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NGCP Assures Stable Power: Roque Assures Albayanos Gov'T Help
NGCP Assures Stable Power: Roque Assures Albayanos Gov'T Help
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ROQUE ASSURES ALBAYANOS GOV’T HELP LEGAZPI CITY – The government will
do everything "to keep the Mayon Volcano
evacuees free from harm”.
This, according to Presi-
dential Spokesperson Atty.
Harry Roque, is what Presi-
dent Rodrigo Duterte would
like to convey to the Albaya-
nos.
Roque said during his
visit here Thursday that the
concerns of every resident of
the province affected by the
restiveness of Mayon Vol-
cano would be immediately ROQUE
relayed to the President. here shows that Malacanang
“Ang pagpunta natin ngay- is now here in Legazpi). The
on ay isang pagpapahayag na national government will al-
ang Malacanang ay nandito ways take care of you,” he
na sa Legazpi (Our coming (Turn to page 7)
Naga launches
Tabang Mayon drive
The City Government of
Naga, led by Mayor John
Bongat, together with the
Naga City People’s Coun-
cil (NCPC), Metro Naga
Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (MNCCI)
and the Lingkod Barangay The program was tagged
Office (LBO), launched a #TabangMayon2018— a
donation drive to help the Naga City humanitarian mis-
evacuees in several cit- sion in Albay which will be
ies and municipalities in heading in the province, par-
the province of Albay who ticularly in Camalig, Guino-
ON CLOUD NINE CIRIACO SANTIAGO III/KERBY ROSANES were forced to leave home batan and Ligao City, on
TOP PHOTO: Bicol’s ill-fated legendary lovers, Panganoron and Daragang Magayon, seem to be reminding for safety reasons with the Tuesday, January 23, 2018.
watchers of the volcano of their story in this cloud formation taken during its current eruption. ABOVE Mayon Volcano magmatic The mission will be help-
PHOTO: An artist’s re-imagination of the legend of Panganoron and Daragang Magayon. eruption. (Turn to page 6)
K-960 Aries St., Villa Grande Homes, Con. Grande, Naga City • TEL. (054) 884-93-76 • CP 0921-318-3720 / 0929-245-7353 / 0920-533-7766
2 BIKOL REPORTER OPINION JANUARY 21-27, 2018
We do not want to sound alarmist, but we (Atty. APA – chairs Acyatan & Co., net inflow of $404.43M same period ter way to do it is to continue with
also do not want to say later, that “we told you CPAs-DFK International – is past chair in 2016, BSP said. Foreign portfolio your usual transactions and let your
so.” of ASEAN Federation of CPAs, PIC- investments are often referred to as money’s worth find its own “level”.
PA past president and Hall-of-Famer, “hot money” because these can enter Holding back on transactions is akin
So from reading the recent signs from
and ACPAPP Lifetime Achievement and leave a market very easily. BSP to “gambling’ – sometimes you win,
Malacanang, particularly the order of the
Awardee). reported that aggregate FX portfolio sometimes you lose! Doing it the
Securities and Exchange Commission to
MEDIA PROTEST: Journalists investments amounted to $16.1B in natural way keeps you away from
revoke the license of the digital news media and their supporters came out in 2017, 8.9% lower than the $17.6B in headaches and self-blaming later
outfit, Rappler; we say, we should be worried. “black” last Friday in protest against 2016. on.
We should worry that this appear to be like what they described as a “siege” on Nearly 82% of the investments in PHL GLOBAL BONDS: The
a déjà vu. press freedom. This is a sequel to 2017 were channeled to PSE-listed Phl Bureau of the Treasury (BTr)
Remember when military men shut down the SEC decision to close down an securities, with the rest going to pe- formally commenced this week
papers and broadcast networks critical of the online news site operated by a media so-denominated government issues. its plan to issue $2billion worth of
Marcos regime. organization – RAFFLER. After the The bulk (74.8%) of the portfolio in- global bonds to become due in
questioned SEC decision came the vestments came from UK US, Singa- 2018. This is a support to prop up
We should worry that this seems to be
“coincidental” summons from the NBI pore, Luxembourg and Malaysia. On the country’s program and liability
happening all over again.
