Sagada imposes aerial fees on telcos

SAGADA, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE -- For a fifth class municipality generating only P2 million local fees and taxes a year despite being a top tourist destination in the country, the local government has set in place laws to enable the town to generate more income.

An ordinance imposing annual charges on telecommunication facilities for use of the municipal aerial wealth imposing fees and charges for a mayor's permit amounting to P150,000; a P70, 000 per unit of antennae; and P250, 000 for towers of cell sites is already in effect in line with this desire.

DOH launches campaign vs dengue

THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DOH) launched this year's slogan against dengue "Stop. Look. Listen"

The DOH explained: "stop" means do not stay outside from 4pm onwards if not necessary and stop the mosquitoes by using mosquito repellants; "look" means look for objects where water might be stocked and mosquitoes may lay eggs and clean the surroundings; and finally, "listen" means listen or tune in to the DOH's announcements for warnings or to their programs in eliminating the dengue infected mosquitoes and cooperate with government in fighting dengue.

BCDA to control schools in property

AT LEAST 11 public schools inside the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA)-controlled Camp John Hay reservation barangays face uncertainty as they have not legitimized their stay inside the former American base.

Arnel Paciano Casanova, BCDA president and chief executive officer, said the government has to legitimize the stay of these schools to secure their tenures inside the national property.

NPA presence nearing CAR

THE New People’s Army (NPA) attack in Cagayan is a signal for the region not to be complacent, the Cordillera police top cop said.

“Dapat alerto tayo, both for administrative and tactical movements,” warned Cordillera Police Chief Benjamin Magalong.

Kalinga declared as tourism dev’t area

THE joint force of the Senate and the House of Representatives recently approved Republic Act (RA) 10561 declaring Kalinga as tourism development area in the Cordillera.

The new law known as “An act declaring the province of Kalinga in the Cordillera region as a tourism development area (TDA),” mandates the Department of Tourism (DOT) to allocate a trust fund which will help develop the different potentials of the province.

NBI entraps visa consultancy for illegal recruitment

PLACING their trust in a visa consultancy establishment, at least 27 individuals were recently duped into giving their hard earned money to alleged illegal recruiters who have been operating in the city for at least eight months.

Number of maternal deaths still up

THE number of maternal death in the region is still increasing despite the full attention members of the United Nations (UN) are giving to decrease maternal deaths worldwide.

The Department of Health (DOH) Cordillera Center for Health Development Nurse V Zenaida Patal-e revealed 21 cases of maternal deaths were recorded in 2011 while in 2012, it went up to 25. She admitted the figure is increasing despite their efforts to decrease the victims of maternal death.

Reforms underway at city market

THE Baguio City Government will pursue reforms at the city market to weed out illegal activities and put back order at the supposed show window of the city.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said measures to implement these reforms were tackled during the Baguio City Market Authority (BCMA) meeting last week.

DOLE orients workers on social protection

THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole)-Cordillera conducted an orientation on the government’s social protection and livelihood programs to around 100 members of 15 informal sector workers groups in Baguio-Benguet area last May 15.

In attendance were farmers, persons with disability (PWD), Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), ambulant vendors, senior citizens, youth, and other informal sector workers.

Windfarm project stalled

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- The lack of studies on the effect of wind turbine construction stalled the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) process for affected folks to decide whether or not to give way to the construction of 15 megawatt (MW) wind farm on Pilaw-Langsayan ridge.

Mining museum in John Hay mulled

CAMP John Hay’s historical core may soon host another attraction aside from its 100-year-old Bell House and Amphitheater, historic trails, and cemetery of negativism.

Former Ambassador Delia Albert presented at the John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) board of directors meeting on Wednesday the plans to come up with a geopark and virtual museum inside Camp John Hay.

Police file vote buying raps

CASES of vote buying are now pending before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Cordillera.

Comelec regional director Nick Mendros, during the post election assessment meeting of the Cordillera Joint Security Council Committees, revealed the pendency of four cases of vote buying filed in his office prior to the conduct of the May 13 midterm elections.

DOH reminds public to drive safely

THE Department of Health (DOH) has reminded the public to drive safely especially during the onset of the rainy season.

DOH–Cordillera Center for Health Engineer Basilio Munar urged the public to have discipline when driving to avoid road accidents which could lead to physical injuries or even death.

Tuba folks laud PNoy for bill vs drunk-driving

TUBA, Benguet -- The police chief here who saw numerous fatal accidents along Kennon Road and Marcos Highway were among those who thanked President Benigno Aquino III for signing into law imposing penalties against drunk-driving.

Police Inspector William Willy said one example of drunk-driving was the latest vehicle crash in a ravine along Kennon Road last week where three persons were seriously injured.

Cordillerans among Dangal ng Bayan semi-finalists

TWO Cordillerans are among the selected 20 semi–finalist for outstanding public servants in the country.

The Dangal ng Bayan search was initiated by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in order to give due credits to the exemplary employees and officials working as public servants in the different government agencies of the country.

