Supreme Court strikes down cityhood of 16 towns

The Supreme Court (SC) declared as unconstitutional the laws converting 16 municipalities into cities because Congress did not follow the "criteria established in the Local Government Code (LGC)."

Voting 7-5, the SC en banc granted the petition and petitions-in-intervention filed by the League of Cities of the Philippines and several provincial government officials seeking to nullify 16 cityhood laws in a decision penned by Associate Justice Antonio Carpio

The 16 laws cover the laws on the cityhood of the following municipalities: Baybay in Leyte; Bogo in Cebu; Catbalogan in Samar; Tandag in Surigao del Sur; Borongan in Eastern Samar; Tayabas in Quezon province; Lamitan in Basilan; Tabuk in Kalinga Apayao; Bayugan in Agusan del Sur; Batac in Ilocos Norte; Mati in Davao Oriental; Guihulngan in Negros Oriental; Cabadbaran in Agusan del Norte; Carcar in Cebu; El Salvador in Misamis Oriental; and Naga in Cebu.

According to the high court, the cityhood laws violated Sections 10, Article X of the Constitution as well as the equal protection clause.

Section 10 provides that "no province, city, municipality or barangay shall be created, divided, merged, abolished or its boundary substantially altered, except in accordance with the criteria established in the local government code and subject to approval by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite in the political units directly affected.

The high court also said that the cityhood laws also violate Section 6, Article X of the Constitution as it prevented a fair and just distribution of the national taxes to local government units.

Chief Justice Reynato Puno, Senior Associate Justice Leonardo Quisumbing, Associate Justices Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez, Conchita Carpio Morales, Presbitero Velasco, Jr, and Arturo Brion concurred with the ruling.

Associate Justices Ruben Reyes, Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Minita Chico-Nazario, Adolfo Azcuna and Renato Corona dissented, while Associate Justices Dante Tinga and Antonio Eduardo Nachura took no part in the deliberations. Associate Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago is on leave.

During the 11th Congress, the House of Representatives enacted into law 33 bills converting 33 municipalities into cities. However, Congress did not act on bills converting 24 other municipalities into cities.

“Mad rush”

In the 12th Congress, both houses of Congress passed into law Republic Act No. (R.A.) 9009, which took effect on June 30, 2001, amending Section 450 of the Local Government Code by increasing the annual income requirement for conversion of a municipality into a city from P20 million to P100 million.

The amendment was made to restrain the "mad rush" of municipalities to convert into cities solely to secure a larger share in the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) despite the fact that they are incapable of fiscal independence.

After the effectivity of R.A. 9009, the House of Representatives during the 12th Congress adopted Joint Resolution No. 29, which seeks to exempt from the P100 million income requirement the 24 municipalities whose cityhood bills were not approved in the 11th Congress.

But only 16 out of the 24 municipalities filed through their respective sponsors their respective cityhood bills.

Both houses of Congress later approved the cityhood bills which lapsed into law on various dates from March to July 2007.

Constitutional criteria

In declaring the said cityhood laws as unconstitutional, the 15-member tribunal stressed that the Constitution requires that Congress shall prescribe all the criteria for the creation of a city in the Local Government Code and not in any other law, including the cityhood laws.

"The Constitution is clear. The creation of local government units must follow the criteria established in the Local Government Code and not in any other law. There is only one Local Government Code. The Constitution requires Congress to stipulate in the Local Government Code all the criteria necessary for the creation of a city, including the conversion of a municipality into a city. Congress cannot write such criteria in any other law, like the Cityhood Laws," the SC ruling pointed out.

Besides, the SC said the cityhood laws failed to adhere to the provisions of Section 450 of the LGC, as amended by R.A. 9009.

The SC stressed that Congress, in enacting RA 9009, did not provide any exemption from the increased income requirement, not even to the respondent municipalities.

"Since the law is clear, plain and unambiguous that any municipality desiring to convert into a city must meet the increased income requirement, there is no reason to go beyond the letter of the law in applying Section 450 of the Local Government Code, as amended by R.A. 9009," the high court said.

"Furthermore, limiting the exemption to the 16 municipalities violates the requirement that the classification must apply to all similarly situated. Municipalities with the same income as the 16 respondent municipalities cannot convert into cities, while the 16 respondent municipalities can. Clearly, as worded the exemption provision found in the Cityhood laws, even if it were written in Section 450 of the Local Government Code, would still be unconstitutional for violation of the equal protection clause," the SC said. ABS-CBN,  Manila Bulletin

Two Kalinga business establishments got CE seal of excellence

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Two business establishments here were awarded the Certified Establishment (CE) seal of excellence by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) after complying with trade and industry laws.

Josie Daliyong of DTI-Kalinga said Tabuk Lumber and Hardware and Kalinga Lumber and Hardware were among the 26 other awardees in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) given the seal during the culminating program of Consumer Welfare Month at the Atrium Hall, SM Baguio City, last week.

Those who qualified for the distinct award in business met the requirements in providing benefits to their employees like minimum wage, social security services, Philhealth and other employment benefits.

Tabuk Lumber and Hardware was handed the Silver Award for meeting the Minimum wage, SSS, and Philhealth requirements, while Kalinga Lumber Hardware qualified for Bronze for satisfying the fair trade law.

The highest Gold Award, which is still highly coveted in the region, is to be determined by the International Standards Organization (ISO), with more requirements.

Daliyong said the program is a reward mechanism encouraging business firms to be more socially responsible and enable them to regulate their own operations and satisfy employment conditions mandated by law.

To ensure that these services are sustained, DTI conducts constant monitoring among business establishments, making it a regular project of the department, Daliyong said.

Last year, T. Bayle Supermart was awarded the CE seal of excellence. It is the first qualifier in the province. **By Larry Lopez, ZZW

Kalinga hunger task force prepares action plan

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Members of the Provincial Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program (AHMP) Task Force prepared an action plan aimed to mitigate hunger in the province and uplift the development status of the municipalities of Tanudan, Tinglayan, and Pasil identified in the latest economic survey as among the poorest in the country.

Chaired by Gov. Floydelia Diasen, front line agencies and offices signed a pledge of commitment to help mitigate hunger in the province. They declared their genuine commitment and duty to uphold the basic human right to food and good nutrition. Along with their pledge is their affirmation to achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger in the province.

The task force targets to reduce subsistence incidence of population from 17.7% in 2000 to 8.85% and poverty incidence from 39.3% to 19.65% by 2015.

The AHMP is a flagship program of the Arroyo administration as a mitigating measure to reduce hunger pursuant to the MDG. Kalinga ranks No. 9 as a food poor province thus including it as a beneficiary of the AHMP program under priority two.

The key players for AHMP are grouped into five committees where offices of related tasks will work to “increase food production”, “enhance efficiency of logistics and food delivery,” “put more money in poor people’s pockets,” “promote good nutrition,” and “manage population.”

Under “increase food production” chaired by the Office on Agricultural Service, the group committed to implement the Gulayan sa Paaralan including the distribution of seeds to 236 elementary schools and 36 high schools; subsidies on certified seeds and fertilizers to farmers.

Under “food distribution” chaired by the National Food Authority (NFA) with DSWD, DepEd will be the distribution of cheap rice; operation of Tindahan Natin Outlets, SEA-K, Kalahi-CIDDS, Pantawid Pampamilyang Pilipino Program, noodle feeding for 80 days in Magabbangon, Eleb, Allaguia, Malalao, Guilayon, Butbut; and vita-meal feeding for below normal weight children.

DENR has already distributed Sasou chickens to 50 poor families who are victims of typhoon Mina in Cawagayan and Mapaco in Pinukpuk. The DPWH committed construction and rehabilitation of farm to market roads and MPPs and the food for work scheme. NIA worked on the P42.5 million worth of Communal Irrigation System implemented in the province as its counterpart to AHMP.

Diasen directed other members of each committee to come up with an action plan for presentation next week and to start all activities by reaching out to the various municipalities. **PIA

Kalinga coffee farmers draft micro-business plan

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Members of the Gawidan Coffee Farmers Association (GCFA), here drafted a 3-year micro-business plan aimed at promoting civet coffee production under the Rural Micro-enterprise Promotion Program (RuMEPP).

Noryn Bagano of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office said the plan emphasizes development of a civet coffee product, which is acclaimed to be the best coffee blend.

Kalinga is producing three top brewed-coffee classes in the market, Kalinga Brew, Kalinga Blend and Mananig Coffee.

RuMEPP under DTI assists small business entrepreneurs by providing them business management capabilities through trainings on simple book keeping, marketing and financial planning.

This is in line with government program on job creation and provision of livelihood opportunities among low-income families in the countryside in the fight against poverty and hunger.

