PIA MEDIA RELEASE
22 July 2009
DFA, VP Noli reiterate deployment ban to Afghanistan, Iraq
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Vice President and presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)s Noli De Castro are urging again Filipinos who wish to work abroad to avoid countries with work deployment ban, including Iraq and Afghanistan.
This, after 10 Filipinos were among the 16 who died in a helicopter crash in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
In a radio interview, VP De Castro called on the Filipino people saying, “sana sa mga nakikinig na naghahanap ng ikabubuhay sa ibang bansa, huwag niyong patulan ang Afghanistan.”
He explained that the main reason why the DFA is implementing the deployment ban is to keep OFWs from harm’s way. “Kapit sa patalim pero manganganib naman ang inyong buhay.”
De castro explained that Filipinos are forced to work in Afghanistan because of huge compensation offer. “Malaki kasi ang alok, gaya nitong isa - $1,300 ang suweldo bilang karpentero. Marami talaga ang trabaho doon kasi may ginagawang dalawang base military.”
The Vice President assured the public that assistance is being extended to the 10 OFWs who got involved in the helicopter accident earlier. “Tulungan natin itong mga biktima – legal o illegal man ang kanilang dokumento – kasi mga Filipino din ang mga ito. Hahabulin din natin ang kanilang mga employers para maibigay ang kanilang mga benepisyo.”
VP Noli also revealed that OWWA is also looking at possible benefits which can be extended to the victims. (PIA)
State-owned tanker gets P30-million claim from GSIS
Operations of a damaged oil tanker of state-owned Philippine National Oil Corp.-Shipping & Transport Corp. (PSTC) have been restored with a P30-million claim from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
The GSIS, one of the country’s leading non-life insurer and reinsurer, has already turned over P30-million in insurance claim to PSTC for the repair of its vessel, M/T Emilio Jacinto.
PSTC filed a P30-million claim from the GSIS after the main engine of one of its insured vessels was damaged after unloading petroleum products in General Santos City.
M/T Emilio Jacinto, which was bought in February last year by PSTC from Hongkong-based Prime Capital Equities Ltd., began its trading operation in April 2008 carrying petroleum products. It reported damage to its main engine May of the same year.
The vessel is a sleek and compact tanker with a capacity of 33 MB. It is 90.38 meters long, 13.80 meters wide, and has a depth of 7.28 meters. Classed under Bureau Veritas, the M/T Emilio Jacinto weighs 4,100 metric tons and is under a time charter contract with Petron Corp. for 10 years.
The GSIS, as empowered by law, is engaged in the non-life insurance business and sells the following insurance products: motor car, fire, personal accident, aviation, contractor’s all risk, suretyship bond, and marine.
Its marine insurance covers risks against all loss or damage to a vessel, craft, aircraft, goods, freight, cargoes, etc.
“Our recent turnover of a P30-million check to PSTC signifies GSIS’s commitment to all of its clients. The GSIS, as one of the pillars in the non-life insurance industry, is always trying to find ways to make claims faster and more efficient,” GSIS President and General Manager Winston F. Garcia said.
Under the law, all assets, properties, and interests of the government have to be insured with the General Insurance Fund of the GSIS.
PSTC is a government-controlled corporation that has been engaged in petroleum marine transport services for the last 30 years. It is one of the key service providers of Petron, the Philippines’ largest oil refining and marketing company.
The GSIS, through its General Insurance (GI) business, earned P2.19-billion in net operating revenues in 2008, a reversal from losses of P828.61 million incurred the previous year.
The state-pension fund’s GI group generated P6.95-billion in gross revenues last year, mainly from insurance premiums and revenues from investments, from P4.49 billion recorded in 2007.
The group posted P4.61 billion in insurance premiums last year, higher than the P4.48 billion earned in 2007.
The GI Optional life insurance business, in particular, generated gross revenues of P2.61 billion in 2008. Its pre-need business, on the other hand, posted gross revenues of P233.6 million. (GSIS/ PIA-Caraga)
Bayugan LGU suspends Nole High School classes due to A(H1N1) case
BUTUAN CITY (July 23) - The Local Government Unit of Bayugan, Agusan del Sur and the school officials of Noli High School decided to suspend classes effective July 22, 2009 until July 30, 2009 because of the 1 positive case of Influenza A (H1N1) in Noli High School. This case is one of the additional 5 cases reported in the region.
