July | 2008 | Northern Dispatch (nordis) Weekly

Ifugao gov urges CAR peace body to solve crimes vs. women, kids

July 29, 2008 in Cordillera, criminality, general

BANAWE, Ifugao — With rape registering one-fifth of all index crimes in the province, officials here and the visiting regional heads of government agencies agreed violence against women and children is a social concern that should be addressed with certain urgency.

Gov. Teddy Baguilat considers some social problems, besides rape, as the greatest threat to the Ifugao’s peace and order mentioning that while province has been declared jueteng-free, some other vices and problems still manifest. Read the rest of this entry →

Ambuklao-Binga restoration now in motion

July 29, 2008 in Cordillera, energy, general

ITOGON, Benguet — With the July 10 turnover of the power generation facilities of the Binga and Ambuklao hydroelectric complex, winning bidder SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) has set into motion its plans for the plant rehabilitation.

SNAP ‘s bid of US$325 million won for the joint venture control over the government asset offered for private management. SNAP Benguet will rehabilitate the 75MW Ambuklao plant and make it operational to 65MW. Ambuklao has ceased power generation since 2000. Read the rest of this entry →

Gays, lesbians parade in colors of the rainbow

July 29, 2008 in Baguio City, general, human rights

BAGUIO CITY — The homosexual community in the city along with their families and supporters proudly paraded around the city’s central business district in rainbow colors last July 20.

Clad in their most flamboyant outfits, about 250 members of the Baguio Pride Network (BPN) holding colorful placards celebrated unprecedented openness and marched down Session Road and Magsaysay Avenue to show their pride despite discrimination by society. Read the rest of this entry →

Asia-Pacific women bear mining woes

July 29, 2008 in general, international, mining

BAGUIO CITY — Participants to the Seminar on Women and Mining at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) at Camp John Hay, here, concluded that mining’s adverse impacts fall hardest on women among the world’s poorest populations.

Khushi Kabir of the Bantey Srei, a women’s organization in Bangladesh, said poor women bear the burden of a threatened food security due to mining operations. Read the rest of this entry →

Bakun folk dismayed over mining consultation

July 29, 2008 in Cordillera, general, mining

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Bakun folk who trooped to the provincial capitol here last July 21 were dismayed after the post-consultation meeting allegedly failed to tackle issues they were raising surrounding a January 25 agreement with the Royalco Philippines.

Speaking for Bakun residents, a resident of Upper Gambang in Bakun town said the consultation only tackled one of five issues left hanging after some elders representing the residents signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the company. Read the rest of this entry →

Tension looms in Ambuklao-Binga dams as SN Aboitiz absorbs workforce

July 29, 2008 in Cordillera, employment, general

ITOGON, Benguet — Workers of the Binga hydro-electric power plant in Barangay Tinongdan, here, are facing a blank wall as the new owner of the power-generating facility placed all employees under a five-month probationary status.

The workers’ union in the power plant facility offered for privatization last year is even facing possible union-busting with the new management opting to hire all 90 employees as new workers. Read the rest of this entry →

Benguet gov heads Cordi peace council

July 29, 2008 in Cordillera, general

BANAWE, Ifugao — Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan presided over a regional body for the first time Friday after Ifugao Gov. Teddy Baguilat sworn him in as the new chair of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC).

Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan. Photo by Lyn V. Ramo/NORDIS

Fongwan, a contender of another regional body, the Regional Development Council (RDC), took his oatch of office in a fitting ceremony before Baguilat, who also chaired the same body before. Read the rest of this entry →

Peace body “disinterested” in Baguio City’s waste problem

July 29, 2008 in Baguio City, Cordillera, general

BANAWE, Ifugao — “There were no takers,” the head of a regional peace body said of his proposal to take up the garbage issue intelligently.

