In Tarlac, 40 Aetas receive P200-T DOLE livelihood assistance

In Tarlac, 40 Aetas receive P200-T DOLE livelihood assistance

TARLAC CITY – Some 40 Aetas from Bamban, Tarlac are now budding entrepreneurs thanks to a P200-T livelihood assistance they recently received from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

DOLE Regional Director Atty. Ana Dione reported to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III that the indigenous beneficiaries reside from remote villages of Sitio San Martin and Mabilog.

“We are reaching out to far flung areas of Central Luzon with the goal of providing more livelihood programs for marginalized individuals and groups. We are hopeful that through our help, those who do not qualify for formal employment, would have gainful opportunities by venturing into small businesses instead,” Dione said.

DOLE Tarlac Field Office head Efren Reyes said that the beneficiaries received their livelihood assistance in form of 200 pieces of rice cavans for their rice-retailing project.

Sr. Labor and Employment Officer David Estanislao, Bamban PESO Manager Teresita Ronquillo, and Skills Registry System Coordinator Desire Julian, facilitated the distribution of rice cavans to said beneficiaries.

Reyes also noted that the livelihood assistance was sourced from the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP).

“We have partnered and coordinated with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of Bambam in profiling and determining the possible livelihood assistance for our Aeta-beneficiaries,” Reyes explained, adding:

“Based on our consultation with them, the most viable project for them is rice-retailing since the production of rice in their uplands is not enough to supply their community’s consumption because they plant rice only once a year, hence, majority of their lands were planted with other commodities such as sweet potato, taro, corn and ginger.”

The beneficiaries have also undergone an Entrepreneurial Development Training (EDT) to ensure that they can manage and transform their livelihood projects into formidable and sustainable businesses.

The livelihood assistance is a blessing for new opportunities says Loida Punzalan, a group leader representing one of two Aeta communities which received the livelihood assistance.

“Kami po ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa DOLE at PESO sa ipinagkaloob nilang tulong pangkabuhayan sa amin. Dati, ang mithiin lamang namin ay kahit hindi na kami yumaman, basta kumain lang nang sapat ang aming mga pamilya, pero dahil sa mga natutunan naming sa inyo, nais na naming mapa-unlad ang kabuhayan na ito at makatulong sa iba pa naming kasamahang katutubo,” Punzalan said.

Lina Sanchez, who represents the other group leader, added that they will strive to do their best in making their rice-retailing project sustainable for their communities.

“Umasa po kayo na ang ipinagkaloob po ninyong tulong sa amin ay aming pagyayamanin upang umangat ang antas ng buhay ng aming mga pamilya,” Sanchez said.

The DILEEP is one of the flagship programs of the DOLE that is geared to uplift the lives of marginalized individuals or groups.

END/Jerry Borja with reporting from Desire Julian

SM City Cabanatuan a venue of the first-ever farm tourism caravan

Sheen Crisologo

Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija - Farm tourism in the Philippines is being developed as a relatively new way to attract tourist the same way in helping farmers to supplement their agricultural income is soon to be a big-break to come in this province known by many as the “Rice Granary of the Philippines” and the “Food Bowl of Central Luzon”.

Recently, the first-ever tourism caravan held at SM City Cabanatuan wherein Senator Cynthia Villar made an announcement that Nueva Ecija will become one of the top Farm Tourism Destination in the country supported by the new law R.A. No. 10816, also known as the “Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016”.

“Farm tourism, as defined by the law, is the practice of attracting visitors and tourists to farm areas for production, educational, and recreational purposes in which this province has existing facilities and more to develop.” said Villar in her message.

Farm Tourism Spots

Nueva Ecija as major contributor of rice in the country continuously emerging through research and development institution led by Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) located at Science City of Munoz.

PhilRice visitors can walk-through the experimental fields, which highlight new technologies and varieties, and long-term researches. They also appreciate art and culture at the Rice Science Museum and gain better understanding on rice science at the gene bank; plant breeding laboratory and screen houses; and engineering, mechanization, and post-harvest facilities.

Philippine Carabao Center also located in this town provide major support in upgrading and increasing the genetic potential of native carabaos milk, meat and draft, and in continuous market widening and development.

PCC’s Visitor’s Assistance Office (VAO) can provide orientation of the programs and services, followed by a tour to the gene pool and milking parlor and a demonstration on processing dairy products in their outlet known as Milka Kreme.

The Philippine Carabao Center’s (PCC) also has its state of the art facility like national bull farm, semen processing center, and cryobanking, which expected to encourage a more aggressive propagation of superior animals in the country and an enlivened buffalo-based industry.