to the same outfil for a news account monthly basis, the lowest gross in- management efforts. Half of the of-
We should worry that President Duterte once that happened some four years ago! flow in 2017 were recorded in August fering volume will be used to raise
said he is an admirer of the deposed dictator; The twin actions were interpreted by ($936M), while the peak was in June new money, while the remaining $1
and it looks he is walking his talk. press advocates as government “at- ($2.0B). On quarterly basis, largest in- billion are to be swapped with ma-
We should worry that the other bastion tack’ against media. flow was in second quarter ($4.8B) = turing securities. BTr said the rate-
of democracy, like the Supreme Court, is The SEC action consisted in the to 30% of 2017 total hot money. setting auction for the new 10-year
also under siege as shown by the filing of cancellation of the corporate registra- WEAKER PESO: The Phl peso bonds is expected to occur shortly.
impeachment charges against the Chief tion of Raffler – an on line news agency continued to weaken this week - clos- According to the BTr, the gov-
Justice. which allegedly is NOT entirely owned ing at P50.80 = US$1.00. BSP de- ernment has tapped Citigroup
by Filipinos – thus, violative of our scribed the currency’s behavior as “or- Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse
We should worry that our supposed to be
constitutional mandate. The NBI sum- dinary, regular movement of the peso” Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche
representatives in Congress, in both chambers, Bank Securities Inc., Morgan Stan-
mons referred to a complaint by busi- BSP explained that the movement of
seem to have turned their sworn duty to the nessman Benjamin Keng for a news the peso reflects the currency’s flexi- ley & Co. LLC, Standard Chartered
people in ways more canine than patriotic in item written by a Raffler journalist way bility to adjust depending on economic Bank and UBS AG HK Branch as
this Year of the Dog. back in 2012. Maria Ressa Raffler condition at certain points, albeit with the joint lead managers for the new
We should worry that women leaders appear chief executive claimed that they are limited volatility. This remark should bond offering. Treasury also issued
to be the target of this siege– thus aside being “haunted’ for their critical news discourage people from speculating an invitation to holders of existing
from CJ Sereno, Senator Leila de Lima and handling about the administration. on their FX holdings which worsens global bonds to sell them back for
Ombudsman Carpio Morales – are also at the The local protesters received massive the PhP exchange situation. cash and any accrued interest on
firing line. global support! In times like this – those with FX the debt papers will be paid in cash
We should worry that most of the staff of FX OUTFLOWS – Phl foreign equity funds may try to hold on with their on January 25.
investments or “hot money” recorded dollars, while those who need FX for PROVERB: He who conceals his
Rappler, a millennial media, are young; and
overall net outflow of $205.03M in No- their purchases might decide to hold sins does not prosper, but whoever
whose youth are threatened to be wasted.
vember 2017. This is a reversal of the back awaiting “better” times. The bet- confesses them finds true mercy!
We should worry that there seem to be a
disturbing and spreading apathy among our
people. Where there are concerns, they light
up and die as fast. Ningas cogon, we put it. TRAIN Wreck TIP OF AN
ICEBERG
We should worry that our Fair Lady, Mt.
Mayon, is making her presence felt; not as the
legendary docile princess (which poet Merlinda
(Part I) HOMAR MURILLO
Email: homar.murillo@gmail.com
Bobis says is a male construction and gaze), The Duterte administration’s Tax were the latter, the TRAIN law should annual gross salary of not more
or as the serene mountain in the 100-Peso bill; Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion be declared null and void. than PhP250,000 will be exempted
but as a deadly eruptive and disruptive natural (TRAIN) program is a disaster waiting According to the website of the from income tax. This would mean
reality. to happen. It is actually a disaster that Department of Finance, the TRAIN has approximately PhP2,500 per
We should worry that the current Peso=US has already started to happen since the goal of the first package of TRAIN month additional take-home pay
Dollar exchange rate is PhP53 to $1. January 1, 2018, the start date of the is “to create a simpler, fair, and more for those who are earning not more
implementation of its first package. efficient system, as per the constitution, than PhP22,000 per month. The
We should worry that this weakening of our The government is expected to collect where the rich will have a bigger downside, however, is that the tax
currency had been the upward trend since an additional PhP130 billion through contribution and the poor will benefit exemptions for legal dependents
August last year. TRAIN at primarily the expense of the more from the government’s programs (children below 18 years old) are
We should worry that tomorrow at the filling lower middle class and the poor. and services.” The package intends to now removed. Married individuals
station or at the market, your peso will be like As if adding insult to intentional reform six aspects of taxation, namely, with children will be at the same
the Mickey Mouse during the Japanese time. injury, the Duterte administration personal income tax, estate donor’s taxation footing as single individuals
heralded the TRAIN as a “gift to the tax, the value added tax system or VAT, without dependents.
