Saturday, October 31, 2009

COAST GUARD SORSOGON SETS UP DOTC PASSENGER ASSISTANCE CENTERS IN MAJOR PORTS

SORSOGON PROVINCE (October 31) – The Coast Guard Station Sorsogon (CGS) along with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) activated on October 28 until November 4, 2009 the Passenger Assistance Centers (PACs) in ports of Matnog, Pilar and Bulan, the province’s major ports.

“This is in line with the observance of All Saints’ and All Soul’s Day on Nov 1-2, this year, wherein the Department of Transportation and Communication – Philippine Coast Guard (DOTC-PCG) under its eagle-eye program “Oplan Kaluluwa 2009” would like to ensure an orderly, safe, convenient and secured sea travel of sea faring passengers through the major ports in the province,” said PCG Sorsogon Station Commander LtJG Ronnie T. Ong, Jr. in a press statement.

“CGS Sorsogon is working closely with local Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed forces of the Philippines (AFP) and shipping companies to emphasize integrated commitment to security and safety in water transport service by improving and enforcing safety standards and regulations such as inspection of baggage and implementation of security layers in the ports and passenger terminals to prevent hostile elements from perpetrating terrorist acts and likewise, to ensure no overloading of passengers,” Ong stressed out.

The PCG Special Operations Unit and K-9 Unit personnel are also placed on full alert status to implement stringent security in the ports to preclude any safety and security breach as well as protect vessel and the riding public.

Said personnel are likewise placed on standby status for immediate response to any maritime incidents.

K-9 Unit personnel are also tasked to conduct pre-departure inspection to baggage and cargoes for possible entry of illegal contrabands aboard ships.

Ong also explained that the center will have information/assistance and complaint desks where passengers could simply and easily ask for assistance and lodge their complaints related to their sea travel needs.

“Said PACs which are manned by a minimum of six personnel from PCG, PPA, MARINA and volunteers are strategically situated in areas accessible to the passengers. Personnel are detailed on a 24-hour basis with three shifts at four hours per shift daily or as practicable and necessary,” said Ong.

“PAC will also act as facilitators on the requests and complaints of the seafaring public to refer matters on hand to the office and/or shipping/boat operators concerned,” he further said. (RTOng, PCG Sorsogon/PIA Sorsogon)

Monday, October 19, 2009

DND SECRETARY TEODORO NAGING PANAUHING PANDANGAL SA PAGBUBUKAS NG KASANGGAYAHAN FESTIVAL 2009

SORSOGON PROVINCE – Naging matagumpay ang isinagawang opening ceremony ng Kasanggayahan Festival 2009 dito noong nakaraang Sabado partikular sa naging pagdalo at pakikiisa ni National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro sa selebrasyong ito ng mga Sorsoganon.

Sa naging pahayag ni Sec. Teodoro bilang panauhing pandangal, sinabi nitong napapanahon ang temang “Pangangalaga sa Kalikasan, Buhay ng Susunod na Henerasyon” lalo na’t ngayon higit kailanman dapat na mapangalagaan ang kalikasan sapagkat ramdam na ramdam na ngayon ng buong mundo ang mga epekto ng climate change.

Apat na punto ang tinutukan ng kalihi m sa kanyang pagtugon sa imbitasyon ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Sorsogon.

Una ay ang eco-tourism na siyang isinusulong ngayon ng lalawigan bilang isa sa mga potential for development nito. Aniya, sa pamamagitan nito, lalaki ang kapasidad ng Sorsogon, dadayo ang mga turista, lalago ang mga negosyo at magkakaroon ng trabaho ang mga Sorsoganon.

At dahil din aniya sa lalaki ang kita ng lalawigan, syudad at bayan dito, lalaki din ang budget nito para sa pagpapatayo ng mga imprastrukturang magagamit bilang proteksyon sa mga komunidad at matutugunan ang “build better, be better” program.

