Experience Catanduanes

Organized Chaos: The Filipino Tension Between Order and Resilience

2026-04-18T07:00:00.014+08:00

Whether this "chaos" is a hindrance or a hallmark is one of the most debated topics in Philippine sociology. The answer isn't a simple "yes" or "no," but rather a tension between 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 and 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

Here is how both sides of the argument stack up:

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗴𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 "𝗛𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲" (𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 & 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹)

From a purely developmental standpoint, what looks like "vibrant chaos" often translates to high 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀.

𝗟𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: In urban planning, "chaos" in traffic and unregulated zoning leads to massive losses in GDP. The lack of standardized "order" means that moving goods or people takes three times longer than it would in a "grid-ordered" city.
𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁: When "flexibility" overrides "rules" (like skipping lines or ignoring building codes), it can weaken the rule of law. If rules are seen as "suggestions," it becomes harder to implement large-scale national projects that require precision and strict adherence to timelines.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗴𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 "𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆" (𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 & 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻)

On the flip side, this "chaos" is often a sophisticated survival mechanism.

𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. A rigid, highly "ordered" society can be brittle—if one part of the machine breaks, the whole thing stops. The Filipino "chaos" is actually a decentralized network. If a bridge goes down, five "informal" boat routes appear instantly.
𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘀: The "chaos" of a crowded neighborhood often masks a deep web of informal support. In a "perfectly ordered" individualistic society, someone without a job might fall through the cracks. In a "chaotic" Filipino community, the closeness of Kapwa ensures someone is watching out for you.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱: "𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿"

Many experts argue that the goal shouldn't be to "fix" the chaos by imposing a Western template, but to create a 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿.

Instead of viewing the "chaos" as a bug, it can be viewed as a 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵. Progress might not look like a sterile, quiet street; it might look like a high-tech, digitally connected version of the current "lively" environment—where the flexibility remains, but the friction (like traffic or poor sanitation) is solved through better engineering.

𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲: The "chaos" is often just 𝘂𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆. When that energy is given a framework—like the way a chaotic market is organized by its own internal social rules—it becomes a source of incredible creativity and entrepreneurship.

Philippines Energy: Breaking the Import Habit

2026-04-10T07:00:00.011+08:00

The sustainability of the Philippines' current model—relying on imports for nearly 𝟵𝟴% of its petroleum needs—is a high-wire act. While it offers immediate convenience (letting larger nations handle the dirty work of refining), it creates a "brittle" energy security profile.

If we look toward 2030 and beyond, several factors suggest this arrangement is hitting a ceiling of sustainability.

𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 "𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗸"

The most immediate threat isn't running out of oil; it’s the 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Because oil is priced in USD, the Philippines faces a "double whammy": when global oil prices rise and the Peso weakens, the cost of living (transport, food, electricity) spikes instantly.
𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁: Billions of dollars flow out of the country annually to pay for fuel. Diverting that capital toward domestic energy production would theoretically strengthen the national balance sheet.

𝟮. 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 "𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀"

The Philippines' supply chain is a geographical nightmare in the event of a conflict.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗮 𝗗𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗺𝗮: Most refined products from Singapore and the Middle East must pass through narrow straits. Any regional tension (especially in the South China Sea) could lead to immediate supply "strangulation."
𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀: Unlike many developed nations, the Philippines lacks a massive national strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) to weather a long-term total cutoff.

𝟯. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 & 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁

Global sustainability standards are making "business as usual" harder to maintain.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁-𝗭𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗣𝘂𝘀𝗵: Global financiers are increasingly wary of funding oil-dependent infrastructure. The Philippines’ own 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 (𝗣𝗘𝗣) aims for a 𝟯𝟱% 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟬 and 𝟱𝟬% by 𝟮𝟬𝟰𝟬.
𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀: Investing too much in oil-based power plants now might result in "stranded assets"—expensive facilities that become obsolete as carbon taxes or RE (Renewable Energy) costs drop.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 "𝗘𝘅𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆": 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

To move away from this reliance, the country is currently pulling three main levers:

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 • 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗶𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 • 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵

𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 (𝗥𝗘)
Reduces the need for oil/coal in the power grid.
Intermittency (solar/wind need batteries).

𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗮𝘀
Acts as a "bridge fuel" (cleaner than oil).
Malampaya field is depleting; requires new LNG imports.

𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗩𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 (𝗘𝗩𝘀)
Cuts demand for imported gasoline/diesel.
High upfront cost and lack of charging infrastructure.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁: 𝗜𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲?

𝗡𝗼, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. The arrangement is a "legacy system" that worked when oil was cheap and global trade was stable. In a 2026 landscape defined by climate change and geopolitical shifts, the Philippines is essentially "renting" its energy security. True sustainability will likely require a shift from 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 (oil/gas) to 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘀 (solar, wind, geothermal, and perhaps modular nuclear) domestically.

𝗔 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝘁: Relying on imported oil is a bit like living on takeout—it’s convenient and you don't have to clean the kitchen, but eventually, the delivery fees will bankrupt you and you're in big trouble if the restaurant closes.

The Great Energy Flip: The Evolution of Philippine Petroleum Imports

2026-04-08T07:00:00.005+08:00

The evolution of the Philippines' petroleum imports is a story of shifting from a highly regulated, crude-dependent system to a deregulated market that now relies heavily on finished (refined) products from neighboring Asian countries.

𝟭. 𝟭𝟵𝟱𝟬𝘀 – 𝟭𝟵𝟲𝟬𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗿𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗶𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 (𝗜𝗢𝗖𝘀)

During this period, the Philippine market was dominated by three major players: 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝘅, and 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘃𝗮𝗰 (which later became Petron).

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: To reduce the cost of importing finished gasoline, these companies built local refineries (Caltex in 1954, Petron in 1961, and Shell in 1962).
𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲: The country primarily imported 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗶𝗹 from the Middle East to be processed locally. By 1965, oil accounted for a staggering 𝟵𝟮% of the national energy mix.

𝟮. 𝟭𝟵𝟳𝟬𝘀 – 𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟬𝘀: 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆

The global oil shocks of 1973 and 1979 forced the government to take a more active role to prevent supply shortages.

𝟭𝟵𝟳𝟯: The 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗶𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 (𝗣𝗡𝗢𝗖) was created to ensure a stable supply and represent the state in "government-to-government" oil deals.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗣𝗦𝗙: The government established the 𝗢𝗶𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱 (𝗢𝗣𝗦𝗙) to buffer local pump prices from the extreme volatility of the global market.
𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴: Imports remained almost exclusively crude oil, sourced largely through long-term contracts with Middle Eastern nations like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

𝟯. 𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟬𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Fiscal pressure from subsidizing the OPSF and a desire for market competition led to a radical policy shift.

𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟲–𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟴: The 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗢𝗶𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁 (𝗥𝗔 𝟴𝟰𝟳𝟵) was passed. This removed government control over pricing and opened the door for "New Players" to enter the market.
𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆: Companies like 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗢𝗶𝗹, 𝗙𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩, and 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗶𝗹 began importing finished petroleum products directly, challenging the "Big Three."

𝟰. 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟬𝘀 – 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟵: 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀

As the market became more competitive, the economics of local refining began to struggle against massive, high-efficiency refineries in Singapore and South Korea.

𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟯: Caltex (Chevron) converted its Batangas refinery into a finished product import terminal, marking a major shift from importing crude to importing refined fuel.
𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀: By the 2010s, non-traditional oil companies captured nearly 𝟯𝟬-𝟰𝟬% of the market share.

𝟱. 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬 – 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 "𝗡𝗲𝘁 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿" 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The COVID-19 pandemic and changing global energy economics accelerated the transition to a product-import-heavy model.

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬: Shell permanently closed its 𝗧𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘆, converting it into an import facility. This left 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻 as the only remaining crude oil refiner in the country.
𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗽: The Philippines' import profile effectively "flipped." While crude is still imported for Petron’s refinery, over 𝟵𝟬% of the country's diesel and gasoline is now imported as 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 from South Korea, China, and Singapore.

𝟲. 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲: 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

As of early 2026, the timeline is defined by extreme sensitivity to regional conflicts.

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Following the disruptions caused by the 2026 Iran-Israel conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the Philippines has actively sought "non-traditional" sources, increasing imports from 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 and 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮 (specifically for LPG) and exploring more deals within the 𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗡 region to bypass Middle Eastern chokepoints.

Fuelling the Philippines: Mapping Our Oil and Gas Sources

2026-04-06T07:00:00.011+08:00

The Philippines is heavily dependent on imports for its energy needs, sourcing its crude oil and refined petroleum products from two primary geographic regions: the 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 and 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮-𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰.