The other two schools were also closed namely; Noli Elementary School and ADSPL because of its proximity to the affected school and a significant number of students have developed Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI). All of the ILI cases are already managed at home and high risk cases are being monitored closely. The local health department is continuously monitoring cases of ILI especially in other unaffected schools. Teachers, parents and students are advised to stay at home when they manifest signs and symptoms of ILI like fever, cough, nasal congestion and sore throat.
Meanwhile, there are 5 more additional cases under observations in the region bringing the total to 38 cases since the start of surveillance last May 23, 2009. Out of 38 CUOs, 9 were positive, 25 negative and 7 are still waiting for laboratory results. Close monitoring of cases with underlying conditions is being undertaken. (DOH-13/ PIA-Caraga)
BCPO stood firm to act within the bounds of law
BUTUAN CITY (July 23) – A rift between the local government of Butuan and Agusan del Norte may soon escalate following an incident at Taguibo area yesterday morning.
On July 20, the office of City Police Director Joseph Plaza received a letter from Agusan del Norte Provincial Police Director Benson Leleng asking for a security assistance for the members of the Multi-Sectoral Team who will be passing at Barangay Anticala in going to the watershed area.
The Team was tasked by the Provincial Peace & Oder Council to investigate from July 22-24 the alleged illegal mining, illegal logging and illegal road construction being done inside the watershed area part of which is in San Antonio, RTR under the jurisdiction of the provincial government of Agusan del Norte.
Yesterday morning, City Councilor Randolph Plaza, City ENRO Alexander Alaan along with members of the City Mobile Group led by City Police Director Joseph Plaza blocked the Team at Barangay Taguibo to prevent them from passing the area.
“Butuan City Police Office acted within the scope of our duty, we are just exercising police power within a defined legal or territorial area of responsibility,” stressed City Director Plaza on the incident.
It was learned, that Agusan del Norte Multi-Sectoral Team failed to coordinate with the LGU of Butuan, that raised city official’s suspicions as to the motives in going to Anticala instead of concentrating its investigation in San Antonio, RTR.
Meanwhile, City Tourism Council Chairman Daisy B. Plaza last week met with some members of the Committee on Environment of the Sangguniang Panglunsod of Butuan and discussed the possibility of establishing an independent investigative group to tackle the issue. Mrs. Plaza belied reports that the city government has done nothing to resolve the problem at the watershed.
BCWD in its complaints submitted to the Committee on Environment mentioned Mr. Erwin Plaza, son of Mayor Democrito D.Plaza II to have been involved in the illegal activity within the watershed, and implicated 2 local officials in the city.
The Sangguniang Panglunsod Committee on Public Utilities and Committee on Environment are set to conduct a joint hearing of the issue of alleged illegal logging/mining within the Taguibo watershed.
BCWD Manager Engr. Anselmo San Tian on the other hand specifically blamed the on-going illegal activities in Anticala, Butuan and San Antonio, RTR in Agusan del Norte as the primary cause of water turbidity forcing the management to shut down the infiltration gallery whenever it rains rendering the whole Butuan waterless. (Jocelyn E. Morano, Radyo ng Bayan Butuan/ PIA-Caraga)
Cebuano News: Agig pagtak-op sa Disaster Month Celebration, Gov. Ace Barbers mopahigayon sa Tree Planting Activity sa Prov’l. Forest Park
Sa nasayran karon nga bulan, gi selebrar sa tibuok nasud ang National Disaster Conciousness month diin ubay-ubay nga mga kalihukan ang gipahigayon sa kasamtangang pangagamhanan ug usa na niini mao ang pagpahigayon sa usa ka Tree Planting Activity karong Hulyo 24, 2009 sa may alas 8 sa buntag dinhi sa Provincial Forest Park ning atong dakbayan agig pagtak-op sa maong selebrasyon.
Ang maong kalihukan pagasalmutan sa tanang mga empleyado sa Kapitolyo nga pagapanguluhan sa batan-ong gobernador, Gov. Robert Ace Barbers uban ang iyang kaabag, Vice-Gov. Noel P. Catr, mga miyembro sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan, mga Department Heads ug ang ilang mga assistants.
“Akong gi awhag ang tanang empleyado ug pait na usab ang tibuok katawhang Surigaonon nga atong batunan ang pagpananom sa mga kahoy tungod nakahatag man kini ug dakong tabang sa panahon sa ting-ulan. Gikinahanglan gayud kining mga kahoy sa atong katilingban tungod kay gawas sa isa sa mga tinubdan sa panginabuhi-an, ang mga dagkong kahoy makatabang man aron nga ang katawhan mahilayo sa peligro ug possible nga mga disgrasya sama sa landslides,” nagkanayon si Gov. Ace Barbers.