Don’t tell us we did not tell you. Filipino people.” As expected, the choir the excise tax of petroleum products, Those who are receiving
of pro-administration propagandists the excise tax of automobiles, and the minimum wage will definitely not
(bloggers, trolls and fake news tax of sugar-sweetened beverages. benefit from the new tax exemption
purveyors) sang in unison, promoting The claim of simplifying the tax simply because they are already
this anti-poor and economically system is partly true but the claim exempted under Republic Act No.
disastrous tax law. that the poor will benefit more is an 9504. Hence, TRAIN would actually
The ratification of the TRAIN law outright lie. On the contrary, the poor mean additional financial burden for
in the House of Representatives – particularly the poorest lower 10% of breadwinners, particularly for those
last December 13, 2017 was also society – will be the ones who will suffer who are earning minimum wage and
full of controversies. It didn’t have most because of the inflationary effects below.
the required number of physically of excise taxes on petroleum products. Families of five members earning
present congressmen according to The middle class won’t fare any better PhP10,000/month or below are
some observers and lawmakers from either even with the adjusted bracket considered by NEDA as belonging to
the opposition. Neither debates nor of taxable income. The supposedly the poorest sector of society. They will
deliberations took place. However, as additional take-home pay will barely definitely suffer the economic impact
if by some magic or telepresence, the offset the higher utility bills and higher of TRAIN. Additional excise taxes
official journal was approved indicating prices of consumer goods. The tax on on petroleum and sugary products
a quorum. So, either the opposition lower-end automobiles will also be mean that the basic commodities,
congressmen were inventing stories or higher but the tax on luxury vehicles including rice, will become less
the pro-Duterte lawmakers were lying will be cut as much as PhP337,000. affordable to these poor families who
through their teeth and committed a Personal Income Tax are merely subsisting.
grave violation of the constitution. If it Under TRAIN, those who have (to be concluded…)
EARTHQUAKE AWARENESS
Pursuant to the mandate by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management
Council (NDRRMC), the Department of Public Works and Highways, 5th District
Engineering Office conducted the 4th National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill
(NSED) last Dec. 15, 2017. Said activity is being done in all government agency
for their employees awareness to the dangers of having an earthquake and
even fires. This was also witnessed by some personnel from the Bureau of Fire
DANGEROUS ROAD MARY JOY VALLEDOR Protection (BFP) as evaluator, over-all team leader is acting District Engineer
Continuous rain flooded the roads in Cabuyoan, Panganiban, making them Ferdinand E. Joven with Engineer Edgar R. Briagas as brigade commander and
almost impassable for cars. Benjie Pasano as ground commander.
4 BIKOL REPORTER HALO-HALO JANUARY 21-27, 2018
KANTONG Kontemporaryong
DIS *KARTE
*KUSYON
*KURSO
PUTIKON! Ngirhat
May nakakatakot na kiling, kun Martial Law; magpoon sa Europa
FRANK PEÑONES JR.
DTI
LEGAZPI CITY -- The Department of Trade and In- priced basic necessities like canned sardines, evaporated
dustry (DTI) in Bicol has warned traders against increas- and condensed milk, coffee, laundry bar, detergent powder,
ing the prices of basic commodities after the province was candles, bread, salt, bottled water, and instant noodles, Be-
placed under a state of calamity due to the Mayon volcanic rango said.
warns
activity. She added, however, that “we have so far not noticed any
Jocelyn Berango, DTI regional information officer, in an exorbitant pricing in various markets in Albay”.
interview Wednesday said, businessmen must not take ad- Berango said there must be no price increase within the
vantage of the situation of the evacuees and other people af- 60-day period upon declaration of a state of calamity for Al-
traders
fected by the multi-hazard -volcanic eruption, flood and heavy bay on Tuesday afternoon.
