Kalagayan ng apat na mangigisdang nawawala hindi pa matiyak

Sorsogon City – Nasa proseso pa rin ang Philippine Coast Guard Sorsogon sa beripikasyon ng kalagayan ng apat na mangingisdang taga-Bulan Sorsogon na naiulat na nawawala halos ay tatlong araw na ngayon.

Ayon kay PCG Sorsogon Station Commander LtJG Ronnie Ong may ulat silang nakuha kagabi na buhay ang apat na mangingisda at sa kasalukuyan ay nasa Puting Baybay sa Claveria, Masbate at nasa pangangalaga ng isang nagngangalang Mr. Apek.

Ayon kay Ong naipaabot na sa kanila ang tinitirhan at contact number ng kumukupkop sa apat na mangingisda subalit hirap silang makontak ito.

Sa ngayon ay patuloy ang kanilang pakikipag-ugnayan sa local officials ng Claveria, Masbate at Bulan, Sorsogon upang matiyak na buhay at ligtas ang mga mangingisdang kinilalang sina Ariel at Jesus Guapo at Ricardo at Jun-Jun Gipa na pawang mga taga-Zone2, Bulan, Sorsogon.

Matatandaang sa ulat na ipinaabot ng isang tripulante, nagkaroon diumano ng butas ang kanilang bangka sanhi ng malalaking hampas ng alon at malakas na hangin, kung kaya’t sumaklolo na si Danny Baron, ang may-ari ng bangka. Subalit tanging ang bangkang sinakyan ng apat na mangingisda ang natagpuan sa bahagi ng karagatan ng Calumay, Claveria, Masbate, ngunit di na nito nakita ang apat na tripulante.

Ayon kay Ong, may mga tauhan na rin siang nakatakdang pumunta ngayon sa lugar kung saan naroroon diumano ang mga mangingisda upang maibalik na ito sa kanilang mga pamilya. (Bennie A. Recebido, PIA Sorsogon)

Kababaihan isa sa susi sa pagsagot sa isyu ng kahirapan sa bansa

SORSOGON PROVINCE – Binigyang-diin ni Florencia Cassanova-Dorotan, isang women leader advocate, na mas malinaw at realistiko ngayon ang National Advisory on Poverty Council (NAPC) sa pagbuo ng mga simpleng plano upang mabigyang solusyon ang kahirapan sa bansa.

Ayon kay Dorotan, ang mga bagong inisyatiba sa pamamagitan ng 4Ps program sa ilalim ngayon ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III ay mas makapagpapalakas pa ng kapangyarihan ng mga kababaihan sa Sorsogon at makapagbibigay ng pagkakataong higit na makilala ang mga programa ng pamahalaan.

Ito ang inihayag ni Dorotan sa ginawang pagpupulong kamakailan ng Gender Advocacy and Development dito sa lungsod.

Sa ngayon, ang mga bayan ng Pilar,Magallanes, Donsol at Castilla pa lamang ang nanginginabang sa 4Ps habang hinihintay pa nila ang ulat ng Department of Social Welfare and Development para sa listahan pa ng mga mapapasama sa 4Ps mula sa natitira pang sampung mga bayan sa lalawigan.

Ang 4Ps o ang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program ay isang istratehiya ng pamahalaang nasyunal upang mapababa ang insidente ng kahirapan sa bansa at nagbibigay ng conditional cash grant sa mga tunay na mahihirap na pamilya upang maranasan nito ang ordinaryong pamilya.

Napag-usapan din sa pulong ang pagsasagawa ng orientation sa mga nahalal na opisyal ng lalawigan ukol sa pagpapatupad ng Magna Carta for Women kasama na rin ang pagsasailalim ng mga manggagawa sa Gender Sensitivity Training ngayong taon.

Binigyang-diin din ang tamang paggamit ng ten percent GAD budget lalo na ang pagtugon sa mga isyung may kaugnayan sa pang-aabuso sa mga kababaihan.

