Kalinga ready to go green by building a minihydro

TABUK CITY, KALINGA – While most Cordillera provinces are wasting a lot of time and saliva discussing prospects of clean energy projects which will at the same time result in additional income, Kalinga is ready to construct and operate one.

This developed as there are no more hitches to the implementation of the 400 kilowatt minihydro project of the Kalinga provincial government after the junking of the new feasibility study in favor of the old one.

Sangguniang Panlalawigan Secretary Mathew Matbagan said that the project which will be constructed along the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) lateral canal in Bulanao, this city, was proposed by former governor Dominador Belac to supply the electricity needs of provincial government offices including the provincial hospital and national government offices located in Bulanao with the excess to be sold to the Kalinga-Apayao Electric Cooperative (KAELCO).

The provincial government applied for a loan of P42M, the projected cost stated in the feasibility study prepared by the Oriental Planners, Builders and Consultants, but only P36.9M was approved by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) on the reason that the balance should be funded by the provincial government.

Matbagan said that the project did not materialize then as time ran out due to the elections in 2007.

Matbagan said that Gov. Floydelia Diasen who succeeded Belac was able to have the loan approved by the DBP which was ratified by the new members of the SP. The problem however was the sharp increase in the prices of construction materials which made the borrowed amount inadequate.

The DBP had cancelled the loan because it was not implemented within one year.

Matbagan said that in November 28, 2008, Diasen requested the SP for a new authority to contract a loan of P65M from the DBP to finance the project on the basis of a feasibility study prepared by Travis Fruitt Design Services, Inc. (TFDSI) which took into consideration the escalation of the prices of construction materials.

Matbagan said that the new feasibility study sparked opposition to the project from two members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) and the Provincial Employees’ Association of Kalinga (PEAK).

SP members Efraim Orodio and Antonio Bakilan questioned the new feasibility study because not only was it submitted unsigned but it failed to provide details such as how the project will pay for itself, source of financing, management and operation of the project and even the qualifications of TFDSI.

The PEAK said that the new cost was not justified because of the rollback in the prices of construction materials which took place while the feasibility study was being prepared.

TFDSI then amended the feasibility study recommending P46M as cost of the construction but before the SP could act on the amended feasibility study, Diasen requested the DBP for an extension of time to implement the old approved loan of P36.9M on condition that if it is not enough to pursue the project, the bank will conduct a reevaluation for purposes of extension of an augmentation loan.

Matbagan said that although the thinking of the SP is that no additional loan will be taken out for the project and for provincial government loans to cover the balance of the construction cost, the action of Diasen had the effect of clearing all obstacles to the implementation of the project.

“The amended feasibility study has been set aside in favor of the old feasibility study,” Matbagan said.

With regards to the question as to what happens during the time of the year when the NIA cuts off the water for the annual rehabilitation of the system, Matbagan said that the provincial government has entered into a memorandum of agreement with the NIA to allow enough water to support the minihydro.

“The provincial government has also made a sales agreement with the KAELCO to buy generated by the minihydro,” Matbagan said. **By Estanislao Albano Jr., ZZW

Acid test in governance

The 1st 100 days in office

Gov. Floydelia R. Diasen, Ph.D.

The political lane is one less travelled by me before. But because of your overwhelming support it now became an avenue that shall serve as my linkage to you in delivering the reciprocate of the mandate that you have given me.

My being a newbie in the arena has not deterred my strong determination to fulfil the development thrusts especially the PEACE vision I have outlined upon my assumption into office. Of course the road has been rough and tough considering the complicated situation that I have been through right from the start, but against all these odds, and with your usual support, we have been able to start it right rowing towards a common direction that fits our vision for a better Kalinga. With full humility, allow me then to present some highlights on my first 100 days in office.

On Peace and Order

• Reorganized the Provincial Peace and Order Council, Chaired by the Governor;
• Issuance of Executive Order Creating and Organizing Task Force Malaplat in response to the unfateful incident at Matapiat, Rizal on June 25, 2007 wherein 9 people killed and 13 people wounded;
• Contracting services of hired members of the Provincial Peace Council of Elders tasked to settle criminal and civil cases amicably which may be referred to the Provincial Government; and
• Transfer without Cost of 1 unit motorcycle, 23 units of hand held radio, 2 units radio base, 7 units motor vehicle to the Kalinga Police Provincial Office in order to enhance law enforcement capability of the PNP personnel.

On Education

• Recognized the Provincial Local School Board chaired by the Governor; and
• Hired 41 PLSB Teachers for Elementary and High School and assigned to the different districts in the Province to augment the teaching work-force especially in schools having multi-grade classes.

