City continues to monitor HIV-AIDS

HEALTH officials will intensify monitoring the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the city with the continued decline of recorded cases.

Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, of the Social Hygiene Clinic, said they will start their surveillance in May 27 to get the real picture of HIV infections among various sectors particularly among Men Having Sex with Men (MSM) where most of the recent infections in the city emanate.

Hospital worker faces raps anew

AN EMPLOYEE of Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) faces another possible case of multiple counts of estafa after falsifying several documents resulting to the loss of P3,360,674.

In an affidavit/complaint of the province of Benguet represented by Governor Nestor Fongwan, it accused BeGH Administrative Officer Dison Balangue for 28 accumulated counts of estafa.

Roads, railways rehab sought

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Barangay Pico chief Juan Mendoza is asking for the urgent rehabilitation of roads and railings here.  

Mendoza endorsed to local council a barangay resolution asking for fund allotment from the barangay’s calamity fund for repair of damaged pathways and railings at the stairway going to Upper Cogcoga kilometer 3 at the Pico area.

Lualhati folks feel voting rights were violated

THE barangay chairman of Lualhati expressed her constituents’ frustration after they failed to vote during the recently concluded 2013 elections due to the switching of ballots with Compostela Valley.

“Our constituents in Barangay Lualhati feel very frustrated and feel their basic voting rights were violated,” said chairman Norma Bustarde during a press conference Wednesday, adding: “It’s a painful and frustrating experience.”

DepEd to introduce new teaching method in June

THE Department of Education (DepEd) is launching the High Order Thinking Skills (Hots) method in teaching to test the ability of students in reading by using computer units.

Hots is the type of learning which involves cognitive processes such as analysis, comprehension, knowledge acquisition, synthesis, and evaluation.

Measles cases soar by 157%

THE Department of Health’s Regional Epidemiological and Surveillance Unit (Resu) reported that measles cases in the Cordillera Administrative Region increased by 157 percent.

Suspected measles cases rose to 77 this year compared to 30 cases reported from January 1 to May 18 last year.

Website to hold walk-briefing on Saturday

BAGUIO City’s website “Bonjing” will guide 150 children and youth to a walk and orientation this Saturday morning from the Voice of America grounds along Loakan Rd. to the Bell Amphitheater of Camp John Hay.

Bookstore to showcase Iloilo talent, culture

SAMTOY Books, which is located at the artsy La Tabacalera in Laoag City, will showcase Iloilo’s arts and crafts.

Jane Gaspar, general manager of Samtoy bookstore, said the bookshop will showcase on its walls films posters, photographs of the Ilocano people and landscapes.

Baguio residents warned vs dengue

DEPARTMENT of Health (DOH) officials warned Baguio City residents on the possible increase of dengue cases on rainy season.

In preparation for Dengue Awareness Month this June, DOH-Cordillera entomologist Ursula Segundo said the agency has started to lay out programs to improve surveillance and monitoring of dengue cases in government hospitals.

Mines bureau urged to probe blast

ITOGON, Benguet -- The Municipal Council here urged the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)–Cordillera to conduct an immediate investigation on blasting activities in Ucab village.

In the Council’s resolution 84, series of 2013, revealed that members of the legislative body received complaints from the residents of Ucab specifically from Miners Side and Upper Tram.

Abra polls ‘most peaceful’ this year

THE Cordillera police are contented with the outcome of the recent midterm polls in Abra and considered the 2013 polls in the province as most peaceful.

Chief Superintendent Roberto Soriano, commander of the Regional Special Operations Task Group in Abra, said that since the start of the election period January 13, there were no election-related violence and incidents recorded by the police in the different parts of the province, allowing them to conclude the conduct of the elections last week was the most peaceful so far in the history of the province.

Center pushes for urban organic farming

THE Cordillera Organic Agriculture Research and Development Center (COARDC) proposed an urban organic farming to the Baguio City government.

COARDC Director Dr. Jose Balaoing said negotiations are ongoing with the city government. He said once approved, they plan to work with barangays for the practice of urban organic farming.

DOH, Baguio continue HIV surveillance

THE Department of Health (DOH-CAR), in partnership with the AIDS Watch Council (Awac), through the Reproductive Health and Wellness Clinic (RHWC) of City Health Office prepare for the conduct of an Integrated HIV Behavioural and Serologic Surveillance System (IHBSS) in the city.

IHBSS aims to provide more information about the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the Philippines.

Aids council leads memorial today

THE City Aids Watch Council (Awac) in Baguio spearheads on Thursday a candle lighting ceremony and a program at the People’s Park to remind people of the impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

The candle lighting is in observance of the 30th International Aids.

Village officials move to prevent child abuse

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Village chiefs here are moving to protect children from abuse and labor.

Alapang barangay chief Ronaldo Leon, with the entire council, crafted an ordinance to control the employment of minors in the area aiming to protect children from abusive situations.

