WHO hails San Fernando City for ordinance vs HIV-AIDS

San Fernando City, La Union (6 Oct.) -- Dr. Jean Marc Olive, World Health Organization (WHO) representative to the Philippines, hailed the San Fernando City Government for legislating an HIV / AIDS Prevention and Control Ordinance.

Authored by Councilor Jessie R. Miranda, the ordinance according to Olive, is a concrete indication of Mayor Mary Jane C. Ortega and the City Council's strong support to the global fight against the spread of human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Olive graced the HIV / AIDS Prevention Program Consultative meeting held here recently. The meeting which was coordinated by the Department of Health, Manila was attended by representatives from the San Fernando City Government, City Health Office, HIV/AIDS City Council, Tourism/Entertainment Establishment Operators Association, commercial sex workers and non-government organizations.

During the meeting, Olive also took cognizance of the city's STI / HIV / AIDS prevention and control program being implemented by the City Health Office, as he solicited the commitment of all participants in intensifying the campaign.

Olive however, emphasized that the prevention and control program should focus not on apprehension of the commercial sex workers (CSWs) especially the freelance or unlicensed CSWs but on their education on the dangers of STIs / HIV /AIDS. He said, the CSWs should be taught and be empowered to protect themselves from being infected and help prevent the spread of the disease.

In response, the City Health Office in cooperation with the association of tourism / entertainment establishments in the city have agreed to conduct a seminar and individual counseling on STI / HIV / AIDS for commercial sex workers in the area, and the City HIV / AIDS Council will mount an information and education campaign using the tri-media.

AIDS is a viral disease that destroys the human body's ability to fight infections, making it susceptible to life threatening diseases. AIDS has no vaccine. It can only be prevented and controlled; it cannot be cured. (RENEE F. DE GUZMAN, PIA-R1)

NGO decries human trafficking

San Fernando City, La Union (6 Oct.) -- "They should not be called Japayukis." This has been the statement of an official from the Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) concerning the degrading nomenclature for Filipino entertainers particularly those working in Japan and other countries.

Ivy Miravales, Emigrant Service Officer of CFO, speaking during a media conference held here recently, said that the proper term for Filipino entertainers working abroad should be Overseas Performing Artists (OPA).

"Such nomenclature or name calling is a violation of the policy especially against women and children, who, instead should be supported and protected", Miravales said.

Statistics showed that many women living and working overseas were forced into prostitution, while some are illegally recruited with their consent or knowledge.

Miravales also said almost 1.62 million Filipinos working abroad are irregular immigrants and are suspected to be victims of trafficking or smuggling.

She also said that since 1999, there has been 935 reported victims of human-trafficking and is now considered as a human rights issue. It is characterized by subsequent exploitation after illegal entry to the foreign country.

Miravales added that Republic Act 9028 otherwise known as the Anti-trafficking in persons 2003, was enacted into law this year. It establishes institutional mechanisms to protect and support trafficked persons and provides penalties for violators.

There are three categories of trafficking acts under RA 9028. The first one is the Act of Trafficking in Persons with a penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of P1 million to P2 million, the Acts that promote trafficking in persons with a penalty of 15 years imprisonment and a fine of P500,000 to P1 million, and the Qualified trafficking in persons with a penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of P2 million to P5 million, Miravales added. - PIA-R1

Solon assures release of tobacco fund

CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur (6 Oct.) -- Rep. Eric D. Singson (2nd District - Ilocos Sur) had announced that the P2Billion monetized RA 7171-tobacco fund would probably be released few weeks from now. This was followed after the held of a meeting between and among the local leaders, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) in the four Virginia Tobacco producing provinces.

Last week, representatives from the DBM, LBP and consultants on the monetization program had already been conducted meetings with the local leaders in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra and La Union to discuss the monetization scheme of the tobacco fund.

The release of the P2 Billion-Tobacco Fund through monetization was promised by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during her recent visit in Ilocos Sur and was attending the birthday celebration of former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Chavit Singson. The monetization scheme was the initiative of the Arroyo administration for the immediate released of a long - time awaited tobacco fund by the farmers for the period of 2001 and 2002.

