by Juliet Saley

BONTOC, Mt. Province, April 1 – Some 184 barangay secretaries, treasurers, and municipal employees in the towns of Natonin, Besao, Sagada and Paracelis were trained free on basic computer operations .

Jointly conducted by the Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT), Technical Education, Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) and the provincial and municipal local government units, the training was conducted in the municipalities.

The five-day Basic Computer Operations training aims to help the participants to become computer literate.
Of the total trainees, 58 are barangay secretaries and treasurers, selected municipal employees and some Department of Education representative were trained in the municipality of Natonin on February 14 to 18, 20.
48 barangay secretaries and treasurers, and selected municipal employees in the municipality of Besao underwent training last March 7 to 11; and 42 each in the municipalities of Paracelis and Sagada conducted on March 14 to 18 and March 21 to 25, respectively.

Melita Pinic of the TESDA Provincial office here said training for the other municipalities is also scheduled for this year as follows: Sadanga is April 11 to 15; Sabangan, May 9 to 13; Bauko, May 23 to 27; Bontoc, September 26 to 30; and Barlig, October 3 to 7. Tadian is scheduled in the third quarter of this year.
Under this program, the CICT provides the personal computers and its accessories, TEV of four trainers, and transport of PC computers to and from the venue. TESDA reproduces handouts and jointly provides certificates of completion while the local government units provide accommodations, meals and snacks of the trainers, provide training venue, and recruit trainees with preferences to the barangay secretaries and treasurers.**(PIA-CAR/Mt. Province)

by Redjie Cawis

BAGUIO CITY, April 1 - Over one million pesos worth of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) packages were given to public schools in the city by Smart Communications and SM , Thursday last week.


Irisan National High School, Pinsao National High School and Josefa Carino Elementary School are three of the nine public schools selected as beneficiaries of the Smart Schools Program that received their packages during the turn over ceremonies at the Josefa Cariño Elementary School.


The Smart Schools Program is a partnership with the SM Foundation, the Philippine Business for Social and the Department of Education that aims to bring public school education to the next level through technology.

The pr that received thriogram is a community service initiative of Smart that promotes ICT in basic education through partnerships with public schools, its officials and parents-teachers-community associations.


The Program offers teacher training on Basic Computer Literacy, ICT Integration in the Classroom, Basic Troubleshooting and Maintenance, Leadership for School Heads, and Web & Content.

The schools also received computer sets complete with hard ware and software and other features including internet connections.

Dep Ed Baguio Schools Superintendent Ellen Donato acknowledged the fact that public schools especially in the elementary level have no access to the internet.

Donato said that the program given to them will benefit the teachers who will be trained in ICT and will later teach it to the students. The computer equipment will also be used to teach the school children through modernized education.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan thanked the private companies who are sponsors of the equipments. He said that the private sector is a big help in supporting the government in making outstanding education for public school students.

He encouraged the teachers and the private sector to continuously work hand in hand to provide a better education for the future of the students.

Domogan added that with public-private partnership, his ambition of making Baguio students to be globally competitive and developing in them a culture of excellence and responsibility in their education will be probable. *(PIA CAR)

by Susan Aro


LA TRINIDAD, Benguet , April 1 – The Benguet Technical School (BTS) plans to increase tuition fee and update its course programs in keeping up with the required technical –vocational standards.

BTS School Administrator Flora Manuel made the appeal for tuition fee hike and updating of course programs to the provincial board which will still have to deliberate on the matter.

In the board session held recently, the BTS formerly the Helping Foundation, Inc. appeal was referred to the Committee on Education for further study and recommendations.

Governor Nestor Fongwan endorsed the report and recommendation of the Provincial Finance Committee and the Provincial Administrator giving merit to the request.

Provincial Administrator Danio Bolislis and the Provincial Finance Committee chaired by Budget Officer Nora Asiong upon review and comparison of the present courses with that of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) elicited some findings.

The tuition fees per course charged by BTS is the lowest compared with other technical and vocational schools in the province.

The courses do not conform with the updated nomenclature of courses authorized under the TESDA training regulations.

BTS has been trying its best to upgrade its equipment to meet the standard TESDA requirement under a unified Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) program registration and accreditation system.

The PFC and the Provincial Administrator also offered recommendations such as revision of the Provincial Revenue Code as amended to conform with the correct and updated nomenclatures of the courses offered.
There is also a need to adjust present tuition fees to reasonable and affordable rates which is still lower than the fees charged by other schools.

It was also recommended that the SP Chairman on the Committee on Ways and Means will sponsor the proposed ordinance.** (PIA CAR)

by Benjie Navarro

BAGUIO CITY, April 1 - The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) recently released the interim provincial and municipal Good Governance Index (GGI) for the years 2005 and 2008.


The GGI is a composite of the Income Index and the Expenditure Index. The Income Index measures per capita income and per capita income from local sources. The Expenditure Index covers per capita expenditures on education, health and economic services. These indicators attempt to capture the quality of resource management by Local Government Units. The GGI is currently being developed by the NSCB to promote good governance in the country through objective, comprehensive and comparable measures of governance based on outcome indicators.

2008 GGI estimates revealed that five out of the six provinces in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) are among the top 10 provinces in the Philippines. The ranking of the CAR provinces are as follows: Kalinga , 3rd; Benguet, 4th; Mt. Province, 7th; Ifugao, 8th and Apayao, 9th. The increase of Abra’s GGI by 0.5 index point from 2005 to 2008 did not prevent its descent from the 15th to the 23rd rank nationwide.

During the three-year period, Ifugao Province leapt 13 notches up, propelled by the remarkable increase of its GGI by 36.1 index points. Other provinces that improved in standing due to the increase in GGI are Kalinga (from 6th to 3rd)) and Mt. Province (from 8th to 7th). In contrast, Benguet and Apayao registered a decrease in GGI by 13.2 and 4.3 index points respectively.

Consequently, Benguet slid from second to fourth place and Apayao from fifth to ninth.

Nationwide, the top Two are Camiguin and Siquijor respectively. Rounding off the top 10 are Batanes at No. 4, Laguna, No. 5 and Compostela Valley at No. 10. *(NSCB/PIA CAR)

by Susan Aro

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, April 1  – The Highland Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (HARRDEC) is developing a research on ‘etag’, a salted pork indigenously preserved, that is safe, acceptable and of excellent quality for commercialization.