MARKET DUMPSITE. Trash dumped at upper Zandueta Street at the Baguio Public Market was finally picked up by trucks last July 20. Vendors near the area were relieved from the stinking smell of decomposing garbage. Photo by Brenda S. Dacpano/NORDIS

The garbage problem of Baguio City is a regional concern, according to Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan, newly installed chair of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC). Read the rest of this entry →

Baguio observes nat’l disability rehab, prevention week

July 29, 2008 in Baguio City, general

BAGUIO CITY — Baguio City observes the national disability rehabilitation and prevention week.

Held every third week of July, this year’s (commemoration) was hosted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as assigned by the National Council on Disability Affairs Board (NCDAB). Read the rest of this entry →

Maryknoll commemorates killer quake

July 29, 2008 in Baguio City, general

BAGUIO CITY — The Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary here, commemorated the 18th anniversary of the July 16 killer earthquake Wednesday.

HEALING THE EARTH. Bamboo poles serve as acupuncture needles to “heal the earth.” Photo by Myko Franco Chiong/NORDIS

Dr. Michael Bengwayan gave a lecture on biodiversity and its conservation. Tackling the important issues regarding rice, as well as that of water and the continuing deterioration of the ozone layer. Read the rest of this entry →

DOT promotes community-based rural tourism

July 29, 2008 in Cordillera, general, tourism

BAGUIO CITY — The Department of Tourism (DoT) of the Cordillera Administrative Region is now geared towards developing a program for a community-based rural tourism (CBRT) as disclosed by Regional Director Purificacion Molintas during the first semestral tourism officers’ conference here July 24.

According to Molintas there is a demand for both domestic and foreign tourists for community tourism where visitors could integrate more on the daily activities of rural communities like in planting or harvesting seasons. Read the rest of this entry →

OceanaGold facelifting image, seeks joint venture with rivals

July 29, 2008 in Cagayan Valley, general, mining

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – In a bid to widen its chances of getting its much needed funds, OceanaGold is taking time to do some image boosting while its construction work in Didipio remains suspended.

Jamila Abassi, newly appointed director for Corporate Social Responsibility, has been seen going around having talks with local stakeholders here since Monday. Her itinerary included the offices of non-government organizations (NGOs) opposing the Didipio Project and the capitol where Gov. Luisa Lloren Curesma holds office. Read the rest of this entry →

Rice cards issued soon

July 29, 2008 in Cordillera, general

BAGUIO CITY — The National Food Authority (NFA) today announced it would be issuing family access cards to ensure that only the poorest of the poor get a steady supply of the staple.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), tasked to identify beneficiaries, will prepare the list of families eligible for the rice ration. By government standards, a poor family earns only P5,000 or lower a month. Read the rest of this entry →

Satur urges House to probe oil firm

July 29, 2008 in general, national

MANILA — Militant legislators in the House of Representatives are pushing for a full-blown investigation into “the oil companies’ alleged engagement in overpricing, profiteering, transfer pricing and other forms of cartel operations in the Philippines.”

House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, in filing House Resolution 677, said that “the House Committee on Trade and Industry has the mandate and golden opportunity to help the suffering people by conducting an investigation on Pilipinas Shell, Chevron Philippines (formerly Caltex), and Petron who have increased pump prices 22 times this year.” Read the rest of this entry →

Most corrupt government, most impoverished year

July 29, 2008 in Cordillera, general, national

By TONGTONGAN TI UMILI – CORDILLERA PEOPLES ALLIANCE

Social unrest is rapidly deepening, triggered by unhampered and striking increases in oil prices and basic commodities. The rice problem is still burdening the people and social services have become inaccessible. While the people grumble in economic distress, the GMA regime takes comfort in conscious blindness. GMA escapes the crisis with impunity like what she has always done with her grave cases of corruption and human rights violations.