𝟭. 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗢𝗶𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀

The country’s crude oil imports are dominated by Middle Eastern suppliers. As of early 2026, nearly 𝟵𝟬% of the Philippines' crude oil comes from this region.

𝗦𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗮: Traditionally the top supplier, often accounting for over 50% of total crude imports.
𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗯 𝗘𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 (𝗨𝗔𝗘): The second-largest source, providing significant volumes of light and medium crude.
𝗜𝗿𝗮𝗾: A major and growing contributor to the country's energy mix.
𝗞𝘂𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗺𝗮𝗻: Frequent secondary sources for specialized crude types.
𝗕𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗶 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗮: Smaller, regional sources that provide a fraction of the total crude requirements.

𝟮. 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘂𝗺 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀

Unlike crude oil, the finished products we use (gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel, etc.) are primarily sourced from neighboring Asian neighbors with large refining capacities.

𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗞𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗮: The leading supplier of refined products like diesel and gasoline.
𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮: A major source of various refined fuels and petrochemicals.
𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲: Acts as the regional "trading hub" and a primary source for high-quality finished petroleum products.
𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗮𝗶𝘄𝗮𝗻: Significant contributors to the local supply of motor fuels and industrial oils.

𝟯. 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘂𝗺 𝗚𝗮𝘀 (𝗟𝗣𝗚)

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly used for cooking and some transport, has a more diverse sourcing profile:

𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀: China, Australia, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates.
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀: There has been a notable increase in imports from 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮 and 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 to diversify the supply chain.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 (𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰–𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀)

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝘆 | 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀

𝗖𝗿𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗢𝗶𝗹

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Kuwait

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀

South Korea, China, Singapore, Malaysia

𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘂𝗺 𝗚𝗮𝘀 (𝗟𝗣𝗚)

China, Australia, Nigeria, UAE

𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: The Philippines is currently a "net importer," meaning it buys far more petroleum than it produces locally (such as from the Galoc oil field). This makes the local pump prices highly sensitive to global market fluctuations and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

The Power of 40: A Universal Symbol of Transformation

2026-03-23T07:00:00.024+08:00

Does the religious and mythological significance of the number 40 have anything to do with the saying that life begins at 40?

There is a fascinating overlap between the two, though they technically come from different worlds. While the religious significance of the number 40 centers on 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, the saying "Life begins at 40" is a much more modern, secular invention.

Here is how they intersect and where they differ:

𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁: 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

In religious traditions, the number 40 represents a 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 before a major change.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 wandered for 40 years to "shed" their old identity as slaves before entering the Promised Land as a new nation.
𝗠𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀, 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗷𝗮𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 each fasted for 40 days before beginning their most significant spiritual work.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 lasted 40 days to "wash away" the old world and start anew with Noah.

In this context, 40 isn't just a number; it is the 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲. You endure the "desert" of your younger years to arrive at a state of readiness. In that sense, "life beginning" after a 40-unit period of struggle is a very ancient theme.

𝟮. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻: 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗸𝗶𝗻

Despite the ancient symbolism, the specific phrase "Life Begins at 40" didn't appear until 𝟭𝟵𝟯𝟮. It was the title of a self-help book by 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗕. 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗸𝗶𝗻, an American psychologist and journalist.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁: At the time, life expectancy was increasing due to medical and industrial advances.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲: Pitkin argued that by age 40, a person had finally moved past the "drudgery" of learning a trade and raising young children. With 40 years of experience, he believed people were finally "ready to live" with wisdom and leisure.

𝟯. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 "𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲" In several cultures, 40 was historically seen as the "noon" of life—the peak of physical and mental maturity.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗺𝘂𝗱 (Jewish tradition) states that at age 40, a person attains "understanding" (binah).
𝗔𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗲 believed the human body was at its peak at 35 and the mind reached its peak at 49.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The bridge between the two is the concept of 𝗪𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.

In both the Bible and modern psychology, 40 represents the point where you have "paid your dues." You’ve survived the trials of youth (the 40 days in the desert) and gained the wisdom (Pitkin’s "understanding") to finally live with purpose.

The saying essentially takes the ancient religious idea of 𝗿𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 and applies it to the modern career and retirement cycle.

The number 40 carries a heavy weight in history, science, and folklore. It often signifies a period of testing, preparation, or a significant generation gap.

Here are some notable events and contexts related to "40":

𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 & 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝗿 (𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟵): Roughly 40 years after the formation of NATO (1949), the Berlin Wall fell, signaling the beginning of the end for the Soviet bloc.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟰𝟬-𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗵 𝗜: While she actually reigned for 44 years, the "40-year" mark (1598) was historically significant as it cemented the "Golden Age" of England and the stability of the Elizabethan era.
𝗔𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮: The formal system of Apartheid lasted roughly 40+ years (1948–1994) before its final dismantling and the election of Nelson Mandela.

𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 & 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟰𝟬-𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲: The word "quarantine" originates from the Italian quaranta giorni, meaning 40 days. During the Black Death in the 14th century, ships arriving in Venice were required to anchor for 40 days before landing to prevent the spread of plague.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗲: Charles Darwin’s famous journey lasted nearly five years, but it was his roughly 40-day stay in the Galápagos Islands in 1835 that provided the critical observations for his theory of evolution.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 "𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘆-𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀": In 1849, an estimated 40,000 to 100,000 people rushed to California in search of gold, a massive demographic shift that changed the face of the American West.

𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 & 𝗠𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

The number 40 appears frequently as a symbolic duration for transformation:

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗼𝗱𝘂𝘀: The Israelites wandered the desert for 40 years before reaching the Promised Land.
𝗟𝗲𝗻𝘁: In the Christian tradition, Lent is a 40-day period of fasting and reflection, mirroring the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝘁 𝗠𝘂𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗱: He was 40 years old when he received his first revelation from the Archangel Gabriel in the Cave of Hira.

𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 "𝟰𝟬𝘀"

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟰𝟬-𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸: Established as a US standard by the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1940, fundamentally changing the modern lifestyle and the concept of "the weekend."
𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟰𝟬 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗼: Created in the 1950s by Todd Storz, this format revolutionized the music industry by focusing on the most popular songs on repeat.

Tourism Budget for 2014 Targets 10 Key Clusters

2013-08-14T08:51:00.010+08:00

THE funds for the P30-billion Tourism Development Program under the proposed P2.3-trillion national budget for 2014 targets 10 strategic tourism areas in the country, according to Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.

Dubbed “international tourism gateway clusters,” these are: Laoag, Ilocos Norte (including Pagudpud) and Vigan, Ilocos Sur (with 373,000 underemployed and 172,000 unemployed among the local population); Central Luzon, which covers Subic-Clark-Tarlac-Corregidor, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, the Zambales coast, Bataan coast and inland, and Aurora (505,00 underemployed/384,000 unemployed); Metro Manila and

Calabarzon region—Metro Manila, Nasugbu-Looc-Ternate-Cavite Coast, Laguna de Bay, Batangas peninsula, Quezon coast and islands (894,000 underemployed/466,000 unemployed);

Bicol—Camarines and Catanduanes, AIbay-Sorsogon-Masbate (780,000 underemployed/148,000 unemployed); Palawan, which covers San Vicente-EI Nido-Taytay, Princesa, Southern Palawan Busuanga-Coron-Culion (282,000 underemployed/55,000 unemployed); Central Visayas—Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor and Bohol (605,000 underemployed/224,000 unemployed); Western Visayas—Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Aklan, Antique, Capiz and Guimaras, (659,00 underemployed/212,000 unemployed); Cagayan de Oro Coast and Hinterlands—Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Bukidnon (556,000 underemployed/95,000 unemployed); and the Davao gulf and coast—Davao City, Samal island, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental (335,000 underemployed/119,000 unemployed).

For 2014-2015, [these] international gateway tourism clusters will continue to be the focal areas for public investment support because of the need to complete the international airports and access roads in these clusters,

said Abad in his National Budget Memorandum 118, dated April 25, 2013.

Most of these international gateways also have poverty incidences reaching as high as 48 percent among families as recorded in the first half of 2012. This is true in in the case of Davao Oriental, followed by Negros Oriental (45.3 percent), Masbate (44.2 percent), Bukidnon (43.3 percent) and Lanao del Norte (42.5 percent), as per said memo.

