CABANATUAN CITY -- Nueva Ecija, a basically agricultural province more than 100 kilometers north of Manila, was apared from the destruction brought by typhoon Milenyo which left 48 people in the Philippines dead last Sept. 28.
The Department of Public Works and Highways in Nueva Ecija province has not reported any closure of major roads as in the past disasters. The agriculture office also has no damage report of press time.
While the province has been affected by the Luzonwide power outage noontime, the local distributor managed to restore supply at about 6:30 p.m. Business is going normal in the province amid continued darkness in Manila, the Philippine's capital.
Curiously, Catholics in Talavera town even took time opening the new Parish, in the name of San Lorenzo Ruiz, in Barangay Pinagpanaan on Sept. 28, right when rains pour. Rev. Father Nicolas officiated the Holy Mass which was followed by a party at a gymnasium.
Friday, September 29, 2006
PhilRice showcases rice tech in AgriLink 2006
The Philippine Rice Research Institute, the leading agency of the Republic of the Philippine in rice research and development, showcases the latest technology in the country's staple production as its participates in AgriLinkl 2006, an international agribusiness and food show on Oct. 5-7 at the World Trade Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City.
"Our booth showcases the latest developments in rice research particularly onvarieties and seeds, nutrient management, pest management, rice and rice-basedfood products, machines, and technology promotion. Our displays include the most popular rice varieties in the Philippines, cropmanagement tools, rice and rice-based food products, and books and other references," said Kathleen D. Solis. editor of the PhilRice News Team.
PhilRice is based in Barangay Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.
Solis added that the agency also provides a video presentation on the applications of biotechnology inrice production. Other video presentations will be on hybrid rice and the use of quality seeds in rice production, she said.
Copies of selected reading materials on rice production will be given away to visitors and guests on the opening day which is Oct. 5.
"Our booth showcases the latest developments in rice research particularly onvarieties and seeds, nutrient management, pest management, rice and rice-basedfood products, machines, and technology promotion. Our displays include the most popular rice varieties in the Philippines, cropmanagement tools, rice and rice-based food products, and books and other references," said Kathleen D. Solis. editor of the PhilRice News Team.
PhilRice is based in Barangay Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.
Solis added that the agency also provides a video presentation on the applications of biotechnology inrice production. Other video presentations will be on hybrid rice and the use of quality seeds in rice production, she said.
Copies of selected reading materials on rice production will be given away to visitors and guests on the opening day which is Oct. 5.
Union prexy of Methodist-run university suspended
CABANATUAN CITY - The president of the employees union in Wesleyan University-Philippines, a popular uiversity run by the Methodist, in Cabanatuan City was suspended for 30-days startting September 25, 2006 over charges filed by 12 nursing students.
In an open letter, the officers and members of the Wesleyan University-Philippines, Cabanatuan City’s Faculty Staff Association-Lakas at Gabay ng Mangagagawang Nagkakaisa assailed as “politically motivated” and “unjust” the suspension of Mrs. Corazon C. Gonzales, union president.
The suspension was contained in a memorandum issued by Mrs. Erlinda C. Mones, director of Human Resource Development Department, in “view of the administrative charges or serious misconduct” filed by
several nursing students.
Gonzales was barred from entering the university campus, located at Mabini Ext. , Cabanatuan City, in the duration of the suspension except for purposes of submitting her counter-affidavit, appearing and testifying before the investigating committee and to attend the re-negotiations of collective bargaining agreement between the union and the management panels, the order also said.
But lawyer Guillermo Maglaya, WU-P President, said the group that protests Gonzales' suspension does not really represents the employees' union. "This is only a small number," Maglaya said, saying the suspension order was part of the due process. He said the university is actually giving Gonzales the fair play as she was allowed to attend re-negotiation proceedings on their collective bargaining agreement.
PinoyChronicle
In an open letter, the officers and members of the Wesleyan University-Philippines, Cabanatuan City’s Faculty Staff Association-Lakas at Gabay ng Mangagagawang Nagkakaisa assailed as “politically motivated” and “unjust” the suspension of Mrs. Corazon C. Gonzales, union president.
The suspension was contained in a memorandum issued by Mrs. Erlinda C. Mones, director of Human Resource Development Department, in “view of the administrative charges or serious misconduct” filed by
several nursing students.
Gonzales was barred from entering the university campus, located at Mabini Ext. , Cabanatuan City, in the duration of the suspension except for purposes of submitting her counter-affidavit, appearing and testifying before the investigating committee and to attend the re-negotiations of collective bargaining agreement between the union and the management panels, the order also said.