Civet coffee production is a part of the product development component which DTI is advocating for small business groups for them to maximize income out of their limited business ventures, Bagano explained.

The three-year plan, according to Bagano, will give a pathway for growth and sustainability for GCFA so that within the period they will have a business focus.

It has been a common observation that small entrepreneurs only operate for one to two years because of lack of proper business capability and direction. This is the need the RuMEPP program aims to answer, Bagano said.

After its capability building, small entrepreneurs can obtain a financial aid from the program, as an association, ranging from P200,000 to P2 million with a minimum interest rate of 8-10% per annum.

In the planning, GCFA also wants to expand to other resource-based activities like coffee seedling production to supply other farmers.

This is eyed as a lucrative enterprise with coffee now becoming a high source of income among farmers, reaching the P75/kilo price on the last season.

Aside from providing business management capability, DTI advocated to the group proper business discipline. **By Larry Lopez, ZZW

PGMA urged to overturn geothermal contract in Kalinga

Residents and elders of barangay Dananao in Tinglayan, Kalinga are asking President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to cancel the Geothermal Service Contract (GSC)whose coverage include their ancestral domain because they have not given their consent thereto.

A declaration of condemnation and protest was signed by at least 105 Dananao residents against the GSC awarded on Sept. 24, 2008 to APEC-GMC, a private company. Their main grounds are they have not given their consent nor was there any consultation held in their community.

The APEC-GMC applied for a geothermal exploration permit covering parts of Pasil, Tinglayan and Lubuagan. The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples conducted the Free Prior and Informed Consent process in the Pasil areas and the people there eventually gave their consent paving the way for the issuance by the NCIP of Certificate Precondition to APEC-GMC. The certification, however, according to the NCIP Kalinga office covers only the Pasil areas and does not include the Lubuagan and Tinglayan areas.

The problem is the DOE issued a general permit according to the Dananao people. Gaspar Dawing, the punong barangay of Dananao, forwarded to President Arroyo the protest last October 22. This is a bold encroachment into our ancestral domain and we see it as a threat to peace and development, Dawing said in his covering letter.

Earlier in September, the barangay captains of the affected communities of Lubuagan and Tinglayan expressed protest against the contract which was endorsed by the mayors of the two municipalities and also by Gov. Floydelia Diasen. Despite this the contract was signed by APEX-GMC and the DOE.

In the declaration of condemnation and protest the tribe also challenged its municipal and provincial officials: “That we live and advocate peace and development, but not this kind marked with dictatorship and treachery for it brings intra- and inter-tribal havoc and may even lead to open tribal wars if not appropriately handled.”

The tribe is also inviting neighboring tribes to join in its condemnation and protest. **By Joel B. Belinan, ZZW

Separate schools division for Tabuk City eyed

Tabuk City, Kalinga – The city government here is spearheading a move to establish an ad interim schools division while waiting for the creation of a regular schools division for the city.

The Local School Board (LSB) of the city has set the ball rolling by passing a resolution requesting Education Secretary Jesli Lapus for the establishment of an ad interim division during its special meeting on November 6.

Mayor Camilo Lammawin, Jr. informed that the resolution when endorsed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the schools division superintendent and the regional director of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is the initial requirement for the establishment of an ad interim schools division.

The other two requirements, according to Lammawin, are a certification of willingness of employees of the DepEd to be deployed in the ad interim division and also the presence of at least 750 teaching and non-teaching staff in the locality.

Lammawin said that at the moment, there are around 800 DepEd employees assigned to the city with around a 100 more working in the private sector.

Lammawin said that the ad interim division is a de facto division although not regular.

“It will function just like a regular division in preparation for the amendment of the charter of the city or the passage of bill for the creation of a regular schools division,” Lammawin said.

In his speech during the opening program of the first city sports meet on November 6, Congressman Manuel Agyao has pledged that he will fully support the establishment of an ad interim division and that later on, he will work for the amendment of the city charter for the creation of a separate schools division.

Lammawin expressed the hope that the interim set up will be in place by January 2009 even as he informed that towards that end, P1.5 M is allocated in the 2009 executive budget P1M of which is for MOOE and the P0.5M for office equipment outlay.

“We believe that having a schools division will make the city more responsive and resilient for the continued growth and accelerated development of education and sports in the city,” Lammawin said.

Lammawin said that the establishment of an ad interim schools division will mean closer working relationship between the LGU and the DepEd especially in the provision of trainings to improve the capabilities of teachers which will redound to the benefit of students. **By Estanislao Albano Jr., ZZW

Relief of Kalinga police chief sought

Tabuk City, Kalinga – The fate of PSS Maximino Valiente as police director of this province is now up to Camp Crame as Cordillera Police Regional Director Eugene Martin has endorsed the call of majority of the officers of the Kalinga police force and the local clergy for his immediate relief due to alleged lack of concern for the peace and order situation in the province, among other complaints.

In a phone interview, Martin said that he has recommended to the Philippine National Police (PNP) national leadership the relief of Valiente on the grounds cited in the petition signed by 15 of 18 subordinate police officers in the province and the letter of the Kalinga and Apayao Religious Sector Association (KARSA) backing the police officers’ petition.

In their petition, the police officers said that Valiente “does not seem to be concerned about the peace and order situation in the province. He holes up in his quarters and does not even ask his subordinates what is happening. The situation in the provincial office is now to each his own because there is no effective supervision and management.”

The officers also alleged that Valiente “relieves and reassigns personnel without any cause which greatly affects the morale of the PNP organization in the province.”

The officers also claimed that the exact amounts of maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and gas allocations intended for lower units do not reach them and that the additional MOOE of stations were not given without any explanation.

In their letter of support to the police officers, the KARSA expressed deep concern over the allegation that Valiente does not seem to care about the peace and order situation in the province.

The letter quoted the police officers who approached them as saying that “they cannot work well with the kind of leadership their commander is exhibiting.”

The KARSA took note of the incidents of broad daylight murders right in the heart of the city adding that the public is crying for an end to the violence and the solution of the crimes committed.

The clergymen said that they see no hope for the situation to improve if the police force is saddled with an ineffective leadership and asked Martin for the replacement of Valiente as soon as possible “in the interest of addressing peace and order issues in the province.”

Asked for his side, Valiente who was attending a command conference in Camp Dangwa, Benguet October 3 sent a text message claiming that the petition of the police officers has been resolved as early as April and that the few who signed it have already apologized to him for signing the document.

He added that the officer who has initiated the petition is now relieved for poking a gun on a provincial board member and that his case is now pending with the Ombudsman and the Regional Internal Affair Service (RIAS).

In an earlier interview, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Antonio Bakilan scored Valiente’s habitual absences in the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and the Kapehan sa Kapitolyo which he said is unusual because his predecessors religiously attended these forums.

Bakilan said that Valiente did not even attend the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) when it was held in the province and he was also a no show when the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) invited him to attend its session on September 16.

“How then could we ask questions and air our concerns directly to him? There are things that representatives could not answer. He should show up so that questions could be resolved on the spot and we could plan what to do,” Bakilan said.

Bakilan informed that the SP called Valiente and Tabuk City Chief of Police Alfredo Dangani on September 16 to ask them what they are doing with the spate of violence in the city. Only Dangani showed up, Bakilan said.

“According to Kalinga Provincial Police Office records, there were 10 murders from November 2007 to September 2008 with all the perpetrators at large and unidentified. Some of these murders were committed in broad daylight. Where is the protection the police was supposed to provide us?” Bakilan asked. **By Estanislao Albano Jr., ZZW

Geothermal exploration permit granted despite opposition

Tabuk City, Kalinga – The Department of Energy (DoE) has given the go signal to two locally based companies to prospect and tap geothermal energy in the province despite stiff opposition to the project.

Natividad Sugguiyao, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) provincial director here, informed the media that DoE Secretary Angelo Reyes has signed the geothermal service contract (GSC) in favor of the Aragorn Power and Energy Corporation (APEC) and the Guidance Management Corporation (GMC) to jointly explore for geothermal energy in some 26,250 hectares located in the municipalities of Pasil, Tinglayan and Lubuagan, all in Kalinga.

Sugguiyao clarified, however, that although the GSC covers areas in Tinglayan and Lubuagan, the exploration will only be made in Pasil until such time that the tribes in the ancestral domains affected in the two other towns will give their free and prior informed consent (FPIC) to the activity, if they ever will.

Regarding the fear raised by the oppositors that the inclusion of the tribal domains of the tribes which did not give their FPIC to the map of the project, Sugguiyao said that it is speculative even as she expressed confidence that the tribes will respect each other’s boundaries.