The HARRDEC program dubbed, “Value-adding of Cordillera Pork-Based Ethnic Food (Etag) Delicacy for Commercialization,” took off in 2009.

Research Project Leader and HARRDEC Consortia Director Dr. Sonwright Maddul said the rationale behind the study is to incorporate science with traditional method of processing to ensure food safety, consistent quality and preservation of the unique taste and flavor of ‘etag’.

Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) Assistant Director for Livestock Research Division, Dr. Synan Baguio, hopes that the undertaking will successfully tickle a paradigm shift among Filipinos to take pride on what they have. This is a deliberate effort in developing a product that is truly 'Pinoy,' he said.

Benefits of enhancing the etag go beyond preservation of culture as it also promotes tourism which is the major industry in the region according to Baguio.

A protocol for food safety with ensured quality production will be established. After perfecting the technology, a template will be crafted ready for adoption by the private sector, which Baguio said is the role of the government.

Cultural sensitivity on the massive commercialization of etag may be one of the contentious issues to be dealt with. A study leader of the research study, Ruth Batani of the Benguet State University said etag is used to be a ritual done with certain stages in the life cycle of a Cordilleran.

But the trend is now changing. Etag now permeates in households either cured at home to stockpile strips or bought in the market. Etag is added to give flavour to the pinikpikan, a boiled chicken. Pinikpikan is also a Cordilleran dish prepared by beating a live chicken with a stick prior to cooking.

Etag is openly sold and found in restaurants and local markets in Sagada, Bontoc central, Baguio, La Trinidad, Tublay, Atok, Abatan in Benguet and Tabuk , according to Batani.

The use of etag as generic term refers to all salted pork preparations as adopted in the study. It encompasses all salted pork variations such as kiniing, kinnuday and inasinan.

There are still aspects to be considered in the study such as the sustainability and propagation of native pigs as raw materials for large scale commercialization and the shelf life of etag.

Baguio stressed the need to promote conservation by utilization of native animals as sources of raw material for etag. Strategies to conserve the genes of the native pig while it is used for livelihood should be in place, he said.

The native pig offers opportunities for livelihood to farmers in rural areas. Baguio stressed the importance of preserving the genes of the swine as it is adaptive to climate change.

Part of the consortia project while ongoing will be the registration for intellectual property rights with the Intellectual Property Office.*(PIA CAR)

by Lito Dar

BAGUIO CITY, April 1  – Mountain Province Governor Leonard Mayaen, in a Kapihan forum sponsored by the Department of Tourism (DOT-CAR), invited the public and media to go to Bontoc on April 5-7 and celebrate with them their "Lang-ay" festival on the occasion of the province’s 44th foundation anniversary.

According to Mayaen, Lang-ay, based on their local dialect means the community sharing and eating together to celebrate. Lang-ay will start on April 4, with the agro-industrial trade fair and will end on April 7 with the program for the foundation anniversary.

Mayaen assures tourists and visitors that there are enough facilities to accommodate them. He also assured that Mountain Province is very peaceful and with a cool climate almost similar that of Baguio.

For the scheduled activities for Lang-ay, Mountain Province Provincial Tourism officer Francis Degay said that: on April 4, aside from the agro-industrial trade fair, there will be an opening ritual "Tekwab," a youth summit, an "Earth Day" program and a "Concert for a Cause" –the proceeds of which will go to indigent patients, especially cancer patients and those undergoing dialysis.

For April 5, there will be a jobs bridging and skills demo to be conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), a surgical mission (April 5 - 6) to be conducted by the Bontoc General Hospital, indigenous games such as "Pounding rice" and 'Tug of War," literary musical contest, fireworks display, and governor’s night.

On April 6, will be the street dancing competition, with participants from nine municipalities of the province, to be followed by a program and a festivity lunch called "Lang-ay by the Eyeb." There are also scheduled theater presentations in the afternoon.

The Regional Development Council (RDC-CAR) is also set to hold their regular meeting at two o’clock in the afternoon at the Ridgebrook Hotel.

On April 7, there will be a Civic-Military Parade in the morning to be followed by the Foundation Anniversary Program at the Provincial Plaza. In the afternoon there will be a Montañosa Cheer and Dance Competition and the Lang-ay Cup at the Eyeb Open Gym, to be followed by a San Miguel Band Concert, also at the provincial plaza.

“A night for Friends and Leaders,” at the Multi-purpose hall, will cap the Lang-ay celebration on the night of April 7. (LD PIA CAR)

by Redjie Cawis

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet , April 1  - Mayor Gregorio Abalos is standing firm on banning gambling in this capital town.


Abalos said that the recent arrest of jueteng operators in barangay Pico in La Trinidad should be a signal for everyone in the municipality to stop any other operations of jueteng. He stressed that all other sorts of gambling, not only jueteng, are banned in the municipality


Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation and La Trinidad intelligence agents recently raided a jueteng den at Pico that led the arrest of almost a dozen men behind the gambling operation.


Abalos said he got a tip that guerilla jueteng operations were being conducted in the municipality. Reports indicated that a guerilla group of jueteng operators doing business inside a van on the boundary of La Trinidad and Baguio City; however police investigation disproved the report.


Just recently, jueteng operations in the province of Benguet came back after several months of lay low. Benguet Provincial police Director PSSupt. Benjamin Lusad has ordered his men to conduct information gathering to know the areas where jueteng has risen again in the province.

Lusad said that police force is rounding up municipalities which were reported to have jueteng operations in the past.

The police are also on the look-out for mobile jueteng operation after reports reached the mayor and two van operating as jueteng dens were intercepted in Baguio City. *( PIA CAR)

by Juliet B. Saley

BONTOC, Mt. Province, April 1  - The Action Center for Enhancement and Social Services (ACCESS) continues giving assistance to pupils of marginalized families for its support to government's priority concern for education.

Norberto Cobaldez, a director of the board of this organization said ACCESS is a non-government organization composed of professionals of the province tied up with the Educational Research and Development Assistance (ERDA) based in Manila which is supportive of the educational development program of the national government.

Cobaldez said this organization, now on its seventh year, has benefited marginalized students and pupils, from selected public elementary and secondary schools in the province.

They were provided with school uniforms (one T-shirt and a pair of pant each for the boys and one skirt and one blouse each for the girls), and school supplies.

For this school year, it has assisted the Guina-ang and Maligcong preschools.