rains. "We are closely monitoring the price and supply of basic She asked the traders to show compassion especially to
necessities in stores throughout the province of Albay," she those who were affected by the calamity. "They are already
said. out of comfort so let us help them by being compassionate,"
DTI would make sure there was sufficient and reasonably- she added. -CONNIE CALIPAY/PNA
6 BIKOL REPORTER JANUARY 21-27, 2018
ACTO FIRMS UP 2018 TOURISM . . . ings for local guides. Since tour to conceptualize and implement
EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT
guiding trainings are expensive the establishment of a city mu-
will push through this year, and To date, the city has more than
hopefully it will improve the ac- 40 travel agencies and around
which results in increase in ser- seum as this city don’t have yet WITH SALE
vice charges and tour packages, a museum of its own that really Notice is hereby given that the named parties are
cess to Mt. Isarog,” Santos stated. half of it are already DOT accred-
ACTO will then give opportunity focuses on Naga itself.
With the expected increase in ited and are clamouring for tour- the legitimate and sole heirs of the late ROWENA B.
to working students, especially The ACTO chief reported that
tourist arrivals, ACTO pushes for ist guides because of the increas- AGORITA who died in Calabanga, Camarines Sur
the tourism students with Nation- they have already coordinated
the setting-up of a Tourist Infor- ing clients, but unfortunately, the on April 10, 2015 left a parcel of land situated in Bgy.
al Certificate II (NC II) on tour with the National Historical
mation Center with tourist guides city lacks tourist guides.
guiding. Commission of the Philippines Lugsad, Calabanga, Camarines Sur; that pursuant
to cater to the needs of the visi- ACTO have already formu-
“They will be trained on first (NCHP) on this matter, have to the provisions of Section 1, Rule 74 of the Re-
tors. lated a program to conduct train-
aid so that their training will be conducted trainings, coordinat- vised Rules of Court, the parties hereby agreed to
complete, and then they can be ed with Bicol historian Danny divide and adjudicate the real properties described
Sunday Gospel: Jn 1:35-42 hired on a part-time basis or on- Gerona, history advocates and in equal shares; that for and in consideration of the
call basis of the travel agencies. potential stakeholders who can
That way, we are able to help the sum of SEVENTY THOUSAND (P70,000.00) pesos
Gospel: Mk 10:13-16 loan their artefacts that can be
People were bringing their little children to him to have students and at the same time fill- paid in hand by ANNIE B. SARTE, the parties do
displayed in the museum.
him touch them; and the disciples rebuked them for this. in the requirement of our travel
The plan is to put up the city
hereby SELL, CONVEY and TRANSFER by way of
When Jesus noticed it, he was very angry and said, “Let the agencies,” Santos said. ABSOLUTE SALE unto Annie B. Sarte, her heirs and
museum at the second floor of the
children come to me and don’t stop them, for the kingdom of For a city as old as Naga, assigns their rights and interests to the parcel of land
ACTO is given the responsibility Raul Roco Library located at the
God belongs to such as these. Truly, I say to you, whoever described, as acknowledged before Notary Public
City Hall Compound.
does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter
Santos is requesting the sup- Atty. Francisco R. Velasco, Doc. No. 23, Page No. 7,
it.” Then he took the children in his arms and, laying his hands
on them, blessed them.
NAGA . . . port of the other departments Book No. XXI, Series of 2018.
Lectio Divina ing the evacuees with hygiene such as the CEPPIO and the En-
Read: Isaiah captures the joy and delight of the people kit supplies and food items— vironment and Natural Resources
BIKOL REPORTER
at the birth of the child of the promise, and how this child toothbrushes, toothpastes, Office (ENRO) to achieve their
would redefine their destiny. Paul highlights how the birth of
Published: Jan. 21, 28; Feb. 4, 2018
target. -JRM-PIA5/CamSur
Christ Jesus births us into the identity of God’s own children.
sanitary napkins, body soaps,
Mark reports that Jesus was “very angry” when children were diapers, face towels, canned
prevented from coming to him. goods, rice, noodles and bot-
Reflect: We celebrate the feast of St. Niño today, and tled water.
