The free concert which
started San Miguel Beer’s Oktoberfest also gave away t-shirts, mugs of
beer, and other freebies.
Booths for the San
Miguel Shoot-out Challenge, Red Horse Beer Rock’s Greatest Hits, San
Mig Light Speed Stackers and Gold Eagle Beer Videoke-han were made
available.
The “beerkada” were
also given the chance to play in the booths.
Local bands also took
turns in entertaining the crowd mostly composed of young males but the
house was rocked down with the appearance on stage of pop band icon
Buendia.
Despite the odd hours
of the concert, beer aficionados stayed on until Pupil and Buendia
left the concert venue.
According to Voltaire
Dela Cruz, Business Affairs and Communications in charge, Catbalogan
was one among 29 other areas in the whole country that served as
starting point in the Oktoberfest.
“This year’s
Oktoberfest will be a celebration of everything that brings delight to
Filipino. This can only mean more San Miguel Beer parties across the
nation and more surprises to be shared and enjoyed with a variety of
SMB brands to choose from,” says Charmaine Bautista, San Miguel group
band manager.
In response to the
demand of the consumers, the company will also offer the limited
edition San Miguel Oktoberfest Beer which was first introduced in last
year’s Oktoberfest. The special pale lager is known for its full
flavor, malty notes, sweet taste, smooth finish and lower alcohol
content.
San Miguel Beer
patrons may also win from other Oktoberfest activities. San Miguel
Beer will be conducting house to house raids, bar tours and crown
collection promo nationwide where consumers can also win cool premium
collectible items.
Catbalogan, said
SMB Executive Raffy Flores is an area where SMB brands enjoy a ‘great’
following. (with report from V. dela Cruz)
Rights body assures
dialogue with President Arroyo on signing torture law
By AHRC
September
22, 2009
HONG KONG – The
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) welcomes the assurance given by
the chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in the
Philippines (CHR) that she would initiate "direct communication" with
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the signing of the law on
torture.
In her September 22
email to Basil Fernando, executive director for the AHRC, Commissioner
Leila De Lima, assured him of "our institution's (CHR) continued and relentless efforts, including the
undersigned's direct communication to the President, for the immediate
realization of the anti-torture law".
De Lima's email was
received five days after Fernando wrote her a letter [read
open letter]
asking her to initiate a direct dialogue with President Macapagal-Arroyo
in explaining the importance of having domestic legislation on torture
passed.
Fernando wrote that
"The CHR, as an independent body, would have had enormous weight in
terms of influencing policy made on the part of the executive branch".
The AHRC's appeal was
made after unconfirmed reports about the possibility that the proposed
legislation might be "vetoed" due to the exclusion of non-state actors
from prosecution.
The Office of the
President (OP), however, has so far not made any official announcement
about the reports of a "possible veto by the President of the bill".
However, the CHR, also
express concern over the delays in the signing of domestic legislation
by the President, a month after the Senate and the House of
Representatives have ratified the final version of the bill. The
ratified bill has also not been transmitted to the President's office
for her signature.
Under the Philippines
legislative procedure, the President could only act either signing or
vetoing the proposed legislation once it received the ratified bill.
Once the bill is received by the President's office, she would have 30
days to act on it.
"We share your
advocacy for the immediate signing of the long overdue and much needed
anti-torture law. Like you, we are deeply concerned about the rumoured
possible veto by the President of the bill, reportedly due to the
exclusion of NSAs (non state actors) from its coverage," wrote De
Lima.
In addition to the
CHR's assurance, the AHRC is also encouraging torture victims, their
families and the non-governmental organisations inside and outside the
Philippines, to continuously put pressure, particularly on the
executive branch asking for the immediate signing of this bill into
law.
Torture victims and
their families are encourage to write petitions and appeals letters
addressed directly to President Macapagal-Arroyo to act on the measure
promptly.
DAR 8 reshuffles its
Provincial Agrarian Reform Officers
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
September
21, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY – Four
out of six Provincial Agrarian reform officers in DAR Region 8 were
given new assignments in order to effectively implement Republic Act
No. 9700 or the Amended Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law.
DAR 8 Regional
Director John Maruhom requested
DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman to issue a Special Order (S.O.) for the
re-assignment of PAROs Oscar Reloj of Eastern Samar; Enrique Granados
of Leyte; Venerio Yap if Biliran and Elisea Orapa of Southern Leyte.
