Bicol Region

[dc88]

Robredo asks local execs to do disaster awareness and response campaign
In the wake of last Monday’s 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Central Visayas, particularly Negros Oriental, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Roberdo asked local community executives (LCEs) nationwide to do disaster awareness and response campaign in their respective communities.

Robredo made the call in a speech at the 2nd General Assembly and National Executive Board meeting of the Liga ng mga Barangay, the national association of the country’s 42,000 barangays, held in Manila Thursday.

The assembly was participated in by more than 5,000 participants composed of provincial and highly-urbanized cities’ chapter presidents of the Liga ng mga Barangay.

In his speech, the DILG secretary urged barangay chairmen to be always ready with their disaster risk reduction and management plans that include the evacuation of residents if necessary.

Robredo also enjoined barangay officials to follow disaster protocols, install early warning systems, as well as conduct regular drills and exercises in order to prepare their constituents in addressing the adverse effect of disaster.

He likewise encouraged village officials to organize rescue teams, emergency group of responders and community service brigades that will provide immediate assistance to the victims of disasters.

He also said that in time of calamities, barangay officials should open their communication lines for easy coordination with higher authorities, volunteer groups and other government agencies concerned to ensure immediate assistance whenever needed.

For his part, Barangay Bago Bantay (Quezon City) executive officer Benjamin Pabustan welcomed Robredo’s proposal to mobilize LCEs for the disaster plan. (PNA)
http://www.ptv.ph/index.php/news-men...ponse-campaign
yan si Gov, tunay na bicolano. Bicol knows'. laging handa.

[dc88]

270 disaster response soldiers get rescue equip’t
PILI, Camarines Sur – At least 270 soldiers belonging to the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army were issued rescue equipment and gear by Army Division commander Major General Josue S. Gaversa, Jr., during the weekly flag raising ceremony at Camp Elias recently.

The soldiers, who were trained for Disaster Response Operation, were given life vests, protective helmets, utility ropes and individual rescue gears worth P863,000.

Gaversa said the rescue gear were part of the enhancement capability of the DRO to assure their own safety during rescue operations.

The official said the DRO will also be provided with additional flashlights, rescue boats, chainsaws and generators, as part of their standard equipment during rescues.

9th ID spokesman Major Angelo S. Guzman said in 2010 the Army division in Bicol started to organize and equipped its first DRO platoon to respond to frequent calamities in this region.

The Division command later ordered the creation of DRO platoons in three Infantry Brigades and seven maneuver battalions under the 9th ID to serve during calamities occurring.
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/...-rescue-equipt
include earthquake drills..

[kaniguan78]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater

[dc88]

Team Albay goes to Negros for its 6th mercy mission

February 14, 2012 11:16 am

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 14 — In response to the emergency appeal by officials of Negros Oriental, Albay has again dispatched its nationally acclaimed Team Albay on another mercy mission. The team is now in earthquake battered Guihulngan City.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said Team Albay’s mission is to help provide potable water, evacuation management, emergency pre-hospital and preemptive public health care, and psychosocial assistance to displaced residents, as well as assist in the search and retrieval of still missing victims in landslide hit areas.

Salceda immediately ordered the deployment of the team consisting of 86 personnel and their support staff, mostly veterans of five previous mercy missions, following the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Negros Oriental which triggered massive landslides, chaos and evacuation.

The team is composed of specialists from the Office of Civil Defense V, the Albay Provincial Health Office and the Albay Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) unit, the DOH Center for Health and Development V, the Philippine Air force Tactical Operations Group V, NAVFORSOL and the Albay-based 901st Army Brigade which members are highly trained in search, rescue and retrieval, and are armed with modern equipment.

NAVFORSOL (Naval Forces Southern Luzon) ferried Team Albay and its centerpiece equipment, as the water purifying machine that can filter and decontaminate 33,000 liters of water per hour –from Legazpi to Negros Oriental.

The machine promptly started processing the much needed clean drinking water after it was set up last week.

