p i n e To u r i s m I n d u s t r y f o r 2 0 1 7 - 2 0 2 2 . He p r e s e n t e d t h e To u r i s m Ec o n o m i c I m p a c t f o r 2 0 1 5 . He s a i d t h a t t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s ’ G D P i n 2 0 1 5 g r e w 5 . 2 % a n d 1 . 1 1 % o f t h i s i s f r o m t h e t o u r i s m s e c t o r , h e a l s o a d d e d t h a t t h e t o u r i s m i n d u s t r y s h a r e d 1 2 . 7 % o f t h e t o t a l e m p l o y m e n t f o r 2 0 1 5 . He s h o w e d s o m e g r a p h o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l To u r i s t a r r i v a l b y r e g i o n a n d d i s c u s s e d s o m e f a s t f a c t s a b o u t t h e 2 1 s t Ce n t u r y Tr a v e l e r w h i c h i n c l u d e s t h e ( 1 ) s o u r c e s o f t r a v e l I n f o r m a t i o n l i k e i n t e r n e t , w o r d o f m o u t h , t r a v e l a g e n t s a n d g u i d e b o o k s , b r o c h u r e s a n d o t h e r p u b l i c a t i o n s a n d ( 2 ) Tr a v e l A r r a n g e m e n t s t h a t i n c l u d e s t r a v e l a g e n c y a n d f r i e n d s / f a m i l y a n d ( 3 ) M a n n e r o f B o o k i n g . M r . Co r p u z c o n t i n u e d i n d i s c u s s i n g t h e M a r k e t - Pr o d u c t D e v e l o p m e n t Op p o r t u n i t i e s w h i c h f o c u s e s i n i d e n t i f y i n g a n d p o s i t i o n i n g o f p o t e n t i a l m a r k e t i n a c e r t a i n l o c a t i o n . He s e t Tr i p l e C ( Ca m . N o r t e , Ca m Su r a n d Ca t a n d u a n e s ) a n d A l M a So r ( A l b a y , M a s b a t e a n d So r s o g o n ) a s a n e x a m p l e f o r t h i s t o p i c . Th i s i n c l u d e s t h e p o s i t i o n i n g o f t h e m a r k e t , w h e t h e r o n a b e a c h , n a t u r e o r o n c u l t u r e - b a s e d t o u r i s m ; p r i m a r y p r o d u c t s l i k e a d v e n t u r e o r c u l t u r e t o u r i s m ; s e c o n d a r y p r o d u c t s l i k e a g r i -t o u r i s m ; k e y m a r k e t s l i k e d o m e s t i c m a r k e t s , a n d s t r a t e g i c m a r k e t s l i k e USA , K o r e a , A u s t r a l i a , UN a n d Ca n a d a .
A s a c o n c l u s i o n , M r . Co r p u z p r e s e n t e d a f o r e c a s t o f t o u r i s t a r r i v a l s f o r B i c o l . He s a i d t h a t b y t h e y e a r 2 0 2 2 B i c o l s h o u l d b e e x p e c t i n g 8 , 4 6 8 , 0 0 2 t o u r i s t a r r i v a l s , 4 , 7 0 2 , 6 1 1 f o r Tr i p l e C a n d 3 , 7 6 5 , 3 9 1 f o r A l M a So r .
Th e f o r m e r Pr o g r a m M a n a g e r o f t h e L o c a l G o v e r n a n c e Su p p o r t Pr o g r a m f o r L o c a l Ec o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t ( L G SP- L ED ) , D r . Ra m o n A l a m p a y , d i s c u s s e d t h e Su s t a i n a b l e Re l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n L G Us a n d To u r i s m B u s i n e s s e s f o r t h e l a s t t o p i c o f t h e f i r s t d a y .
He s a i d t h a t a l l t o u r i s m i s l o c a l . He a l s o s t a t e d t h a t t h e i n d u s t r y i s d r i v e n b y l o c a l b u s i n e s s e s , e n t r e p r e n e u r s a n d i n v e s t o r s w h o h i r e r e s i d e n t s o f t h e c o m m u n i t y t o w o r k . I t g i v e s t o u r i s m b u s i n e s s e s a n d i n v e s t o r s t h e b e s t o p p o r t u n i t i e s b y c r e a t i n g p r o f i t a b l e b u s i n e s s e s t o i n c r e a s e t h e i r r e v e n u e s . Fo r h i s f i n a l t h o u g h t s , h e s a i d t h a t t o u r i s m n e e d s t o b u i l d p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h i n t h e L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t Un i t a n d w i t h N G A s t o e n a b l e t o u r i s m b u s i n e s s e s t o d o w h a t t h e y c a n d o b e s t - t o c r e a t e j o b s a n d e a r n r e a s o n a b l e p r o f i t .
A n o p e n f o r u m w a s h e l d a f t e r t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f a l l t h e s p e a k e r s , t h e d e l e g a t e s w e r e g i v e n a c h a n c e t o a s k q u e s t i o n s . So m e c h o s e n o t t o a s k b u t t o s i t e s o m e e x a m p l e s o f c u r r e n t t o u r i s m t r e n d t h a t o t h e r r e g i o n s a r e d o i n g t h a t c o u l d a l s o b e a p p l i e d i n B i c o l . A l s o , a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e f r o m t h e a c a d e m e a s k e d a b o u t a n y p a r t i c u l a r p r o j e c t o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t t h a t w i l l i n v o l v e t h e a c a d e m e .
Th e s e c o n d d a y o f t h e Su m m i t w a s s t a r t e d b y t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f M s . Ca t h e r i n e B r i l l a n t e s - Tu r vi l l , Pr e s i d e n t o f N u r t u r e W e l l n e s s V i l l a g e a n d Sp a Pr o f e s s i o n a l s I n t e r n a t i o n a l D e v e l o p m e n t Ce n t e r . Sh e d i s c u s s e d a l l a b o u t Fa r m To u r i s m . A c o o r d i n g t o h e r Fa r m t o u r i s m i s d i f f e r e n t f r o m c o n v e n t i o n a l f a r m i n g . Fa r m To u r i s m i s a s p e c i a l i z e d f i e l d – w h e r e h o s p i t a l i t y , a g r i c u l t u r e , c u l t u r e , e d u c a t i o n , t r a v e l a n d c o r p o r a t e s o c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y c o m b i n e t o c r e a t e a u n i q u e g u e s t e x p e r i e n c e .
M s . Tu r vi l l a l s o s h a r e d t h e a d v a n t a g e s o f Fa r m To u r i s m t h a t i n c l u d e s p r o vi d i n g a d d i t i o n a l i n c o m e t o f a r m e r s , f a r m w o r k e r s a n d f i s h e r f o l k s ; i t s e r v e s a s a c a t a l y s t f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d f i s h e r y c o m m u n i t i e s i t a l s o s e e k s t o p r o m o t e e n vi r o n m e n t - f r i e n d l y , e f f i c i e n t a n d s u s t a i n a b l e f a r m p r a c t i c e s . Fa r m To u r i s m a d d i t i o n a l l y
p r o vi d e s a l t e r n a t i v e r e c r e a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s a n d a c t i vi t i e s f o r t o u r i s t s a s w e l l a s i t p r o m o t e s h e a l t h a n d w e l l n e s s w i t h h i g h - q u a l i t y p r o d u c e d f o o d . Sh e a l s o e x p l a i n e d s o m e o f t h e f a c i l i t i e s i n v o l v e d i n f a r m t o u r i s m t h a t i s p r e s e n t i n h e r V i l l a g e . Fi r s t i s a W e l l n e s s Sp a t h a t o f f e r s c u l t u r a l h e a l i n g a n d s t r e s s r e l i e f f a c i l i t i e s , a n o t h e r o n e i s t h e N u r t u r e Fa r m a c y t h a t o f f e r s e d u c a t i o n a l , c u l t u r a l a n d i n t e r a c t i v e f a r m p r o g r a m . Sh e a l s o a d d e d t h e Ca m p N u r t u r e t h a t s t r e n g t h e n s f a m i l y t i e s a n d h e l p s e a s e t h e i r a n x i e t y b y c a m p i n g o n a n e c o - f r i e n d l y e n vi r o n m e n t . Sh e a l s o i n t r o d u c e d t h e c o n c e p t o f G l a m p i n g o r g l a m o r o u s c a m p i n g t h a t i s a n e w w a y o f c a m p i n g d i f f e r e n t t h a t i s h a s s l e - f r e e b e c a u s e g u e s t s w o u l d b e p r o vi d e d a t e n t , b o n f i r e a r e a , p o o l , c a m p b u t l e r , m o s q u i t o n e t , w a r m w a t e r a n d o t h e r f a n c y f a c i l i t i e s . Sh e n o t e d t h a t i t i s g r e a t f o r g r o u p s o f f r i e n d s , f a m i l y o r l o v e d o n e s t h a t w o u l d l i k e t o t r y a n d l i v e w i t h n a t u r e .
M r . Es t a n Ca b i g a s o f L a n g y a w m e d i a f o l l o w e d M s . Tu r vi l l ’ s p r e s e n t a t i o n a n d d i s c u s s e d a b o u t So c i a l M e d i a a n d G u e r i l l a M a r k e t i n g f o r To u r i s m Pr o m o t i o n s o n t h e s e c o n d d a y o f t h e 2 0 1 6 B i c o l Re g i o n a l To u r i s m Su m m i t .
A s a s t a r t , h e d e f i n e d So c i a l M e d i a a n d G u e r i l l a M a r k e t i n g . So c i a l M e d i a , a c c o r d i n g t o M r . Ca b i g a s , a r e w e b - b a s e d c o m m u n i c a t i o n t o o l s t h a t e n a b l e p e o p l e t o i n t e r a c t w i t h e a c h o t h e r b y b o t h s h a r i n g a n d c o n s u m i n g i n f o r m a t i o n . He h i g h l i g h t e d t h e f a c t t h a t So c i a l M e d i a i s t o d a y ’ s r e a l i t y . He s a i d t h a t f o r t r a v e l e r s So c i a l M e d i a m a k e s i n f o r m a t i o n r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e a n d i t a l s o g i v e s m a n y o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o t h e t o u r i s m s e c t o r . G u e r i l l a M a r k e t i n g , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i s a n a d v e r t i s e m e n t s t r a t e g y t o p r o m o t e p r o d u c t s a n d s e r vi c e s i n a n u n c o n v e n t i o n a l w a y w i t h l i t t l e b u d g e t t o s p e n d . I t r e q u i r e s h i g h e n e r g y a n d i m a g i n a t i o n t h a t f o c u s e s o n g e t t i n g t h e
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11 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 12OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 DECEMBER 2016 DECEMBER 12
a t t e n t i o n o f p u b l i c i n a m o r e p e r s o n a l a n d m e m o r a b l e l e v e l . Th e a c t i vi t i e s i n c l u d e d a r e d o n e e x c l u s i v e l y o n t h e s t r e e t s o r o t h e r p l a c e s w i t h m a x i m u m p e o p l e a c c e s s t o a t t r a c t b i g g e r a u d i e n c e .
M r . Ca b i g a s a l s o s h a r e d a n e x a m p l e o f a s u c c e s s f u l G u e r i l l a m a r k e t i n g f o r A b r a f e a t u r i n g K a p a r k a n Fa l l s . He s h o w e d s o m e p h o t o s o f So c i a l M e d i a p o s t s f r o m r a n d o m c i t i z e n s a n d b l o g s f e a t u r i n g t h e s a i d f a l l s . He s a i d t h a t t h i s k i n d o f a d v e r t i s e m e n t w i l l n o t c o s t y o u a n y t h i n g . “ A b r a w a s n e v e r i n t o t o u r i s m u n t i l J u l y 2 0 1 6 . W e a r e u n p r e p a r e d , u n e d u c a t e d ( i n t o u r i s m ) , w e d o n ’t h a v e i n f r a , w e d o n ’t h a v e t o u r i s m f a c i l i t i e s , w e d o n ’t h a v e t o u r i s m d a t a , w e d o n ’t h a v e r e c o r d s , w e d o n ’t h a v e t r a i n e d p e r s o n n e l , o n l y f e w p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s a r e c o n vi n c e d p a r t i c u l a r l y o n l y t h o s e i n t h e p r o vi n c i a l l e v e l . W e a r e a l s o h a vi n g a h a r d t i m e c o n vi n c i n g a n d e d u c a t i n g t h e g r a s s r o o t s l e v e l i e , b a r a n g a y o f f i c i a l s , r e s i d e n t s , m a s s t r a n s p o r t l i k e t r i c y c l e s , h a b a l h a b a l , j e e p n e y s . . . i t ’ s a l l z e r o . I t w a s r e a l l y s o c i a l m e d i a t h a t p l a y e d a b i g r o l e i n t h i s . Th e b l o g g e r s r e a l l y c o n t r i b u t e d a l s o . Th e s o c i a l n e t w o r k s r e s p o n s i b l e w e r e Fa c e b o o k , I n s t a g r a m a n d b l o g s . ” ” t h i s w a s t h e s t a t e m e n t o f M r . G e o r g e L a l i n , To u r i s m Co n s u l t a n t , Of f i c e o f Re p . J B B e r n o s p r e s e n t e d b y M r . Ca b i g a s d u r i n g h i s p r e s e n t a t i o n . M r . Ca b i g a s a l s o m e n t i o n e d t h a t b e c a u s e o f t h i s t h e Pr o vi n c i a l G o v e r n m e n t o f A b r a s t a r t e d i d e n t i f y i n g , d i s c o v e r i n g a n d p r o m o t i n g t h e i r t o u r i s m s i t e s .
Fo r t h e n e x t s p e a k e r , t h e s u m m i t w a s p l e a s e d t o h a v e t h e Re g i o n a l D i r e c t o r o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f Tr a d e a n d I n d u s t r y , RD J o y B l a n c o . RD B l a n c o s t a r t e d h e r p r e s e n t a t i o n b y d i s c u s s i n g D TI ’ s M a j o r Fi n a l Ou t p u t s ( M FOs ) t h a t i n c l u d e s t r a d e a n d i n d u s t r y s e r vi c e s , t e c h n i c a l a d v i s o r y s e r vi c e s , t r a d e a n d i n v e s t m e n t p r o m o t i o n s e r vi c e s , c o n s u m e r p r o t e c t i o n s e r vi c e s a n d b u s i n e s s a n d t r a d e r e g u l a t i o n s e r v i c e s . Sh e a l s o i d e n t i f i e d t h e p r i o r i t y s e c t o r s o f t h e d e p a r t m e n t , i n c l u d i n g p r o c e s s e d f o o d , w e a r a b l e s a n d h o m e s t y l e , c o c o - c o i r ,
b a m b o o a n d I CT. RD B l a n c o w e n t o n i n d i s c u s s i n g t h e p r o g r a m s a n d p r o j e c t s o f D TI i n s u p p o r t t o l o c a l t o u r i s m . Fi r s t i n h e r l i s t w a s Pr o d u c t d e v e l o p m e n t w h e r e D TI p r o vi d e s a s s i s t a n c e t o M SM Es i n p r o d u c t a n d d e s i g n i m p r o v e m e n t . N e x t s h e d i s c u s s e d t h e Sk i l l s a n d En t r e p r e n e u r s h i p Tr a i n i n g t h e y a r e c o n d u c t i n g d i r e c t e d t o i m p r o v e t h e o v e r a l l c o m p e t i t i v e n e s s o f M SM Es b y e n h a n c i n g t h e i r s k i l l s a n d e n t r e p r e n e u r i a l c a p a b i l i t i e s . N e x t i s t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f Pa s a l u b o n g Ce n t e r s , a o n e s t o p - s h o p e s p e c i a l l y f o r d o m e s t i c a n d f o r e i g n t o u r i s t w h e r e t h e y c a n f i n d B i c o l - m a d e p r o d u c t s a t r e a s o n a b l e p r i c e s . D TI a l s o o r g a n i z e s v a r i o u s Tr a d e Fa i r s t h a t p r o vi d e s a v e n u e w h e r e b u y e r s a n d p r o d u c e r s c a n m e e t a n d t r a n s a c t b u s i n e s s . Th e y a l s o h a v e t h e On e To w n On e Pr r o d u c t ( OTOP) , Sh a r e d Se r vi c e Fa c i l i t i e s ( SSF) a n d t h e Fo o d B u s i n e s s D e v e l o p m e n t ( B I Z D EV ) Pr o g r a m .
A f t e r t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n s , t h e d e l e g a t e s a s k e d q u e s t i o n s a n d g a v e s u g g e s t i o n s t o t h e s p e a k e r s i n a n o p e n f o r u m .
Fo r t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n o f t h e p r o g r a m i n t h e a f t e r n o o n , t h e D i r e c t o r o f t h e Of f i c e o f t h e To u r i s m St a n d a r d s a n d Re g u l a t i o n s /D e p a r t m e n t o f To u r i s m , M s . Ri c a S. B u e n o , t a l k e d a b o u t Q u a l i t y To u r i s m . Sh e p r e s e n t e d t h e To u r i s m Q u a l i t y A t t r i b u t e s f o r Cu s t o m e r /G u e s t Ex p e r i e n c e t h a t c o m p o s e d e x c e l l e n t s e r vi c e , p r o f e s s i o n a l i s m , c l e a n l i n e s s , e f f i c i e n c y , c o m f o r t c o n v e n i e n c e , c o n s i s t e n c y a n d a n t i c i p a t i o n . Sh e a l s o t a c k l e d a b o u t t h e To u r i s m St a n d a r d I m p o r t a n c e t o e n h a n c e c u s t o m e r s e r vi c e . Sh e m e n t i o n e d t h a t i t h e l p s t o r e t a i n e x i s t i n g c u s t o m e r , h e l p m i n i m i z e t h e v a l u e o f e a c h t r a n s a c t i o n s a n d h e l p s s e c u r e j o b s . Sh e a l s o d i s c u s s e d t h e n e e d f o r a c c r e d i t a t i o n . M s . B u e n o d i s c u s s e d t h e d i f f e r e n t b e n e f i t s o f a c c r e d i t a t i o n t o e n t e r p r i s e s l i k e e n d o r s e m e n t t o g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s a n d t r a v e l a n d t r a d e a s s o c i a t i o n s a n d e n d o r s e m e n t t o COM EL EC f o r e x e m p t i o n f r o m l i q u o r b a n . A d d i t i o n a l l y , s h e s a i d t h a t a c c r e d i t a t i o n i s n e e d e d t o e n c o u r a g e a n d e n h a n c e g l o b a l c o m p e t i t o r s a n d t o e n s u r e c o n s i s t e n c y a n d f a c i l i t a t e t h e p r o m o t i o n o f
i n d i vi d u a l e n t e r p r i s e s i n t h e i n d u s t r y a s a w h o l e .
Th e n e x t s p e a k e r w a s M s . Cl a n g G a r c i a t h e Pr e s i d e n t o f J e e p n e y To u r s a n d Pu b l i s h e r o f Fo o d Ho l i d a y s . M s . G a r c i a d i s c u s s e d t h e c u r r e n t A s i a - Ph i l i p p i n e s To u r i s m s c e n a r i o , s h e s a i d t h a t t o u r i s m a r r i v a l i n t h e y e a r 2 0 1 5 t o t a l e d 5 . 3 6 m i l l i o n a n d a b o u t 2 2 7 . 6 2 b i l l i o n t o u r i s m r e c e i p t s w e r e r e c o r d e d . Sh e t h e n w e n t t o d i s c u s s t h e e s s e n c e o f t o u r i s m . Sh e s t a t e d t h a t t o u r i s m i s a c e l e b r a t i o n o f c u l t u r a l h e r i t a g e , w i t h t o u r i s m a p e r s o n c o u l d e x p e r i e n c e a n d l e a r n d i f f e r e n t c u l t u r e s a n d n o w t h e h i s t o r y b e h i n d a g e d t r a d i t i o n s . I t i s a l s o a p o w e r f u l e n g i n e f o r e c o n o m i c g r o w t h ,
a c c o r d i n g t o h e r , b e c a u s e i t c r e a t e s j o b s a n d e n t e r p r i s e s t h u s i n c r e a s i n g t h e e m p l o y m e n t r a t e . I t f o s t e r d i g n i t y a n d i t d e v e l o p s a s e n s e o f n a t i o n a l p r i d e . I n t h e d i s c u s s i o n , M s . G a r c i a s h a r e d t h e c a s e s t u d y o f Th a i l a n d a s a n e x a m p l e o f f o r t h e s u c c e s s f u l u s e o f Cu l i n a r y To u r i s m .
Th e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f M s . G a r c i a a l s o d i s c u s s e d t h e h i s t o r y a n d e v o l u t i o n o f Ph i l i p p i n e Cu i s i n e s . Sh e s a i d t h a t u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e r o o t s o f o u r c o o k i n g t e c h n i q u e s i s vi t a l f o r i t s d e v e l o p m e n t b u t s h e e m p h a s i z e d t h a t i t i s a l s o c r u c i a l t h a t w e s u s t a i n o u r t r a d i t i o n a l f o o d p a t t e r n s . Sh e c o n t i n u e d h e r d i s c u s s i o n b y d e f i n i n g t h e o r i g i n a l c o o k i n g m e t h o d s i n t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s
l i k e “ K i n i l a w ” w h i c h m e a n s t o b e e a t e n f r e s h , “ I n i h a w ” o r r o a s t e d , b r o i l e d o r g r i l l e d a n d “ N i l a g a ” o r t h e u s u a l b o i l e d p o r k / b e e f . Th o s e w e r e t h e b a s i c Fi l i p i n o c o o k i n g p r e p a r a t i o n u s e d b e f o r e . M s . G a r c i a a l s o d i s c u s s e d t h e d i f f e r e n t f u s i o n o f f l a v o r s t h a t w e r e i n t r o d u c e d b y f o r e i g n n a t i o n s t o o u r c o u n t r y l i k e t h e “ K i n u l o b n a M a n o k ” w h i c h m e a n s “ f a c e d o w n c h i c k e n ” , a v e r y p o p u l a r Fi l i p i n o c u i s i n e w h i c h i s u s u a l l y c o o k e d i n a t r a d i t i o n a l c l a y p o t c a l l e d “ p a l a y o k ” , a n d p l a c e d o v e r a n o p e n f l a m e . I t i s o n l y r e c e n t l y t h a t t h e s u s t a i n a b i l i t y o f c u l t u r e s i n t o u r i s m h a s s t a r t e d t o g a i n p r o m i n e n c e a n d o n e o f i t s d r a w b a c k s i t i s f a c i n g i s t h e c o n f l i c t o f i n t e r e s t s b e t w e e n t o u r i s t s a n d l o c a l s . Si n c e t h e l o c a l s a r e b i d d i n g t o p r e s e r v e t h e i r c u l t u r a l t r a d i t i o n s , y e t t h e y w a n t t o g e n e r a t e m o n e y f r o m t h e p o t e n t i a l t o u r i s m , w h i l e t o u r i s t s w a n t a u t h e n t i c c u l t u r a l e x p e r i e n c e s b u t a r e h e s i t a n t t o t r y i t e m s t h a t t h e y t h i n k i s n o t s a f e . Th a t ’ s w h y M s . G a r c i a i d e n t i f i e d t h e e s s e n t i a l c o m p o n e n t s o f c u l i n a r y h e r i t a g e t o u r i s m t h a t i n c l u d e s r i c h n e s s o f i n t e r a c t i v e e x p e r i e n c e , c u r a t e d c u l t u r a l i m m e r s i o n a n d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o l e a r n h o w t o m a k e a l o c a l c u i s i n e . Th e s e c o m p o n e n t s w o u l d h e l p m a i n t a i n a n d a p p r e c i a t e t h e t r a d i t i o n a l w a y o f p r e p a r i n g f o o d w h i l e e n s u r i n g t o u r i s t o f t h e i r s a f e t y .