Under Department S.O.
415, series of 2009 issued by the Secretary, PARO Reloj was
re-assigned to Leyte while, PARO Granados succeeded the former in
Eastern Samar. PARO Yap took the helm of
Southern Leyte, while PARO Orapa assumed office in Biliran.
Consequently, the
movement does not stop here, Director Maruhom said during the turn
over of responsibilities by the affected PAROs. According to him,
there would also be movement of field personnel if necessary.
Director Maruhom
disclosed that Region-8 as of the moment has still a balance of 83,000
hectares which is scheduled for distribution to potential agrarian
reform beneficiaries (ARBs) until 2014 based on the phasing schedule
as stated in the new law.
Under the new law, the
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) was given five years to complete the Land Acquisition and
Distribution component.
After the Senate and
the House of Representatives consecutively passed Senate Bill 2666 and
House Bill 4077, respectively, and finally the approval of the
consolidated version by the Bicameral Committee on June 9 this year.
R.A. 9700 was signed
into law by President Arroyo on August 9, 2009 in Plaridel, Bulacan,
however, the affectivity was retroactive to July 1.
Director Maruhom
disclosed that Region-8 as of the moment has still a balance of 83,000
hectares which is scheduled for distribution to potential agrarian
reform beneficiaries (ARBs) until 2014 based on the phasing schedule
as stated in the new law. (with Jose
Alsmith Soria)
Poor, remote towns in
Samar await NARS 2 program
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA
Samar)
September 17,
2009
CATBALOGAN, Samar –
Rural folks from the most remote towns of
Samar eagerly await the deployment of the second batch of Nurses
Assigned in Rural areas (NARS) program.
In a phone interview
with Matuguinao town Mayor Aran Boller, he said that his town yearns
for the volunteer nurses especially so that in the first batch, nobody
was assigned there.
As the Department of
Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced the influx of applicants,
somehow, Boller was assured of five nurses in his remote Matuguinao.
Matuguinao is a fifth
class municipality struggling with a high malnutrition prevalence.
San Jose de Buan,
another remote and impoverished town, also await the coming of the
second batch.
Mayor Mila Rebato
stressed that her Rural Health Unit has only a Municipal Health
Officer (MHO), and five midwives, with no nurses.
Though the lady mayor
did not promise additional LGU allowance for her incoming nurses, she
told PIA, she may look for funds to help augment the allowance given
by DOLE and Department of Health (DOH).
She added that the
only nurse deployed during the first batch proved very helpful in
helping MHO Dr. Phoebe de la Cruz carry out the health services in the
hinterland of
Samar.
MHO Dr. Phoebe de la
Cruz said the nurses will be able to help her grapple with
malnutrition in de Buan.
Matuguinao and San
Jose de Buan are two of the farthest and poorest municipalities in
Samar and that the deployment of the nurses to these impoverished
areas will prove that the national government cares for them, said
Mayor Rebato.
The second batch of
nurses are scheduled to render their first day of service on October 1
as the first batch of nurses started in April 1.
NARS, a project of
PGMA under the Comprehensive Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) is
designed for nurses to be deployed to their hometowns in rural areas
to undergo six-month training in providing public health services and
in performing clinical functions under the guidance of participating
hospitals and other medical facilities.
City to put up smoking
cessation clinics
By BONG PEDALINO (PIA Southern
Leyte)
September 17,
2009
MAASIN CITY, Southern
Leyte – The three Rural Health Unites (RHUs) around the city will
soon have a smoking cessation clinic each.
Simply put, this
clinic will help people in the business of quitting smoking, gradually
if needed, but the desired end must be to stop puffing cigarettes for
good.
The eventual
establishment of these anti-smoking clinics has been the offshoot of
the week-long Smoking Cessation Seminar held last month at Ampil
Pensionne this city, said Engr. Othello Rich, City Planning Director
and Coordinator of Healthy City Initiatives (HCI).
During a recent
bi-weekly “Maasin City In Action” block time program over DYDM, Engr.
Rich said the seminar was actively participated by HCI enforcers,
non-government organizations, physicians and nurses from the
Department of Education (DepEd), and the religious sectors.
An output of the
activity was the formation of a technical working group (TWG) that
would serve as the overseer of the city’s smoking cessation program.
