OFF-THE-AIR

Aksyon Radyo is coming here in UK loud and very clear. Thanks for all the staff who energetically manage the station. Keep up the good work. WELL DONE folks!!!

Isuzu Philippines Corporation’s commitment towards the betterment of the people and the community is best expressed during its 9th anniversary celebration.

The company that introduced the S.E.E technology which stands for Safety, Economy and Environment Friendliness in the country has adopted a 5-hectare protected mangrove park at Brgy. Sabangan here last Monday.

This was IPC’s anniversary offering and is considered as one of the noblest initiatives undertaken in years as a genuine manifestation of its corporate social responsibility.

Alaminos City Mayor Hernani A. Braganza and IPC president Yoshifumi Komura both inked the Memorandum of Understanding on the turnover of stewardship of the Isuzu Mangrove Park during the simple program held at Pension House, Lucap Wharf. Witnessing the MOA signing were IPC VP for Corporate Business Arthur Balmadrid, City Council members, DOT Regional Dir. Martin Valera, DENR Regional Dir. Victor Ancheta, City Administrator Wilmer Panabang, and officials of coastal communities.

“We all know the important role mangroves play in protecting the coastal area against erosion and against storm surges, “Komura said in his anniversary message during the program.

“Mangroves also nurture flora and fauna to maintain the health of local eco-systems and these are especially important in preserving the physical condition and beauty of the Hundred Islands.”

Explaining why Isuzu Philippines decided to establish the protected mangrove at the Hundred Islands, Komura noted “Isuzu is proud to work together with local communities and their leaders in government and in the private sectors to develop the local tourism sectors and boost the economy.

“Isuzu is not only in the business of selling reliable and durable vehicles for the family and business. It is also serious about its role as a responsible partner of its loyal customers and the community at large. And there is nothing more important than helping customers and the community prospers while at the same time helping protect and preserve the environment.”

Aside from the mangroves, Isuzu Philippines has also donated forest trees and environmental signages which will serve as reminder to the touring pubic on keeping the islands clean and green. The signages are spread on Governor, Quezon and Children’s Islands.

In his congratulatory message, Mayor Braganza first tendered his warm welcome to the IPC executives and other guests in behalf of a very grateful and peaceful city.

“We come here for a very noble purpose so let me just say this to all of you; As we say here in Alaminos Galila or Come and Join Us, Thank you & Mabuhay, and Domo Arigato (Congratulation) to Isuzu Phils. on its 9th anniversary,” said Braganza.

“Thank you very much to IPC, being the first private corporation that is sponsoring our mangrove development program in the city. This project really means a lot to us and we do hope that we will see you again in the future to continue planting, completing and nurturing the 5-hectare that you have committed to support in our beloved city.”

The Mayor noted that a hectare of mangrove is equal to 1 ton of fish a year and if translated into economics, almost P 10-15 M a year worth of fish a year will be produced once the mangroves have matured or fully grown

And this, according to him, will benefit the marginalized fisherfolks in the city’s ten coastal barangays who mostly rely on the 11,000 hectare of marine ecosystem for food and income. Also, it will further bring down the costs of food especially fish in the future and any excess will be traded outside the city.

Braganza also revealed that hundreds if not thousands of fishermen and city residents are now enjoying the bountiful harvest since his administration strictly implemented the laws against illegal fishing and, setting standards in marine conservation.

“Hopefully, we could continue with our objective to be a good government for our people in the city and in the future contribute to the national development as well,” he added.

The Mayor also thanked anew the Dept. of Tourism, Philippine Tourism Authority, Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources and most especially Her Excellency President Gloria M. Arroyo for giving the city the opportunity to contribute to the promotion and development of the HINP.

He said the city is committed not just to promote &develop the HINP, which was formally turned-over to city government last Sept. 29, 2005, but to conserve, protect and rehabilitate the park as well.

DENR and DOT have continuously supported the city on its programs particularly on the New Zealand Aid program which provided “kayaks” and for marketing the national park as a major eco-tourism destination.