Water supply in Guihulngan and in many parts of Negros has been disrupted by the temblor. The water purifying machine was secured by Albay years ago from the Spanish Agency for Development Cooperation (AECID) and has been of great help to disaster victims in evacuation centers where there was not enough supply of potable water.

Team Albay is a pet project of Salceda, a veteran of post disaster operations around the country. Its most recent heroic engagement was in Cagayan de Oro City last December after they were ravaged by Typhoon Sendong. Its members spent the whole of the Christmas season assisting typhoon victims in Misamis Oriental.

Salceda said mercy missions have become a routine task for Team Albay in the spirit of cooperation with other communities in dire times, and when it’s not busy in the home front.

It has helped people in many areas ravaged by calamities including Isabela in the Cagayan Valley; Iloilo after Typhoon Frank; Bagong Silangan, Quezon City during Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng; and recently in Cagayan de Oro after Sendong.

The team’s members are all graduates of the Albay Health Emergency Management under the Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and its advance courses.

Albay has its own regular share of woes and destruction as a calamity prone province, and has been building up and constantly polishing its disaster risk reduction capability.

It has been quite successful with its ‘Zero Casualty goal’ through preemptive evacuation, a pioneering and pro-active disaster response strategy which is now quite a byword. (PNA)
http://balita.ph/2012/02/14/team-alb...mercy-mission/

[dc88]

Japanese firms asked to engage in PPP projects
JAPANESE FIRMS were invited on Friday to engage in public-private partnerships (PPP) in the transport and road sectors, particularly on projects in the pipeline.
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In a seminar organized by the Japan External Trade Organization and the PPP Center, Public Works Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said outside the indicative list of PPP projects lined up for this year, the government is looking into the construction or rehabilitation of national bridges and two major roads in Luzon that may form part of the list.

Mr. Singson said the Research, Education and Institutional Development Foundation is conducting field validation of 139 national bridges to be proposed for PPP, with the Department of Public Works and Highways eyeing an invitation to bid for the projects in October.

The government is also expected to conduct a business case study in July to include in the program the improvement, operation and maintenance of Kennon Road and Marcos Highway -- two major links to Baguio City from La Union province in Northern Luzon totaling 80.86 kilometers.

Another possible PPP project is the operation and maintenance of Quirino Highway, for which a business case study is expected to begin in April under the PPP Center’s Project Development and Monitoring Facility. Quirino Highway is a 93.45-kilometer thoroughfare traversing the provinces of Quezon, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.

On the status of projects already included in the PPP Center’s 2012 list, Mr. Singson said he is expecting the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, chaired by the President, to approve the P14.6-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway Project Phase II this month.

NEDA Board approval is also being eyed for the P11.8-billion Cavite-Laguna (CALA) Expressway Project in May; the P44.6-billion C-6 Expressway and Global Link Project (South Section) in June; and the P20.2-billion North and South Luzon Expressway (NLEx-SLEx) Connector Project in July, he added.

In the same event, Transportation Undersecretary Rene K. Limcaoco said the Light Rail Transit (LRT)-1 South Extension Project will be submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee by the end of the month.

The feasibility study for the Mactan-Cebu airport has also been finalized while studies are still being conducted for airport projects in Puerto Princesa, Laguindingan, Bohol and Legazpi.

For his part, Koki Hirota, Japan International Cooperation Agency director-general for South Asia and the Pacific, cited Japan’s support for feasibility studies on the NAIA Expressway, Central Luzon Link Expressway, CALA Expressway, Bohol Airport, the LRT Line 2 Extension and NLEx-SLEx Connector.

In his speech during the event, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano W. Paderanga, Jr. said “the government has put into place a business environment characterized by broader emphasis on transparency, accountability and good governance.”

He cited moves to enhance private sector investments in development projects such as proposed changes to the Build-Operate-Transfer Law and, pending their approval, revisions to the implementing rules and regulations to the same law that “will soon take affect.”