Nueva Ecija is also the home of Philippine Mechanization (PhilMech) also located in this town tasked to generate, extend and commercialize appropriate and problem-oriented agriculture and fishery postharvest and mechanization technologies.

DTI turns over milking machines to dairy farmers in Nueva Ecija thru SSF scheme

SCIENCE CITY OF MUNOZ, Nueva Ecija, Aug. 4 (PNA) --The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has turned over milking machines to dairy farmers here under its shared service facility (SSF) program.

The beneficiaries of the DTI’s SSF milking machines are the farmer-trustees of the 11 dairy cooperatives being assisted by the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), which is the agency’s National Impact Zone (NIZ) under the Carabao Development Program (CDP).

The units consist of two double-bucket type milking machines and two milk cans, each with 40-liter capacity. The milking machines come in two types: electrical and gas engine-driven

The SSF grantees are the Nag-iisang Masikap Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PMPC), Pulong Buli PMPC, Bagong Pag-asa sa Bagong Talavera PMPC, Casile Dairy PMPC, Simula ng Panibagong Bukas MPC, Ayos Lomboy Dairy Cooperative, Buklod Producers Cooperative, KAPAGENA, Kabulihan Producers Cooperative, Dimasalang Sur Credit Cooperative, and San Vicente Dairy Producers Cooperative.

Dr. Peregrino G. Duran, team leader of the PCC dairy herd improvement-enterprise development program, said the maximum utilization of milking machine is highly recommended to keep it in good working condition.

Duran said that only the province of Nueva Ecija received the most number of milking machines under DTI’s SSF scheme.

Engineer Eladio N. Duran, DTI small and medium enterprise development division chief, said that any farmer-cooperator who wants to borrow unutilized units can submit a letter-request to DTI to avail of the equipment.

“You need to utilize the milking machine otherwise it will become rusty and eventually unserviceable. It is also significant for all of you to know the importance of regular milking of the animals to prevent mastitis and to boost its milk production potential,” Dr. Felomino V. Mamuad, PCC deputy executive director, reminded the farmer-trustees. (PNA)
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Old rivals Umali, Joson meet, greet in wake of Ecija vice gov’s mom

Manny Galvez

CABANATUAN CITY – Political archrivals, Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali and former vice governor Edward Thomas Joson met and greeted each other during a chance encounter after several years in the wake of Vice Gov. Jose Gay Padiernos’ mom in Taguig City.

          Umali and Joson, eldest son of former four-time governor Tomas Joson III, came across each other at the wake of Francisca Garcia-Padiernos at the Heritage Park in Taguig Sunday night.

          The governor came to the wake with his wife, third district Rep. Czarina Umali while Joson came with his cousins, Board Member Rey Joson and Quezon Mayor Dean Joson.

          A board member who was privy to the meeting said the archrivals were cordial to each other and exchanged pleasantries after Vice Governor Padiernos sidled up to the governor and informed him about the presence of the Josons.

          The Umalis and Josons sat on two separate tables during the occasion which also saw the presence in separate nights of several high-profile visitors, guests and well-wishers, including Vice President Jejomar Binay, Sen. Nancy Binay and political leaders from the province, including Reps. Magnolia Antonino and Joseph Gilbert Violago, former allies of Umali.

          Antonino’s father Rodolfo, a former three-term congressman, is running for governor against Czarina.

          Governor Umali and Edward Thomas twice squared off in the bitterly contested 2001 congressional and the 2010 gubernatorial elections. Both times, Umali emerged victorious.

          It was Umali who ended the 48-year reign of the Josons at the Capitol when he defeated Edward Thomas’ uncle, former vice governor Mariano Cristino in the elections.

          Aside from beating Edward Thomas and Mariano Cristino, Umali also defeated Mariano Cristino’s wife, former four-term first district Rep. Josefina Manuel-Joson in the 2013 gubernatorial polls.

          In a talk with reporters, Umali downplayed the meeting, saying it has been customary on his part to meet and greet with people from the other political camp.

          “Yes, it was the first time we met after a long time. If he (Edward Thomas) was condoling with the family of the Padiernos, I, too, am condoling,” he said.

          He said that in the past, he has also come across the other Josons like Tomas III, Mariano Cristino and former congressman Eduardo Nonato and he had seen to it that they greet each other, in spite of their past political encounters.

          “I can’t be accused by anybody of being arrogant because I go out of my way to be cordial with them and with everybody,” he said.

