DOING IT RIGHT. Clayton Gidden, Jamaican choreographer, tweaks some dance steps to suit the Philippine atmosphere and actors. JUAN ESCANDOR JR. By Juan Escandor Jr. NAGA CITY---Jesus Christ sings and dances the Jamaican folk music mento, reggae, dance-hall and rock-steady to retell the story of love, forgiveness and eternal life in the Jamaican-produced musical to be staged for the first time in the Philippines in March in Manila. Similar to the “Jesus Christ Superstar” musical in the 70s, the Jamaican musical production titled “The Messiah” enlisted Bicol actors to sing and swing the hypnotic Jamaican beats to once more retell the story of Jesus Christ from the beginning to the resurrection. The Messiah, produced by the Missionaries of the Poor (MOP), is set to be staged at the Star Theater in the Star City, Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex on March 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17. According to the organizers, the proceeds will be used to finance the completion of the Divine Mercy Apostolate Center in San Andres Bukid, Manila. Hugh Douse, the Jamaican director, immediately draws the difference, saying that unlike the Jesus Christ Superstar, The Messiah is retold from the eastern point of view. “If we are to be true, the story of Jesus Christ is more of an eastern story than a western one because he came from this side of the world,” Douse asserted. He said that most of the major characters, except Jesus Christ who will be acted out by Jamaican actor, are to be played out by Bicol actors of about a hundred casts. “This is a contemporary rendering of the story of Christ and it makes it relevant to youth audience in particular. It takes that energy of how would it be if Jesus were on earth now,” Douse explained. He said the Jesus Christ Superstar was actually a passion play while The Messiah is a flashback by one of the Pharisees, Joseph Arimathea who was transformed from a powerful man to a follower of Jesus. “The story starts with Joseph Arimathea. And throughout the musical, we see his journey from being a persecutor of Christ to his conversion at the very foot of the cross,” he said. “We take that perspective because we want the people to see that if you are opposed to Christ and really look into his life, in the end you will follow him.” Clayton Gidden, Jamaican choreographer who had been with the MOP production for 14 years now, said the choreography of The Messiah is a mixture of different genres, mostly Jamaican-based, rendered “more heartfelt.” “Working with Filipino actors is a bit tricky to match the Filipino atmosphere and background because in Jamaica we do a lot of body movements and speaks more with body movements. We tweak it (choreography) a little bit,” Gidden said. He said there are seven Jamaicans and some 40 Filipinos (Bicol) as cast members. Gidden said The Messiah has toured the United States, Trinidad, Canada and Australia and it will be premiered here at the start of the Holy Week observance. Jonathan Echipare, 25, Bicol actor playing the role of Judas, said he is made to play the role with flexibility since Judas was actually a reasonable man and not the stereotype bad guy. “It is a challenging role because I have to show what Judas did happened for a reason not just out of his whim because he was a bad person,” Echipare said. Emelita Saenz, musical trainer, said cast members from Bicol were recruited from the group called Camerata Cultura, a community-based organization of amateur singers and dancers from different universities and colleges in Naga City founded in 2012. Saenz said they started training and rehearsing since July last year with only the video of the musical to study on with no written libretto nor notation to guide them. “It was doubly hard because the material given to us were just the lines and the video. So, it was listening, listening and listening to learn the music,” she said. Saenz said after learning and memorizing music and the lines, the Bicol casts started rehearsing three times a week beginning November last year, until show time. “It is very helpful that we now have a minus-one copy of the musical,” she said.