Sinabi naman ni GAD chairperson at board member Rebecca Aquino na isinama na rin nila sa 2011 GAD plan programs upang  mapababa ang infant mortality rate at maisakatuparan ang  climate change mitigation and adaptation, plalawigan. (Bennie A. Recebido, PIA Sorsogon)

Sorsogon, naka-alerto kaugnay ng “Terror Alert” ng PNP

Sorsogon City, February 1 – Nasa kamay na ng pamunuan ng munisipyo ng Bulan, Matnog at Pilar ang responsibilidad sa pagsasagawa ng mga check-points sa kani-kanilang mga munisipalidad na siyang entry at exit points dito sa lalawigan ng Sorsogon.

Ito ang naging pahayag ni Provincial PNP Director Heriberto Obias Olitoquit kaugnay ng pagpapatupad ng “terror alert” ng PNP na una nang iniutos ni PNP Chief Director General Raul Bacalzo sa buong bansa, partikular sa mga urban centers kasunod ng nangyaring pag­pa­pasabog sa isang pampasaherong bus sa EDSA, Makati City nitong nakaraang Enero 25.

Nagbigay na rin ngayon ng direktiba si Sorsogon PNP Director Olitoquit sa mga kapulisan dito ukol sa pagpapaigting ng seguridad sa lalawigan, lalo na sa Matnog Ferry terminal, Bulan at Pilar Sea Ports. 

Aniya, kasalukuyan nang naka-deploy ang mga K-9 dog sa bayan ng Matnog na siyang katulong ng mga otoridad upang malaman ang mgakahina-hinalang bagahe ng mga pasahero.

Patuloy ding tinututukan ngayon ng PNP ang mga government installations, commercial centers, economic key points, train at bus terminals, mga paliparan at daungan. Dagdag pa rito ang pagpapalakas ng police visibility, mobile patrol lalo na sa mga lugar na posibleng target ng mga terorista. (Von Labalan, PIO Provincial Government)

News Release

PAMB pushes for the Mt. Bulusan Natural Park Protected Area Bill

By: Irma A. Guhit

Sorsoogn City, February 1 – Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office V Forester Yolanda G. Sa-ong during the monthly meeting of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) just recently at the Sorsogon Provincial Management Office (SPMO), presented to the group the draft resolution of the Protected Area (PA) Bill of Bulusan Volcano Natural Park (BVNP) which she said is now on its second reading.

“We have been undertaken by the change in events, last 2010, approval of the PA Bill which was sponsored by former congressman Rodolfo Gonzales was not tackled during the 14^th Congress. Hopefully after some review and some refinements done by the PAMB members, we will be able to forward the PA Bill for approval to the 15^th congress with the assistance of the newly elected representative of the 2^nd district of Sorsogon, Congressman Deogracias Ramos to sponsor the bill,” Sa-ong said.

Presiding officer of the PAMB, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENR) Officer Oscar Dominguez said that the approval of the PA Bill will be a great accomplishment of t he PAMB specifically on the conservation and management of the BVNP resources. Thus, being one of Sorsogon’s best ecotourism destinations.

The PA Bill specifically will clearly define the declaration and boundaries of the 5-terrirorial municipalities around the natural park composing of Bulusan, Barcelona, Irosin, Casiguran and Juban.

The bill will also clear some isues regarding management and will provide initiatives for complementation of programs and projects towards the sustainable development of BVNP.

Strengthening the capabilities and issuing the deputation papers of the recommended Bantay Gubat within the park was also tackled during the meeting.

Former governor of Sorsogon, now executive director of the Sorsogon Provincial Management Office (SPMO) recommended to the board members the inclusion of attendance and orientation of the newly elected mayors of Bulusan, Juban, Irosin and Barcelona.

She said that as new leaders, first and foremost, they should know the functions of the members of the PAMB and be the ones to lead in its operationalization and should include development programs in their legislative agenda.

“They should also forge together to push for the approval of the PA Bill,” she added. (PIA Sorsogon)

Feature Release

 DENR – EMB5 pushes for the promotion of Bicol endemic fruits

 By: Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, February 1 – Two endemic fruits have been unknown to many of Bicolanos, the Gumihan (Artocarpus sericicarpus} of the Family Moraceae and the Baligang (Syzygium curanii) of the Family Myrtaceae which grows extensively on the wild, some on private lands. These fruit bearing trees bear fruit every year and ripens during the months of May and June. Many have tasted the Baligang but the Gumihan according to most people is virtually unknown. Many have not seen how it’s golden fruit when ripe looks nor have tasted it at all, especially to the young generation now.

