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Soil tests for env’l protection urged

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (Feb. 18) — The Sangguniang Panlalawigan here passed for second reading a resolution encouraging farmers to avail of soil tests for their advantage and as environmental protection.

Proponent Board Member Aloysius G. Kato said that the process of determining the mineral contents of the soil through a good sample are helpful to farmers by providing the essential information such as soil nutrients, humid matter and acidity.

He stated that soil testing, being undeniably simple and advantageous to the plant, the farmer and the environment, is availed of only by a few when it should be availed of regularly by all farmers.

Kato said that soil tests are being conducted and offered for free if not for a minimal fee by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG) at its extension office at the Demo Farm in Wangal, La Trinidad; the Bureau of Soils at Pacdal, Baguio and also private and non-government entities. # Mari Cruz/PIA

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TransCo wants houses within right-of-way demolished

BAGUIO CITY (Feb. 18) — An official of the National Transmission Corp. (TransCo) asked the city to demolish eight houses within its transmission right-of-way in the city, saying these are a “social menace”.

In a letter to Mayor Braulio Yaranon, TransCo department manager Marcelo Ganaden said “that the structural designs and specifications as well as the line to ground clearances of our 69 kV La Trinidad-Calot Transmission Line has been built in accordance with international standards/codes and the Philippine Electrical Safety Code”.

The structures below the said line, Ganaden said, are illegal as they were constructed without written clearance of TransCo, formerly the National Power Corp., and without building permits.

He cited a provision of R.A. 6395 which gives the corporation the right-of-way to locate, construct and maintain such lines in public lands and legal basis to enter private property to pursue its business, including the construction of transmission lines.

As listed in the reslolution, the structures are broken down to three at Middle Quirino Hill, two at Lower Quirino Hill, one at Quirino Hill Rd., and one each at Tam-awan – Longlong Rd. and at Benin, Tam-awan. # Michelle Tenido

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Inter-agency body formed for CJH segregation

BAGUIO CITY (Feb. 18) — Mayor Braulio Yaranon last week created an inter-agency committee to work out the exclusion of affected barangays from the Camp John Hay reservation.

In his Administrative Order No. 23, the mayor said the body’s creation is needed to pursue the all pending works in the segregation process.

The segregation of the barangays is prescribed under conditionality no. 14 of the city council Resolution No. 362 series of 1994 which governs the development of the sprawling tourist facility.

CJH Advisory Council secretary Eric Picart will head the technical working committee along with the council committee on laws and the adjudication/arbitration committee. The committee is tasked to help resolve conflicts of various interest; help design and evaluate a public information, communication, awareness and community acceptability program; serve as communication link between government agencies, interest groups and stakeholders; review and recommend solutions; develop and evaluate alternatives; act as sounding board of ideas arriving at a consensus of recommendations; identify strategic action programs, projects such as fencing and securing the segregated area and activities for funding required in the segregation process; and help design a sustained mechanism to represent interests of target barangays in relation to the Office of the President, Congress and other higher authorities. # Aileen P. Refuerzo

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Commendation for SPACER program pushed

BAGUIO CITY (Feb. 18) — Councilor Leonardo Bayan, Jr., has filed a proposed resolution in the city council commending the principal, teachers and parents of the Dona Josefa Carino Elementary School for being the first in the city to implement the SPACER (Special Parents’ Action on Children’s Education and Reformation) program.

The council’s committee on education, culture and historical research chaired by Edilberto Tenefrancia has recommended the approval of the proposed measure.

The resolution states that the SPACER program is a project of the teachers and parents of Dona Josefa Carino Elementary School catering to the special needs of students. The program which is in its second year of implementation includes tutorials particularly reading to students of the lower grade levels, non-formal education, feeding program, rehabilitation of school facilities and the creation and maintenance of an extension library.

“The efforts of the parents, teachers and principal of Dona Josefa Carino Elementary School in implementing this project without any compensation shall serve as an inspiration to other parents and teachers from other schools,” the proposed resolution stressed. # Gaby B. Keith

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Universal levy, another pass-on cost

BAGUIO CITY (Feb. 15) — Another mandatory charge awaits to be included in every household’s monthly electric power bills once the National Power Corporation (NPC) is finally sold to a private firm.

The universal levy rescues the government from losses it incurs in its contracts with independent power producers or in the sale of its assets to private corporations.

“Ang walang kamalay-malay na konsyumer ang babalikat sa universal levy,” Benguet Electric Cooperative Gen. Manager Gerardo Verzosa said in a forum here. “They have to shell out the money to make up for the losses,” Verzosa said.

The universal levy is mandated by law and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has to implement it, according to Verzosa. Verzosa warned that once private corporations buy the NPC, the resulting losses the government would incur as a result of the sale would be collected from each electric consumer.

“Iyong diprensya sa halagang mababayaran ng bibili at ang aktwal na halaga ng mga ari-arian ng NPC ang siyang magiging basehan ng halaga ng universal levy,” Verzosa explained.

Verzosa did not elaborate when the NPC sale is going to be consummated. Neither did he disclose the private firm interested in the sale. # Lyn V. Ramo for NORDIS

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Extension of business permit application proposed

BAGUIO CITY (Feb. 18) — A move extend the application of business permits until May 31, 2005 was made by Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr. based on Section 167 of the Local Government Code of 1991 which provides that... “for justifiable reason or cause, extend the time of payment of such taxes, fees, or charges without surcharges or penalties, but only for a period not exceeding six (6) months.”

A 25% surcharge is also required of a taxpayer due to failure to renew his business permit within the prescribed period, and a fine of P500 for failure to pay fees and secure the permit on time.

The move, he said, is for the city government to consider the fiscal crisis that both public and private sectors are presently undergoing. Taxpayers need to source out enough funds to pay their taxes within a reasonable period, Yangot added. The proposal is expected to be tackled during the next council session. # Julie Fianza

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