Fi n a l l y , M r . J i m m y L a b a y e n , o f A B S- CB N p r e s e n t e d D e s t i n a t i o n B r a n d i n g a n d M a r k e t i n g a s t h e l a s t t o p i c f o r t h e s u m m i t . A c c o r d i n g t o h i m , l o v e a n d t o u r i s m m a y b e s e e n a t a s i m i l a r p e r s p e c t i v e . L o v e u s u a l l y b e g i n s w i t h vi s u a l a t t r a c t i o n , w h i c h a l s o a p p l i e s i n t o u r i s t d e s t i n a t i o n s . Th e d e s t i n a t i o n s s h o u l d a l s o b e vi s u a l l y a t t r a c t i v e f o r t o u r i s t s t o l o v e i t . He a d d e d t h a t vi s u a l r e c o g n i t i o n i s i m p o r t a n t i f y o u a r e g o i n g t o p r o m o t e s o m e t h i n g . I t i s e s s e n t i a l t h a t t o u r i s t s r e m e m b e r y o u r p l a c e a s vi s u a l l y a t t r a c t i v e . N e x t , M r . L a b a y e n i n s i s t e d t h a t a l l t o u r i s t d e s t i n a t i o n s s h o u l d h a v e a d i s t i n c t c h a r a c t e r . I t i s n e e d e d f o r a t o u r i s t d e s t i n a t i o n t o h a v e i t s o w n i d e n t i t y t h a t i s u n i q u e . Th i s w o u l d m a k e i t e a s i e r f o r vi s i t o r s t o r e m e m b e r a n d i d e n t i f y t h e p l a c e . Th e n h e a d d e d a b o u t Ch a r i s m a . He s a i d t h a t c h a r i s m a i s m a k i n g p e o p l e f e e l g o o d a b o u t t h e m s e l v e s . He s a i d t h a t t o m a k e p e o p l e f e e l g o o d w e m u s t b e m o r e i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e m . A l w a y s t h a n k t o u r i s t s f o r c o m i n g t o y o u r e s t a b l i s h m e n t a n d g i v e t h e m a w a r m w e l c o m e . He s a i d t h a t t o u r i s m w o r k e r s s h o u l d u s e “ y e s ” a s a d e f a u l t a n d a l w a y s a s k t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e g u e s t . M r . L a b a y e n a l s o s a i d t h a t e s t a b l i s h m e n t s s h o u l d d o c h a r i t a b l e w o r k b e c a u s e G o o d n e s s i s En c h a n t i n g a n d t h i s w i l l h e l p e s t a b l i s h m e n t s g a i n r e s p e c t f r o m c l i e n t s .
A s a c o n c l u s i o n , h e s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e u s e o f b a n d w a g o n , t e s t i m o n i a l s a n d g i vi n g i n c e n t i v e s t o vi s i t o r s t h a t w r i t e s a b o u t y o u r e s t a b l i s h m e n t w i l l b e a g o o d w a y o f m a r k e t i n g . Th e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f M r . L a b a y e n w a s c o n c l u d e d b y a n A u d i o V i s u a l Pr e s e n t a t i o n .
A s a f i n a l a c t , t h e A r c h d i o c e s e o f Ca c e r e s Ch o r a l e e n t e r t a i n e d t h e g u e s t s a n d d e l e g a t e s w i t h t h e i r s o o t h i n g v o i c e s . Th e i r b e a u t i f u l r e n d i t i o n o f t h e s o n g “ Pi l i i n m o a n g Pi l i p i n a s ” f i l l e d t h e v e n u e w h i l e t h e d e l e g a t e s a r e t a k i n g t h e i r l a s t s e l f i e s f o r t h e s u m m i t a n d s a y i n g t h e i r g o o d b y e s t o o n e a n o t h e r .
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By JASON B. NEOLAThis year's Halyao awardees honored
SIX successful entrepreneurs f r o m B i c o l ’ s s i x p r o vi n c e s t o o k t h e s p o t l i g h t l a s t N o v e m b e r 2 4 d u r i n g t h e c o n f e r m e n t o f Ha l y a o A w a r d s f o r Ou t s t a n d i n g B i c o l a n o B u s i n e s s p e r s o n s a n d Y o u n g B i c o l a n o En t r e p r e n e u r o f t h e Y e a r a t A v e n u e Co n v e n t i o n Ce n t e r , t h i s c i t y .
M r . Fr e d e r i c k G o , p r e s i d e n t a n d COO o f Ro b i n s o n s L a n d Co r p . , w a s t h e g u e s t o f h o n o r a n d s p e a k e r .
N a g a Ci t y M a y o r J o h n G . B o n g a t a n d B i c o l B u s i n e s s M o n t h c h a i r J o s e B . Pe r e z w e l c o m e d a l l t h e g u e s t s a n d a w a r d e e s . A f i r e w o r k s d i s p l a y c o u r t e s y o f t h e r e g i o n a l o f f i c e o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f To u r i s m l i g h t e n e d t h e s k y o u t s i d e o f t h e c o n v e n t i o n c e n t e r b e f o r e d i n n e r w a s s e r v e d a s p r e l u d e t o t h e a w a r d i n g r i t e s .
Th e a w a r d e e s w e r e h o n o r e d f o r t h e i r e x e m p l a r y p e r f o r m a n c e c o n t r i b u t o r y t o t h e r e g i o n ’ s s o c i o - e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t a n d n a t i o n - b u i l d i n g i n t h e f i e l d o f b u s i n e s s , e n t r e p r e n e u r s h i p , p u b l i c s e r vi c e , a s w e l l a s c o m m u n i t y i n v o l v e m e n t a n d c a r e f o r t h e e n vi r o n m e n t .
Ca r l o B . B u e n a f l o r , t h i s y e a r ’ s c h a i r o f t h e Ha l y a o A w a r d s s a i d a l l t h e s i x a w a r d e e s h a v e m o r e t h a n m e t t h e b a s i c c r i t e r i a f o r t h e a w a r d a s t h e i r a c h i e v e m e n t s h a v e c l e a r l y a r t i c u l a t e d t h a t w h a t i s g o o d f o r t h e p e o p l e i s g o o d f o r b u s i n e s s a n d w h a t i s g o o d f o r b u s i n e s s i s g o o d f o r t h e r e g i o n ’ s d e v e l o p m e n t .
He s a i d t h e n o m i n e e s , o u t o f m o r e t h a n 1 5 , u n d e r w e n t i n t e n s e s c r u t i n y b y t h e B o a r d o f J u d g e s w h o e x a m i n e d , d e b a t e d o n , a n d e v a l u a t e d t h e i r b i d p a p e r s a n d r e l a t e d d o c u m e n t s a n d t e s t i m o n i e s a n d e n d o r s e m e n t s b e c a u s e a l l o f t h e m s e e m e d t o f i t i n t h e b i l l . “ B u t t h e y o n l y h a v e t o p i c k o n e f r o m e a c h p r o vi n c e a n d a y o u n g e n t r e p r e n e u r f r o m a n y o f t h e s i x B i c o l p r o vi n c e s t o c o m e u p w i t h t h e b e s t , o r t h e f i r s t a m o n g e q u a l s , s o t o s p e a k , ” B u e n a f l o r , p r e s i d e n t a n d CEO o f t h e l a r g e s t h o m e g r o w n f a s t f o o d c h a i n B i g g s a n d h i m s e l f a y o u n g e n t r e p r e n e u r a w a r d e e , d i s c l o s e d .
He f u r t h e r e x p l a i n e d t h a t o n l y 5 w e r e c h o s e n f o r t h e Ou t s t a n d i n g B i c o l a n o B u s i n e s s p e r s o n o f t h e Y e a r a w a r d w h o r e p r e s e n t e d t h e p r o vi n c e s o f A l b a y , Ca m a r i n e s N o r t e , Ca m a r i n e s Su r , Ca t a n d u a n e s , a n d M a s b a t e s a n s So r s o g o n . Th e w i n n e r f o r t h e Y o u n g B i c o l a n o En t r e p r e n u e r A w a r d , h o w e v e r , c a m e f r o m t h e p r o v i n c e o f So r s o g o n t h a t vi r t u a l l y c o v e r e d a l l t h e 6 p r o vi n c e s i n B i c o l . On l y o n e i s t r a d i t i o n a l l y c h o s e n f o r t h e l a t t e r a w a r d , e x c e p t f o r t h e c a s e o f t i e l a s t y e a r . Th e s o l e w i n n e r f o r t h i s a w a r d i s c h o s e n f r o m n o m i n e e s t h a t c o m e f r o m a l l t h e 6 p r o vi n c e s a n d 7 c i t i e s o f B i c o l .
( So r s o g o n ) He m a y b e a y o u n g m a n i n h u r r y . B u t h e i s y o u r n o r m a l g u y , w h o w a s s a t i s f i e d w i t h h i s p a s s i n g g r a d e s i n s c h o o l , b e c a m e a n u r s e , w o r k e d a t c i t y h a l l , a n d f i n a l l y f o u n d e d h i s o w n b u s i n e s s w h o s e n e t i n c o m e b a l l o o n e d b y 5 , 1 0 4 % i n j u s t f o u r y e a r s . He t u r n e d 3 0 o n N o v . 2 5 , o r a d a y a f t e r t h e a w a r d s n i g h t . Hi s M a n p l u s G e n e r a l Se r vi c e s b a s e d i n h i s h o m e t o w n c a t e r s t o t h e m a n p o w e r n e e d s o f d i f f e r e n t c o m p a n i e s i n So r s o g o n a n d A l b a y . St a r t i n g f r o m 2 0 e m p l o y e e s i n 2 0 1 2 , i t r o s e t o m o r e t h a n 8 7 7 i n t h e f i r s t s e m e s t e r o f t h i s y e a r . I t i s c u r r e n t l y d e p l o y i n g e m p l o y e e s t o a l a r g e i n d u s t r i a l c o m p a n y i n M i n d a n a o a n d o n e o f t h e l a r g e s t s i n g l e - p r o d u c t i o n f a c i l i t i e s o f d e s i c c a t e d c o c o n u t b a s e d i n So r s o g o n . Hi s p e e r s a t t h e Pe o p l e M a n a g e m e n t A s s o c i a t i o n o f t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s c o n f i r m t h a t W i l l i a m c o n t i n u o u s l y h o n e s h i s c r a f t i n h u m a n r e s o u r c e m a n a g e m e n t a n d i n d u s t r i a l r e l a t i o n s t h r o u g h p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n a n d o r g a n i z i n g a c t i vi t i e s t h a t a d v a n c e t h e p r o f e s s i o n , s c i e n c e , a n d a r t o f h u m a n r e s o u r c e m a n a g e m e n t . Un l i k e m o s t b u s i n e s s m e n w h o w e r e c o d d l e d a n d t r a i n e d t o t a k e u p b u s i n e s s s o m e d a y , W i l l i a m w a s l e f t t o h i s o w n d e vi c e s , i n t h e c o m p a n y o f h i s b o y h o o d f r i e n d s . He h a s n o i n h e r i t a n c e ; h e i s j u s t a y o u n g m a n s t r u g g l i n g t o m a k e s o m e t h i n g o f h i m s e l f f o r t h e c o m m u n i t y .
( A l b a y ) Fr o m a s m a l l –s c a l e t - s h i r t p r i n t i n g e n t e r p r i s e i n 2 0 0 1 , B i c o l Sh i r t s t h a t h e o w n s a n d m a n a g e s h a s g r o w n i n t o a p r o f i t a b l e t o u r i s t - o r i e n t e d c o r p o r a t i o n w i t h 1 0 b r a n c h e s i n L e g a z p i , N a g a a n d M a s b a t e Ci t i e s p o w e r e d b y o v e r 2 0 0 p e r s o n n e l w h o w o r k e i t h e r f u l l - t i m e o r p a r t - t i m e . A l e a d i n g s u p p l i e r o f q u a l i t y , a f f o r d a b l e a n d w i d e v a r i e t y o f t - s h i r t d e s i g n s a n d s o u v e n i r i t e m s p r o m o t i n g B i c o l s i g h t s a n d c u l t u r e , t h e c o m p a n y i s a l s o r e c i p i e n t o f v a r i o u s a w a r d s , r e c o g n i t i o n s a n d c i t e d a s ‘B e s t Se l l e r ’ i n e v e r y t r a d e f a i r h e l d a r o u n d B i c o l . B u t i t ’ s n o t a l l p r o f i t f o r t r a d e r Ru d y . He r e g u l a r l y g i v e s f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t a n d d i s t r i b u t e s b r a n d - n e w b l a c k s h o e s t o a l o c a l o r c h e s t r a w h o s e m e m b e r s a r e m o s t l y f i n a n c i a l l y - c h a l l e n g e d b u t e x c e p t i o n a l l y t a l e n t e d s c h o l a r s .
( Ca m a r i n e s N o r t e ) W i t h f o r e s t e r A l l a n a s i t s p r e s i d e n t a n d p r o j e c t m a n a g e r , Re a l A d v o c a t e s f o r t h e Re s t o r a t i o n o f En vi r o n m e n t , o r RA RE, I n c . i s n o w c o n c e d e d t o b e a l e a d i n g a d v o c a t e o f e n vi r o n m e n t a l r e s t o r a t i o n t h r o u g h i n t r o d u c t i o n o f s o u n d f o r e s t m a n a g e m e n t p r a c t i c e s a n d p r o d u c t i o n o f vi a b l e r e f o r e s t a t i o n a n d p e r e n n i a l t r e e s . Fo u n d e d b y a g r o u p o f f o r e s t e r s f r o m UP- L o s B a n o s a n d o t h e r p r o f e s s i o n a l s a s a s m a l l e n t e r p r i s e , RA RE, I n c . s e e k s t o h e l p t h e g o v e r n m e n t i n t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f e n vi r o n m e n t - r e l a t e d p r o j e c t s , c r e a t e e n vi r o n m e n t a l a w a r e n e s s a n d p r o vi d e a d d i t i o n a l e m p l o y m e n t t o t h e c o m m u n i t y . Sp e c i f i c a l l y , i t o f f e r s t h e f o l l o w i n g g o o d s a n d s e r vi c e s : s e e d l i n g p r o d u c t i o n w h i c h i n c l u d e b o t h f o r e s t t r e e s a n d f r u i t t r e e s , u p l a n d r e f o r e s t a t i o n , m a n g r o v e a n d c o a s t a l a r e a s r e h a b i l i t a t i o n p r o j e c t , a n d s u r v e y i n g , m a p p i n g , a n d p l a n n i n g . So f a r , t h e c o m p a n y h a s e s t a b l i s h e d 4 n u r s e r i e s i n Ca m a r i n e s N o r t e , 5 i n Ca m a r i n e s Su r , a n d o n e e a c h i n A l b a y , So r s o g o n , a n d M a s b a t e .
Y oung Bicolano E ntrepreneur of the Y ear
WILLIAM I. ONG RUDY NAVERA MOSTAR
ALLAN S. MANJARES
THIS YEAR'S SUCCESSFUL AWARDEES
2016 HALYAO AWARDEES. This year’s O utstanding Bicolano Businesspersons receive their H alyao trophies and plaq ues during the conferment of the annual H alyao Awards as one of the highlight activities of the Bicol Business Month, a j oint activity of the Metro N aga C hamber of C ommerce and Industry and the C ity Government of N aga. The awardees are (starting 4 th from left): Maria L ydia P. L omibao (Camarines Sur), Rudy N avera Mostar (Albay), Allan S . Maj ares (Camarines Norte), Judith L ee-Altarej os (Masbate), and C arlito T. Tariman (Catanduanes), and W illiam I. O ng (S orsogon, as O utstanding Y oung E ntrepreneur). In photo who handed the awards (from extreme left to right): BBM C hair Joe Perez,
alyao wards hair arlo uena or uest Spea er rederic o president and COO of Robinsons Land Corp), Mayor John Bongat (2nd from right) and V ice Mayor N elson L egacion (exteme right).
FRIENDS. L eanne Montemayor with guests (seated, l-r) L eda S an L uis, Rose Imperial (mom of Meg Imperial) and K ats S an L uis Fessler (daughter of Leda) at the H alyao Awards.
“ H A LY A O ” is a pre-H ispanic Bicol word for “ merchant,” whose existence and usage at that time, according to Bicol historian D r. D anilo M. Gerona, show the strong entrepreneurial spirit of the Bicolanos even before the coming of the S panish conq uistadores.
O utstanding Bicolano Businesspersons of the Y ear
13 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 14
( Ca t a n d u a n e s ) . He w e a r s s e v e r a l h a t s - - a s b u s i n e s s m a n , c o n t r a c t o r , o p e r a t i o n s m a n a g e r o f s h i p p i n g c o m p a n y , d e a l e r o f p e t r o l e u m p r o d u c t s , a n d c a r g o f o r w a r d e r – b u t h e n e v e r l o s e s t i m e t o l o o k a f t e r t h e n e e d s o f h i s p a r i s h a n d f e l l o w p a r i s h i o n e r s , i n c l u d i n g t h e r e n o v a t i o n o f i t s c h a p e l , p r o vi s i o n o f s t a n d b y g e n e r a t o r a n d o r g a n f o r t h e c h o i r , a n d f o o t i n g t h e c h a p e l ’ s e l e c t r i c b i l l a n d m o n t h l y s u p p l y o f r i c e . W h i l e h i s g a s o l i n e s t a t i o n t h a t b r o k e t h e m o n o p o l y o f f u e l p r o d u c t s u p p l y i n t h e i s l a n d p r o vi n c e o f Ca t a n d u a n e s w a y b a c k i n 2 0 0 7 w a s b e g i n n i n g t o t u r n i n p r o f i t s , Ca r l i t o b e g a n t o s c o u t f o r p a s s e n g e r f e r r i e s i n So u t h K o r e a a n d b r o u g h t t o t h e p r o vi n c e M V Si l a n g a n Ex p r e s s 1 , a s l e e k s t a t e - o f - t h e -a r t , f u l l y a i r - c o n d i t i o n e d w a t e r j e t p r o p e l l e d c a t a m a r a n t h a t m o d e r n i z e d a n d m a k e s f a s t e r a n d m o r e c o n v e n i e n t s e a t r a v e l t o a n d f r o m t h e i s l a n d . Th e n h e b u i l t a c a r g o e x p r e s s t h a t c o u l d d o c k e v e n a l o n g s h o r e l i n e s t h a t p r a c t i c a l l y d e l i v e r s a n d h a u l s g o o d s a n d e q u i p m e n t i n a n y p a r t o f t h e i s l a n d p r o vi n c e , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e t h a t h a v e n o p i e r o r d o c k i n g s t r u c t u r e s . Su c h i n n o v a t i o n w o u l d m a k e t h e s h i p a v a i l a b l e f o r e m e r g e n c y p u r p o s e s d u r i n g n a t u r a l d i s a s t e r s t o h a u l g o o d s a n d e q u i p m e n t t o a r e a s n o t a c c e s s i b l e b y l a n d . Ca r l i t o s a i d h e a l w a y s w a n t s b u s i n e s s t h a t p r o vi d e s c o n s u m e r s w i t h b e t t e r c h o i c e s , i n n o v a t i o n s t h a t t h e y d e s e r v e , n e w t e c h n o l o g i e s , n e w l e v e l s o f c o n v e n i e n c e , a n d a f f o r d a b i l i t y w i t h o u t s a c r i f i c i n g q u a l i t y .
( M a s b a t e ) . Sh e o w n s a n d o p e r a t e s v a r i o u s b u s i n e s s c o n c e r n s a n d e n t e r p r i s e s – f r o m b a k e s h o p t o f a s t f o o d s e r vi c e , a g r i s u p p l y a n d c h e m i c a l s a n d w a r e h o u s e r e n t a l t o p i z z a o n w h e e l s , m o b i l e p h o n e d e a l e r s h i p , d i g i t a l TV s u b s c r i p t i o n , c o m m o d i t i e s t r a d i n g a n d e v e n PCSO o n - l i n e l o t t e r y o p e r a t i o n - - a n d g e t s r e c o g n i t i o n ( a n d p r o f i t ) f o r b e i n g t o p p e r f o r m e r o r e x c e l l e n t d e a l e r b y t h e c o m p a n i e s t h a t c h o s e h e r a s t h e i r p a r t n e r , f r a n c h i s e e o r r e t a i l e r / s e l l e r . He r h i g h e n e r g y , s t r o n g d e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d r e s t l e s s i n d u s t r y h a v e r e s u l t e d t o m o r e j o b s a n d i n c o m e t o h e r 1 2 9 e m p l o y e e s a n d m o r e p e o p l e t h a t i n d i r e c t l y b e n e f i t f r o m h e r v a r i e d e n t e r p r i s e s .
( N a g a Ci t y & Ca m a r i e n s Su r ) . Th e c o m p a n y t h a t s h e c o - m a n a g e s w i t h h u s b a n d J o s e p h w a s f u n d e d b y P5 0 0 o f w h a t r e m a i n e d f r o m t h e i r w e d d i n g k i t t y . Th r o u g h p e r s e v e r a n c e a n d a s s i s t a n c e f r o m c o n c e r n e d g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s , J . Em m a n u e l Pa s t r i e s g r e w i n t o a P3 0 M i l l i o n f a m i l y e n t e r p r i s e . A Pr e s i d e n t i a l A w a r d e e f o u r t i m e s o v e r a s e n d o r s e d s e v e r a l l y b y D TI , D A a n d D OST, L y d i a ’ s c o m p a n y w a s f i r s t r e c o g n i z e d a s a G a w a d Sa k a A w a r d e e i n 2 0 0 7 f o r Hi g h V a l u e Co m m e r c i a l Cr o p Ca t e g o r y f o r i t s c a l c u l a t e d t r a n s f o r m a t i o n a s a w o r l d - c l a s s f o o d p r o c e s s o r o f t h e i n d i g e n o u s B i c o l n u t , p i l i . Sh e w a s s o o n a r e g u l a r e x h i b i t o r c a r r y i n g t h e Ph i l i p p i n e f l a g i n v a r i o u s t r a d e f a i r s i n J a p a n , USA , Ch i n a , Th a i l a n d , Ho n g k o n g , a n d r e c e n t l y i n Pa r i s , Fr a n c e l a s t Oc t o b e r 2 0 1 6 . A l w a y s l o o k i n g f o r w a r d d e s p i t e t h e m a t e r i a l r e t u r n s t h a t h e r c o m p a n y i s a l r e a d y r a k i n g i n , t h e L o m i b a o c o u p l e i n s t i t u t e d t h e f i r s t Pi l i Co n t r a c t G r o w i n g Pr o j e c t n a m e d PI L I p i n a s w h i c h e n c o u r a g e s l o c a l f a r m e r s t o p l a n t m o r e p i l i t r e e s b e c a u s e t h e i r f u t u r e h a r v e s t s a r e g u a r a n t e e d t o b e p u r c h a s e d b y L y d i a ’ s c o m p a n y . I t s o u t r e a c h p r o g r a m s a r e e x t e n d e d n o t o n l y i n Ca m a r i n e s Su r , b u t a l s o i n A l b a y a n d So r s o g o n .
O utstanding Bicolano Businesspersons of the Y ear
MARIA LYDIA P. LOMIBAO
CARLITO I. TARIMAN JUDITH LEE-ALTAREJOS
Th i s y e a r ’ s 5 - m a n B o a r d o f J u d g e s i s c o m p o s e d o f En g r . M e l c h o r A g u i l a r o f D TI Re g i o n 5 , Fr . W i l m e r Tr i a , f o r m e r PCCI G o v e r n o r f o r B i c o l N i c o l a s B e d a Pr i e l a , N a g a Ci t y Co u n c i l o r N e n e d e A s i s , a n d f o r m e r Ou t s t a n d i n g B i c o l a n o B u s i n e s s p e r s o n o f t h e Y e a r A w a r d e e En g r . B o y A m a n .
THIS YEAR'S SUCCESSFUL AWARDEES
2016 HALYAO AWARDEES. This year’s O utstanding Bicolano Businesspersons receive their H alyao trophies and plaq ues during the conferment of the annual H alyao Awards as one of the highlight activities of the Bicol Business Month, a j oint activity of the Metro N aga C hamber of C ommerce and Industry and the C ity Government of N aga. The awardees are (from left): Rudy N avera Mostar (Albay), Maria L ydia P. L omibao (Camarines Sur), W illiam I. O ng (Sorsogon, as Outstanding Young Entrepreneur), Allan S . Maj ares (Camarines Norte), Judith L ee-Altarej os (Masbate), and C arlito T. Tariman (Catanduanes).