“Besides, there are safeguards in the MOA (memorandum of agreement) between the communities and the companies that in the event that exploration will be done in the borders with tribes who have not given their consent to the project, there will be consultations with the bodong holders (bodong enforcers) of the concerned tribes,” Sugguiyao said.

Sugguiyao said that they have conducted preliminary consultations with the affected tribes in Tinglayan and Pasil with Tulgao outrightly rejecting the project. The other tribes have yet to arrive at a consensus because in the case of Sumadel and Uma, they want to see an actual geothermal project first. As for Dananao, they said they want to consult among themselves further first.

“It’s not that they do not want the project. They just want to see if the project has no adverse effects on the community and be assured they are making the right decision,” Sugguiyao said.

The opposition to the project by members of the affected tribes in Lubuagan and Pasil centers on why the DoE included their ancestral domains in the GSC when they have not given their FPICs to the project.

“They have put the cart before the horse. Under the IPRA (Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act), an FPIC should first be obtained before any endeavor could be undertaken in an ancestral domain. The GSC should only have covered Pasil and not Tinglayan and Lubuagan,” Silverio Daluping of the Tulgao tribe of Tinglayan, one of the oppositors, told this paper.

He said that the approval of the GSC leaves them with no option but to take legal action.

“The Law Review Center of the University of the Philippines whom we have consulted said that the GSC violates the IPRA and that they will file the necessary case in court,” Daluping said.

“What the NCIP does not realize is that if the affected tribes in Lubuagan and Tinglayan will see that their lands are included in the project without their consent, they might make trouble with the tribes of Pasil who gave their consent. They might also disturb the flow of work in the project,” Daluping said.

In reaction to the statement of Sugguiyao that there are safeguards against possible misunderstandings between the tribes who gave their FPICs and those that did not in the MOA, Daluping commented that “we should not wait for something to happen before we act. Before embarking on the project, everything should be cleared first. The DoE should have altered the GSC accordingly.”

Daluping made it clear that they are not questioning the conduct of the FPIC process in Pasil but they are taking issue with the DoE for including the other ancestral domains where FPICs were not given and against NCIP for not advising the DoE accordingly.

Sugguiyao said that the GSC gives the APEC and GMC the right to explore for geothermal energy in the area and, if warranted by the results, produce geothermal energy. The two activities will have a maximum time frame of 50 years.

Sugguiyao called the project the biggest investment made in the province in recent years.

Pasil Mayor James Edduba told the media that if the estimated 60 megawatts potential of the area is realized, the geothermal operation will not only be the biggest in the country but it will make the Philippines surpass the United States as the foremost user of geothermal power in the world.

Aside from prospecting for geothermal energy, APEC is also involved in petroleum exploration in the Cagayan Basin while GMC also holds the GSC for the Amacan Geothermal Prospect in Compostela Valley and two Coal Operating Contracts.

Edduba and Sugguiyao informed that the entry of the GMC into Pasil in 2006 was attended with controversy because it started to explore without first undergoing the process required by the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA).

They said that because of the offense, the firm was fined by the Balatoc and Colayo tribes in the amount P1M in the form of community projects in 2007.

The process of obtaining the consent of the affected tribes was undertaken in 2007 and the Pasil tribes finally gave their FPICs for the project on February 8, 2008. **By Estanislao Albano Jr., ZZW

Militants point to ISAFP for Balao's disappearance

THE Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) is pointing to the Intelligence Service Unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp) as behind the disappearance of one of its members, James Balao.

The CPA based this allegation on Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) dossier, which classified Balao as a ranking official of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) who heads the "education bureau" of the group.

Balao, a founding member of the CPA, was reported missing since September 17. As of this writing Thursday, Balao has not surfaced.

CPA chairperson Beverly Longid said her group has reason to believe the AFP is behind Balao's disappearance because prior to this, he reported someone has been tailing him from his residence to anywhere he went. **By Rimaliza Opiña, Sunstar Baguio Read more..

Diddiga fest highlights IP month in Kalinga

Kalinga province will conduct the Diddiga Festival with the theme “Pride of the Past – Hope for the Future” as they join the world in celebrating the Indigenous People’s Month this coming October.

According to Miss Natividad Sugguiyao, provincial officer of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), “Diddiga” is a Kalinga term used in the Ullalim which literally means “pride” or “a show of beauty “expressed through one’s talent, arts, prowess, strength and everything that is beautiful – making the Diddiga Festival 2008 a ‘festival of Kalinga’s Best.’

The month long festival she said will feature four culture-rich events consisting of the Forum on Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) to provide a venue for the public to understand better the rights of IPs and clarify issues concerning their ancestral domains.

Another event would be the Chico River Festival that will offer the people a chance to appreciate the beauty and the role and significance of the Chico River to the existence of the Kalinga people. The Chico River is dubbed the river of life in Kalinga.

The Sallidummay festival on the other hand would showcase ethnic music, dances and sounds of the various ethnic communities of the province so the public will get a chance to witness the actual performance of ‘batok’ and meet Kalinga elders who wear the traditional tattoo symbolizing achievement, gallantry and honor on the part of the men and an expression of beauty for the Kalinga women.

To promote the event recognizing the Indigenous Cultural Communities of Kalinga, Governor Floydelia R. Diasen through Executive Order No 2008-28 enjoined the participation of the entire province to observe the indigenous month with the Diddiga Festival as its highlight.

This intends to provide an “opportunity for the Kalingas as Indigenous People to come together to celebrate their pride and identity, the best of their arts, traditions, culture and bring once more to the fore the protection of their rights.”

The EO states that this celebration is “meant to engender the Kalinga’s pride of identity to enrich their foundation to stand on their own ethnicity anchoring their dreams and aspiration to the positive dynamic aspect of culture and time tested traditions.”

In support of this Gov. Diasen had directed all national line agencies and local government units to come up with activities relative to their respective programs to highlight the observance of the Indigenous People’s Month. **By Gigi Dumallig, ZZW

Proposals on crime prevention in Kalinga bared

Acting to thwart the alarming rise of the crime rate in the province, Kalinga board member Efraim Orodio proposed two resolutions for the local government units to act on.

In a motion during the recent Sangguniang Panlalawigan regular session, Orodio, citing Section 51b(2) of Republic Act 6975, said that local government units are mandated to come up with an Integrated Community Safety Plan (ICSP) identifying the action plans and peace and order thrusts of the different municipalities here.

The plan, he said, should reflect the responsibility of each department as basis for their programs and logistics. This he explained will also provide outside sectors or agencies the groundwork for inputs to augment the LGUs’ efforts on their peace and order programs.

Each municipality he said should submit its ICSP to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for proper action.

Being the chairman of the Provincial Peace and Order Council, the provincial governor is responsible in overseeing the Provincial Public Safety Plan Implementation prepared in consideration of the municipal ICSPs, Orodio informed.

The formulation of the plan he said would ensure the sustainability and continuity of the province’s peace and order efforts since this will serve as the blueprint for the incumbent and upcoming officials of the provincial and municipal government units as well as the Kalinga PNP provincial director.

In support of this move, Vice Governor Jocel Baac suggested that City Mayor Camilo Lammawin Jr. immediately convene the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) to come up with its plan considering that most of the recent crimes were committed in Tabuk City. The request was directed to the city’s chief of police, Colonel Alfredo Dangani, who was representing the provincial director and the city mayor during the session.

In another motion, Orodio requested for Gov. Floydelia R. Diasen to consider and immediately act on two previous resolutions that were both approved by the SP in support of the proposal of the Provincial Development Council. First is to provide the Kalinga Provincial Police Office’s request for P300,000.00 and the repair of their two police patrol cars.

The requests were made to provide the needed logistics and mobilization equipment for the PNP to monitor and conduct patrols and to increase police visibility in the province.

In his discourse, Orodio said that if only provincial police director Maximino Valiente and city mayor Lammawin responded to the call of the SP to join the September 16 regular session it would have been an opportunity for them to discuss the present peace and order issues.

“We are not looking for faults but we are trying to find time to discuss and help find solutions and recommendations on the issues,” he said clarifying the reason of the SP’s summon.

He underscored that there is a need to “sit together and see what each can do” on the negative perception of the people on provincial director Valiente and the PNP members due to the indiscriminate commission of crimes especially in public areas around the city.

Dangani said that both officials could not personally appear as requested since both are occupied with other official duties during their scheduled appearance at the SP session. **By Gigi Dumallig, PIA, ZZW

Tabuk’s water quality probed

Tabuk City, Kalinga – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is conducting a legislative inquiry into persistent complaints on the quality of the water being served by the Tabuk Waters (TAWA), the private firm operating the water system of the city which was constructed through a loan from the World Bank.

Councilor Sandra Mejia, chairman of the committee on health, informed the media that the foremost concern of the SP is the rising level of manganese, copper and fluoride in the water, which, according to tests made by the TAWA last month and in December 2007, have gone beyond the safe range.