By Juan Escandor Jr. NAGA CITY --- Giving due importance to filmmakers outside Metro Manila, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) focuses its efforts on the development of regional cinemas. “We need to empower the regions since our cinema is almost ‘Manilacentric’ amidst so many films coming from the regions that must be given due importance,” said Liza Diño, FDCP chair, who was here to conduct film education among university mentors in Bicol. Diño said she believes that a directive that encourages decentralizing film making into the regions is on the right perspective. She said the FDCP has continuously went around the regions to conduct consultations with the local government units, the academe and filmmakers. Diño said they have rolled on the Film Festival Development Assistance Program to support locally initiated film festivals to empower filmmakers in the regions. “There are already a lot of initiatives coming from the private sector who are really passionate film makers putting together films produced in their locality, from north to south,” she said. Diño said that instead of the FDCP creating film festivals as it is mandated to do so, they opted to support and encourage existing film festivals in the regions. She cited the film festivals in Mindanao which had been around for the past 12 years; Iloilo for the past four years; and those in Pampanga and Cebu. Diño made special mention of the film festival in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley where there is no cinema house so that films were shown in open air in the town plaza with the entire townsfolk watching. “You will realize that the cinema is confined in Metro Manila but anywhere and there are so many filmmakers who are really good in making films in their own dialects,” she said. Diño said the phenomenon of increasing the number of filmmakers indicate that the film is a powerful tool to express and take pride of their roots and culture which she said is a positive form of regional development. For example, she said, in Iloilo the filmmakers commonly dwell on the folklore so that their films are full of magic realism while in Mindanao the stories told are about the indigenous people there. “Cinema allows us to discover and rediscover who we are and I think if we take this chance and celebrate, then maybe this is one way for us to understand each other,” Diño said. Wilfredo Manalang, FDCP executive director, said the government is financing the establishment of hub for filmmakers’ films, enthusiasts and educators called “cinematheque” in partnership with LGUs. Manalang said the cinematheque is a kind of movie house with 150 seats with rooms for workshops and forums about film and constructed in at least 500 square-meter lot. He said what the LGU will have to provide is the lot where the cinematheque will be constructed while the FDCP provides the staff and operational expenses. Manalang said the cinematheque will show different kinds of films not shown in commercial movie houses like films from different countries that may be available through their respective embassies. He said there are five cinematheque already constructed and established in Manila, Baguio, Iloilo, Zamboanga, and Davao while construction in Nabuturan, Compostela Valley is on-going. “We are encouraging all the regions to at least have one cinematheque,” Manalang said. Diño said cinematheque is home of regional cinema, independent films and films deemed not commercial and alternative venue where students can show their short film created for public viewing. “It’s so important to have a cinematheque because right now independent films are here. We have arthouse films, experimental films and these need a home, a venue because you will never see them in a commercial venue,” she said.

By Connie B. Destura LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Education in Bicol has announced that over 3,700 new teaching positions for public schools are ready for assignment in time for the opening of classes in June for school year 2017-2018. Ramon Fiel Abcede, DepEd regional director, said the Schools Division Offices (SDOs) will start the recruitment, selection and evaluation process once they have received the complete and detailed list of positions from the central office. “We are expecting a communication from the DepEd Central Office soon,” he said. “The employment of the new teachers is guided by DepEd Order Nos. 7 and 22, series of 2015 and DepEd Order No.3, series of 2016,” said Abcede. As prescribed by the central office, the recruitment must be completed by April 30 to give time for the preparations for the required training for the newly-hired teachers, he said. “They shall then be assigned to their respective schools beginning May 15 prior to the opening of classes in June,” he stressed. For 2017, the Bicol region has an allocation of 2,424 teaching positions for senior high school (SHS) while 1,287 positions have been allocated for Kinder to Grade 10. For SHS: Albay has 413 slots, Camarines Norte-142, Camarines Sur-662, Catanduanes-173, Masbate-321, and Sorsogon-332. In the cities, Iriga City has 21; Legazpi City-61, Ligao City-73, and Tabaco City-62, all in Albay; Masbate City-21; Naga City-91; and Sorsogon City-52. For Kinder-Grade 10, Albay has 179, Camarines Norte-141, Camarines Sur-364, Catanduanes-39, Masbate-271 and Sorsogon-128. In the cities, Iriga City has 7, Legazpi City-33, Ligao City-30, Masbate City-19, Naga City-21, Sorsogon City-31 and Tabaco City-24 slots. Abcede said the DepEd central office has allocated 40,140 teaching posts nationwide to strengthen the implementation of the K-12 program.