MEMBERS and officers of the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry deserve a cool night, where the drizzly skies were splashed with amazing fireworks, celebrate with wine and good food not only to reward themselves for a successful Bicol Business Month, but to give honor to 6 Outstanding Bicolano Businesspersons and a Young Bicolano Entrepreneur of the Year whose exemplary achievements In business and trade significantly contributed to the region’s regional development, as well as to nation-building. According to a wise economist, entrepreneurs are not necessarily motivated by profit but regard it as a standard of measuring achievement or success. These men and women clearly understand that what is good for the people is also good for business.
CHAMBER MEMBERS AND GUESTS. S eated (l-r) L eanne Montemayor, C he S to. D omingo (Chef Doy’s), and S haron Prila D izon (Krypton Grill); S tanding (l-r) Gerald Garland Panghulan (Flavours Resto), D oy S to. D omingo (C hef D oy) , Joemari D izon (K rypton Grill), Irene Tosoc (GNN Naga), E j ay M. Guazon, and Billy Genterola (Apicius Naga) at Avenue C onvention C enter. MN C C I PH O TO
HOST MAYOR John Bongat with Mr. Go, PC C I Reg’l Governor for Bicol larine Palomares obias ran anlas couple arlo and ica uena or and
Boy Aman. MN C C I PH O TO
GENTLEMEN (l - r) Noel Aguirre, Byrone Jose Barrameda, Greg Baduya, Daniel de Leon, Vice Mayor Nelson Legacion, Lady Leanne, Jorge Palma, and Russel Barbosa.
15 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016
By JASON B. NEOLA
g o o d w i l l w h i l e t h e y e n d e a v o r t o a c h i e v e m u t u a l l y p r o d u c t i v e , b e n e f i c i a l a n d s i g n i f i c a n t r e s u l t s f r o m j o i n t u n d e r t a k i n g s t h a t b o t h l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t u n i t s w i l l i n i t i a t e f o r t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t o f t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e m u n i c i p a l i t i e s .
Sp e c i f i c a l l y , t h e p a c t , w h i c h w a s s i g n e d b y B o n g a t , Si r u m a M a y o r Sa n d y SR. On d i s a n d t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e vi c e m a y o r s i n Si r u m a m u n i c i p a l t o w n h a l l c a r r i e s a p r o vi s i o n w h i c h s t a t e s t h a t t h e t w o p a r t i e s w i l l b e h e l p i n g e a c h o t h e r i n t h e p r o m o t i o n a n d e n h a n c e m e n t o f t h e l o c a l t o u r i s m i n d u s t r y .
I n h i s m e s s a g e , On d i s s a i d Si r u m a a n d N a g a h a v e l o n g b e e n h e l p i n g e a c h o t h e r a s d e v e l o p m e n t p a r t n e r s . Th e t o w n m a y o r t o l d t h e g a t h e r i n g o f b a r a n g a y o f f i c i a l s , m u n i c i p a l g o v e r n m e n t o f f i c i a l s a n d e m p l o y e e s a n d m u n i c i p a l m a y o r s w h o a r e m e m b e r s o f t h e M e t r o N a g a D e v e l o p m e n t Co u n c i l ( M N D C) , a n d t e a c h e r s a n d D e p Ed p e r s o n n e l t h a t m a j o r i t y o f h i s c o n s t i t u e n t s a r e s e n d i n g t h e i r c h i l d r e n t o N a g a Ci t y t o s t u d y . He a l s o m e n t i o n e d a b o u t a l a r g e n u m b e r o f f a m i l i e s w h o a l r e a d y
h a v e b u i l t t h e i r o w n r e s i d e n t i a l h o m e s i n t h e c i t y .
“ Th i s [ k i n d o f s i t u a t i o n ] i n d i c a t e s t h a t w e [ Si r u m a f o l k s ] a r e c o n t i n u o u s l y c o n t r i b u t i n g s i g n i f i c a n t l y t o t h e g r o w t h o f N a g a , e s p e c i a l l y w h e n w e p a t r o n i z e i t s m a l l s a n d o t h e r c o m m e r c i a l e s t a b l i s h m e n t s , b u y t h e i r p r o d u c t s a n d a v a i l o f t h e i r s e r vi c e s , ” s a y s On d i s .
Th e m u n i c i p a l m a y o r a l s o l a u d e d t h e vi s i t i n g c i t y o f f i c i a l s f o r t h e i r u n s e l f i s h g e s t u r e t o s h a r e t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t ’ s b e s t p r a c t i c e s o n v a r i o u s f i e l d s o f g o v e r n a n c e .
On N a g a ’ s p a r t , B o n g a t m a r k e d t h e o c c a s i o n a s h i s t o r i c s i n c e i t i s t h e f i r s t t i m e t h a t t h e c i t y h a s e n t e r e d i n t o a s i s t e r h o o d a g r e e m e n t w i t h a n L G U i n t h e p r o vi n c e o r e v e n i n t h e B i c o l Re g i o n . “ W e f e e l p r o u d t h a t Si r u m a h a s i n vi t e d u s t o b e i t s s i s t e r c i t y , ” h e s a i d .
Si r u m a i s a l s o a m e m b e r o f t h e M e t r o N a g a D e v e l o p m e n t Co u n c i l ( M N D C) , w h i c h i s c o m p o s e d o r i g i n a l l y o f m u n i c i p a l m a y o r s i n t h e 3 r d d i s t r i c t o f Ca m a r i n e s Su r . Un d e r B o n g a t ’ s t e r m , t w o t o w n s h a d b e c o m e m e m b e r s o f t h e M N D C. Th e s e a r e L i b m a n a n i n t h e 2 n d d i s t r i c t ( 2 0 1 3 ) a n d Si r u m a w h i c h i s w i t h i n t h e p r o vi n c e ’ s 4 t h d i s t r i c t ( 2 0 1 6 ) .
Ot h e r b e n e f i t s t h a t t h e t w o L G Us s h a l l w o r k o n f o r t h e i r m u t u a l a d v a n t a g e a n d w e l f a r e i n c l u d e :
Th e p r o m o t i o n o f e c o n o m i c c o o p e r a t i o n , c o m m e r c e a n d i n v e s t m e n t s w h e r e i n b o t h p a r t i e s h a v e a g r e e d t o w o r k f o r s t r o n g e c o n o m i c t i e s s o a s t o e n a b l e t h e m t o a c h i e v e vi b r a n t c o m m e r c e , t r a d e a n d i n v e s t m e n t o p p o r t u n i t i e s .
Th e a c c o r d a l s o c a l l s f o r b o t h L G Us t o d e v e l o p a t o o l f o r t h e e f f e c t i v e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f a n e x p e r t i s e e x c h a n g e p r o g r a m t o f a c i l i t a t e t e c h n i c a l c a p a b i l i t y b u i l d i n g i n t e r m s o f g o v e r n a n c e , r e s o u r c e g e n e r a t i o n a n d m o b i l i z a t i o n , c o m m u n i t y o r g a n i z i n g a n d o t h e r a r e a s o f e x p e r t i s e b y w a y o f o n - t h e - j o b t r a i n i n g s , s e m i n a r - w o r k s h o p s a n d o t h e r l e a r n i n g p r o c e s s .
Cr o s s vi s i t s l i k e s t u d y t o u r s o r “ l a k b a y - a r a l ” b e t w e e n t h e t w o L G Us
NAGA, SIRUMA SIGNPACT ON SISTERHOOD
EV E N t h e w h i t e a n d p e a c h - c o l o r e d b e a c h e s o f t h i s f a r a w a y t o w n a p p e a r e d e l a t e d a s t h e y s p a r k l e d u n d e r t h e s u n w h e n l o c a l o f f i c i a l s f o u n d a n a l l y t h a t b e l i e v e s i n t h e m u n i c i p a l i t y ’ s p o t e n t i a l t o b e c o m e B i c o l ’ s n e x t f a v o r i t e t o u r i s m d e s t i n a t i o n 1 1 1 k i l o m e t e r s n o r t h - n o r t h e a s t o f
N a g a Ci t y .
Th i s , w h e n s i s t e r h o o d b e t w e e n t h e l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t o f N a g a a n d Si r u m a w a s o f f i c i a l l y c o n f i r m e d t h r u t h e s i g n i n g o f a m e m o r a n d u m o f a g r e e m e n t o n N o v e m b e r 1 0 , t h i s y e a r .
N a g a ’ s s i g n i n g o f t h e a g r e e m e n t c a m e o n t h e s t r e n g t h o f a r e s o l u t i o n s p o n s o r e d b y Ci t y Co u n c i l o r So n n y Ra ñ o l a a u t h o r i z i n g N a g a M a y o r B o n g a t t o e n t e r i n t o s i s t e r h o o d a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e m u n i c i p a l g o v e r n m e n t o f Si r u m a .
Th e p a c t e n c o u r a g e s t h e t w o L G Us t o d e v e l o p c a m a r a d e r i e a n d
SIRUMA Mayor S andy O ndis (left) and N aga Mayor John Bongat (right) sign the memorandum of agreement that establishes the sisterhood relationship between the country’s most competitive component city and the town believed to be the next favorite tourism destination in the Bicol Region. Right photo shows O ndis handing over a symbolic key to Bongat as gesture of the town’s acessibility and openness as a sister city. The act was reciprocated by the visiting city o cials when ongat handed over the city s symbolic key to the municipal mayor.
a r e a l s o e n c o u r a g e d s o t h a t t h e s h a r i n g o f l e a r n i n g s a n d t e c h n i q u e s o n v a r i o u s a s p e c t s o f l o c a l g o v e r n a n c e c a n b e f a c i l i t a t e d .
B o t h L G Us h a v e a g r e e d a l s o o n s h a r i n g o f p r o g r a m s o n s o c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t l i k e h o u s i n g , h e a l t h a n d o t h e r s , w h e r e t h e i r i m p l e m e n t a t i o n i s e x p e c t e d t o b o o s t s o c i o -e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t a m o n g t h e i r c o n s t i t u e n c i e s .
Th e y a l s o a g r e e d t o t a k e i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n c e r t a i n p r o p o s a l s f r o m e a c h o t h e r , o n c o n d i t i o n t h a t s u c h p r o p o s a l s c a n b e f u n d e d b y t h e i m p l e m e n t i n g L G U, a s i d e f r o m h a vi n g m e t t h e c r i t e r i a o f b e i n g a b l e t o o f f e r m u t u a l b e n e f i t t o t h e t w o L G Us , w h i c h s h a l l p r o m o t e t h e w e l f a r e a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e i r c o n s t i t u e n c i e s .
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17 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 18
a v a g e dR but not r o k e nbA NARRATIVE
OF THE AFTERMATH OF TYPHOON NINA
IN NAGA CITYT
YPHOON N i n a w a s p a c k i n g m a x i m u m s u s t a i n e d w i n d s o f 1 8 5 k p h ( 1 1 5 m p h ) , w i t h g u s t s u p t o 2 5 5 k p h w h e n
i t m a d e l a n d f a l l o v e r Ca t a n d u a n e s p r o vi n c e , w h i c h w a s u n d e r t h e h i g h e s t s t o r m a l e r t o n Su n d a y e v e n i n g ( D e c e m b e r 2 5 , 2 0 1 6 , o r w h e n Ch r i s t m a s D a y w a s g o i n g t o s l e e p ) .
A s e c o n d l a n d f a l l c a m e o v e r Ca m a r i n e s Su r p r o vi n c e ( i n t h e vi c i n i t y o f Sa n g a y , Ca m a r i n e s Su r a f t e r f i e r c e l y b r e e z i n g t h o u g h t h e o t h e r e a s t e r n p o r t i o n s o f t h e p r o vi n c e t h a t i n c l u d e d t h e t o w n s o f M i n a l a b a c , B a t o , Pi l i , Oc a m p o a n d N a g a Ci t y ) l e a vi n g b e h i n d a h o r r i b l e d e v a s t a t i o n i n i t s w a k e .
By SHARMAINE ZEN MANZANO & ARMIE B. GUNAY
19 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 20
5 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 20165 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 DECEMBER 2016 DECEMBER
City officials, headed by the city mayor, John Bongat, together with the concerned o ces met together to plan and prepare for the impending arrival of Typhoon N ina in the city.
TYPHOON NINA
Th e s t o r m w a s o n e o f t h e s t r o n g e s t t o h i t t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s s i n c e Ty p h o o n Ha i y a n l e f t m o r e t h a n 7 , 3 0 0 p e o p l e d e a d o r m i s s i n g a n d d i s p l a c e d o v e r 5 m i l l i o n i n 2 0 1 4 .
I n N a g a Ci t y , a l l t h e r e s i d e n t s a n d t h e i r c i t y o f f i c i a l s h a v e t h e i r e a r s g l u e d o n r a d i o a n d TV s e t s ( w h i l e p o w e r w a s s t i l l o n i t s n o r m a l s t a t e ) t h a t p u t t h e m o n a l e r t w i t h t h e i m p e n d i n g d i s a s t e r . Th e c i t y h a l l , t h r o u g h M a y o r J o h n B o n g a t , c a l l e d f o r p r e - e m p t i v e e v a c u a t i o n t o e n s u r e t h e s a f e t y o f m o s t vu l n e r a b l e h o m e o w n e r s . M o r e t h a n 5 0 0 f a m i l i e s w e r e s e n t t o t h e n e a r e s t e v a c u a t i o n c e n t e r s .
Ty p h o o n N i n a l e f t i n i t s w a k e d i s p l a c e d a n d d a m a g e d s h e l t e r s a n d s c h o o l b u i l d i n g s , u p r o o t e d t r e e s , k n o c k e d d o w n e l e c t r i c p o s t s a n d p o w e r l i n e s , f a l l e n b r i d g e s , w a t e r o v e r f l o w , i m p a s s a b l e r o a d s , a n d w a s h e d u p a n d f l o o d e d r i c e l a n d s , v e g e t a b l e s a n d r o o t c r o p s .
Fo r t u n a t e l y f o r N a g a Ci t y , t h e r e w a s n o r e c o r d o f d e a t h d u e t o t h e t y p h o o n .
ROAD OBSTRUCTION. Roads and residentcial areas were heavily affected by the fallen tree trun s causing tra c obstruction and damage to properties.
THE NAGA CITY SPORTS COMPLEX was left in destruction after the onslaught of typhoon N ina
AN UNWELCOMED GUEST. The W elcome Arch bordering the city of N aga and the municipality of Milaor, C amarines S ur fell over due to the typhoon.
POWER SHUT DOWN. E lectric posts tumbled down along the roads after typhoon N ina hit the city, causing a city-wide power shut down.
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21 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016
23 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 24OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 DECEMBER 2016 DECEMBER 24
I m m e d i a t e R e s t o r a t i o n
Th e Ci t y G o v e r n m e n t , t h r o u g h t h e Pu b l i c Sa f e t y Of f i c e , G e n e r a l Se r vi c e s D e p a r t m e n t , So l i d W a s t e M a n a g e m e n t Of f i c e , Ci t y En g i n e e r s ’ Of f i c e , a n d t h e N a g a Ci t y D i s a s t e r a n d Ri s k Re d u c t i o n M a n a g e m e n t Te a m s w a s t e d n o t i m e t o c o n d u c t p o s t - s t o r m c l e a r i n g o p e r a t i o n s i n v a r i o u s p a r t s o f t h e c i t y s h o r t l y a f t e r t h e s t o r m y w e a t h e r c a l m e d d o w n t h e n e x t m o r n i n g . I n s p e c t i o n a n d c l e a r i n g o f i m m e d i a t e s u r r o u n d i n g s w e r e c o n d u c t e d , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e m a j o r r o a d s a n d h i g h w a y s a l o n g Ce n t r a l B u s i n e s s D i s t r i c t s I a n d I I . Tw o d a y s l a t e r , n o r m a l o p e r a t i o n s r e s u m e d a n d i t w a s b u s i n e s s a s u s u a l i n b o t h d i s t r i c t s o f t h e c i t y a n d t h e s u r r o u n d i n g b a r a n g a y s .
S t a t e o f C a l a m i t y
Th e Sa n g g u n i a n g Pa n l u n g s o d p a s s e d Re s o l u t i o n N o . 2 0 1 6 - 6 0 1 d e c l a r i n g t h e c i t y u n d e r a St a t e o f Ca l a m i t y i n o r d e r t o e x p e d i t e r e s t o r a t i o n a n d r e h a b i l i t a t i o n w o r k s o f t h e e x t e n s i v e d a m a g e s w r o u g h t b y t h e t y p h o o n t o i n f r a s t r u c t u r e , a g r i c u l t u r e a n d p r o p e r t i e s .
B a n g o n N a g a a n d T a b a n g B i c o l C a m p a i g n s
Th e B a n g o n N a g a c a m p a i g n o f t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t w a s l a u n c h e d a n d w i d e l y d i s s e m i n a t e d t h r o u g h t h e s o c i a l m e d i a t h a t e a r n e d i m m e d i a t e r e s p o n s e f r o m c o n c e r n e d g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s a n d s y m p a t h e t i c c i t i z e n s f r o m b o t h o u t s i d e a n d i n s i d e t h e B i c o l r e g i o n , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e f r o m o v e r s e a s . B a n g o n N a g a w a s l a u n c h e d t o c e n t r a l i z e a n d m o b i l i z e p o s t - d i s a s t e r r e s p o n s e a n d r e l i e f g o o d s d i s t r i b u t i o n t o a f f e c t e d f a m i l i e s . I t s u c c e s s f u l l y s o l i c i t e d h e l p e s p e c i a l l y f r o m f o r e i g n g r o u p s .
M r . G i l b e r t A l b e r o , p r e s i d e n t o f t h e M e t r o N a g a Ch a m b e r o f Co m m e r c e a n d I n d u s t r y , a l o n g w i t h A s i a - Pa c i f i c D i s a s t e r
M a n a g e m e n t Ph i l i p p i n e s ( A - PA D ) i n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h K a p i s a n a n n g m g a B r o d k a s t e r n g Pi l i p i n a s , Ph i l i p p i n e I n f o r m a t i o n A g e n c y - Ca m a r i n e s Su r ( PI A ) , M e t r o N a g a D e v e l o p m e n t Co u n c i l ( M N D C) , M a r i n e r s Po l y t e c h n i c Co l l e g e s , Ce n t r a l B i c o l St a t e Un i v e r s i t y o f A g r i c u l t u r e ( CB SUA ) , Ci t i z e n ' s D i s a s t e r Re s p o n s e Ce n t e r ( CD RC) , N a g a Ci t y D i s a s t e r Ri s k Re d u c t i o n a n d M a n a g e m e n t Of f i c e a n d Ci t y G o v e r n m e n t o f
N a g a , a l s o e s t a b l i s h e d Ta b a n g B i c o l t h a t e x t e n d e d p o s t - d i s a s t e r a s s i s t a n c e a n d r e s p o n s e s n o t o n l y i n N a g a , b u t a l s o i n o t h e r p a r t s o f Ca m a r i n e s Su r t h a t a l s o b o r e t h e b r u n t o f Ty p h o o n N i n a .
F o o d A s s i s t a n c e
Re l i e f g o o d s c a m e f r o m b o t h t h e p u b l i c a n d p r i v a t e s e c t o r s . Th e SM Fo u n d a t i o n , Ro t a r y Cl u b o f N a g a , a n d G l o b e - Te l e c o m , a m o n g o t h e r s , r e l e a s e d t h e i r s h a r e o f f o o d i t e m s f o r t h e a f f e c t e d f a m i l i e s .
Th e D e p a r t m e n t o f So c i a l W e l f a r e a n d D e v e l o p m e n t ( D SW D ) i n i t i a l l y s e n t 2 , 0 0 0 f a m i l y f o o d p a c k s , t h a t w e r e l a t e r a u g m e n t e d w i t h 3 , 0 0 0 m o r e p a c k s , a l o n g w i t h n o n - f o o d i t e m s w h i c h i n c l u d e m o s q u i t o n e t s , b l a n k e t s
a n d m a t s t o h e l p a l l e vi a t e t h e p l i g h t o f f a m i l i e s w h o l o s t t h e i r h o u s e s a n d o t h e r p r o p e r t i e s t o Ty p h o o n N i n a .
Th e Of f i c e o f Ci vi l D e f e n s e l i k e w i s e c o n t r i b u t e d 5 0 0 s a c k s o f r i c e t h r o u g h t h e Ci t y So c i a l W e l f a r e a n d D e v e l o p m e n t Of f i c e ( CSW D O) .
W i t h e x c e s s f o o d a s s i s t a n c e , a l o n g w i t h t h o s e o t h e r i t e m s b e i n g g i v e n b y p r i v a t e e s t a b l i s h m e n t s , t h e CSW D O, w i t h t h e s u g g e s t i o n o f t h e Ci t y M a y o r , d e c i d e d t o a l l o c a t e t h e m t h r o u g h t h e Fo o d f o r W o r k p r o g r a m o f t h e c i t y — t o s e r v e a s a n i n c e n t i v e t o t h o s e w h o w i l l p a r t i c i p a t e i n c l e a n - u p d r i v e s a n d o t h e r r e s t o r a t i o n a n d r e h a b i l i t a t i o n e f f o r t s a n d
t h u s e x p e d i t e t o b r i n g t h e c i t y b a c k o n i t s f e e t .
“ Actually, nagtao man ang OCD nin bagas, 500 sacks, kaya lang, baka gamiton me nalang ito sa Food for Work na lang, si mga rir i l inigun pa, kasi kumbaga sa rel ief, kadakol naman kita sa rel ief, ” e x p l a i n e d A n n a b e l V a r g a s o f t h e CSW D O.
“ Ini po dakulang tabang sa lado kan local na gobyerno kan Naga, kasi po nagtutubod po kami na dae po sapat an panao kan local na gobyerno. Kaya sa tabang po kan mga
private groups, private individuals, dakulang tabang po ito para samo , ” s h e a d d e d .
S h e l t e r A s s i s t a n c e
D i s t r i b u t i o n o f Em e r g e n c y Sh e l t e r A s s i s t a n c e ( ESA ) w a s c o n d u c t e d i n t h e 2 7 b a r a n g a y s o f t h e c i t y t o h e l p t h e r e s i d e n t s r e b u i l d t h e i r p a r t i a l l y d a m a g e d a n d t o t a l l y d a m a g e d h o u s e s .
Th e Ci t y So c i a l W e l f a r e a n d D e v e l o p m e n t Of f i c e ( CSW D O) a n d t h e Sa n g g u n i a n g B a r a n g a y r e c o r d e d m o r e t h a n 2 0 , 0 0 0 h o u s e h o l d s a s b e n e f i c i a r i e s o f t h e s a i d f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e , w i t h a r o u n d 2 , 0 0 0 f a m i l i e s l i s t e d a s h a vi n g t o t a l l y d a m a g e d h o u s e s w h i l e s o m e 1 8 , 0 0 0 h o u s e h o l d s h a d p a r t i a l l y - d a m a g e d h o m e s .
Th e ESA , a n i n i t i a t i v e o f t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t , i s a c a s h a s s i s t a n c e o f P5 0 0 a n d P1 , 0 0 0 , r e s p e c t i v e l y , f o r f a m i l i e s w i t h p a r t i a l l y a n d t o t a l l y d a m a g e d h o u s e s .
Th e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t a l s o p u r c h a s e d t r a p a l , o r c a n v a s s s h e e t s , a s t e m p o r a r y r o o f s o r w a l l s f o r t h e d a m a g e d h o m e s , a s i d e f r o m t h e p i e c e s o f c a n v a s s s h e e t s e x t e n d e d b y OCD , p a r t i c u l a r l y t o t h o s e h o m e s i n t h e u p p e r b a r a n g a y s o f t h e c i t y w h i c h w e r e w o r s t d e v a s t a t e d b y t h e t y p h o o n .
