News Release

Province of Sorsogon to institute protocols on marine mammal stranding response

By: Irma A. Guhit

Sorsogon City - Feb. 11  -  Dr. Enrique Espiritu, provincial veterinary  officer,  of the Sorsogon Provincial Veterinary Office  (PVO) in an interview after  providing emergency first response assistance, administering medical care ,  and collecting blood, tissue and fecal  samples for study and proper assessment, has advised the release of  the 300 kg Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) now considered as rare species and found last week here at the municipal waters of Matnog.

The composite team who handled the release were Mayor Emilio Ubaldo of Matnog, Noni Enolba of the Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources, RO5, Gil Ramos of the Provincial Agriculture , Fishery Section, Elvira Pantone, municipal agriculture officer of Matnog and Dr. Espiritu.

Espiritu  said, that it now but just timely that the public should be informed on the right protocols to be followed by local government officials in the proper handling of stranded marine mammals and how fast emergency stranding response can be instituted.

Sorsogon found at the tail-end point of the island of Luzon is surrounded by two big bodies of water, from the western side, the Pacific Ocean and on the eastern side, the China Sea. It has now a series of marine mammal stranding reports and records from whale sharks, dolphins and porpoise almost every month according to Dr. Espiritu.

Dr. Espiritu has been trained last October 2010 on the medical aspects of marine mammal stranding emergency response and now is part of the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network that can respond immediately to such kind of calls.

“With the frequent cases of marine mammal stranding recorded here in the province, a training for marine mammal stranding emergency response should be conducted specifically to local government officials, municipal agricultural officers and personnel from the office of the provincial agriculture, specifically the fishery sector. Through this, awareness by key persons responsible on how to handle such cases will observe the right protocols and can assure the continuous conservation and preservation of our marine biodiversity”, Espiritu said.

The Philippines according to the scientific data recorded by the Philippine Marine Mammal Network is home to 26 species of whales and dolphins.

Sorsogon stands out as a province in the conduct of the study since it is home to the famous whale shark locally known as Butanding (Rhincodon typus) and is now considered one of the best ecotourism attractions globally.

“It is high time that our public officials and agencies involved in the protection and preservation of our marine mammals and the public as well,  be well-aware on their roles and functions in saving our marine resource.  Institutionalizing the right protocols on how we can immediately address cases of marine mammal stranding in our province is an answer too to mitigation and adaptation since marine  mammals are also greatly affected now by climate change.” , Espiritu further stressed.(PIA-Sorsogon)

Programa laban sa kriminalidad sa Sorsogon City higit pang pinaigting

Sorsogon City, (PIA) – Sa pag-upo sa pwesto ni City Police Chief Arturo P. Brual, Jr. bilang hepe ng Sorsogon City Police ay higit pang pinalakas ang police visibility at pinaigting ang pagbibigay kaalaman sa pagsasarekord o ang tinatawag na on time incident recording ng mga detalyeng police blotters sa mga presinto.

Ito ay bunsod na rin ng lumalalang sitwasyon ng mga nakawan at iba pang mga kriminalidad sa lungsod.

Hiniling din ng opisyal kay Mayor Leovic Dioneda ang karagdagang kagamitan tulad ng VHF radio equipment na magagamit nila sa kanilang mga operasyonlalo na sa pagpapabilis ng pagresponde sa tuwing may kriminalidad.

Nanawagan din si Brual sa publiko na huwag paglaruan ang PNP hotlines. Ito ay matapos na makapagtala ang PNP ng ilang mga prank calls at text messages na kapag naberipika na nila ay pawang walang katotohanan pala.

Mapanganib din aniya ang mga set-up calls o text para sa kaligtasan ng buhay ng kanyang mga tauhan kung kaya’t umapela ito sa publiko na iwasan ang ganitong mga gawain.

Ayon pa kay Brual, nagbigay na rin sila ng kaukulang training at seminars para sa mga barangay tanod ukol sa tamang pagpoposas at teknik sa pakikipag-usap sa panahong may aarestuhin sa kanilang barangay. Layunin nitong masanay ang mga tanod at magsilbing katuwang ng mga awtoridad sa pagpapatupad ng kaayusan sa mga barangay.

