Bikol Reporter January 3 - 9, 2016 Issue

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outstanDinGlocal newspaperFor Five Consecutive YearsSt. peter Baptist CatholicMass Media awards

www.bikolreport.blogspot.come-mail: [email protected]

reGional eXponent for proGress

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3rd floor, GeroniMo blDG., barlin st., naGa CitY tel: (054) 475-62-62 Cp 0921-3183720 / 0919-2822901 / 0920-5337766

vol. XXiii, no. 12 bicol, the philippines january 3 - 9, 2016 p5.00

LGu Naga activates BoSS program

BUsiness one-stoP shoPThe City has started this program in order to help the Nagueos with their Business Apllications and renewals of permitt. The process makes it more convenient and effi cient.

Bicol international airport, Pnr southline top salcedas

2016targets

LEGAZPI CITY -- Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda on Thursday disclosed the line-up of his target and ongoing projects in 2016 as he sought the co-operation of the Albayanos for their success.

"By the grace of God, let us work together for the greater glory of Albay, Salceda said as he greeted ev-erybody a Hap-py New Year.

With the Palarong Pam-bansa 105 days away, he said, all hands on the paddle as we go full throttle in sustainable development through tourism, agriculture, small enterprises, education, health, social protection, disaster risk reduction and cli-mate change adaptation.

The concurrent Regional Development Coun-cil Bicol chair, said the Provincial Government of Albay (PGA) will work with the Department of Education family to ensure the success of Senior

By ANA-LIZA S. MACATANGAY

NAGA CITY --- From four stages last year, orga-nizers of this years Busi-ness One Stop Shop (BOSS) dropped the count to three easy steps: SUBMIT, PAY and CLAIM, giving busy entrepreneurs the comfort and ease to renew their business permits without losing their precious time.

First, the applicants need to submit a duly accomplished application form, barangay clearance, quarterly income tax return from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)

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Typhoon 'Nona' causesP3.3-B damage in Bicol

Sorsogon PDrrMC

LEGAZPI CITY -- Ty-phoon "Nona" slapped Bi-col with a PhP3.3-billion damage to public infrastruc-ture and agricultural crops when it ravaged the region in December last year, the Regional Disaster Risk Re-duction and Management Council (RDRRMC) said on Monday.

Showing its fury with howling winds and heavy rains, "Nona" destroyed hun-dreds of public school class-rooms amounting to PhP1.1 billion and PhP298 million worth of public infrastructure, according to the RDRRMC

fi nal damage assessment re-port.

Ramon Abcede, Depart-ment of Education (DepEd) regional director, said around

710 classrooms were totally destroyed while at least 1,199 public school classrooms were partially damaged in

Gov. SALCeDA

bikol reporter2 january 3 - 9, 2016opinion

Wed love to, Your Holiness.In his year-end message, Pope Francis

urged the media to give more space to positive and inspirational stories amidst what he calls the insatiable thirst for power and gratuitous violence in 2015.

Yes, wed love to.So heres an example. The government

is expecting a 7.5-8.5% growth year this year.

Thats bullish indeed. Yet, heres the proverbial rub. Prof. Leonor Briones, however, is

asking: Is the good news about 2016 sustainable?

The convenor of the Social Watch Philippines is pointing at the instability of this optimism, arguing that this projected growth is brought about by election spending which generates more jobs such as construction and campaign work, albeit temporarily.

To her, this election driven growth will not have sustainable impact for the poor and unemployed.

So, there will always be good news but it is the job of the media to see and show the downside.

Yes, wed love to report on the good outcome of the elections, if the traditional triumvirate of guns, gold and goons will not rule and ruin it.

Wed love to write about how the new president will take over the reins of government, sans the bloodshed, the cheating, the vote-buying that are accoutrements of Philippine elections.

Wed love to write the good news about our country, too. If only, we can transcend our tendency to self-destruct along the way.

We will look for good news and we will give space to them, this year.

Thats a promise and self-imposed task we will do in 2016.

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editorialGiving Spaceto Good News

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Do not choose a candidate on the basis of published poll surveys, he said. Surveys merely show trends, which may well change in the course of the election campaign. Besides, he said, they are affected by the methodology employed by a pollster.

Beware of those who employ dirty tricks against their opponents, the CBCP president said. A candidate who seeks to demol ish the reputation of fellow candidates must be suspect. He debases the level of political discourse by pointing to the shortcomings of rivals instead of discussing programs, projects, plans, and advocacies.

While there are no perfect candidates, opt for those willing to be better for the people; who may have been wrong in the past but

are willing and ready to change their ways. Ultimately, what is important are the qualifications and aspirations, the plans and visions of the candidates.

O n p o l i t i c a l d y n a s t i e s , Archbishop Villegas said the Christian voter should prudently choose others who may have equal if not superior qualities and competenc ies fo r the position.

The bishops of the Church, the CBCP president said, do not seek to persuade their flock to vote for any particular candidate. The desired qualities of candidates and the options open to voters may well be discussed in the context of prayer, in the light of Church teaching, and with a sense of fairness and concern for the common good, he said.

There are probably many other words of advice that will be given by the leaders of our communities and institutions about many other issues such as party loyalty, ideological considerations, rewards and promises, and campaign funds. A l l such adv ice wou ld be welcome, but the points made by the CBCP should be taken to heart by all voters.