fittingly, the readings revolve around the theme of birth and Cash donations under the
FOR DECEMBER
NAME OF DECEASED DATE OF INTERMENT
AMANDO B. ARIAS DECEMBER 1, 2017
DANILO A. GONZALES DECEMBER 2, 2017
ERLINDA D. ALFONSO DECEMBER 3, 2017
MARIA B. DEBLOIS DECEMBER 8, 2017
FLORENTINA D. NICOLAS DECEMBER 8, 2017
RAMON D. NICOLAS DECEMBER 8, 2017
NILO M. VIRAY DECEMBER 8, 2017
GENEVIEVE P. NEO DECEMBER 9, 2017
VOLTAIRE G. DU JUNCO DECEMBER 11, 2017
HERMONICO A. ANTIPALA DECEMBER 12, 2017
MARILOU C. VILLAMOR DECEMBER 13, 2017
ANNABELLE B. TUY DECEMBER 13, 2017
ROGELIO D. GUERIÑA DECEMBER 14, 2017
JOSEFINA D. GUERIÑA DECEMBER 14, 2017
RITA D. GUERIÑA DECEMBER 14, 2017
ANTONIO E. GUERIÑA DECEMBER 14, 2017
ADOLFO C. ABRAGAN DECEMBER 15, 2017
MANUEL S. MORAN DECEMBER 16, 2017
HELEN B. BOSQUILLOS DECEMBER 17, 2017
LOURDES V. REMODO DECEMBER 19, 2017
EUTIQUIO R. RELLEVE DECEMBER 21, 2017
RONNIE Y. NUÑEZ DECEMBER 21, 2017
REYNALDO R. CHAVEZ DECEMBER 21, 2017
KEVIN GREGG BYRNE DECEMBER 23, 2017
GLORIOSA D. TRANQUILINO DECEMBER 29, 2017
GUIA AMORE O. JOAQUIN DECEMBER 29, 2017
LOURDES C. JULIA DECEMBER 30, 2017
JANUARY 21-27, 2018 BIKOL REPORTER 7
HOUSE EYEING DISASTER DEPARTMENT . . .
eightyear-old Republic Act ous stakeholders during a di- “Now more than ever, we
10121, which created the Na- saster as well as post-disaster feel the need to create a su-
tional Disaster and Risk Re- or calamity. per government agency, see-
duction Framework, a land- Under the concept, the ing the devastation around us
mark legislation but which DRR will be separate from the every time a disaster strikes,”
falls short in creating “an Office of Civil Defense, which Salceda said.
institution that is sufficiently will continue to perform its In the face of the onslaught
in a position to oversee the original mandate, particu- of disasters, the country needs
implementation of stream- larly its duty to administer a “strategic and systematic ap-
lined disaster risk reduction comprehensive national civil proaches to disaster preven-
and management policies na- defense and assistance pro- tion, mitigation, preparedness,
tionwide. gram, training of community response and the effective
Salceda said the DRR will volunteers for civil defense programs on rehabilitation
have the necessary authority, and assistance, and other and recovery handled by an
mandate and resources to lead mechanisms for community agency with its own man-
and coordinate efforts of vari- preparedness, he said. date,” he said.
4 CATANDUANES BOARD PLACERS GET REWARDS . . . MEDICAL MISSION FROM DOWN UNDER
“the cash incentives serve as als for bringing the honor and “We are very honored THE MARONITE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA brought in doctors, dentists, nurses and volunteers
a token of appreciation for at their own expense, free medicines and medical supplies, for their 6th medical mission in
the prestige not only to their to bring this triumph to the
Naga. Their yearly mission started in 2013 in partnership with the Missionaries of the Poor (in
their excellent performance parents and CSU but also to province,” Aldave said. Brgy. Cararayan) when Fr. Joseph Ssali was still its Rector, and continued to this day by their
and being pride of Catan- every Catandunganon. According to them, the new Rector, Fr. Lawrence Mendoza.
duanes.” The topnotchers were money would be of great
He disclosed that the fund
for the award both came from
grateful upon receiving the
incentives. For them it serves
help to their studies now that
they are taking up Nursing at
CARD MRI RELEASES P18 M DISASTER AID . . .