With the creation of
the smoking cessation clinics, members of the TWG would serve as
counselors and facilitators in advising people how to stop smoking,
especially those who really want to but cannot just kick it off.
Engr. Rich said the
Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) had
recognized the measures undertaken by the city government to promote
the health of its constituents, and cited the campaign against smoking
among these health-promoting initiatives.
Earlier, City Mayor
Maloney Samaco had imposed a total smoking ban in the city jail as
part of the rehabilitation process of prisoners.
The move caught the
attention of other local chief executives who copied the Mayor’s
example and, before long, the rest of the LGUs around
Eastern Visayas followed suit, reported DYDM news anchor Zaldy Olita.
Mayor Samaco also
initiated the printing and wide distribution of no-smoking stickers in
all passenger vehicles in the city, and posted huge tarpaulins in
public places in a serious attempt to create awareness and make Maasin
a smoke-free city.
Next month, the city
will vie for the Red Orchid Awards for 100% Smoke-free LGU, it was
learned.
PNP 8 fast tracks
investigation of Fr. Lucero murder case, comes out with sketches of
assailants
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
September
14, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY –
Police Region 8 Director Mario San Diego has ordered his men to leave
no stones unturned in investigation of and identifying the assailants
of Catubig, Northern Samar Parish Priest, Fr. Cecilio Lucero who was
killed in an ambush on September 6.
Police Chief
Superintendent San Diego “deplored in the strongest terms this
abominable act,” as he expressed optimism that the investigators in
the field will be able to identify and bring the suspects of the
abhorrent and despicable crime, to justice.
“We will leave no
stone unturned in the investigation of this incident,” Director San
Diego stressed as he appealed to everyone who know anything about the
case to inform the PNP.
“I am also appealing
to the public to wait the result of the investigation instead of
making speculations regarding the motive of Fr. Lucero’s killing,”
Director San Diego added.
The PNP Director
reiterated his earlier order to his men to fast tract the
investigation for the early resolution of the Fr. Lucero ambush-slay.
This, after the
Special Investigation Task Group headed by Police Senior
Superintendent Gil J. Hitosis, in coordination with the National
Bureau of Investigation, has reported that it is coming up with
composite sketch of the perpetrators based on the description and
account of witnesses, to establish the identity of the suspects.
The SITG also reported
that the Regional Mobile Group 8 in close coordination with the 803rd
Brigade, Philippine Army, is conducting checkpoints and maintaining
police visibility along strategic areas in
Northern Samar, in order to prevent similar incident from occurring.
Based on the testimony
of one of the witnesses during a follow-up investigation of the task
group, on that Sunday morning of September 6, 2009 before the ambush
of Fr. Lucero, the perpetrators were seen sitting atop a tomb in the
cemetery as if waiting for somebody. At around 8:30 o’clock in the
morning, a sudden burst of gunfire ensued and the witness saw the five
armed suspects aiming their firearms towards the van-service vehicle
which was being driven by Fr. Lucero.
Fr. Lucero
instantaneously died while Isidro Miras, Fr. Lucero’s companion in the
van, who was wounded, was brought to the
Northern
Samar Provincial
Hospital
and later on was transferred to Divine Word Hospital in Tacloban City
for further medical treatment.
Another victim, Jose
Laguda, a passenger of a passing jeepney who was hit by an astray
bullet on his left foot, is now out of danger and has been discharged
from the hospital.
The remains of Fr.
Lucero now lies in estate at Gamay,
Northern Samar which is the hometown of the Luceros.
Improving drinking
water quality for 40,000 households in flood-prone communities
By Philippine Center for Water and Sanitation
September
13, 2009
QUEZON CITY – The
World Health Organization (WHO) and the Philippine Center for Water
and Sanitation (PCWS), with support from the Spanish Government, are
implementing a project on safe water in Bicol and Eastern Visayas for
40,000 households in flood prone communities with outbreaks of
water-borne diseases due to contamination of water sources.
The
project teaches the use of sodium hypochlorite 1.25% solution to treat
drinking water and to store it safely to prevent recontamination to
protect households against waterborne diseases until more definite
solutions can be achieved.
10,000 households each
in Albay, Sorsogon, Samar and Northern Samar relying on open springs
and shallow wells for their drinking water will be provided a 20-liter
water container and an initial three months supply of sodium
hypochlorite 1.25% solution.