E-VAT ROBS. With 12% on top of the cost of prime commodities, the poor are in the losing end because they have to share most of their hard-earned income to the government coffers that is often emptied into the pockets of grafters in the name of pro-poor projects. Photo by Myko Franco Chiong/NORDIS

Oil prices have increased 20 times, from January to July 2008. Oil companies implemented weekly increases of P1.50 per liter of diesel in June; P2 in July 5 and in July 19 the highest at P3 increase per liter. Read the rest of this entry →

Baguio Roundup: 27 July 2008

July 29, 2008 in Baguio City, general

Ban drinking, gambling at funeral parlors – Aliping

BAGUIO CITY—Councilor Nicasio Aliping Jr. last week filed a proposed ordinance prohibiting drinking of liquor and gambling activities within the premises of funeral parlors here.

Aliping said wakes are for mourning, grieving, sympathizing and condoling over the loss of loved ones but said intentions were supplanted when drinking sprees and gambling activities occur.

“In order to properly observe the wake practice and to mourn with the bereaved family members in a solemn, peaceful and orderly manner, drinking and gambling within the funeral parlor premises need to be prohibited,” he said.

Proposed penalty for violators is P500 or imprisonment of five days or both.

The measure will be discussed on first reading by the city council soon. # Aileen P. Refuerzo/PIO

Cordillera lags behind other regions – RDC

BAGUIO CITY—Twenty one years after it was established as an administrative region, the Cordillera has achieved modest progress, yet continues to lag behind the older regions, as per report of the Regional Development Council.

While its gross regional domestic product reached 3.5 percent growth last year, compared to 2.3 percent from 2001 to 2006, the figure is still way below the national growth rate of 7.2 percent.

While its paved national roads increased from 29 percent in 2004 to 36 percent last year, it pales with the national average of 72 percent.

The region posted a 96.9 percent employment rate last year, 3.2 percent higher than the national employment rate of 93.7 percent. # Ramon Dacawi/PIO

NL at a glance: 27 July 2008

July 29, 2008 in general, NL general

Vizcaya officials move to create env’t code

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Environment officials here are conducting consultations and workshops with non-government organizations for the crafting of the environment code of the province.

Francisco Tolentino, provincial environment and natural resources officer said they have initially gathered relevant data for the formulation of the province’s environment code.

He said the environment code will contain features like forest resources management, mineral resources, water resources, solid waste management, air and noise pollution, eco-tourism, environmental impact assessment, forest and land use management plan, organization of environment personnel and penalties to be imposed.

Tolentino said final draft may be ready by December this year for proper approval by the provincial board after a public hearing. # PIA-Nueva Vizcaya

Vizcaya prosecutor laments dismissal of drug cases

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—A provincial prosecutor here expressed disgust over the dismissal of many drug-related cases lodged before the office in the province.

Provincial prosecutor Edilberto Calip said most drug cases have been dismissed because of the absence of policemen as witnesses during hearings.

Police Chief Inspector Primitivo Barongan, officer-in-charge of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for Cagayan Valley said a case can be filed against these policemen for failing to appear and testify in courts. # PIA-Nueva Vizcaya

Unicef donates assistance packs to Dagupan City’s 13 schools

DAGUPAN CITY—Thirteen elementary schools in Dagupan City received Monday assistance from the Unicef in the form of child’s packs containing notebooks, pencils, water jug and other student needs and teacher’s packs with Manila paper, umbrella and other teaching needs.

The Unicef gave 1,500 child’s packs and 181 teacher’s packs in response to earlier requests for assistance to victims of typhoon Cosme which left heavy damages to properties in several towns in Pangasinan.

Reference materials and library books were also given. # Danny O. Sagun/PIA-Pangasinan

Editorial Cartoon: 27 July 2008

July 29, 2008 in editorials, general, opinion

Editorial: Traditional knowledge

July 29, 2008 in editorials, general, opinion

Over the week there were too valuable forums held in the city. One on bio-fuels and the other on traditional knowledge.

Both discussions stem from the growing global concern for sustaining nature, sustaining earth, sustaining the environment. In a way, these deal an alarm against the culture of consumerism. Read the rest of this entry →