his office and the Office of as recognition of their hard- CSU. Manila. said May Dawat, chief exec- for the request of our opera-
the Governor. work and determination in at- They did not expect to top Strengthening 8-24 hour utive officer of CARD MBA. tions staff on list of members
Governor Cua likewise taining such achievement. the exam, the three affirmed. claims settlement Time for rehabilitation who will be under morato-
lauded the young profession- What they truly hope for is With the success of its 1-3- The day after Urduja and rium,” said Vicente Briones,
all of them would pass the 5 day claims settlement strat- Vinta left the Philippine Area deputy executive director of
TODAY IS THE FEAST OF STO. NIÑO . . . MLE since it is required of egy, CARD MBA launched a of Responsibility (PAR), all CARD, Inc.
them to pass the exam to be new strategy in mid 2017, the the executive heads of CARD Affected clients may
of the two. The statue is clothed is an annual feast every January
8-24 hour claims settlement. went straight to the affected also avail calamity loan and
in rich fabrics, wears jewelry on the third Sunday which is able to pursue nursing.
“Para sa amin mas ok na The new strategy aims to areas to check the status of its housing improvement loan
such as gilded neck chain and marked by fiesta, sinulog danc-
yung nakapasa kaming lahat pay all the claims due of its clients and operations. with longer terms. More-
bears imperial regalia including ing in the streets, and prayers to
magkaklase kaysa may na- policy holders within eight “That was also our way over, CARD MRI, through
a gold crown, globus cruciger, Senor Santo Nino statue]
katop nga, may bagsak na- hours and maximum of 24 of listening to our clients es- the CARD-MRI Develop-
and various sceptres mostly do- The Holy Child's image
man so, yung pagiging top hours right after any incident pecially on the things they ment Institute (CMDI), is
nated by devotees. is liturgically celebrated dur-
blessing na rin siya kung that would cost their lives need, which we do not cover also working on the possible
The image received papal ing weekly Mass, novenas and
baga,” Soriao stated. and properties. at the moment but might be modules that would assist the
recognition on 28 April 1965, Christian holidays. Along with
The full support of their The Urduja and Vinta in- a welcome initiative for us to clients of CARD in coping up
when Pope Paul VI issued a pa- the Black Nazarene statue of Je-
parents and their class’ team- cident marked 96.5% accom- consider in the future,” said with the situation.
pal bull for the Canonical Coro- sus Christ, it is the most popular
work helped them to over- plishment. “What we have Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip, “The module will also
nation of the statue and raised object of devotion in the Philip-
come shortcomings and be achieved is already worth founder and chair of CARD help our clients in thinking
the church that houses it to a ba- pines. The Santo Niño image is
successful to attain their goal, celebrating. We will, howev- MRI. alternative efforts, in case
silica status to mark the 400th replicated in many homes and
they added. er, continue to push ourselves For the meantime, mora- their major source of income
anniversary of the first Chris- business establishments, with
It could be remembered more and do the best efforts torium of loan collections is damaged, to sustain their
tian mission and rediscovery of different titles reinterpreted in
various areas of the country. It that on July 7, 2017, the said we can to pay all the claims have been raised for affected daily living,” Dr. Alip con-
the statue in Cebu. The image
within the given time-frame,” clients. “We are just waiting cluded.
has historically attracted devo- is one of the most beloved and batch from the Realized Lad-
tional worship in Philippines, recognizable cultural icons in derized Program-BSN of
attracting devotional worship, the Philippines, with the origi- CSU who got 100% passing
processions and pilgrimage, nal permanently encased within rate (20 out of 20) paid cour-
with numerous Filipino pil- bulletproof glass in a chapel at tesy on Governor Cua and
grims touching or kissing the the Basílica Menor del Santo EBMC BOT members, at the
foot of the statue's stand. There Niño. provincial hospital days after
the release of the result of the
Republic of the Philippines Midwifery Board Exam giv-
LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY OFFICE en by the Professional Regu-
Province: Camarines Sur lations Commission (PRC)
City/Municipality: Libmanan last April 10-11, 2017.
2018 TOURISM PUSH NAGA CITY -- With just a few months to go before summer comes
in, the Arts, Culture and Tourism Office (ACTO) here, is gearing up to
attract more local and foreign visitors to experience what the city and
the province of Camarines Sur has to offer for them.
