August | 2007 | Northern Dispatch (nordis) Weekly

Baguio dad in hot water for traffic re-routing trial, alleged irregular franchises

August 27, 2007 in Baguio City, general, transport

BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 22) — The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) regional director today assailed the 90-day experimental re-routing of public utility vehicles (PUVs) here, and the irregular franchises in the city allegedly endorsed by the chair of the city’s transport committee.

In a weekly press conference, DOTC Regional Director Federico Mandapat, a city councilor for 16 years, disclosed that Councilor Rocky Thomas Balisong endorsed the re-routing of a jeepney line to Mines View, passing through Calderon Street, in a 90-day experimental period. The Baguio City Police Office allegedly implemented Balisong’s directive. Read the rest of this entry →

Balisong clarifies accusations on traffic, irregular franchises

August 27, 2007 in Baguio City, general, transport

BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 25) — The Traffic, Transportation and Management Committee of the city council here can recommend experimentation of traffic Councilor Rocky Thomas Balisong stressed clarifying his position on the alleged irregular franchises and traffic re-routing he earlier endorsed.

“When time is of the essence, the committee can recommend such experimentation despite the absence of a formal resolution,” explained Balisong as reaction to the pronouncements of DOTC Regional Director Federico Mandapat that he (Balisong) circumvented the City Council’s legislative process in recommending a 90 re-routing of public utility vehicles (PUVs). Read the rest of this entry →

Nursing scam whistle blowers welcome case vs. review centers

August 27, 2007 in Baguio City, general

BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 24) — Whistle blowers here who led the exposé on leakage of test questions in the Nursing Licensure examination June last year welcome the Department of Justice (DOJ) move to file criminal cases against officials of two review centers linked with the anomaly.

The dropping of another review center from the complaint was however criticized as lapses by DOJ as they (officials of the review center) are allegedly involved with the leakage scam. Read the rest of this entry →

Baguio Day a holiday, Sept. 3 a working day

August 27, 2007 in Baguio City, general

BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 23) — September 1, or Baguio Charter Day, is a Saturday and is a non-working holiday, but this does not automatically entails that September 3 is another holiday, the chief executive clarified during a media conference Thursday.

City Mayor Reinaldo A. Bautista said it is enough to declare Saturday as a non-working holiday, since school children, usually have classes on Saturdays to replace the weekdays they were out of school due to the past typhoons. Read the rest of this entry →

Ilocos campus writers sue UNP

August 27, 2007 in education, general, Ilocos, youth

VIGAN CITY (Aug. 24) — Student publications and organizations of University of Northern Philippines (UNP) here filed a complaint against UNP administrators at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in San Fernando City, Friday for alleged suppression of campus press freedom and student rights.

Led by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)-Ilocos, the students presented to Dr. Evelyn Pascua, regional director of CHED Region I the complaints against the UNP administrators for allegedly violating campus press freedom recognized by the Constitution and the Campus Journalism Act (CJA). Read the rest of this entry →

BWD water permit, not for power — Tuba dads

August 27, 2007 in Cordillera, general, land rights

TUBA, Benguet (Aug. 22) — The local government of Tuba, Benguet did not accept the reason offered by the Baguio Water District (BWD) that an unintentional error was committed in its water permit issued in 1992 for a water source here.

In its reply to the comment sent to the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), the municipality through Mayor Florencio Bentrez refuted BWD claim that there was an error in the domestic purposes permit over spring sources in Asin, in Barangay Nangalisan here. Pointing out the BWD application specified its use for the springs for domestic purposes, the Tuba government asked the NWRB not to approve the amended water permit application. Read the rest of this entry →

Tuba dads hands off in Philex conflict

August 27, 2007 in Cordillera, general, land rights, mining

TUBA, Benguet (Aug. 23) — The Tuba municipal council has yet to make a position on the ongoing conflict between affected residents and the Philex Mining Corporation over the latter’s mineral application, a councilor revealed during a media forum here.

Tuba Councilor Blas Dalus disclosed that the municipal council has no stand yet on the present conflict in Camp 3. He saw the need for affected residents to consolidate their demands and complaints and to inform the council of developments. Read the rest of this entry →

Itogon folk reject Anvil (Last of two parts)

August 27, 2007 in Cordillera, general, land rights, mining

Editor’s Note: Last week, Nordis Weekly carried a story with the same title, which is supposedly the First of a two-part article on the Itogon people’s opposition to the Anvil Mining, Ltd., which is conducting a mineral exploration on Itogon-Suyoc Resources Inc. mining claims. After a 6-month study period, Anvil tried to get the people’s sentiments on its activities, in a dialog at Dalicno Elementary School on August 11, 2007.

