Hacienda Berenger: now in peaceful agreement between Land owners and farmers

SORSOGON CITY, August 10 – The Hacienda Berenger which has become the subject of an aged conflict and farmers’ series of rallies in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Sorsogon’s Office, now finally arrived in peaceful agreement between the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) and the landowner.

On May 28, 2012 with the permission of Roseller R. Olayres, Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II, the survey team conducted pre-ocular inspection and relocation survey in the area. Luzviminda De Jesus, City Agrarian Reform Officer and some concerned farmers accompanied the team in conducting the survey so that the farmers themselves will know their boundaries.

Hacienda Berenger which is composed of 22.4683 hectares was covered by Operation Land Transfer (OLT) in 1972. However, more than 10 land owners, filed a petition for retention which was protested by farmers.

DAR Sorsogon worked out to justify the farmers’ sentiment and the farmers’ case won from municipal to national DAR level. But the landowner filed an appeal until the case reached the Supreme Court where the farmers won.

To settle the matter, the landowner’s spokeperson requested the farmers to have a peaceful negotiation without involving any lawyers. In the end, both parties arrived in peaceful agreement. More satisfied now, the farmers can at last can go back to the area to till the land as farm-workers and were not expelled from the land which they considered their life. (AJArbolente, DAR/PIA Sorsogon)

The Survey Team with the City MARO and concerned farmers during the PRE-OCI and relocation survey in Berenger estate at Baribag, Sorsogon City. (Photo: AJArbolente, DAR/PIA Sorsogon)

"Tatay" Escudero, we will remember you...

Welcome Home Tatay. Sorsogon 1^st District Congressman Salvador “Sonny”/”Tatay” Escudero III arrived Legazpi City Airport in Albay on August 16, 2012. Sorsogon Philippine National Police gives full, honor as they welcome Tatay’s arrival.  His remains was convoyed by local officials, relatives, friends and media from the airport to his residence in Brgy. Buhatan, Sorsogon City. Escudero dedicated his life in public service as cabinet official, educator and legislator for four decades. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon/Photo: 903^rd Brgde, PA)

Paalam "Tatay"... Tarpaulins can be seen everywhere here in Sorsogon expressing deepest condolences to the bereaved family and gratitude to Sorsogon 1st District Rep Salvador "Sonny" Escudero III for his love, dedication and commitment to serve the people of Sorsogon. (BARecebido/Photo: Jun Tumalad, PIA Sorsogon)

Labi ni Cong. Escudero dumating na sa Sorsogon

Ni: Bennie A. Recebido

LUNGSOD NG SORSOGON, Agosto 17 (PIA) – Libong mga Sorsoganon na kinabibilangan ng mga mag-aaral, guro, lokal na opisyal ng pamahalaan, manggagawa at mga residente ang sumalubong sa labi ng Kongresista ng Unang Distrito ng Sorsogon Salvador “Sonny” Escudero III ngayong umaga.

Alas-syete y medya nang umaga kahapon nang dumating ang bangkay ng kongresista sakay ng Philippine Airlines sa Paliparan ng Lungsod ng Legazpi kung saan sinalubong ito ng mga awtoridad, opisyal ng pamahalaang probinsyal, mga media at ilang mga residente ng Sorsogon na siya na ring sumama sa convoy mula sa paliparan hanggang sa tahanan nito sa Brgy. Buhatan, Sorsogon City.

Simula sa pagpasok sa Brgy. Danlog, Pilar, Sorsogon, ang unang barangay ng lalawigan ng Sorsogon ay nakahilera na sa kalsada ang mga mag-aaral, mga guro, opisyal ng bayan at barangay at mga residente hawak ang mga puting banderitas na iwinawagayway habang dumadaan ang convoy ng labi ni Cong. Escudero.

Ipinagmamalaki ng mga Sorsoganon ang natatanging kontribusyon, dedikasyon at di-matatawarang pagsisilbi ng Kongresista na kilala rin sa tawag na “Tatay” hindi lamang sa Sorsogon kundi maging sa buong bansa.

Sa kabila ng kanyang malubhang karamdaman, tiniyak pa rin ng kongresista na nagagampanan nito ang kanyang tungkulin kahit pa nga naka-wheel chair na lamang. Isa si “Tatay” sa mga kongresistang may malinis na attendance record pagdating sa mga sesyon at pagdinig ng mga komite sa kongreso.

Maliban sa pagiging kongresista sa unang distrito ng Sorsogon sa kasalukuyang termino, nagsilbi din ito bilang Kalihim ng Agrikultura mula 1984 hanggang 1986 at noong 1996 hanggang 1998. Napabilang din ito sa mga pinagaralan bilang Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) sa larangan ng Veterinary Medicine noong 1971 at naging director din ng Bureau of Animal Industry at Deputy Minister.