Aside from giving assistance in kind to students/pupils, the ACCESS has also provided this school year half of the salary of two preschool teachers of Guina-ang and Maligcong preschools. A total of P72,000 was given to the two teachers covering 10 months or school year 2010 to 2011. Each of the teachers received P3,600 per month.

Cobaldez said members of the association and the parents of the preschool pupils made an agreement that aside from what the organization gives, parents should also give their counterpart for the salary of the teachers.

He said if financial condition is stable, which will be determined when the Board of Directors meets, the association shall continue giving assistance to the two preschools next school year and might even expand to other schools.*(PIA- CAR/Mt. Province)

by Larry Lopez

TABUK, Kalinga, April 1 – The 20-day summer job under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) here starts on April 11 and qualifying examination for applicants is ogoing.

Provincial Labor and Employment officer Avelina Manganip said target date for the start of the summer work is ideal to give enough time for employers and students to accomplish needed documents.
 The 20 days exclude Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

 Manganip explained there is a need for a qualifying examination to screen the number of applicants since there are only limited slots.

 Kalinga has only 334 job slots this year, but the number of applicants reached more than 700.
 There are six municipalities except Lubuagan and Pasil that have yet to finish their qualifying examinations with the provincial government and Kalinga Apayao State College (KASC), as partner employers.
 
 The job slots are distributed to hiring agencies with the provincial government hiring 56, Rizal – 40, Lubuagan – 34, Balbalan – 30, Pasil – 25, Tabuk – 17, Tanudan – 12, Tinglayan – 9, and Kalinga Apayao State College (KASC) – 6.

 Interested applicants may apply directly to designated public employment service officers (PESO) of hiring agencies.

 DOLE opens the yearly program in coordination with other local government units and agencies, for the employment of students pursuant to Republic Act 7323, which provides financial assistance to poor students.
 As tie-up program, hiring agencies pay 60 percent of the student’s salary, while the 40 percent is shouldered by the department, which is supposed to be released before the start of classes in June.

For 2011, hiring agencies submitted 640 job vacancies to DOLE, but because of the limited allotment for salaries given to Kalinga in the amount of P500,000, the number was cut to 334, Manganip said. From the figure, hiring agencies share a counter part of P750,116 to the salaries of students.

 Salary rates of students under the SPES vary according to the income class of hiring LGUs, ranging from P168/day – P207.91, while KASC as state college offers the highest rate of P231/day.

 Manganip urged students to submit their documents on time to avoid delay in the early release of salaries before classes open in June. *(PIA-CAR/Kalinga)

by Juliet B. Saley

BONTOC, Mt. Province, March 31 – Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed on March 21, 2011 Resolution No. 2011-076 which was forwarded to the Committee on Constitutional Amendments of the House of Representatives, of their position on the issue on amending the 1987 Constitution.


This was in response to the letter of Loreto Leo S. Ocampo, chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments of the House of Representatives which was forwarded by the provincial governor to the Sanggunian requesting the official stand of the provincial board on the issue of constitutional reform.

After a thorough study and discussion among the SP members here on the issue, the body came up with a common stand stating that there is a need to amend the present 1987 Constitution with the following preferences: specific amendment proposed is to lengthen/extend the term of elected officials and that the mode of amendment should be through Constitutional Assembly.

As to the form of government, the body said it will retain the presidential system and their stand on the kind of legislature is also to be retained but proposed that election of senators be done per region.*(JS - PIA-CAR,Mt. Province)

by Lito Dar

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, March 31 – Governor Nestor Fongwan strongly advocates for organic farming in the vegetable producing province of Benguet even as he tries to expand the La Trinidad Organic Producers (LATOP) to encourage other vegetable farmers to go organic.

According to Fongwan, the use of organic fertilizers is becoming a must for some vegetable farmers in the province as their continuous use of commercial fertilizers already has a wear and tear effect on the production of vegetables in their farmlands.


“Some farmers are being forced to use organic fertilizers as the soils has now become less productive due to the high acidity brought about by the continuous use of commercial fertilizers on their vegetable farms,” Fongwan said.

The governor also affirmed that the provincial government has already hired experts to conduct soils studies in the different parts of the province; the results to come out soon.

“Lalabas na iyung result ng soil studies and what we plan next is to conduct soil training, maybe through a team that would conduct a mobile clinic. From the said soil study, malalaman namin kung saan iyung highly acidic na mga farm soils na dapat tigilan ang paggamit ng commercial fertilizer at dapat mag-umpisa ng paggamit ng compost fertilizer,” Fongwan said.

Fongwan also disclosed that if not for the damages wrought by Typhoon Pepeng in the province in 2009, Benguet should already have a composting facility along Halsema Highway. He added that they would have to start all over again for the plan and process of putting up a composting facility for the province.

Fongwan,though, said that there are some other problems or concerns that they need to address in pushing for organic farming in the province and these include linkages to the market and the need for private entities that would certify their organically produced vegetables.

To further improve the vegetable industry of Benguet, Fongwan also affirmed that they are in the process of establishing a Farmers Marketing Cooperative so that the farmers themselves would be on top of the situation regarding the supply and demand side of vegetable production. They should know the needs in the market, and plan or program their production based on the market needs so as to avoid overproduction that leads to a steep drop on the selling price of certain highland vegetables.

Meanwhile, Fongwan affirmed that so far, there is no report yet of smuggled vegetables coming in but they are continuously monitoring such concern. The entry of smuggled vegetables is one of the problems of the vegetable industry of Benguet,*(PIA CAR)

by Lito Dar

BAGUIO CITY, March 31  – Reproductive health advocates, through a Kapihan media forum, Wednesday, brought the issue of House Bill No. 4244, otherwise known as the Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population Development Bill to the local media.

Hosted by the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD),panelists included: Gabriela Party List Representative Emerenciana De Jesus, DIWA Party List Representative Emmeline Aglipay, Likhaan Center for Women’s health executive director Dr. Junice Melgar, UP School of Economics professor Dr. Ernesto Pernia, Commission on Population (PopCom-CAR) regional director Aurora Quiray, and PLCPD executive director Ramon San Pascual.

According to Aglipay, HB No. 4244 has already passed the sponsorship phase and is now up for plenary debate at the House of Representatives. She said they are now pushing for a more intelligent and effective debate on the said bill.