Also noted were changes that are “being finalized” to the Guidelines and Procedures for Entering into Joint Venture Agreements between the Government and Private Entities.

“We have received further instructions from President [Benigno S. C.] Aquino [II] to further streamline the PPP process,” Mr. Paderanga said.

Meanwhile, PPP Center Executive Director Cosette V. Canilao said the original indicative list of PPP projects that may be rolled out this year is growing in number.

“With the addition of the LRT-1 South Extension Project of the Department of Transportation and Communication, 17 PPP initiatives are now on our list,” Ms. Canilao said.

On Jan. 8, the Department of Education has posted an invitation to prequalify to bid for the P10.4-billion classroom project, the first PPP project to move this year. -- K. A. M. Patria
http://www.bworldonline.com/content....jects&id=47020
proper planning with this.. zoning,expansion..

[dc88]

DOST advises Bicol residents to monitor tsunami prone areas
LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 21 (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), has identified areas in Bicol that are prone to tsunami and advised its residents to be watchful of the ocean even during normal times.

Ocean wave disasters need real-time observation and rapid dissemination of warning so that people in these identified areas of Bicol will be prepared, according to DOST regional director Tomas Briñas.

These tsunami-prone areas identified by the Phivolcs in the mapping conducted as early as 2007 are the eastern coastlines of Albay covering the municipalities of Tiwi, Malinao, Bacacay, Malilipot, Sto. Domingo, Rapu-rapu, Manito, Tabaco City, and this city.

In Camarines Sur, the tsunami prone areas mapped by Phivolcs are the municipalities of Caramoan, Presentacion, Lagonoy, San Jose, Tigaon, and Sangay that all sits in the northeastern side of the province.

The municipalities in the northern side of Camarines Sur such as Garchitorena, Lagonoy and Siruma and in the western section—Tinambac, Calabanga, Bombon and Magarao are also in the hazard map.

In Camarines Norte, these areas are the towns of Sta. Elena, Capalonga, Jose Panganiban, Paracale, Vinzons, Talisay, Daet, Basud, and Mercedes that are all at the coastline of the Philippine Sea.

In Catanduanes, an island province at the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 10 of its 11 municipalities are listed as tsunami prone in the Phivolcs hazard map. These municipalities are Virac, Bato, Baras, Gigmoto, Viga, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Pandan, Caramoran, and San Andres.

Sorsogon’s towns of Prieto Diaz, Gubat, Barcelona, Bulusan, Sta. Magdalena, Matnog, and the Bacon District of Sorsogon City that are also along the Philippine Sea are listed in the tsunami hazard map.

All these Bicol coastal areas are located near the Philippine Trench, a major fault considered as potential earthquake and tsunami generator. They are marked with red color in the map representing tsunami inundation areas.

Briñas said an earthquake with magnitude of intensity 8.1 could trigger at the coastlines of these areas three to more than six-meter high waves that are extremely life threatening.

The advice to residents to observe the ocean, Briñas said, is part of the “Tsunami Risk and Monitoring in the Philippines,” an initiative of the Phivolcs that highlights an effective tsunami warning system.

This system is comprised of dense, real time network of seismic stations, real time sea level monitoring network, rapid communication and local mass alerting systems, accurate hazard and evacuation maps and well-informed citizenry.

The warning system was presented by Phivolcs director Renato Solidum during the “Wave Observation and Disaster Prevention” seminar recently organized in Manila by the Phivolcs in collaboration with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the Embassy of Japan.

The seminar was aimed at generating further research and more importantly, to give people an idea on how to prepare for these ocean wave disasters.

It also opened up a partnership to come up with a collaborative program applicable both in the Philippines and in Japan, according to DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Graciano Yumul Jr.. (MAL/DCA, Legazpi City)
http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=771329805300
tsunami designated evacuation areas do we have that?

[kaniguan78]

Bicol Region Finishes 5th in SCUAA 2012, not bad.