Because of its relevance, I am herewith quoting the advice to voters from the CBCP, published in the Tempo dated Jan. 2, 2016:

Some words of advice to voters from the CBCP:

We can expect al l sorts of advice from responsible leader and institutions on who to vote for in the coming elections. A recent statement issued by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Phil ippines (CBCP) is supposed to be a Guide for Catholic Voters but it could well be used by voters of all faiths in the face of the ongoing barrage of election propaganda and other developments in the campaign.

Specifically for Catholic voters, Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, president of the CBCP, said they cannot support candidates espousing programs that are diametrically opposed to Church teachings on such issues as abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, divorce, and Christian marriage. They should not, however, close their minds to candidates who belong to other faiths as there are noteworthy candidates from other Christian communities and other religions, he said.

His other points may well guide voters of all kinds.

Guide for Catholic Voters

nenita fuentebella-peones

frommy

window

opinionsunlimited

atty. tonY (apa) aCYatan

Best wishes to all for this coming year

bikol reporter 3january 3 - 9, 2016

Christmas with ChildrenVP candidate Cam. Sur 3rd District rep. Leni G. robredo joins the children in Concepcion Grande which she said is a continuation of what her late husband had started in Naga, also shown in photo is Naga City Councilor elmer Baldemoro.

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. brought home the most awards in the prestigious Don Emilio Abello Energy Efficiency Awards for 2015, including five Hall of Fame awards for its outstanding efforts to improve its en-ergy efficiency.

SM dominated the Don Emilio Abello Energy Efficiency Awards getting a total of fifty six (56) awards, a significant im-provement from the forty eight (48) awards it received last year and by far the most

SM bags 56 Don emilio Abello Energy Efficiency Awards

numbers of awards that it received since it started joining in 2007.

The Don Emilio Abello Energy Efficiency Awards spearheaded by the Department of Energy in recognition to oustanding compa-nies and energy managers who have under-taken energy efficiency and conservation pro-grams to achieve substantial savings in their energy consumption. To read more about the story, please visit www.smcares.com.ph.

SM Cares. Supporting Communities.

Another CArD Bank member awarded as 2015 Luzon Microentrepreneur of the Year

ester Shiela Vitto holds the trophy of recognition as 2015 Luzon Microentrepreneur of the Year. Together with her are (in her left) Dr. Jaime Aristole B. Alip, Founder and Managing Director of CArD MrI (right) Dolores Torres, President and Ceo of CArD Bank, Lorenza Baez, executive Vice President of CArD Bank together with the staff and other executive and management committee member s of CArD MrI.

Another CARD Bank member was awarded as 2015 Luzon Microentrepre-neur of the Year through the annual Citi Microen-trepreneurship Awards (CMA) funded by the Citi Foundation. She is Ester Shiela Vitto.

Vitto was chosen as one of the outstanding microen-trepreneurs (MEs) in the country that is supported by a microfinance institution. Her business contributes to the growth of the economy in her local community.

Present to commend Vitto in the awarding ceremony are the executive committee and management committee members of CARD MRI.

Vitto, who has been a member of CARD Bank since 2007, is the owner of the Bahag footwear and re-pair shop in Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro. Estab-lished in 1999, the Bahag footwear is the brainchild of Ester and her husband. The enterprise is one of the most in demand footwears in the area, producing 70 pairs of shoes and sandals per day. It has now three branches in the province.

They first concentrated on sandals for men using old rub-ber tires. Receiving positive feedbacks from their custom-

ers, buyers started to pour in. She then started to offer slip-pers as her second product.

Each pair is hewed us-ing quality materials. They created original patterns and designs. Over the years, Ba-hag that reaches only to in-dividual clients at first has now reached wholesalers and retailers that have grown in number. Today, locals and tourists patronize the brand.

Vitto is one of the 3.2 mil-

lion clients of CARD MRI who won the 2014 Malikhain award of Galing ni Nanay Awards (GNN), an award created by CARD MRI that recognizes outstanding mi-cro-entrepreneurs among its clients.

Through her membership in CARD, she received vari-ous trainings and seminars about business improvement and development. CARD Banks presence is not just

about lending capital but its existence is to assist our cli-ents until they reap success. We offer not only financial services but also capacity-building programs for our clients for their continuous growth and development as micro-entrepreneurs, said Dolores Torres, the President and CEO of CARD Bank.

Ernanie Llema, a member of CARD Bank, was also rec-

DoLes program for displaced workers(Turn to page 5)

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LEGAZPI CITY- Un-believable as it may seem, but yes the P3,900.00 wage from DOLE Bicols Tulong Panghanapbuhay Sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) pro-gram indeed provided a steady income for a family of eight (8).

Meet Mrs. Ana Ana Ta-bagan Gamelo, 44-yrs. old, married to Boyet Bongalos Gamelo, 46-yrs. old. A proud TUPAD Beneficiary, from Zone 8, Brgy. Tres Reyes, Bato, Cam. Sur, who proved that P3,900.00 could in fact, if used wisely, improve fam-

ily life.Oh, it was a big help. Yes,

it may look small but if you know where, when and how to use it, then it could spell the difference, Ana said in Bicol Rinconada dialect.