Baguio mayor mulls permanent night market

BAGUIO City Mayor Mauricio Domogan said he is looking to have a permanent night market during the Weekly Ugnayan Forum last May 29.

With the result of the assessment of the experimental night market along Harrison Road, he said the night market is becoming a good source of income to the constituents and at the same time contributing to the revenue of the city. 

Public schools recieve new water system

BARANGAY BECKEL, La Trinidad, Benguet - Two adjacent public schools are the beneficiaries of the deep well project funded by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) through its sustainable development programs for its host communities.

“We are not doing this to vie for a good name,” said NGCP Corporate Affairs Department manager Nelson Cabangon.

Council addresses traffic concerns

PARKING spaces, loading and unloading zones, pedestrian lanes, and public utility routes were among those discussed during the Transport and Traffic Management Committee (TTMC) last week.

Chaired by Mayor Mauricio Domogan, Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) head Jesus Cambay, Jr., Traffic Management Unit (TMU) head James Logan, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other office representatives with Planning Office head Evelyn Cayat steered through the matters on hand. 

Fire code violations seen in dormitories

AT LEAST five dormitories and boarding houses were found with major violations of the Fire Code in the recent inspection conducted by the Baguio Fire Department last May 27.

Baguio Fire Marshall Joe Fernand Bangyod said the fire safety inspections conducted in dormitories and boarding houses along Teodora Alonzo and Bonifacio streets resulted to the discoveries of blocked exits, narrow hallways, lack of evacuation plans, missing emergency lights, swing in gates, and bad electrical connections.

BGHMC notes increase in HIV-AIDS patients

THE Department of Health (DOH) revealed an increase of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) being treated at Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC).

Dr. Maria Lorena Santos, BGHMC chair of HIV and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Core Team, said that there are now 72 HIV cases recorded from 2006 until May of this year. These cases were recorded at BGHMC.

CAR leads provinces in early poll reporting

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) led 16 provinces in the Commission of Elections (Comelec) records for transmitting all elections returns. 

Comelec regional director Jose Nick Mendros said, “CAR is the first to fully transmit all returns to the national board of canvassers.”

Mayor wants order in public market

“IT’S about time to put some order in the Baguio public market,” Mayor Mauricio Domogan emphasizing that order must be restored in the public market.

This as he cited how the city government spoiled vendors in the past placing on the sidelines ordinances governing the public market.

Comelec-Kalinga releases honoraria for BEIs

TABUK CITY, Kalinga –- The Commission on Election (Comelec) released the honorarium to public school teachers in the province who served as Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) in the May 13 automated midterm elections.

According to provincial election supervisor Dexter Bary Cawis, the Comelec has released the honoraria of BEIs in the province as early as May 16 or three days after the election.

JHMC shuts down illegal miners in reservation

THE JOHN Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) swooped down on two identified illegal small scale miners operating for more than a year within the John Hay reservation in Sitio Camp 6, Barangay Camp 4, Tuba, Benguet.

JHMC personnel, including VP and Chief Operations manager Michelle Niebres, were accompanied by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Officer in Charge (OIC) Engr. George Baywong and Engineer Dionisio Comtiag during a site inspection to verify if the identified operators voluntarily complied with the Cease and Desist Order (CDO) handed May 23.

Coffee Council names pilot areas for advocacy

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The Kalinga Coffee Council (KCC) is prepping up its advocacy to improve coffee bean production and enhance the quality of coffee beans in the province.

As a first step the members identified the municipalities of Balbalan, Pasil, Pinukpuk, Tabuk City, and Tanudan as the pilot areas in the advocacy to revive the coffee industry in the province.

CJHDevCo exec sues immigration officers

IMMIGRATION officers who allegedly preventedCamp John Hay Development Corporation Chairman Robert Sobrepeña from leaving the country are now facing criminal cases.

Sobrepeña filed a criminal complaint for arbitrary detention and grave coercion against the immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport who prevented him from leaving the country even without a Hold Departure Order.

Daughter kills ma in Pico

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Violence has rocked this otherwise sleepy town when a mother ended up dead sadly by the hands of her daughter, according to police report.

On the afternoon of May 26, Maria Rizza Cabautan, 44, a public school employee, had an argument with her daughter in their house at Dreamland Subdivision.

Cops address safety, traffic for class opening

WITH more than a hundred thousand students expected to start classes from the elementary to college levels next week, the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) allayed fears of traffic jams and increase of street crimes.

BCPO Director Jesus Cambay Jr. said traffic and safety plans will be implemented to ensure the smooth flow of traffic in the city’s main thoroughfares particularly on the city’s university belt.

PMA mourns death of alumnus in Sulu

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City -- The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) mourns the death of another soldier who offered his life for the country.  

Second Leuitenant Alfredo Lorin died in combat with terrorist in Patikul, Sulu, Saturday. He is a member of the PMA class of 2011.

Number of cervical cancer cases up

AN INCREASE of cervical cancer patients was recorded at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC).

Dr. Diyesibel Balisongen said 28 patients were treated at BGHMC in 2011 while 21 victims were recorded in 2012 and nine patients are currently being treated at the hospital in 2013 from January to April.