THE solar-powered type of Automatic Weather Station installed at Pensumil. By Jason B. Neola PILI, Camarines Sur --- Sugarcane plantations in Camarines Sur are expected to yield more harvests in the following cropping seasons after the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) equipped the sugar planters with automatic weather station (AWS) that provides real-time forecasts. SRA Mill District Officer Salvador Ocampo said the installation of the facility is in line with the mandate of Sugar Industry Development Act (SIDA) that directs SRA to set up AWS in every mill district in the country. A mill district is a province that has a thriving sugar industry. The P300,000-worth solar-powered Automatic Weather Station which was provided in a form of grant to Pensumil Mill District Development Committee Foundation, Inc. has the capability to gather weather data such as air temperature, humidity levels, duration of sunlight, rainfall, and precipitations. By being well-informed about the current weather conditions the planters could determine the necessary actions to be taken to better protect their crops. Rains and moist soil are adverse to sugarcane because they retard the plant’s growth and germination. Ocampo said the AWS will send weather data to the Sugar Regulatory Administration in Diliman, Quezon City, which, in turn, will read and interpret the transmitted information before it sends them to the mill district based at the Pensumil plant, here, via GPRS. The AWS, which has 20-watt power output, possesses the capability to collect 24/7 weather data per minute and can send them via GPRS to central server with 15-minute intervals. Originally, sugar planters were using as basis the data being made available by PAG-ASA every 6 months in determining the weather if it is conducive to planting crops or not at certain period of the year. Engr. Raul Carreras, chairman of the Pensumil Mill District Development Committee Foundation, Inc., said his office has a standing request for 4 more AWS which, if granted, will be installed in the Partido area that will cover sugarcane plantation in the towns of Sagñay, Ocampo, and Tigaon. Another one is to be set up in the 3rd district of the province to cover the areas of Naga, Calabanga, and Bombon. Sugarcane plantation in the entire province has a total land area of 4,025 hectares which produces an average yield of 48 tons per hectare per cropping season. With various government interventions including the installations of AWS and the application of certain approaches that could help to accelerate the germination of the plants, the planters can hit their target of 60-65 tons per hectare. “As of now, with this [newly-installed] AWS, we can expect an initial increase in crop production by 50-55 tons/hectare from the traditional 48 tons per hectare,” says Ocampo. Pensumil sugar has more than 99% crystallization which means the product is of good quality which is better that those being produced in Bacolod and in any other mill districts in the country. Aside from the organizations of sugar planters, the corn and rice farmers in the area along with the residents have welcomed the support from the SRA as they also stand to benefit from the services of the weather station. The facility was put up at the mill area of Pensumil here upon the permission of Atty. William T. Enrile, the mill area’s president/CEO, and General Manager Senen Goleta, who assisted in the setting up of AWS base. One of the significant features of the AWS is the tipping bucket rain gauge from which the character of the rain such as light, medium, or heavy may be easily obtained. Rainfall character is decided by the total amount of rain that has fallen in a set period and by counting the number of ‘clicks’ in a 10-minute period the observer can decide the character of the rain. The tipping bucket rain gauge consists of funnel that collects and channels the precipitation into a small seesaw-like container. After a pre-set amount of precipitation falls, the lever tips, dumping the collected water and sending an electrical signal. The rain gauge consists of a plastic collector balanced over a pivot. When it tips, it actuates a switch which is then electronically recorded or transmitted to a remote collection station.

By Paulo DS. Papa NAGA CITY---“There is no reason to panic when it comes to the devaluation of peso to the US dollar because the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has the proper measure to arrest the phenomenon,” according to Emmanuel Vito Abejero, a social science expert in an interview conducted over the weekend in his office at Ateneo de Naga University. Abejero pointed that producers should continue to produce will consumers must also continue to spend as necessary, else the market will stand still if everybody panics.. “Normal lang iyan. Kun magpanic kita, an mga negosyante dae na magastos, an mga parabakal dae naman magastos. What will happen to our economy?” (It is normal. If we panic, businessmen will not spend anymore as well as the buyers. What will happen to our economy?), he added. When asked how will US President’s Donald Trump’s All-American foreign policy and his country’s withdrawal from the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement impact the Philippine economy, the Ateneo professor said weaker countries like the Philippines will be adversely affected. As the result, income of BPO and call center workers, as well as remittances OFWs will be devalued. He said decreased value of peso versus the US dollar has two effects in the Philippine economy: 1) Exporters and families of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) will have more pesos for every dollar that they get that they will spend on the local market; 2) It will be bad for producers, importers and spenders because they will need more pesos for every dollar. As of December 2016, the BSP had already updated a monetary policy that prevents the effect of the decreased value of peso to the dollar in the Philippine market by determining if the exchange rate is on appropriate level by looking at the trend in the real Effective Exchange Rate (EER) of the Philippine peso with other foreign currencies. Since 2014, the BSP has replaced its old effective exchange rate to a new official EER that enables the BSP to look objectively at the exchange rate of pesos vis-à-vis other foreign currencies. Abejero warned that if we panic because of the devalued peso over dollar, there will be more possibility that we will lessen our productivity and further diminish our economy. “Our GDP growth rate last year was 6.8%; if we panic the more you we suffer,” he said.