The project is developing mechanisms to
sustain efforts for household water treatment and safe storage as well
as ensuring that low-cost sodium hypochlorite 1.25% solution is
locally available. It also aims to increase the number of households
practicing proper sanitation, hygiene, food preparation and storage.
The project assists
the Department of Health in reducing morbidity, mortality and
suffering brought about by waterborne diarrheal diseases due to the
unavailability of safe water supply in communities affected by floods.
Household water treatment and safe storage (HWTS) is an effective way
to prevent diseases from unsafe water. It lets people take
responsibility of their own water security by treating and safely
storing water themselves right at their own homes.
DENR holds Handog
Titulo Program in E. Samar, distributes Free Patents
By PURIFICACION S. DALOOS
September
13, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY – The
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, through its Community
Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Borongan, Eastern
Samar had distributed Free Patents to qualified land owners in that
province.
A total of 815 land
titles covering an aggregate area of 766.67 hectares in three Eastern
Samar towns were handed over to beneficiaries of government’s Handog
Titulo Program in August this year.
DENR Regional
Executive Director Regidor De Leon says that the Handog Titulo Program
is being implemented consistent with the goals of the Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
which is to improve the lives of the farmers and their families
especially those living in the countryside.
CENR Officer Elpidio
Simon of CENRO Borongan disclosed that on August 5, 2009 they
distributed 409 Free Patents with an area of 338.78 hectares in
Llorente, E. Samar. The Patent distribution was made possible in
coordination with the local government unit of Llorente through Mayor
Antonio Cardona.
In Giporlos, CENRO
Borongan participated in its 60th Founding Anniversary through the
conduct of the Handog Titulo Program. A total of 255 Free Patents
covering an aggregate area of 170.51 hectares were given to land
owners during the Free Patent distribution on August 20 at the
Municipal Plaza of Giporlos, E. Samar.
Another 151 Free
Patents with an area of 257.38 hectares were distributed in Balangiga
in coordination with its local government unit under the leadership of
Mayor Viscuso De Lira.
Regional Technical
Director Ramon Unay of the Land Management Service says that with the
Handog Titulo Program, government services are brought closer to the
people. “Land owners receive their Free Patents right where they are,
instead of going to the offices of the DENR and the Land Registration
Authority,” RTD Unay says of the Handog Titulo Program being conducted
in the respective towns.
Simultaneous with the
Free Patent distributions, CENRO Borongan conducted People’s Day
activities, delivering various services of the DENR on site.
Applications for land titles were accepted on site. Likewise, issues
and concerns on the different services of the Department were
addressed or resolved whenever possible.
The Free Patent
Distributions conducted by CENRO Borongan were in coordination with
the Land Registration Authority through its Provincial Chief Ida
Sucion and the concerned local government units of Llorente, Giporlos,
and Balangiga all in Eastern Samar.
Samar PPOC members,
mayors sign “No to Violence” manifesto
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA
Samar)
September 12,
2009
CATBALOGAN, Samar – Samar
Provincial
Peace and Order Council (PPOC) members and 18 mayors signed a “No to
Violence” manifesto Thursday afternoon at the
Wesamar Building,
Catbalogan.
In a special session
of the Samar PPOC, the mayors and PPOC members affixed their
signatures with the hope of ending killings.
The series of killings
especially in the urban areas of Calbayog and Catbalogan have prompted
PPOC to conduct the manifesto signing.
The PNP reported
before the ceremonial signing, that the killings in the two urban
centers have made them more vigilant, Deputy Provincial Director Biso
said that the higher authorities have deployed a Regional Mobile Group
and a Special Weapon and Arms Team (SWAT) to augment the
PNP force.
Meanwhile, the army
reported that in Samar only 41 barangays have remained under the
influence of NPAs, these, the army stressed are found in Calbayog,
Motiong, Paranas, Jiabong, and San Jose de Buan.
PPOC officials also
urged the mayors to convene and activate their Municipal Peace and
Order Councils (MPOC) that could help them strengthen security.
Earlier, Local Chief
Executives (LCEs) were alarmed by the killing of Matuginao Mayor
Carlos dela Cruz.
After the incident,
Samar officials convened the PPOC to tackle the killings. In that
meeting, the manifesto signing was proposed by 8th Infantry Division
Commanding General Arthur Tabaquero, which the council approved.
The manifesto read in
part: 'We are public servants, peaceful community dwellers and
concerned individuals who have joined together to denounce all forms
of violence.'