Mejia said that during the SP session on September 1, TAWA Assistant General Manager Rodolfo Yumol has assured that despite the increasing levels of the three substances, the water is still safe for human consumption but the body wants to make sure.

Mejia intends to immediately consult the Department of Health (DOH) regional office on the finding to know the implication to public health and safety of the increasing pattern of the substances in the TAWA water.

Mejia also informed that the TAWA has agreed that henceforth, she and Councilor Reamcy Adong, infrastructure committee chairman, will be present during the collection of water samples for physical and chemical properties test “to remove all doubts that the samples were taken elsewhere.”

“We also recommended to the TAWA more sampling points because we noticed that their present sampling points are not representative of all the areas in their coverage. For instance, they need to get samples in areas where many people congregate such as public markets,” Mejia said.

Regarding the complaints on murky and undesirable odor of TAWA water experienced by some consumers, Mejia quoted Yumol as saying that it is caused by ”suction pressure” which, according to him, happens when there is a sudden stoppage in water supply and which results into the entry of outside water into the pipeline through leaks.

Yumol went on to say that another possible explanation of the phenomena is the reaction between chemicals present in raw water and water treatment chemicals.

“I recommended to the TAWA that they should conduct periodic inspection and repairs of leaks in the pipes to prevent the contamination of the water. Even if there are sudden stoppage in the flow of the water if there are no leaks, outside water cannot seep into the pipeline,” Mejia said.

Mejia said that leaks are indeed dangerous because the water outside the pipes could contain contaminants such as solvents, petroleum products, metal degreasers and other chemicals.

Mejia said that during his appearance before the SP, Yumol did not say whether they have already complied with the earlier DOH recommendation for TAWA to install more chlorinators to answer the observation of some consumers of sudden increase and decrease of chlorine in the water.

Mejia said that the TAWA has no choice but to improve its water because there are already cases of consumers disconnecting on account of poor quality of water and defective meters.

“As of now, the number of consumers of the TAWA is not yet enough to maintain the sustainability of the water system. How will it be able to attract more consumers if it does not improve the quality of its water?” Mejia asked.

Because of the policy of the TAWA to only act on formal complaints, Mejia has urged the public to submit black and white complaints or contact the hotline of the firm.

“They require individual customer complaints but they were amenable when I told them to treat the legislative inquiry as a formal complaint and act on the issues and concerns raised,” Mejia said. ** By Estanislao Albano Jr., ZZW

Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Kalinga proposed

Tabuk City, Kalinga – A peace advocate has proposed the establishment of a body similar to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of South Africa as a means to heal the deep wounds inflicted by tribal and criminal violence in this province and to prevent them from erupting into fresh violence.

Roman Catholic Bishop Prudencio Andaya informed the media that Chito Generoso, director of the Interfaith Commission on the Culture of Non-violence (ICCN) who was here this week to conduct a seminar on trauma resolution and reconciliation organized by the local Peacemakers’ Movement (PMM) had proposed the creation of the body as an important step towards lasting peace in Kalinga.

Andaya described the South African model which was organized and went to work after the abolition of apartheid as a body which brought the victims and the perpetrators of violence face to face with the former recounting their violent experience or loss of loved ones and the latter confessing their atrocities and asking for forgiveness and amnesty from prosecution.

“There are a lot of things to be considered. The situation of South Africa and Kalinga are different. In South Africa, it was the government versus the people while in Kalinga it is people versus people. We also have a vindictive culture. The groundworks should be thoroughly put in place so that people who confess their violent acts will not be the subject of vengeance or legal action,” Andaya said.

Andaya foresees that there will be resistance because for one thing, in order to settle a case of violence in the province, the payment of indemnity is a must while in the TRC of South Africa, those who confessed their acts were forgiven.

Andaya, however, implied that the proposal is worth considering and that if ever it will be set up, it should be sponsored by the government.

Andaya revealed that as part of its peace efforts, the PMM has organized the trauma and reconciliation seminar because of the recent realization that the healing of the trauma left by tribal and criminal violence in the province has been overlooked in the local peacemaking procedures.

“Many of the revenge killings in the province spring up due to unresolved tensions in the family. Even if settlement is made there are still a lot of cases of revenge killings because the victims are left unaided. We would like to focus our attention to the orphans and the widows. For one, the orphans are potential avengers. In trauma, there is what we call transgenerational effect which means that if the hurts of a generation remain unresolved, it could spring up in two or three generations just like revenging for a grandfather,” Andaya, founder of the PMM, said.

Started in 2003, the PMM whose members are the relatives of victims of violence who are sworn to non-violence is trying to help the orphans overcome their trauma through guidance and counseling programs and is also looking for help for the establishment of a scholarship program for them in the hope of “preventing killings later.”

Engr. Andres Ngao-i, PMM coordinator, states that it is not enough to solve cases whether through amicable settlement or through the courts.

“The payment of the indemnity is not enough to bring complete healing. There should be trauma healing in order to attain lasting reconciliation,” Ngao-i, an experienced peace negotiator, said.

Asked how the PMM can intervene in a current case which involves a fierce tribe, Andaya said that the PMM “should reach out to all victims regardless of status and tribal affiliation.”

“We should be tactful and strategize because they are still grieving. And perhaps, even those who have inflicted the wounds are in need of healing. I am sure they are restless even if we say they have no conscience,” Andaya said.

For his part, Ngao-i is positive that had the trauma-healing seminar been held earlier and the PMM stepped into the recent cases of killings, the revenge killings would have been prevented.

“Had the PMM gone to them, they may have said we think about it. Our thinking then was it is hard to enter the cases immediately because emotions were still running high. They might be insulted. We waited for things to cool down. Counselors should go to console and counsel the relatives of the victims as soon as possible,” Ngao-i said. **By Estanislao Albano Jr.-ZZW

A century to rehabilitate Cordillera watershed?

Tabuk City, Kalinga – No less than Cordillera Environment and Natural Resources Director Samuel Penafiel publicly declared that if we depend on the regular funds of the government, it will take that long to rehabilitate the watersheds of the region.

He told the Regional Development Council (RDC) during its meeting here on August 15 that at the rate the government is allocating money for reforestation, 103 years is needed to rehabilitate the 150,000 hectares which the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had identified as critical watershed areas in the region.

There is some hope though that with the help of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the 103 years will be shortened.

Penafiel reported to the RDC that the Chico River watershed master plan initiated by the provinces of Kalinga and Mtn. Province and which was endorsed by the RDC to the DENR central office has already been submitted to the ADB which said it will consider it as a priority under the integrated microresources and environmental management program.

He further said that at the moment, the technical working group which prepared the master plan is in the process of assessing and preparing feasibility studies for the priority programs identified in the master plan, one of which is agroforestry.

While awaiting the action of the ADB, the RDC is also looking for assistance from Regions 1 and 2, the two areas which depend on the watersheds of the Cordillera for their irrigation and hydro-electric needs.

Penafiel reported that plans are afoot for the conduct of an inter-regional summit of the three regions on watershed concerns on October or November with the end in view of coming up with plans on how to jointly address water resource problems.

Penafiel said that Regions 1 and 2 are complaining that while they have funds for irrigation, they could not build new irrigation systems because the funds go to the rehabilitation of the old ones “because you are destroying the watersheds in the Cordillera.”

Tuao, Cagayan for one is complaining that the Chico River is causing flooding and washing out of infrastructures in the town, Penafiel said.

“Each region should come up with how to rehab the watersheds. The two regions are looking at how they could help,” Penafiel said.

Ifugao Governor Teodoro Baguilat, Jr. declared that the complaints of Regions 1 and 2 should serve as an added motivation “to strengthen advocacy for the payment of our water by the national government and the lowland regions because the national government could not provide for immediate rehabilitation.”

“If only the upland communities get a share from water usage fees, they will protect the watersheds and consider them as their cash crops,” Baguilat said adding that the summit should at least come up with how much the two regions should be paying the Cordillera for the water.

Baguilat warned that for so long as the economic needs of the communities in the watershed areas are not met, they will continue to destroy the forest. According to him, there are instances when reforestation areas have been burned just so the people there could be hired again to replant.

Baguilat said that aside from providing livelihood for the upland people, there is a need for legislation which will compel the government to pay for water usage.

OIC-RDC Chairman Juan Ngalob informed that the scheduled regional watershed summit will serve as a preliminary to the inter-regional summit and that its intended output is a policy paper calculating the cost of immediately rehabilitation of Cordillera watersheds and also to maintain them after the rehabilitation.