Ana and Boyet was blessed with 6-children aged from 10 to 24-yrs. old. Their main income was fishing. However, their old-ailing small wooden Banka didnt survive the wrath of the ty-phoon that ravaged the region sometime in 2014. Although, it wasnt fully destroyed, the Banka was already unser-viceable.

We didnt know what to do. How would we eat? My husband started to take jobs but it was not steady. I looked for anything that could give us income but, in nothing was steady, Ana recounted, again in Bicol Riconada dialect.

With their status and the visible impact of the ty-phoon, Ana was chosen as a beneficiarie of the DOLE Bicol TUPAD Program. It was a 15-day work pro-gram in which beneficiaries, aside from the free TUPAD shirt, buri-hat, rubber hand gloves and boots, will have

Sec. Luistro stresses impact evaluation

The conduct of impact evaluation is the key to solv-ing many of the countrys problems. This was stressed by Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro on De-cember 16 at the Policy Fo-rum on Impact Evaluation organized by state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), National Economic and Development Author-ity (NEDA), and Interna-tional Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie). Luistro, who closed the event, urged representatives from vari-ous government agencies to adopt the practice of evalu-ating the impact of their programs and projects.

Unless youre able to say that a particular program is successful or that it needs to be enhanced and improved, its just another activity, he said.

Impact evaluation can help improve government services by providing a deeper under-standing of their effectiveness and by assisting leaders and policymakers make informed decisions.

NEDA Deputy Director-General Emmanuel Esguerra who represented Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisa-can stressed the importance of institutionalizing impact evaluation across the govern-ment bureaucracy. Related to this, Australian Aid Counsel-lor Robyn Biti said her office awarded three research grants that will help some govern-ment agencies assess the im-

Sec. LuISTro

pact of their programs. The 3ie administers one of these grants, aiming to conduct an impact evaluation of the De-partment of Social Welfare and Development's Sustain-able Livelihood Program. The other grants are for the impact evaluation of the programs of the Office of the President Ad-viser on the Peace Process, the Department of Labor and Em-ployment, and the Supreme Court.

Impact evaluation provides evidence of effectiveness

The forum also featured presentations of impact evalu-ation cases in the Philippines presented by PIDS Visiting Research Fellow and former World Bank Lead Expert Vi-cente Paqueo.

Three major government programs have been subject to impact evaluation, namely the Pantawid Pamilya Pro-gram (4Ps), the Legal Mini-mum Wage Policy, and the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahi-rapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) program.

bikol reporter4 january 3 - 9, 2016halo-halo

Bloody Photo

dis*Karte*Kusyon*Kurso

frank peones jr.

katapusan na pagiromdom na dai man nagigiromdoman o sinusunod. Kaya, madugo.

Sa hiling ko dai man kinakaipuhan na pirmeng magin madugo an Pasko asin Bagong Taon, kun totalmente nang gibohon illegal an paggibo nin mga paputok siring sa piccolo. Sa kadakulaan asin mga pangaran lang kaini, malinaw na bako ini para sa pangadyi o selebrasyon para sa maogmang Pasko o mauswag na bagong taon. Para ini nganing may malugadan o makulgan.

Panahon na para tapuson an madugong ritwal tang ini. Tama na an garo makapangirit na death-wish tang selebrasyon na pinahiling kan kagadanan kan sarong burat na lalaki na nagpaputok nin libentador na an pangaran Goodbye Philippines.

Madugo man nanggad si cover photo mi kan nakaaging semana. Hali idto sa Department of Health katakod kan saindang kampanya para sa ligtas na selebrasyon kan Pasko. Alagad dawa mahigos asin mahigot si DOH sa saindang kampanya, dakul pa man nanggad si nagkapurutukan, katubuan mga kaakian asin an komon na dahilan iyo an piccolo. Si retrato, sa hiling ko kun tano idto ginamit kan samong publisher iyo tanganing ipahiling an resulta kan dai tataong magdangog. Sa etika, ehemplo ini nin utilitaryanismo. Tinitimbang kaini an positibo asin negatibo kan sarong sitwasyon asin pinapaorog an marhay sa orog na dakul na tawo. Halimbawa, kun an sarong madugong retrato nin biktima nin aksidente sa awto maraot sa hiling kan mga partidaryo kan biktima alagad nakatukdo sa mga tawo na orog na maglikay sa tinampo, sa irarom nin

utilitaryanismo an pagpublikar kan mga retratong ini, susog sa etika.

An napuputukan asin napuputulan nin mga muro kada Pasko asin Bagong Taon garo taunan nang madugong ritwal sa satong nasyon, na garo na sinusudo-sudo an DOH, an media, an mga awtoridad sa daing

homar murillo

tip of aniceberGEmail: [email protected]

JanusSi Janus iyo an saro sa mga binibistong dioses

sa relihiyon kan mga kainot-inuting Romano. Sabi sa mitolohiyang Romano, si Janus iyo an diyos kan pagpopoon asin transisyon. Kaya ngani siya man an minarepresentar na dios kan mga pintuan, agihan asin pagtatapos.