As a gesture of sincere appreciation and gratefulness to the worthy gift of IPC to the city of Alaminos, a certificate of appreciation was awarded to Mr. Komura by Mayor Braganza.

Right after the program, all the guests, volunteers and local officials were ferried to the coastal waters of Brgy. Sabangan. They braved the gutsy winds and heavy rains just to take part in the ceremonial tree planting, unveiling of Isuzu Mangrove Park marker and photo sessions at the commemorative signage installed at the park. (CIO)

More stories at the Alaminos City Government Official website.

For tourists visiting the Hundred Islands, Quezon Island remains the best place to experience the real eco- adventure.

But Governor’s Island, another major and developed island at the 1,881-hectare national park, has suddenly caught up as far tourists arrival is concerned.

Thanks largely to the will refurbished Governor’s House which served as a transitory home of Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition’s Big Four teen stars- Kim, Gerald, Claire and Mikee.

The PBB teen stars stayed at the island for a few days for their final tests and a bunch of surprises lined-up by ABS-CBN Corporation.

Mayor Hernani A. Braganza said the tremendous influx of tourists in the island even in this rainy season and despite bad weather, was simply amazing.

According to the records of the City Tourism Office, more than 10, 000 local and foreign tourists including city residents have visited the PBB house since it was opened to the public last June 1.

“And it continues to lure more tourists who are very eager to see this coolest place in city,” the Mayor added.

As observed for almost two months now, every tourist who visits Hundred Islands makes it a point to take a glimpse or step foot at the famed house.

For the tourists to experience adventures at its best and live like the teen stars even for just a few days, the Mayor cited that guests and visitors can now rent the whole PBB house.

“Day tour won’t be enough, so we encourage our guests to extend their vacation and stay at PBB house to unwind and feel the 5-star experience from Mother Nature,” said Braganza.

The house is perfect for meetings, small group seminars, family reunions, group outings, and retreats and even simple wedding rites and birthday parties.

It has two air-conditioned bedrooms, and a living room that could accommodate 8-10 persons and has security personnel ensuring the safety of guests round-the-clock.

Like in other islands, tourists could likewise enjoy snorkeling, kayaking, banana boat ride, jet-ski, scuba diving and even hiking the highest peak and enjoy the majestic scenery at the island’s view deck.

For reservation and further inquiries, interested parties could contact the City Tourism Office and Lucap Wharf Information Center at telephone numbers(075) 551-2145 and (075) 551-2505 and look for Mr. Mike Sison and Mr. Rey Livara. (CIO)

More stories at the Alaminos City Government Official website.

For having brought the police system closer to the community it is serving, the Dagupan City Police Station was adjudged Best City Station in Police Community Relations (PCR) this year.

Police Superintendent Edgar O. Basbas, city police chief, received a plaque of merit embodying the award from Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor during the awarding ceremony at Camp Crame on July 31 in the presence of the Police Director General Oscar Calderon, Chief, PNP.

Basbas said the major thrust of the Philippine National Police is better community relations, or “satisfying the security needs of the residents.”

“We should not only apprehend criminals but we should make the city residents feel safe and secure,” Basbas said.

Towards this end, the city police have been implementing several projects such as the “Beat Patrol System” or the deployment of police personnel along busy city streets and crime-prone areas.

“Police visibility is a deterrent to crime,” Basbas noted.

The police is also readily accessible through number 166, a hotline that can be reached by both subscribers of PLDT and Digitel telephone companies.

Monitoring teams

The city police likewise practice community-oriented policing system or getting the support of barangay officials, non-government and civic organizations in watching over the communities against illegal activities.

“We have mobilized the barangay tanods to monitor against unlawful actions in the villages,” Basbas said.

Complementing the tanods’ efforts are multi-sectoral monitoring teams such as Task Force Bantay Dagupan, the Public Order and Safety Office, different civic and communications groups (Action, Kabayan, Delta and Spectrum), army reservists, Guardians, and Phabi,

Basbas commended the groups for “actively cooperating with the police in crime monitoring, reporting, prevention and control.”