Aglipay lauded Malacañang for its continuous advocacy for Reproductive Health but she called on President Benigno Aquino III to put up a more definite stand on HB 4244, as it would be a big help in their advocacy to have the said bill signed before the end of this year.

Aglipay stressed that reproductive health is part of every human’s right and is not optional, which is why the state should uphold it as part of its obligation to protect and promote, to provide and facilitate human rights.

“The right of people to the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health, to decide the number, spacing and timing of their children and to have the information and means to do so are inherent human rights that are already recognized in national laws, international human rights declaration and relevant UN consensus documents. We, the supporters of the RH Bill are not also in favor of the murder of any children, or of sexual promiscuity,” Aglipay said.

Aglipay also noted that the said bill clearly defines the modern methods of family planning, which refers to safe, effective, and legal methods that are registered with the Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health.


The issue of a reproductive health law always involves poverty and social concerns, as well as questions on conception, education, discrimination, free expression and morality, but again Aglipay reiterated that the right to reproductive health is the right of every individual and no one may exercise that right on any person’s behalf, not his/her church nor his/her government.

“Every individual has a human right to reproductive health. Human right is not optional, neither is the RH bill and the government has the absolute duty to enact it,” Aglipay stressed. *(PIA CAR)

by Peter A. Balocnit


TABUK, Kalinga, March 31 – Taking action to rid the environment of pollutants, local chief executives here are looking for ways and means to control the poisoning of rivers from dangerous elements particularly mercury.


The League of Mayors headed by Pasil mayor James Edduba is asking the Environment Management Bureau(EMB)and the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureaus (MGB) to furnish their offices result of their findings on mercury contamination on water bodies in the province .


Ricardo Dang-iw, engineer, of EMB was requested to bare what they discovered when they conducted water sampling in five water sampling points on major rivers in Kalinga where the EMB-MGB found mercury traces.
Water samples in Pasil, Chico, and Saltan rivers gathered and tested were positive of mercury contents ranging from .00287 to .1231 microgram per cubic meter which is beyond the standard measure .002.


Tests showed that present also in the waters are cadmium, copper, zinc, and lead. “Except for mercury, the other metals present on rivers are below the allowable level,” the EMB-MGB report said.


Edduba said there are known causes of mercury contamination of rivers; in Pasil it is caused by small scale mining using mercury to extract gold. Water waste during the process flows down the Pasil river, he said.



Edduba called on his counterparts in areas where small scale mining operates to make their own studies to properly address the problem. He also recommended that small scale miners should shift to other safe and environment-friendly practices. *(PIA-CAR/Kalinga)

by Peter A. Balocnit


TABUK, Kalinga, March 31 – Security forces from the army and the police have been dispatched to Lubo, Tanudan to pacify the looming clan conflict that had claimed two more lives this month.


Fourteen enlisted personnel from the 21st Infantry Battalion, 501st Brigade under 1Lt. Aries Apduhan are now stationed at Lubo to augment local police to prevent trouble from escalating.



Another team from the provincial PNP mobile group will join the peacekeeping force as soon as assignment of personnel in other risk areas is put in place to avoid a security vacuum.


Tanudan Mayor Johnwell Tigganay earlier requested the peacekeeping force through the Provincial Peace and Order Council chaired by Gov. Jocel Baac to be deployed in the area.


Baac directed during the PPOC meeting last week to send a composite team to avert further bloodshed. A composite team was immediately organized and a detachment was established in the conflict zone.


It can be recalled that Roger Cullapoy and Sallaya Condaya of the same Angnganay clan were killed in separate incidents the past weeks allegedly by their enemies as vengeance prize.


Tiggangay said a Scene of the Crime Operative team went to Lubo to conduct investigation on the killing of Condaya and criminal charges have been filed in court against the suspects. *(PAB-PIA-CAR,Kalinga)

by Larry Lopez
    
TABUK, Kalinga, March 31  -   The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to distribute 60 units of personal computer to government schools in the province under its computers to public schools program.

Rowena Boston of DTI-Kalinga said the program, now on its fourth phase since 2001, has already distributed 180 computers units to public schools here.

The program is a tie-up project between the DTI and the Japanese government, which provides free computer units particularly to public schools in rural areas.

Boston explained high school students coming from rural areas usually are disadvantaged on the use of computers when they go to college and this is what that the program aims to address.

Under phase 4, six high schools are candidate-beneficiaries that include Kalinga National High School (KNHS) - Tabuk main campus, KNHS - Asibanglan Annex, Pinukpuk, KNHS - Ambato Annex, Tinglayan, KNHS-Mananig Annex, Pinukpuk, KNHS-Salegseg Annex, Balbalan and Rizal National School of Arts and Trade (RNSAT), Rizal.

Boston, however, clarified the listing of the six candidate-beneficiaries is not yet final as it needs further validation whether support facilities on safekeeping and electric power are available in the school.
After the final validation, the units will be delivered to the schools in time for the opening of classes this school year.

Boston appealed to recipient schools to take proper care on the use of the units since these are new and branded computers from Japan. *(LL-PIA-CAR,Kalinga)

by Joseph B Zambrano

 BAGUO CITY, March 30  - The term “travel” is one the most searched topics online in the country  and to have more information on tourism, people,  and events, the city council  passed a resolution creating an all-in-one integrated travel website.

According to CounciIor Elmer Datuin, in line with the commitment of the Department of Tourism (DOT) to continue enticing more people to travel to the city through the internet and not through traditional media campaigns, they are inviting website developers to submit proposals in the creation of an all-in-one integrated travel website.

One of the strategies involves establishing a central tourism website wherein other tourist sites can link to, thus allowing interested visitors to view the different tourist spots and related tour packages, Datuin said.

In the highly advanced age of technology and highly competitive global and local market, there is a need for the City of Baguio to utilize internet marketing, stressed Datuin who chairs the committee on tourism.

The website would not only showcase tourist spots but also incorporate integrated booking facilities that allows users to arrange their travel to the city, pay accommodations, travel fare, and the like.

Datuin added that the hosting of such all-in-one website will enable the city to comprehensively accommodate the needs of visitors providing smoother flow and greater ease for tourists which will surely increase the interest of people to travel in the city. *(JBZ - PIA CAR)

by Vency D. Bulayungan

LAGAWE, Ifugao, March 29 - The Sangguniang Bayan here approved the fare rate increase of tricycles here in consideration of the increasing cost of oil, gasoline, and motor vehicles spare parts.