Kasama din sa training ang pagbabantay kapag may homeowners meeting, subalit nilinaw nilang may limitasyon pa rin ang saklaw na kapangyarihan ng mga tanod kumpara sa mga totoong pulis.

Samantala, ang Sorsogon City ay mayroong apat na Cpac o Community Police Assistance Center na maaring dulugan ng mga complainants. Mayroon na ring inilagay ang PNP na pink room para sa mga babaeng complainant upang hindi sila maasiwa sakaling nagbibigay ng mga testimonyang sensitibo sa women’s desk assistance officer. (Bennie A. Recebido, PIA Sorsogon)

News Release

2^ND MODULE NG SEMINAR WORKSHOP FOR SPED TEACHERS, IPINAGPATULOY

By: Jun Tumalad

Sorsogon City, (PIA) – Muling sinimulan kahapon ang pagpapatuloy ng Seminar Workshop on Special Education Teachers sa lungsod ng Naga kung saan ito na ngayon ang pangalawang serye.

Matatandaang una nang sinimulan ang first phase ng SPED training for teachers noong Enero21 na nagtagal ng tatlong araw.

Pitong kinatawan mula sa lalawigan ang muling hahasain ukol sa mga istratehiya sa pagtuturo ng mga batang may espesyal na pangangailangan at atensyon.

Apat dito ay mula sa Deped Provincial School Division habang ang tatlo ay   mula sa Sorsogon City Schools Division.

Kabilang sa mga input na ibinigay ay ang speech and language lectures at self-help skills para sa mga batang may edad pitong buwan hanggang anim na taong gulang.

Tampok ang temang “Empowering SPED Teachers for Effective Teaching in the 21^st Century, naisakatuparan ang seryeng ito ng regional workshop sa tulong ng Rotary Club of Naga, De La Salle University at local na pamahalaan ng Naga City. (PIA Sorsogon)

News Release

OPAPP to pilot the province of Sorsogon on PAMANA implementation

By: Irma A. Guhit

Sorsogon City, (PIA) - Speaking infront of the local chief executives of the 14 municipalities and one city, the very positive participation of the attendees to the one-day Sorsogon Consultation and Planning on PAMANA (Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan) held here just recently at Fernando’s Hotel, triggered USec Luisito G. Montalbo of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace process (OPAPP) to forge a commitment to pilot the province of Sorsogon in the implementation of the PAMANA Framework and Operational Guidelines, that of Building Resilient Communities and spearheading to achieve a culture of peace.

A total of almost fifty (50) participants comprising of local chief executives, the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, selected national line agency provincial heads comprising of DENR, PIA, DILG ; provincial and municipal planning officers and identified non-government organization development partners underwent a Conflict Analysis Workshop, using the PAMANA Framework  Guideline in identifying the root causes of armed conflict or insurgency in the province of Sorsogon and finally  strategizing conflict resolution mechanisms.

The consultation and planning activity collated inputs and insights that provided the OPAPP a working knowledge of the peculiar situation of the province of Sorsogon vis-à-vis the insurgency situation.

The attendees were enjoined to suggest strategies, programs, projects and activities that will signify the “olive leaf offering” and using the PAMANA Framework Guideline in addressing armed conflict.

USec Florencia “Oyen” Dorotan of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) has inputted a very clear situational analysis of the province, she being a resident of the local government of Irosin and the experiences gleaned from her husband’s administration being a municipal mayor of Irosin  for three terms , Dr. Eddie Dorotan.   

“I believe the P-Noy administration is very sensitive and sincere in opening up avenues to negotiation and continuous peace talks to attain peace. My experience as one development partner here has given me a very clear perspective that giving the right programs and projects can address peace situation in our province “, Dorotan said.

Executive Director of the Sorsogon Provincial Management Office (SPMO) and former governor Sally A. Lee expressed high hopes in the intervention presented by OPAPP and believes that insurgency can still be remedied if all stakeholders will join hands.