First Seat

Only the village of Dalicno will likely be spared from excavation. A good part of the village sits on a patented mineral location that does not belong to ISRI but to local villagers who inherited this from the original owner, Kid-ing (who, however, registered it under the name “Kating”; thus ISRI’s references to it as the Kating Claim).

But after Anvil has excavated all the land around her, Dalicno will be left sitting alone, in the middle of a desert, lonely for the company of all the villages she birthed, and as thirsty for water as her surroundings. Read the rest of this entry →

Land claimants want Philex special permit recalled

August 27, 2007 in Cordillera, general, land rights, mining

BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 23) — The Kalanguya ethno-linguistic group Tuba, Benguet reiterated its clamor for the government to revoke the special permit Philex Mining Corporation obtained temporarily for its failure to comply with its conditions.

Philex failed to acquire the consent of the communities for its mine expansion covering some 98 hectares in Camp 3, Tuba. Read the rest of this entry →

Relatives of murdered elderly woman appeal for justice

August 27, 2007 in Baguio City, criminality, general

BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 23) — Relatives of an elderly woman was found dead inside her house here Tuesday morning appealed for public assistance in solving the brutal killing of their kin, through a leaflet they distributed recently.

According to a police report, Mary Layagan-Agustin, 68, of Barangay Hillside, died of massive head injury. A piece of galvanized iron pipe, believed used to kill the victim, was reportedly found near the body by responding neighbors. Her hands bore “defense wounds” apparently trying to stop her attacker(s). She was believed killed between 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. on August 21. Read the rest of this entry →

Passport services come to Baguio on September 15 to 16

August 27, 2007 in Baguio City, general

BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 24) — City Administrator Peter Fianza is calling on passport applicants within Baguio and neighboring towns to proceed to his office, at city hall, for pre-evaluation of documents in preparation for the third quarter mobile passporting on September 15-16.

From a 1,000 application forms to be issued, only 800 passports applicants are assured of complete processing, as to authenticity and completeness of documents needed, in accordance to the guidelines issued. Read the rest of this entry →

More taxi stands in Baguio’s CBD

August 27, 2007 in Baguio City, general, transport

BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 23) — Seven more staging areas for taxicabs here have been identified as proposed to the city government by drivers and operators, Mayor Reinaldo A. Bautista disclosed Thursday.

Acting on the clamor of taxi cab drivers and operators, Bautista announced that the city may add seven more staging areas. He said there are only two such taxi stands in the city’s central business district and these are on top of Session Road and in front of the Sunshine Grocery along Abanao Street. Read the rest of this entry →

Baguio Newsbriefs: 26 August 2007

August 27, 2007 in Baguio City, general

Mayor extends early curfew for minors

BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 24) — Mayor Reinaldo A. Bautista Jr. last week issued Executive Order No. 4 prolonging the implementation of the 30-day experiment on the imposition of curfew for minors in the city from 7:00 P.M. To 5:00 A.M. The experiment began last July 23 and was scheduled to end last August 22.

A proposed amendatory ordinance, authored by Councilor Nicasio Aliping Jr. to amend Ordinance No. 71 series of 1991 to accommodate the expanded curfew time has just been passed on first reading at the city council. Ordinance No. 71-1991 provides curfew time for minors from 9:00 P.M. To 5:00 A.M. # Aileen P. Refuerzo/PIO

Transport group to regulate PUV trips

BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 24) — Mayor Reinaldo A. Bautista Jr. said Thursday the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations in the Philippines (Fejodap)-Baguio chapter already submitted a rationalization schedule that aim to decrease the number of jeepney staging areas. The proposed schedule is currently being evaluated for recommendation. Read the rest of this entry →

Cordillera Newsbriefs: 26 August 2007

August 27, 2007 in Cordillera, general

DOE sells gov’t power assets

BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 24) — The Department of Energy (DOE) targets to privatize power assets of the government that include the Binga-Ambuklao power plant by the end of the year to generate $6 billion for the government.