Resolution No. 2001-09 authorized the Lagawe Tricycle Operation and Drivers Association (LATODA) for a one peso increase in the minimum fare and two pesos increase beyond the turning point of destination in the different barangays here.
The local dads here cited section 447 of Republic Act 7160, known as the Local Government Code that provides powers and duties to Sangguniang Bayan members to regulate motorized tricycle.

LATODA president Tejano Balinon said that a public hearing was conducted on the proposed fare increase and consequently, the riding public had given their consent and approval to the proposal.

Relative to this, the ordinance also stated that there shall be a 20 percent discount to the following: students - during school days including Saturdays except Sundays with identification cards (ID) from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.; to senior citizens, and disabled persons.
.

The ordinance also covers kindergarten pupils who will be given special fares – P4 within Poblacion; elementary-Lagawe Central School-P5 for two or more pupils and P5 for one passenger only.

On the other hand, there will be a special fare rate during night time such as five passengers capacity per tricycle from 8 p.m. to P5/person and for those going outside Poblacion here will be negotiable. *(PIACAR/ Ifugao)

 by Peter A. Balocnit  
TABUK, Kalinga, March 29 – Elements of the 77th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army based at barangay Bantay here confiscated recently 2,920 board feet of narra at the Calanan junction road.
 
The seizure of the prohibited forest product is the first act of security officers carrying the mandate of President Aquino in Executive Order No. 23 banning cutting and harvesting of timber in natural and residual forests.

 
According to reports, the military acted on a tip that a white elf was loaded with 255 narra lumber flitch being transported along the Pinukpuk-Tabuk national road .
 
Upon confirmation of the information, elements of the 77th IB, 501st Brigade conducted a checkpoint at the Calanan junction here and apprehended said contraband. However, the driver escaped, the report said.
 
The contraband, with an estimated value of P145,000 (local price) was loaded in a Mitsubishi canter with plate number THW 944.
The items were turned over to the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office here for safekeeping pending the administrative adjudication of the case.
 
Bonifacio Manganip, Forest Protection officer of the CENRO said their office posted a notice to the public calling on owners or claimants of said sawn narra lumber to claim the same within 15 days and bring along documents showing proof of ownership and permit allowing cutting and transport.

 
“If no claimant appears after the 15-day claiming period, CENRO will issue a notice of hearing for administrative adjudication and if warranted, recommend forfeiture of the items in favor of the government,” he said.
 
As provided in EO 23, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is a member of the anti-illegal logging task force organized in every province together with the DENR as lead agency; Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Philippine National Police. *(PIA-CAR/Kalinga)

by Gigi Dumallig

TABUK, Kalinga, March 29 – Glutinous corn is being considered as a possible substitute for rice, hence government is advocating for its production especially in rice-producing areas like Kalinga.

 Assistant Provincial agriculturist Julie Aclam said that since planting glutinous rice demands lesser water, propagation of said staple food is being prioritized in areas with idle lands where water supply could not sustain the production of rice.
  
 This endeavor, she said, is part of the Agri-Pinoy food program under the leadership of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala whom she said is unrelenting in this campaign to develop all possible idle land areas in the country into agricultural areas for the production of other staple crops aside from rice.

 As substitute, corn, she said, could help augment and lessen the demand for rice.

 Aclam said that planting crops that demand lesser water supply like corn and root crops would not only encourage the cultivation of idle lands but would turn these into food producing areas.

Towards this endeavor, the Department of Agriculture, according to Aclam has recently distributed some 109 bags of registered glutinous corn for distribution and planting this coming May in the province.

Tabuk, Rizal, and Pinukpuk received 20 bags each, while Tanudan, Balbalan, Lubuagan and Pasil were allotted 10 bags each. Tinglayan received nine bags. Distribution was based on the available planting areas in the municipality.

Said registered seeds should be planted to generate a seed bank for certified glutinous corn seeds for later planting to produce of the needed supply for human consumption.* (PIA CAR/Kalinga)

by Susan Aro

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, March 29  – The local government unit of Itogon passed twin measures for the concurrence of a proclaimed relocation site for victims of typhoon Nina in 2008.

Benguet Corporation Itogon donated a site to locate the displaced families affected in sitio Beda in Loacan, Itogon.

Resolution Numbers 60 and 61, series 2011 request the concurrence of the Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson and Department of Health Secretary Enrique Ona, respectively, for the proclamation of the relocation sites located at U-16 and U-17 at Anteg-in, Loacan, Itogon.

The measures are needed to facilitate the processing of documents for the proclaimed site.

The area was surveyed and evaluated by a composite team from the town, provincial government, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Benguet Corporation.

The team issued a certification that the area is free and is an ideal relocation site as stated in the resolution.
The site will be in the name of the Itogon LGU for the housing area of the victims .* (PIA CAR)

by Redjie Cawis

BAGUIO CITY, March 29  - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is encouraging government offices to go paperless to save trees, the main source of paper.

DENR regional executive director Clarence Baguilat said that the DENR has started paperless transactions in their office. He said that during meetings or conferences, they use less paper and use electronic devices instead.

He said that employees are now getting use of portable devices to save documents and files such as USB flash drive, external hard drives, and other devices.

They also are encouraged to bring along laptops when having a meeting to save documents rather than printing many pages of papers.

At the DENR central office, memoranda are dispatched to regional offices through emails and electronic copies via the internet.

Electronic information technology should be practiced in today’s transactions especially in government offices,Baguilat said.

The DENR is also practicing this system of transactions in their provincial and community offices in the region. *(PIA CAR)

By Vladimir Cayabas

by Gigi Dumallig

TABUK CITY, Kalinga, March 28  – Small scale miners here should shift to the use of environmentally friendly processes to prevent further pollution of river systems in the province due to the use of mercury in their mining practices.

This is the recommendation of Environment and Management Bureau (EMB) provincial officer Ricardo Dang-iw, engineer, concerning the latest findings that traces of mercury were found during a recent chemical sampling of the major waterways in the province.
 
Mining industries are now using carbon in pulp (CIP) extraction technique for recovery of gold which has been liberated into a cyanide solution as part of the gold cyanidation process. This should also be adopted in the province to get away from the use of mercury, Dang-iw said.