"Based on the schedule prepared by the DBM, maybe, the release of the monetized tobacco fund would take 25 days after their meetings with the representatives from the LBP, the Monetization Consultants and the local leaders from the four Virginia Tobacco producing provinces. Like for instance, the DBM made a meeting today, then resolutions from the LGUs would be submitted with in the next seven days, after that, the LGU officials will sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) and legal documents for the transaction of the Notice of Payment Schedule (NPS) for the municipal and provincial shares," he said.

With regards to the Notice of Payment Schedule (NPS), he explained that the NPS was a financial instrument and basis by the bank on the management of the RA 7171 proceeds, which will be sold to the bank who wanted it.

"The NPS was a trust fund for the financial institution who wanted to buy it and the selling of this document was held for public bidding to the financial institutions for the purpose on the possibility on lowering the interest of the monetized RA 7171 proceeds. Then, if there's no private financial institution who wanted to buy the financial instrument, probably the LBP, which was a government financial institution and had lower loan interest rate, would be the one to accepted it," he said.

So, if the LBP had agreed upon on the interest rates, this would be now the basis for the release of the monetized tobacco funds. In which this will be submitted by the DBM with identified shares for the towns, provinces and district together with the interest to be deducted," he said.

As to the interest of the monetized tobacco fund is concern, he said that the lowest bank's interest rate on loan is most likely an interest rate of the monetization and payable by the DBM to the LBP for two years.

"My congressional would probably goes and distributed to the different municipalities in the second district of the province and the projects to be allocated for this fund would be based on our previous consultations with the farmers. In which the farmers were mostly in - need of irrigation projects, farm to market roads and farm equipment like tractor and water pumps," he told.

The congressman disclosed that he also set - aside a budget from his RA 7171 congressional share for the programs of the National Tobacco Administration, which are intended for farmers. (FREDDIE G. LAZARO/PIA VIGAN)

Ilocos Norte gets P169M from tobacco windfall

LAOAG CITY (6 Oct.) -- Tobacco beneficiaries in Ilocos Norte will receive sometime next month their tax allotments amounting to P169 million.

The Department of Budget and Management signified the release of the shares through a notice of payment schedule delivered personally by his Director Janet Abuel.

The amount covers the provinces unreleased tobacco tax shares for 2001 and 2002.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. facilitated the early release of the tobacco funds by agreeing to mobilize the province's receivables.

Marcos also got the support of other tobacco beneficiaries in Ilocos Sur, Abra and La Union in securing their collective tax receivable amounting to P1.85 billion through monetization.

Without the monetization scheme, tobacco beneficiaries in Ilocos Norte would have to wait until 2005 to be paid by DBM.

Under the scheme, the national government along with the tobacco-growing provinces contracted a loan agreement with the Land Bank of the Philippines for it to finance the payment of overdue tobacco allotments.

The four provinces agreed to slice their receivables to only 75 percent of their actual share just to speed up their payments.

The bank kept the remaining 25 percent to cover the charges incurred in securing the loan. (PIA-LAOAG)

CAFGUs deployed in NPA-plagued towns

LAOAG CITY (6 Oct.) -- At least 88 new members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit will be deployed in the municipalities of Carasi, Nueva Era and Solsona.

This was known during the Symbolic Hand-over of firearms and ammunitions to the Ist Ilocos Norte CAPGU Active Auxiliary (Ist INCAA) at the Solsona Municipal Gym.

In his speech, Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., expressed optimism that the additional recruits would help in stabilizing the province's peach and order situation.

Marcos disclosed the need to beef up the province's military forces because of the increasing security problems posed by the increased sightings of New Peoples Army rebels in the three towns.

He cautioned CAFGU members, however, to use their weapons only to protect the communities they serve.

The recruits were provided firearms, mostly Carbins, Garan, and M-14, complete with ammunitions.

According to Col. Anastacio A. Salud, brigade commander of the 503rd brigade based in Sulvec, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, the new units had undergone a three month training conducted by the 50th Infantry Batallion of the 5th infantry Division of the Phil. Army based in Guimod Norte, San Juan, Ilocos Sur.