Ngalob said that with the government hard-pressed to provide the money for the immediate rehabilitation of the watershed, the only option is to try to avail of official development assistance which means going through the National Economic Development Authority Investment Coordinating Committee “which calls for master plans and feasibility studies.”

He further said that in the end, it will be the national leadership which will decide on whether or not the Cordillera watersheds will be rehabilitated and that the role of the RDC is to gather the facts which will serve as basis for the political leaders to act.

“We are trying to package the watershed problem as a problem besetting the Filipino race in Northern Luzon whose future is imperiled unless the national government acts,” Ngalob said. **By Estanislao Albano Jr. -ZZW

Lubuagan, Kalinga to hold 1st Lumin-awa festival on August 18-20

by Lito Dar

Baguio City (9 August) -- In celebration of the centennial founding anniversary of the first civil government of Lubuagan town in Kalinga, the local government unit in cooperation with the Department of Tourism will be holding its first "Lumin-awa" festival on August 18-20.

Lubuagan Mayor James Alunday in a press conference last week explained that the "Lumin-awa", is synonymous to "guminhawa", or to be relieved or relaxed in mind, spirit and health.

The three-day festivity aims to boost the town's economy and development, as he stressed that education, health and tourism are their priority.

The three-day Lumin-awa festival features grand parades, indigenous games/songs/sounds, Agro Industrial Exhibits/fair, stage programme, field presentations and medical/dental mission. The mayor is inviting everybody, local and foreign tourists alike, to witness or discover their rich cultural heritage. Read more...

3 soldiers killed in Kalinga ambush identified

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Police on Friday said the three soldiers who were killed in a rebel ambush in the hinterlands of Kalinga province last Wednesday have been identified.

A report by the Kalinga police to Camp Dangwa, headquarters of the regional police force in La Trinidad, identified the victims as SSgt. Ci-o, Sgt. Galimba and Pfc. Toribio, all of the Philippine Army’s 21st Infantry Battalion.

The three were killed during a clash with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels at about 4 p.m. last Wednesday at the remote sitio of Lagwak in barangay Limos in Pinukpuk town.

Chief Inspector Joe Baday, chief of police in Pinukpuk, reported that the soldiers were on their way to Pinukpuk from barangay Poswoy in neighboring Balbalan town when they were ambushed. Baday’s report did not name the army soldier who was wounded.

It was unclear if the NPAs who staged the ambush are the same group that bombed a Globe telecommunications tower in barangay Pakawit, also in Pinukpuk, last July 27.

Police said the rebel who was hacked to death by a villager during the cellsite bombing was from barangay Balantoy in Balbalan, which is close to Poswoy village.

The Wednesday ambush came amid President Arroyo’s two-day furlough in Apayao province and Tuguegarao City where she was presented with developmental action plans for Cagayan Valley formulated by the participants to the first-ever local peace and security assembly.

In the meeting, Mrs. Arroyo called on local, military and police officials in the region to “crush the rebels once and for all because they are trying to impede the growth of our country." - GMANews.TV

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Three persons killed in Tabuk City

Tabuk City, Kalinga - Three persons were killed in two separate incidents here recently. At around 3:30 a.m. of July 25 two unidentified gunmen shot to death Danny Garcia, 44, married, resident of Cabaritan, this city, and Cecilio Advincula, 44, single, resident of Lanna, also this city, in the compound of the Southern Bulanao Elementary School, Bulanao, this city.

Responding policemen found Garcia sprawled on the ground with a gunshot wound in his breast and Advincula who was apparently asleep on the floor of the canteen operated by Garcia had gunshot wounds in his head. Both were dead.

A team from Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) of the province recovered three spent shells of a cal. 45 pistol in the crime scene. The police said that the assailants fled the scene following the irrigation canal above the school.

Meanwhile, at around 5 p.m. of July 22 in Pinagan, Lucog, Jimmy dela Pena, 44, married and kagawad of the barangay, was struck twice with a gabyon (a type of digging tool) on the nape by his neighbor Leonard Benjok.

Police said that Benjok was motivated by jealousy believing that the victim was having an affair with his wife.

The police immediately took the suspect into custody and murder charges have already been filed against him. **By Estanislao Albano, Jr.

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Kalinga PUV operators petition for transfer of venue of processing of their papers

Tabuk City, Kalinga - Two groups of public utility vehicle (PUV) operators have petitioned the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to transfer the processing of papers of PUVs in the province from the Cordillera Administrative Region in Baguio City to the LTFRB-Cagayan in Tuguegarao City.

Foremost of the reasons of the Kalinga Federation of Jeepney Operators (KFJO) and the Kalinga Transportation and Development Cooperative (KASTRANSDESCO) is the expense entailed in processing papers in Baguio City.

The two groups cited in their petition the fact that the travel time to Baguio City is 12 hours while it is only one hour to Tuguegarao City adding that their woes are compounded by the presence of many fixers in the LTFRB-CAR.

They also claimed that law enforcement units from the LTFRB-CAR only come to Kalinga once in two or three years thereby "contributing to the proliferation of colorum vehicles in the area."

Cecilio, Mangadap. Board chairman of the KALTRANSDESCO, said that if the .processing of papers of Kalinga PUVs will be done in Region II, the long time problem of the province with colorum PUVs will be solved not only because of the nearness of Kalinga to Tuguegarao City but because the issuance of franchises in Region II is open.

On the other hand, on account of exposed anomalous franchises issued in the CAR in recent years, there is now a moratorium in the issuance of new franchises in the region.

"The whole Cordillera is affected by the moratorium. It will take years to correct the problem to the inconvenience of franchise applicants. The renewal of franchises is also taking a lot of time because the new director scrutinizes the applications so as not to repeat past mistakes," Mangadap said.

Mangadap is accusing the regional office of the Department of Transportation and Communication-CAR for not acting on the recent order of Secretary Leandro Mendoza to apprehend colurom PUVs in Kalinga.

Mangadap said that Mendoza issued the order on June 3, 2008 in response to complaints of the KALTRANSDESCO of the presence of illegal PUVs in the province especially in the capital city.

"Our move has nothing to do with the Cordillera spirit. It is only that Baguio City is too far. The transfer will bring the services of government closer to the people," Mangadap said. **By Estanislao Albano Jr.

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Tinglayan hosts Kalinga's Nutrition Month celebration

Baguio City - With the theme "Sa Wastong Nutrisyon ni Mommy, Siguradong Healthy si Baby", the municipality of Tinglayan will be hosting this year's provincial nutrition month celebration culminating activity on July 30, 2008.

In preparation for the activity, the Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC) scheme several activities to be undertaken province wide ensuring the full participation of the different municipalities in highlighting the importance of health and proper nutrition.

In a memorandum, Provincial Governor Floydelia Diasen specified at least eight activities to be undertaken by the different government agencies and local government units in the province to highlight the celebration.

These include information education campaign activities such as placing of streamers bearing the theme for the public to be aware of said activity, program launching and motorcade, conduct of meetings, classes, and seminars on nutrition, conduct of Nutrition on the Air over DZRK Radyo ng Bayan and IEC on environmental sanitation.

Concerned agencies are also directed to conduct capability building through training of nutrition implementers from the provincial to the municipal level and also encouraged the active participation of Non-government organizations in all nutrition related activities.

As a highlight of the event, several contested activities will be conducted such as the "Search of Mrs. Nutrition" to be participated by mothers from 21 to 35 year old, with at least four healthy children and certified to be in good health by the Municipal Health Officer (MHO).

Babies from 0 to 11 months with normal weight, complete immunization record and certified to have been breastfed will also be joining the event in the Well-baby Contest.

Public and private schools around the province are likewise encouraged to join the competitions on cooking, poster making, slogan making, jingle, draw and tell, revival dance, nutrition quiz, and extemporaneous speech.

Meanwhile in her report, Nutritionist Frances Sebastian of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) urged for the immediate release of weighing scales in the different municipalities stressing the vital importance of said equipments in monitoring the nutrition status of children six years and below.

She disclosed that during the January to March Operation Timbang, the PHO reported that Pasil ranked first with 13.68% in the malnutrition rating followed by Rizal with 12.63% which is closely followed by Pinukpuk with 12.29%.

Tabuk City is fourth with 9.29% followed by Tanudan with 9.12%, Lubuagan is the sixth placer with 7.81%, then Balbalan with 6.92% and Tinglayan with only 2.2% malnutrition rate. Read more...

Coffee production eyed as alternative for marijuana farmers

TINGLAYAN, Kalinga - The local government here is determined to enhance coffee production to eradicate marijuana plantations in its far-flung villages.

“Enhancing our coffee production will make the local farmers realize that there are other kinds of livelihood aside from planting marijuana,” Tinglayan Mayor Johnny Maymaya said.