By Norman B. Tamar MASBATE CITY --- Officials behind the annual rodeo festival in this city have bared details of the event scheduled from March 23 to April 23, as they expect an increase in the number of visitors, especially during the grand rodeo finals on April 18-22, when more exciting events and bigger prizes await participants. O.R. Espares, a member of the Rodeo Masbateño Inc. (RMI), which oversees the conduct of the festival, said 30 teams coming from Benguet, Ilocos Region, the Visayas and mainland Bicol are expected to join the rodeo finals. He said the grand rodeo finals will include bull whipping, load carrying relay, cattle wrestling on foot, cattle wrestling from horseback, cattle lassoing from horseback, carambola that usually involves two to four persons capturing a bull with bare hands, casting down and bull riding. “The other rodeo highlights are cattle drive or ‘pasuag,’ cattle horse penning and street dancing,” said Espares. RMI President Judge Manuel L. Sese said a herd of 150 heads of cow, which will be let loose during the cattle drive at the main street of the city, will be driven by cowboys to the arena. He said after the drive called “Wigo de Toro,” the most exciting and risky part of the event will follow in which several heads of wild junior and senior bulls will be released at main thoroughfares in the city with participants required to register to be able to join the race. Sese said the heads of cattle, which cost from P35,000 to P40,000 each, will be given by the provincial government to those who could catch them. “They can take the cattle home.” Gov. Antonio T. Kho initiated more interesting rodeo events this year by increasing the prizes and adding gears to the event. He said bulls should only be caught or wrestled but not slaughtered. “A certificate of registration for each of the cattle will automatically be transferred to the lucky players,” said Kho. Sese thanked the governor for increasing the prizes as he acknowledged the P3M donation of the Masbate provincial government while the Masbate City government and Filminera Resources Corp. gave cash donations of P300,000 each and DMCI P200,000. RMI member Socci Tuason said there will be carnival rides for the month-long festivities. “There will be other entertaining activities such as the rodeo saloon or beer plaza, Palabas sa Social Center, garden show, façade dress-up contest, final judging, beef cooking and the awarding and farewell party,” she said. Tuason said there will be a grand horse parade during the opening program of the rodeo finals on April 18-22. “Every night during the rodeo finals there will be a governor’s welcome night, city mayor’s night, Filminera’s night, search for Miss Rodeo Cowgay 2017, festival of festivals and the search for Miss Rodeo 2017 which will be capped with a grand fireworks display,” she said. Tuason acknowledged the support being given by the Rodeo Net, Rotary Club, Red Cross and other partners to make the festival successful. Judge Igmedio Camposano, another RMI member, said they have announced details of the event this early so visitors could prepare their schedules, bookings and reservations for the festival.

