Asian Parliamentarians Forge the Manila Call for Action 2010
“Applying Disaster Risk Reduction as an Instrument for Achieving the MDGs”
Senator Loren Legarda today announced that the “Manila Call for Action 2010” has been forged by the ten participating nations during the Consultative Meeting for Parliamentarians on ‘Disaster Risk Reduction: An Instrument for Achieving the Millennium Development Goals’.
At the closing ceremonies, Senator Legarda, the United Nation’s Asia-Pacific Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation said that parliamentarians from the ten nations will go back to their respective countries committed to undertake several concrete actions towards disaster-resilient development.
Knowing that disaster risks and climate change do not respect boundaries, they pledged to be agents of change and form a coalition of parliamentarians at the national, regional and international levels to actively pursue disaster risk reduction. They also committed to enhance their knowledge and capacity through forums for sharing knowledge, information, and best practices of countries.
Furthermore, they also committed to lobby for an increase in national investment on disaster risk reduction initiatives and to facilitate direct access to international funds intended for climate change adaptation for reducing climate-related risks.
“The three-day meet brought the participating legislators together to take on the challenge to improve the region’s resilience to disasters as part of the strategy to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),” Legarda said.
The Senator noted that if governments would institute programs for disaster risk reduction, there would be less cost for post-disaster efforts. In effect, they could save more and use their national funds for the attainment of the MDGs such as programs on poverty alleviation, reduction of child mortality, improvement of maternal health, and environment protection.
“As we make ill-planned decisions that don’t factor in disaster risks, we continue to let disasters happen, to the detriment of our citizens. Corruption in public construction projects, poor urban governance and environmental degradation have made our people more vulnerable to disasters. This Manila Call for Action is intended to lead our respective countries towards the path of redefining development.
The parliamentarians have called on national governments to allocate 1% of national development budgets for reducing disaster risks.
“Prevention is cost-effective; this has been proven in many countries. In the Philippines, we have a Php1.46 trillion budget for next year. It will not be too much to ask that we allocate at least 1% of this in proactive measures that prevent the disaster from happening in the first place rather than spending much more in relief, reconstruction and recovery," Legarda reiterated. (Office of Senator Loren Legarda/PIA-Caraga)
.
POLICE REPORTS
By PO2 Darlin Cabalinan-Migullas
Report on theft incident
A certain Leonardo Sombreo Maligro, 56 years old, married, Security Guard of National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and a resident of P-3, Brgy. Sanghan, Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte apprehended three suspects, identified as Jay Castulo Lumpera, 21 years old, single, a resident of P-1,Brgy. Sanghan, Nilo Andonga Taglucop, 18 years old, single and Rinky Andonga Taglucop, 20 years old, single, both residents of P-2, Brgy. Sanghan of the said municipality.
Said suspects were caught in the act, stealing three pieces bulldozer sprocket worth P20,000.00 each from NIA compound located at the above mentioned place around 4:20 in the morning, November 26, 2010.
Initial investigation disclosed that the said suspects gained entry by climbing the fence, jumped inside the compound and removed the grills of the stockroom and carted the said items. Said suspects are now under the custody of Cabadbaran Municipal Police Station for proper disposition. (PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)
Report on shooting incident
On November 26, 2010, around 12:30 in the afternoon at Canugas New Rizal, Brgy. Baucawe, Lianga, Surigao del Sur, six (6) unidentified suspects armed with five (5) M16 and one (1) M-14 rifles shot the victim, identified as one Elmer Valmoria Tagupa, 47 years old, married and a resident of the abovementioned place. Suspects were believed to be members of CTs/NPA under front Committee 19-A.
Victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds on the different parts of his body and was brought to Lianga District Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.
Recovered from the crme scene were three (3) shells of M-16 rifle. Motive of the said incident is land conflict. Elements of Lianga MPS are still conducting follow-up investigation for possible identification and apprehension of the suspect/s. (PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)
Report on carnapping incident
A certain Sonny Boy Neriquita Buar, 43 years old, married and a resident of PN ROA Subdivision, Barra Opol, Misamis Oriental reported to Butuan City Police Station (BCPS) 1 that his driven Toyota Vios 1.5, color silver with plate number KCX-447, engine number INZ-X139513 and chassis number MR053HY42-04073943, model 2004, registered under the name of Dr. Mario H. Cerilles, was allegedly carnapped by unidentified persons while it was parked unattended at Shell gas station located at JC Aquino Avenue corner Ochoa Avenue, Brgy. Dagohoy, Butuan City, around 12:45 in the afternoon of November 26, 2010.
Investigation disclosed that the said driver forgot to turn off the vehicle’s engine and left the key in the ignition switch, when he (driver) went out from the car to withdraw cash from ATM at PS Bank located nearby. Valuables inside the car were one unit CPU computer Pentium dual core card, assorted eye and ear medicines, account jackets of different clients, one bag with assorted clothing, coverage bag and other important documents.
After receiving such report, elements of Butuan City Police Office (BCPO) immediately conducted checkpoint operation for possible interception of the said vehicle. On November 27, 2010, around 2:45 in the morning, information received by BCPS 1 that the said car was left abandoned in front of Octagon Cockpit, P-3, Brgy. Bading, Butuan City.
Recovered vehicle is now under the custody of BCPS 1 pending for proper disposition to the owner. BCPS 1 is still conducting follow-up investigation for possible identification and apprehension of the suspect. (PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)
Report on vehicular accident
One ten-wheeler truck owned by Graciano Q. Numeron, with plate number GPU 438 driven by Arturo Coralat y Valeriano, 38 years old, married and a resident of P-5, Tagongon, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur, loaded with Falcata logs accidentally crashed into the drainage beside the National Highway, P-1, Brgy. Poblacion, Barobo Surigao del Sur on November 25, 2010, around 4:45 in the afternoon.
Investigation disclosed that the said truck was traveling the along the descending road and upon reaching at the said place, the brake of the said truck malfunctioned, which resulted to the said incident and caused damage to the one (1) unit multicab, tricycle, cab poultry/cage, two (2) units single motorcycle.
Said incident resulted to the instantaneous death of one Elizabeth Jasis Mercader, 35 years old, single, gold panner and a resident of the said place and also caused injuries to the three (3) persons identified as Junito Lumontad, Roland Matabalan and Junnel Timon y Ronquillo, all of legal age, who were brought to Patin-ay Provincial Hospital for medical treatment.
All victims and damage properties were hit by the falling logs, loaded at the said truck. Driver of the said truck voluntarily surrendered to Barobo MPS and said truck was impounded at the said station for proper disposition. (PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)
Violation of article 172 of revised penal code (RPC)
On November 26, 2010, around 2:45 in the afternoon, elements of BCPO led by Police Inspector Junyd Marohom apprehended one Mitchel Marcos Balao, of legal age, married and one Farida Abdullah, of legal age, married and a resident of SPDA Dos, Maguindanao.
Investigation disclosed that the said suspects went to PhilHealth office and requested for a copy of Membership Data Record (MDR), Mitchel Balao presented PhilHealth ID but upon verification, the ID number does not exist in the membership database, which prompted Mrs Jane Santos, Head, Membership Section of PhilHealth to report the said incident to BCPO thus resulted to the apprehension of the said suspects.
A case for violation of Article 172 of the RPC (Falsification by Private Individual and Use of Falsified Documents) is now being prepared by the said Police Office in inquest proceedings. (PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)