It cited that the
group sets aside difference in ethnical, economic, cultural and
political groupings with the strong desire for peace and development.
“We stand indignant to
the prevalence of violence particularly those committed by the CPP/NPA/NDF,
private armed groups (PAGs) organized crime groups, drug syndicates
and other criminal elements.”
As a group, they said,
they want to express a moral voice that calls rejection of terroristic
actions against the people.
One soldier, one rebel
injured in skirmish
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA
Samar)
September 12,
2009
CATBALOGAN, Samar –
One government soldier and one NPA rebel were injured in a skirmish
in Barangay Jose Roño, Paranas (Samar ) town Thursday morning,
The soldier,
identified as Sgt Arman Gavile, a member of the Army Engineer Brigade
based in Rawis, Northern Samar was taking pictures of projects under
the Kalayaan sa Barangay Project in the remote barangay.
As he was about to
board his motorcycle, three NPA rebels opened fire, Gavile was
instantly hit and fell to the ground.
The gunshots prompted
his buddy, identified only as Carding to check where the shooting came
from and immediately fired upon the opponents, such that, one NPA
rebel later identified as Willy Malinao sustained an injury on his
stomach.
The two companions of
Malinao fled, leaving their wounded comrade.
The two injured
protagonists were then brought to the
Samar Provincial
Hospital
for immediate treatment.
Doctor Rudolf Mabulay,
Chief of hospital told PIA that Gavile is now in stable condition
after a successful operation. He sustained injuries in his right arm,
right leg and stomach.
Meanwhile, Malinao who
confessed that he hails from barangay Maputi in Zumarraga is scheduled
for operation to remove the slug, which the doctor said is imbedded in
his stomach.
Just on Thursday,
the Samar Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) signed a manifesto
saying “NO TO VIOLENCE.”
Salvage operation of
stranded tanker slated this weekend
By BONG PEDALINO (PIA Southern
Leyte)
September 11,
2009
PADRE BURGOS, Southern
Leyte – It’s still there.
More than a week after
hitting a shallow reef off barangay Tangkaan, this town, the 190-ton
MT Shirley Ann tanker carrying 230,000 liters of automotive diesel oil
is still glued in its position since running aground early morning of
Saturday, August 29.
The vessel had left
the Petron depot in
Mandaue City Friday
afternoon on its way to Loreto town,
Dinagat Island,
but somewhere off the coast of barangay Tangkaan here its engines had
trouble, and the ship was drifted by turbulent seas until it stumbled
on a shallow reef.
Maasin City Coast
Guard station Chief Petty Officer Michael Romero had ruled out an oil
spill, saying the ship had a double bottom, double hull body shape.
In a follow-up call
for updates on the incident, Seaman 2nd Erwin Libron of the local
Coast Guard told PIA the salvage operation for the stranded ship has
been scheduled by Friday or Saturday, September 11 or 12.
He said by that time,
the personnel and material from Harbor Star Shipping Services based in
Manila shall be around to do the work of towing back the ship at sea.
By “salvage
operation,” Seaman 2nd Libron qualified that this meant more of a
rescue mission to save the boat than an undertaking to gather scrap
metals.
When told that an
earlier plan was to tow the boat last Friday, September 4, to coincide
with the highest tide, Libron said this was not pushed through, as the
company owning the ship preferred to wait for the Manila-based
shipping services to do the job.
Earlier attempts to
pull the stranded ship using big ropes had failed, it was reported.
Libron also confirmed
that the oil spill boom is now in their station, and that this will be
deployed around the ship when Harbor Services will be doing its task,
to contain any possible oil spill that may accidentally happen while
the towing work will be in progress.
Mud Crab Capital of Northern Samar holds 3rd Annual Kinis Festival
By JENNIFER SHEDDEN
September
11, 2009
NORTHERN SAMAR – The
Kinis Festival is celebrated annually and promotes Municipality of
Rosario as ‘the Mud Crab Capital of Northern Samar’. Nortehanons and
visitors are encouraged to join this exciting and entertaining
celebration.
The Festival will be a
full-day event commencing
8am
Monday, October 5, 2009 on the grounds of the Municipal Auditorium of Rosario. The Festival will
include a wide range of cultural and culinary events and a market of
local delicacies.
The Municipality of
Rosario can be reached by land transportation, 27kms from Catarman,
the Provincial Capital of Northern Samar.
