Boat trips resume in Sorsogon ports

By: Bennie A. Recebido

SORSOGON CITY, November 9 (PIA) – Stranded passengers and vehicles are no longer visible in three major ports in Sorsogon since 12:00 noon today.

This was the report of Coast Guard Station Sorsogon after public storm warning signal due to super typhoon “Yolanda” was lifted in Sorsogon province.

Prior to the resumption of sea trips in Matnog at 1:00 o’clock this morning, Coast Guard Detachment in Matnog had recorded a total number of 1,554 stranded passengers, 75 trucks, 45 bus, and 18 light cars.

The town of Matnog is the last municipality in Southern Sorsogon and serves as gateway to Visayas and Mindanao.

In Pilar, stranded passengers reaching to a total of 45 persons, 10 trucks, and seven (7) light cars were allowed to sail at 12:00 noon today. While in Bulan, no stranded passengers and vehicles were recorded until the time of lifting the suspension also at 12:00 noon today.

Pilar and Bulan cater passengers bound for Masbate.

Coast Guard Station Sorsogon Commander LCdr Philipps Y. Soria said that though they have allowed the resumption of trips, they continue to closely monitor not only the sea condition but also the procedures employed in loading the passenger to avoid overloading. “We also advised everyone engaging in seas specially fishermen to be on guard at all times’” he added.

Meanwhile, “Paalala sa mga Mangingisda” (Reminders to Fishermen) were also posted in three detachments in Sorsogon which contains a 12-item instruction in times there is a weather disturbance to make sure that fishermen are guided accordingly. (BARecebido, PIA-5/Sorsogon)

DENR Bicol signs accord for a bamboo gene bank, and 15-ha bamboo plantation

L-R: Ligao City Mayor Patricia G. Alsua, Cong. Fernando V. Gonzales, DENR Regional Executive Director Gilbert C. Gonzales and Filmenera Resources Corporation Representative Sulpicio Bernardo III

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov 5 (PIA) - The Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesRegional Officeseals an accord with Third District of Albay RepresentativeFernando V. Gonzalez, Sulpicio Bernardo III of Filmenera Resources Corporation, and Ligao City Mayor Patricia G. Alsuathat will establish a bamboo gene bank at Kawakawa Hill, and 15-ha bamboo plantation in eight barangays in Ligao City.

At the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding DENR Regional Executive Director (RED) Gilbert C. Gonzalesbares plans to establish 15 hectare kawayang tinik (Bambusa blumeana) in Bgys. Oma-oma, Baligang, Busac, Abella, Nabonton, Amtic, Maonon and Tula-tula.

Filmenera Resources Corporation (FRC), an industry operating in Masbate, will provide planting materials worth 100,000.00 pesos. The FRC representative expressed the company’s agreement with the RED’s plan to pursue an area development devoted to bamboo. They were convinced to support the project citing among others that Filmenera, alarge scale mining operator in Bicol provides for community development program and environmental programs as responsible miners andas part ofits corporate socialresponsibility. They consider the project part of reaching out to other areas- those outside their mining operation site. Their post mining land use involves exploring the establishment of plantation over mined out areas. Mr. Bernardo explains that Mining areas have final mining rehabilitation and decommissioning plan. In formulating it, the participation of local government is important wherein they discuss with DENR and LGU the interventions after mining operation is concluded. “After mine life there ought to be post mining land use, we are required to do post mining rehabilitation, “Mr. Bernardo said.

The Office of Congressman Gonzales for its part will help ensure the beneficiaries are well-trained and are able to make a living out of bamboo products sourced at the plantations. Cong. Gonzalez added that his Office will establish a bamboo palace in Kawakawa to promote the importance of bamboo as a cheap substitute to wood. Cong. Gonzales said he is most fortunate to be part of the MOU signing in order to provide livelihood to his constituents and promote environmental awareness by having multi species of bamboo in the City. He also expresed gratefulness to DENR for its assistance.

  

The bamboo gene bank will have in its collection the following species:

Local Name	Scientific Name	Origin
1. Anos	Schizostachyum lima (Blanco) Merill	Philippines
2. Bayog	Bambusa merrilliana (Elmer) Rojo & Roxas comb. nov.	Philippines
3. Black bamboo	Phyllostachys nigra (Lodd.) Munro.	China, Japan
4. Bikal	Schizostachyum dielsianum (Pilger) Merr.	Philippines
5. Bolo, Botong	Gigantochloa levis (Blanco) Merrill	Philippines
6. Buddha’s belly     Bamboo	Bambusa ventricosa	Vietnam, Taiwan and Southern China
7. Buho	Schizostachyum lumampao  (Blanco) Merrill	Philippines
8. Giant bamboo	Dendrocalamus asper (Schultes et.) Backerex Heyne	Southeast Asia
9. Hedge bamboo	Bambusa multiplex (Lour.) Raeuschel ex. J.A. and J.A. Schultes	Indo-China and Southern China
10. Iron bamboo	Guadua angustifolia Kunth	Northeastern South America to Panama
11. Kauayan Kiling	Bambusa vulgaris Scrad. ex. Wendl.	Asia
12. Kauayan Tinik	Bambusa blumeana Schultes f.	Philippines
13. Golden/Yellow        bamboo	Bambusa vulgaris Schrad ex Wendl var striata (Lodd. Ex Lindl.) Gamble	China, US, Puerto rico, Nicaragua
14. Pink bamboo	Gigantochloa kuring Widjaja	Sumatra
15. Wamin	Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. Ex. Wendl cv. Wamin McClure	Southern China
16. Laak	Bambusa sp.1	Philippines

The layout of the site will include 9,652 sq m comprised of kawayang tinik plantation, the gene bank of bambusetum covering 8,525 sq m and a nursery covering 8,463 sq m.