S c h o o l A s s i s t a n c e
Th e Ci t y G o v e r n m e n t o f N a g a , t h r o u g h t h e Re s p o n s e a n d Re h a b i l i t a t i o n Cl u s t e r , a l s o c o o r d i n a t e d w i t h t h e N a g a Ci t y Sc h o o l B o a r d t o p r o vi d e s c h o o l r e p a i r a s s i s t a n c e t o d a m a g e d c l a s s r o o m s o f p u b l i c e l e m e n t a r y a n d s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l s .
A c c o r d i n g t o i n i t i a l a s s e s s m e n t m a d e b y t h e Ci t y En g i n e e r s Of f i c e a n d o t h e r c o n c e r n e d d e p a r t m e n t s , t h e c i t y ’ s p u b l i c s c h o o l s s u f f e r e d d a m a g e s e s t i m a t e d a t P2 5 m i l l i o n . M o s t o f t h e s e s c h o o l s a r e s i t u a t e d w i t h i n t h e u p p e r b a r a n g a y s o f t h e c i t y .
PHOTOS B Y JOSE COLLERA
PHOTOS B Y SYLRANJELVIC VILLAFLOR PHOTO B Y RACSO VITAN
PHOTO B Y REYNALDO BAYLON
FAMILY FOOD PACKS came from the D epartment of S ocial
W elfare and D evelopment to be disributed to the typhoon
victims.
THE ESA DISTRIBUTION conducted in all the barangays of
aga to give financial aid to the typhoon victims.
PRIVATE SECTORS including S M Foundation, Rotary C lub of N aga, Globe Telecom and other groups contributed their share of goods to the typhoon victims.
A m e m o r a n d u m w a s a c c o r d i n g l y i s s u e d b y M a y o r J o h n B o n g a t , s u s p e n d i n g t h e r e s u m p t i o n o f c l a s s e s f o r n e x t y e a r , o r f o r a n o t h e r w e e k , w h i l e c l a s s e s i n o t h e r p a r t s o f t h e c i t y , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e s i t u a t e d i n t h e u r b a n a r e a s h a d t o r e s u m e a s o r i g i n a l l y s c h e d u l e d .
M e a n w h i l e , t h e r e g i o n a l o f f i c e o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f Ed u c a t i o n b a s e d i n L e g a z p i Ci t y h a d d e c l a r e d a s p e c i a l B r i g a d a Es k w e l a t o f a s t t r a c k c l e a n - u p o p e r a t i o n s b e f o r e t h e r e s u m p t i o n o f c l a s s e s a f t e r t h e Ho l i d a y
s e a s o n . Th e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t o f N a g a a p p r o p r i a t e d r i c e r a t i o n s t o t h o s e w h o v o l u n t e e r e d .
Fu r t h e r m o r e , t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t a p p r o v e d a b u d g e t o f P3 0 m i l l i o n f o r t h e r e p a i r o f t y p h o o n - d a m a g e d s c h o o l b u i l d i n g s a n d o t h e r f a c i l i t i e s w i t h i n t h e c a n p u s e s . .
C i t y w i d e c l e a n - u p
Pr a c t i s i n g w h a t t h e y p r e a c h , M a y o r J o h n B o n g a t , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e o t h e r c i t y o f f i c i a l s a n d t h e c i t y h a l l e m p l o y e e s r o l l e d u p t h e i r
s l e e v e s a n d t o o k t h e c u d g e l s i n s p e a r h e a d i n g a c i t y - w i d e c l e a n - u p o p e r a t i o n w h i c h l a s t e d f o r w e e k s a l o n g t h e m a i n t h o r o u g h f a r e s o f t h e c i t y .
To h a s t e n t h e i r t a s k s , M a y o r B o n g a t o r d e r e d f o r t h e r e n t i n g o f m i n i - d u m p t r u c k s f r o m t h e p r i v a t e s e c t o r t o b a c k u p t h e c i t y i n v e n t o r y o f p u b l i c u t i l i t y v e h i c l e s a n d e q u i p m e n t i n c l e a r i n g u p t h e c i t y s o t h a t i t s n o r m a l d a i l y g r i n d s w i l l b e b a c k a s i f n o t h i n g h a p p e n e d .
S t r o n g e r n o w
Th e c i t y ’ s r e s t o r a t i o n p r o c e s s , c o m p o s e d o f r e l i e f d i s t r i b u t i o n , p o s t - s t o r m c l e a r i n g o p e r a t i o n s , r e h a b i l i t a t i o n p r o g r a m s a n d
e n e r g y a n d p o w e r s u p p l y r e p a i r s , i s n o t a s i n g l e e f f o r t c o m i n g f r o m t h e g o v e r n m e n t b u t a l s o a c o l l e c t i v e e f f o r t w i t h t h e p r i v a t e s e c t o r a n d o t h e r s t a k e h o l d e r s . W i t h t e a m w o r k , c o o r d i n a t i o n , i n i t i a t i v e a n d c a l c u l a t e d t i m e , N a g a q u i c k l y r o s e t o o v e r c o m e t h e c a l a m i t i e s a n d d i s a s t e r t h a t h a d c o m e i t s w a y . On c e a g a i n , w h a t a r e g o o d a b o u t t h e N a g u e n o s a r e s h o w n i n t h e a f t e r m a t h o f t h e t y p h o o n , s o f a r t h e b i g g e s t t o h i t t h e r e g i o n a s t h e y e a r e n d e d . Re s i l i e n c e a n d s u s t a i n a b i l i t y , a s t w o o f t h e s h i n i n g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e N a g u e n o s , a r e o n c e m o r e i n t h e f r o n t l i n e .
CITY WIDE CLEAN UP led by the city authorities, altogether with the barangay folks to restore the city
from the wastes and damages brought by the typhoon. POWER SHUT DOWN caused by the typhoon did not stop these fol s from finding and creating possible means of electrical supply.
FREE CHARGING STATIONS in the aga ity Peoples all are offered by the city government to aid in the electrical
supply needs of the people.
BARANGAY FOLKS take the initiative in moving away the trun of this fallen tree off the road, the morning right after the typhoon.
ELECTRICIANS painstakingly undertake their tasks in the repair of electrical posts and restoration of power supply in the city, despite the heavy damage.
OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 26
PHO
TOS
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PHOTO B Y PHOTO B Y PHOTO B Y SYLRANJELVIC VILLAFLOR
PHOTO B Y REYNALDO BAYLON
By ARMIE B. GUNAY
AFTER h a vi n g b e e n a w a r d e d t h e p r e s t i g i o u s Ex c e l A w a r d f o r Co m m u n i c a t i o n Ex c e l l e n c e i n Or g a n i z a t i o n s a t t h e M a n i l a G r a n d
B a l l r o o m - M a r r i o t t Ho t e l i n Pa s a y Ci t y l a s t N o v . 2 1 , Ci t y M a y o r J o h n G . B o n g a t w a s a g a i n i n M e t r o M a n i l a l a s t D e c e m b e r 1 3 , t h i s y e a r , t o r e c e i v e t h e B l u e Ce r t i f i c a t i o n L e v e l 1 g i v e n b y t h e Of f i c e o f t h e Om b u d s m a n .
Th e n e w s a b o u t t h e a w a r d a n d t h e i n vi t a t i o n f o r t h e m a y o r t o r e c e i v e i t w a s e x t e n d e d b y Ra q u e l Ro s a r i o M . Cu n a n a n -M a r a y a g , a c t i n g d i r e c t o r o f t h e Pu b l i c A s s i s t a n c e a n d Co r r u p t i o n Pr e v e n t i o n B u r e a u o f t h e Of f i c e o f t h e Om b u d s m a n .
Th e c i t y ’ s e f f i c i e n t B u s i n e s s On e St o p Sh o p ( B OSS) s i g n i f i c a n t l y c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e c i t y ’ s e a r n i n g t h e B l u e Ce r t i f i c a t i o n , m a k i n g N a g a t o b e t h e f i f t h c i t y t o r e c e i v e t h e a w a r d , w i t h s c o r e s l e a d i n g a h e a d o f M a n i l a a n d Q u e z o n Ci t y .
ANTI-RED TAPE. N aga C ity Mayor John Bongat, along with C ity Treasurer Gigi Abonal (to the mayor’s right), displays the rare Blue
ertification that confirms the city s resolve to fight red tape and graft and corruption. Also in photo (l-r) are C E PPIO H ead Allen Reondanga and Prudencio odrigue of the ity reasure s O ce.
Ombudsman honors Naga for its corruption prevention program
Naga is model city for
Anti Red Tape
PRO-POOR PROGRAMS. Mayor Bongat (4th from left) and E ngr. Romy C ampillos (6th from left) receive the award. C E PPIO
AWARDSN A G A
Th e CEO Ex c e l A w a r d s i s a n h o n o r b e i n g g i v e n a n n u a l l y b y t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n o f B u s i n e s s Co m m u n i c a t o r s Ph i l i p p i n e s ( I A B C) t o t o p - l e v e l b u s i n e s s e x e c u t i v e s a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n l e a d e r s f r o m t h e p r i v a t e , g o v e r n m e n t , a c a d e m i c a n d n o n -p r o f i t s e c t o r s w h o h a v e s h o w n e x c e l l e n c e i n c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d c o m p e t e n c e i n m a n a g e m e n t i n r e a l i z i n g t h e i r c o r p o r a t e g o a l s .
Se v e r a l e f f o r t s o f t h e c i t y i n c r e a t i n g p r o g r a m s t h a t h a v e b e e n e n g a g i n g t h e
NATIONAL LITERACY
AWARD
Th e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t o f N a g a i s k n o w n f o r i t s p r o - p o o r p r o g r a m s l i k e K a a n t a b a y s a K a u s w a g a n ( s t a r t e d d u r i n g t h e t i m e o f f o r m e r M a y o r a n d Se c . J e s s e Ro b r e d o a n d s u s t a i n e d t o t h i s d a y ) a n d t h e n e w e s t i n n o v a t i v e p o v e r t y a l l e vi a t i o n i n i t i a t i v e c a l l e d G i n h a w a n g N a g u e ñ o Pr o g r a m ( G N P) l a u n c h e d i n 2 0 1 4 . Th e p r o g r a m a d d r e s s e s p o v e r t y , h e a l t h , n u t r i t i o n , s a n i t a t i o n , e d u c a t i o n a n d h o u s i n g i s s u e s , t o g i v e d i g n i t y t o u r b a n p o o r f a m i l i e s .
CEO EXCEL AWARDS
Q U E Z O N C I T Y - - - T h e O f f i c e o f O m b u d s m a n C o n c h i t a C a r p i o - M o r a l e s , t h r u D e p u t y O m b u d s m a n f o r S o u t h L u zo n G e r a r d M o s q u e r a , c o n f e r r e d t h e r a r e B l u e C e r t i f i c a t i o n t o t h e N a g a C i t y G o v e r n m e n t f o r 2 0 1 6 - 2 0 1 9 t h a t r e c o g n i ze s t h e l a t t e r ’ s r e s o l v e i n e x p e d i t i n g i s s u a n c e s o f M a y o r ’ s /B u s i n e s s P e r m i t s f r o m 8 s t e p s t o 5 , t h e n t o 4 , a n d e v e n t u a l l y t o 3 s t e p s o n l y p u r s u a n t t o t h e c i t y ’ s i n n o v a t i v e a n d e x p e d i t i o u s S P C , o r S u b m i t - P a y - C l a i m P o l i c y i n b u s i n e s s r e g i s t r a t i o n .
T h e p r o g r a m b e c o m e s a n e x p e d i e n t m e c h a n i s m t o f i g h t r e d - t a p e a n d c u r b g r a f t a n d c o r r u p t i o n i n t h e p r o c e s s .
I t w i l l b e r e c a l l e d t h a t b a c k i n 2 0 1 2 , M a y o r B o n g a t i s s u e d E x e c u t i v e O r d e r N o . 2 0 1 2 - 0 1 7 t h a t c a l l s f o r e n h a n c i n g b u s i n e s s r e g i s t r a t i o n p r o c e d u r e s a n d i n s t i t u t i o n a l i zi n g t h e N a g a C i t y O n e -
Th e B OSS, w i t h i t s t h r e e - s t e p p r o c e s s f o r t h e b u s i n e s s o w n e r s , h a s b e e n n o t e d t o b e h a n d l e d w e l l b y t h e c i t y .
W i t h t h e L e v e l 1 c e r t i f i c a t i o n , t h e c i t y i s s e t t o i m p r o v e s t i l l t h e b u s i n e s s p e r m i t r e l e a s e a n d r e n e w a l p r o c e s s e s o f t h e B OSS p r o g r a m , t h a t w i l l m a k e i t c l i m b t o L e v e l 2 B l u e Se a l Ce r t i f i c a t i o n n e x t y e a r .
A l l e n Re o n d a n g a , t h e Ch i e f - o f - Of f i c e o f t h e Ci t y Ev e n t s , Pr o t o c o l a n d Pu b l i c I n f o r m a t i o n Of f i c e ( CEPPI O) , u n d e r s c o r e d t h a t t h e w e l l - d o c u m e n t e d p r o g r a m s a n d p o l i c i e s o f t h e c i t y , a s e n f o r c e d t h r o u g h l e g i s l a t i v e m e a s u r e s a n d e x e c u t i v e o r d e r s a n d i s s u a n c e s , g a i n e d p o s i t i v e r e m a r k s f o r N a g a .
“ I t i s o n l y i n N a g a w h e r e i n t h e y h a v e s e e n t h e c i t y ’ s p r o g r a m s b a c k e d u p w i t h e x e c u t i v e o r d e r s a n d o r d i n a n c e s , m a k i n g t h e p r o g r a m s s u s t a i n a b l e , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e B OSS” s t a t e d Re o n d a n g a .
c o m m u n i t y i n p a r t i c i p a t o r y g o v e r n a n c e i n c l u d e : ( 1 ) r e b r a n d i n g o f t h e N a g a Ci t y W e b s i t e t o N a g a SM I L ES t o t h e W o r l d a n d m a k i n g i t m o r e i n t e r a c t i v e ; ( 2 ) u s i n g t h e l a t e s t a n d t r e n d i n g t o o l s i n t h e s o c i a l m e d i a s u c h a s Fa c e b o o k a n d Tw i t t e r , w i t h a n o f f i c i a l p a g e “ N a g a SM I L ES t o t h e W o r l d ” ; a n d ( 3 ) e s t a b l i s h i n g a p e r m a n e n t o f f i c e , t h e Ci t y Ev e n t s , Pr o t o c o l , a n d Pu b l i c I n f o r m a t i o n
Of f i c e ( CEPPI O) , d e d i c a t e d t o p u b l i c i n f o r m a t i o n u s i n g p r i n t , b r o a d c a s t , a n d s o c i a l m e d i a , p u b l i s h i n g t h e N a g a Ci t y G a z e t t e a n d t h e N a g a
SM I L ES M a g a z i n e o n l i n e a n d i n h a r d c o p i e s , a n d p r o d u c i n g “ A n N a g a N g o n i a n ” t e l e r a d y o n e w s p r o g r a m e v e r y Sa t u r d a y , s i m u l c a s t w i t h v a r i o u s l o c a l r a d i o a n d TV St a t i o n s .
A s t h e m a y o r o f t h e c i t y o f N a g a , B o n g a t h a s b e e n e f f e c t i v e l y u t i l i z i n g a l l p o s s i b l e m e a n s o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n i n g o v e r n i n g t h e c i t y .
“ I s h o u l d u t i l i z e a l l t o o l s a n d m e a n s t o m a k e g o v e r n a n c e r e s p o n s i v e a n d e f f e c t i v e . I s h o u l d p u t m y f a i t h i n t h e g o o d w i l l a n d c a p a c i t y o f o u r p e o p l e b y p r o vi d i n g t h e m w i t h n e w a v e n u e s f o r l i v e l y e x c h a n g e o f i d e a s , e a s y a c c e s s t o vi t a l i n f o r m a t i o n a n d p a r t i c i p a t o r y m e c h a n i s m s , ” s t a t e d t h e m a y o r i n h i s a c c e p t a n c e s p e e c h .
A m o n g t h e o t h e r h o n o r e d r e c i p i e n t s t h i s y e a r w e r e : I s b e r t o A l b e r t o , Pr e s i d e n t a n d CEO, e PL D T; Ed g a r Ca b a n g o n - Ch u a , Pr e s i d e n t a n d CEO, A L C; M i g u e l “ M i k e ” En r i q u e z , Pr e s i d e n t , RG M A N e t w o r k , I n c . ; M i c h a e l D e a k i n , M a n a g i n g D i r e c t o r , L i f e l i n e A m b u l a n c e Re s c u e ,
I n c . ; M a r i a M o n s e r a t Ha m l i n , Pr e s i d e n t , Ha m l i n - I t u r r a l d e Co r p o r a t i o n ( Te a m A s i a ) ; M e r l y n Cr u z J a y m e , Ch i e f Cr e a t i v e Of f i c e r , D e n t s u - J a y m e Sy f u , I n c . ; Ho n . Co n c h i t a Ca r p i o M o r a l e s , Om b u d s m a n o f t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s ; St e p h e n Ra i l e y , Ch i e f Op e r a t i n g Of f i c e r , Re s o r t s W o r l d M a n i l a ; Sa n d r a Ro m u a l d e z , Pr e s i d e n t a n d CEO, Ph i l i p p i n e D a i l y I n q u i r e r ; Ho n . M a r i a L o u r d e s Se r e n o , Ch i e f J u s t i c e , Su p r e m e Co u r t o f t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s ; L u c i e n D y Ti o c o , SV P, Sa l e s a n d M a r k e t i n g , Th e Ph i l i p p i n e St a r ; Fu r g a n A m h e d Sy e d , Pr e s i d e n t a n d D i r e c t o r , Pe p s i Co l a Pr o d u c t s , Ph i l i p p i n e s ; a n d Fr . J o s e V i l l a r i n , SJ . , Pr e s i d e n t , A t e n e o d e M a n i l a Un i v e r s i t y .
Th e I A B C Ph i l i p p i n e s i s t h e f i r s t c o u n t r y c h a p t e r o f t h e Sa n Fr a n c i s c o - b a s e d I A B C e s t a b l i s h e d o u t s i d e o f t h e Un i t e d St a t e s i n 2 0 0 5 . I t i s o n e o f t h e l a r g e s t b u s i n e s s c o m m u n i c a t i o n o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t h e w o r l d w i t h s o m e 1 1 , 0 0 0 m e m b e r p r o f e s s i o n a l s i n o v e r 7 0 c o u n t r i e s .
S t o p - S h o p ( B .O .S .S .)A s a r e s u l t , c i t y r e v e n u e s d o u b l e d
f r o m a l i t t l e o v e r P 5 0 0 M i n 2 0 1 0 a l m o s t a b i l l i o n p e s o s i n 2 0 1 6 , w h i c h i s e x p e c t e d t o r i s e t o o v e r P 1 B i n 2 0 1 7 a s t r a n s a c t i o n s w i t h v a r i o u s o f f i c e s i n c i t y h a l l , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e t r e a s u r e r ’ s o f f i c e , b e c a m e f a s t e r , q u i c k e r , m o r e s y s t e m a t i c , o r d e r l y , a n d g r a f t f r e e .
S u p p o r t e d b y v a r i o u s o f f i c e s , s u c h a s t h e C i t y T r e a s u r e r ’ s O f f i c e h e a d e d b y M s . G i g i A b o n a l , t h e o f f i c e s o f C i t y A d m i n i s t r a t o r J u n T a m M o n g o s o , t h e I T o f f i c e h e a d e d b y R e u e l O l i v e r a n d A n s e l M a ñ o , t h e C E O h e a d e d b y E n g r . C h i t o P a l m i a n o , t h e C i t y H e a l t h O f f i c e h e a d e d b y D r . B u t c h B o r j a , B .O .S .S . i s b e i n g i m p l e m e n t e d d u r i n g t h e f i r s t t h r e e w e e k s o f J a n u a r y o f e a c h y e a r w i t h C E P P I O C h i e f A l l e n R e o n d a n g a a s G o v e r n i n g B o a r d S e c r e t a r i a t h e a d .
NATATANGING LINGKOD
MARALITA AWARD 2016
NATATANGING LINGKOD
MARALITA AWARD 2016
27 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 28
THIS m u l t i - a w a r d e d c i t y , w h i c h i s a l s o t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s ’ M o s t Co m p e t i t i v e Co m p o n e n t Ci t y f o r y e a r s 2 0 1 5 a n d 2 0 1 6 , h a s a c h i e v e d a n o t h e r vi c t o r y i n
t h e f i e l d o f a g r i c u l t u r e w h e n i t w a s a d j u d g e d t h e c o u n t r y ’ s Ou t s t a n d i n g Co r n Q u a l i t y A c h i e v e r - Ci t y Ca t e g o r y f o r t h i s y e a r .
W h a t m a d e t h i s d e v e l o p m e n t e v e n m o r e c e l e b r a t o r y , a s i d e f r o m r e c e i vi n g t h e a w a r d f o r 3 c o n s e c u t i v e y e a r s s i n c e 2 0 1 4 , i s t h a t 3 m o r e a w a r d s w e r e r e c e i v e d b y t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t f r o m t h e s e a r c h w h i c h i s b e i n g c o n d u c t e d u n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e : t h e Ou t s t a n d i n g Ci t y A g r i c u l t u r i s t , t h e Ou t s t a n d i n g Ci t y Co r n Co o r d i n a t o r a n d t h e Ou t s t a n d i n g A g r i c u l t u r a l Ex t e n s i o n W o r k e r .
I t w a s a l s o t h e t h i r d t i m e t h a t Ci t y A g r i c u l t u r i s t M a r i a Ed n a B o n g a l o n t a w a s c o n f e r r e d w i t h t h e a w a r d a l o n g w i t h CA O’ s Co r n Te c h n i c i a n B e n e d i c t o He r a l d o w h o h a s b e e n n a m e d Ou t s t a n d i n g A g r i c u l t u r a l Ex t e n s i o n W o r k e r f r o m y e a r 2 0 1 4 t o 2 0 1 6 . N a m e d Ou t s t a n d i n g Ci t y Co r n Co o r d i n a t o r w a s En g r . M e n a n d r o Ca l i n g a c i o n .
Th e 4 n a t i o n a l a w a r d s ( w i t h t h a t o f t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t , i n c l u d e d ) , w e r e r e c e i v e d o n N o v e m b e r 1 6 , t h i s y e a r , i n K o r o n a d a l Ci t y i n So u t h Co t a b a t o n i n e d a y s a f t e r t h e CA O a w a r d e e s r e c e i v e d t h e s a m e t i t l e s i n t h e
Bases for the Department of Agriculture in citing the city government, the City Agriculturist, the CAO’s corn technician and corn coordinator as outstanding corn achievers:
• For strengthening the capability of the communities to produce export quality corn
• For strengthening the operations of Corn Cluster in the barangays
• For the continuous conduct of training/seminar on corn good agricultural practices (GAP) in the barangays
• For assisting the corn farmers in Barangay Panicuason the establishment and operationalization of the first GAP-corn certified farm in the whole of Bicol Region
• For helping other corn farmers to establish GAP corn farms.
By JASON B. NEOLA
A BRAND-NEW b u s w i t h a t o t a l v a l u e o f P3 , 9 5 0 , 0 0 0 w a s d o n a t e d b y t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f He a l t h t o t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t
o f N a g a a s t h e n a t i o n a l g o v e r n m e n t ’ s c o m m i t m e n t t o h e l p i m p r o v e d e n t a l s e r vi c e s i n t h e c i t y ’ s 2 7 b a r a n g a y s .