He said the units will provide support to the AFP personnel, protect government facilities and secure the villages in areas that are rebel infested. (PIA-LAOAG)

KALAHI serves insurgency-affected areas in Ilocos Sur

by Henry S. Lagasca

MAGSINGAL, Ilocos Sur (9 Sept.) -- More than 800 residents of barangay Maratudo, located some 40 kilometers northeast of this town bordering the municipality of Langiden in the province of Abra, benefitted from a medical-dental mission during the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (KALAHI) Karaban last September 3 this year under the auspices of the Regional Convergence Kalahi Group chaired by Dr. Enrie Mendoza, deputy presidential assistant for northern Luzon.

Leading government officials in the Karaban include Congressman Salacnib F. Baterina (1st District of Ilocos Sur), Gov. Deogracias Victor Savellano, Vice Gov. Jerry Singson and Magsingal Mayor Alfonso Favis, Jr. and regional directors of government agencies.

The target barangay, until recently, was a stronghold of guerilla elements of the New People's Army and the site of an armed encounter between government troops and the rebel band.

The Karaban negotiated narrow and slippery road paths traversing river beds with knee-deep water (accessible only during dry days) and big boulders in reaching Maratudo following clearing operations by elements of the 503rd Infantry Brigade and the 50th Division of the Philippine Army.

Highlights of the Karaban include actual deliveries of compact foods and medicines, farm inputs (high yielding seeds, hand tractors, generators, hog dispersal and tilapia fingerlings).

For his part, Baterina said that a concrete road connecting the town proper to the said barangay will soon be constructed upon the release of his congressional funds to augment regular infrastructure funds from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the provincial government.

Gov. Savellano delivered construction materials for the completion/expansion of existing spring development as the main source of potable water supply of barangay residents. The provincial government also delivered materials for the completion of a multi-purpose barangay gym and a health center.

Some 500 indigent residents were provided health cards from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHILHEALTH), its yearly premiums chargeable to the congressional funds of Congressman Baterina.

Other government agencies shared in the distribution of urgent needs of residents ranging from the installation of free telephone public calling office, screening of qualified applicants for the various scholarship programs of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as well as applicants for prospective members of the Philippine National Police.

Identification of alienable public lands for land titling under the Handog Titulo program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) under the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Textbooks, sports equipment and other instructional materials were also distributed by the Department of Education (Dep-Ed), and free medicines by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Col. Anastacio A. Salud, commanding officer of the 503rd IB, PA, appealed to barangay residents to support the development programs of the government as a means of stabilizing peace and order, as well as to counter the threat of insurgency in the area.

Salud said that the Philippine Army will maintain its visibility and regular patrols in the area following the recruitment and training of members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) stationed in barangay Maratudo.

The target area is considered as one of the "information poor areas" in the region due to the absence of radio signals of cellular phones and, except in open and elevated areas, is considered as "dead spots" in terms of radio and television signals.

Other participating agencies include the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Philippine Information Agency, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture, Naval Forces North, Philippine National Police, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of the Interior and Local Governments (DILG), Department of Education, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), SMART and DIGITEL Telecommunications, Department of Health (DOH), Mariano Marcos Medical Center and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. - (Henry S. Lagasca, Ugnayan News Service/PIA-Region 1)

PIA Region I has new director

San Fernando, La Union (9 Sept.) -- Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director-General Renato S. Velasco has appointed Abraham Navarro Libadia as PIA Region I regional director effective August 13, 2003. He served as Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of PIA-1.

Prior to his appointment as regional director, Libadia held various designations among which include Officer-in-Charge; Chief of the Administrative Division and La Union Information Center Manager.

He rose from the ranks as a casual employee (Information Writer) in 1978 with the then Department of Public Information, Region 1. The break came in 1983 when after five years of waiting he was finally given a permanent position as Artist Illustrator.

When PIA was created in 1986, he was promoted to Development Information Writer then became Information Officer II in 1989, Information Officer III in 2001, Officer-in-charge in August 1, 2002 and finally as Regional Director.

He was awarded a Certificate of Merit as "Outstanding Employee - Information Center Manager" by the Provincial Government of La Union in 1987.

Libadia recently wrote a thesis entitled "Communication Resource Management of Government Offices in Region I" to highlight the importance of improving government communication strategies, networking system and accessing media infrastructure facilities in Ilocos Region. The book is co-authored by his two senior staffs, Henry S. Lagasca and Mariel B. Aquino. (Henry S. Lagasca, Ugnayan News Service/PIA, Region 1)