QUEZON CITY --- While in detention, Sen. Leila M. de Lima yesterday (March 1) expressed strong opposition to the Duterte administration’s plan to lift the suspension of police operations on the war on drugs which resulted in the rise of extrajudicial and summary killings in the country. Cognizant of the extent of the country’s illegal drug problem that spans past administrations, De Lima said the government should heed incessant warnings from local and global community against the blatant defects in the police anti-drug operations. “It’d be the height of arrogance if our government would resume its most murderous war on drugs without correcting its defects, without getting rid of corrupt policemen, and without making them accountable for their crimes,” she said. “Like many of you know, the illegal drug abuse and trafficking present a persistent problem not only for the Philippines but also for other countries. We are against drug trade, but we should not allow innocent people summarily killed,” she added. President Duterte earlier said it is up to Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald de la Rosa to decide when to resume the government’s anti-drug operations following the alleged return of drug peddlers and users across the country. De la Rosa reportedly spoke with governors, mayors and village officials who purportedly were clamouring for the resumption of police operations against illegal drugs. He however did not identify the names of the government officials he spoke with. The senator from Bicol called on the attention of the government to heed the “Alternate Report” submitted by the Ateneo Human Rights Center (AHRC) to the United Nations Human Rights Council for its 3rd Cycle of 27th Session released last Oct. 14. In its Alternate Report, AHRC noted several defects in the implementation of the “Double Barrel Project” which claimed thousands of the lives, including innocent individuals, including children, treated as “collateral damage” in the anti-drive campaign. “It is reckless, to say the least, to allow the resumption of the anti-drug operations of the Philippine National Police which is more interested in the incentives given them than in investigating and preventing death-squad- style killings,” De Lima said. De Lima said the government should throw its “Double Barrel Project” completely in the dust bin until it can come up with an anti-drug campaign that respects and protects the fundamental human rights of individuals, including suspected drug offenders. “The present war on drugs is a dismal failure because there were innocent individuals who were summarily killed, those who were apprehended were not accorded due process of the law, and only the poor were targeted,” she said. De Lima authored Senate Bill 1197 defining extrajudicial killings and imposing life imprisonment without parole for any public officer, person in authority, agency of a person in authority or private person who would be found guilty of extrajudicial killing. Under SB 1197, the local chief executive and chief of police shall also be presumed administratively negligent when there is a notable increase of extrajudicial killing cases within their area of jurisdiction, except in conflict-stricken communities. De Lima also proposed the creation of an Inter-Agency Council Against Extrajudicial Killings (Anti-EJK Council) to address institutional barriers to efficient, independent and impartial investigation of extrajudicial killings among concerned government agencies. The proposed Anti-EJK Council shall coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Commission on Human Rights (CHR), to adhere to minimum standards in the conduct of regular police intervention operations, such as but not limited to arrest, raid, search and seizure.

The Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers-Naga City Chapter (PICE-NAGA) has inducted its new set of officers for 2017 with the 20th Induction of Executive Officers, Board of Directors, and new members was held last February 25, 2017 at Don Mariano Hall, Villa Caceres Hotel, Naga City with Mayor John G. Bongat of Naga City as guest of honor. Engr. Clemente Ibo, PICE National 1st Vice President was the inducting officer. The newly-elected executive officers are: PICE Naga President 2017 – Engr. Alex F. Cruz; Vice-President – Engr. Tito Simando; Secretary – Engr. Maricel Macaraig; Treasurer – Engr. Ermina Ma. P. Robredo; Auditor – Engr. Aris Abergos; P.R.O. – Engr. Ernie Rubio. The Board of Directors for 2017 are: Engr. Ruth Noleal; Engr. Francis Alarkon; Engr. Patrick Malagueno; Engr. Francisco Aguilar; Engr. Ferdinand Bien; Engr. Rodrigo Camarrote, Jr.; Engr. Danilo Garcia; Engr. Raul Carreras; and Engr. Gertrudo Regondola. Likewise inducted in the same occasion were the record 40 new members who were recruited and mostly new engineers from Ateneo de Naga University. In his valedictory speech, outgoing president Engr. Dominador Ragas challenged the incoming president to continue the construction and completion of the PICE Naga Headquarters building that was started during the 19th founding anniversary of the organization. Other attendees were representatives from PICE Camarines Sur, PICE Legazpi City and Albay, PICE Regional Coordinator Engr. Florida Nunez. Boysen Paints and Moldex Pipes generously sponsored the activity. JMTS/Jorechiii