Ci t y He a l t h Of f i c e r V i t o C. B o r j a I I , M D , s a i d t h e d e n t a l v a n c o m e s a s a “ b i g h e l p t o t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t t o e n h a n c e t h e c i t y h e a l t h o f f i c e ’ s d e l i v e r y o f d e n t a l s e r vi c e s , e s p e c i a l l y d u r i n g t h e c o n d u c t o f m e d i c a l a n d d e n t a l m i s s i o n a n d c i vi c a c t i o n s . ”
“ Fr o m n o w o n , t h i s [ d e n t a l ] f a c i l i t y w i l l s u r e l y b e a m a j o r t o o l e v e r y t i m e w e c o n d u c t d e n t a l a c t i vi t i e s i n c o m m u n i t i e s , ” s a y s B o r j a .
N a g a ’ s h e a l t h o f f i c e h a s r e g u l a r l y b e e n
s t a g i n g ‘O p l a n : Ch e c k Up , ’ t h a t g o e s a r o u n d t h e c i t y ’ s 2 7 b a r a n g a y s e v e r y Tu e s d a y a n d Th u r s d a y o f t h e w e e k w i t h D r a . A y d z A l c e r a , h e a d d e n t i s t , a n d D r . Er i c Pa b i c o .
Th e d o n a t i o n o f t h e d e n t a l v a n
w a s c o m m i t t e d d u r i n g t h e vi s i t o f t h e n D OH Se c r e t a r y J a n e t t e G a r i n w h o s p e a r h e a d e d t h e l a u n c h i n g o f n a t i o n w i d e s c h o o l - b a s e d i m m u n i z a t i o n
By JASON B. NEOLA
naga city health of�ce gets p3.8m dental van
r e g i o n a l c o m p e t i t i o n h e l d l a s t N o v e m b e r 7 , 2 0 1 6 a t t h e V i l l a Ca c e r e s Ho t e l h e r e .
CA O Co r n Te c h n i c i a n He r a l d o s a i d t h a t t h i s [ y e a r ] m i g h t b e t h e l a s t t i m e t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t w i l l c o m p e t e i n t h e Se a r c h f o r Ou t s t a n d i n g Co r n Q u a l i t y A c h i e v e r s a s i t n o w j o i n s t h e c o m p e t i t i o n ’ s Ha l l o f Fa m e a f t e r i t w a s a d j u d g e d w i n n e r f o r t h r e e c o n s e c u t i v e t i m e s , f r o m 2 0 1 4 t o 2 0 1 6 .
A p r i z e o f P1 M w o r t h o f p r o j e c t s w a s r e c e i v e d b y t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t a l o n g w i t h t r o p h y i n t h e a w a r d i n g r i t e s h e l d i n K o r o n a d a l Ci t y . A s r e g i o n a l w i n n e r , N a g a r e c e i v e d a r e w a r d o f P4 0 , 0 0 0 a n d a t r o p h y . CA O e m p l o y e e - a w a r d e e s a l s o r e c e i v e d c a s h p r i z e s d u r i n g t h e a w a r d i n g c e r e m o n i e s i n t h e r e g i o n a l a n d n a t i o n a l l e v e l .
CA O d a t a s h o w e d t h a t c o r n f a r m e r s i n t h e c i t y h a v e a c h i e v e d a n i n c r e a s e i n c o r n p r o d u c t i o n f r o m y e a r 2 0 1 1 t o 2 0 1 5 . Th e c o n t i n u o u s g r o w t h i n c o r n p r o d u c t i o n h a s p r o v i d e d t h e m w i t h a t o t a l p r o d u c t i o n o f 2 , 7 5 3 . 5 m e t r i c t o n s i n 2 0 1 1 t o 1 2 , 1 0 1 . 3 0 m e t r i c t o n s i n 2 0 1 5 .
Th e d o c u m e n t a l s o s h o w e d t h a t t h e a v e r a g e y i e l d d a t a h a d g r a d u a l l y i n c r e a s e d f r o m 4 . 2 4 i n 2 0 1 1 t o 5 . 0 4 t o n s i n 2 0 1 3 . I n 2 0 1 4 , h o w e v e r , t h e a v e r a g e y i e l d d e c r e a s e d a s c o m p a r e d t o p r e vi o u s y e a r b e c a u s e o f t y p h o o n s G l e n d a a n d A m a n g b u t t h e d e c r e a s e d o e s n o t a f f e c t c o n s i d e r a b l y t h e p r o d u c t i o n d u e t o t h e e x p a n s i o n o f c o r n a r e a i n 2 0 1 4 .
I n 2 0 1 5 , g o o d w e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n h a s h e l p e d t h e f a r m e r s t o a c h i e v e a n a v e r a g e y i e l d o f 5 . 4 . Th e g o o d c o r n y i e l d c a n a l s o b e a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e p l a n t i n g o f h i g h y i e l d i n g G M O c o r n h y b r i d .
p r o g r a m i n t h i s c i t y l a s t A u g u s t 3 , 2 0 1 5 a l o n g w i t h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f Ed u c a t i o n , t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e I n t e r i o r a n d L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t a n d t h e W o r l d He a l t h Or g a n i z a t i o n .
B l e s s e d l a s t D e c e m b e r 5 , t h i s y e a r , a f t e r
t h e f l a g r a i s i n g c e r e m o n y a t t h e Ci t y Ha l l g r o u n d s , t h e f a c i l i t y i s e q u i p p e d w i t h , a m o n g o t h e r s , d e n t a l c h a i r s , s a l i v a e j e c t o r , c o m f o r t r o o m , l a v a t o r y a n d f a u c e t , w a t e r t a n k a n d s e p t i c t a n k , o p e r a t i n g l i g h t , c h a i r s a n d s t o o l s , a u d i o s y s t e m , c a b i n e t a n d w r i t i n g t a b l e , s p i t t o o n f l u s h a n d c u p f i l l e r ( c o n t r o l s y s t e m ) , w a i t i n g s o f a , d e n t a l m o d u l e a n d o p e r a t i n g l i g h t f i t t e d o n a t e l e s c o p i c a r m .
Philippines' Most competitive city cited as outstanding
corn achiever
City councilor
Nene de Asisleads RIC as
National President
FOLLOWING t h e f o o t s t e p o f h e r m o t h e r , Ce c i l i a V e l u z - D e A s i s n o w t a k e s t h e h e l m a s n a t i o n a l p r e s i d e n t o f t h e Ru r a l I m p r o v e m e n t Cl u b s o f t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s f o r t h e y e a r s 2 0 1 6 -
2 0 1 8 , o r a f u l l t w o - y e a r t e r m .
Th e n e w l y - e l e c t e d p r e s i d e n t o f Ru r a l I m p r o v e m e n t Cl u b s v o w e d t o a d v a n c e t h e r o l e o f w o m e n i n a g r i c u l t u r e a n d r u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t .
D e A s i s p l e d g e d t o m a i n s t r e a m g e n d e r
e q u i t y i n s o c i o - e c o n o m i c p r o g r a m s , b o t h i n t h e g o v e r n m e n t a n d i n t h e p r i v a t e s e c t o r .
D e A s i s i s a l s o i n c u m b e n t c o u n c i l o r o f t h i s c i t y , c h a i r i n g t h e Co m m i t t e e o n A p p r o p r i a t i o n , Co m m i t t e e o n Fa m i l y , W o m e n a n d G e n d e r D e v e l o p m e n t a n d t h e Co m m i t t e e o n M a n p o w e r , L i v e l i h o o d D e v e l o p m e n t a n d Co o p e r a t i v e s .
He r m o t h e r , f o r m e r D e l G a l l e g o M a y o r L u c y B . V e l u z , s e r v e d a s p r e s i d e n t o f t h e RI C f o r t w o t e r m s , f r o m 1 9 7 9 - 1 9 8 1 a n d 1 9 8 1 -1 9 8 3 .
Ru r a l I m p r o v e m e n t Cl u b s a r e n a t i o n w i d e r u r a l - b a s e d n o n - g o v e r n m e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n o f r u r a l w o m e n w h o s e g o a l i s t o u p l i f t t h e l i vi n g c o n d i t i o n o f f a r m e r s a n d t h e i r f a m i l i e s . Th e f i r s t RI C w a s e s t a b l i s h e d b y M a r i a Y . Or o s a i n M o n t a l b a n , Ri z a l .
I n t h e B i c o l r e g i o n t h e r e a r e 4 3 5 Ru r a l I m p r o v e m e n t Cl u b s c o m p o s e d o f a t o t a l o f 1 5 , 0 0 0 m e m b e r s . D e A s i s , b e f o r e h e r n a t i o n a l p o s t , u s e d t o s e r v e a s t h e r e g i o n a l p r e s i d e n t o f B i c o l RI C.
PHOTOS B Y SYLRANJELVIC VILLAFLOR29 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 30
THE Ci t y Ev e n t s , Pr o t o c o l a n d Pu b l i c I n f o r m a t i o n Of f i c e ( CEPPI O) , i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h t h e Ci t y Ha l l Pr e s s Co r p s , c o n d u c t e d i t s B a l i k - B a l a o g
a c t i vi t y l a s t D e c e m b e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 6 , i n Si t i o M a t i w a y , B a r a n g a y Sa n Fe l i p e , N a g a Ci t y .
B a l i k - B a l a o g , CEPPI O’ s o u t r e a c h a c t i vi t y n o w o n i t s s e c o n d y e a r , w a s s u c c e s s f u l l y c a r r i e d o u t w i t h m e d i c a l m i s s i o n s , g a m e s , a n d g i f t - g i vi n g a c t i vi t i e s f o r t h e r e s i d e n t s o f t h e b a r a n g a y .
A l l e n Re o n d a n g a , t h e c h i e f - o f - o f f i c e o f CEPPI O, s a i d t h e a c t i vi t y i s t h e i r e x p r e s s i o n o f g r a t i t u d e f o r a l l t h e y e a r ’ s b l e s s i n g s r e c e i v e d a s p u b l i c s e r v a n t s o f t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t o f N a g a .
“ Th i s i s o u r w a y t o b r i n g j o y t o o u r f e l l o w N a g u e ñ o s . Th e b e s t w a y t o e x p r e s s o u r g r a t e f u l n e s s f o r a l l o u r r e c e i v e d b l e s s i n g s i s t o s h a r e t h e m w i t h t h e c o m m u n i t y t h a t h a s b e e n s u p p o r t i v e o f t h e c i t y ’ s p r o g r a m s a n d p r o j e c t s , ” Re o n d a n g a e x p l a i n e d .
M a y o r J o h n B o n g a t , w i t h h i s w i f e , Fi r s t L a d y Fa r a h B o n g a t , g r a c e d t h e o c c a s i o n a n d e x t e n d e d t h e i r s u p p o r t t o t h e a c t i vi t y a n d
w a r m r e g a r d s t o t h e r e s i d e n t s o f t h e b a r a n g a y .
Th e m e d i c a l m i s s i o n , h e a d e d b y D r . J o f r a m e l Pa z a n d D r . J i m m y T. D e L a V i ñ a o f t h e Ci t y He a l t h Of f i c e a n d D r . J o a n n e Se b a s t i a n , o f f e r e d f r e e m e d i c a l c h e c k - u p a n d m e d i c i n e s t o o v e r a h u n d r e d r e s i d e n t s o f Si t i o M a t i w a y .
“ Th i s i s a v e r y a p p r o p r i a t e p r o g r a m e s p e c i a l l y a s t h i s a r e a h a s b e e n o n e o f t h e r e m o t e s i t i o s t h a t i s n o t n o r m a l l y r e a c h e d b y m e d i c a l m i s s i o n s a n d o t h e r f r e e h e a l t h p r o g r a m s o f t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t o f N a g a , ” D r . Pa z s a i d .
By ARMIE B. GUNAY
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31 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016
G I V I N G B A C K . The Balik-Balaog activity of CEPPIO, together with the City Hall Press Corps is being carried out with children’s games, medical mission and gift-giving. The office’s partner includes the AOR Group of Compnies who sponsored the free lunch for the residents and led the children in the parlor games and fun-filled activities as photos below show.
T H E T E A M . City Events, Protocol, and Public Information Office (CEPPIO) staff, headed by the Chief-Office Allen L. Reondanga ( 7th f ro m the l ef t) , together with the city hall press corps and the barangay folks.
Th e M c D o n a l d s t e a m , a s o n e o f t h e s p o n s o r i n g g r o u p s , l e d t h e c h i l d r e n ’ s p a r l o r g a m e s . Th e y g a v e a w a y t o y s a n d o t h e r s c h o o l i t e m s a s p r i z e s . A l s o p r e s e n t t o g r e e t t h e c h i l d r e n w a s t h e e v e n t c l o w n , K u y a K i k o , w h o p e r f o r m e d s o m e o f h i s m a g i c t r i c k s b e f o r e t h e a m u s e d c r o w d .
M o r e g i f t p a c k s c o n s i s t i n g o f f o o d a n d o t h e r g r o c e r y i t e m s w e r e r a f f l e d o f f t o t h e p a r t i c i p a t i n g a u d i e n c e .
“ N a g p a p a s a l a m a t p o k a m i t a m a k a k a p a c h e c k - u p p o n i n l i b r e a n m g a a k i , ” s a i d o n e o f t h e r e c i p i e n t s .
L a s t y e a r , t h e p i o n e e r o u t r e a c h o f t h e t e a m w a s h e l d i n B a r a n g a y Pa c o l , a l s o i n N a g a Ci t y .
Fo r CEPPI O, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e l o c a l m e d i a , t h e i r a r d u o u s t a s k a s t h e c i t y ’ s e v e n t m a n a g e m e n t a n d m e d i a o f f i c e w i l l a l w a y s i n c l u d e s p e c i a l a c t i vi t i e s f o r c h i l d r e n a n d i n d i g e n t r e s i d e n t s .
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THE FIRST LADY hands gifts to the children.
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A F A R M E R f o r e v e r y f a m i l y m i g h t h e l p r e s t o r e t h e a g e i n g p o p u l a t i o n o f t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l w o r k e r s i n t h e c o u n t r y .
T h i s w a s t h e g i s t o f t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f R e p . G a b r i e l B o r d a d o o f t h e C a m a r i n e s S u r t h i r d c o n g r e s s i o n a l d i s t r i c t d u r i n g t h e F a r m e r ’ s F o r u m h e l d a t t h e C r o w n H o t e l h e r e l a s t N o v e m b e r 1 1 , 2 0 1 6 w i t h m o r e t h a n a h u n d r e d f a r m e r s , i r r i g a t o r s , a s s o c i a t i o n l e a d e r s a n d c o o p e r a t i v e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s c o m i n g f r o m v a r i o u s p a r t s o f t h e B i c o l R e g i o n i n a t t e n d a n c e .
T h e f o r u m w a s o n e o f t h e h i g h l i g h t a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e B i c o l B u s i n e s s M o n t h b e i n g s p e a r h e a d e d b y t h e M e t o N a g a C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e a n d I n d u s t r y a n d t h e C i t y G o v e r n m e n t o f N a g a , i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h v a r i o u s g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s , s u c h a s t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e , B F A R , D O S T , D O T , T E S D A , a n d t h e p r i v a t e s e c t o r .
B o r d a d o , w h o w a s i n v i t e d t o s p e a k o n t h e i s s u e o f f o o d s e c u r i t y , s h a r e d t h e s e n t i m e n t o f S e n . F r a n c i s “ K i k o ” P a n g i l i n a n t h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s p r o g r a m o n f o o d s e c u r i t y i s b e i n g t h r e a t e n e d b y a n a g e i n g p o p u l a t i o n o f f a r m e r s . T h i s i s n o t t o m e n t i o n t h e m e a g e r i n c o m e t h a t t h e y g e t f r o m f a r m i n g w h i c h i s n o t e v e n e n o u g h t o s u s t a i n t h e i r o w n b a s i c n e e d s .
“ L e t u s e n j o i n t h e s t u d e n t s t o d e v e l o p t h e i r l o v e o r i n t e r e s t i n a g r i c u l t u r e , n o t o n p o l i t i c s . I a m c u r r e n t l y d r a f t i n g a b i l l t o g i v e f u l l s c h o l a r s h i p g r a n t t o t h e c h i l d r e n o f l e g i t i m a t e f a r m e r s w h o w i l l t a k e u p a g r i c u l t u r e c o u r s e s i n c o l l e g e . A s p e c i f i c f u n d f o r t h a t p u r p o s e h a s a l r e a d y b e e n a l l o t t e d t o t h e C e n t r a l B i c o l S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y o f A g r i c u l t u r e i n P i l i a n d C a l a b a n g a , ” h e s a i d .
B o r d a d o a l s o s a i d t h a t t h e c o n v e r s i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d s i n t h e p a s t h a s a l s o d a m p e n e d t h e i n t e r e s t o f t h e f a r m i n g s e c t o r t o p u r s u e a g r i c u l t u r a l e n d e a v o r s .
“ O n e o f t h e b i g g e s t c h a l l e n g e s t h a t t h e a g r i c u l t u r e s e c t o r i s f a c i n g i s t h e c o n v e r s i o n o f f a r m l a n d s t o i n d u s t r i a l a r e a s a n d I s a l u t e t h e P r e s i d e n t f o r c o m i n g u p w i t h a n E x e c u t i v e O r d e r t o t e m p o r a r i l y h a l t t h e c o n v e r s i o n a l t h o u g h t h e r e a r e v a r i o u s s e c t o r s w h o a r e a g a i n s t i t , ” t h e s o l o n a d d e d .
P r e s i d e n t R o d r i g o R o a D u t e r t e i s s u e d a d i r e c t i v e f o r a t w o - y e a r m o r a t o r i u m o n t h e c o n v e r s i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d s d u r i n g h i s f i r s t P r e s i d e n t i a l A g r a r i a n R e f o r m C o u n c i l ( P A R C ) m e e t i n g h e l d l a s t S e p t e m b e r t h i s y e a r .
M a y o r J o h n B o n g a t o f N a g a C i t y a l s o a c k n o w l e d g e d t h e s i g n i f i c a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n o f f a r m e r s i n t h e l o c a l e c o n o m y , c i t i n g t h a t t h e B i c o l R e g i o n i s b a s i c a l l y a n a g r i c u l t u r a l a r e a . H e a l s o e n c o u r a g e d t h e f a r m e r s t o f o c u s o n s t r a t e g i c m a r k e t i n g o f t h e i r p r o d u c e .
B o n g a t s a i d t h a t t h e y i n t e n d t o d e v e l o p f a r m e r -b u s i n e s s m e n , n o t o n l y m e r e f a r m e r s w h o t i l l t h e l a n d b u t t h o s e w h o c a n m a n e u v e r a g o o d d e a l w i t h t h e c o n s u m e r s w h i l e e n s u r i n g a m o d e s t p r o f i t f o r t h e m .
“ S o o u r p r o p o s a l i n N a g a C i t y i s t o c o m e u p w i t h a d i a l o g u e b e t w e e n t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e a n d f a r m e r s , w h e r e t h e y c a n s t r a t e g i ze m a r k e t i n g o f t h e i r a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c e .
T h e c i t y m a y o r r e m i n d e d : “ P l e a s e s p e a k n o t a s f a r m e r s o n l y ; b u t a l s o s p e a k a s b u s i n e s s m e n . ”
BORDADO E N C O U R A G E S STUDENTS TO TAKE UP AGRICULTURE C O U R S E S
By ANA-LIZA S. MACATANGAY
GABBY BORDADO JR.
TH E c i t y g o v e r n m e n t h e r e h a s r e - s t r a t e g i z e d i t s r e i n t e g r a t i o n p r o g r a m f o r i l l e g a l d r u g u s e r s a n d d e a l e r s t o m a k e i t m o r e a c c e s s i b l e t o e v e r y o n e w h o w i s h e s t o a c h i e v e a h e a l t h y a n d p r o d u c t i v e l i f e i n t h e c o m m u n i t y .
Th e n e e d t o r e - s t r a t e g i z e c a m e a f t e r s o m e s n a g s c r o p p e d u p i n t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t ’ s r e i n t e g r a t i o n p r o g r a m c a l l e d Sa l v a r B u h a y , w h i c h c a n b e t r a c e d f r o m t h e s u r r e n d e r e r s ’w e a k p a r t i c i p a t i o n , l i k e t h e n o n - a p p e a r a n c e o f l a r g e n u m b e r o f d r u g p e r s o n a l i t i e s i n s p i r i t u a l c o u n s e l i n g s e s s i o n s a n d v a l u e s - f o r m a t i o n s e m i n a r s a d m i n i s t e r e d b y t h e m e m b e r s o f N a t i o n a l A u x i l i a r y Ch a p l a i n c y Ph i l i p p i n e , I n c . ( N A CPHI L ) .
A l s o a s i g n i f i c a n t n u m b e r o f d r u g p e r s o n a l i t i e s w h o w e r e a m o n g t h o s e w h o s u r r e n d e r e d i n J u l y 2 0 1 6 w e r e f o u n d t o h a v e r e t u r n e d t o t h e i r o l d w a y s i n t r a d i n g a n d u s i n g a g a i n t h e i l l e g a l d r u g s .
A g r o u p o f p e r s o n n e l f r o m t h e N a g a Ci t y D a n g e r o u s D r u g s B o a r d ( N CD D B ) , a l o n g w i t h s t u d e n t s o f t h e Ci t y Co l l e g e o f N a g a a n d e m p l o y e e s o f Ci t y So c i a l W e l f a r e a n d D e v e l o p m e n t Of f i c e ( CSW D O)
THE N A G A C I T Y RE I N TE G R A T I ON A G E N D A
A LIGHT AT THE TUNNEL’S END FOR
DRUG SURRENDERERS
N A G A ’ S S A L V A R B U H A Y :
By JASON B. NEOLA
Of 2 , 1 6 1 d r u g p e r s o n a l i t i e s w h o s u r r e n d e r e d t o t h e N CD D B a n d t h e N a g a Ci t y Po l i c e Of f i c e ( N CPO) i n J u l y , t h i s y e a r , o n l y 5 4 5 o f t h e m h a d v o l u n t a r i l y s u b m i t t e d f o r a d r u g t e s t c o n d u c t e d l a s t m o n t h . Th e r e s u l t : 1 1 0 o r 2 0 % o f t h o s e w h o t o o k t h e t e s t w e r e f o u n d t o b e p o s i t i v e o f s h a b u ( m e t h a m p h e t a m i n e h y d r o c h l o r i d e ) .
“ Th e r e s u l t i s q u i t e d i s t u r b i n g a n d w e c a n s a y t h a t i t h a s a t e n d e n c y t o g o f a r t h e r u p w a r d i n c l u d i n g t h e n u m b e r o f t h o s e w h o r e f u s e d t o u n d e r g o t h e t e s t i f w e w i l l n o t a c t a l o n g w i t h o u r p a r t n e r a g e n c i e s , ” s a y s J o s e I m p o r t a n t e , e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r o f N CD D B .
N CD B B i s a s p e c i a l b o d y t a s k e d t o c o o r d i n a t e a n d i m p l e m e n t t h e v a r i o u s p r o j e c t s a n d a c t i vi t i e s o f t h e c i t y ’ s c o m p r e h e n s i v e a n t i - d r u g a b u s e p r o g r a m . I t w a s c r e a t e d b y Ci t y Or d i n a n c e 2 0 0 1 - 0 6 4
w h i c h w a s a u t h o r e d b y M a y o r J o h n G . B o n g a t w h e n h e w a s s t i l l c i t y c o u n c i l o r .
Th e m a y o r , w h o d e vi s e d t h e Sa l v a r B u h a y p r o g r a m i n J u n e , t h i s y e a r , h a s p r e s e n t e d a n u m b e r o f i n t e r v e n t i o n s d u r i n g a n a s s e s s m e n t m e e t i n g l a s t w e e k a s p a r t o f r e - s t r a t e g i z i n g t h e p r o g r a m w i t h N CD D B p e r s o n n e l a n d t h e c o n c e r n e d Ci t y Ha l l o f f i c i a l s .