Because of its detrimental effect on health and the environment, the use of mercury is not allowed in mines. This is aside from the fact that most mercury sources are illegal and if produced, it is only allowed for pharmaceutical purposes, explained Dang-iw.

 “Mercury is not sold in stores and there are only a few identified regulated industries given the authority to sell this chemical,” he said.

 He said that local governments with mining operations in their localities should take action and help local miners to gradually adjust from their traditional mining practices to friendlier methods.

 “We have government agencies like the Mines and Geological Bureau (MGB) to assist them set up the new technical processes in local mines,” Dang-iw said suggesting that as a start, the local government units should already issue moratorium on the use of mercury for the miners to comply with the use of safer mining practices.

 Asked why not a total mercury ban, he said that the moratorium period will provide the small scale miners time to adjust and adopt the new technology so as not to disrupt their livelihood activities.


 He underscored the need for an immediate action from the concerned LGUs not only to protect the river ways but most especially the health of those directly in contact with said hazardous chemical during amalgamation and rode processes.

 A sizable income he said is useless if in the future, one ends up using it to just to stay alive from an incurable illness.
 Concerning the mercury traces, Dang-iw said that the EMB could not yet determine the extent of contamination since the sampling conducted last January was the first chemical testing in the province. He said that at least a series of water sampling is needed to do the comparison.

 He however emphasized that any traces of mercury in water ways should already cause an alarm for the community. It should be expected he said that a higher concentration is possible in the tributaries at the mining areas since the water sampling was conducted only in the lower river portion covered by the EMB test areas.
The province at present has two identified small scale mines located in the municipalities of Balbalan and Pasil.
Concerned with the findings, Tabuk City Mayor Ferdinand Tubban recently called the attention of the EMB to also furnish the local government of Tabuk a copy of the findings and recommendation for proper action of the LGU. Tabuk is dependent on the Chico River for its water source for its farm and household needs. (PIA CAR/Kalinga)

by Mhars B. Lihgawon

HINGYON, Ifugao, March 28  – In a bid to provide more services to the community, the local government unit (LGU) has increased the annual cash assistance given to the different barangays here.

According to municipal officials, the 12 barangays of the municipality will be receiving a P1,500 annual cash assistance starting this year, P500 higher than the P1,000 allocated previously.

“This was included under the statutory and contractual obligations item in the regular annual  budget of the municipality as stipulated in the provisions of the barangay aid ordinance enacted last year,” the officials added.
 
The cash assistance would be directly fund transferred to the beneficiaries within the first quarter of each calendar year following  the approval of the municipal annual budget and would be part also of the regular annual revenue of the barangay.
 
Each barangay is free to appropriate such aid according to priorities but subject to the existing budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and regulation. *(PIA-Ifugao )

by Art Tibaldo

BAGUIO CITY, March 28 - Trade exhibitors from the Cordillera Administrative Region emerged as the second top seller during the 2011 National Trade Fair held at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City for the period March 17-20 2011.

Department of Trade and Industry-CAR regional director Myrna P. Pablo reported that CAR entrepreneurs generated cash sales of P1.5 million and received booked orders amounting to P4.6 million.

Totaling P6.1 million pesos worth in booked orders and cash sales, exhibitors from Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, and Kalinga were able to sell their top-of-the-line products ranging from bamboo craft, furniture, processed food, gifts & house are as well as handwoven items; CAR with 12 participants is second to Region 7 which generated P6.5 million sales with 27 exhibitors.

Organized by the Center for International Exposition and Missions (CITEM) an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry, the NTF is the most promising and prestigious market encounter where top buyers and exporters get to meet local producers.

Pablo likewise noted that CAR again topped the 2009 NTF as the top selling region with entrepreneur Romeo Balbin of Balbin’s Furniture in Bangued, Abra as the top regional exhibitor. (AT,DTI-CAR//PIA CAR)

by Vency D. Bulayungan

HUNGDUAN, Ifugao, March 28  - Acknowledging and respecting the time  honored democratic tenet that men and women in a civil society are equal, the local government unit here adopted the Gender and Development Code for Hungduan, Ifugao and provided funds thereof.

The municipal government here recognizes the various needs of its diverse and ethnic population hence it is gender sensitive and gender fair.

The significant initiative is aimed at mainstreaming women’s concern, ensure the fundamental equality before the law of men and women, open a wider arena for their active participatory role in development process, and provide women rights and opportunities equal to that of men.

The code is not only substantially supported by legal basis but it is likewise backed up by biblical and moral bases. The LGU believes that the book of Genesis says that God created woman not from the head of man so as not to prevail upon him, neither from the feet so as not to be subordinated by him but from one of the ribs so as to be equal with him.

In the light of gender biases and inequalities, the municipal government formulated programs and strategies such as mainstream gender concerns in sectoral development plan, policies, and programs; intensify awareness campaign on gender issues and concerns, and strengthen GO-PO-NGO partnership to maximize the effectiveness of programs and services addressing Gender and Development (GAD) concerns among others.


The LGU also identified some inequalities happening to women such as battering; commodification of women; discrimination against women; feminization of poverty among others.

The municipal government here further showed its support to women in this town by creating the municipal integrated population, gender and development office to realize the provisions of this code. It shall be the coordinating, regulating, and monitoring office of the municipal government of Hungduan which shall focus on gender sensitive projects and activities. *(PIA CAR./ Ifugao)

By Ramon Dacawi

BAGUIO CITY, March 27 -- Finally, the good news comes after the Government Service Insurance System turned a new leaf last year: That small forest that instantly sprouted with balled and transplanted pine then the size of Christmas trees 33 years ago will be spared from the continuing sprawl of urban concrete.

Robert Vergara, the new GSIS president and general manager has assured the tiny patch of green beside the Baguio Convention Center will remain as such.

His announcement drew applause and relief from retirees and government employees who came for a stakeholders’ forum he and GSIS board chairman Daniel Lacson convened the other Friday in keeping with their pronounced policy of transparency.

Vergara said GSIS had canceled a plan to develop the property for a four-building, multi-storey condotel-commercial complex under a joint venture with mall giant Shoemart.

He, however, stressed there should be a way by which the city would compensate GSIS for yielding to the wish of residents to save the pine stand that serves as a buffer and breather within the city’s expanding commercial district.

“We told mayor (Mauricio) Domogan about this (compensation),” he said following their meeting over lunch that also discussed the ballooning surcharges for the city’s failure to fully pay the GSIS P250 million as purchase price for the Baguio Convention Center.