But lawyer Guillermo Maglaya, WU-P President, said the group that protests Gonzales' suspension does not really represents the employees' union. "This is only a small number," Maglaya said, saying the suspension order was part of the due process. He said the university is actually giving Gonzales the fair play as she was allowed to attend re-negotiation proceedings on their collective bargaining agreement.
PinoyChronicle
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
9000 gov't workers fear displacement
CABANATUAN CITY -The employees’ federation of the Department of Agriculture sought on recently a series of “integrative consultations” with the department officials and Department of Budget and Management amid fears of “massive social and financial dislocation and constructive dismissal” of some 9,000 people under a planned rationalization.
Antonio Reyes, president of the National Federation of Employees’ Associations of the DA, said that the integrative consultation with DBM would clarify residual issues and improve the draft of the rationalization plan that will affect at least 28 DA-attached agencies.
The move, he said, will result to in eventual layoffs due to scaling down, phaseout, abolition and mergers, which would require redeployment of employees to other offices.
Reyes said his group, composed of 25,000 employees, has submitted 10 position papers, statements and manifestos on the negative effects of the plan, drafted under Executive Order 366, which he said was drawn up without consultation with stakeholders such as farmers, fisherfolk and rank-and-file employees.
In the National Irrigation Administration alone, some 2,000 employees are threatened by the plan, said Reyes.
Under the 25-page draft EO entitled “Department of Agriculture Rationalization Plan of 2006,” the secretary is given broad powers to undertake rationalization actions such as scaling down, phasing out, abolition, strengthening, deactivation, merger, consolidation and regularization. It also provides that the 28 DA-attached agencies will be restructured and grouped “according to functions to achieve efficiency, eliminate conflict of interests and duplication, and enhance the quality of service.” (Armand M. Galang)
Antonio Reyes, president of the National Federation of Employees’ Associations of the DA, said that the integrative consultation with DBM would clarify residual issues and improve the draft of the rationalization plan that will affect at least 28 DA-attached agencies.
The move, he said, will result to in eventual layoffs due to scaling down, phaseout, abolition and mergers, which would require redeployment of employees to other offices.
Reyes said his group, composed of 25,000 employees, has submitted 10 position papers, statements and manifestos on the negative effects of the plan, drafted under Executive Order 366, which he said was drawn up without consultation with stakeholders such as farmers, fisherfolk and rank-and-file employees.
In the National Irrigation Administration alone, some 2,000 employees are threatened by the plan, said Reyes.
Under the 25-page draft EO entitled “Department of Agriculture Rationalization Plan of 2006,” the secretary is given broad powers to undertake rationalization actions such as scaling down, phasing out, abolition, strengthening, deactivation, merger, consolidation and regularization. It also provides that the 28 DA-attached agencies will be restructured and grouped “according to functions to achieve efficiency, eliminate conflict of interests and duplication, and enhance the quality of service.” (Armand M. Galang)
Friday, September 22, 2006
Rice price stable, says NFA
CABANATUAN CITY -- The government has managed to stabilized the supply and prices of rice in Central Luzon markets, the country’s grains agency reported on Thursday, barely weeks before the end of the so-called gawat, or lean months.
The engineer Nicolas Crisostomo, director of the National Food Authority for Central Luzon, said that the 881,891 bags of P18 a kilo of rice the agency injected to the market at the start of the rainy season has been enough to prevent the prices of commercial rice from soaring to high.
Commercial rice is sold at an average of P23.29 and P21.07 a kilo for well milled and regular milled respectively, according to reports.
Crisostomo said that at the onset of palay-planting season in July, they readied about 1.2 million bags of rice for distribution by the 2,145 accredited retailers and 88 Bigasan Ni Gloria sa Palengke outlets in the region.
He added that besides the stabilizing rice prices, the NFA has issued 7,055 bags of the staple for the relief operations of local governments and disaster agencies in Central Luzon during the onslaught of Typhoons Florita, Glenda and Henry.
The NFA also donated 96,000 pieces of empty bags for sandbagging, a flood mitigating action, during those days, Crisostomo added. The agency’s stock, he said, was boosted by the arrival of 2.68 million bags of imported rice allocation. --Armand Galang (Source: The Manila TImes)
The engineer Nicolas Crisostomo, director of the National Food Authority for Central Luzon, said that the 881,891 bags of P18 a kilo of rice the agency injected to the market at the start of the rainy season has been enough to prevent the prices of commercial rice from soaring to high.
Commercial rice is sold at an average of P23.29 and P21.07 a kilo for well milled and regular milled respectively, according to reports.
Crisostomo said that at the onset of palay-planting season in July, they readied about 1.2 million bags of rice for distribution by the 2,145 accredited retailers and 88 Bigasan Ni Gloria sa Palengke outlets in the region.