On Agricultural Productivity

• The Provincial Government through Department of Agriculture Aggressively implemented the:
• High Breed Rice Commercialization Program by subsidizing 5,000 bags of seeds with target area of 5,000 hectares.
• Inbred Rice Seed subsidy of 3,000 bags distributed to the upper Municipalities of the Province.
• Several intervention services were provided, such as: a) Providing Bio-N; b) Fertilizer 0-0-60 for free; c) 15 units drying pavement; d) 10 units farm reservoir; and e) Delivered Agricultural extension services through training, seminars on rice production. Subsidized 600 bags of high-breed corn seed under the subsidy program.
• Dispersal of Five Thousand fingerlings of Tilapia to backyard fish pond owners to the high municipalities in response to the hunger mitigating program -
• Distribution of assorted vegetable seeds to partly solve malnutrition under the Gulayan Para sa Masa Program of PGMA. These programs were implemented by the DA through our initiative together with the municipal mayors and city mayor.
• Endorsement of a resolution requesting inclusion of the province for the Cordillera High Agricultural ResourceManagement (CHARM) to be funded by IFAD, ADB & OPEC.
• Sending group of farmers on Study Tour to the Science city of Munoz, Nueva Ecija and Mindoro to study and observe demonstration farms and their training Institute.
• Giving of PI 97,000.00 to KASC-TARO Project- a livelihood program.

On Culture and Tourism

• Issuance of executive order reorganizing the Culture and the Arts Council.
• Establishment of a tourism office at the provincial capitol building
• Financial assistance to the OTOP (one town one product) trade fair at the mega trade hall, SM Megamall.
• Invitational promotion and marketing of our tourism products and destinations- MTV Philippines ( Full Tank) media coverage of Kalinga and documentation by Cine Silip Foundation of our cultural heritage.
• Conduct of Eco-tourism Awareness seminar and tourist safety and security.
• Conduct of an Eco-walk together with the Rotary Club of Tabuk in celebration of the National Tourism Day.
• Financial assistance and support to the participation of the province to the IMPAKABSAT trade fair at Silver City, Alabang.
• Extended financial assistance to the Kalinga Mountaineering Society.

Environment and Health

• Endorsement of the Chico River Watershed Management Master Plan.
• Issuance of Executive Order Reorganizing the Provincial Health Board and consultations of all heads on Health Services about their concern and or issues which were tackled during the consultation.
• Issuance of Executive Order Creating and Organizing the Technical Working Group to formulate implementing rules, policies or guidelines for the sub-allotment of KPH Income and the granting of Magna Carta benefits of health workers.
• Lakbay-Aral of the Governor in Leyte to study and observe the best practices about health for possible adoption by the Provincial Government.
• Funding of the Provincial Government for the Anti-rabies program.
• Reorganization of the Provincial Early Childhood Care and Development and redefining the roles and functions.
• Reorganization of the Provincial Nutrition Council and redefining the roles and functions with 500,000.00 MOOE from the 20% Development fund of the province.
• The Governor spearheaded the upgrading of the Provincial Hospital from secondary to tertiary level.
• Proposed Botika ng Bayan to be put up at the Provincial Hospital with an starting fund of Php5 Million.
• Proposed additional provision of Ambulance. >>Credit: www.kalinga.gov.ph
  

Wanted Joel Melod, prime suspect in the murder of vice gov. Diasen

SO THE PUBLIC MAY KNOW...

"he never, even an inkling in his humble mind, has thought that kind of politics and that ever since he has 'never become a violent individual'."

On April 7, 2007, Black Saturday, Vice Governor Atty. Romel W. Diasen of Kalinga Province, a candidate then for Governor, was gunned down while delivering his speech during a political rally in Barangay Magnao, Tabuk, Kalinga. The prime suspect, Joel Melod, 24, confessed during the interview that the incident was a case of revenge on the murder of his uncle the late RTC Judge Milnar Lammawin two years back. Melod flatly emphasized that no one had ever paid or motivated him to do so, neither the incident was politically motivated; that it was his own personal will and volition to kill the vice governor as a matter of revenge as Diasen did not act on his promise to solve the murder of Judge Lammawin before the May 14, election.

Melod categorically refuted rumors that a known political icon has masterminded the killing of Diasen and that he was the hired killer. “There is no politician involved here ... and that there was no two million money involved; if at all true, with that amount of money, I should have fled to other far places by now.” The interview was conducted by Mr. Jerome Tabanganay of Radyo ng Bayan, Tuguegarao.

The killing of Diasen therefore was a classical example of tribal vendetta.

In the get-together party for all the Wacnang-Bejarin supporters last May 24, 2007, supporters tried to assess what went wrong in Wacnang's gubernatorial bid. The Diasen murder case was among the major factors of Wacnang's debacle. Elders and supporters as a whole decried the allegation of Floydelia Diasen's family and supporters that the killing of the vice governor was politically motivated. There were propaganda also that Wacnang has mansions in Hongkong and in the United States of America

The opponents, in a brazen disregard of and its adverse implications to the Bodong (penal code of the native Kalingas) and being aware that it was a very fertile ground to advance their political interests though, incessantly tried to impute Wacnang in the case during the campaign trails despite their personal knowledge and earlier acceptance that it was indeed in the category of tribal violence. Andres Ngao-i declared during the lunch party that such a malicious innuendo is clear violation of the bodong itself, which has a corresponding penalty, and which should never be bypassed and allowed to ever happen again.

Wacnang in his speech reiterated that he never, even an inkling in his humble mind, has thought that kind of politics and that ever since he has “never become a violent individual”. “It is time to work together towards a more democratic Kalinga and that our elected leaders therefore should really present a real alternative leadership and be able to deliver a meaningful and real change in the development of our beloved province”, Wacnang said as he acknowledged defeat. Wacnang and Bejarin thanked all their supporters and they are hoping for various opportunities for them to work together even they will be ordinary citizens later.

Note: The video is available at YouTube.com.