The police chief added that random checkpoints are set up to implement the No Plate, No Travel policy and the Pass Card System in the major chokepoints in the city.
The city police also intensified its operations against syndicates of illegal drugs, carnapping, street crimes and bank robbery, and against terrorism and kidnapping.

Basbas said that on deck are the following projects: The organization of the Community Police Action Centers (Compact) in coordination with barangay leaders and the city government; and the setting up of “Bantay Bangko” and “Dragnet” to address bank robbery/hold up and hostage taking situations.

Women and children friendly

The city police maintain a Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD) and Family Juvenile Gender Awareness Desk manned by three personnel who are responsible for the programs on women and children’s welfare.

The desk is responsible for upholding the rights of women and children who may be victims or are in conflict with the law.

“The desk personnel have been attending seminars and dialogues on women and children laws, and have in turn been resource speakers during seminars on the issues in some schools and barangays,” Basbas pointed out.

Among the activities, plans and programs of the WCPD are campaign against prostitution, vagrancy and street children’s welfare; rehabilitation of victims of abuse and violence and seminars on children and women consciousness and awareness.

Basbas said that a partnership between the police and the community is the best system to fight criminality in the city.

“We are continuously reaching out to the community, and we are happy that the community has been cooperating with us in our battles against unlawful activities,” he concluded.

More stories at the City Information Office weblog.

Most city disaster coordinating councils (CDCCs) in the country convene only during hydrological and meteorological disasters.

In Dagupan City, the CDCC is set to handle not just natural calamities but also man-made disasters.

Civil defense coordinator-designate Robert Erfe-Mejia said that CDCC members will undergo training on handling bomb threats, fire, hostage taking and other man-made disasters.

The two-day training is tentatively set on August 10-11 at the city museum for the seminar-workshop and at the city plaza for the simulation of man-made disasters.

Aside from the CDCC members, the training will also have the participation of hotel, restaurant and shopping mall managers, bank managers, school heads, department heads, barangay chairmen and chief tanods.

Organized by the CDCC, the training will be conducted by the Dagupan City Police Station, Dagupan City Fire Station, and the Philippine Red Cross.

Because of its expanded scope, the CDCC is looking for a permanent office where it can set up modern monitoring and communication facilities attuned on a day-to-day basis and available venue during emergency meetings and coordination.

Meanwhile, the CDCC formed quick reaction teams (QRTs) for close monitoring and possible evacuation of flood victims in some inundated areas of Lasip Chico, Lasip Grande, Poso Grande, Mayombo, Bacayao Sur and Bacayao Norte.

In a meeting on July 31, acting Mayor Alvin Fernandez told the CDCC to start buying gadgets to be given to the QRTs for rescue operations. (CIO)

More stories at the City Information office weblog.

“This year’s Dagupan City fiesta promises to be one of the most celebrated and best organized ever, “ announced councilor Librada Fe “Dada” Reyna, the 2006 city fiesta hermana mayor.

Designated by Mayor Lim on June 14 to be this year’s fiesta executive committee chairman, Reyna is tasked to oversee the celebration of the 2006 Dagupan City Fiesta and ensure the smooth flow of various activities.

“I highly appreciate the trust and confidence given to me by the mayor. This inspires me to do my best and maintain the tradition of excellence contributed by the past fiesta hermano mayors,” Reyna said.

Reyna said that compared to the previous city fiestas, this year’s festivities will highlight worthwhile activities for Dagupeño children and their families since the city fiesta coincides with the Christmas season.

Aside from that, she added that crowd-drawing activities are also included in this year’s calendar of activities.

She further said that Dagupeños and guests will expect a different celebration as this year’s activities are designed to draw the interest and attention of visitors from neighboring towns as well as from the international community.

The hermana mayor stressed that the support and cooperation of her colleagues in the sangguniang panlungsod and the chairmen of various committees will ensure the success of the city fiesta.

She also encouraged all Dagupeños to work together and unite to make this year’s fiesta celebration meaningful and memorable.

Apart from its religious significance, the city fiesta is one of Dagupan’s major tourist-drawing activities where thousands of guests and visitors flock to the city to witness the almost month-long celebration held every December.