In a press conference held last week at the City month the total tourist arrivals
Events Protocol and Public Information Office in the city. But based on our
(CEPPIO), ACTO Chief Alec Santos briefed the estimate, we have an increase
local media on the developments and accomplish- of about 10 percent, which is
ments of the office with regards to the promotion higher by the national average
of the tourism industry in the city. of eight (8) percent. So more
Santos revealed that in 2016, there were 1.21 or less, our conservative esti-
million tourist arrivals in Naga and it is expected mate increase in 2017 is be-
that there is an increase in 2017, although they are tween 1.3 to 1.4 million tour-
still in the process of collecting the data for the last ists,” Santos explained.
quarter of that year. The same increase is ex-
“When ACTO started collecting data in 2013, pected of them for 2018 as
there were only 859,000 annual tourist arrivals. Al-
though we are still collecting the data for the last
they will intensify their pro-
motion as per directive of City Today is the Feast
SANTOS quarter of 2017, we will know by the end of the Mayor John Bongat and the
Sangguniang Panlungsod to of Sto. Niño de Cebu
House eyeing Disaster Department
promote the city aggressively.
The Santo Niño de Cebú landed on the island.
As to the development of
(Cebuano: Balaang Bata sa The statue measures ap-
roads and infrastructures to
Sugbo, Filipino: Batang Ba- proximately twelve inches
Congress is consolidating said Rep. Joey Salceda, who tourist spots, ACTO have fa-
nal ng Cebu, Spanish: Santo tall, is made of a dark wood in
43 legislative proposals on heads the technical working cilitated with the Department
Niño de Cebú) is a Roman baroque style and depicts the
disaster response to create a group on the disaster agency of Tourism (DOT) and the
Catholic title of the Child Child Jesus as a king dressed
“super government agency” legislation. Department of Public Works
Jesus based on a religious like Spanish royalty. The ex-
that will be tasked to carry Congress would likely and Highways (DPWH) on
relic icon in Cebu City of pressions, accessories and
out a consistent calamity de- prioritize and expedite the the request for funding for the
the Philippines. The image hand posture of Santo Nino de
fense program in the coun- passage of a pending bill that improvement of roads going
is venerated as miraculous Cebu are similar to the Infant
try. seeks to create the proposed to destinations particularly
by many Filipino Catholics. Jesus of Prague now located
“Since typhoons and other Department of Disaster Resil- going to Mt. Isarog.
It is one of the oldest Chris- in Czech Republic. It is be-
calamities have been getting ience (DRR), he said. “There is already a bud-
tian relics in the Philippines, lieved that both statues origi-
stronger and broader in impact Salceda had earlier filed get allocated for this by the
originally given in 1521 as a nated from the same Europe-
in recent years, the creation of House Bill 6075 seeking the national government and we
a well structured agency to creation of the DRR. gift by explorer Ferdinand an source, with the devotion
have complied the require-
manage a broad climate-di- The bill seeks to amend the Magellan to Rajah Huma- to Santo Nino starting earlier
ments, so the implementation
saster program is necessary,” bon and his wife when he (Turn to page 7)
(Turn to page 7) Cong. SALCEDA (Turn to page 6)
4 Catanduanes Board
Placers get rewards
Four Catanduanes State 89.25%, and Alben Brizo Ber-
University’s Midwifery Board nal who ended up 10th place
Exam placers received cash with 88.75%. However, Vil-
incentives from the Provincial lamor was unable to come to
Government at the Office of the the awarding.
Governor last January 16, 2017. Provincial Board Member
Governor Joseph C. Cua and Rafael Zuniega, SP Chair of
PBM Rafael Zuniega person- Committee on Health spon-
ally handed the cheque worth sored the SP Resolution on
P15,000 to Kathryn Avery A. granting cash incentives to to-
Aldave who topped the board pnotchers of CSU – College of
with 91.45%, while P10,000 Health Sciences (CHS) in the
each to Claudine C. Villamor Midwifery Licensure Exami-
who ranked 3rd with 90.45%, nation.
John Nicholas Anton C. So- As stated in the resolution,
riao who got the 6th place with (Turn to page 7)