Gipanghinaut sa Gobernador nga ang maong kalihukan magmalampuson ug mabungahon. Dako ang iyang pagsalig nga ang tanang katawhan mosanong niining maong panawagan pinaagi na sa paghatag sa ilang tiunay ug hugot nga suporta niini. Ang maong kalampusan dili mahitabo kung isalig lamang tanan sa gobyerno, gikinahanglan usab ang pagtambayayungay ug ang hiniusang kooperasyon gikan sa tanan. (PGO-Surigao del Norte Media Bureau/ PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Cebuano News: Gov. Robert Ace Barbers wala magpasagad sa mga panginahanglanon sa mga mag-uuma
Tungod sa dakong tinguha ni Gov. Ace Barbers ug sa kasamtangang mga magbabalaod sa atong probinsya sa Surigao del Norte nga mag malambuon ang katawhang Surigaonon, kanunay nga gihatagan ug dakong bili ang mga panginahanglanon sa mga mag-uuma.
Sa nasayran, padayon sa gihapon ang pag pang apud-apud ug mga libreng liso sa mga utanon, mga vegetable ug fruit seedlings, technical assistance alang sa pagpalambo sa crop production; ug usab ang ilang gitawag nga “soil analysis” ug tractor services padayon gihapon kining gihatag nga mga serbisyo alang sa tanan nga nagkinahanglan niini.
Sumala pa usab kang Mrs. Zenaida Piramide sa buhatan sa Prov’l Agriculture Office, nga , ang ilang Farmers Information Technology Services (FITS) Center padayon nga abli alang sa mga mag-uuma nga gusto masayran ang mga presyo sa ilang mga produkto, ug usab abli kini sa tanan nga mga estudyante nga mopahigayon sa ilang research activities mahitungod sa agrikultura, ug kini gikalipay nga gipahibalo sa maong buhatan nga libre ug walay bayad.
Nanghinaut ang atong buotang Gobernador nga kining maong mga pasilidad, serbisyo ug tabang mamahimong mapuslanon alang sa tanan mga Surigaonon ug mamahimo kining instrumento diha sa pagpalambo sa tagsa-tagsa nila ka panginabuhi-an. (PGO-Surigao del Norte Media Bureau/ PIA-Surigao del Norte)
POLICE REPORTS
By PO2 Darlin Cabalinan-Migullas
PNP arrests wanted person
A certain Josephus Templa Flores, 29 years old, married and a resident of Purok-1, Barangay Doongan, Butuan City was arrested by elements of Butuan City Police Station 2 (BCPS2) led by SPO3 Advincula on July 22, 2009 at around 12:00 noon for qualified theft.
Suspect was arrested by virtue of Warrant of Arrest (WOA) dated July 10, 2009, under criminal case number 13530, issued by Hon. Judge Edgar G. Manilag of RTC Branch 33, Libertad, Butuan City with recommended bail bond of twenty four thousand pesos (P24,000.00).
Arrested suspect was brought to BCPS 2 for proper disposition. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
Report on illegal gambling
On July 21, 2009 at around 4:55 in the afternoon along San Nicolas corner Diez Street, Barangay Taft, Surigao City, two male suspects identified as Messon Miranday Febra, 39 years old, married, tricycle driver and a resident of P-2, Brgy San Juan, Surigao City and Jason Ravelo Malto, 19 years old, single, tricycle driver and a resident of P-3, Brgy Canlanipa, Surigao City, who were caught in the act engaged on illegal gambling locally known as "Bale-Bale" were apprehended by elements of Surigao City Police Station (SCPS) led by investigation officer PInsp Renel Estrada Serrano.
Confiscated from their possessions were gambling paraphernalia, bet money amounting to three hundred eighty pesos (P380.00) paper bills in different denominations and two pieces twenty five-centavo coins.
Suspects are now temporarily detained at SCPS for proper disposition. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
Report on encounter
On July 20, 2009 at about 10:30 in the morning at Barangay Agsabo, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur, elements of Alpha Company 26th IB, 41ID PA, while conducting roving patrol encountered undetermined number fully armed communist terrorists (CTs) led by unidentified commander.
Firefight ensued, which resulted to one killed in action on the government side identified as PFC Ellama while undetermined casualty on the enemy side.
Reinforcement team led by 2Lt. Esilen immediately proceeded to the encounter site and conducted pursuit operation against the fleeing CTs. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