Maymaya said marijuana planting is still rampant in the villages of Loccong, Busculan, Butbut and in a hamlet called Balay.

The mayor said the municipality is progressively being known for its Robusta coffee production. He said agriculturists are now looking for the possible cultivation of Arabica coffee in the elevated parts of the municipality.

With the new development, Maymaya said the municipal government is planning to approach more farmers, particularly those who are cultivating marijuana, and convince them to plant coffee plants instead.

Jerry Baliang, acting regional director of the Department of Agriculture in the Cordillera Administrative Region, said more than 8,000 hectares of land in Kalinga have been converted into coffee farms. Read more...

Cordillera cops on their toes after blast downs cell site in Kalinga

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Cordillera policemen were ordered on Wednesday to be on their toes after communist rebels blasted a cellular site of Globe Telecoms in Pinukpuk town in Kalinga province on Sunday.

Chief Supt. Eugene Martin, the regional police director, said security measures on vital government and private installations all over the region were being enhanced to avoid a repeat of the bombing that has disrupted cell phone services for Pinukpuk’s remote communities.

A report by the Kalinga provincial office to Martin said at least 30 rebels were involved in the attack on the Globe cell site located on a mountain ridge along the boundary of barangays Taga and Pakawit by communist rebels.

The report said the rebels forcibly entered the Globe compound at around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, and hogtied watchman Manuel Labbutan Jr and his wife, who happened to be at the cell site to deliver supper for his husband, before blasting the facility with dynamites. - GMANews.TV

Kalinga solon awards livelihood projects to poor families, inmates

Tabuk City, Kalinga (28 July) -- Contributing to the government's effort to mitigate hunger, organized groups in the province including inmates were recipients to various livelihood assistance projects of Congressman Manuel Agyao.

Significant among these support projects is the awarding of a tractor to the Kalinga Banana Producers Multi-purpose Cooperative.

Awarding ceremonies separately took place last week at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Kalinga district office and at the Tabuk Multi-purpose Cooperative, (TAMPCO) Inc. Inn this city, where a livelihood training was conducted. Read more...

Alleged NPA rebel killed in Kalinga clash

MANILA, Philippines - A suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebel was killed following a clash with Army personnel in the northern Philippine province of Kalinga over the weekend, the Philippine Army said Monday.

About 4 p.m. Sunday, operating troops from the 21st Infantry Battalion engaged an undetermined number of NPA rebels at Sitio Magmag-an in Upper Uma village in Lubuagan town, said Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, spokesman for the Philippine Army.

Aside from killing one rebel, the operating troops also recovered a Carbine and a .22-caliber Magnum revolver, Brawner said.

No government casualties were reported in the said encounter.

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). The outlawed group has been waging a Maoist insurgency campaign for nearly four decades.

Peace talks with the mainstream communist movement remain stalled since August 2004.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had ordered government forces to crush the communist insurgency by the end of her term in June 2010. *GMANews.TV

Kalinga day care workers train on disaster preparedness

Tabuk City, Kalinga (28 July) -- With the alarming weather forecast about the number of super typhoons that may hit the country this year, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) taps the assistance of day care workers on disaster preparedness and relief operations, as part of its disaster preparedness efforts in the province.

Eusebia Haddac, Project Coordinator of the PSWDO said their office will conduct disaster preparedness orientation and training to properly equip 150 day care workers throughout the province. Read more...

10 irrigation projects completed in Kalinga

Tabuk City, Kalinga (28 July) -- Ten communal irrigation projects (CIP) funded by the congressional initiative of Congressman Manuel Agyao were reported completed by the Kalinga Provincial Irrigation Management Office (KPIMO). A total of P3 million was allotted from the solon's Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) that also generated 69 jobs.

Agyao was elated on the satisfactory accomplishment promising to allot an additional P4 million for other CIP projects this second semester of the year. He asked local government unit leaders to coordinate their plans with his office so that his technical men will make the final evaluation for approval. Read more...

NEA gives P8M loan to KAELCO consumers

Tabuk City, Kalinga - In its bid to electrify all barangays in the country before 2010, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) allotted P8 million loan to Kalinga-Apayao Electric Cooperative (Kaelco) consumers for household connection. Not in the form of cash loan, Kaelco as conduit provides materials needed to complete electrification of the beneficiary.

Unable to connect because of the lack of money to buy the necessary connection materials, each consumer can avail of a loan ranging from P5,000 to P7,000 with ten percent interest payable in a two-year period. However, Kaelco Board of Directors (BOD) will deliberate to allow beneficiaries to pay in three years considering the hard times now. Read more...

A new feel of city life for Tabuk

By the GO NEGOSYO team

In 1983, Thelma Bayle-Ng owned and managed a small Bayle Store with two employees, selling basic goods. To attract more consumers, prices were kept low, more grocery items were added, wider store space was constructed and more workers were employed to give better service.

Today, Thelma Bayle-Ng owns and manages the Bayle Supermart.

The story of Thelma’s success began with an economic challenge. People in Kalinga wanted lower prices, so they went to neighboring areas like Cagayan or Isabela. Thelma sought to meet the demands of the people in Kalinga and, as part of her business expansion, she also put up Bayle Baker.
Thelma has openly shared the success of Bayle Supermart through scholarship programs for deserving students. She has also extended spiritual fellowships and provided employment to reformed law offenders and their families. Read more...

Switch

By Prof. Alex Magno

Sometimes saving the world involves doing something as simple as changing the light bulbs we use.

We have about 15 million households in this country. Each household uses an average of 3 light bulbs. That adds up to 45 million bulbs.

According to estimates made by the Asian Development Bank, if we are able to switch only a million 60-watt incandescent bulbs to 13-watt compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), which deliver the same lighting capacity, the country will save roughly the equivalent electricity generating capacity of a 50-megawatt generating plant.

That is not an insignificant gain.

A 50-megawatt generating plant costs US$50 million to build. If it is powered by bunker fuel, that represents additional oil imports in a price regime that is unlikely to decline substantially. If it uses coal, this represents a tremendous amount of pollution that aggravates global warming.

And it is a gain achieved simply by switching light bulbs. No decrease in the brightness we enjoy. No additional cost in the end for individual consumers, considering the savings in energy costs over time. All it involves is front-ending some of the costs of purchasing a CFL instead of an incandescent bulb. CFLs last much longer and consume vastly less power. Read more...

Related articles: CFLs can bring down power bills by up to 80%, P.5 B allotted for light bulb conversion

Kalinga cop gets HIR Most Outstanding Award

Tabuk City, Kalinga - Proving that Kalinga police officers could top other policemen in the country in the performance of their duties, an officer from the Kalinga Police Provincial Office (KPPO) was recently adjudged as the Most Outstanding Intelligence Officer after a nationwide search conducted by the Humanitarian International Records (HIR).

Said award was presented to Police Inspector Abraham W. Galingan by Vice President Noli de Castro during the Humanitarian International Record Grand Anniversary and Award Celebration held at the Gallery Hall, Manila Hotel recently.

Insp. Galingan was bestowed the coveted title after considering his noted accomplishments and impeccable records as the KPPO Provincial Police Intelligence Officer from 2003 to 2006 showing confidence, courage, loyalty and determination in fulfilling his duties.

Among his accomplishment is the arrest and neutralization of notorious organized crime groups and Top Most Wanted Criminals.

The search and award is being conducted and presented by the HIR to advocate the promotion, information and development of social educational, cultural, economics, leadership and human values through the conduct of Biographical Research and Record of outstanding men and women in the various field of human endeavors around the world. PIA

Kalinga and Mtn. Province cultural clash brewing

Tabuk City, Kalinga – A clash over their contrasting manners of disposing cases of accidents is threatening to sour the relationship between this province and neighboring Mtn. Province.

The controversy puts Kalinga Congressman Manuel Agyao who is also representing Mtn. Province in Congress as caretaker due to the recent death of Congressman Victor Dominguez in an uncomfortable position.

This developed as a former ranking provincial official of Mtn. Province has called on Agyao to intervene in the resolution of the vehicular accident on September 8, 2007 in Magabbangon, Cudal, this city. The accident claimed the lives of 10 persons and wounded eight others.

Majority of the victims were Kalinga natives while the owner of the ill-fated truck, Alexander Miranda, was a native of Sabangan, Mtn. Province. He was among the fatalities.

Former Mtn. Province provincial administrator Evelyn Miranda, a sister-in-law of Alexander, is pleading with Agyao to do something about the efforts of the relatives of the fatalities and some survivors to impose the multa or indemnity on the family of Alexander.

She said that with some Kalinga professionals including several government officials taking the cudgels for them, the relatives of seven of the fatalities are demanding that the family of Alexander pay P50,000.00 for each of the victims as multa.