Ayon pa kay Teodoro, kung nilalayon ng Sorsogon na maging premier tourist destination, dapat na proteksyunan ang kalikasan para masustinihan ang paglago nito. Kung kaya’t binigyang-diin niya na dapat na maging maingat ang mga lokal na pamahalaan sa pagsusulong ng pag-unlad sapagkat lagi nang kaakibat ng pag-unlad ay ang pagkasira din ng kalikasan at mga komunidad.

Pangalawa ay ang peace and order situation. Aniya, bilang DND Secretary, naniniwala siyang walang puwang sa demokratikong bansa na isulong ang paggamit ng armas, bagkus ay mahinahong talakayan ang kailangan upang makamit ang kanya-kanyang mga adhikain.

Nanawagan din siya sa mga humiwalay sa pamahalaan na magbaba na ng armas at tumulong upang pagandahin ang Sorsogon, gayundin sa publiko na bigyang-puwang ang mga nalihis na ito na makabalik sa kani-kanilang komunidad at makapamuhay ng payapa at tahimik.

Pangatlo ay ang pagbati at paghahayag niya ng pasasalamat dahilan sa nakikita niyang pagbuhos ng suporta at sa pagiging bukas ng local government units sa pagbabahagi ng makukuha sa kanilang festival hindi lamang sa Sorsogon kundi maging sa Kabisayaan at Mindanao bilang tulong upang makabangong muli ang mga nasalanta ng nagdaang bagyo sa Central atNnorthern Luzon.

Nanawagan din siya sa mga LGU na tapusin o rebisahin ang kani-kanilang mga Zoning at Land Use Plan bago pa man tuluyang maging ganap na maunlad ang lalawigan ng Sorsogon.

Pang-apat at panghuli ay ang paghikayat sa mga Sorsoganon na sa kabila ng pagbibigay tulong ay dapat na makapagbigay inspirasyon din ito para sa agarang pagbangong muli ng ating mga kababayan pagkatapos ng bawat kalamidad.

Kaugnay ng selebrasyon ng Kasanggayahan Festival, sinabi ni Teodoro na ang adhikaing malinaw na nasasaad sa tema ng selebrasyon ng Kasanggayahan ang isa sa mga kadahilan kung bakit suportado pa rin niya ang pagdiriwang sa kabila ng kinakaharap na krisis ng marami sa mga Pilipinong nasalanta ng bagyong “Ondoy” at “Pepeng”.

Aniya, dapat lamang na may Kasanggayahan Festival upang tayo mismo ay maramdaman ang tunay na ispiritu ng pagdamay at pagdadamayan. (Bennie A. Recebido, PIA Sorsogon

Kasanggayahan Fest '09 Opening Ceremony



Monday, October 12, 2009

"Basura Mo, Sagip Buhay Ko" - a project of Coast Guard District Bicol

CGDBCL launches “Basura Mo, Sagip Buhay Ko”Project

The Philippine Coast Guard District Bicol (CGDBCL) launches in Sorsogon "Basura Mo, Sagip Buhay Ko" project on October 5, 2009. The devise is made of 2 empty plastic galloon (1 gal. capacity size), 1 empty galloon (1 liter capacity size), 1 ½ meter length (3/4” diameter) nylon rope, bolt and nut (size 5/16 x 3/4), 2 pcs, washer, marine epoxy adhesive and orange color paint.

CGDBCL personnel conducted the actual testing of the improvised life saving device that they personally made before it was initially distributed to their target beneficiaries, the fisher folks. In Sorsogon, CGDBCL has distributed the said makeshift buoy to at least eight marginalized fisher folks docked at Pier Site in Brgy. Talisay, Sorsogon City.

The “Basura Mo, Sagip Buhay Ko” Project, conceptualized and initiated by PCG Bicol Region District Commander Capt. Elson E. Hermogino aims at minimizing maritime incidences involving fisher folks who cannot comply with life saving appliance requirement such as life jacket due to financial constraints. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)

"Basura Mo, Sagip Buhay Ko" Improvised Life Saving Device


PCG's Improvised Life Saving Device