Of the proposed Tourism Development Program Budget for 2014, a DBM source said some P25 billion will be allocated to improve market access, connectivity and destination infrastructure for the tourism destination clusters, such as the construction of and improvement of 679 kilometers of access roads (P14.5 billion), 40 airports (P9 billion) and ports (P543 million). About P4.5 billion will be allocated to boost the development and marketing of competitive destinations and products, while P523 million is for the development of the tourism work force and improvement of the safety and security of tourists.

Said tourism budget is equivalent to 0.22 percent of the local economic output as expressed in the gross domestic product, the source added. The Tourism Development Program was prepared using the “program budgeting approach,” a system where government agencies coordinate to implement projects and achieve certain targets under a specific program.

Abad told the BusinessMirror that the “program budgeting approach,” which was started during the 2013 National Budget process, is important because it “allows us to orient, as in the case of tourism development, infrastructure and non-infrastructure [e.g., Technical Education and Skills Development Authority training, State Universities and Colleges curriculum, promotions, Customs-immigration-quarantine services] programs toward a common objective.”

He added that this method is “especially useful since we have already identified 10 tourism zones. This way we maximize government resources and agencies don’t operate like separate, unrelated silos.”

Separately, in his memo, Abad said the first year of the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) had been successfully implemented in 2012 with foreign visitors reaching 4.3 million, up 10.25 percent from 3.9 million in 2011. Tourism receipts also rose some 27 percent to $3.8 billion in 2012, from $3 billion the year before.

He said in 2012, visitors stayed an average of 9.6 nights, up from 8.04 nights in 2011, while each tourist spent an average $894 per person, compared to $739 the year before.

Hence, the pursuit of the following strategies will need to be continued for the tourism industry to reach its employment and growth-inducing potentials: a) improving market access, connectivity and destination infrastructure; b) developing market-competitive products and destinations; and c) strengthening human resources and the culture of convergence and excellence,

he stressed.

The Aquino administration hopes to attract 6.8 million foreign tourists in 2014, up 24 percent from the 5.5 million targeted this year. By 2016, at the end of its term, it projects 10 million foreign tourists, and 56 million domestic travelers.

Under the NTDP, it also sees the tourism sector as among the key drivers of the economy, with its contribution to the gross domestic product rising to 8.1 percent in 2016, from 5.8 percent in 2010, and direct employment increasing to 6.5 million in 2016 from 3.6 million in 2010. The NTDP is the Aquino administration’s strategic blueprint to achieve its tourism targets.

Visitor arrivals in the first five months of 2013 increased 10.54 percent to 2.01 million from 1.82 million in the same period in 2012.- Business Mirror

Catanduanes Forest in German-Funded DENR Project

2013-08-09T17:46:00.003+08:00

The Catanduanes Watershed Forest Reserve (CWFR) is among the 60 protected areas around the country that are covered by a German-funded environmental project aimed at improving the management of the Philippines’ natural resources.

CENRO officer-in-charge Luvimindo Chioco recently told the Tribune that the Protected Area Management Enhancement (PAME) project is being implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), under a grant from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. The funding was coursed through the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).

The P450 million (€9 million) project is being carried out nationwide until March 2017 to ensure proper management of 60 existing protected areas by improving the technical competencies and capacities of staff of the DENR’s Protected Area and Wildlife Bureau.

The PAME project will also see the establishment of at least 100 new terrestrial and marine parks in selected key biodiversity areas or sites considered “internationally important” for biodiversity conservation by identified stakeholders. The GIZ will provide expertise on natural resource management for training courses and study tours and other forms of technical support, including equipment and supplies. The DENR, for its part, is shouldering other maintenance and operational costs and provide the necessary support staff.

Two teams from the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in cooperation with GIZ and the DENR’s Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) has already conducted the Management Effectiveness and Capacity Assessment (MECA) survey in 12 PAs covering Regions 4A and 5, including Catanduanes.

The team headed by Dr. Paulo Pasicolan convened the Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB) of each of the 12 PAs in the said regions to assess and analyze the PAs’ legal, institutional, financial, bases and processes through focus group discussions (FGD) and key informant interviews (KII).

In Bicol, the protected areas covered are the Abasig-Matogdon-Mananap Natural Biotic Area, the Bicol Natural Park, the Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, the Caramoan Natural Park, the Catanduanes Watershed Forest Reserve, the Lagonoy Natural Biotic Area and the Mt. Isarog Natural Park.

CENRO Chioco said the results of the assessment were presented to the Catanduanes PAMB during the validation period last month,

According to the assessment, the CWFR has yet to be covered by a proclamation despite the submission of all necessary documents to the DENR Central Office in January 2012. The 26,010-hectare area, however, was declared a watershed reservation in 1987, covering the towns of Bato, Baras, Caramoran, Gigmoto, San Miguel, San Andres, Virac, and Viga. Regulations rationalizing land use within the reserve are in place but implementation is weak due to lack of personnel.

The same problem is attends law enforcement and protection system, aggravated by the absence of barangay volunteers as Bantay Gubat. Information and Education Campaign in the covered communities is also limited.

The report noted that Virac Water District (VIWAD) and Sunwest Water & Electricity Co, (SUWECO) have gained footholds in the CWFR but have yet to pay the user’s fee for extracting a huge volume of water from the watershed. Both are reportedly willing to pay the fee.

It was also noted that no visitors’ facilities and eco-tourism operations are in place inside the reservation despite the influx of mountain hikers and nature enthusiasts.

The forest reserve, which covers 17.2% of the island’s land area, is home to 5,876 hectares of old-growth forest which in turn shelter some Philippine birds, mammals and reptiles which are rare, endangered and unique species. Among these are Gray’s monitor lizard, Southern Luzon cloud rat, civet cats, Philippine Macaques and many species of birds like the Luzon bleeding heart pigeon, Tarictic hornbillds, blue-crowned racket tails and important raptors. - CT

New Tourism Dev't Plan to Think 'Beyond Beaches'

2013-06-17T10:15:00.004+08:00

The Philippines must think “beyond beach vacations” when promoting its tourism industry, a Department of Tourism official said at the recent unveiling of the department's National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) at the Asian Institute of Management.

Tourism Undersecretary for Tourism Development Daniel G. Corpuz said that along with sun and beach tourism, the industry must promote other things the Philippines has to offer: nature tourism, cultural tourism, leisure and entertainment tourism, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions) and events tourism, health and wellness tourism, retirement tourism, cruise and nautical tourism, diving and marine sports tourism, and education tourism.

The department has set a target of 10 million international visitors to the Philippines and 56 million domestic travelers by 2016.

Corpuz said that increasing the tourist volume to the country can be achieved by developing and marketing competitive tourist products and destinations; improving market access, connectivity, and destination infrastructure; and improving institutional governance and human resources—which will need the cooperation and help of other government agencies.

Tourism is a major instrument to contribute to national development, and the National Tourism Development Plan must be synchronized with the Philippine Development Plan,

he said.

The department's international visitor target for this year is 5.5 million, considerably more than the 4.3 million international tourist arrivals recorded last year. The top sources of international travelers to the Philippines have been South Korea, the US, Japan, and China.

The volume of domestic travelers, which was 40.7 million in 2012, is expected to increase to 44.1 million in 2013.

Tourism Assistant Secretary Roland Cañizal stressed the point that greater integration among government agencies would boost tourism development in the Philippines, such as the Department of Public Works and Highways' (DPWH) providing access roads to tourist destinations; the Department of Transportation and Communications' (DOTC) upgrading major airports; and local governments' boosting their tourism destinations.

This is the kind of thinking that we want to cascade to all the local government units—that if they are serious about being a part of the National Tourism Development Plan, their seriousness is translated in terms of their commitment to develop their areas and to put the necessary resources to make sure that the plan is being implemented,

BM, GMA News

ABS-CBN’s Gina Lopez to Grace Opening of Linggo ng Kalikasan

2013-06-15T11:21:00.002+08:00

The celebration of the 2013 Linggo ng Kalikasan celebration spearheaded by the provincial government of Catanduanes will take center stage this June 17-21, with ABS-CBN Foundation managing director Gina Lopez as the guest of honor and keynote speaker.

Anchored on the theme, “Basura: Pangasiwaan para sa Kalikasan at Kabuhayan”, it will focus on the collective efforts to address solid waste management problems with emphasis on its environmental and economic dimensions.