An dios na si Janus ugwang duwang pandok na an saro nakahiling sa nakaagi asin an saro man nakahiling sa futuro. Tradisyonal na nirerepresentar nin Janus an pagpoon kan kada bagong taon alagad bako man saiya orihinal na ipinangaran an Enero kundi ki Juno.

Si Janus man an minatukaw na taga-kondukta sa poon asin pagtatapos kan ano man na dirismintihan o iriwal. Kaya ngani saro sa mga relihiyosong tradisyon iyo na an mga pintuan kan saiyang templo binubukasan sa panahon nin giyera asin isinasarado sa panahon nin katuninungan.

Dae man nawawara an pag-apod sa ngaran ni Janus sa gabos na klaseng ritwal pang-relihiyon sa Roma kadto. Pirmi syang kaiba sa mga pampublikong pagsamba magin siisay man na dios an pinapangadyian. Bilang dios nin transisyon, ugwang importanteng papel si Janus sa mga bagay-bagay na konektado sa kapangakian asin pagbyahe.

Siring man kan lumang pagtubod kan mga Romano, satuya man na tinutubodan ngonyan na an bagong taon minasimbolo nin bagong pag-asa asin pagpoon. Dakol na posibilidad an gusto tang mamansayan sa paglaog kan bagong taon. Kabali na igdi an mga panibagong kadipisilan, huma asin oportunidad. Dakol sa mga ini an mayong kasiguruhan asin dae ta kayang madiktahan. Normal na haralo an satuyang mga pagmati kun arog kaining bagong taon. Apwera kan maogmang pag-antisipar asin paglaom sa mas marhay na futuro, yaon man dyan an takot asin pagduwa-duwa.

An iba sa satuya minagibo nin mga New Years Resolutions na dae man talaga naootob nin seryoso ta nalilingawan o masyadong dipisil guibuhon. An iba na medyo mapamahion mina-konsulta sa mga manghuhula asin feng sui experts para daa mas makapagplano non toltol sa bagong taon. Si mga mayaman na medyo praktikal asin makatutuhanan kun mag-isip, minarani sa mga financial advisers, accountants asin minakua nin manlaenlaen na klase nin insurance.

Alagad dakol sa satuya an mayo man nin konkretong plano para sa futuro asin mayong toltol na nanodan sa nakaagi. Ini minaresulta sa kawaran nin direksyon asin paulit-ulit na kasakitan na minsan ibinabasol sa gobyerno asin sa ibang tawo.

An simpleng leksyon na pwede tang manodan sa mitolohiya ni Janus iyo an pagkakaigwa nin dakulang pananaw. Ini sarong pananaw na pirming may pag-asa sa futuro asin pagkanood sa nakaagi.

Tapos na an nakaaging taon. Tapos na an selebrasyon. Mayo na kitang pwedeng maguibo para mabago an nakaagi. Alagad dae pa naisusurat an maabot pang mga aldaw. Guibohon tang panalmingan an nakaaging taon para makasurat kita nin mas marhay na bagong kapitulo kan satuyang mga buhay.

Lugod magkaugwa kita nin duwang pandok arog ni Janus. Arog ni Janus dapat atubangon ta an futuro alagad dae ta man dapat lingawan na magsalingoy sa nakaagi.

Sa kada pagtapos ugwang pagpoon. Sa kada pagpoon ugwang bagong paglaom. Dae ta man kaipuhan na maghalat nin bagong taon para sa panibagong pagpoon.

Dae ta man kaipuhan na maghalat nin pagtapos nin taon para makumpleto an satuyang mga napoonan.

Life is so transitory so uncertain

Life is so transitory. People come and go in your life. You feel bad. But you move on, just as they would/ should. May they find their rightful places soon.

A good friend, journalist Rose dela Cruz, has written the above quote on her Facebook account which I chanced on read-ing while I was browsing Facebook on a cold morning in To-ronto a few days ago.

As it struck me hard, knowing fully well the truism of her words, I momentarily paused and began to think about the many people in my life whom Ive lost contact withsome friends and close friends whose whereabouts are either unknown or hard to find.

Yes, life is not only transitory but more importantly, life is also very uncertainour friends who are with us today, they might be gone tomorrow. Its a reality that we cannot deny -- people come and go with our life.

Weve lost some of them, they've moved on just like the rest of us--moving on with life.

Peoples coming and going is the ebb and flow of life; people change, circumstances change, priorities change.

But let me share with you, my friends, this spiritual gem from Gods Word which we can all reflect on, it says, Better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting, for that is the end of every man, and the living should take it to heart, (Ecclesiastes. 7:2), Attending an internment is a re-minder to us that well meet the same eventualityour own deathso now is the time to do something about life before we leave this world.

So, rather than wasting our life pursuing wealth and fame which are temporary, surely well all leave these things behind us when we diewhy not think about the shortness of life and live it in a meaningful way so that when we die, we can all look forward to the day when our Almighty Creator Jehovah God will resurrect us and give us a chance to live again in this Para-dise Earth (Ps.37:29 ).

Last night while I was flipping through my old telephone directorylots of memories flashed on my mind.