Si “Tatay” ay ipinanganak noong ika-18 ng Disyembre, 1942 sa Casiguran, Sorsogon at ikinasal kay Evelina Guevarra, isang guro, at nabiyayaan ng tatlong anak kung saan isa dito ang ngayon ay bantog na Senador ng pilipinas, Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

Nagtapos ito ng kursong Veterinary Medicine noong 1963 sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Los Baños, nagtapos ng Masteral at Doctoral degree in Tropical Veterinary Medicine sa University of Queensland sa bansang Australia noong 1968 at ng Organization and Management sa University of the Philippines System noong 1969.  

Si “Tatay” na nasa ikalawang termino sa kasalukuyan ng pagiging kinatawan ng Sorsogon ay naging kinatawan na din noon sa 8th, 9th at 10th Congress of the Philippines mula 1987 hanggang 1998.

Nagturo din ito at naging dekano ng College of Veterinary Medicine sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas mula 1970 hanggang 1984 at naging Director ng University of the Philippines Veterinary Hospital.

Marami ding mga magsasakang natulungan si “Tatay” Escudero sa pamamagitan ng kanyang programang agraryo sa radyo.

Naging prayoridad niya sa kanyang pagsisilbi bilang kongresista ang pagbibigay ng tulong pinansyal, edukasyon, pangkabuhayan, public works, health care at medical assistance, rural electrification, suplay sa tubig, irigasyon at panganagalaga sa kakahuyan.

Sa ilalim ng 15^th Congress ay nakapag-akda si “Tatay” Escudero ng 117 na House Bills.

Dalawang araw ang ilalagi ng bangkay ng kongresista sa Sorsogon upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga Sorsoganon na masulyapan at makapagbigay-pugay na rin dito ang kanyang mga kababayan, bago ito ibalik sa Maynila sa Linggo, Agosto 19, 2012 upang i-cremate. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)

A TRIBUTE TO "TATAY'

THE WILL TO SERVE
 

  While people focus on the various vital and more controversial issues and policies, and the personalities involved, there is one veteran lawmaker who persists on making personal sacrifices to serve his constituents and the country. 

Despite his frail physique, Sorsogon Rep. Salvador H. Escudero III makes sure he attends all important plenary sessions even on a wheelchair. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. himself could not but marvel at Escudero's great dedication and appetite to serve his people. To this day he is among those who rarely absent himself from sessions and committee hearings. 

Congressman  Sonny Escudero or tatay as he is being fondly called by the Bicolanos, had been a workaholic and dedicated public servant as it had been proven on his vast experience not only as a legislator of the 1st District of the Province of Sorsogon but also a former Agriculture Secretary from 1984 to 1986 and again from 1996 to 1998. He is one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) awardees for Veterinary Medicine in 1971, and had been a former Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry and Deputy Minister.

Congressman Escudero was born on December 18, 1942 in Casiguran, Sorsogon and he was married to an Educator Ms. Evelina Guevarra, and they had been blessed with three children including incumbent Senator Francis Joseph “CHIZ’ G. Escudero. He graduated with a degree of Veterinary Medicine in Year 1963 in University of the Philippines Los Baños. He also had a Masteral and Doctoral degree in Tropical Veterinary Medicine in the University of Queensland, Australia in Year 1968 and in Organization and Management in University of the Philippines System in 1969.  

Congressman Escudero had served as representative during the 8th, 9th & 10th Congress from 1987 to 1998 and at present on his second term serving the constituents of Sorsogon from 2007 to date.  He is also an educator as a former dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine in the University of the Philippines from 1970 to 1984 and had been a Director of University of the Philippines Director of Veterinary Hospital, also a Radio Broadcaster as he had his own Radio Program he is hosting which caters Programs for the Agriculture sector.

He had achieved so many accomplishments for the his constituents in which his Priority Development Assistance funds or PDAF goes to programs on Public Works, Financial Assistance, Education, Livelihood, Health Care, Medical Assistance, Water Supply, Forest Management, Peace and Order, Rural Electrification and Irrigation. At present he had authored 117 House bills in the 15th Congress including a bill on enhancing Basic Education program in the Department of Education in which is very vital and will be very helpful for the Filipinos, truly a pride and honor not only for the Bicolanos but for the entire nation, Congressman Salvador Escudero III is really an icon and a legacy for every Public Servant to adhere on. (MHatoc)

"Tatay" Escudero, pumanaw na

Pagpanaw ni "Tatay" Escudero, labis na ikinalungkot ng mga Sorsoganon

Ni: FB Tumalad

LUNGSOD NG SORSOGON, Agosto 14 (PIA) – Sa paglisan ni Kongresman Salvador “Tatay” Escudero III sa mundo ay maraming Sorsoganon ang nalungkot at nagdalamahati.

Matapos ibalita sa radyo at telebisyon kahapon ng umaga na sumakabilang-buhay na ang Kongresista ng Unang distrito ng Sorsogon  ay marami na ang naghayag ng kanilang taos-pusong pakikiramay sa mga naulilang kaanak ng pamilya Escudero sa pamamagitan ng text messages sa mga radyo, telebisyon, facebook, twitter at iba pang networking sites.