QUEZON CITY --- Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has ordered the dismissal from the service of 12 respondents in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam after they were found guilty of Grave Misconduct, Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service and Dishonesty. Ordered dismissed were Jessica Lucila ‘Gigi’ Reyes (Chief of Staff, Office of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile), Jose Antonio Evangelista II (Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of Senator Enrile), Victor Roman Cacal (Paralegal, National Agribusiness Corporation), Gondelina Amata (President, National Livelihood Development Corporation), Chita Jalandoni (Department Manager III, NLDC), Emmanuel Alexis Sevidal (Director IV, NLDC), Ofelia Ordoñez (Cashier, NLDC), Filipina Rodriguez (Budget Officer, NLDC), Sofia Cruz (Project Development Assistant IV), Dennis Cunanan (Director General, Technology Resource Center), Consuelo Lilian Espiritu (Budget Officer, TRC) and Marivic Jover (Chief Accountant, TRC). The dismissal order carries with it the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office and forfeiture of all retirement benefits. In the event of separation from the service, the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to respondent’s salary for one year. Reyes, et. al. are also being tried before the Sandiganbayan for their involvement in the anomalous utilization of the 2007 to 2009 PDAF of former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. Investigation found that from 2004 to 2010, Senator Enrile, continuously endorsed the implementation of his PDAF-funded livelihood and agricultural production projects in different parts of the country to questionable Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) associated with or controlled by Janet Lim Napoles. From 2007 to 2009, a total of P345,000,000.00 was released by the Department of Budget and Management as part of Enrile’s PDAF. After the fund release, Enrile identified the NABCOR, NLDC and TRC as implementing agencies. To facilitate the scam, Enrile, through Reyes, authorized Evangelista, to act for the Senator, deal with the parties involved in the process and sign documents necessary for the immediate and timely implementation of his PDAF-funded projects. Enrile also endorsed the following NGO as project partners: (1) Agri and Economic Program for farmers Foundation Inc.; (2) Agricultura para sa Magbubukid Foundation, Inc.; (3) Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation, Inc.; (4) Countrywide Agri and Rural Economic Development Foundation; (5) People’s Organization for Progress and Development Foundation, Inc.; and (6) Social Development Program for Farmer’s Foundation, Inc. The P345M fund was allegedly used to buy tools and implements, financial grants and subsidies, technical assistance technology transfer through video courses (VCDs), printed materials, vegetable seeds, hand tools, gloves, masks, vests, caps, garden tools, knapsack sprayers, fertilizer, gardening packages, rakes, agricultural livelihood packages, agricultural chemicals, and small scale agri-packages. Actual field validation conducted by the Ombudsman revealed that no deliveries were made to the supposed beneficiaries. Mayors and municipal agriculturists denied receiving any of the items from the office Senator Enrile, the implementing agencies or any of the NGOs. The Commission on Audit observed that (1) the NGOs that received the multi-million peso PDAF releases did not have the track record to implement the projects; (2) the selection of the NGOs, as well as the alleged procurement of goods for distribution of beneficiaries did not undergo public bidding; (3) the suppliers denied having dealt with any of the NGOs; and (4) the reported beneficiaries were unknown or could not be located at their given addresses. In addition, whistleblower Benhur Luy’s records showed that “Enrile received, through respondents Reyes and Ruby Tuason, total commissions, rebates or kickbacks amounting to at least P172,834,500.00.” In the Decision approved by Ombudsman Morales, she stated that “based on testimonial and documentary evidence presented, the widespread misuse of the PDAF allotted to a legislator was coursed through a complex scheme basically involving projects supposed to have been funded by said PDAF which turned out to be inexistent or “ghost projects.” According to Ombudsman Morales, “in most instances, the disbursement vouchers (DV) were accomplished, signed and approved on the same day. Certainly, the required careful examination of the transaction’s supporting documents could not have taken place if the DV was processed and approved in one day.”

The Social Security System (SSS) gave relief packages to a total of 900 families from Brgy. Washington and San Juan in Surigao who were affected by the 6.7 magnitude earthquake which hit the area on February 10. During the relief operations held last February 23, 2017 at Barangay Washington Gym in Kaskag Village in Surigao, Senior Vice President for Mindanao Operations Group Eddie A. Jara told the beneficiaries to be strong and never lose hope because SSS is always ready to help. Above photo shows SVP Jara (4th from left) and SVP for Administration Group May Catherine C. Ciriaco (6th from left) giving a relief package to Ms. Betty Petalcorin, a 73-year old pensioner from Purok Candaba, Brgy. Washington. Also present during the relief operations were (from left) SSS Surigao Branch Head Jose Roel J. Herbieto, SSS Tandag Branch Head Benigno J. Dagani, Jr., VP for Management Services and Planning Division Eleonora Y. Cinco, VP for Northern Mindanao Division Edwin M. Alo, SVP for Information Technology Management Group Joel A. Layson, AVP for Branch Systems and Procedures Gloria Y. Cuisia, AVP for Engineering Facility and Management Department Edwin B. Maliwat, SSS Butuan Branch Head Antonio G. Fabia, OIC for Corporate Communications Department Sonia P. Guinto and AVP for Media Affairs Department Ma. Luisa P. Sebastian. SSS senior officials were in Surigao from February 23-24 for the regional visit in the area to extend help to the casualties of the earthquake and to meet with local media.