According to RED Gonzales, FRC is a pioneering partner in this endeavor. He is optimistic the bamboo plantation will supports the livelihood of locals given its potential in the market today. He is bound to funnel more funds from private sector, introduce the project to local industries and generate greater support for this project. He said last year he discussed this with former Ligao City Mayor Linda Gonzales and promised to bring in private entities to support it. RED Gonzales is able to generate same support for Bicol National Park’s reforestation project with Energy Development Corporation. ####

For more information, please email us at rpaobicol@gmail.com, Ruby Macasinag 0524820857

Fish Conservation Week ipinagdiwang sa bayan ng Casiguran

LUNGSOD NG SORSOGON, Nobyembre 4 (PIA) – Naging makabuluhan para sa mga Casiguranon ang naging pagdiriwang ng Fish Conservation o FishCon Week nitong nakaraang Oktubre.

Ayon kay Casiguran Mayor Ester Hamor, naantala man ang selebrasyon dahil sa preparasyon para sa Kasanggayahan Festival, hindi pa rin ito naging hadlang upang gawing makabuluhan ang isinagawang mga aktibidad kaugnay ng pagdiriwang na ito.

Isa sa mga naging aktibidad ang pagkakaroon ng coastal clean-up sa Barangay Central na nagbigay daan upang higit pang mapukaw ang kamalayan ng mga residente ukol sa kahalagahan ng pagkakaroon ng malinis na dalampasigan. Nagtulong-tulong naman sa paglinis sa dalampasigan ang mga boy scouts kasama ang ilang mga sundalo, mga kinatawan ng lokal na pamahalaan at ang Barangay Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (BFARMC). Sila din ang nanguna sa pagtatanim ng mga bakawan sa isa sa mga kostal na barangay sa Casiguran, ang Barangay Tulay.

Noong ika-dalawampu’t-apat ng Oktubre ang siyang naging pinakasentro at siya ring huling araw ng selebrasyon kung saan buong araw ay punung-puno ng mga gawaing nakatuon sa pagpapalaganap ng kahalagahan ng mga yamang-dagat at paghikayat sa mga tao na tumulong sa pangangalaga ng mga yamang-dagat na ito para sa mga susunod pang salinlahi.

Matapos ang isang misa na sinundan ng parada ay nagsagawa ng demonstration at lecture ang Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) na kinapalooban ng pagtalakay kung paano gumawa ng fish pen at fish cage at kung paano ang tamang pag-alaga sa mga primerang klase ng lamang-dagat tulad ng lapu-lapu, bangus at sugpo.

Ipinakita naman ng LGU-Casiguran ang kanilang buong suporta sa pangunguna ni Mayor Ester Hamor. Itinuon niya ang kanyang mensahe sa pagbibigay ng abot-abot na pasasalamat sa lahat ng mga lumahok at nakiisa sa naturang selebrasyon at tiniyak nitong handa ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Casiguran na sumoporta sa mga programang tiyak na kapupulutan ng aral at magbibigay ng benepisyo hindi lamang sa kanyang mga nasasakupan kundi maging sa kung ano ang makabubuti sa kapaligiran.

Ang Fish Conservation Week celebration ay alinsunod sa Proclamation Number 176 na inilabas noong Oktubre 21, 1963 at ipinagdiriwang tuwing Oktubre 13 hanggang Oktubre 19. Ngayong taon, ang Pilipinas ay nagdiriwang ng 50^th FishCon week na may temang, “Pangisdaang Pinagyaman Ngayon, Henerasyong Sagana sa Panghabang Panahon.” (BARecebido, PIA-5/Sorsogon/IRDF)

BFP Sorsogon City conducts advance inspection for 2014 One Stop-Shop Program

By: Bennie A. Recebido

SORSOGON CITY, November 4 (PIA) – To avoid over-crowding, cramming and likewise facilitate a smooth-sailing flow of application and renewal of business permit comes 2014, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Sorsogon City under the leadership of City Fire Marshal Senior Inspector Walter Badong Marcial has started since October an advance inspection of business establishment in anticipation of the yearly One-Stop-Shop Program of the city this coming January 2014 at the Sorsogon City Hall in Brgy, Cabid-an.

City BFP Public Information Officer Maria Gracia E. Corral said that SInsp Marcial had instructed the City BFP personnel to start the inspection immediately in October this year in close partnership with the City Engineering Office.

She said the BFP is over and above concerned on the safety of the public, they would like to ensure that BFP clients securing permits, and certificates adhere to the provisions stated in the Fire Safety Code, “hence, the conduct of this advance inspection as part of the forthcoming one-stop shop program of the city government,” said FO1 Corral.

In a press release sent to PIA, SInsp Marcial said that since Sorsogon City has a total number of more or less 2,000 business establishments, we have to maximize our time to inspect all these establishments beforehand, considering that we have limited fire safety inspectors. “Further, this will also allow the business owners to process their permits and licenses right away and for those who have deficiencies to comply,” he added.

“We call on the cooperation of all business owners to comply with the implementing rules and regulations of RA 9514 to avoid delays of issuance of fire safety inspection certification,” SInsp Marcial said.

He also said that for information and query regarding the requirements in processing Fire Safety Inspection Certificate, the BFP office is located at Amberg Compound in Brgy. San Juan, (Roro) Sorsogon City and is ready to accommodate clients. They can also be reached at their cellular phone number 09072927215. (BARecebido, PIA-5/Sorsogon City)