This phone directory is an old one, some of its brownish pages are already torn apart. And quite a number of people on the list have already passed away. But Im also happy knowing that most of them are still very much alive and kicking, so to speak, thus making waves in their chosen careers. A number of them are my former news sources, close friends, officemates, colleagues in the media, college classmates/batchmates, rela-tives and neighbors.

However, Ive never heard of anything about the rest of them. With the prevailing economic condition back home, I could not help but be worried about what might have happened

By WILLIe JoSe

to themhopefully, they are all OK and doing fine too. The other night, I tried to search for them on Facebook, but still there was nothing there.

Ive been asking myself where are these people now. And even if their names and telephone numbers are listed on my di-rectory, I dont have any idea where and when Ive met them; maybe it comes with my age and thats why I have difficulty remembering them.

Its really amazing, with todays technology-- Facebook, Ya-hoo, Gmail, Skype, Hotmail finding friends is a cinch. With just one click, some of our friends names and photos will sud-denly appear on the computers screen; seeing them again brings immense joy. We are also glad to learn that they have become successful in their careers and family lifeoh, what a delight to see them on their photos with their happy families, embracing grown children; they are certainly enjoying lifes blessings

One time, I was trying to look for one name on Facebook, but when it showed a number of young faces, I immediately knew they were not the ones I was looking for.

I even googled their names on the internet but to no avail. I had the urge to contact some of them by phone, and what hin-dered me was their 6-digit phone numbers-- and I had this feel-ing that they might have already changed those numbers.

However, a closer look at this little phone book tells me how time flies so fast.

Times have changed with rapidity. Nothing is permanent in this world.

Yes, its true people come and go; we are all conscious of the fact that the things we do now will soon be part of our treasured memories. Meanwhile, we all have to move on, and to say it tritely, we have to try our best to find our rightful place in the sun.

There are many things we would want to do in this life, there are many goals we would like to achieve for ourselves-- things we loved so much when we were still young but with the onset of old age, things have changed; there are different rules to follow.

As they would say, the mind is willing but the flesh is weak; we want to see our friends more often, but there are many things we have to overcome now before we could even decide to do that.

For some of us living abroad particularly those who have already retired from work, we have to ask ourselves if we have enough funds for travelling? Do we have the physical stamina to bear the rigors of long hours of travelling by plane? Do we feel healthy enough not to worry about anything even if we take along with us our tons of medication?

Oh, my friends, how I wish we were still young!

2016 regular holidays andspecial non-working days

Based on Proclamation No. 1105, regular holidays include New Years Day, January 1 (Friday); Maundy Thursday, March 24; Good Friday, March 25; Araw ng Kagitingan, April 9 (Sat-urday); Labor Day, May 1 (Sunday); Independence Day, June 12 (Sunday); Na-tional Heroes Day, August 29 (Monday); Bonifacio Day, November 30 (Wednesday); Christmas Day, December 25 (Sunday); and Rizal Day, De-cember 30 (Friday).

Special non-working days are: Chinese New Year, Feb-ruary 8 (Monday); 30th anni-versary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, February 25; Black Saturday, March 26; Ninoy Aquino Day, Au-gust 21 (Sunday); All Saints Day November 1 (Tues-day); and additional special (non-working) days: Janu-ary 2 (Saturday); October 31 (Monday); Christmas Eve, December 24 (Saturday); and New Years Eve, December 31 (Saturday).

High School in Albay with 21,800 students in 2016-17.

We will exert mightily to get the Bicol International Airport in Daraga executed faster and the PHP171 billion Southline railway to Legazpi be competitively bid in Feb-ruary 2016, Salceda said.

He said the PGA will work with its five development partners the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hos-

pital, Bicol University and the cities of Legazpi, Ligao and Tabaco to make them become world-class institu-tions.

The Albay chief executive vowed to work for the exten-sion of the San Fernando-Oas-Daraga Road to Legazpi City to serve as a six-lane road to the international air-port.

And to give our bustling

urban zone a breathing space, a new road will connect Pa-dang to Bogtong (Legazpi) to Binitayan to Miisi (Daraga) to Cabangan to Libod (Ca-malig) which will also serve as escape route from the six-kilometer danger zone, Sal-ceda assured.

He also saw the need to expedite the execution of the successor six-year plan for AlMaSor (Albay-Masbate-Sorsogon) Tourism Alliance

through facilities develop-ment and road links to desti-nations and the GuiCaDaLe Economic Township like up-land roads in Guinobatan, Ca-malig, Daraga and Legazpi.

At the center, the governor added, will be the approval of the conversion of the Legazpi National Airport into a 74-hectare Legazpi Green City and the future location of Al-bay International Convention Center. - PNA

bicol international airport . . .


NAMe oF DeCeASeD DATe oF INTerMeNT

DeCeMBer 7, 2015 JoVITA B. CLuBLeYDeCeMBer 12, 2015 HoNorATo B. PASCoDeCeMBer 12, 2015 MAIDeN H. BALDeMorDeCeMBer 13, 2015 rAuL D. SIBAYANDeCeMBer 15, 2015 HILArIoN B. BoNGAPATDeCeMBer 17, 2015 YANA CHeLSY S. NerICDeCeMBer 20, 2015 LuISA M. BABeLoNIADeCeMBer 21, 2015 JoSe D. PArCoDeCeMBer 20, 2015 eDuArDo C. SeVADeCeMBer 20, 2015 roBerT T. QuIeNDeCeMBer 26, 2015 MArIoN MIKe V. ALAMerDeCeMBer 26, 2015 eSIDerIA T. ArrIoLADeCeMBer 28, 2015 ANACLeTo C. CoLAWAY

For DeCeMBer

of farmers and the community or society as a whole and the success achieved by Bicol in this field is part of the Aquino administrations implementation of Republic Act 10068 or the Organic Agriculture Act (OAA) of 2010.