Mamumugtak sa luwas kan Mt. Isarog Natural Park (MINP) an power house kan Rangas River Mini Hydro Power Project na igwang distansya nin hasta dos kilometros sa protected area alagad an gagamiton iyo an nagbubulos na tubig sa bukid na bubugtakan nin weir o ulang nganing maglaog sa dakulang tubo na maderetso sa turbina nganing mag-ikot ini asin maproducer nin 1.5 megawatts na corriente na ipapabakal sa baratong presyo sa Camarines Sur IV Electric Cooperative (Casureco IV). ‘’Bako ining destructive sa Mt. Isarog mientras na an icoconstruhir na power house nasa puro kan bukid na may rayo nin hasta sa dos kilometros na binakal sa pribadong maysadiri nin mga lote na may hiwas nin 1.2 hektarya na may mga tax declaration’’. Ini an mga paliwanag sa Bicol Mail ni Jose Ilagan, presidente kan Clean and Green Energy Solutions Inc. na maconstruhir kan mini hydro sa Brgy. San Pedro, Goa, Camarines Sur na gagastosan nin P200 milyon. An junta directiva kan Metropolitan Naga Water District (MNWD) asin iba pang sektores nagpaluwas kan saindang position paper na nacocontra sa mini hydro sa dahilan na madedestroso an bukid mantang an proyecto yaon sa laog kan protected area asin prohibido ini base sa Republic Act 7586 na mas midmid sa National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) of 1992. SA NIPAS LAW Sa isyu na prohibido sa NIPAS law alagad an katuyohan kaini iyo an development project, yaon an Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Protected Area Management Bureau (PAMB), dai ulangon an ano man na progreso sa sarong lugar alagad i-regulate iyan base sa mga reglamento, kun igwa man na negativong lado resolveran asin ipaliwanag an proyecto na dakul an mga inagihan na proceso sa DENR asin PAMB na naghahanap nin medyos kun pano siyang tama sa mga reglamento asin madagos an dakulang proyecto asin malinaw na mayong pagbalga sa RA 7586 mantang harayo an ibubugtak na power house sa Mt. isarog, sabi pa ni Ilagan. Igwa na sindang Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) na pig-isyu kan DENR na limang taon na an nakakaagi alagad nagpaso na asin liwat sindang nagpoproceso kan papeles sa agencia nganing makakuang bagong ECC. Kaparejo man kan Bicol Mini Hydro sa Brgy. Panicuason, Ciudad nin Naga an proyecto sa Goa, CamSur na base sa saindang feasibility study pueding maglawig an buhay kaini sagcod sa cincuenta años. Sinabi pa ni Ilagan na an saindang compaña igwa nang kabatiran sa sinambit na proyecto mala ngani igwa na sinda duwang mini hydro sa Mindoro na nagpoproducer nin 2 asin 3 megawatts asin matatapos na an kaparejong proyecto sa saro pang lugar sa Mindoro na maproducer nin sampulong megawatts. RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMA KAN GOBIERNO An renewable energy saro sa mga programa kan gobierno sa pag-engkaminar sa pribadong sektor nganing dai na maka-contribuir pa nin problema sa global warming mientras na dai ini makakaraot sa kapalibotan. An watershed sa laog kan Bukid Isarog garo man sana sarong plang-gana na pag-naguuran iyo an nagsasalod kan tubig uran asin si canal pababa na iyo an Rangas river kaya dagos-dagos na may tubig. Kun panahon na dai aro-aldaw an pag-uran alagad dagos-dagos an salog, igwang mga kahoy sa watershed na iyo an nagpupugol kan tubig. Digdi maheheling na an mini hydro mahalaga huli ta dai nahahalian tubig, yaon an kagayonan kan kahoy sa watershed. Huli kaini, kamawotan kan Clean and Green Solutions Inc. na dagdagan an reforestation nganing macierto na dagos-dagos an tubig, sabi pa. CORRIENTE GIKAN SA MINI HYDRO PERMANENTE AN PRESYO Igwa na sindang kasundoan sa Casureco IV na iyo an mabakal kan mapoproducer na enerhia sa mas baratong presyo na nagcacantidad nin P5.89 alagad ano man na presyo kaipuhan pang rikisahon kan Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). Sinabi