I m p o r t a n t e s a i d a m o n g t h e s e i n t e r v e n t i o n s , w h i c h a r e d e s i g n e d t o r e s o l v e t h e p r o b l e m , s h a l l b e u n d e r t a k e n b y w a y o f :
• Co n v e n i n g t h e c i t y ’ s 2 7 b a r a n g a y c o u n c i l s b e f o r e t h e e n d o f t h i s y e a r w h e r e i n
c o n d u c t e d i n t e r vi e w s w i t h s u r r e n d e r e r s t o e s t a b l i s h t h e l e v e l o f t h e i r a d d i c t i o n . Th e y w e r e t r a i n e d b y t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f He a l t h ( D OH) f o r t h i s s p e c i f i c t a s k .
Th e c a t a l o g u i n g o f s u r r e n d e r e r s i n t o m i l d , m o d e r a t e o r s e v e r e c a s e s i s i m p o r t a n t a s i t w o u l d b e u s e d a s b a s i s i n d e t e r m i n i n g t h e d e g r e e o r e x t e n t o f a s s i s t a n c e t h e y n e e d u n d e r t h e p r o g r a m . D r u g u s e r s a n d /o r p u s h e r s c a t e g o r i z e d i n t o “ s e v e r e ” s h a l l b e c o m m i t t e d t o a n i n - p a t i e n t t r e a t m e n t a n d r e h a b i l i t a t i o n l i k e t h a t b e i n g o f f e r e d b y t h e Ca m a r i n e s Su r Tr e a t m e n t a n d Re h a b i l i t a t i o n Ce n t e r i n B a r a n g a y Pa m u k i d , Sa n Fe r n a n d o , Ca m a r i n e s Su r .
I n t h i s c i t y , t h e p r o g r a m w a s a b l e t o i d e n t i f y 6 2 d r u g s u r r e n d e r e r s t o b e i n “ s e v e r e ” c a s e s w h i l e 6 8 i n “ m i l d ” a n d 5 4 i n “ m o d e r a t e ” s t a g e .
c o m m i t m e n t d o c u m e n t s w i l l b e s i g n e d .• Co m i n g u p w i t h a d a t a b a n k o f a l l t h e
s u r r e n d e r e r s ’ p r o f i l e a s b e n e f i c i a r i e s o f t h e p r o g r a m
• Co n d u c t i n g r e i n t e g r a t i o n s u m m i t i n t h e b a r a n g a y s w i t h j o b f a i r s , f r e e d e n t a l a n d m e d i c a l s e r vi c e s , m a s s w e d d i n g , s i n g i n g c o m p e t i t i o n a n d p a r l o r g a m e s .
• Pr o vi d i n g t h e s u r r e n d e r e r s w i t h s k i l l s t r a i n i n g
Sa l v a r B u h a y i s t h e r e i n t e g r a t i o n p r o g r a m o f t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t o f N a g a t h a t p r o vi d e s f o r a s y s t e m a t i c a n d c o o r d i n a t e d p r o c e s s i n g o f i n d i vi d u a l s w h o v o l u n t a r i l y s u b m i t t e d t h e m s e l v e s a s i l l e g a l d r u g u s e r s a n d / o r p e d d l e r s . I t i s o p e r a t i n g a s o n e c o m p o n e n t o f t h e d r u g s b o a r d , w h i c h i s t h e e a r l y i n t e r v e n t i o n , r e h a b i l i t a t i o n , a n d a f t e r c a r e c o m m i t t e e .
I m p o r t a n t e s a i d u n d e r t h e Sa l v a r B u h a y p r o g r a m , t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t w a s a b l e t o i n i t i a t e p r o p e r d o c u m e n t a t i o n o f d r u g p e r s o n a l i t i e s w h o s u b m i t t e d t h e m s e l v e s v o l u n t a r i l y t o t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t a n d t h e l o c a l p o l i c e , a n d c a m e u p w i t h c o o r d i n a t e e f f o r t s o f v a r i o u s r e l e v a n t d e p a r t m e n t s a n d a g e n c i e s i n v o l v e d i n t h e p r o c e s s ; a n d i m p l e m e n t a p e r i o d i c c o m p r e h e n s i v e i n t e r v e n t i o n
p r o g r a m f o r t h e r e i n t e g r a t i o n o f s u r r e n d e r e r s a s p r o d u c t i v e m e m b e r s o f t h e s o c i e t y .
B o n g a t s a i d t h e c i t y c a n n o t a f f o r d t o j u s t c o m e u p w i t h t h e p r o f i l e o f s u r r e n d e r e r s , a n d c o l l a t e / c o o r d i n a t e f o r t h e d i f f e r e n t d e v e l o p m e n t p r o g r a m s f r o m c o n c e r n e d g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s . “ W e h a v e t o e n s u r e t h a t e v e r y e f f o r t c o u n t s i n s o f a r a s o u r m a n d a t e t o p r o vi d e t h e m [ s u r r e n d e r e r s ] w i t h o p p o r t u n i t i e s a n d a w e l l - b a l a n c e d l i f e i s c o n c e r n e d , ” s a y s B o n g a t .
Un d e r t h e p r o g r a m , t h e s u r r e n d e r e r s , w h o a r e m o s t l y f r o m t h e l o w e r s t r a t a o f s o c i e t y , a r e a d vi s e d t o r e p o r t t w i c e a w e e k t o t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e L G U- b a r a n g a y f o r p r o p e r u p d a t i n g . A p s y c h o - s o c i a l c o u n s e l i n g w i l l b e c o n d u c t e d b y t h e B a n t a y - Fa m i l i a h e a d e d b y Ci t y Co u n c i l o r Ce c i l i a V e l u z - D e A s i s a s i d e f r o m t h e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n l e c t u r e s t o b e c o n d u c t e d b y t h e Ci t y He a l t h Of f i c e a n d t h e N a g a Ci t y Po p u l a t i o n a n d N u t r i t i o n Of f i c e .
PHOTO B Y R E Y N A L D O B A Y L O N
PHOTO B Y SYLRANJELVIC VILLAFLOR
PHOTOS B Y PHOTOS B Y PHOTOS B Y SYLRANJELVIC VILLAFLORPHOTOS B Y PHOTOS B Y PHOTOS B Y REYNALDO BAYLON
37 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 38
g o v e r n m e n t ’ s c o u n t e r p a r t i s P1 , 0 8 0 , 0 0 0 . L a l a i n e A l f o r t e o f t h e Ci t y A g r i c u l t u r e Of f i c e , w h o i s t a s k e d t o c o o r d i n a t e w i t h t h e B a r a n g a y A g r i c u l t u r e Te c h n i c i a n s ( B A Ts ) f o r t h e p r o j e c t , s a i d t h a t i n i t i a l 6 7 5 f a m i l i e s a r e t o b e p r o vi d e d w i t h v a r i o u s g a r d e n i n g e q u i p m e n t a n d o t h e r m a t e r i a l s t o s u p p o r t t h e i r h o u s e h o l d g a r d e n s l i k e 4 m o b i l e s h r e d d i n g m a c h i n e s , 1 3 , 5 0 0 p c s o f p o l y b a g s ( 1 0 x 1 0 x 1 6 ) a n d 2 7 , 0 0 0 p c s p o l y b a g s ( 5 x 5 x 1 0 ) , 3 , 2 4 0 s a c k s o f r i c e h u l l , 1 , 0 8 0 s a c k s o f c h i c k e n m a n u r e , 2 1 6 m 3 g a r d e n s o i l , 6 7 5 h a n d s p r a y e r , 7 6 5 h a n d t o o l s f o r g a r d e n i n g a m o u n t i n g t o 5 0 0 b e n e f i c i a r i e s , a n d v a r i o u s v e g e t a b l e s e e d s l i k e s w e e t a n d g l u t i n o u s c o r n s , c a s s a v a a n d s w e e t p o t a t o e s .
Ea c h o f t h e c i t y ’ s 2 7 b a r a n g a y s , t o b e a b l e t o
e s t a b l i s h t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e s e e d l i n g n u r s e r y , h a s b e e n
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i n s i z e a n d 2 , 7 0 0 p o l y b a g s o f 5 x 5 x 1 0
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2 7 0 s a c k s o f c h i c k e n
m a n u r e ,
PR O M O T I N G a d v o c a c y o n u r b a n g a r d e n i n g , M a y o r J o h n G . B o n g a t c a l l e d o n b a r a n g a y o f f i c i a l s a n d v o l u n t e e r s t o p u r s u e f o o d p r o d u c t i o n a g g r e s s i v e l y “ d e s p i t e l i m i t e d s p a c e s o r a b s e n c e o f v a c a n t l o t s i n o u r n e i g h b o r h o o d w h e r e w e c a n g r o w p l a n t s . ”
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t r a i n i n g o n i n t e g r a t e d c o m m u n i t y f o o d p r o d u c t i o n ( I CFP) p r o j e c t .
Th i s c i t y h a s i d e n t i f i e d I CFP t o b e o n e o f i t s p r i o r i t y p r o j e c t s w h i c h w a s a b l e t o o b t a i n f u n d i n g f o r i t s i m p l e m e n t a t i o n f r o m t h e N a t i o n a l A n t i - Po v e r t y Co m m i s s i o n ( N A PC) u n d e r t h e 2 0 1 5 B o t t o m - Up B u d g e t i n g ( B UB ) p r o c e s s .
M a y o r B o n g a t ’ s Ex e c u t i v e Or d e r N o . 2 0 1 5 - 0 1 0 , w h i c h e s t a b l i s h e s t h e I n t e g r a t e d Co m m u n i t y Fo o d Pr o d u c t i o n Co m m i t t e e a n d Te c h n i c a l W o r k i n g G r o u p , s t a t e d t h e I CFP a i m s t o a l l e vi a t e , i f n o t e l i m i n a t e , h u n g e r , a n d r e d u c e t h e i n c i d e n c e o f m a l n u t r i t i o n o f c h i l d r e n i n 6 7 5 t a r g e t f a m i l i e s r e s i d i n g i n t h e c i t y ’ s l e a s t e c o n o m i c a l l y r e s i l i e n t c o m m u n i t i e s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e w i t h h i g h i n c i d e n c e o f m a l n u t r i t i o n .
Th e f u n d s o u r c e d f r o m t h e N A PC i s P1 . 8 - M a n d t h e c i t y
UP IN ARMS. Mayor John Bongat inspires barangay o cials and volunteers to promote urban gardening in the community. Photo shows the city mayor (2nd from right) holding a rake along with some of the recipients of different gardening tools which were distributed after they completed the training on integrated community food production proj ect. To his right is Tabuco Barangay K agawad L eticia P. C oncha, chairman of the committees on agriculture and environment, and health and nutrition.
IN MAOGMANG LUGAR
CITY PUSHES GARDENING WITH
BANDWAGON EFFECT
5 4 m 3 g a r d e n s o i l , 2 7 b a c k p a c k s p r a y e r , 2 7 w h e e l b a r r o w s , 2 7 s h o v e l s , 2 7 r a k e s , 2 7 p i c k s ( p i k o ) , 2 7 h o e ( a s a d a ) a n d v a r i o u s v e g e t a b l e s e e d s .
I n h i s m e s s a g e , t h e c i t y m a y o r d a r e d t h e c o m m u n i t y w o r k e r s t o b e
c r e a t i v e i n p u r s u i n g u r b a n a n d / o r b a c k y a r d g a r d e n i n g b y u s i n g p l a s t i c b a g s ( p o l y b a g s ) a s c o n t a i n e r s w h e r e h e r b a l a n d v e g e t a b l e p l a n t s c a n b e n u r t u r e d .
He e n c o u r a g e d e v e r y o n e i n t h e b a r a n g a y s t o b e c o m e s t r o n g a d v o c a t e s o f t h e c i t y ’ s c a m p a i g n o n f o o d p r o d u c t i o n n o t o n l y b e c a u s e i t w o u l d h e l p t h e m r e d u c e t h e i r d a i l y e x p e n s e s f o r f o o d b u t a l s o b r i n g t o t h e b a r a n g a y s t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s c a m p a i g n a g a i n s t m a l n u t r i t i o n .
Th e h e a d o f t h e Ci t y Po p u l a t i o n a n d N u t r i t i o n Of f i c e , Te r e s i t a d e l Ca t i l l o , i s o n e o f t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e I n t e g r a t e d Co m m u n i t y Fo o d Pr o d u c t i o n Su b c o m m i t t e e ( I CFPS) u n d e r t h e L o c a l Po v e r t y Re d u c t i o n A c t i o n Te a m ( L PRA T) w h i c h i s h e a d e d b y t h e c i t y m a y o r a s c h a i r p e r s o n a n d D r . A u g u s t o N i e v e s , c o - c h a i r p e r s o n . Ot h e r m e m b e r s o f t h e s u b c o m m i t t e e : Ci t y Co u n c i l o r Ce c i l i a D e A s i s , c h a i r p e r s o n o f t h e Sa n g g u n i a n g Pa n l u n g s o d Co m m i t t e e o n A g r i c u l t u r e , Ci t y A g r i c u l t u r e Of f i c e r M a r i a Ed n a B o n g a l o n t a , OI C Ci t y So c i a l W e l f a r e D e v e l o p m e n t Of f i c e r A n n a b e l V a r g a s , a n d 3 c i vi l s o c i e t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s .
“ L e t ’ s c r e a t e a b a n d w a g o n e f f e c t o n t h i s [ f o o d
p r o d u c t i o n ] c a m p a i g n s o t h a t t h e e n t i r e n e i g h b o r h o o d i n y o u r b a r a n g a y s c a n p a r t i c i p a t e a n d b e o f h e l p i n d e v e l o p i n g a p r o g r a m t h a t w i l l i n t e n s i f y a n d s u s t a i n u r b a n a g r i c u l t u r e t o w a r d s c l e a n e r a n d h e a l t h i e r c o m m u n i t i e s , ” s a y s B o n g a t .
I n t h i s u n d e r t a k i n g , t h e N A PC w i l l p r o vi d e
t e c h n i c a l a s s i s t a n c e o r t r a n s f e r o f t e c h n o l o g y f r o m N A PC t e c h n i c a l c o n s u l t a n t s t o t h e I CFP t e a m s i n c l u d i n g t h e h o l d i n g o f c a p a b i l i t y -b u i l d i n g a c t i vi t i e s , M OA s i g n i n g b e t w e e n N A PC, L G Us / L PRA TS, m o n i t o r i n g a n d e v a l u a t i o n , s u m m i n g u p c o n f e r e n c e , a n d d o c u m e n t a t i o n o f g o o d p r a c t i c e s a n d c h a l l e n g e s .
Pr o j e c t a c t i vi t i e s a t t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t a n d L PRA T’ s l e v e l a r e t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f B A Ts a n d t h e i r e n d o r s e m e n t t o t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e Pu n o n g B a r a n g a y s f o r a p p o i n t m e n t b a s e d o n t h e i r w i l l i n g n e s s a n d b a s i c k n o w l e d g e o n a g r i c u l t u r e , i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f b e n e f i c i a r i e s , c o n d u c t o f o r i e n t a t i o n , g a t h e r i n g o f e n r o l m e n t f o r m s , o r i e n t a t i o n a n d p l a n n i n g w o r k s h o p w i t h t h e p r o j e c t p a r t i c i p a n t s , a n d a d m i n i s t e r i n g a l l b e n e f i c i a r i e s w i t h b a s e l i n e s u r v e y u s i n g N A PC t o o l .
PHOTOS B Y PHOTOS B Y PHOTOS B Y REYNALDO BAYLON
39 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 40
By JASON B. NEOLA
TH E B i c o l M e d i c a l Ce n t e r ( B M C) , t h e b i g g e s t o f i t s k i n d b a s e d i n t h i s c i t y , w i l l s o o n e s t a b l i s h a Te e n W e l l n e s s Ce n t e r t o c a t e r t o t h e n e e d s o f t e e n a g e m o t h e r s a n d i m p l e m e n t p r o g r a m s t h a t w i l l h e l p p r e v e n t c a s e s o f t e e n a g e p r e g n a n c y n o t o n l y i n Ca m a r i n e s Su r b u t a l s o i n t h e e n t i r e B i c o l r e g i o n .
I n a m u l t i - s e c t o r a l f o r u m h e l d a t t h e B M C A m p h i t h e a t e r h e r e l a s t Oc t o b e r 1 3 , D r . A n n a L i z a V i l g e r a - A b a i n z a , B M C Te e n W e l l n e s s Ce n t e r Pr o g r a m c o o r d i n a t o r , s t a t e d t h a t 1 0 % o r 1 i n 1 0 g i r l s a g e d 1 5 - 1 9 y e a r s o l d b e g a n c h i l d b e a r i n g , 8 % a r e m o t h e r s , 2 % a r e p r e g n a n t w i t h t h e i r f i r s t c h i l d , a c c o r d i n g t o d a t a p r o vi d e d b y t h e N a t i o n a l D e m o g r a p h i c & He a l t h Su r v e y i n 2 0 1 4 .
He a l t h p e r s o n n e l o f t h e B i c o l M e d i c a l Ce n t e r ( B M C) a t t e n d t o 5 - 1 0 p r e g n a n t t e e n s d a i l y a t t h e Ou t - Pa t i e n t D e p a r t m e n t ( OPD ) a l o n e , A b a i n z a s a i d .
Sh e f u r t h e r s t a t e d t h a t i t w a s B M C’ s o v e r - a l l g o a l t o t r a n s f o r m t h e r e g i o n a l h o s p i t a l i n t o a n a d o l e s c e n t f r i e n d l y fa c i l i t y w i t h t h e m a i n o b j e c t i v e o f d e f i n i n g a f u l l y - o p e r a t i o n a l i z e d t e e n c l i n i c t h a t w i l l p r o vi d e c o m p r e h e n s i v e A d o l e s c e n t Y o u t h Re p r o d u c t i v e He a l t h ( A Y RH) s e r vi c e s t o t e e n m o m s .
I t w a s n o t e d t h a t t e e n a g e p r e g n a n c y r a t e h a s d o u b l e d f r o m 6 . 3 p e r c e n t i n 2 0 0 2 t o 1 3 . 6 p e r c e n t i n 2 0 1 3 , b a s e d o n t h e 2 0 1 3 N a t i o n a l D e m o g r a p h i c He a l t h Su r v e y .
D r . M a r i a Es t r e l l a L i t a m , B M C m e d i c a l c h i e f , a l s o a c k n o w l e d g e d t h e r i s i n g c a s e s o f t e e n a g e p r e g n a n c y a n d e x p r e s s e d h e r f u l l s u p p o r t t o t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f Te e n W e l l n e s s Ce n t e r .
To c o m e u p w i t h a h o l i s t i c a p p r o a c h i n e f f e c t i v e l y i m p l e m e n t i n g t h e p r o g r a m , B M C h a s p a r t n e r e d w i t h t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f He a l t h ( D OH) a n d He a l t h Po l i c y D e v e l o p m e n t Pr o g r a m o f t h e UP Ec o n e v e n a s i t e n t e r e d i n t o c o n t r a c t w i t h t h e N a g a Co l l e g e Fo u n d a t i o n ( N CF) t o e x p e d i t e p r o j e c t i m p l e m e n t a t i o n a f t e r u n d e r g o i n g t h e r e q u i r e d b i d d i n g a n d a w a r d s o f t h e p r o p o s e d f a c i l i t y .
L i t a m s a i d a m o n g t h e s e r vi c e s t h a t w i l l b e p r o vi d e d b y t h e c e n t e r a r e a Te e n Pr e g n a n c y p a c k a g e , Se x u a l l y Tr a n s m i t t e d I n f e c t i o n s / HI V p a c k a g e s , a n d r e f e r r a l p r o g r a m s i n c l o s e c o o r d i n a t i o n w i t h v a r i o u s g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s l i k e t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f Ed u c a t i o n ( D e p Ed ) , D e p a r t m e n t o f L a b o r a n d Em p l o y m e n t ( D OL E) , D e p a r t m e n t o f Tr a d e a n d I n d u s t r y ( D TI ) , Te c h n i c a l Ed u c a t i o n Sk i l l s D e v e l o p m e n t a n d A u t h o r i t y ( TESD A ) , a n d Ph i l He a l t h .
Sh e a d d e d t h a t s o m e o f t h e s e r vi c e s m a y i n c l u d e e d u c a t i o n a l a s s i s t a n c e , l i v e l i h o o d , j o b p l a c e m e n t , t r a i n i n g s a n d Ph i l He a l t h f a c i l i t a t i o n .
Th e f o r u m w a s a t t e n d e d b y m o r e t h a n 1 3 0 p a r t i c i p a n t s c o m i n g f r o m v a r i o u s l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t u n i t s , a c a d e m e , y o u t h o r g a n i z a t i o n s , n o n - g o v e r n m e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s , B M C o f f i c i a l s a n d h e a l t h p e r s o n n e l , m e m b e r s o f t h e m e d i a , a n d o t h e r s t a k e h o l d e r s .
BMC TO PUT UP TEEN WELLNESS CENTERBy ANA-LIZA S. MACATANGAY
A R E S O L U T I O N b y t h e Sa n g g u n i a n g Pa n g l u n s o d h e a d e d b y i t s p r e s i d i n g o f f i c e r , V i c e M a y o r N e l s o n L e g a c i o n , w a s p a s s e d c o m m e n d i n g t h e N a g a Ci t y D i s t r i c t J a i l a n d i t s J a i l W a r d e n , Ch i e f I n s p e c t o r M e l t z M i l t o n Pl a c e n c i a , f o r h a vi n g b e e n a w a r d e d a s t h e 2 0 1 6 D i s t r i c t J a i l o f t h e Y e a r a n d 2 0 1 6 J a i l W a r d e n o f t h e Y e a r , r e s p e c t i v e l y .
Co n f e r m e n t o f t h e a w a r d w a s m a d e e a r l i e r o n J u l y 1 , 2 0 1 6 , a t A n g B a h a y n g A l u m n i , Un i v e r s i t y o f t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s , D i l i m a n Q u e z o n Ci t y .
Th e a n n u a l s e a r c h a i m s t o p r o m o t e t h e m o r a l e o f t h e j a i l o f f i c e r s b y h i g h l i g h t i n g t h e i r n o t a b l e d e e d s , a c h i e v e m e n t s a n d c o n t r i b u t i o n i n t h e f u r t h e r a n c e o f t h e b u r e a u ’ s m a n d a t e .
Th e N a g a Ci t y D i s t r i c t J a i l h a s b e e n c i t e d f o r i n t r o d u c i n g p r o g r a m s c o n c e r n i n g s a f e t y a n d s e c u r i t y i n s i d e t h e j a i l , i n c l u d i n g a s m o k e - f r e e r u l e i n s i d e t h e o f f i c e , a n d i m p r o vi n g t h e o v e r a l l o p e r a t i o n o f t h e c i t y j a i l w h e r e Pl a c e n c i a h a s s h o w n e x c e l l e n c e i n l e a d e r s h i p a n d d e d i c a t i o n i n h i s w o r k .
“ M a j o r i t y o f t h e a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s o f t h e N a g a Ci t y D i s t r i c t J a i l i s o n t h e l o g i s t i c s , w h i c h m a i n l y c o m e f r o m t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t , ” Pa l e n c i a s a i d .
Th e SP r e s o l u t i o n h o n o r i n g t h e d i s t r i c t j a i l a n d i t s w a r d e n w a s s p o n s o r e d b y Ci t y Co u n c i l o r El m e r B a l d o m e r o .
TOP WARDEN. J/SUPT. MELTZ MILTON PLACENCIA is being congratulated by Naga City officials for being named as Jail Warden of the Year and the Naga City District Jail as the best in the country.
WARDEN HONORED AS THE YEAR’S BEST
By ARMIE B. GUNAY
NAGA DISTRICT JAIL
PHOTO B Y PHOTO B Y PHOTO B Y SYLRANJELVIC VILLAFLOR
41 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 42
TH E N a g a Ci t y G o v e r n m e n t i s u n d e r t a k i n g t h e r e p a i r o f 5 h e a l t h c e n t e r s i n t h e b a r a n g a y s f o r t h e m t o b e a b l e t o a d m i t m o t h e r s w h o a r e a b o u t t o d e l i v e r b a b i e s .Th e h e a l t h c e n t e r s i n t h e u p l a n d b a r a n g a y s o f D e l Ro s a r i o ,
Ca r a r a y a n , Ca r o l i n a , Sa n I s i d r o a n d Pa n i c u a s o n a r e u n d e r g o i n g m a j o r r e p a i r s f r o m t h e P1 . 5 M f u n d s o u r c e d f r o m t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f He a l t h t h r u t h e b o t t o m - u p b u d g e t i n g ( B UB ) s c h e m e a n d P1 M a l l o c a t e d b y t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t o f N a g a .