The regions adoption of or-ganic agriculture based on the OAA -- which aims to enrich soil fertility, reduce pollution and farmings environmental destruction, prevent natural re-sources depletion, save on im-ported fertilizer, and protect the health of farmers and consumers alike -- has been a proven ap-proach for increasing productiv-ity and income.

Indeed, the Department of Agricultures (DA) Bicol re-gional office gave this year more attention to the regions organic farming communities from where the country owes around 74 percent of its organic rice production.

According DA Regional Ex-ecutive Director Abelardo Bra-gas, Bicol also contributed 44 percent to the countrys overall production of other organic crops owing to their expansion of or-ganic farming with the Php6-mil-lion upland farming project that boosts the regions hefty contri-bution.

Under this project, the re-gions organically-produced up-land rice was further developed for its market potential as some of these traditional strains have been reported to outperform some modern rice varieties.

The advantage of these tradi-tional varieties is in higher grain production and drought toler-ance which has become a critical trait amid the prevailing climate change threats.

Upland rice varieties gener-ally have an average yield of only one to two metric tons per hectare, but selected Bicol variet-ies which the DA projects use in reviving vast upland rice farms in the region exceed such yield average.

Based on a report of the In-ternational Rice Research Insti-tute (PhilRice), Bicol had 63,699 hectares of upland farms, some of it rendered idle by unfavor-able weather conditions and pest in the past.

DAs development of the re-gions upland rice is very timely as these varieties have the poten-tial to withstand higher tempera-ture and less water supply which is needed amid the threatening climate condition.

Upland rice production is ideal since it can make up for any shortfalls in flood-prone lowland irrigated areas.

This is specifically during wet season cropping when flood-

ing in lowland prevails.Hence, uplands are now rice

production frontier in Bicol showing improved yield through enhanced varieties and cultural management practices that suit the soil, climatic and social con-ditions.

The DA started it all from its establishing in 2012 of a technology demonstration farm in the nearby Bula town from where the agency took off with its project for the revitalization of organic agriculture in the re-gion.

Established within the vast agricultural property that the Pecuaria Development Coop-erative Inc. (PDCI) is tending in Barangay Lapigna, Bula, the one-hectare demo farm has been planted to organic and aromatic rice varieties called JM2 and Basmati.

The experimental farm locat-ed within the 800-hectare Pec-uaria Rice Central also grows traditional varieties such as RC 160 and RC 18.

RC 160 is a high-yielding variety developed by the Central Luzon State University while the MS 16 (Maligaya Special), which has good eating quality, is from the PhilRice.

Since then, until now, the project has made PDCI the lead-ing single producer of organic rice in Bicol and among the five certified organic collaborators chosen by the DA nationwide for the Development of National Organic Rice Seed Production Systems with Informal Sector.

The seeds produced from this techno demo farm is being procured by the DA and distrib-uted as starter seeds to farmers engaged in organic rice produc-tion.

The project is one of the DAs programs and projects for the promotion of sustainable ag-riculture.

This is a model farm that demonstrates the unity of Bi-colano farmers evidenced by the success of PDCI towards the re-gions commendable rate of rice production, Bragas said.

DAs revitalization of organic agriculture in Bicol and the en-tire country is part of the Aquino administrations National Rice Program being implemented for increased production towards rice-self sufficiency of the coun-try and more income for Filipino farmers to liberate them from the bondage of poverty.

Apart from the PDCI organic agriculture demo farm, a four-hectare rice farm established in Barangay Binanuanan Sur here by Carmela Cervantes, a faculty-researcher at the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, is another feather added to the

orGanic aGriculture . . .

cap of the regions organic farm-ing initiative.

The farm certified by the Organic Certification Center of the Philippines is now a popular destination of people who want to learn and adopt organic farm systems serving as a laboratory cum training farm showcasing sustainable agriculture through natural farming technologies.

The farm keeps a collection of 20 traditional rice cultivars which is being mass-produced and using modern rice varieties like RC 18 and NSIC 222 which they found to perform well un-der organic production systems that give them average yield of 100 cavans of palay per hec-tare.

It also produces organic seeds which are made available other organic rice farmers in the province.

and other related documents based on the checklist that they will be provided with.

Once checked and verified, applicants will proceed to the Treasurers Office to pay their subscriptions, finishing up the second step and upon presen-tation of the official receipts, barangay clearance and Fire Safety Inspection Certificate, they can now claim the endorse-ment, wrapping up the 3rd step required for the renewal of their business and Mayor permits.

BOSS which will be held daily at the Naga City Peoples Hall, commenced today, Janu-ary 4 and will end on the 20th of the same month.