pa kan compaña na mas estable an presyo kan corriente kun gikan sa mini-hydro huli ta dai nag-dedefende sa mga imported fuel, diesel asin oring na an afecto kaini nagkakaigwang mga paglangkaw kan presyo nin corriente. Saindang pighalimbawa an Hanopol Hydro sa provincia nin Bohol puon pa kan 1992 padagos na estable an saindang pagpabakal nin corriente sa presyong P2.10 mientras na si ibang compaña na nag-uusar nin imported fuel nag-aabot sa P4.50 hasta P4.80. An dahilan kaini, an tubig gikan sa bukid dai ninda binabakal na iyo man an iimplementar kan compana an permanenteng tarifa sa Partido area. Dinagdag pa kan compaña na sa isyu sa mapuputol nindang 77 mga kahoy, pighahanapan nindang paagi na mabawasan ini alagad an karibay kaini iyo an sangatos na puon nin kahoy na saindang itatanum. Saindang pigcierto na mayong mangyayaring pagraot sa kapalibotan mientras na kaipuhan ngani ninda an watershed sa multi million pesos na proyecto. BENEPISYO SA COMUNIDAD On por cientong special tax kan saindang ingreso; Pagpakarhay kan access road sa ibaba kan Bukid Isarog; magkakaigwa nin lokal na empleayo sa mga taga Goa, CamSur sa icoconstruir na planta sagcod sa operasyon kaini; mga livelihood sa indigenous communities sa saindang programa sa watershed preservation, mabugtak nin brgy. multi purpose hall asin iba pang programa pang kabuhayan; mahuros an singil sa tarifa sa corriente asin makakasuplay tolos nin corriente sa panahon nin mga calamidad. (DPA)

Mayoria kan mga constituentes sa tercer distrito kan Camarines Sur nagcocontra sa pigtutulod ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte na ibuelta kan congreso an castigong bitay sa mga makangirat na krimen . Si dating Alcalde Abang Mabulo kan San Fernando, CamSur asin Chief of Staff ni Congresista Gabby Bordado nagsabi na an representante kan tercer distrito nagconducir nin mga consultasyon sa manlaen-laen na sektores sa laog nin duwang semana asin an resulta nagpapaboran na dapat isikwal kan congreso an House Bill 4727 na nagtulod na buhayon an death penalty sa nacion. ‘’An satuyang congresista nanindugan base sa saiyang paghapot sa pagconsulta sa saiyang consituentes sa paglibot sa laog nin duwang semana nganing maatid-atid niya an pagmate kan saiyang kahimanwa, saiyang nadiscobre na 80 por ciento contra sa pagbuelta kan death penalty’’ Kabale sa saiyang mga pigconsulta iyo an senior citizens, kababaehan, jovenes, paratukdo, paraoma, kapitanes de barangay asin iba pang sektor. Gulpi an naogma huli ta sabi ninda ngonian sinda nakamate na an saindang congresista hinahapot sinda kun ano an saindang panindugan sa mga isyu na saiyang ipinaglalaban. Gustong sabihon ‘’pro life’’ an mga taga tercer distrito kan CamSur, sabi pa ni Mabulo. Bilang congresista, saiyang papanindugan kun ano an gusto kan mga tawo sa saiyang distrito, bakong personal an saiyang desisyon envez bilang representante kan tawo. Saiyang ipinaglalaban duman sa congreso an panindugan kan namamanuan na saiyang pigrere-presentaran. An death penalty bill padagos pang pigdedebatehan sa congreso na sakop sa bill iyo an mga caso sa treason, piracy, bribery, parricide, murder, rape, kidnapping, illegal detention, robbery, destructive arson asin sa ilegal na droga alagad hinale na an plunder case na kadakle envuelto digdi si mga kuraptong oficial kan gobierno. An Filipinas igwang international treaties na may kasundoan na hinahale ta an death penalty, ini si kadaklan na advance countries na tinanggal na an sinambit na penalidad. Sabi ninda dapat isikwal na an castigong bitay na inaprobaran sa Oslo Norway. Kan nakaaging Miercules nin Pangurus (ask Wednesday), pagpuon kan kuaresma, dakul an nagpasiring sa mga simbahan sa Via Crusis na sulot an t-shirt na itom na nakalaag contra sa EJK o extra judicial killing asin death penalty. (DPA)