BAGUIO CITY, Monday March 21 The city government will invite website developers to submit proposals for the creation of an “all-integrated travel website” for the city government.

Councilor Elmer Datuin in a resolution approved by the city council said one of the ways to build Baguio as a top tourist destination is to make it easier for people to access information and travel to the city through the use of the internet, as well as mobile phones equipped with internet access.

“In this 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 by hosting an all-in website that would include not only the showcasing of our tourist spots but also incorporating integrated booking facilities that allow users/prospective visitors to arrange their travel to the city, pay for accommodations, travel fare and other necessities in a single visit on a website,” he said.

He said the city should now receive proposals for travel websites from developers.

He also sought to notify all travel agencies, hotels, bus and airline companies, food service providers and other tourism-related companies to contribute to the development of the website even as he proposed the conduct of a conference among said parties for integration of their own sites to the said proposed travel website.(AR-PIO baguio city//PIA CAR)

BAGUIO CITY, Monday March 21– The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP-CAR) reported that during the first two months of this year, they have already recorded 35 fire incidents in Cordillera, which is a decrease compared to the 103 cases recorded during the same period in 2010.

This was affirmed by BFP-CAR Fire Safety Enforcement Section assistant chief SFO1Josesito Dollente, during the “PIA Hour” radio program over DZWT, Thursday.

According to Dollente, most of the fire cases reported this year happened in residences. A total of 19 of the 29 structural fire cases they recorded are residential types. Other are grass/rubbish or forest fires with five cases, and one case involved a motor vehicle.

In response to fire incidents, Dollente said there is better coordination between the BFP, volunteer fire brigades, and the local government units (LGUs).

In terms of equipment and personnel, Dollente admitted that BFP-CAR remains to be among the smallest units compared to the other regions. Of the 76 cities and municipalities in Cordillera, there are only 32 established fire stations.

Dollente reiterated the BFP’s call for support from the different local chief executives (LCEs) in the establishments of fire stations in their municipalities, either through the purchasing of fire trucks or by providing the quarters for the firemen.

Dollente also called on the LCEs’ support in the implementation of Republic Act 9514 or the Revised Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008, as it is one of the primary goals of the said law to improve and modernize the BFP.

Another important support the LCEs could give the BFP is in adhering to the RA 9514 provisions where vit says that it should be the bureau that is mandated to collect Fire Code Fees, which is currently not being implemented throughout the region.

Dollente explained that the share of the BFP and the LGU, as far as the Fire Code fees is concerned, remains the same, though if totally implemented it would expedite the modernization of the BFP.

In preparation for the summer season and in line with the commemoration of Fire Prevention Month this March, Dolente also affirmed that they have intensified their fire safety campaign but affirms that, “Fire prevention and responding to fire incident work does not start and end with the celebration of Fire Prevention Month but a whole year continuous work and we need the support of the LGUs and the local communities in such endeavor.” * (PIA CAR)

TUBA, Benguet, Monday March 21 - A medical, dental, and gift-giving mission in Klondykes, Tuba, Benguet is set on April 9 to be spearheaded by the Communications, Electronics and Information Systems Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (CEISSAFP).

Major Mario Recentes, signal group commander based in Camp Allen, Baguio City said that they are targeting more than 100 children as beneficiaries of the scheduled activity. There will be free medicines with complete doses to be given to patients and at the same time, we will feed the children, Recentes said.

The CEISSAFP chose Tuba as the venue of the mission in order to extend further the convergence among the volunteer groups and the vegetable farmers of the municipality, and at the same time promote tourism, Recentes said.

The Benguet provincial government headed by Governor Nestor Fongwan is providing the food during activity.

Tuba mayor Florencio Bentriz expresses gratitude to the organizers saying that he is happy that the children of the municipality will avail of the health services.

The partners of the program are the Quezon City-based Rotary Dream Makers Foundation, the Philippine Military Academy Station Hospital, municipality of Tuba, Causa Nostra-APIT Foundation Inc., and the Province of Benguet.

“Sagip Kapamilya” of ABS CBN will be distributing goodies and will cover the event, while Bombo Radyo Philippines, National Broadcasting Network, and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) are media partners for information dissemination, Recentes added. (PIA CAR)