DOE Secretary Angelo Reyes disclosed that other power assets up for sale are the National Transmission Corporation (Transco), Energy Development Corporation (EDC) shares, Calaca plant in Batangas and Palinpinon plant in Leyte. # PIA-Cordillera

PGMA declares Sept. 12 as National Day of Prayer, reconciliation

BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 24) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared September 12 as a National Day of Prayer and Reconciliation through Proclamation No. 1362 she signed last August 15.

Last year, she issued Proclamation No. 910 declaring September 12 as a National Day of Prayer, Conversion, Reparation and Consecration for Our Nation. She also signed last week Proclamation No. 1357 declaring the month of September of every year as Public Relations Month. # PIA-Cordillera

P1.227 trillion 2008 National Budget proposed
BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 24) — The government proposed a P1.227-trillion national budget for 2008.
The government expects to generate revenues amounting to P1.236 trillion of which P1.108 trillion will come from taxes and P127 billion from non-tax revenues. In view of these targets, the Bureau of Internal Revenue is expected to provide P885 billion, while the Bureau of Customs’ share is P254 billion. # PIA-Cordillera Read the rest of this entry →

Ilocos Region Newsbriefs: 26 August 2007

August 27, 2007 in general, Ilocos

PGMA orders increased recruitment of new cops

SAN FERNANDO CITY (Aug. 22) — The Police Regional Command in Region I recently commissioned 175 new cops in line with a directive of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the Philippine National Police (PNP) to hire more policemen. Read the rest of this entry →

Cagayan Valley Newsbriefs: 26 August 2007

August 27, 2007 in Cagayan Valley, general

DENR says no more logging in Isabela

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (Aug. 23)— Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Isabela Provincial Officer Felix Taguba said there are no illegal loggers in the province, but did not deny there are timber poachers preying within the Sierra Madre Biodiversity Corridor (SMBC).

Taguba said timber poachers from the provinces of Quezon and Aurora usually prey on narra trees within the protected area. Read the rest of this entry →

Editorial Cartoon: 26 August 2007

August 27, 2007 in editorials, general, opinion

Advocate's Overview: Deteriorating public work services

August 27, 2007 in columns, general, opinion

By ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW

Prior to the three typhoons, a friend came up with an article on graft and corruption that characterizes infrastructure projects along the Mt. Data – Bontoc road. His story described in detail the nature of the corruption related on the projects in that area.

After the three typhoons that hit this city, various asphalted road projects in the city turned out to be below standard projects. The asphalt applied on the roads along Kisad, Magsaysay and near the BGH rotunda were washed out. Even the road wight in front of City Hall was similarly destroyed, with the sand and gravel left on some portions creating a dirt road image. The roads were now transformed into various “sungkaan” (holes). It caused inconvenience to motorists and are observed to have contributed to the traffic problems at present. These asphalted roads were just two weeks when they were hit by the past three typhoons. Read the rest of this entry →

From Under This Hat: NCIP — big capital’s marionette, or the IP’s office?

August 27, 2007 in columns, general, opinion

By KATHLEEN T. OKUBO

It was a hopelessly sad, scary and heartbreaking sight, as members of the communities around the Philex open-pit minesite were huddled in one corner by the road of the open pit, and exposed to a most physically dangerous area of loose gravel, deep mud, precarious loosened boulders and continuously pouring rain. They were called to a meeting to dialog with the mining company by the local office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) upon the company’s request. The press and the Cordillera Peoples Alliance were also invited.

Knowing it was raining (as it was for the past two weeks or so), and that their digital equipment and their representatives would be exposed to bad weather, and also because they had the facillities readily availabe at the moment of the meeting, the company just suddenly changed the venue of the dialogue. The people, despite believing they had already said their piece, still patiently braved the cold and rainy weather and appeared at the agreed venue. Read the rest of this entry →

Pathless Travels: Popularizing the Boxer Codex illustrations

August 27, 2007 in columns, lifeways, national, opinion

By PIO S. VERZOLA JR.

Students of Philippine history who are familiar with the works of W.H. Scott will probably notice that among his books, the most colorful and well-designed cover belongs to Barangay: Sixteenth-Century Philippine Culture and Society (1994).

CAGAYANES. A warrior from the territory of what is now Cagayan Valley. Note certain similarities in the general design of the spear and shield, as well as headdress, as compared to their Cordillera counterparts. Photo courtesy of Lilly Library, University of Indiana. Read the rest of this entry →