NCR rules SCUAA 2012

THE National Capital Region showed its dominance in the State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association 2012 national meet by romping away with 114 gold, 55 silver and 50 bronze medals.

Region 6 came in second, but not close, with 46 gold, 57, silver, and 33 bronze medals.

Region 3 was third with 32-36-38; Region 4 fourth with 21-22-57; Region 5 fifth with 7-6-11.

The Daily Guardian

[kaniguan78]

Bicol Banking Profile



Source: Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation, Distribution of Domestic Deposits
As of June 30, 2011
Amounts In Thousand Pesos, Accounts in Absolute Values

[kaniguan78]

LGUs with most banks in Bicol
as of June 2011



Source: PDIC

[kaniguan78]

Total Accounts Per LGU



Source: PDIC

The LGUs shown are those with 2 or more bank offices to protect confidentiality of the banks in LGUs with only one bank.

[kaniguan78]

Total Deposits Per LGU



Source: PDIC

[kaniguan78]

Source:DPWH

[Kim Bol Jon]

[swing_vote]

Calaguas Island, Vinzons, Camarines Norte: off the northernmost coast of Bicol Peninsula.

Subic and Calintaan Islands, Matnog, Sorsogon: off the southernmost coast of Bicol Peninsula.

[Kim Bol Jon]

We are blessed indeed.

[[dx]]

AL-SOR-MAS
Albay-Sorsogon-Masbate Tourism Alliance

Pinamuntugan Island, Albay
image hosted on flickr

High Noon by Beni Cruz, on Flickr

Calintaan Island, Sorsogon
image hosted on flickr

Island Hopping in Matnog, Sorsogon, Philippines by nonoiphotography (post and run mode), on Flickr

Buntod Sand Bar, Masbate
image hosted on flickr

Buntod Island by GlendaBelandres, on Flickr

All of these spots are only 3 hours away from Legazpi City

[[dx]]

AL-SOR-MAS
Albay-Sorsogon-Masbate

Vera Falls, Albay
image hosted on flickr

vera falls by luis alejandro 44, on Flickr

Lake Bulusan, Sorsogon
image hosted on flickr

Lake Bulusan, Sorsogon by team hortons, on Flickr

Masbate countryside
image hosted on flickr

masbate-53 by highlights.photo, on Flickr

All of these spots are only 3 hours away from Legazpi City

[[dx]]

AL-SOR-MAS
Albay-Sorsogon-Masbate

Cagraray Island, Bacacay, Albay


Paguriran Island, Sorsogon
image hosted on flickr

Paguriran Island by nonoiphotography (post and run mode), on Flickr

Halea Nature Park, Ticao Island, Masbate


All of these spots are only 3+ hours away from Legazpi City

[sonofignatius]

Originally Posted by [dx]

AL-SOR-MAS
Albay-Sorsogon-Masbate

Vera Falls, Albay
image hosted on flickr

vera falls by luis alejandro 44, on Flickr

Lake Bulusan, Sorsogon
image hosted on flickr

Lake Bulusan, Sorsogon by team hortons, on Flickr

Masbate countryside
image hosted on flickr

masbate-53 by highlights.photo, on Flickr

All of these spots are only 3 hours away from Legazpi City

wow, a little mayon (3rd pic)

[kiretoce]

Hello everyone! If you're an avid and prolific tweeter, can I interest you as a "curator" for @WeAreFilipinos for a week? It's part of a social project called "Rotation Curation." You can read all about it from this link: http://rotationcuration.com/

We started one for the Philippines and Filipinos (local and abroad). We tweet what is it like living in the Philippines or what is like to be a Filipino (or of Filipino descent) living abroad.

If you think you'd be a good fit for this project, you're only committed to it for one week (7 days) and you can tweet anything you like about the Philippines (cultural, geographical, historical, trivia and fun facts). So, if you're interested, just let me know if you want to try curating or any questions about the project.

Thanks for your time. Cheers!

@kiretoce (on Twitter)