She said that at first, the agreement was for the family to raise P70,000.00 as assistance to the families of the fatalities but that when the money which she claimed is the only remaining resources of Lucia Miranda, the widow, was ready, the claimants and their supporters had said that it is not enough.

"They do not consider that it was an accident and that Alexander was also killed. They do not also seem to believe that the family no longer has anymore money. Actually, P50,000.00 of the P70,000.00 came from the sale of their junked truck, the only remaining property in the name of Alexander," Evelyn said qualifying that the amount is not being given as multa but as assistance to the bereaved families.

She lamented that some Kalinga professionals who are in a position to temper the claims of the victims appear instead to be in favor of the giving of indemnity.

"In Mtn. Province, we do not impose any compensation on account of accidents. We do not give a price to life. It cannot be bought or sold. Assistance, if any, is voluntary. They are saying that we have a different culture and that on the other hand, the practice of exacting the multa is part of the Kalinga culture. But our position is that bad cultural practices should be discarded. The practice of girls sleeping in the ulog and the boys sleeping in the ato used to be a part of Mtn. Province culture but that was when our houses were one-room affairs. There came a time when we realized that the practice has become impractical and no longer attuned with the times and it just disappeared. The bagbagto practice (organized tribal stone-throwing fights) vanished for the same reason," Evelyn said.

Evelyn is hoping that Agyao will look into the plight of Mtn. Province immigrants in Kalinga who she claimed are being treated as second class citizens in Kalinga for generations now.

She said that in cases where Mtn. Province immigrants were victimized by Kalingas through accidents or crimes, they were not paid the multa.

Evelyn is also intending to bring the case to the attention of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Mtn. Province.

Fr. Denver Marrero who assisted the Mirandas in the handling of the aftermath of the accident the family being members of the Anglican Church said that despite their own loss, the family attended to the needs of the other victims right away.

Marrero said that from the money of the family and solicitations, they were able to extend a total assistance of P130,000.00 which included a pig and a cavan of rice for each of the families of the dead victims and a portion of the funeral expenses.

Marrero also said that around a month after the burial of Alexander, the family hosted a meeting of the relatives of the victims and the surviving passengers wherein the latter had agreed that they will not claim the multa nor file charges.

Marrero related that sometime in November, the family was surprised when some of the relatives of the victims changed their minds. Bargaining then ensued with the family saying they could give only P70,000.00 to be equally divided among the relatives of the victims but the latter wanted P50,000.00 for each dead.

Marrero said that at one point during the June 9 negotiations, Lucia offered that since she no longer has any means of producing the amount demanded, she will just go to jail instead.

Marrero said that on that ill-fated afternoon, Alexander was on his way to his farm in Alubaggan, Calaccad, this city, and when he passed the parking area of vehicles bound for that place, the victims hitched because they missed the last trip for the day. **by Estanislao Albano, Jr.

Wandag and Wacnang honored for roles in conversion of Tabuk to city

Tabuk City, Kalinga - Ex-mayor Basilio Wandag and ex-congressman Laurence Wacnang led this year's list of personalities who were honored for their roles in the conversion of Tabuk into a city during the Gabi ng Parangal, one of the traditional activities of Tabuk's foundation day celebrations, on June 25, the third day of the first city founding anniversary festivities.

Wandag was credited for setting into motion the drive for the conversion of the then town into a city.

According to the plaque of recognition for Wandag, it was "during his term that his brainchild (Tabuk's conversion into a city) was not only conceptualized but also put into action. He did not heed the advice of some individuals with personal motives to subdivide the municipality. Instead, he persevered to make Tabuk into a city, a decision believed to be advantageous to Tabuk's constituents."

For his part, Wacnang was recognized for his role in the filing and passage of RA 9404 which converted the then municipality into a component city.

In his speech, Wacnang asked the city officials to come up with an effective solution to the erosion and flooding problems being wrought by the Chico River, build all weather roads to the remaining roadless barangays and to locate the new city hall in a different lot.

In his closing remarks, Vice Mayor Rainier Sarol said that it was during the term of Mayor Basilio Wandag in 1998 when the idea of making Tabuk a development center and eventually a city was born and it was Wacnang who brought the dream to a reality through the filing and passage of RA 9404.

He acknowledged the suggestions of Wacnang saying they will be duly considered even as he assured the public that as hoped for by the former solon, the city leadership is properly utilizing the increased funds of the city for priority developmental projects such as the ongoing concreting of roads in the urban center.

Another major honoree of the city government this year is the late Roberto Belgica who, as tricycle driver, returned P40,000.00 and a cellphone left by passengers in two different incidents, and as tanod of Dagupan Weste, for his dedication to duty. He died of cardiac arrest after a day long search for a stolen carabao.

Also posthumously honored during the occasion for their respective contributions to the development of the town were past mayors Tangkib (one name) who sat in 1941-1943, Pio Albert (1946-1947), Agustin Castro (1948-1950,1952-1955), Miguel Buslig, Sr. (1950-1951), Jaime Quirino (1956-1968,1981-1987), Ricarte Quinsaat (1968-1980) and Rommel Diasen (1988-1998).

The barangay councils and tanod organizations of Agbannawag, Bagumbayan and Nambaran were recognized for their peace and order efforts.

The barangay captain and tanods of Agbannawag were instrumental in the peaceful surrender of one of the suspects in the killing of Catholic priest Franciscus Madhu, the barangay officials and tanod of Bagumbayan for the recovery of two stolen large cattle and the barangay officials and tanods of Nambaran were also credited for the arrest of two notorious highway robbers.

Teddy Kub-ao of Bulo, Epifania Sal-ao of Bantay, Gerome Fernandez of Tuga, Warlito Ventura of Masablang and Danilo Marcelo of Malalao were also cited for winning in the regional level in their respective categories the Gawad Saka search of the Department of Agriculture. Kub-ao and Marcelo have reached the national level of the search.

Teacher Maribel Bravo of the Tabuk National High School received the Teacher Achiever Award of the Rotary Club of Tabuk. **By Estanislao Albano, Jr.

Tabuk City central terminal plan revived

Tabuk City, Kalinga - This city has revived the plan to establish a grand central terminal which has been shelved for sometime appropriating P12M for the purchase of a five-hectare lot to host the facility in its first supplemental budget for the year.

Mayor Camilo Lammawin, Jr., justified the appropriation saying that it is expected that with the development of the city, the prices of land will soon soar.

The mayor, however, branded as disinformation published allegations that a lot has already been bought and that someone has made money in the transaction.

According to the mayor, the negotiations with the lot owners was put on hold because the latter had second thoughts due to the speculation that the price of land will go up soon.

"There are at least four landowners who made offers to the city but none of these have been acted upon," Lammawin said adding that all four lots are located between Dagupan and Bulanao, the two centers of the city.

He also refuted published allegations that at P12M, the lot is grossly overpriced pointing out that a lot in Magsaysay, this city, which is less than a hectare was recently sold at P12M.

Regarding speculations that the city is about to borrow P300M for the project, Lammawin said that that option of funding the project has not crossed the mind of the officials of the city.

"What we are negotiating with the Land Bank for is online credit which means that we do not have to wait for the quarterly allocation of the LGU to bid out products as the bank will advance the money. The advance payment will be according to the budget and with Sangguniang Panlungsod approval," Lammawin said.

The mayor said also that not only will the transport terminal designed to put order into the traffic in the town center but will also facilitate the marketing of products because it will also have an agro-product trading post.

"It will also help local businessmen as they could put up gasoline stations, restaurants and other facilities needed by travelers and businessmen. Putting a business cluster in the midst of the existing business centers of the city will have a metropolis effect merging them and creating more business opportunities," Lammawin said.

When the construction of the central terminal was first proposed in 2005, the business community here put up a stiff opposition to the immediate implementation of the plan alleging among other reasons that it will only worsen the dismal business climate in the then municipality.

In a public hearing held by the Sangguniang Bayan February 17, 2005, local businessmen said also that while it is true that centralizing the parking of public transport is a good idea, the town can still do without it at this point in time.

The businessmen said that instead of launching the project, the LGU could maximize available vacant spaces along the provincial road running through the town and also side streets as parking areas of public transport.

But their foremost concern was that with the then business slump in the locality, the sector cannot afford another business cluster which will naturally mushroom around the central terminal. **By Estanislao Albano, Jr., ZZW; 06/29/08

Police still face a blank wall on Tabuk City grenade blast

Tabuk City, Kalinga - Almost a week after the grenade blast in the carnival area in the city government compound here which killed one person and wounded 20 others, the police could not yet establish the motive nor identify the suspects in the explosion.

Chief of Police Alfredo Dangani informed the media that there are several angles - that the grenade was lobbed from outside the fence of the city compound or that the explosive was rolled into the area from within.