In their Facebook page Naga Smiles to the World, LGU Naga through the headship of Mayor John Bongat enjoined everyone to take part in this yearly endeavor, particularly businessmen who are dubbed as the citys economic actors, to register and renew their business permits for the entire stretch of the BOSS duration.

"BOSS offers the customer the convenience of not running from one department or sections to another just to finish the re-quirements needed to operate or start up their business. Its prima-ry purpose is to cut red tape and make life easier for those who are willing to have their business venture in the city"

Top 400 early registrants who can complete the process will bring home with them lim-ited 2016 city mugs, courtesy of the City Events Protocol and Public Information Office (CEP-PIO) headed by its Chief, Allen Reondanga.

Bongat also extended the venue for those who want to avail of the BOSS program and

lGu naGa activates . . .crafted more innovations for the convenience of Naga Citys business partners.

For the One-Stop-Shop, those who will renew at the Bi-col Central Station (BCS) and at the market, the processing will be done there. So, the process-ing will be reduced from 3 to 2 steps submit and claim only, because some of the require-ments are done at the Naga City Peoples Mall, about 1,800 stall-holders, Bongat added

Documents which will be submitted at the Bicol Central Station will be brought to the BOSS in bulk. Each stall hold-ers dont have to go personally at the BOSS main venue in City hall. They can have one repre-sentative from MEPO and Bicol Central Station.

Bongat is also positive that revenue for this year will be higher than in 2015.

In terms of revenue, we should go back to the expected revenue of the City. The ap-proved budget is P941M. Thats the expected revenue, both IRA and local. We expect a higher increase because there are more businesses developed in NAGA. There is a boom in construction industry this will translate to real property taxes and business taxes it will even overshoot the P941M conservative budget for 2016.

ognized as 2014 Luzon Mi-croentrepreneur of the Year because of her REL Seafoods Buyer and Dealer wherein she was able to employ people in her community and helping them get out of poverty as well.

Our dream is to see our clients achieve their dreams. It is a great privilege to be part of the success of our clients, said Dr. Jaime Ar-

another carD bank . . .istotle Alip, the Founder and Managing Director of CARD MRI.

The CMA aims to recog-nize outstanding microentre-preneurs, provide them with incentives to improve their businesses, products, services, technologies, and accelerate income-generating activities, and to highlight the microen-trepreneurs as inspirations to other MEs.

a sure earning amounting to P3,900.00 or P260 per day, for the duration of the pro-gram.

Our TUPAD is actually an emergency employment program designed to pump-prime the economy after ca-lamities. It is designed to help beneficiaries have income to at least buy food. DOLE Bicol Asst. Reg. Dir. Atty. Ma. Karina Perida Trayvilla

Doles proGram for DisplaceD workers . . .stated.

Elated by the news the she was drafted by DOLE Provincial Office Camarines Sur with of course, the help of the Barangay, as one of the women beneficiaries, Ana immediately asked her hus-band to assess the damage and compute how much is needed for the repair of their Banka.

With proper budgeting

and salvaging what may be used, Anas P3,900.00 TU-PAD wage has bought ply-wood, roof cement, nails and other materials to repair their Banka. Not just that, Ana has also saved some money which helped in the school dues of their children.

If it was not for the TU-PAD program of DOLE we would not have recovered. Some may say its a small amount, but during the time when you dont have anywhere to go, that small amount could make a differ-ence. Thank you very much!, Ana stressed with full grin on her face.

As of press time, the Ban-ka (in photo) is serviceable and has brought steady in-come to the Gamelo family.

The story of Ana proves that the TUPAD Program can go a long way. ARD Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla ended.

honor thy heroesJanuary 4 marks the 119th commemoration of the Quince Marteres' death. They are remembered for the bravery they have shown when they fought for our freedom. There was a wreath laying ceremony, led by Mayor John G. Bongat. The flag was also set at half mast to honor and respect these heroes.

bikol reporter6 january 3 - 9, 2016


Bikol RepoRteR - published: December 27, 2015, Jan. 3 and 10, 2016

bikol reporter8 january 3 - 9, 2016

Bikol RepoRteR - published: December 27, 2015, Jan. 3 and 10, 2016


nGCP enerGy Press CorPs 2015 Christmas PartyMr. Nelson Bautista, Head of the regional Communications Division of the National Grid Corporation (NGCP), and PIA-Cam Sur Provincial Head and energy Press Corps President Lizel S. Macatangay hosted the NGCP post-Christmas Party for members of the media on Monday, December 28 at the Flamingo Hostel, Concepcion Pequena, Naga City. Bautista thanked the Cam Sur media for their support in NGCPs programs and mission as he looks forward to another fruitful and collaborative 2016 to come. (JrM, PIAV/Camarines Sur)

Bicol.Abcede said Sorsogon

posted the highest number of classrooms that were totally damaged, 534; followed by Albay, with 71; Masbate, 65; and Camarines Sur, 40.

The DepEd official also said that additional PhP77.6 million worth of damage was recorded in non-infrastructure (furniture, learning manuals and computer equipment) assets.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Au-thority (TESDA) reported PhP7.2 million in damage while the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) listed PhP980,000.

The Department of Pub-lic Works and Highways (DPWH) had PhP220 million in damage to various national roads and bridges, flood con-trol structures and seawall projects across the region.