          For his part, Vice Governor Padiernos said the meeting is a demonstration that political leaders in Nueva Ecija are one big family. “Irregardless of our political affiliations, still we are a family and that’s why politics can’t divide us,” he said.

          He said he was not playing politics. “If I would be playing politics, then I would have brought the remains of my Mom in my hometown in Gapan City but I did not,” he said. – Manny Galvez                   

Army general wants Fort Magsaysay included in BCDA master plan

Manny Galvez

FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – The leadership of the Army’s 7^th Infantry Division housed inside this military reservation is proposing that the camp be covered by the development plans of the Bases Conversion Development Authority which is crafting a master plan for military camps in the country.

          Brig. Gen. Vic Castro, acting 7^th ID commanding general, said that the reservation, originally spanning 73,000 hectares but is now down to only 45,837 hectares, is not covered by the master plan of the BCDA.

          “I hope that this camp be included in the base development plan of the BCDA so that its development can be fast-tracked,” Castro said.

          He said if that is the case, the military reservation – located 20 kilometers apart from Cabanatuan City and the provincial capital Palayan City - can become a hub for economic activities given its vast potentials.

          Castro made the proposal even as the BCDA has earmarked P120 million for a master plan for the partial development of Camp Aguinaldo and other military camps.

          BCDA president and chief executive officer Arnel Paciano Casanova said they are talking with the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces in securing the survey and title for the lands as well as preparing the master plan where it needs to invest in infrastructure in the long-term and the various camps into revenue-generating projects that would provide funding for the modernization of the military.

          The BCDA is mandated to transform former military bases into alternative productive civilian use.

          Among those being considered for sale, lease or upgrading by the BCDA are the 33,220-hectare Camp Peralta in Capiz, the 1,925-hectare Camp O’Donnel in Tarlac and the 42,000-hectare Camp Kibaritan in Bukidnon, all owned by the AFP.

          The goal is to help modernize these camps, which have idle or unused areas that could be tapped fro either redevelopment for mixed-use purposes or to create livelihood in the countryside, particularly for camps located in the provinces.  

          Castro said the reservation, which houses the general headquarters of the 7^th ID covering 13 provinces in Luzon, was visited recently by DND Undersecretary Fernando Manalo to look into possible economic opportunities inside the camp.

          “We are open to future projects here at Fort Magsaysay,” he said, adding that initially, projects on tap include the setting up of a 3,000-hectare bamboo plantation and plantation for jathropa.

          Castro  said one of the key components of the development of the camp is its conversion into a premier tourism destination. He said the provincial government of Nueva Ecija led by Gov. Aurelio Umali and its provincial tourism office has pledged to help in its promotion as a tourist spot in the province.

          During the term of then-commanding general and now Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) commanding general, Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, he proposed various activities to enhance tourism inside the camp among them wall climbing, trekking, hiking, mountain biking, camping, motocross riding, 4x4 offroad-driving, horseback-riding and water sports activities such scuba diving, wind surfing, jet skiing, beach volleyball and parasailing in the camp’s coastal areas in Dingalan, Aurora.            

          Among the reservation’s tourist attractions are the historic Aquino-Diokno shrine, the Heroes Memorial, the Pahingahan complex, the golf course, the Kaugnay clubhouse, the Mount Taclang Damulag and the camp airfield.

          The shrine was where President Aquino’s late father, former senator Benigno “Ninoy6” Aquino and ex-senator Jose Diokno were placed under solitary confinement from March 12 to April 11,1973 after nearly six months of detention in Fort Bonifacio. – Manny Galvez  

    

   

DILG confers P1M Performance Challenge Fund to Zambales town

DILG confers P1M Performance Challenge Fund to Zambales town

By: Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu

 

IBA, Zambales -- Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently conferred Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) check, amounting to P1 million, to the town of Palauig.

 

“The PCF is bestowed to local government units who earlier bagged the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH),” DILG Regional Director Florida Dijan explained.

 

SGH is conferred to those who have excelled in the areas of planning, budgeting, revenue mobilization, financial management, and budget execution, procurement and resource mobilization.

 

Also, LGU recipients of the said merit have obtained a “no adverse report” from the Commission on Audit, which means that they have complied with all the requirements of the government’s auditing agency.

 

Dijan added that the PCF, amounting to P7 million for provincial, P3 million for city and P1 million for municipal grantees; will be utilized for projects supportive to the attainment of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals such as eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, reduce child mortality and promote gender equality.

 

The municipality will use the fund for the concreting of Sto. Niño – Tuktok Pangol Road. (CLJD-PIA 3)