Marami ang nanghinayang sa angking talino, kagalingang ipinamalas at hindi masukat na pagsisilbi ng Kongresista sa kanyang mga kababayan. Nagsilbi rin itong huwaran para sa mga kabataan lalo na sa mga benipisyaryo at nakinabang ng  Scholarship Program ni “Tatay”,  maging  mga kasamahan sa trabaho, mga opisyal ng bayan mula sa pinakamataas hanggang sa mababang posisyon sa  lipunan, kaibigan at mga taong kanyang nakasalamuha, tinulungan at pinagsilbihan.

Hindi na rin halos mabilang kung ilang daan at libong estudyante dito lamang sa paaralan ng Sorsogon State College (SSC) ang nakapagtapos  at natulungan ni  Congressman “Tatay” Escudero, nang  nagsilbi sya bilang kalihim ng Department of Agriculture (DA) sa ilalim ng pamamahala ni dating pangulong Fidel V. Ramos.

Ito rin ang nasa likod ng Gintong Ani Food Production and Security Program para sa mga magsasaka at  iba pang mga Livelihood Projects  at Financial Assistance para sa mga mangingisda na naapektuhan ng mga kalamidad tulad ng Red Tide sa unang distrito.

Halos lahat ng ahensya dito sa Sorsogon maging ang Lokal na pamahalaan ng kapitolyo  probinsyal, mga munisipyo kabilang na ang Headquarters ng PNP at AFP, mga paaralan sa buong probinsya ng Sorsogon ay awtomatikong iwinawagayway ng naka half-mast ang kanilang mga bandila bilang pagbibigay respeto sa pumanaw na opisyal ng probinsya ng Sorsogon. (FB Tumalad-PIA Sorsogon)

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Kongresista ng unang distrito ng Sorsogon pumanaw na

Ni: FB Tumalad

LUNGSOD NG SORSOGON, Agosto 13 (PIA) – Isang malungkot na balita ang bumulaga sa mga Sorsoganon ngayong umaga matapos kumalat ang mga balita sa radyo at telebisyon ang pagpanaw ng Kongresista Salvador “Sonny” Esacudero III sa loob ng kanilang tahanan sa Quezon City, Agosto 13, 2012, bandang alas 3:30 ng madaling araw dahilan sa colon cancer.

Nagpadala na rin ng  mensahe sa pamamagitan ng text message ang staff  ni Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero at sinabing mapayapang pumanaw ang kongresista sa edad na 69 at hiling ng kapamilya na ipanalangin ang  kaluluwa nito.

Si Congressman Salvador “Sonny” Escudero na kilala rin sa tawag na “Tatay” ay nagsilbi bilang sekretaryo ng Kagawaran ng Agrikultura sa panahon ng panunungkulan ni dating Presidente Fidel Ramos.

Kasalukuyan ring naka half mast ang bandila sa Kapitolyo Probinsyal bilang pagbibigay respeto sa pumanaw na kongresista ng Sorsogon.

Nagbigay naman nang malugod na pakikiramay sa pamilya Escudero ang lahat ng mga lokal na mamahayag, mga lokal na opisyal ng probinsya, mga hepe  ng iba’t-ibang opisina at institusyon, mga seminarista  kabilang na ang mga taong nakasalamuha  at  pinagsilbihan  sa syudad at probinsya ng Sorsogon.

Sinabi naman ni Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Sorsogon Chapter Chairman Armand Dematera namagbibigay sila ng espesyal na pagpuri at pagpugay sa yumaong kongresista.

Ayon pa kay Dematera, hindi matatawaran ang kontribusyon ni “Tatay” sa mga Sorsoganon na nagpakita ng walang sawang pagsisilbi sa kanyang mga kababayan. (FB Tumalad-PIA Sorsogon)

Aquino declares August 20 as a regular holiday in observance of ‘Eid’l Fitr’ or Feast of Ramadan

Office of the President

August 13, 2012 

President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared August 20 which falls on a Monday as a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid’l Fitr (Feast of Ramadan).

The Chief Executive issued the declaration through Proclamation No. 455 signed on August 13 by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., in line with Republic Act No. 9177 that declared Eid’l Fitr or Feast of Ramadan as a regular holiday throughout the country.

Eid’l Fitr is celebrated by the Muslim World for three (3) days after the end of the month of fasting.

“To promote cultural understanding and integration, the entire Filipino nation should have the full opportunity to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in the observance and celebration of Eid’l Fitr,” President Aquino said.

“In order to bring the religious and cultural significance of the Eid’l Fitr to the fore of national consciousness, it is necessary to declare Monday, August 20, as a regular holiday throughout the country,” he said.

Ramadan is the month when Muslims observe a strict fast for a period of 12 hours daily, from sunrise to sunset.

Ramadan is also a month of sacrifice and purification as the Muslims worldwide fast, pray and act with kindness towards the poor and less fortunate.