The Department of Agri-culture (DA) reported only four provinces suffered enor-mous losses in agriculture, amounting to PhP827 million -- with Sorsogon having the highest losses amounting to PhP351 million; followed by Masbate, PhP48.3 million; Albay, PhP7.1 million and Catanduanes, PhP7 million.

The DA report said dam-age caused by "Nona" af-fected 25,469 farmers tilling 25,139 hectares of rice lands, 6,044 hectares of corn, and 4,611 hectares of land planted with high-value crops.

The fisheries sector also incurred some PhP39 million in damage.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) re-ported that "Nona" destroyed PhP70.7-million worth of communal irrigation systems and national irrigation system projects. -PNA

typhoon . . .

STeP INTo HoLIDAY STYLe WITH PArISIAN SHoeSTis the season to celebrate joy, hope, and love! And with a calendar full of social and family activities, its

the best time to step into holiday style with Parisians latest collection at SM.Whether youre attending a holiday party or a family reunion; headed for a wonderful weekend or going

around the city to shop for gifts, the iconic shoe brand will take you places with trendy and classic pieces that will complement your wardrobe.

Go on-trend with laced-up and gladiator heels and flats from the Bohemian Escape Collection. Or rock with the Street Beat in sleek boots and cut-out heels. Relax from the holiday rush with comfy chic sandals from the Sportif collection. Or give your look a Classic Reboot with pointed pumps, strappy heels and glittered flats updated for a whole new generation of stylish women.

the parisian Holiday collection is available at SM Stores nationwide. Get connected with parisian through parisian Shoes and Bags on Facebook and @SMparisian

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outstanDinGlocal newspaperFor Five Consecutive YearsSt. peter Baptist CatholicMass Media awards

www.bikolreport.blogspot.come-mail: [email protected]

reGional eXponent for proGress

paGe 10 bicol, the philippines january 3 - 9, 2016 p5.00

For its pioneering and exemplary pro-grams for People with Disabilities (PWDs), SM Cares, the Corporate Social Responsibil-ity arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. bagged the fi rst ever Corporate Social Responbil-ity Excellence Award of PWDs given by the People Management Association of the Philippines.

In a ceremony recently held at the AIM Conference Center in Makati City, PMAP Human Resources Managment Founda-tion gave CSR Excellence Award under the Community Service Category to SM Cares for its outstanding initiatives to recognize and uplift the lives of PWDs.

SM bags CSr excellence AwardsSM Cares Program on PWDs, according

to PMAP, "Exemplifi ed the test of innova-tion, sustainability, replication, scalability, and impact; and signifi cantly exemplifi ed the values of Social Signifi cance, Business Impact, Employee Engagement, and Inno-vative Partnership."

SM Cares Program on PWDs has also been recently elevated to the Hall of Fame by the Apolinario Mabini Awards spear-headed by the Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled. To read the full story, please visit www.smcares.com.ph.

SM Cares. Supporting Communities.

organic agriculture keyto high Bicols rice yield

By DANNY o. CALLeJA

PILI, Camarines Sur Year 2015 saw Bicol main-taining its dramatic feat in sustainable farming fi rst no-ticed in 2013 when the region was cited as the countrys top organic rice producer.

Sustainable agriculture, more popularly known as or-ganic farming, is an integrat-ed system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specifi c application that last over the long term.

It provides or secure human with safe and nutritious food, enhances the quality of envi-ronment based upon which the agricultural economy re-lies and makes effi cient use of non-renewable resources and on-farm resources that are in-tegrated into natural biologi-cal cycles and conditions.

The system also makes farm operations economically viable and enhances the quality of life

(Turn to page 5)

uP studes host academic festNAGA CITY -- The Uni-

versity of the Philippines Harong, an organization of UP Diliman students com-ing from Camarines Sur and the cities of Naga and Iriga, will once again host an academic competition among high school students in the province on January 6-9, 2016 here.

With the theme, "Strength-ening the Ties: The Youth Engagement in Appraising the Progress of Internation-alization," the 20th AcadFest will feature the following competition areas:

* the 20th Tingog nin Ra-son Debate Tournament,

* the 18th Boses kan Jo-venes Public Speaking Con-test,

* the 14th Harong nin Dunong Quiz Bee,

* the 13th Sural Essay Writing Competition,

* the 12th Gayon Bikol-non Poster Making Contest,

* the 8th Ladawan nin Kabikolan Photojournalism Contest,

* the 6th Istoryang Suanoy Storytelling Contest, and

* the 3rd Heras sa Ban-waan Radio Broadcasting

Tournament.According to its Face-

book page, the academic fest aims to lead the youth to to be more aware and partake in a very relevant discourse on the progres-sion of internationalization, getting involved and elimi-nating apathy.

For the academic year 2015-2016, the UP Harong is led by Lheanne Sherrie Begi-no as President; Paula Bianca Samson as VP for Academic and Trainings, who is also this year AcadFest project head; Joyce Hann Prades, VP for Finance and Marketing; Frances Abygail Genio, VP for Membership and Internal Affairs; and Carla Garchi-torena, VP for Public Rela-tions and Communications. - fpj

U P H A R O N Gwww.alberthallado.com