Th e r e p a i r s a r e b e i n g i m p l e m e n t e d t o m a k e t h e b a r a n g a y
ON CHILDBIRTH DELIVERY NAGA TO REDUCE
SITUATIONS OF MATERNAL-INFANT DEATHS
h e a l t h c e n t e r s c a p a b l e i n h a n d l i n g c h i l d b i r t h d e l i v e r i e s .Th e p h y s i c a l i m p r o v e m e n t i s j u s t a t i p o f t h e i c e b e r g a s M a y o r
J o h n G . B o n g a t ’ s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i s p u r s u i n g t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f s u c h c e n t e r s i n t h e c i t y ’ s 2 7 b a r a n g a y s w i t h a n e n d v i e w o f r e d u c i n g , i f n o t t o t a l l y e l i m i n a t i n g , t h e g r o w i n g c a s e s o f i n f a n t a n d m a t e r n a l m o r t a l i t y .
Th e c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d o p e r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f Ou r L a d y o f L o u r d e s I n f i r m a r y i n B a r a n g a y Ca r o l i n a , w h i c h p r o v i d e s s e r v i c e s o n v a r i o u s m e d i c a l c a s e s i n t h e c i t y ’ s u p p e r b a r a n g a y s , a l s o c o m e s a s t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t ’ s a p p r o a c h t o f i g h t i n c i d e n c e o f c h i l d b i r t h m o r t a l i t y .
Th e 2 0 0 9 St a t e o f t h e W o r l d ’ s Ch i l d r e n Re p o r t b y t h e Un i t e d N a t i o n s Ch i l d r e n ’ s Fu n d ( UN I CEF) s a i d t h a t t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s i s a m o n g t h e c o u n t r i e s t h a t p o s t e d h i g h e s t i n c i d e n c e s o f m a t e r n a l a n d i n f a n t d e a t h s .
Ch i l d b i r t h d e l i v e r y i n h o m e s e x p o s e s m o t h e r s a n d t h e i r i n f a n t s t o c o m p l i c a t i o n s a n d i n f e c t i o n s t h a t m a y l e a d t o d e a t h o r s e r i o u s i l l n e s s e s .
Ci t y He a l t h Of f i c e r B u t c h B o r j a , M . D . , d u r i n g a m e e t i n g o f t h e N a g a Ci t y He a l t h B o a r d , s a i d t h a t t h e l e a d i n g c a u s e s o f i n f a n t m o r t a l i t y a r e s e p s i s , p r e m a t u r i t y , r e s p i r a t o r y d i s t r e s s s y n d r o m e , c o n g e n i t a l a n o m a l y , a n d a s p h y x i a n e o n a t o r u m w h i c h c a n b e a t t r i b u t e d t o u n s a f e a n d u n c l e a n e n v i r o n m e n t e s p e c i a l l y w h e n d e l i v e r y i s n o t a s s i s t e d b y s k i l l e d h e a l t h p r o f e s s i o n a l s .
A c c o r d i n g t o t h e 2 0 0 8 N a t i o n a l D e m o g r a p h i c a n d He a l t h Su r v e y , a r o u n d 3 6 % o f b i r t h s i n t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s w h e r e d e l i v e r e d u n d e r t h e s u p e r v i s i o n o f t r a d i t i o n a l b i r t h a t t e n d a n t s ( TB A s ) o r p a r t e r a / h i l o t .
TH E N a g a Ci t y G o v e r n m e n t , t h r u i t s Ci t y V e t e r i n a r y Of f i c e , w a s r e c e n t l y a d j u d g e d “ B e s t L G U Ra b i e s Pr o g r a m I m p l e m e n t e r ” b y t h e N a t i o n a l Ra b i e s Pr e v e n t i o n a n d Co n t r o l Co m m i t t e e ( N RPCC) o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f
A g r i c u l t u r e - B u r e a u o f A n i m a l I n d u s t r y ( D A - B A I ) .
Th e a w a r d w a s r e c e i v e d d u r i n g t h e c e l e b r a t i o n o f t h e W o r l d Ra b i e s D a y t h i s y e a r , a t t h e Fe r t i l i z e r a n d Pe s t i c i d e s A u t h o r i t y ( FPA ) Co n f e r e n c e Ha l l , FPA B u i l d i n g , B u r e a u o f A n i m a l I n d u s t r y i n D i l i m a n , Q u e z o n Ci t y .
I n h i s l e t t e r t o M a y o r J o h n G . B o n g a t , N RPCC c h a i r Si m e o n S. A m u r a o J r . s a i d t h e a w a r d w a s g i v e n t o r e c o g n i z e t h e e f f o r t s o f N a g a Ci t y “ f o r i t s e x c e l l e n t i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e Ra b i e s Pr e v e n t i o n a n d Co n t r o l Pr o g r a m i n y o u r c o m m u n i t y . ”
Ci t y V e t e r i n a r i a n J u n i o s El a d J r . s a i d N a g a h a s c o m e u p w i t h p o s i t i v e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e N RPCC p r o g r a m a g a i n s t r a b i e s b e c a u s e o f i t s s t e p p e d - u p c a m p a i g n o n h o u s e - t o - h o u s e a n t i -r a b i e s v a c c i n a t i o n w h i c h w a s p u s h e d w i t h o u t l e t - u p b y h i s o f f i c e f r o m J a n u a r y - J u l y 2 0 1 6 .
El a d s a i d t h a t t h e y a r e a l s o d o i n g “ a v e r y t o u g h a n d t a x i n g j o b ” a g a i n s t s t r a y d o g s w h e r e i n CV O’ s m a l e p e r s o n n e l h a v e t o
w a k e u p b y 3 : 0 0 o ’ c l o c k i n t h e m o r n i n g f o r a t l e a s t t h r i c e a w e e k t o i m p o u n d s t r a y d o g s .
N a g a w a s a m o n g t h e c i t i e s a n d m u n i c i p a l i t i e s i n A l b a y , Ca m a r i n e s N o r t e , a n d Ca m a r i n e s Su r c h o s e n a s p i l o t a r e a s f o r t h e 3 - y e a r p r o g r a m o f t h e B u r e a u o f
A n i m a l I n d u s t r y o n r a b i e s e l i m i n a t i o n i n t h e B i c o l Re g i o n .
A m o n g t h e p r o g r a m ’ s m o r e t h a n a h u n d r e d L G U-p a r t i c i p a n t s , t h e Ci t y o f N a g a w a s c h o s e n t o b e t h e b e s t L G U r a b i e s p r o g r a m i m p l e m e n t e r a f t e r i t a c h i e v e d t h e h i g h e s t s c o r e i n a l l t h e 4 c r i t e r i a o f t h e p r o g r a m c a l l e d S. T. O. P. , w h i c h s t a n d s f o r So c i a l , Te c h n i c a l , Or g a n i z a t i o n a l , a n d Po l i t i c a l a s p e c t s o f t h e p r o g r a m .
El a d s a i d i n s o c i a l a s p e c t , t h e N RPCC w a s c o n vi n c e d t h a t t h e c i t y a c h i e v e d a n i m p r e s s i v e p e r f o r m a n c e i n p u r s u i n g a s t r o n g i n f o r m a t i o n a n d e d u c a t i o n c a m p a i g n o n r a b i e s w h i l e i n t h e t e c h n i c a l s i d e , r e c o r d s s h o w t h a t N a g a h a s t h e m o s t n u m b e r o f d o g s v a c c i n a t e d w i t h a n t i -r a b i e s , h a s t h e m o s t n u m b e r o f s t r a y d o g s e l i m i n a t e d i n t h e s t r e e t s , a l o n g w i t h t h e h i g h s c o r e i t a c h i e v e d i n d o g a n d c a t p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l t h r u c a s t r a t i o n .
I n o r g a n i z a t i o n a l p h a s e , t h e c i t y h a s b e e n f o u n d t o h a v e v e r y a c t i v e c i t y a n d b a r a n g a y r a b i e s c o n t r o l c o m m i t t e e s , a n d i n p o l i t i c a l a s p e c t , t h e CV O m a i n t a i n s a w o r k i n g m e c h a n i s m o n r a b i e s e r a d i c a t i o n a n d c o n t r o l b y w a y o f p a s s i n g o r d i n a n c e s t h a t a r e b e i n g s t r i c t l y i m p l e m e n t e d .
Th e s e m e a s u r e s a r e Ci t y Or d i n a n c e s 2 0 0 6 - 0 2 5 , w h i c h r e g u l a t e s o w n e r s h i p , c a r e a n d u p k e e p o f a n i m a l s i n t h e c i t y ; a n d Ci t y Or d i n a n c e 2 0 0 3 - 0 8 0 , w h i c h m a n d a t e s r a b i e s c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s i n t h e c i t y o f N a g a , p r e s c r i b i n g p e n a l t i e s f o r vi o l a t i o n s t h e r e o f , o r g a n i z i n g t h e r a b i e s c o n t r o l c o u n c i l a n d d e f i n i n g i t s d u t i e s a n d f u n c t i o n s .
Th e t w o o r d i n a n c e s , a u t h o r e d b y Ci t y Co u n c i l o r s Sa l v a d o r d e l Ca s t i l l o a n d So n n y Ra ñ o l a , r e s p e c t i v e l y , a r e b e i n g u s e d a s l e g a l b a s i s b y t h e CV O i n p u r s u i n g t h e c a m p a i g n o n r a b i e s c o n t r o l a n d e r a d i c a t i o n .
N a g a m a r k s W o r l d Ra b i e s D a y w i t h a n a t i o n a l a w a r d
BEST ANTI-R BIES IMPLEMENTER
“ M a t e r n a l d e a t h s i n c r e a s e d t o 2 2 1 p e r 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 l i v e b i r t h s e v e r y y e a r i n t h e w o r l d , ” s a y s Ci t y Co u n c i l o r El m e r B a l d e m o r o a s h e q u o t e d t h e UN I CEF r e p o r t w h i c h h e c i t e d i n t h e r a t i o n a l e o f h i s p r o p o s e d o r d i n a n c e t h a t a i m s t o p r o h i b i t a n d p e n a l i z e t h e d e l i v e r y o f n e w b o r n c h i l d o u t s i d e D OH- a c c r e d i t e d b i r t h i n g c e n t e r s .
M a y o r B o n g a t ’ s p l a n a n d B a l d e m o r o ’ s p r o p o s e d m e a s u r e a r e t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t ’ s e f f o r t t o s u p p o r t t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f He a l t h ’ s c a l l f o r t h e t h o r o u g h i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e M a t e r n a l a n d N e w b o r n Ch i l d He a l t h a n d N u t r i t i o n s t r a t e g y w h i c h w a s e n a c t e d i n 2 0 1 4 .
Ci t y Co u n c i l o r So n n y Ra ñ o l a , M . D . , w h o c o - c h a i r s t h e h e a l t h b o a r d w i t h M a y o r B o n g a t , s a i d h e i s m o r e t h a n w i l l i n g t o p a r t n e r w i t h t h e l o c a l c h i e f e x e c u t i v e i n s e t t i n g u p m o r e b i r t h i n g c e n t e r s s o t h a t t h e p r o p o s e d m e a s u r e w o u l d e f f i c i e n t l y p a s s t h r o u g h t h e l e g i s l a t i v e p i p e l i n e .
“ Of c o u r s e , w e h a v e t o s e t u p f i r s t a n a d e q u a t e n u m b e r o f b i r t h i n g c e n t e r s b e f o r e w e c a n d i s c o u r a g e o r p r o h i b i t o u r c o n s t i t u e n t s f r o m u s i n g t h e i r h o m e s o r a n y o t h e r f a c i l i t y t h a t d o e s n o t l e g a l l y o p e r a t e a s b i r t h i n g c e n t e r s , ” s a i d Ra ñ o l a , w h o w o r k s a s h o s p i t a l m e d i c a l d i r e c t o r f o r a r o u n d 4 0 y e a r s n o w .
A n o t h e r t h i n g t h a t s h o u l d b e g i v e n c o n s i d e r a t i o n i n t h e d r a f t i n g o f t h e o r d i n a n c e i s t h e a l t e r n a t i v e s o u r c e o f i n c o m e t h a t w i l l b e g i v e n t o t h e p a r t e r a o r h i l o t w h o , f o r s u r e , w o u l d b e d i s l o c a t e d f i n a n c i a l l y o n c e t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e p r o p o s e d o r d i n a n c e c o m e s i n f u l l s w i n g , Ra ñ o l a a d d e d .
PHOTOS B Y PHOTOS B Y PHOTOS B Y JOSE COLLERA
By JASON B. NEOLA
By JASON B. NEOLA
43 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 44
45 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 46
TH E c i t y g o v e r n m e n t h e r e t h r u t h e N a g a Ci t y Ec o l o g y Pa r k B o t a n i c a l , Z o o l o g i c a l a n d Re c r e a t i o n a l Ce n t e r D e v e l o p m e n t ( B Z RCD ) Ta s k Fo r c e i s f i n a l i z i n g t h e b l u e p r i n t f o r t h e N a g a Ci t y
Ec o l o g i c a l Pa r k ’ s p h y s i c a l i m p r o v e m e n t t o e n s u r e i t s o p t i m a l u t i l i z a t i o n a s r e c r e a t i o n c e n t e r .
Th e p r o j e c t , w h i c h i s b e i n g p u r s u e d a s m a n d a t e d b y Ex e c u t i v e Or d e r 2 0 1 6 - 0 1 6 w h i c h w a s i s s u e d b y M a y o r J o h n G . B o n g a t o n J u n e 2 4 , t h i s y e a r , a i m s t o d e v e l o p t h e p r e s e n t p a r k i n t o N a g a Ci t y Ec o l o g y Pa r k B o t a n i c a l , Z o o l o g i c a l a n d Re c r e a t i o n Ce n t e r t o r e a l i z e i t s p o t e n t i a l b y d e v e l o p i n g a n d c o n v e r t i n g i t i n t o a n e c o n o m i c e n t e r p r i s e .
M a y o r B o n g a t s a i d t h a t t h e t a s k f o r c e i s c o m m i s s i o n e d t o d r a f t , c o n s o l i d a t e ,
a n d p r e s e n t p r o p o s a l s f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e f a c i l i t y t o
b e a b l e t o o f f e r r e c r e a t i o n a l a n d e d u c a t i o n a l b e n e f i t s t o t h e p e o p l e .
Th e Sp e c i a l Co n c e r n s Of f i c e ( SCO) a n d t h e Ci t y Pa r k s a n d Re c r e a t i o n a l
Fa c i l i t i e s M a n a g e m e n t Of f i c e ( CPRFM O) s a i d t h a t b y t h e f i r s t w e e k o f N o v e m b e r , t h i s
y e a r , t h e y w i l l p r e s e n t b e f o r e t h e Ci t y D e v e l o p m e n t Co u n c i l f o r i t s a p p r o v a l
t h e p r o p o s e d c o m p r e h e n s i v e s i t e d e v e l o p m e n t p l a n f o r t h e 3 - h e c t a r e N a g a Ci t y Ec o l o g y Pa r k .
TH E c i t y g o v e r n m e n t h e r e i s a d o p t i n g a s y s t e m t h a t w i l l p r o vi d e N a g u e ñ o s a m o r e e f f e c t i v e , i f n o t t h e b e s t , w a y t o
r e s p o n d t o n a t u r a l a n d m a n - m a d e r i s k s .
Th e p r o j e c t s e e k s t o e s t a b l i s h a n u p g r a d e d , u p - s c a l e d a n d i n t e g r a t e d d i s a s t e r a n d r i s k r e d u c t i o n m a n a g e m e n t s y s t e m a s m a n d a t e d b y a n o r d i n a n c e k n o w n a s t h e N a g a Ci t y I n t e g r a t e d Em e r g e n c y Re s p o n s e a n d Re s i l i e n c e Re s o u r c e A c t i o n Ce n t e r , o t h e r w i s e a b b r e vi a t e d a s N C I E3 RA C.
I n c o r p o r a t e d i n t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e N C I E3 RA C i s t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a m u l t i m i l l i o n - p e s o f a c i l i t y o r a c t i o n c e n t e r t h a t w i l l h o u s e a c e n t r a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n c e n t e r , t h e c o r e o f c o o r d i n a t i o n a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n s y s t e m t h a t w i l l b e e q u i p p e d w i t h t h e m o s t a d v a n c e d t e c h n o l o g y a v a i l a b l e .
Un d e r t h e o r d i n a n c e ’ s m a n a g e m e n t a n d c o o r d i n a t i o n p r o vi s i o n , t h e N C I E3 RA C w i l l b e m a n a g e d b y a c e n t r a l c o m m i t t e e o f r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m v a r i o u s s t a k e h o l d e r s ( g o v e r n m e n t a n d p r i v a t e ) , t o b e h e a d e d b y t h e l o c a l c h i e f e x e c u t i v e .
Fo u r d e v e l o p m e n t a n d c a p a b i l i t y -b u i l d i n g p r o g r a m c o m p o n e n t s w i l l a l s o b e e s t a b l i s h e d t o f u l f i l l i t s i n t e g r a t i v e , f o r w a r d -l o o k i n g , a n d m a n i f o l d f u n c t i o n a l i t y , e a c h t o b e s u p e r vi s e d b y a p r o g r a m m a n a g e r .
Th e s e c o m p o n e n t s a r e : o p e r a t i o n s , m a n a g e m e n t a n d r e s p o n s e c a p a b i l i t i e s , e q u i p m e n t a n d p h y s i c a l r e s o u r c e c a p a b i l i t i e s , t e c h n o l o g i c a l c a p a b i l i t i e s , a n d d i s a s t e r p r e p a r e d n e s s t r a i n i n g f o r c i t i z e n s a n d i n s t i t u t i o n s .
Th e P1 0 - M s t r u c t u r e w i l l a l s o a c c o m m o d a t e t h e c e n t r a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n c e n t e r ’ s s u b - c o m p o n e n t c a l l e d t h e Un i f i e d Ra p i d Re s p o n s e Te a m w h i c h i s c o m p o s e d
o f p e r s o n n e l f r o m d i f f e r e n t a g e n c i e s e a c h r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e p o l i c e , m e d i c a l a n d i n v e s t i g a t i v e , a n d t h a t o f o t h e r g r o u p o f p e r s o n n e l w h o c o m p o s e t h e s t a n d b y f o r c e t a s k e d t o r e s p o n d 2 4 / 7 t o a n y e m e r g e n c y s i t u a t i o n .
Th e f u n d s , w h i c h s h a l l b e s o u r c e d f r o m t h e L o c a l D i s a s t e r a n d Ri s k Re d u c t i o n M a n a g e m e n t , w i l l c o m e a s a n i n i t i a l a c c o u n t c o n s i d e r i n g t h e e x p e n s e s o n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f o t h e r i m p o r t a n t f a c i l i t i e s a h e a d .
A l s o e x i s t e n t i n t h e f a c i l i t y , w h i c h i s p r o p o s e d t o b e c o n s t r u c t e d e i t h e r a l o n g t h e A l m e d a Hi g h w a y o r i n s i d e t h e N a g a Ci t y Ci vi c Ce n t e r ( t h e M e t r o N a g a Sp o r t s Co m p l e x i s a l s o b e i n g e y e d a s p o s s i b l e s i t e ) i s a n o t h e r s u b - c o m p o n e n t o f t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n c e n t e r – t h e Tr a f f i c M a n a g e m e n t Ce n t e r , t h e c i t y ’ s m o n i t o r i n g a n d s u p e r vi s i o n f a c i l i t i e s o r g a n i z e d f o r t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f a n e f f i c i e n t a n d e f f e c t i v e t r a f f i c m a n a g e m e n t .
I n e n d o r s i n g t h e p a s s i n g a n d a p p r o v a l o f h i s p r o p o s e d m e a s u r e t h a t m a n d a t e s t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f N C I E3 RA C d u r i n g t h e d e l i b e r a t i o n i n Se p t e m b e r , t h i s y e a r , Ci t y Co u n c i l o r J o s e l i t o S. A . d e l Ro s a r i o s a i d t h a t “ i t i s i n c u m b e n t u p o n t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e m o m e n t u m o f d e v e l o p m e n t t h a t t h e c i t y h a s b e e n o b t a i n i n g i s m a i n t a i n e d n o t o n l y f o r t h e s u c c e e d i n g y e a r s , b u t f o r l o n g e r t e r m . ”
“ I t i s a p p r o p r i a t e t h e r e f o r e t h a t t h e c i t y
g o v e r n m e n t m u s t b e f o r w a r d - t h i n k i n g i n p r o vi d i n g t h e N a g u e ñ o w i t h p r o t e c t i o n f r o m t h e t h r e a t s a n d r i s k s o f n a t u r a l a n d m a n -m a d e c a l a m i t i e s a n d e f f e c t i v e l y r e s p o n d t o e m e r g e n c i e s w h i l e e n s u r i n g t h e c o n t i n u i n g a n d l o n g - t e r m s o c i a l a n d e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r M a o g m a n g L u g a r , ” D e l Ro s a r i o w h o s p o n s o r e d t h e o r d i n a n c e s a i d .
Th e N C I E3 RA C, w h i c h w a s u n a n i m o u s l y p a s s e d b y t h e Sa n g g u n i a n g Pa n l u n g s o d l a s t Se p t e m b e r 2 7 , 2 0 1 6 a n d a p p r o v e d b y M a y o r J o h n G . B o n g a t o n Oc t o b e r 5 , t h i s y e a r , w i l l b e f u l l y o p e r a t i o n a l t h r e e y e a r s a f t e r i t s e n a c t m e n t o r b y t h e f i r s t q u a r t e r o f 2 0 1 9 .
I n c l u d e d i n t h e p h y s i c a l s t r u c t u r e s a n d a m e n i t i e s o f t h e f a c i l i t y a r e t h e Eq u i p m e n t a n d Ph y s i c a l Re s o u r c e Po o l ( EPRP) , Re s e a r c h a n d D e v e l o p m e n t , a n d W e a t h e r a n d G e o p h y s i c a l M o n i t o r i n g Ce n t e r , a n d t h e Re a d i n e s s a n d Re s i l i e n c e Ca p a b i l i t y D e v e l o p m e n t Ce n t e r ( RRCD C) .
EPRP w i l l s e r v e a s p h y s i c a l r e s o u r c e p o o l f o r a p p r o p r i a t e e q u i p m e n t , t o o l s , o r s u p p l i e s t h a t a r e n e e d e d i n r e s p o n d i n g t o a l l t y p e s o f e m e r g e n c y s i t u a t i o n s w h i l e t h e RD W G M C w i l l h a n d l e t h e d e s i g n a n d t e s t i n g o f t h e l a t e s t e q u i p m e n t , i n c l u d i n g t h e a d a p t a t i o n a n d f a b r i c a t i o n o f a p p r o p r i a t e a n d i n n o v a t i v e t o o l s f o r r e s c u e , g e o p h y s i c a l a n d w e a t h e r t r a c k i n g , a n d h u m a n r e s o u r c e c a p a b i l i t y d e v e l o p m e n t .
By JASON B. NEOLA
RRCD C w i l l w o r k a s t r a i n i n g a n d m u l t i m e d i a r e s o u r c e c e n t e r t h a t a l s o f o c u s e s i t s s e r vi c e s o n c a p a b i l i t y d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e t a r g e t e d c o m m u n i t y a n d i n s t i t u t i o n a l D RRM o r Re a d i n e s s a n d Re s i l i e n c y Te a m s . Th e a c t i vi t i e s s h a l l i n c l u d e p e r i o d i c t r a i n i n g s a n d r e s e a r c h , a n d w i l l e n g a g e t h e s e r vi c e s o f s p e c i a l i s t s i n t h e f i e l d s r e l a t e d t o D RRM a n d r e s i l i e n c y , e i t h e r a s o c c a s i o n a l l e c t u r e r s o r i n -h o u s e t r a i n e r s .