He added that besides the stabilizing rice prices, the NFA has issued 7,055 bags of the staple for the relief operations of local governments and disaster agencies in Central Luzon during the onslaught of Typhoons Florita, Glenda and Henry.
The NFA also donated 96,000 pieces of empty bags for sandbagging, a flood mitigating action, during those days, Crisostomo added. The agency’s stock, he said, was boosted by the arrival of 2.68 million bags of imported rice allocation. --Armand Galang (Source: The Manila TImes)
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Dengue kills 10 in Nueva Ecija, Philippines
PALAYAN CITY -- At least 759 persons were infected by the dreaded dengue virus in Nueva Ecija in the northern Philippines as of September 19, 2006, officials said.
But Gov. Tomas Joson III lauded the local health authorities for effecting measures that minimized the effect of the disease which in some areas of the Philippines became an outbreak.
Dr. Benjamin Lopez, chief of the integrated provincial health office, reported that of the 759 victims, ten have died while the rest had to undergo medical treatment in various hospitals.
The last fatality was identified as 3-year-old girl Jocel Ballecera from Barangay (village) Militar, Palayan City who died while undergoing treatment at the Good Samaritan Hospital in nearby Cabanatuan City.
The highest number of cases was recorded in Cabanatuan City with 175; followed by Bongabon,76; Rizal,61; Sta. Rosa, 39; San Antonio,37; Llanera,36; San JOse City,27; Talavera,24; Pantabangan, 22; and Gapan,22.
Lopez said community participation has been vital in controlling the viral infection since cleanliness remains tobe the best defense against dengue mosquitos.
Monday, September 18, 2006
PhilRice: Rice husk-powerplants eyed
Rice millers and chiefs of local government units [LGUs] now look at the prospects of rice husk-fired power plants as a means of solving their problems on the quality of energy delivery and the disposal of an ever increasing volume local goof rice husks generated by rice mills.
This cropped up in the discussions during an investment forum on rice husk-fired power plants at the Manila Hotel recently , which was attended by rice millers, LGU chiefs, government officials, and representatives of commercial banks, electric cooperatives and non-government agencies concerned with solid waste management and utilization.
The forum was the culminating activity of a PhilRice project funded by the EAEF [European Commission – Association of Southeast Nations Energy Facility] Center in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The project surveyed 381 rice mills in the country’s top 20 rice producing provinces and PhilRice researchers used the results in making feasibility studies on the establishment of rice husk-fired power plants in 10 sites.
“You are the people who can make a great difference,” European Commission– Philippines project officer Jose Echanove told the rice millers and other stakeholders.
Congressman Augusto H. Baculio of the 2nd district of Misamis Oriental said that although cogeneration is not being done yet in the Philippines, it should now be adopted as a government policy.
To make it more attractive to stakeholders and investors, he added, the Clean Air Act must be amended, as the rice husk-fired power plants would already profitably use this former waste in producing valuable products - heat and energy.
He added that more incentives should be offered in order to attract more investors and push a wider use of agricultural wastes like rice hull. Among them would be lighter requirements in the issuance of environmental compliance certificates and exemptions from several other requirements.
Mayor Alex Belena of San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, who is also a rice miller, said the establishment of a 9.9 MW [megawatt] rice husk-fired power plant in his city “will help us solve our problems like brownouts and outages.”
In Narra, Palawan, Mayor Lucena Demaala sent word that she has already Committed an area to be the site for a 1.5 MW rice husk-fired power plant. “Clearly, this project has shown that rice husk-fired power plants are technically feasible and commercially viable in the Philippines,” said Christopher Zamora, co-director of the EAEF Center.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Gastroenteritis downs Nueva Ecija residents
TALUGTOG, Nueva Ecija -- Two people, including an old woman, died while at least 23 others were treated as gastroenteritis struck an impoverished village in this outskirt municipality of Nueva Ecija for in the last few days.
The fatalities were identified as DiomedesTabanao and Elena Rigor, 76. Rigor died of dehydratioon Wednesday as the first victim was being laid to final rest.
Reports said that some people from adjoiningareas who attended the wake of Tabanao, also experienced heavy abdominal pain as well as vomiting. One them was Cresencio Sabado,53, son-in-law of Tabanao.
Sabado had to be treated in a Guimba hospital, reports said.
Sabado had to be treated in a Guimba hospital, reports said.
Barangay Captain Dionisio Ortiz admitted that the disease apparently occur in their village of about 80 households every year but it was the first time theyr ecorded deaths. Local health officials said that most residents in the area defend on shallow tube wells for theirdrinking water.
Authorities are conducting a check on the water.
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