The week-long activities will kick-off at 5:30 A.M. of June 17 with the “Takbo para sa Kalikasan” Fun Run from Catanduanes State University to the provincial capitol. Prior to the opening program at the capitol grounds, the Catanduanes Mangrove Conservation Center will be launched at the former Catanduanes Crab Center at Palnab del Sur.

At 1:30 pm, Ms. Lopez will be at a press conference at the conference hall of Catanduanes State University, after which she will proceed to the CSU gymnasium as sole resource speaker of the “No To Mining” Forum.

Tweets about "#notomining"

More than the other activities, it was the forum that really attracted and convinced Lopez to visit Catanduanes, said provincial tourism officer Carmel Garcia, who chairs the opening ceremonies and invitation of guests.

A staunch anti-mining advocate, Lopez launched the “Save Palawan Movement” along with partner organizations and stood up to the challenge of gathering 10 million signatures to say in one loud voice that key biodiversity areas must be protected from the ravages of mining.

Other activities slated are “Pauragan” and Arbor Day on June 18; collage making on June 19, “Tagisan sa Paglikha” on June 20, and “Gabi ng Parangal” on June 21. Pauragan is being coordinated by Catanduanes State University, Arbor Day by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office, collage making thru the office of SP environment committee chair PBM Lemuel Surtida, and Gabi ng Parangal by the Special Environmental Projects Coordinating Office (SEPCO) and Provincial Tourism Office.

Now on its 3rd year, the event began in 2011 by virtue of Provincial Ordinance 003-2010 institutionalizing the annual celebration of Linggo ng Kalikasan every 3rd week of June.

Catanduanes Tribune

Environment Projects to Receive P720-M from Germany

2013-06-06T07:05:00.008+08:00

MANILA - Two environmental projects in the Philippines will receive a total of P720 million in grants from the German government.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje and German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) Regional Director Philippines and the Pacific Robert Kressirer signed the agreements for the National REDD+ System Philippines and the Protected Area Management Enhancement in the Philippines (PAME) on Wednesday.

These projects support our commitments under various international environmental and multilateral agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Coral Triangle Initiative,

Paje said.

The projects, which will be funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety through the GIZ, will be operational until 2017.

The National REDD+ System Philippines seeks to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from natural and human causes. REDD+ stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation.

The project will benefit people in the upland communities dependent on forest products and other natural resources for livelihood. The total grant for the project is P270 million (€5.3 million) and will be implemented until April 2017 in the Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions.

PAME, on the other hand, will get P450 million (€9 million) and will be carried out nationwide until March 2017 to ensure proper management of 60 existing protected areas by improving the technical competencies and capacities of staff of the DENR’s Protected Area and Wildlife Bureau.

The PAME project seeks to establish at least 100 new terrestrial and marine parks in selected key biodiversity areas or sites considered “internationally important” for biodiversity conservation by identified stakeholders.

Paje said this is

essential to improving protection of our biodiversity, generate income for affected communities, and ensure food security for all Filipinos.

ABS-CBN

Albay to Host 10 Events in 2015 APEC Summit

2013-06-03T10:46:00.002+08:00

Legazpi City, Philippines – Albay Gov. Joey Salceda announced yesterday that the province will host at least 10 of the 63 events in the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in the Philippines.

Salceda said officials of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the lead agency in charge of APEC summit preparations, have allowed Albay to host at least 10 events because they are convinced that the province is ready, with in-place disaster risk reduction systems. It is also home of the iconic Mayon volcano.

We are thankful to DTI for its confidence that Albay is qualified to host some of the APEC summit events,

Salceda said.

APEC activities will start in December 2014 and end in November 2015. The events that will be hosted by Albay are scheduled from March to September 2015.

Salceda said the APEC events are expected to focus on trade, industry and investment issues, and concerns of the Pacific-rim countries.

With this, we are expecting trade ministers and/or their representatives and support staff to be coming over to Albay,

Salceda told The STAR.

He also said that at least 600 rooms are already reserved for the billeting and accommodation of APEC participants.

The Albay governor did not provide details on where in the province the 10 APEC events will be held. But in his bid presentation before the APEC Organizing Council at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City last week, he promoted the world-class Misibis Bay Hotel Resort spa as venue for the events.

The Philippines first hosted the APEC summit in 1996.

APEC aims to enhance the economic prosperity and strengthen the countries in the Asia-Pacific region. It operates on open dialogue, non-binding consensual commitments, and mutual and equal respect for the views of all participants. It was established in 1989 and is composed of 20 countries including Japan, Australia, China, Russia and the United States.

ABS-CBN

TV5 Drama Set in Misibis

2013-05-31T06:22:00.002+08:00

Misibis Bay — In the coming days, TV5 is not just about to present the results of its hard work but it is also set to display the magnificence of the luxurious Misibis Bay when the story of its latest primetime drama offering titled Misibis Bay begins to unfold in the small screen. Perched in the south-easternmost tip of Cagraray Island, Misibis Bay is a tropical hideaway in Bacacay, Albay.

According to business unit creative head Mac Alejandre, several top tourist destinations were considered to be the backdrop of the sexy drama series that topbills Ritz Azul, one of the network’s teleserye princesses. “We searched for the most fitting location. We even looked at the possibility of going abroad like in Thailand for the show,” he shares. “Until the day came when the production team found Misibis (Bay) as the perfect setting for the sexy revenge drama. After several meetings with the management of the resort, a partnership was forged.”

In the press conference, GM Ian Mayer Varona says, “We were approached regarding the possibility of (TV5) shooting here at the resort…It’s not just a resort; it’s the product of the vision of the owner to develop Bicol as a destination because in recent years, Bicol was always known for being a gateway of typhoons, eruptions or calamities. That scene has changed. Bicol is now on the tourism map and this opportunity to partner with TV5 came and I think it’s very timely because we are really pushing Bicol to be one of the top destinations in the Philippines.

This series is very instrumental in pushing forward the tourism agenda of the region. Our marketing pitch is not just the resort itself but it’s really the beauty of Bicol so I hope this will be a most successful partnership and we are behind TV5 all the way.

Direk Mac made it clear that everything started with a concept. They thought of coming up with a sexy drama that is fast-paced yet interesting and exciting for the viewers. And they see it best to do most of the scenes in a place that will complement the core of the story.

We feel that there’s a ‘movement’ in all corners of the television industry…we know that pretty soon something will happen and whoever has the right timing and the one who is always ready to seize the moment at the most opportune time, s’ya ang mananaig. Misibis is one of TV5’s preparations. It is fast-paced; it will run for only six weeks but without compromising the quality. Ito rin ang maglulunsad sa paniniwala ng TV5 that Ritz will become a television superstar. The network trusts her and the production team deemed this is the most fitting (acting) vehicle that will catapult her to stardom.

Philstar

Albay Pitches Misibis for APEC

2013-05-25T07:19:00.002+08:00

Legazpi City, Philippines – The provincial government of Albay wants to host the 2015 summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum at the world-class luxury island hideaway of Misibis Bay.

Albay is officially bidding to host the APEC Summit 2015 principally at Misibis Bay. We will make a pitch during the presentations at Asian Institute of Management on May 27-28,

Salceda announced yesterday.

Salceda said Albay is the perfect host for APEC because the province has 592,616 persons or 45 percent of total population living on the Pacific rim.

This is the highest concentration of population on the Pacific and the biggest aggregate number of people,

he said.

Salceda pointed out Albay has the two major cities of Tabaco and Legazpi that also has two international seaports fronting the Pacific Ocean.

Albay truly is the only Pacific province of the Philippines,

he said.

Salceda is proposing the APEC summit to be held in Misibis Bay, a private tropical hideaway built on a pristine stretch of beach along the southern tip of Cagraray Island in Bacacay town in Albay.

The five-hectare island resort can be reached via a 50-minute flight from Manila to Legazpi, then a 45-minute scenic travel by land, or a 15-minute ride on a helicopter, or by fast watercraft in 30 minutes.

He said Albay is putting its best foot forward since it was considered the third largest metropolitan unit of the Philippines, after Manila and Cebu due to its unique Pacific stature, the trading center of abaca and copra.

Now, we want to position Albay back on the world map given its tourism, trade and investment attractions and as a showcase of the positive developments of the Aquino administration.

We have ample water, power, well-built infrastructure, world-class facilities and meeting capacity, iconic endowments and the world’s best model in emergency response and disaster risk reduction,

he said,

Salceda said the holding of the APEC in Albay would also be an opportunity for the Philippines to showcase its achievements in climate change adaptation, particularly with the province’s Climate Change Academy and the Albay Provincial Security and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) as United Nation International Strategic Disaster Response (UNISDR) senior global champion in disaster risk reduction.