The celebration of the annual fiesta is in honor of St. John the Evangelist, the city’s patron saint whose feast day is December 26. (CIO/Leziel T. Cayabyab)

The YMCA-based Dagupan City karate team displayed sports supremacy having won a total of four bronze medals in the Milo Super Karate Kids Championship held at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila on July 30.

The winners are John Meverick Edralin (Creative Montessori-Lyceum Northwestern), Gian Mark Tamayo (West Central Elem. Sch.), John Enrico Vasquez (Mother Goose) and Kurt Vidal (EDNAS Schoool).

According to Enrico Vasquez, Philippine Wado Ryu Karate-Do Federation president and Region 1 director, the Milo Super Karate Kids is the biggest karate tournament in Metro Manila organized by MILO and the Association for the Advancement of Karate-Do.

“The participation of Team Dagupan in the prestigious karate tournament exposed our young athletes to the Kobe Osaka international rules, which is being adopted in the World Karate Cup, and it helped them develop their character against the best of Manila players,” Vasquez said.

Pocholo Veguillas, MILO national organizer and president of the Association for the Advancement of Karate-Do, said that the Dagupan Team has the potential to succeed in higher karate competitions.

The event was participated in by teams from AAK Megamall, AAK SM North, AAK Mall of Asia, AAK Las Piñas, AAK Batangas, Japan Karate Association-Lipa, Batangas chapter, Association of Shotokan Karate-do in Cavite, St. Paul College, Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle-Zobel, Wado Ryu Karate-Do Institute in San Carlos City and San Lorenzo Ruiz College. (CIO/Leziel T. Cayabyab)

More stories at the City Information Office weblog.

Twenty-two additional housing units will be officially awarded by the city government and the Couples for Christ to the family beneficiaries of the Gawad Kalinga-Bangusville housing project on August 18.

Mayor Lim, along with wife Celia, will lead the awarding ceremony as well as the turn over of the symbolic key to the indigent beneficiaries at the Gawad Kalinga site in barangay Bonuan Gueset.

According to Ricky Castillo, GK project coordinator, the housing project has given priority to the homeless and less privileged citizens of the city, especially the poorest of the poor who were displaced because of the construction of the Dawel-Pantal-Lucao diversion road.

He added that most of the family beneficiaries come from Brgy. Pantal and Arellano.

“This is another manifestation of our sincere commitment to uplift the lives of the poor by providing them livable settlements that will encourage them to make a positive contribution in building the community,” said Lim.

Castillo bared that aside from the 22 housing units, 10 more houses will soon be awarded to another batch of beneficiaries as its construction will be completed after two weeks.

Castillo also announced that the GK-Bangusville site already has its own learning center for GK children and a multi-purpose hall donated by the Rotary Club of Dagupan East.

At present, the Gawad Kalinga housing project of the city has already provided 74 housing units for the homeless and less privileged citizens. (CIO/Leziel T. Cayabyab)

More stories at the City Information Office weblog.

Mayor Benjamin S. Lim, together with five high school students in the city, left for Japan on July 27 for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the sisterhood pact between the cities of Dagupan and Iwata.

The Iwata City government prepared a program of activities for the celebration slated from July 27 to 30.

“Our visit to Iwata opened new doors for economic and cultural exchange between Iwata and Dagupan,” Mayor Lim said.

He said that the Iwata government has plans to visit Dagupan to further strengthen the ties between the two cities, and at the same time seek opportunities for investments here.

Read the rest of this entry »

I just want to comment on the news posted last July 31 Re: Konstruksyon ng dam sa San Fabian, nakatulong ng malaki kontra sa baha

In behalf of the people of Longos Central, we would like to thank all the people behind this project, especially Speaker De Venecia, Mayor Libunao and of course, our beloved Barangay Captain Cristy Dismaya.

May we also request that they give attention to the street lights. Masyadong madilim ang daan. And we also heard na muntik nang magkaroon ng hold-up doon sa isa sa mga kanto na walang ilaw. We want to protect our ka-barangay. We hope that our officials act on this matter as soon as possible.

Concerned Citizen