Dangani said that police investigators are now trying to convince identified witnesses to shed light on the crime but it appears they are hesitant to reveal what they know for fear of being involved in the case.

"We are told that these identified eyewitnesses are saying this and that but when police investigators go to them, they say nothing. We do not want to force them," Dangani said.

Dangani said that they are moving very cautiously because they want that if they would make an arrest and file charges, it would be against actual perpetrators otherwise they would be multiplying the problem.

Dangani is hopeful that very soon, the truth about the explosion will come out because there are 21 victims and therefore more people wanting to know and are working for the truth will come out.

Regarding the motive, Dangani said that there are many possibilities such as the culprit may have been desperate and "naghahanap ng damay" or that since it is right before the celebration of the first foundation day of the city, the explosion may have been meant to sabotage the occasion.

Dangani is not inclined to believe that the motive is personal grudge because had that been so, the target would have been pinpointed and a gun would most likely have been used instead of a grenade.

Meanwhile, the police belied the report made by a national television network that a second victim in the blast had already died even as they admitted that Vicente Tabanganay, 24, resident of Bado Dangwa, this city, had lapsed into a coma shortly after he was brought to a hospital in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, for treatment. The police said that he is still in a coma.

Aside from Tabanganay, the others who were wounded in the blast are as follows: Joel Bayangan, 25-30, Casigayan, this city; Peter Mamawag, 54, Bulanao, this city; Ronnie Valdez, 38, Cauayan, Isabela; Franklin Tuddao, 15, Babalag, Rizal, Kalinga; William Degay, 26, Cabauan, this city; Florencio Pagala, 47, Pinukpuk, Kalinga; Aldrin Ayangco, 32, Tanza, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan; Geoffrey Liagao, 28, Amlao, this city; Samuel Anog, 44, Cudal, this city; Aldrin Agod, 38, Bujanao, this city; Enrique Yayaen, 46, Calaccad, this city; Tyson Bulawang, 18, Bulanao; Rodrigo Caddaman, 15, Pinukpuk, Kalinga; Joel Manacnis, 30, Dagupan Weste; Guilbert Gubiangan, 32, Cabaritan, Tabuk; Gaspar Desay, Allaguia, Pinukpuk; Orodio Abuak Dumaguing, 36; Denden Estilong, Dagupan Centra, this city; and Pedro Ay-en.

The lone fatality in the explosion was Redentor Bayangan, 27, of Sucbot, Pinukpuk, Kalinga. **By Estanislao Albano, Jr., ZZW; 06/29/08

Grenade blast fails to derail Tabuk City celebration

Tabuk City, Kalinga - The grenade blast in the carnival area inside the city government compound here a day before the observance of the first founding anniversary of the city and its 7th Matagoan Festival failed to derail or even just dampen the celebration which run from June 23 to 26.

Chief of Police Alfredo Dangani declared that had the motive of the perpetrator been to sabotage the celebration, then he has failed because the celebration proceeded smoothly and the activities especially the parade on the second day were well attended.

The parade dragged for three hours because the head intersected with the hind part at the intersection of the provincial road and Quezon Street where it was arranged for the one group to stop to allow the other group to proceed alternately. This is the first time that this happened in a parade in the city center.

Police and ushers had to shove people at the entrance of the Tabuk People's Gymnasium to make a way for Tourism Regional Director Purificacion Molintas who was the guest speaker on the third day.

In her speech, Molintas made no direct reference to the grenade incident but merely said that one of the basic expectations of tourists from a place they visit is assurance of their security and safety.

She urged the city to protect its tourists net only because satisfied tourists came back again and again but because the Department of Tourism, with the aid of the law enforcement arms of the government, is monitoring crimes against tourists and by tourists.

In an interview after the program, Molintas who attended the celebration starting on the night of the first day to the afternoon of the third day said that news of the grenade explosion never gave her second thoughts about her scheduled trip to the city.

She said that bombings and kidnappings happen everywhere adding that she always makes it a point to attend ‘first time celebrations regardless of obstacles.

Molintas also intimated that she liked what she saw during the celebration although there were minor adjustments which need to be made 'apart from the need to develop the city’s 'must sees' and 'must buys.’

Molintas said that the city should be able to offer something that is truly from the city or is symbolic of what the city is such as a brand of Kalinga coffee or goodies and arts and crafts.

Regarding the Longest Hybrid Rice Linudag Show which was staged for the first time this year and was supposed to be one of the main attractions of the celebration, Molintas said that the city can improve on it in the future 'especially if they gun for the Guinness Record.'

The linudag - rice wrapped in lao leaves and cooked in bamboo cuts over slow fire - were prepared and cooked at the agriculturist office inside the city compound starting in the afternoon of June 22 and then suspended on a wire laid out along the provincial road from barangay Magsaysay to barangay Appas for an approximate length of 2.5 kilometers night of June 23.

At around 9 AM of June 24, the linudag was gathered and distributed to the public in the city compound.

The target was to link Bulanao and Dagupan Centro which are seven kilometers apart with linudags but according to City Agriculturist Gilbert Cawis who headed the committee in-charge of the event, there were a lot of things they failed to consider when they set the target such as the length of time it takes to prepare and cook a linudag which is one and half hours and likewise the availability of enough people to produce enough linudags for the distance.

'This is a learning experience. We will do better next year. We could assign all 42 barangays of the city to cook linudags so that we could produce enough for seven kilometers on time,' Cawis said.

The linudag received mixed reviews from those who were able to taste it. There were some who praised it and wished they got more but there were also those who said that the linudag they got were either too hard for human consumption or were spoiled.

A mediaman from Baguio City was also noted the absence of community participation in the activity saying that the linudag were not opened and tasted on the road nor was the public invited to view the preparation activities such as being done in similar activities in other places.

Other major events of the festival especially the search for Mutya ng Tabuk and Mr. Matagoan on the first night and the street dancing on the third day were resounding successes. **By Estanislao Albano, Jr., ZZW; 06/29/08

2 dead, 18 injured in grenade explosion in Kalinga

Two persons were killed while 18 others were injured when a grenade explosion hit a small carnival in Tabuk City, Kalinga

Victim Joel Tabanganay died instantly during the explosion that took place past 11 a.m. Another victim, identified as Redentor Bayangan, died while being treated at a nearby hospital. Read more...

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Project watchdog runs out of patience on DPWH

Tabuk City, Kalinga - After waiting in vain for months for answers on the allegedly anomalous implementation of a P2M farm-to-market (FMR) project, a joint project monitoring group here has run out of patience and is suing all those involved in the project.

Claiming that they have been given the runaround by the Department of Public Works and Hjghways-Kalinga Engineering District (DPWH-KED), the group which is composed of the Kaljnga and Apayao Religious Sector Association (KARSA), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Committee (PARCCOM) are in the process of filing formal charges with the assistance of the Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Governance (CCAGG).

Fr. Denver Marrero of the KARSA said that the gist of their complaint is that the process of awarding the project was grossly disregarded and that the KED paid 89 percent of the amount when only 34 percent of the project has been accomplished.

"With the project being CARP-funded, the PARO (Provincial Agrarian Reform Office) should have been the one to bid it out but according to PARO (Victoriano) Laguinday, his office only learned of the existence of the project when it was already being implemented. At least, the PARO should have been represented in the bidding but what allegedly happened was that it was the DPWH which bidded out the project," Marrero told the media.

Marrero said that the group first inspected the project on November 22,2007 and promptly informed the DPWH of its findings but only received an answer sometime in January 2008 that the implementation was slated for completion on December 27, 2007 as it was delayed due to the road having been washed out by a typhoon.

Marrero related that on March 27, the monitoring team inspected the project again this time with engineers from the DPWH.

Marrero said that after their engineers bored and measured the project, the group assessed the accomplishment to be mere 34 percent as against the claim Df the DPWH of 89 percent.

Marrero said that on March 12, the group went to see District Engineer Leo Mustard but it was Assistant District Engineer George Mi-ing, Construction Chief Ernesto Vecaldo, Project Coordinator Teodoro Owek and Project Engineer Elemar Palattao who faced them.

Marrero said that instead of being clarified, more questions arose during the meeting because Palattao who did not take part in the measurement and boring although present during inspection tried to question the accuracy of the findings.

According to Marrero, the group next recommended to the. DPWH "to explain why thecon-tractor collected P1.63M despite his accomplishment of only P667,573.43," discipline all the DPWH personnel involved in the project and blacklist the contractor from taking part in the bidding of all future CARP-funded projects.

"There was no action on our recommendation. Neither was there any response to the PARCs letter sometime in April asking for the status of the case. All our communications were duly received," Marrero said. **By Estanislao Albano, Jr.

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