Th e a c t i o n c e n t e r ’ s h u m a n r e s o u r c e c o m p o n e n t o r t h e c o r e s t a f f w i l l b e a p p o i n t e d f r o m t h e e x i s t i n g p e r s o n n e l o f t h e N a g a Ci t y D RRM o f f i c e s , Pu b l i c Sa f e t y Of f i c e , B u r e a u o f Fi r e Pr o t e c t i o n ( B FP) , t h e Ph i l i p p i n e N a t i o n a l Po l i c e , a n d o t h e r r e l a t e d o f f i c e s t o e n s u r e t h e c o n t i n u e d e m p l o y m e n t o f q u a l i f i e d p e r s o n n e l .
An action center vs natural, man-made
hazards
A P10M MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
By JASON B. NEOLA
PHOTOS B Y PHOTOS B Y PHOTOS B Y SYLRANJELVIC VILLAFLOR
CITY COUNCILOR DEL ROSARIO,AUTHOR OF THE
ORDINANCE.
THE PILLARS OF THE JOINT OPERATIONS CENTER composed of representatives from different government and private entities oin hands as gesture of unity and oneness. he group is being as the same allies for the city
composed of representatives from different government and private entities oin hands as gesture of unity and oneness. he group is being as the same allies for the city
composed of representatives from different government
government s heightened and systematic campaign against disasters as emergency responders and eepers of order and private entities oin hands as gesture of unity and oneness. he group is being as the same allies for the city government s heightened and systematic campaign against disasters as emergency responders and eepers of order and private entities oin hands as gesture of unity and oneness. he group is being as the same allies for the city
and safety as they have been doing during the annual celebration of the Pe afrancia festivities. government s heightened and systematic campaign against disasters as emergency responders and eepers of order and safety as they have been doing during the annual celebration of the Pe afrancia festivities. government s heightened and systematic campaign against disasters as emergency responders and eepers of order
THE indefatigable players in the Joint O perations C enter from the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine N avy, Philippine Army, and personnel of the Philippine
ational Police the Public Safety O ce the aga ity o ce and other related o ces ma e up the
core of the up the manpower complementation of the Joint O perations C enter.
HEADED by the local chief executive, representatives of various stakeholders will compose the central committee to manage the NCIE3RAC as provided for in the management and coordination aspect of the Ordinance. Shown in this file photo are members of the multi-sectoral group led by Mayor John G. Bongat (seated, right) that was mobilized to ensure the peaceful and orderly celebration of the Penafrancia fiesta through activation of the Penafrancia Inter-Agency Task Force co-chaired by Archbishop Rolando Tria. The stakeholders’ strong alliance with the city government has been proven to be effective in addressing community concerns and problems, including the maintenance of peace and order and reducing, if not and totally preventing, the impact that disasters and calamities bring.
47 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 48
By NELSON S. LEGACIONCITY VICE MAYOR
I T i s t o u r g o a l f o r N a g a t o b e c o m e a w o r l d - c l a s s , s e l f - r e l i a n t a n d c a r i n g c i t y . To w a r d s t h i s e n d , n e c e s s a r y
f o u n d a t i o n s h o u l d b e s e t u p . So c i a l p r o g r a m s s h o u l d b e i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z e d t o u p l i f t t h e q u a l i t y o f l i f e o f a l l N a g u e ñ o s . Pr o g r a m s f o r t h e e c o n o m y a n d t h e e n vi r o n m e n t s h o u l d b e e s t a b l i s h e d i n o r d e r t o p r o p e l r o b u s t y e t s u s t a i n a b l e e c o n o m i c g r o w t h . I n f r a s t r u c t u r e m u s t b e b u i l t t o e n s u r e s m o o t h f l o w o f p r o d u c t a n d p e o p l e . Fu r t h e r , p a r t i c i p a t o r y g o v e r n a n c e m u s t b e a d v a n c e d i n o r d e r f o r t h e p e o p l e t o f e e l o w n e r s h i p i n t h e a c t i v i t i e s a n d t h e s u b s e q u e n t p r o g r e s s o f t h e i r c i t y .
To a c h i e v e a l l t h i s , i t i s n e c e s s a r y t h a t i n v e s t m e n t p l a n s b e c r a f t e d t o g u i d e t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t i n i t s e n d e a v o r s . Th u s , t h e 12th Sangguniang Panlungsod w o r k e d t o w a r d s t h e e n a c t m e n t o f Re s o l u t i o n N o . s 2 0 1 6 -5 0 5 a n d 2 0 1 6 - 5 0 6 a p p r o vi n g t h e c i t y ’ s L o c a l D e v e l o p m e n t I n v e s t m e n t Pr o g r a m ( L D I P) f o r 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 2 0 a n d t h e A n n u a l I n v e s t m e n t Pr o g r a m ( A I P) f o r CY 2 0 1 7 , r e s p e c t i v e l y . Th e f o r m e r s p e a k s o f t h e c i t y ’ s s t r a t e g i e s f o r t h e m e d i u m - t e r m , w h i l e t h e l a t t e r s e e k s t o p r o vi d e u r g e n t s o l u t i o n s t o p r e s s i n g p r o b l e m s .
I n t h e L D I P, w e a r e l o o k i n g t o a n a c c u m u l a t i v e i n v e s t m e n t o f a r o u n d P2 . 8
INVESTMENT PROGRAMS FOR A
WORLD CLASS, SELF-RELIANTAND CARING NAGA
b i l l i o n . M a j o r i t y ( a p p r o x i m a t e l y P1 . 1 8 b i l l i o n ) o f t h e s a m e w i l l g o t o i n f r a s t r u c t u r e , s u c h a s i n s t i t u t i o n o f a n e w p u b l i c c e m e t e r y , e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a p e r m a n e n t Ea s t b o u n d PUV - J e e p n e y Te r m i n a l , c o m p l e t i o n o f a g y m n a s i u m n e a r e r t o s c h o o l s i n d o w n t o w n N a g a , a s w e l l a s t h e u s u a l c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a d d i t i o n a l r o a d s a n d d r a i n a g e s . Th e s e c o n d l a r g e s t c h u n k o f i n v e s t m e n t ( a r o u n d P7 4 7 . 8 m i l l i o n ) i s o n s o c i a l p r o g r a m s , w h i c h w i l l p r o vi d e a d d i t i o n a l s c h o o l s t o i m p r o v e a c c e s s t o e d u c a t i o n , m o r e a d v a n c e d h e a l t h f a c i l i t i e s t o r e s p o n d t o t h e n e e d s o f t h e s i c k , n e w s p e c i a l i z e d c e n t e r s t o c a t e r t o t h e r e h a b i l i t a t i o n a n d a d d r e s s t h e s p e c i a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e n e e d y , a s w e l l a s u p - t o - d a t e e q u i p m e n t t o q u i c k l y r e a c t t o e m e r g e n c i e s . A s w e a r e c o n c e r n e d w i t h s u s t a i n a b i l i t y , e n vi r o n m e n t a l p r o j e c t s a r e o u r n e x t p r i o r i t y . W i t h a m e d i u m - t e r m b u d g e t o f P5 3 7 . 6 m i l l i o n , w e a s p i r e f o r a s o l a r - p o w e r e d c i t y h a l l a n d a n o p e r a t i o n a l w a s t e - t o - e n e r g y f a c i l i t y . Ec o n o m i c a n d i n s t i t u t i o n a l p r o g r a m s o f t h e c i t y w i l l a l s o b e s t r e n g t h e n e d , w i t h e s t i m a t e d f i v e - y e a r b u d g e t o f P3 0 0 . 3 8 m i l l i o n a n d P4 1 . 4 7 m i l l i o n , r e s p e c t i v e l y .
A s f o r t h e A n n u a l I n v e s t m e n t Pl a n f o r CY 2 0 1 7 , i t l a y s o u t t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t ’ s f o c u s t o r e a l i z e t h e H2 EL P
y o u r Ci Ty A g e n d a . On h e a l t h , w e w o u l d l i k e t o e x p a n d t h e N a g a Ci t y Ho s p i t a l a n d a d d a s u r g i c a l w a r d t h e r e i n t o b e t t e r s e r v e N a g u e ñ o s , h i r e a d d i t i o n a l d o c t o r s a n d n u r s e s t o b o o s t s t a f f c o m p l e m e n t s , a n d f u n d a c t i vi t i e s f o r p r e v e n t i o n o f t h e s p r e a d o f r a b i e s a n d o t h e r d e a d l y d i s e a s e s . Fo r h o u s i n g , w e w i l l i m p l e m e n t a o n e - t i m e b i g t i m e s o c i a l i z e d h o u s i n g p r o j e c t t h a t w i l l e n c o m p a s s 1 1 . 9 h e c t a r e s . Th e h o u s e s t h e r e i n w i l l h a v e f a c i l i t i e s r e q u i r e d f o r q u a l i t y l i vi n g , s u c h a s m u l t i - p u r p o s e h a l l , p l a y g r o u n d , s c h o o l , l i v e l i h o o d c e n t e r a n d o t h e r s . I n e d u c a t i o n , w e w i l l i r o n o u t d e t a i l s o f t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f D e l Ro s a r i o Hi g h Sc h o o l , N a g a Ci t y I n t e g r a t e d Sc h o o l o f A r t s a n d Tr a d e a n d Y a b o El e m e n t a r y Sc h o o l . G r o u n d w o r k f o r t h e s a i d s c h o o l s h a s b e e n l a i d o u t t h i s y e a r , b u t t h e r e a r e s t i l l t h i n g s l e f t u n d o n e . Fo r l i v e l i h o o d
SP
HIG
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PHOTOS B Y IAN MAR NEBRES LEE
D RON E
PHOTO B Y PHOTO B Y PHOTO B Y SYLRANJELVIC VILLAFLOR
49 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016 50
a n d e m p l o y m e n t , a d v a n c e m e n t o f t h e a g r i c u l t u r e , t o u r i s m a n d c o m m e r c i a l s e c t o r s w i l l b e o u r p r i o r i t i e s , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e c i t y ’ s e c o n o m i c e n t e r p r i s e s . On p e a c e a n d o r d e r , t h e c o m m a n d c e n t e r w i l l b e e x p a n d e d a n d m o t o r c y c l e a m b u l a n c e s c h e m e w i l l b e d e v e l o p e d . M e a n w h i l e , o n c l e a n l i n e s s a n d e n vi r o n m e n t , t h e c l o s u r e o f t h e B a l a t a s D u m p s i t e , o p e r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f N a g a W a t e r s h e d W a t e r Q u a l i t y M a n a g e m e n t A r e a a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e M a l a b s a y Fa l l s w i l l b e p u r s u e d . Fo r t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d g o o d g o v e r n a n c e , o p e r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f t h e o r d i n a n c e i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z i n g t h e J e s s e M . Ro b r e d o G o o d G o v e r n a n c e Ce n t e r , t h e d i g i t i z a t i o n o f
W E k n o w , w e f e e l a n d w e e x p e r i e n c e t h e n a u s e a t i n g a r o m a o f t h e B a l a t a s D u m p s i t e . W e h a v e
p l e d g e d i n t h e 2 0 1 6 e l e c t i o n t h a t w e w i l l e n d i t t h i s t e r m a n d , f i n a l l y , w e a r e n o w a s t e p t o w a r d s f u l f i l l i n g t h a t p r o m i s e .
I n t h e 1 3 t h Re g u l a r Se s s i o n o f t h e Sa n g g u n i a n g Pa n l u n g s o d o n Oc t o b e r 4 , 2 0 1 6 , w e h a v e e n a c t e d , t h r u t h e s p o n s o r s h i p o f Co u n c i l o r s Sa l v a d o r D e l Ca s t i l l o a n d M i l a Ra q u i d - A r r o y o , Re s o l u t i o n N o . 2 0 1 6 - 4 3 0 a p p r o vi n g t h e c l o s u r e p r o g r a m f o r B a l a t a s D u m p s i t e . Th e p r o g r a m h a s a n e s t i m a t e d c o s t o f P2 1 , 0 9 7 , 8 0 0 . 0 0 a n d s e e k s t o s e a l t h e d u m p s i t e a n d t h e g a r b a g e t h e r e i n , t h e r e b y e l i m i n a t i n g t h e f o u l o d o r t h e f a c i l i t y i s e m i t t i n g .
Th e c l o s u r e p r o g r a m w i l l c o m m e n c e a s s o o n a s t h e b i d d i n g p r o c e s s f o r t h e p r o j e c t i s d o n e a n d c o m p l e t e d . W e h a v e a l r e a d y t a s k e d t h e Te c h n i c a l W o r k i n g G r o u p , l e d b y Ci t y Pl a n n i n g a n d D e v e l o p m e n t Of f i c e r W i l f r e d o B . Pr i l l e s , t o e x p e d i t e t h e m a t t e r a n d , o n c e a n d f o r a l l , a d d r e s s t h e c i t y ’ s p r o b l e m i n s o l i d w a s t e m a n a g e m e n t .
Th e r e m a y b e , h o w e v e r , s o m e s a c r i f i c e s o n t h e p a r t o f u s , N a g u e ñ o s , w h i l e t h e p r o j e c t i s s t i l l u n d e r w a y . Th e B a l a t a s D u m p s i t e w i l l b e m o v e d w h i l e c o n s t r u c t i o n i s o n - g o i n g i n t h e a r e a a n d , a s a r e s u l t , f o u l o d o r w i l l b e e m i t t e d . Th i s s h o r t -t e r m i n c o n v e n i e n c e m a y b e i n e vi t a b l e i n o r d e r t o i n s t i t u t e l o n g - t e r m s o l u t i o n . N o n e t h e l e s s , r e s t a s s u r e d t h a t t h i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n , a l o n g w i t h t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e c i t y c o u n c i l a n d M a y o r J o h n G . B o n g a t , w i l l f i n d w a y s t o u n d e r t a k e n e c e s s a r y m e a s u r e s t o m i t i g a t e a n y u n n e c e s s a r y o d o r t h a t
m a y c o m e f r o m t h e B a l a t a s D u m p s i t e d u r i n g t h e p r o j e c t p h a s e . W e h a v e a l r e a d y d i r e c t e d t h e Te c h n i c a l W o r k i n g G r o u p t o e n s u r e t h a t e n z y m e s a n d o t h e r s u b s t a n c e s a r e a l w a y s a v a i l a b l e i n c a s e o f n e e d .
Cl o s u r e o f t h e B a l a t a s D u m p s i t e i s b u t t h e f i r s t s t r i d e i n i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z i n g s u s t a i n a b l e m e c h a n i s m s f o r e n vi r o n m e n t a l p r o t e c t i o n a n d w a s t e m a n a g e m e n t . Pr e p a r a t i o n s a r e n o w b e i n g l a i d o u t f o r t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a Sa n i t a r y L a n d f i l l . Th e Sangguniang Panlungsod h a s a l s o i n i t i a t e d t a l k s w i t h t h e N a t i o n a l So l i d W a s t e M a n a g e m e n t Co m m i s s i o n , t h r u Ex e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r El i g i o T. I l d e f o n s o , t o l o o k a t t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f s e t t i n g u p a w a s t e - t o -e n e r g y f a c i l i t y i n N a g a u n d e r a p r i v a t e - p u b l i c p a r t n e r s h i p f r a m e w o r k .
Th e f o u n d a t i o n o f a w o r l d - c l a s s , s e l f -r e l i a n t a n d c a r i n g c i t y i s a h a p p y a n d p r o d u c t i v e p e o p l e . He n c e , w e a r e d e d i c a t e d t o e n s u r e t h a t N a g u e ñ o s a r e f r e e f r o m t h r e a t t o t h e i r
h e a l t h . W i t h t h e u p c o m i n g c l o s u r e o f t h e B a l a t a s D u m p s i t e a n d f o r t h c o m i n g i n s t a l l a t i o n o f s t a t e - o f - t h e - a r t w a s t e m a n a g e m e n t f a c i l i t i e s , N a g a w i l l n o l o n g e r s m e l l t o t h e w o r l d .
p u b l i c r e c o r d s a n d t h e i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f o n l i n e p a y m e n t i n t a x e s a n d o t h e r f e e s w i l l b e t h e c e n t e r o f t h e c i t y ’ s a c t i vi t i e s n e x t y e a r .
Th e s e i n v e s t m e n t s a r e f o r t h e b e t t e r m e n t o f t h e c i t y a n d o f i t s p e o p l e . Th e s e a c t i vi t i e s w i l l b r i n g N a g a SM I L ES t o t h e w o r l d . A t t h e e n d o f t h e d a y , t h e N a g u e ñ o s a n d t h e i r c h i l d r e n a r e t h e u l t i m a t e b e n e f i c i a r i e s o f t h e s e e n d e a v o r s . Th u s , w e c a l l o n t h e N a g u e ñ o s t o c o n t i n u o u s l y b e c o m e p r o a c t i v e a n d p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e g o v e r n a n c e o f t h e c i t y . I t i s n o t o n l y y o u r t a x e s w h i c h w i l l f u e l o u r c i t y ’ s d e v e l o p m e n t , b u t a l s o y o u r c o o p e r a t i o n a n d vi g i l a n c e i n t h e r e a l i z a t i o n o f o u r c o l l e c t i v e d r e a m s . Th r o u g h o u r c o m b i n e d e f f o r t , w e c a n e n s u r e t h a t p l a n s b e m a t e r i a l i z e d .
Pa d a g o s p o k i t a n g M A K I A R A M , M A G - P A R T I S I P A R a s i n M A G - A N T A B A Y . I r i b a n a n k i t a s a p a g - p a u s w a g k a n s a t u y a n g M a o g m a n g L u g a r .
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51 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016
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p r o vi d e e m p l o y m e n t o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o t h o u s a n d s o f t h e i r c o n s t i t u e n t s . Co m p a r e d t o o t h e r i n d u s t r i e s , m a n u f a c t u r i n g p r o vi d e s m o r e m u l t i p l i e r e f f e c t a s i t u t i l i z e s n o t o n l y i t s i n t e r n a l m a n p o w e r a n d r e s o u r c e s b u t d e f i n i t e l y r e q u i r e s s u p p l i e r s a n d s e r vi c e s o f s u p p o r t s e c t o r s . Fu r t h e r , h a vi n g e x p o r t -o r i e n t e d m a n u f a c t u r i n g c o m p a n i e s w i l l p r o vi d e a p l a t f o r m f o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l t r a d e , e n h a n c e f o r e i g n r e s e r v e , a n d i m p r o v e t o u r i s m .
Th i s i s t h e r e a s o n w h y t h e Ci t y G o v e r n m e n t o f N a g a i s e x c i t e d i n p a r t n e r i n g w i t h Fu j i I n d u s t r i e s Co r p . , a J a p a n - b a s e d m a n u f a c t u r i n g f i r m , t o e s t a b l i s h a n i n d u s t r i a l e c o n o m i c z o n e i n a 2 5 - h e c t a r e l o t i n B a r a n g a y s Ca r o l i n a a n d Pa c o l . I t i s a l s o t h e r a t i o n a l e t h a t w e h a v e e n a c t e d t h i s w e e k , i n o u r 1 4 t h Re g u l a r Se s s i o n , Re s o l u t i o n N o . 2 0 1 6 - 4 4 0 a u t h o r i z i n g M a y o r J o h n B o n g a t t o e n t e r i n t o a t r i p a r t i t e a g r e e m e n t w i t h s a i d c o m p a n y a n d w i t h En j o y Re a l t y a n d D e v e l o p m e n t Co r p . a n d M r s . D a i s y Si s o n - Pa y u m o a s t h e p r i v a t e d e v e l o p e r a n d o w n e r , r e s p e c t i v e l y , o f t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d l o t .
I n t h e s u b j e c t a g r e e m e n t , t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t w i l l e n s u r e t h e w i d e n i n g o f r o a d s f r o m t h e M a h a r l i k a Hi g h w a y i n D e l Ro s a r i o t o w a r d s t h e s i t e t o c a t e r t o t h e n e e d s o f t h e e c o n o m i c z o n e a s w e l l a s t h e p u b l i c m o t o r i s t s a n d c o m m o n c o n s t i t u e n t s o f t h e c i t y w h i c h w i l l t h e r e f o r e l i k e w i s e b e n e f i t f r o m t h e s a m e .
M e a n w h i l e , t h e t o t a l c a p i t a l i n v e s t m e n t s o f p r i v a t e i n v e s t o r s a r e p e g g e d a t P3 . 7 b i l l i o n t o P4 . 1 b i l l i o n . Th e a m o u n t a c c o u n t s o n l y f o r t h e l a n d , b u i l d i n g a n d e q u i p m e n t o f t h e e c o n o m i c z o n e . I t d o e s n o t y e t i n c l u d e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e c o s t s o n t h e i r p a r t .
A d d e d t o t h i s , t h e e m p l o y m e n t p r o j e c t i o n f o r Fu j i a l o n e i s s e t a t 1 , 5 0 0 e m p l o y e e s , e x c l u d i n g t h e i n d i r e c t j o b o p p o r t u n i t i e s i t w i l l p r o d u c e i n o t h e r s e c t o r s o f N a g a ’ s l o c a l e c o n o m y . Se v e n ( 7 ) t o e i g h t ( 8 ) m o r e i n v e s t o r s c o u l d s t i l l b e a c c o m m o d a t e d t o l o c a t e i n t h e e c o z o n e w h i c h w i l l l i k e w i s e g e n e r a t e m o r e t h a n 1 0 , 0 0 0 d i r e c t e m p l o y m e n t , n o t t o m e n t i o n t h e i n d i r e c t j o b o p p o r t u n i t i e s . I n c r e a s e i n r e a l p r o p e r t y v a l u a t i o n s i n t h e u p l a n d b a r a n g a y s i s a l s o e x p e c t e d b a s e d o n e x p e r i e n c e i n CB D - I a n d CB D - I I , b y a m i n i m u m o f 5 7 p e r c e n t t o a s h i g h a s 8 , 5 6 7 p e r c e n t . Ta x e s f r o m r e a l p r o p e r t y a n d f r o m b u s i n e s s e s t h a t w i l l b e l o c a t e d a r o u n d t h e i n d u s t r i a l e c o z o n e w i l l s i g n i f i c a n t l y c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e c i t y ’ s d e l i v e r y o f e f f e c t i v e s o c i a l s e r vi c e s , a d v a n c i n g o u r p u r s u i t f o r “ g r o w t h w i t h e q u i t y ” .
Ov e r a l l , t h e i n d u s t r i a l e c o n o m i c z o n e i s a w i s e i n v e s t m e n t a n d i s a vi t a l c o m p o n e n t o f p r o p e l l i n g o u r M a o g m a n g L u g a r t o w a r d s g r e a t e r h e i g h t s . Fo r y e a r s w e h a v e b e e n a s e r vi c e - o r i e n t e d l o c a l e c o n o m y , h a vi n g Fu j i a n d o t h e r s i m i l a r l y - s i t u a t e d c o m p a n i e s i n t h e c i t y w i l l d i v e r s i f y r i s k s a n d e x p a n d o u r m a r k e t - b a s e a n d r e a l l y o p e n u p n e w o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r t h e c i t y a n d i t s p e o p l e .
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A ten percent (10%) discount of the total tax due shall be granted to taxpayers who pay on or before the deadlines.
Further, an advance payment discount to twenty percent (20%) of the tax due shall be granted anytime to taxpayers who will pay the real property tax in full for the next taxable year at anytime during the period of January 1 to December 31, 2017.
In case of failure to pay Real Property Tax upon the expiration of the periods as stated above, the taxpayer shall be subjected to pay the interest at the rate of two percent (2%) interest per month on the unpaid amount or fraction thereof, until the delinquent tax have been fully paid, but in no case shall total interest on the unpaid tax shall exceed seventy two percent (72%).