“Let us extend the most humane way to address this problem. On the other hand, we would like to call those on the other side of the government to also give peace a chance. After all, we are all Filipinos. And as the saying goes, it takes two to tango,” she said.

USec Montalbo will inform the provincial government and local chief executives on the next plan that of laying the ground work on what will be the next steps to pilot PAMANA implementation in the province of Sorsogon. (PIA Sorsogon)

TURISMO DAPAT NA PALAKASIN AT SUPORTAHAN LALO NA NG TRASPORT SECTOR

Tagalog News Release

Sorsogon City, (PIA) – Malaki ang nagiging ambag ng turismo sa ekonomiya ng isang lugar kung kaya’t dapat na palakasinat suportahan ang turismo partikular ng mga nasa transport sector.

Ito ang naging pahayag ni Sorsogon City Information Officer Manny Daep sa regular na programa ng lungsod, ang Sararo Sarabay.

Aniya, pumapangatlo ang Sorsogon City sa mga syudad na malimit puntahan ng mga turista sa rehiyon ng bikol.Pumapangalawa dito ang Legazpi City habang nangunguna naman ang Naga City.

Ibinigay na halimbawa ni Daep ang Palawan kung saan malaki ang nagiging paghanga ng mga turista dito hindi lamang dahilan sa magagandang tourist spots dito kundi maging sa hospitality na ipinapakita ng mga mamamayan at transport group doon, dahilan upang balik-balikan ito ng mga turista, banyaga man o lokal.

Dapat aniyang tandaan ng mga Sorsoganon na isa sa hinahangaan ng mga turista ay ang pagiging magalang ng mga lokal na residente lalong lalo na sa sektor ng transportasyon. Dapat din aniyang alisin ang pananamantala lalo na sa pagsingil ng pamasahe at magabayan ng tama ang mga ito upang hindi sila madala sa pagbisita sa Sorsogon. (Jun Tumalad, PIA Sorsogon)

Marine mammal stranding response protocol ipapalabas ng Sorsogon

Tagalog News Release

Sorsogon City, (PIA) – Matapos na mahuli ang isang Dolphin sa karagatan ng Matnog nitong nakaraang linggo, magpapalabas ng protocol ang lalawigan ng Sorsogon ukol sa tamang paghawak ng mga nahuhuling hayop partikular yaong mga endangered species.

Ayon ka provincial veterinarian Dr. Enrique Espiritu, sa nagiging pagbabago ng panahon ngayon nararapat lamang na alam ng publiko lalo na ng mga lokal na opisyal ng pamahalaan ang mga dapat gawin sa paghawak at pagbibigay ng mga pangunang-lunas ng mga nahuhuli o naiistranded na mga hayop tulad ng dolphin, pating, pawikan at maging mga ibon na kadalasang nahuhuli dito sa Sorsogon.

Ang Sorsogon ay napapaligiran ng malalaking katubigan tulad ng China Sea at Pacific Ocean, maliban pa sa magandang klima ng lalawigan kung kaya’t malimit na nadadako dito ang mga endangered species na tulad ng mga ito.

Sinabi ni Espiritu na dapat ding sumailalim sa marine mammal stranding emergency response training ang mga lokal na opisyal, municipal agricultural officers at ang mga tauhan ng provincial agriculture’s office lalo na ang nasa fishery sector.

Ayon sa kanya, sa pamamagitan nito ay mabibigyan ng kamalayan ang mga kinauukulan pagdating sa tamang protocol at tamang kaalaman ukol sa kanilang papel na ginagampanan bilang mga awtoridad nang sa gayon ay matiyak na napapangalagaan ang marine biodiversity at naisasalba ang mga likas na yaman ng Sorsogon.

Si Espiritu ay una nang sumailalim sa ganitong pagsasanay noong October 2010 lalo na sa stranded marine mammal medical emergency response kung saan bahagi na siya ngayon ng Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network na siyang nagbibigay ng agarang tugon sa ganitong mga pangangailangan. (Bennie A. Recebido, PIA Sorsogon)