Albay also offers not only touristic but experiential and sectoral values, including 600 megawatts of geothermal power for green energy and successful mass relocation,

he said.

Salceda said Albay is also a gateway to Almasorca – acronym for Albay-Masbate-Sorsogon-Catanduanes – tourism development program that was essentially patterned after the Yucatan tourism alliance.

This not only diversifies but also expands the range of touristic experience for APEC participants,

Salceda said.

APEC was established in 1989 to further enhance economic growth and prosperity for the region and to strengthen the Asia-Pacific community.

APEC’s member economies are Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States of America, Vietnam and the Philippines.

It is the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region.

Unlike the World Trade Organizations or other multilateral trade bodies, APEC has no treaty obligations required of its participants.

Decisions made within APEC are reached by consensus and commitments are undertaken on a voluntary basis.

APEC is an intergovernmental grouping that operates on the basis of non-binding commitments, open dialogue and equal respect for the views of all participants.

Philstar

RDC to Highlight "Bicol Express" Modernization in Railway Summit

2013-05-16T18:12:00.002+08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, May 16 (PIA) -- It will take only a travel time of six hours from Legaspi City to Manila with a railway service extending up to Matnog in Sorsogon where a roll-on, roll-off (RORO) sea port is located.

According to RDC secretariat, the Philippine Development Plan and the Bicol Regional Development Plan identified the revival, rehabilitation and modernization of the railway system as a priority infrastructure development program.

The train stations will also be developed as mix use commercial zones to spur economic growth in its environs. Amenities in trains and stations will also be provided such as internet connections, security cameras, clean toilets, medical services, amusement centers, online booking, inter-modal tickets, and modern passenger coaches that are senior citizen, women and person with disability (PWD) friendly, RDC secretariat said.

There is also a recommendation for the revival of spur lines to Legaspi and Tabaco ports, construction of spur lines to Daet, Caramoan and other major towns in Bicol for passenger and multi-purpose freight services.

National and Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Bicol assistant regional director Luis Banua said that Luzon regions including Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) signified interest on the railway development initiative of RDC for the interconnection of the north and south railways and the Metro Manila railway system.

The RDC proposed a railway development summit on December 7 last year through a resolution to promote the revival, expansion and modernization of the railway system in Bicol. The summit hopes to gain strong support from President Benigno Aquino III who will be invited as its keynote speaker, RDC secretariat said.

Provincial consultations were held in Camarines Sur on January 30, Sorsogon on February 27, and Camarines Norte on March 20.

A regional consultation was also held in Legaspi City On April 25 participated in by RDC members, local government units (LGU) representatives, academe, media, chambers of commerce and industry and non-government organizations. Technical consultations were also held from December to April to discuss railways technologies in terms of speed, services, capability, investment and maintenance costs, RDC secretariat said.

The business community emphasized that cargo and passenger train services will propel trade and industry in Bicol. Proposals were also discussed to deal with issues and concerns on squatting along railroad tracks, , illegal railroad crossings, Philippine National Railways (PNR)’s role, privatization and establishment of world class railways system that is fully integrated with other modes of transportation, RDC secretariat said.

These recommendations will be submitted to the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) for discussion and adoption during the summit,

Development Administration Committee (DAC) Chairman Rev. Fr. Ramoncito Segubiense said.

Known as “Bicol Express” in the past decades due to its role as Bicol’s most popular mode of transportation, the railway industry had an observable slowdown and off-track direction in recent years that was overtaken by other reliable and efficient modes of transportation in the region.

The summit is expected to fuel anew the engines of the “Bicol Express” back to its tracks to regain its past glory as the region’s favorite mode of transportation. (MAL/JJJP/PIA5-Albay)

1st Catanduanes Kite Fest Set

2013-05-07T08:25:00.002+08:00

VIRAC, Catanduanes, May 6 (PIA) --

The first ever kite festival dubbed “Buradol Festival” in the province is set on May 18 at the Catanduanes Athletic Complex in Virac town.

Buradol is a local term for kite. According to Cross Country Farms and Parks, Inc., one of the organizers of the event, the activity aims to make the province a tourist destination aside from being a gateway for Bicol’s tourism.

Moreover, Atty. Evelyn L. Gutierrez, liaison for events of the said group said that the event aims to bring together local kite flying enthusiasts and celebrate the province’s beauty while competing with one another.

Entries will be judged according to its creativity (15%), craftsmanship (15%), flying and handling (30%), in-flight aesthetic visual appeal (25%), audience impact (10%) and teamwork (5%).

Kites must be handcrafted and not pre-fabricated. Teams must be composed of two members only and participants must be at least 18 years old.

The design must contain unique features and use indigenous and locally-available materials, with the kite able to maintain its shape after flight at various wind speeds.

The kite must likewise launch easily and achieve a good angle of flight at high altitude. It should also show stability in flight even in strong wind and be able to perform stunts.

It must look attractive while flying and contain original artwork, creating an image or shape it seeks to portray.

Enthusiasts who are not joining the contest are also welcome to bring and fly their own kites.

Interested participants may pre-register until May 17, 2013 or call 09175043089 or like their page at www.facebook.com/BuradolFestival.

MAL/EAB-PIA5/Catanduanes)

US District Attorney Honors Catandunganon OFW for Heroism

2013-04-29T14:42:00.001+08:00

VIRAC, Catanduanes, April 29 (PIA) -- “I felt happy because, as a Catandunganon, I was able to show to America that even if we come from a small province, we do have big hearts to help others; that it is an instinct on our part to help because God is always with us.”

Still brimming with gratitude from her kababayan’s online praises for the recognition she got from the Unites States of America Los Angeles District Court Attorney, Nida Arjona Tapel, 52, of San Miguel, Catanduanes, Philippines, counts her resolute faith for foiling a criminal in defense of her 95-year-old client who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. She has been working in the United States for five years now as a teacher and a part time home-care provider.

An alumna of the Catanduanes State Colleges, now Catanduanes State University (from undergraduate to post graduate studies) Tapel was honored by the Los Angeles District Attorney, USA, with the Courageous Citizens Award on April 12, 2013. She, along with three other equally valiant citizens of Los Angeles, USA, respectively received the honor from District Attorney Jackie Lacey.

The District Attorney's Courageous Citizen Award was created to commend those individuals who have acted with courage and at considerable personal risk to help a victim of crime, assisted in the capture of a suspect, or testified in the face of extraordinary pressures.

In the online portal information of the LA District Court, Tapel received the citation for her presence of mind, bravery and heroic act in thwarting a kidnapping incident in Los Angeles.

In its press statement, the Los Angeles District County Attorney hailed the awardees

who have taken extraordinary steps to assist others when they were most vulnerable. They stopped a crime. They made sure that a criminal was prosecuted. They helped a crime victim during a terrifying moment of need. They are vital to the pursuit of justice and our community is a safer place because of them.

Jean Guccione, Director of Communications of the Los Angeles District County reported that Tapel endured a painful pepper spray attack in an effort to prevent the kidnapping of her frail, elderly client in Los Angeles on Dec.19, 2011.

With her eyes and face burning after being pepper sprayed by her client’s daughter, Tapel ran outside, yelled for help and got a passerby to call 911. Tapel then jumped into the suspect’s SUV to protect her client.

The same account revealed that Tapel remained in the vehicle as the suspect took off and led police on a wild chase for several miles before being captured.

The defendant pleaded no contest to charges of attempted kidnap, battery and evading an officer and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 2, the report said.

When asked by this writer what insights she can share with fellow OFW’s, Tapel singled out prayer as her only protection.

As an OFW, my only weapon is prayer. God made me strong all the time, because it is really very hard to be in a foreign land. [There are] plenty of challenges along the way, so embrace God tightly.

She acknowledges the nurturing she got from her aunt, Dr. Cleofe Buen Reyes, for her resilient spirit.

I was raised by my aunt to call God all the time; nothing is impossible with Him. I did not do it alone; I am just an instrument of Him.

Tapel dedicates her award to her fellow Catandunganons and to the Filipinos as a whole.

Let us show to the world that our purpose in life is to help others, not to hurt them. We only live once in this earth; let us make it significant. Let us not be afraid of death for God will be always there for us.

She counts her school, the Catanduanes State Colleges (now CSU) for imbibing in her the value of humility. “The school taught me to be humble; that the higher you get, the more humble you must be.