The event is jointly
hosted by the Municipality of Rosario and local NGO, Sentro ha
Pagpauswag ha Panginabuhi (SPPI). SPPI supports the local economy
through livelihood and enterprise development in sustainable
agriculture and coastal resource management. The event is also
supported by the local mud crab farmers of the Mangrove Crab Producer
Association of Rosario (MCPAR) who are generously donating their
product for various Kinis Festival events.
“Previous years have
been a marketplace for traders only, this year we are expanding the
program to include cultural performances, a marketplace of local
dishes and hand crafts and mangrove replanting,” said Festival
Committee Member Ms Jennifer Shedden, an Australian Youth Ambassador
for Development. “There will be street dancing, games including crab
racing and tying, a prize for the fattest crab and a Kinis Culinary
Competition with prizes. It will be a great day for families and the
local community.”
Throughout the day
there will be a marketplace of the 11 barangays selling handmade
crafts, products and local delicacies.
Special guest
Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development based in the Bicol region
and Manila will be running a recycled goods demonstration and
workshop. Handbags made from recycled plastic and jewelry from paper
will be on sale to support Filipino livelihood projects.
Military in Region 8
condemns ambush killing of Catholic Priest in North Samar
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
September
10, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY –
Major General Arthur Tabaquero, commanding general of the 8th
Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, condemned the ambush killing
of Fr. Cecilio P. Lucero on September 6, 2009.
Fr. Lucero’s death is
a great loss not only to the military but also to the Northern Samar
parishioners. He was a constant partner of the military because human
rights and peace which were his advocacies are aligned with the
mission of the military, Col. Mario Lacurom of the 8th Infantry
Division disclosed.
The military is
saddened over the death of a good friend in the maintenance of peace
and order in the society, Colonel Mario Lacurom of the 8th ID said.
Fr. Lucero, human
rights and peace advocate and the Parish Priest of Catubig, Northern
Samar, was ambushed and killed on Sunday, along the national highway
in Barangay Layuhan, San Jose, Northern Samar, by people wearing
bonnets and black taffeta which the military described as “the usual
wear of the NPA rebels.”
Colonel Ranolfo
Atendido, commanding officer of the 803rd Brigade of the 8th ID, in
his spot report said that he immediately deployed a troop and two
gunship helicopters to the scene of the crime to help in the hot
pursuit operations.
Colonel Atendido also
condemned the inhumanly killing of Fr. Lucero who is a minister of God
and of the Church.
He also called on the
public to join together in prayer for the eternal repose of Fr. Lucero
and to continue their vigilance so that brutal crimes such as this
will not happen again.
He also assured the
public that the Philippine Army will always be there as the protector
of the people and the State.
At all times the
Philippine Army is expected to ensure, at all times, strict adherence
to the supremacy of civilian authority over the military. In the
fulfillment of their sworn duty, they must uphold the Constitution and
the rule of law, protect civil liberties, observe due process of law
and show healthy respect for human rights and human dignity.
P1.1 billion set to
hook up public schools to Internet
By Office of Rep. Joseph A. Santiago (Lone District, Catanduanes)
September
9, 2009
QUEZON CITY – A
total of P1.1 billion has been allotted to provide Internet
connectivity to a total of 9,048 public elementary and high schools
countrywide, Catanduanes Rep. Joseph Santiago, chairman of the House
committee on information and communications technology, said Sunday.
Santiago said the
fresh funding, contained in the proposed P1.541-trillion national
budget for next year, would also cover the acquisition of additional
computer sets for 577 public high schools.
"Technology and the
Internet are definitely taking on bigger roles in basic education – in
providing essential instructional support. Our public schools cannot
afford to be left farther behind,"
Santiago
said.
"It has become
absolutely imperative for us to provide students and teachers alike
greater access to the wealth of knowledge and information on the
Internet," he added.
As of April this year,
with the support of private and non-government partners, Santiago said
the Department of Education had managed to install computer
laboratories in 4,019 public high schools.
More than half of
these schools are now hooked up to the Internet, according to
Santiago, former chief of the National Telecommunications Commission.
"We are now living in
a world where Internet access is increasingly becoming a necessity,
not a luxury. We have to ensure that every public high school graduate
has ample computer literacy,"
Santiago
said.