The GSIS built the Center as venue for the 1978 World Chess Championship Series between Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi, on direction of then President Marcos who transferred to the system a 4.8-hectare portion of the Government Center property of the national government.

Under a tri-partite agreement with the Bases Conversion Development Authority, payment of the Convention Center was to come from the city’s share from the lease rentals of Camp John Hay.

Appearing before the city council last week, Dean Santiago, BCDA vice president for planning and business development, the default was due to lessee Camp John Hay Development Corporation’s failure to pay P2.4 billion in rentals. City treasurer Thelma Manaois pegged the city’s collectibles based on its 25 percent rental share at P690.1 million as of last year, excluding penalties.

While the parties grope for resolution of the rental issue, Baguio residents expressed relief over the GSIS leadership’s decision to spare the pine patch from being destroyed and converted into a commercial complex dubbed “Baguio Air Residences”.

To save the forest, the city council earlier declared it as a tree park, denying clearance for its conversion into a commercial center. In a visit to Baguio in August, 2009, then President Gloria Arroyo also advised the GSIS to spare the tree patch.

Residents equated her order as the President’s gift for Baguio’s centennial. It triggered letters of gratitude from children who had their “thank-you” notes set on tarpaulin and strung on the forest, together with those of members of the Baguio Centennial Commission that spearheaded Baguio’s 100th year anniversary celebration.
At the forum the other Friday, Vergara and Lacson were asked to weigh the value of the mini-pine forest in relation to Baguio’s status as the country’s “City of Pines” and as a national heritage.

The push for the preservation of the pine stand was juxtaposed by the decision of the GSIS in 2001 to buy “Parisian Life”, a painting by national artist Juan Luna, for P42 million in an auction in Hongkong.
Criticized for the purchase, then GSIS general manager Winston Garcia said GSIS does not only ensure government employees and property; it also ensures national heritage, in this case the Luna painting.

Using his line, members of the Igorot Global Organization, at their seventh biennial conference in 2008 in Banaue, Ifugao, adopted a resolution asking GSIS to spare the tree patch to help preserve the uniqueness of Baguio as a national heritage.

Last month, kids of San Vicente Elementary School passed by the small tree park on their exploration of the city’s landscape under the “Children’s Urban Heritage Walk”. Back in school, they composed letters addressed to President Benigno Aquino III.

“ It would be an embarrassment if our city is called City of Pines yet pine trees are not seen,” sixth-grader Amy Malag said. “The mini-forest is at the center part of the city,” noted James Miguel, also in the sixth grade. “Trees absorb air pollution and help maintain (and) freshen the air in the city.”

“Our city is tagged as the city of pines and true enough because upon viewing the mini-forest, you feel rested,” wrote Yvonne Binaldo. “We learned that trees act as lungs that sift pollution,” said Marisol Aspilan. “I see the importance of trees within the city,” added Alexander Sambrana. “I wanted that mini-forest beside the Convention Center be not in danger of disappearing,” said Prena Marcelo. – (RD/PIO Baguio City//PIA CAR

By Lito Dar

BAGUIO CITY, March 27  – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Cordillera (PDEA-CAR) is now incorporating topic on the drug courier problem in its stepped up preventive education campaign in the local communities in the region.

This was affirmed by PDEA-CAR Regional Director Edgar Apalla, in an interview, relative to the scheduled execution of three Filipinos in China, who were convicted of drug trafficking cases.

“To save more victims, prevent more lives from being lost, families from being broken and of dreams and future being shattered, we are stepping up our preventive education campaign on drug couriers in the communities. To let the people truly realize how worse the country’s problem on drug courier is,” Apalla said.
Apalla also reiterated the government’s appeal to the public, especially those frequently travelling or working abroad to be extra cautious when dealing with strangers in the airports and other areas of transit and not to allow themselves to victimized by international drug syndicates.

PDEA , in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Information Agency, is involved in an anti-drug courier advocacy program nationwide.

In addition, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA-CAR) also already included the anti-drug courier campaign in their Anti-Trafficking in Person Campaign, as well as in the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA-CAR).

The Supreme Court of China has already ruled in finality the carrying out of the death penalty of the three Filipinos, on Wednesday, March 30.

The Philippine Government has also already done everything possible to save their lives.

The three Filipinos were also arrested, prosecuted and convicted within the scope of the laws of the People’s Republic of China.


Drug smuggling case is a serious crime in China. Under its law, smuggling heroine with a quantity more than 50 grams is given a mandatory death sentence.

The scheduled execution of the three Filipinos in China is not an isolated case. In the past two years, there were also four Japanese and a British National also executed in China for drug trafficking and persistent pleas for clemency by their respective government officials and diplomats also failed to change the verdict. *(PIA CAR)

By Paul Rillorta

BAGUIO CITY, March 27 – Mayor Mauricio Domogan this week expressed confidence the revised city charter will pass through Senate.

“Accordingly, the 100 year old city charter needs to be updated and revised to conform to the needs of the present time,” Domogan said.

The revised city charter is seen as a starting point in settling land issues specifically the boundary conflict between the Municipality of Tuba and the City of Baguio.

It will also address and minimize squatting problems within the city, Domogan said citing the need to speed up the facilitation of ownership of lands.

Categorically, there are three classifications of lands in the city namely, reservations and government owned properties, private lands (titled properties) and legitimate ancestral lands recognized under Republic Act 8371 Sec. 78 and Alienable and disposable lands which are part of the city’s Townsite Reservation.

Proposed amendment to the city charter only covers alienable and disposable lands which are part of the townsite reservation of the city including ironing out conflicts with the free patent law.

Domogan said "other lands like reservations, government properties and private lands are covered and protected by existing laws’.

The amended city charter will not prejudice pending claims for ancestral lands for as long as it is “a legitimate ancestral land recognized pursuant to section 78 of Republic Act No. 8371 or the ‘Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997," he stressed. *(PR/PIO Baguio City//PIA CAR)

y Paul Rillorta

BAGUIO CITY, March 27 – The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) in cooperation with the city government will pamper the public with free film shows highlighting the works of Filipino film makers.
Despite competitions from international movie producers, Pinoy films is still loved in the country because of its artistry and culture.

Sineng Pambansa aims to share the works of these talented Pinoy filmmakers to Baguio residents to strengthen cultural and social awareness.