Saan mang sulok ng mundo tayo mapadpad, alalahanin natin na dapat ang ating mga paa ay sa lupa pa din nakatapak.

And if you are to do something, you must ensure it will bring you up, not put you down, Tapel concluded.
(MAL/Gerry S. Rubio, CSU/PIA5)

Dear young people, do not bury your talents, the gifts that God has given you!Do not be afraid to dream of great things!
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) April 26, 2013

Time for the Local Business Community to Work as One

2013-04-13T09:22:00.001+08:00

Three ranking members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and their staff were in Virac last week to meet a select group of local business personalities. Their objective: to establish a local chamber of commerce and industry, something that has been missing in the growing economy of Catanduanes.

At this time when the local economy, in the very words of Governor Joseph Cua, is taking off, there is a need for local businessmen to work as one with the government in fostering a healthier business environment and helping improve the viability of various businesses.

For years now, those who have established their own businesses have been content with counting their money, with nary a concern towards the issues of global competitiveness, high local taxes, and local laws that promote unfair competition. There was one group – the Virac Chamber of Commerce – that was organized by the Department of Trade and Industry provincial office but it has reportedly gone into hibernation. Its chairman still sits as the group’s observer in public biddings despite the fact that its membership has not met since election and it has not been recognized by nor registered with PCCI.

In their meeting with the local businessmen headed by Cua Group of Companies CEO Peter Cua, PCCI South Luzon vice president Eduardo Nicolas III and Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Clarine Tobias emphasized that out of the six provinces in the Bicol region, only Catanduanes has no representation in the PCCI.

The importance of a local chamber of commerce cannot be taken for granted. It is supposed to serve as a voice in the business community and as an independent forum for the development of a consensus on matters of national and local concern. Thus, it will perform an active role in helping shape the course of local and national events, share its expertise, and make known its position on matters affecting business and the economy. Such issues could include the predicted influx of big companies from outside the island as the province’s population and consumer base expands in the next few years along with its burgeoning opportunities especially in eco-tourism.

Certainly, it is high time for those running businesses in Catanduanes to realize that they cannot just rake in the money, the consuming public be damned. They, too, have a responsibility to help their fellow businessmen, especially those struggling to make profit, through wise advice based on their experience and in ensuring that there is a level playing field. This will not only help their respective companies and businesses prosper but also give back the public some payback through a vibrant economy and a business environment that favors all.

Catanduanes Tribune

Skyjet Sets Maiden Flight to Catanduanes on April 16

2013-03-31T13:28:00.002+08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, March 25 (PNA) -– Skyjet Airlines, a new player in the country’s aviation industry, will dispatch its maiden flight to Virac, Catanduanes, on April 16 to mark the beginning of its three-flight-a-week schedule in connecting the island province with Manila.

Owned by Magnum Air, Inc., Skyjet will mount its 94-seater, four-engine British Aerospace 146-200 jet in servicing the route every Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday schedule, Joel Mendoza, the airline’s chief executive officer, said in a statement here on Monday.

The aircraft is specifically made for short landings and takeoffs and designed to operate even in unpaved runways.

This jet, Mendoza said, is quieter and can load up to 3,000 kilograms of cargo.

The fledgling airline, which now flies to Batanes and Busuanga, also allows seven kilos per hand-carried luggage and another 10 kilos free for accompanied cargo.

Servicing Catanduanes is part of the company’s trust to operate underserved and unserved destinations in the country with great tourism potentials, Mendoza said.

The island, separated from the mainland of Bicol by Maqueda Bay and sitting at the Pacific Ocean, is considered one of the promising eco-tourism areas in Bicol owing to its rich ecology and majestic coastal waters that offer exciting surfing and diving sites.

Cebu Pacific is so far the only airline operating the Manila-Virac route three times a week after Zest Airways pulled out, causing shortage in air travel services for tourists and other passengers.

With its flights to Virac, Skyjet is offering a special fare for Catanduanes residents to enable them to enjoy what Mendoza describes as “international flight service on a domestic carrier.”

He said tickets are now being sold on-line for its Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday schedule as a promotion until April 30, a cost that is significantly lower than the regular rate.

Catandunganons would have to book at ticket agents and present their proof of residency to enjoy the special, all-in fare of P3,000 complete with snacks, compared to the P6,000 price of one-way tickets sold by Cebu Pacific.

Skyjet will also reserve at least 10 seats on each flight for senior citizens, who, according to Mendoza, constitute majority of the present air commuters to and from Virac.

The airline executive also said the company will be bringing along travel writers and travel operators from Manila on its inaugural flight to Virac as “we want to promote the island as tourism site.”

Skyjet is also arranging with SM mall theaters in Manila for the showing of video materials of Catanduanes tourist destinations while promotional materials would likewise be placed in its flights to Batanes and Busuanga prior to the Virac flights.

The airline is also offering a special rate to local resort operators, who will be allowed to book complete tour packages to their potential clients.

Tourists will be provided with hassle-free travel complete with tickets, room and board, and airport transfers,

Mendoza said.

He noted a big demand for a full service carrier with affordable fares without sacrificing seating comfort, space, and enhanced meal, beverage, in-flight entertainment and full staff service.

Our fares are competitive and offer no hidden charges, no additional charges for seats, free snacks for short haul trip, affordable rates and more cargo space. We focus on safety and our aircraft can operate in the most challenging runways and weather conditions in the Philippines as certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines,

Mendoza said.

The airline has an initial fleet of two 94-seater, four-engine BAE 146-200 jets and another aircraft is expected to arrive soon to charter passengers from Batanes to Kaoshiung, Taiwan and vice versa, he added. (PNA) LAM/FGS/DOC/CBD/

NPC to Energize Catanduanes’ Tourism Island of Palumbanes

2013-03-26T11:41:00.002+08:00

CARAMORAN, Catanduanes, March 25 (PNA) -- Wooden poles interconnected by electricity lines now stand around the small community occupying Palumbanes Island, the fishing paradise that is emerging as a favorite tourist destination for its diving site gifted with rich marine life.

Through this installation put in place by the First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative (Ficelco), the island and the 249 households comprising Barangay Toytoy that covers the area will be provided with electricity to be produced by a 200-kilowatt diesel-fired generator set which the National Power Corporation (NPC) will deliver soon.

Mayor Agnes Popa said here Saturday that a contractor of the NPC is set to begin this week the installation of the generator set and a 30-kVA power transformer that is expected to be completed in six months.

This means that by August, Palumbanes will already be enjoying reliable power supply which would light up the island and the houses at least for six hours between six in the evening until midnight daily.

This will put an end to its people’s long quest for power which they never enjoyed since electricity was first introduced in the province decades back,

Popa said.

The energization of Palumbanes, according to the NPC, is under the agency’s Off-Grid Electrification Project costing over P6.5 million implemented under its missionary electrification program.

The power supply in these off-grid areas is supplied by Napocor's Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) whose rates are subsidized by consumers.

The electricity, according to the mayor, will be sold to residents of Palumbanes at a rate that is about 80 centavos cheaper than what is charged on the bulk of the power cooperative’s 45,000 customers on the main island.

This will be a big boost to our tourism industry,

she said, describing Palumbanes Island, an about 50-hectare landmass here, as surrounded by a body of water that is considered a fishing paradise and diving site.

White sand beaches that attract excursionists and tourists ring the island that could be reached through a 30-minute boat ride from the mini port of this third class municipality located in the northern part of Catanduanes, about 87 kilometers from Virac, the provincial capital.

The white beaches and clean sea water of Palumbanes and the Awinis and Carinhongo Falls located in Barangays Tubli and Tucao, respectively, are tourist attractions in the municipality whose land area of over 252 square kilometers is the largest in the province.

LAM/FGS/DOC/CBD/ABB

New Bicol Tourism Development Cluster Now Includes Catanduanes

2013-03-15T17:19:00.001+08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, March 15 (PNA) -- The South Bicol Tourism Development Area (TDA) headed by Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda has included the island province of Catanduanes in the Albay-Masbate-Sorsogon (ALMASOR) cluster.

“I believe we have made a strong case for the inclusion of Catanduanes in the South Bicol TDA, more popularly known locally and globally as ALMASOR, the rising star of Philippine tourism,” Salceda, concurrently the Bicol Regional Development Council (RDC) chair, said Thursday.