“I am an ardent proponent of the conservation, preservation and propagation of these two (2) fruit-bearing trees. In my sorties to the island of Mindanao, Visayas and even in the northern parts of Luzon, seldom did I ever see these fruits. The Gumihan is very similar to the Marang (Artocarpius odoratissi)  but in terms of taste, the Gumihan tastes five times better and sweeter. Likewise, the Baligang which is similar to its relative, the Duhat (Syzygium cumini)   tastes better with its sweet and sour combination. I consider these fruits which are endemic to the Bicol Region be adopted as landmark fruits, aside from the Pili (Canarium ovatum)   for celebrating unique festivities- the Gumihan and Baligang Festival to rival  or add on to the Durian   and Lanzones Festival of Davao and Camiguin among others.”, Forester Fernando P. Quilanan, the newly appointed DENR-EMB RO 5 Regional Technical Director explained extensively to the Executive Committee Members of the Bacon Geothermal Multipartite Monitoring Team (BGMMT) during the Executive Conference held at Pepperland Hotel at Legaspi City during the first quarter Execom meeting earlier this January.

Present during the BGMMT Execom Meeting were former governor of Sorsogon, Sally Ante Lee, Engr. Leo Zancho Mago, representing the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), Engr. Adelaida Magante, representing Bacon Geothermal Incorporated (BGI),  Mr. Manuel “Nong” Rangasa, representing Gov. Joey Salceda of the province of Albay, DENR-PENRO Oscar C. Dominguez of Sorsogon, DENR PENRO Forester Rodolfo M. Matusalem, Engr. Leonisa Madeloso and Engr. Eva S. Ocfemia, Provincial Environmental Management Officers (PEMO) of Sorsogon and Albay and two sectoral head representatives of the BGMMT, ICM Irma A. Guhit of PIA Sorsogon, chair of the BGMMT IEC  committee,  and Engineer Maribeth L. Fruto, PENRO- LGU provincial head, BGMMT chair of the Forest Protection Committee.

The 250,000 reservation of the Energy Development Corporation  according to RTD Quililan will serve as the pilot area for  the massive  planting of the said two endemic trees and will fall under the “Binhi” program of EDC  to plant million of fruit bearing trees that can be one of the mid-term development plan specifically, an add-on alternative source for livelihood.

“I am very passionate to undertake this project specially to introduce it as reforestation crops for EDC. In principle they have committed already their full support to fund this project. The planting of these endemic fruit trees within the reservation area will also provide more  food for the 14- specie of fruit eating bats found at the EDC site and considered  as awesome ecotourism  features of the energy reservation area.’, Forester Quililan anxiously expressed.

“These two endemic fruits in the Bicol Region will highlight how rich we are in terms of our forest and how these can be harnessed as a very productive source of livelihood especially with our upland farmers. We are also planning to launch a contest in finding the biggest and sweetest Gumihan and Baligang this year. The seeds of these fruits will be used as planting materials so as to propagate the best Gumihan and Baligang that will place our region as a rich resource of these products.” Quililan further explained.

“As former governor of the province of Sorsogon, I am grateful that RTD Quililan has seen the importance of these endemic trees. These really have to be handed down to the next generation, otherwise they lose the chance of knowing what their fore fathers have enjoyed. The planting of these trees          in the region is a way too, to increase the income of our local tree planters. It will address environmental concerns and problems like the proliferation of kaingins. It is also a very laudable action since it will provide food for the table, which is the first thrust of the Millenium Development Goals (MDG), to address poverty. I know that EDC thru their corporate social responsibility program, the spirit of shared responsibility is always highlighted. I am truly glad that Albay and Sorsogon are provinces who will spearhead in addressing global warming and climate change through this project,” Lee stressed.

Mr. Manuel “Nong” Rangasa, representing Governor Joey Salceda candidly expressed their all out support of the progam. He said the provincial government of Albay will initialize its implementation since it has a Research Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation. They will include this project as one of its priority projects for 2011. He said Governor Salceda always welcome new initiatives especially if this will address issues on Climate Change.                                                                                                                            

The proposal for this project has been formally signed during the Execom meeting and the period of implementation will start early February of this year.  RTD Quililan has also provided the members the signed copies of the project.  (PIA- Sorsogon)