Movie goers can visit SM Baguio’s Cinema 1 and 2 starting March 28 to 30 at 10:30 am until 7:00 pm and be treated to free admissions.

Featured movies include Ang mundo sa panahon ng yelo, Emir, Kung mangarap ka’t magising, Bakit dilaw ang gitna ng bahaghari, itim, Himpapawid, Two Funerals and a lot more.


Also on March 28, public viewing at the Burnham park, Melvin Jones will start at 5 pm till midnight and on march 29 at the Engineers Hill covered court from 1pm onwards.

Sineng Pambansa has launched the event in Zamboanga, Iloilo and will be visiting other cities all over the country very soon. *(PR,PIO Baguio City//PIA CAR)

By Aileen Refuerzo and Paul Rillorta

BAGUIO CITY, March 27 – Mayor Mauricio Domogan Wednesday brushed off claims that the city has been grabbing the credit for Benguet products being sold at the city’s markets
.
“To me this is a non-issue but we want to clarify that we never claimed and we will never claim that Benguet products being sold in our markets are Baguio products,” the mayor intoned during his Ugnayang Panlungsod press briefing last Wednesday.

“We are not the ones putting the Baguio label. We are well aware that we are only the trading center for these products so we are not out to steal credits from other areas,” he said.

Domogan said that he himself has gone out of his way to explain to people from other places that the vegetables, strawberries and flowers being sold at the city’s markets do not come from the city but are actually produced from nearby Benguet towns.

The mayor has been observed to acknowledge the sources of these products in his talks during conventions, meetings, “lakbay-aral” sessions and especially during the Baguio Flower Festival functions to also help promote Benguet and other areas in keeping with the intent of the BLIST concept and other Cordillera provinces where other products sold in Baguio also come from.

“We never fail to credit them for these vegetables and flowers but if other people insist on calling these products as Baguio products, then it is not anymore the fault of the people of Baguio,” the mayor said.
He asked Benguet officials and residents to understand the city’s situation and refrain from accusing the city of credit-grabbing.

“If you want to remove Baguio labels, then it’s no problem with us. It is not our fault that they call it Baguio Beans and not Benguet Beans,” he stressed.

It has been common knowledge that some businessmen associate if not utterly name their products after the city because of its popularity.

A case in point is the tiger grass broom traders from Burgos, La Union who put Baguio labels on their products to gain marketing and promotion mileage.

Domogan also believes that businessmen who trade vegetables, flowers and fruits tend to use Baguio City as its point of origin to make it saleable and more alluring to customers.

“Consumers from the lowlands prefer to buy products which come from the city, that’s why brooms and hats have been etched with “Baguio City” in them,” he said.

“But we recognize fully well that Benguet and other provinces and towns in the Cordilleras provide products which the city needs and what the tourist wants,” he said.

Misconceptions of some sort do not come from us, it’s more of an advertising strategy employed by witty businessmen, he said.

“What’s important is, we work together so we can enjoy economic growth, not only in Baguio but the Cordillera as a whole, its time we learn to cooperate, unite and work as a team,” he stressed.*(PIO Baguio City//PIA CAR)

by Aileen Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY, March 27 -- The city government must consider establishing commercial districts at Irisan and Loakan areas as a measure to decongest the Central Business District.

Councilor Isabelo Cosalan Jr. broached this in a proposed ordinance which the city council considered on second reading and for publication last Monday.

In his proposal, Cosalan said it is the city government’s responsibility “to uplift, enhance and sustain the socio-economic conditions of its constituents through the establishment of new economic centers to cater to the growing needs of investors and entrepreneurs; generation of livelihood and job opportunities; and the identification of potential economic growth zones as priority sites for new investments and business expansion.”

He proposed the new commercial districts to be located in portions of Barangays Loakan Proper, Loakan Apugan, Loakan Liwanag and Camp 7 to constitute the Southern Growth Zone and Lower Irisan and the adjacent portion of Pinsao Proper Barangay, Baguio City as the Northern Growth Zone.

To realize this, he proposed that the City Planning and Development Office and the City Engineering Office in cooperation with the barangays concerned to come up with the delineation of the commercial districts within 60 days upon approval of the ordinance. A delineated New Commercial District shall be contiguous with an area of not less than one square kilometer or 100 hectares.

Once done, the delineation shall be reflected in the updated Comprehensive City Land Use.
Furthermore, a development plan shall be prepared for the delineated Commercial Districts by the City Planning and Development Office considering among others the appropriate business/industry to be established, zoning of related enterprises and the planning of proper infrastructures in coordination with residents who are accredited planners and to be appointed by the City Mayor.


Within five years from effectivity of the ordinance, the City Government shall include in its Annual Investment Plan as priority projects the upgrading or development of public infrastructures such as but not limited to roads, sewer lines/treatment plants, power and water facilities, fire stations, and other utilities for public convenience in said growth areas.


Also after the approval of the ordinance, the city government shall establish satellite offices in the new business districts to cater to the needs of investors and residents alike and to facilitate the issuance of certain government permits and clearances such as Business Permit, Community Tax Certificate, Working Permit, or Mayor’s Permit.


Cosalan’s proposal will be subjected to deliberation by the body before it will approved on second and third readings.*(AR/PIO Baguio City//PIA CAR)

by Aileen Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY, March 27 – Mayor Mauricio Domogan welcomed the planned construction of another flyover this time to be built within the junction of the Bokawkan Road and Naguilian Road saying this would definitely help improve the traffic situation in the area which has been a perennial bottleneck.

The mayor still has to see the plan but said he trusts the judgment of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on the project.

The DPWH reportedly wrapped up studies for the new flyover project which would be the third of such kind in the city.

“We have to see the proposals first but we welcome such opportunity for our city. We have a problem to address which is the traffic congestions being experienced on a daily basis and this infrastructure is an opportunity for us to solve the said problem,” he said.

Anticipating opposition to the project, the mayor said people should consider the benefits that the infrastructure would give the majority.

“If the benefits would be much greater than the disadvantages, then by all means let us consider this,” the mayor appealed.

The DPWH first planned the flyover project a few years ago but plans shifted to an underpass facility instead. It was eventually scrapped due to unresolved feasibility questions.

Rep. Bernardo Vergara who has been following up the project said the flyover project was approved in principle by DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson. (AR/PIO Baguio City/PIA CAR)