Without counting the
new P1.1-billion allocation for 2010,
Santiago
said the government intends to provide a total of 6,650 public high
schools nationwide with computers and Internet connectivity by the end
of this year.
Gearing up Internet
Literacy and Access for Students (GILAS) has been the largest private
contributor to the push to improve the public school system’s access
to computers and the World Wide Web.
Led by the Ayala
Foundation Inc., GILAS is a program driven mainly by corporations and
non-profit institutions "that realize the need to invest in bridging
the digital divide among the nation's public high school students."
PNP forms special task
group to probe Northern Samar ambush
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
September
8, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY –
Police Chief Superintendent Mario R. San Diego, regional director of
Police Regional Office 8 issued an order creating a special
investigation task group that will focus its efforts in the
investigation of the recent ambush incident involving a parish priest
and two (2) others from Northern Samar.
The said Task Force
will be headed by PSSupt Gil Jamila Hitosis, the Deputy Regional
Director for Operations. The group is composed of CIDG, Criminal
Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU),
RID, Highway Patrol Group (HPG), Regional Mobile Group (RMG) and
Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD).
Initial investigation
conducted by San Jose Police Station disclosed that prior to said
incident that Fr. Lucero and Miras together with PO2 Eugene Bation,
were on their way to Catarman from Allen, Northern Samar. Upon
reaching at said Barangay at San Jose town, they were ambushed or
waylaid.
Contrary to earlier
sketchy reports that the victims were attacked by more or less 30
unidentified heavily armed men, two reliable witnesses informed that
the assailants were more or less 4 to 5 in number.
Victim Laguna who was
on board a passenger jeep was hit by an astray bullet on his left
foot. PNCO PO2 Bation managed to return fire towards to the enemy
position that prompted the lawless elements to scamper in different
direction of grassy and hilly portion of said place.
The same PRO 8
dispatch informed that PSSupt Eusebio Adamero Mejos, Provincial
Director Northern Samar Police Provincial Office, together with
elements of San Jose Police Station immediately responded to the scene
and conducted Police Operations for the possible arrest of the fleeing
suspects.
Meanwhile the spot
investigation conducted by the NSPPO SOCO and investigation personnel
that immediately responded to the crime recovered thirty five (35)
pieces empty shells and one (1) live ammo of M16 rifle.
Right now the SITG
composed of the members of Regional Mobile Group 8 and Highway Patrol
Group has already called for the strict enforcement and setting up of
more police checkpoints in the area.
Foreign vessel bound
for China capsizes off East Samar coast, all crew safe
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
September
8, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY – The
19 crew of MV Hera, a Panamanian vessel which departed from Papua New
Guinea on August 29 bound for China and which capsized on September 4
due to turbulent weather, have been rescued at sea by a local fishing
boat, in the early morning of September 7.
The crew composed of
four (4) Koreans and fifteen (15) Filipinos, was brought by the
civilian motorized banca to Santa Monica in Oras, Eastern Samar.
In Oras, the local
government led by Mayor Neil Alvarez attended to the immediate needs
which include food, medicines and clothing, of the survivors.
The Operations Center
of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council of Region 8, received a
report from the Tactical Operations Group 8 of the Philippine Air
Force that a foreign vessel was reported to be listing and taking in
water at 9:30 in the evening of September 6. The last reported
position of the foreign vessel was at the vicinity of Tubabao Island,
Dolores, Eastern Samar.
The TOG 8 deployed two
choppers at 6:30 in the morning of September 7 to conduct Search and
Rescue Operations. The Philippine Coast Guard based in Catbalogan,
Samar also conducted SAR operations.
Rodolfo Valdez, a crew
of the MV Hera informed the RDCC8 that on September 4, 2009, the crew
members experienced bad weather and big waves. On September 5, the
crew discovered a crack that extended or expanded due to big waves and
water coming in, causing the boat to tilt and capsize.
At 4:00 o’clock in the
afternoon of September 6, a distress call was made and at 6:00 o’clock
in the evening, the crew abandoned ship.
The crew members
stayed in the waters with a life raft for 9 to 10 hours before they
were seen by a passing fishing boat and were towed at 4:00 o’clock in
the morning until they reached the shoreline of
Santa Monica,
Oras, Eastern Samar, at 8:00 o’clock on the morning of the same day.
The Philippine Air
Force choppers brought the survivors to Tacloban and later on brought
by Central Command helicopters to the company agent in
Cebu.