Historically, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate and Catanduanes belong to one administrative unit or province and this is one of the basis for the inclusion of the latter to the cluster, Salceda explained.

Another basis, he said, is that it is socio-culturally given that Catanduanes has shared deeper and more long-standing linkages with Albay, including intermarriages or interrelationships.

As of now, the principal trade and passenger flows of Catanduanes is with Albay, with its port in Tabaco City.

These relationships further spice up the synergies and boost the structural attractions of the South Bicol TDA as Catanduanes has for itself the majestic Puraran surfing ground, exotic beachfronts and old churches like Bato and Batalay, Salceda said.

“I understand that the Department of Tourism (DOT) agrees with our position in principle and the tourism merger will be operationalized through an RDC resolution and a revision of the DOT work program,” he added.

From ALMASOR, the new brand name of the South Bicol TDA will be consulted with the leaders of the four provinces under this new alliance and with the inputs of ad agencies.

Catanduanes was earlier included in the first alliance with the provinces of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte called the Catanduanes-Camarines Sur-Camarines Norte Tourism Link (CCTL) being complemented by the ALMASOR.

These two alliances form the tourism road map for the entire region, conceptualized to achieve development not only in mainland but also in its two island provinces—Catanduanes and Masbate.

This calls for a more integrated and comprehensive promotion strategy to market the potentials of the regional tourism industry, eyeing some 650,000 foreign tourist arrivals in the area annually within five years. (PNA) FPV/FGS/CBD/EBP

WHO Pledges Help vs Endemic Cholera Problem in Catanduanes

2013-02-16T10:53:00.004+08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 15 (PNA) -– The World Health Organization (WHO) has vowed to help address the cholera problem in Catanduanes which the Department of Health (DOH) considers as already endemic in that island province of Bicol.

Endemic means there is usually a number of cases in any given month that are attributed to the absence of established source of safe water distribution system, the DOH explained.

Local residents, particularly those in rural villages, usually source their drinking water from deep wells that are prone to contamination from fecal material that, according to the DOH, develops Vibrio cholera, the bacteria that causes cholera.

The latest outbreak of the killer disease in the province was in the first half of last year which killed at least 14 people and hospitalized nearly 3,000 others.

The same occurrence also killed eight and hospitalized over 1,000 other people in 2011.

WHO will help the province in addressing the problem based on the specific needs of local government units (LGUs) but first, a refresher course for clinical physicians will be conducted for early diagnosis, recognition and treatment of diarrhea and cholera cases, particularly with provision of technical expertise from other countries where cholera is also endemic.

This was according to Dr. Nerisse Dominguez, the WHO representative who joined a DOH team headed by Health Undersecretary Enrique Tayag that conducted a four-day post-cholera assessment mission in Catanduanes last week.

During their presence, Tayag announced that “there is no more cholera outbreak in the province, but the possibility remains that it would occur again, especially in six of its 11 towns where sources of drinking water were found to be unsanitary and toilets are inadequate.”

In a statement reaching here over the week, Dominguez said WHO would consider implementing in Catanduanes its water safety plan (WSP), a concept introduced in the Philippines in 2006 and included in the 2007 Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water.

View Government and Public Hospitals in the Philippines in a larger map

A total of 190 water districts, out of total 831 in the country, have been trained on this approach and completed nine water safety plans, serving at least 15 million people, as well as drafted 15 WSPs.

And yet there is more than 6,000 water systems in the country, including those in Catanduanes, that need to know about this concept and make WSPs to ensure safe drinking water supply in their areas.

Selected areas in the country that experienced waterborne disease outbreaks form part of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)- assisted Phase 3 Project, from 2012 to 2016.

The project will develop WSP models for new types of water systems, according to Dominguez.

She said waterborne diseases still confront the country, despite high coverage of water supply at 92 percent as identified causes of outbreaks are open defecation; unprotected water sources; uncontrolled disposal of animal wastes; non-chlorination of community-based systems; and inadequate water monitoring.

The use of WSPs will contribute in reducing the environmental risks of waterborne diseases, in order to minimize these disease outbreaks.

The risks will be clearly identified and addressed in developing and implementing the plans, she explained.

The WSP, according to Dominguez, is the most effective means of maintaining a safe supply of drinking water for the citizenry.

The plan analyzes the risks of contamination, from the water source to the consumer.

At any given point of risk, appropriate control measures are then put in place.

WHO's work with the Government of the Philippines from 2011 to 2016 is defined by the Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) jointly developed by WHO and the DOH.

It contains the vision and priorities for WHO to support the Philippine Government in achieving universal health care goals of better health outcomes, sustained health financing and a responsive health system, Dominguez added.

During last week’s DOH team visit, Tayag told Catanduanes local government and health officials that cholera is now endemic in the province and would take some time to totally eliminate it through proper implementation of water sanitation and hygiene programs and projects, according to a report of the Catanduanes Tribune, a local newspaper.

The disease can only be addressed through the implementation of water chlorination and provision of safe and adequate water supply, better personal hygiene, early provision of Oresol to combat dehydration in stricken patients and the immediate hospitalization of those affected--especially children, pregnant women and the elderly, Tayag said, according to the local newspaper.

“LGUs easily forget what they have started,” Tayag was quoted as saying in the Tribune report as he said DOH wants to see what has been done by local governments so that the health department can see where it will step in. “We believe that good coordination between the provincial government and the DOH would serve as a model of cooperation against cholera.”

During a dialogue with the DOH team, Catanduanes local officials led by Gov. Joseph Cua said the province does not have enough fund and suggested to the mayors that their LGUs allocate a portion of their 20 percent Economic Development Fund for water system projects in villages in their respective towns that were hit by the cholera outbreak.

Mayor Jose Alberto III of Virac, the capital town, said his LGU has already allotted P500,000 for the construction of condominial toilets in 2012, plus another P1.5 million for the same project as well as water systems for the current year. (PNA) LAP/FGS/DOC/CBD/UTB

Delay in Bicol Airport Project Hit

2013-02-14T08:08:00.003+08:00

Four months after a bidding was held for the Bicol International Airport construction in Daraga, Albay, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has yet to award the contract for the project.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the airport project was three years behind and the province could not afford to wait any longer for the DOTC’s green light.

“Our airports, roads and ports are bursting at the seams because our tourist arrivals have grown by 24 percent the last four years,” said Salceda in a text message.

The DOTC bids and awards committee opened the bids submitted by two parties on Oct. 22 last year. The lower bid was for P718 million, or 20 percent under the DOTC’s floor price.

Bicolano Sen. Gregorio Honasan, in a phone interview, said delays in the airport and other infrastructure projects was one of the reasons “most people had not felt the 6.6-percent growth touted by the government.”

“This is just headline news. The government should not stop at crowing about rosy figures but make sure the positive economic figures trickle down to the majority of the people. It’s time we investigated the real cause of the delays in projects that had been given allocations by Congress years ago,” said Honasan.

Seven other Bicolano lawmakers led by Albay Rep. Al Francis Bichara, chairman of the House committee on foreign affairs, and Camarines Sur Rep. Salvio B. Fortuno, chairman of the committee on Bicol recovery and economic development, wrote Transportation Secretary Joseph E.A. Abaya expressing their concern over the holdup in awarding the contract for airside facilities (which are apart from the terminal facilities that would be bid out separately) and its impact on the P900-million project fund that was allocated two years ago.

“We ask the honorable secretary to intervene and ensure the immediate implementation of the project and to take advantage of the coming summer season which will make it conducive for construction work in the area,” said Bichara and Fortuno in their letter.

In a text message, Abaya said: “We are still in the procurement process. One bidder brought us to court. No one is scuttling the bid. Neither is there a favored contractor at the DOTC.”

Inquirer

CamSur Takes Lead in Wind Energy Development in Bicol

2013-01-30T20:38:00.002+08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 30 (PNA) -- There are various points across Bicol identified as perfect wind power resources, and the province of Camarines Sur is taking the lead to harness this natural power source.

Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte over the week announced that works on the P5-billion wind energy farm had started with the construction of meteorological facilities at the project site in Libmanan town.

When completed and put into operation, the energy generation facility could produce at least 60 megawatts of electricity which would be more than enough to meet the province’s requirements reaching only more than 20 megawatts, the governor said.

The Department of Energy (DOE) last year awarded the franchise for the Bernacci Mountain Wind Power Project in Libmanan to Cornerstone Energy Development, Inc.

This development is hoped to earn a reputation for the province as the greenest in the country in terms of energy use and generation, Villafuerte said.