Youth council to host sports fest

LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET – Sangguniang Kabataan Foundation (SKF) President Brenden Kim Quintos plans to continue sports development in the Valley through an inter-barangay sports competition.

Quintos said the project aims to continue as well as boost the devaluing face of sports development in the Municipality by promoting the strong sense of friendly games.

City ensures safety of student lodgings

THE Baguio City Fire Department will start fire safety inspections of boarding houses and dormitories next week in time for opening of classes in June.

Baguio City Fire Marshal Joe Fernand Bangyod said they will begin inspecting boarding houses and dormitories, particularly in the city’s university belt along Bonifacio and General Luna Streets, after Brigada Eskwela operations this week to ensure these establishments are complying with fire safety standards.

SK head hopes for continuity of projects, aid

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Sangguniang Kabataan Foundation (SKF) president Brenden Kim Quintos is hoping for continuity of projects for the youth here.  

“With the new set of newly elected Municipal Officials, who will take their oath this coming June 30, we hope that the SK of La Trinidad will still play a major role in the development of the municipality through the support of the newly elected mayor,” Quintos said.

Schools expect 65 studes per room

THE continuous exodus of private school students to public schools due to increasing tuition fees has resulted to the increased number of students per classroom in Baguio City.

City Schools Division Superintendent Estela Cariño said several public schools, especially those near the Central Business District, have recorded high rates of transfers of students whose parents can no longer afford increasing school fees.

Board backs bills on LGU’s share

THE Benguet Provincial Board passed a resolution on Monday expressing support to the Senate bills numbers 118 and 119 which aim to increase the local government units’ share from natural wealth taxes.

On April 2, Itogon council passed Resolution 67, series of 2013 supporting the two senate bills of Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr.

Coalition to launch website

THE Balili River System Revitalization Coalition (BRSRC) will launch its official website and web-based pollution monitoring system of the river by June 2013.

The BRSRC’s website is developed by the University of the Cordilleras (UC), an academe member of the coalition.

Broadcast firm to install digital station

THE Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media Inc. (Beam) will soon install a 10-kilowatt (kw) digital pay television broadcast station in Baguio City.

Beam president Engr. Alexander Paredes submitted a petition to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for the issuance of a certificate of public convenience (CPC) and provisional authority to the company for it to install, operate, and maintain the proposed broadcast station.

City launches spiritual centers tour tomorrow

THE City Government of Baguio will launch the religious centers tour on May 23 as part of the Summer Vacation (Sumvac) in Baguio activities.

Councilor Philian Louise Weygan-Allan who heads the Sumvac church activities committee, said the tour aims to acquaint participants with the various spiritual centers in the city.

Volunteers join forces in Brigada Eskwela

LEAKING roofs, crumbling seats, and unsanitary toilets greeted participants in the annual Brigada Eskwela activity spearheaded by the Department of Education (DepEd) in all public schools in Baguio City on Monday.

City Schools Division Superintendent Estela Cariño said that despite a limited budget for the annual repairs and maintenance of public schools, they have to make do with the available materials and help from parents and volunteers to ensure the needs of students and teachers are met once classes start on June 3.

Coloma asks critics: Give K+12 a chance

DESPITE several complaints from the academic sector, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma said issues on the K+12 are just transitory effects.

He called on the administrators of higher educational institutions (HEI) to evaluate the concrete effects of the new system before complaining.

Guv to continue HEARTSS programs for province

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Governor Nestor Fongwan is bent on focusing on the programs for the province.

“We will maintain all existing programs we have started,” the governor said.

More scholarship slots to organic farming students

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) now offers more scholarship slots to students interested to pursue studies on organic farming.

The agency partnered with Benguet State University (BSU) to channel the scholarship opportunity to deserving students. The university was chosen as the implementing arm of DA on this grant because it is the only the school in the Cordillera offering a course major in organic agriculture (OA).

Mt. Province winners proclaimed despite complaint

BONTOC, Mt. Province -- Despite a complaint on the legality of the Provincial Board of Canvassers, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) proclaimed incumbent and reelected Representative Maximo Dalog, Governor Leonard Mayaen, and unopposed vice governor Bonifacio Lacwasan.

Comelec provincial supervisor Nicasio Jacob made the proclamation on May 14.

Smart sheds light on signal issues

SMART Communications clarified issues in weak cellphone signal suspected to be the cause of the late transmissions here.  

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the delay in proclamation for the province was due to late transmissions from Atok, Bakun, and Kibungan towns. 

DOE presents accomplishments on energy efficiency program

THE Department of Energy (DOE) presented its accomplishments for the Philippine Energy and Efficiency Project (Peep) May 16.

The DOE initiated the Peep to decrease electricity consumption; to reduce health risk associated with residual mercury and kerosene of grid areas; and to establish a certification process for energy and environmentally efficient commercial buildings.