Earlier, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of the U.S. Department of Energy identified through its wind mapping for Southeastern Luzon several points in Bicol that are ideal sites for utility-scale power applications.

Source: Department of Energy

These sites are coastal areas that include several kilometers inland, as well as the plains south of San Miguel Bay in Camarines Sur, the plains west and south of this city and the coastal and interior plains from Prieto Diaz to Barcelona down westward to Casiguran towns in Sorsogon province.

A franchise for the development of the Prieto Diaz Wind Power Project was also awarded by the DOE last year to Coastal Power Development Corporation.

The NREL mapping also identified as the best wind resources in the coastal areas of Bicol are found at Gumaus Point in Camarines Norte and Quinabungan Point and the far eastern end of Camarines Sur at Rungus Point.

Good-to-excellent wind resources, a report on the mapping results of the NREL reaching here over the week said, also exist in the high interior areas of Mt. Labo in Camarines Norte; the mountains west of San Miguel Bay; Mt. Isarog and the east–west-oriented mountain chain from Buludan to Bitaogan in Camarines Sur, and the mountains in Albay and Sorsogon.

The wind resource on San Miguel Island, Cagraray Island, Batan Island, and Rapu Rapu Island in Albay are also rated moderate to good for rural power applications and marginal to moderate for utility-scale power applications.

The best resources are found on the higher terrains of Batan Island and Rapu Rapu Island, the report said.

In Catanduanes, the NREL report said, a moderate-to-good wind resource for rural power applications and marginal-to-moderate for utility-scale power applications exists along the north, east, and south coastal sections of the province.

The best coastal resources appear to be at Binorong Point and Nagumbuaya Point in the southeast part of the island, and at Virac Point in the south.

A good-to-excellent wind resource exists on the higher terrain in the north-central part of the island, on the eastern side of the island west of Gigmoto town, at the southern end in the higher terrain north of Virac, and in the terrain east of Codon in the southwest part of the island, the report said.

In Masbate, which includes three separate islands—Burias, Ticao, and Masbate, the distribution of wind resource is very similar to other areas of the Philippines, according to the NREL.

For Burias Island, the north-, east- and south-facing coastal sections have, in general, a moderate-to-good wind resource for rural power applications and a marginal-to-moderate resource for utility-scale power applications.

The coastal and interior plains at the north end of the island and in the center have a similar resource.

A good-to-excellent resource for rural power applications is indicated at the far north end of the island and in the northwest.

Ticao Island, the NREL said, has a similar distribution of resources with a moderate-to-good wind resource for rural power applications and a marginal-to-moderate resource for utility-scale power applications along east-facing coastal sections.

However, the best wind resource is on the highest terrain in the northwest part of the island, but this only ranks as good for utility-scale applications.

Masbate mainland also has large areas classified as moderate to good for rural power applications and marginal to moderate for utility-scale power applications.

This includes all coastal sections and the plains in the southwestern and northwestern parts of the island.

A moderate-to-good resource exists at Cadurnan Point at the southern tip of the island, the high terrain northwest of Cataingan, and the high terrain directly south of the town of Masbate.

The best resource on the island is the high terrain directly west of Masbate and north of the municipality of Milagros, it added.

According to the regional office of the National Economic Development Authority here a 5-MW wind potential in Baleno, Masbate is considered under the Wind Investment Promotion Round with three other potential sites also presently being eyed in Donsol and Matnog, Sorsogon and Jovellar in Albay.

(PNA) PDS/FGS/DOC/CBD/ABB

Gov't Pours in P6.6-B Worth of Infra Projects to Spur Bicol Economic Growth

2013-01-25T07:41:00.002+08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 23 (PNA) -- The Bicol region received about P6.6 billion funding this year for vital infrastructure projects that are expected to bolster the region’s economic growth, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said.

Danilo Dequito, DPWH regional director, said this year’s infrastructure funding is higher by 20 percent or P1.1 billion over last year’s P5.5 billion expenditures.

Dequito said the fresh funding came from the General Appropriation Act and some P5.3 billion will finance various projects by the different district engineering offices (DEOs) in the provinces of Bicol.

Camarines Sur gets P1.6 billion, followed by Albay with P1.0 billion; Camarines Norte, P922.5 million; Catanduanes, P681.6 million; Masbate, P524.2 million, and Sorsogon, P520.7 million.

Dequito said P1.3 billion worth of projects would be carried out by the regional office.

Asked why some projects are being implemented by the regional office but are supposed to be done by the agency’s district offices, Dequito explained that those are projects that go beyond the limit of authority granted to district offices.

District offices are only allowed to implement projects that do not exceed P150 million as per DPWH order issued by Secretary Rogelio Singson.

These regional office projects are: Camarines Sur-Albay Diversion Road or the San Fernando-Oas Section of the Pan-Philippine Highway (PPH), including bridges with an allocation of P300 million.

The 0pening of Bacon-Manito Road, P100 million; Bicol River Basin and Watershed Management Project (Flood Mitigation Component), P455 million; Legazpi City Urban Drainage Project, P300 million; and, Drainage/Protection Works along National Roads, P147 million.

“On top of these locally funded projects (LFPs) is P637 million worth of foreign- assisted projects for implementation in the provinces of Camarines Sur and Catanduanes which will be handled by our Central Office,” Dequito said.

Another P15 million was earmarked for the preliminary and detailed engineering activities of all these projects for implementation, the DPWH regional official said.

(PNA) LAP/FGS/MSA/CBD/ABB

DENR: Nearly 1 Million Seedlings Planted on 1,212 Hectares in 2012

2013-01-19T10:41:00.002+08:00

Nearly a million seedlings and mangrove propagules were planted on 1,212 hectares of forest and swamp land in the entire province in 2012, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provincial and community officers in Catanduanes reported last week.

PENRO officer-in-charge Joaquin Ed Guerrero and CENRO officer-in-charge Luvimindo Chioco disclosed that the timber, fruit tree and ornamental seedlings totaling 574,290 were planted on 1,160 hectares in the towns of San Andres, Virac, Viga, San Miguel, and Bato under contract with respective farmers associations while 338,888 mangrove propagules were planted in 72 hectares of swampland in Panganiban and San Andres. These were undertaken pursuant to the National Greening Program (NGP)’s plantation development project.

The timber and fruit tree seedlings consisted of Antipolo (88,888 pieces), Baligang (8,000), Dao (27,100), Gumihan (4,500), Jackfruit (2,220), Kupang (27,510), Marang (45,412), Narra (281,369), Cacao (5,740), Lipote (20,320), Mahogany (3,211), Saringkugon (1,600), Citrus (2,350), Pili (16,450), Bani (5,000), Camansi (300), Coffee (500), and Dipterocarps (14,280), while the ornamental trees planted along sides of roads included Thailand Shower (2,000), Fire Tree (3,000), Katuray (562) and Pangdan (13,438).

On the other hand, 250,000 mangrove propagules were planted by the Catanduanes Mangrove Planters Association, Inc. on 52 hectares in San Pedro, Panganiban while 88,888 were planted by the Samahang Pangkabuhayan ng Palawig on 20 hectares in Yocti, San Andres. The Palawig group likewise engaged in planting ornamentals in 50 hectares in Bato, San Miguel and Viga.

The other organizations and tenure holders which participated in the NGP planting contracts were the Mayngaway Upland Farmers Association, Inc. (330 hectares in Mayngaway), Buyo Upland Farmers Association, Inc. in Virac (330 hectares), Genitligan Upland Farmers Association, Inc. in Baras (47 hectares), P. Vera Upland Farmers Association, Inc. in Viga (117 hectares), and Samahang Magsasaka sa Maunlad na Lupa ng Progreso in San Miguel (266.10 hectares).

The farmers groups were already paid of their incentive of P1,000 per hectare, the DENR officials stated, to cover site preparation, hauling of seedlings, plantation establishment as well as maintenance and protection. Funds have been charged to the Maintenance and Other Operating Expended (MOOE) savings of the DENR, they added.

CENRO-OIC Chioco said further that the 2012 NGP accomplishment would be verified by a team of validators from DENR central and regional offices who would no longer climb the mountains to physically count the planted seedlings.

Instead, he bared, the validators would look at Samsung Galaxy tablets equipped with a GPS-enabled application that would show satellite images of the planting sites. Two of the gadgets are now being used by DENR foresters, with 10 more to be delivered.

Catanduanes Tribune