Day: March 17, 2023

The Camiguin provincial government rolled out Friday its “Isle be There” rebranding theme to welcome tourists with a fresh start from the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Gov. Xavier Jesus Romualdo said the new tourism slogan is part of the provincial government’s transformation and development plans, with communities and establishments cooperating for its success.

“We are also going for the digitalization, to have ‘Smart Tourism’ where tourists can enjoy the island (with ease),” Romualdo said during the opening program.

With the use of technology, the governor said visitors can be given ample service and security throughout their stay in the island province.

Since January, the governor said the province has received 800,000 tourists and expects to reach a million by 2025.

Romualdo also bared the PHP250-million worth Mantigue Island Tourism Plan, which aims to improve the facilities for water and power, waste management, docking and mooring, guest services and amenities, safety and security and emergency response.

Another highlight of Camiguin’s tourism campaign is the lowering of restrictions on tourists who have not availed of Covid-19 vaccines.

Under the new directives, unvaccinated tourists can visit the island provided that they present a negative Covid-19 test taken in the last two days from a Department of Health-accredited clinic or testing center.

Unvaccinated minors aged 11 and below are no longer requested for test results.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Bishop Victor Ocampo of the Diocese of Gumaca town in Quezon province passed away at the age of 71.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news website reported on Friday that the prelate succumbed to heart attack on Thursday.

According to Fr. Tony Ryan del Moro, chancellor of the diocese, the bishop was declared dead at 5:58 p.m. at a hospital in Gumaca.

Ocampo just turned 71 last March 6.

Born in Angeles City in 1952, he was ordained priest of the Diocese of Balanga in 1977.

After his ordination, the Bishop worked in eight parishes and served as director of various diocesan offices such as catechetical office, the liturgical commission, the Biblical apostolate, and the family and life commission.

He also served as the chancellor of the diocese and member of the consultors.

Ocampo was also the diocesan administrator of Balanga town from November 2009 until July 2010 when the diocese was without a bishop.

Pope Francis appointed Ocampo as the third bishop of the Diocese of Gumaca on June 12, 2015.

He was ordained to the episcopate on Aug. 29, 2015 and was installed on Sept. 3, 2015.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Morale is still up among officials and members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Negros Oriental province despite a major revamp after the March 4 killing of Governor Roel Degamo and eight others, an official said Friday.

‘There are no indications that our personnel are experiencing low morale in the midst of the series of gradual transfers taking place in the province,’ said PNP provincial director, Col. Reynaldo Lizardo, in an interview.

Lizardo said despite the massive reassignments, uniformed personnel continue their day-to-day functions without let-up.

On the current PNP deployment status in the province, Lizardo said they will just follow the directives from higher headquarters.

Police activities continued, such as conducting checkpoints, various programs and projects, and even undertaking a Squad Weekly Interactive Meeting.

‘We at the lower level will just follow instructions. After all, that is what we were taught to do, as long as it is legal,’ he said. ‘We also cannot question the wisdom of our superiors,’ he added.

Following the assassination of Degamo, the entire 75-member Bayawan City police force was relieved, with Lt. Col. Stephen Amamaguid named the new chief, replacing Lt. Col. Rex Moslares.

On March 8, 56 police officers from Sta. Catalina town were also ordered transferred with a new police chief designated.

The massive relief of police personnel from Negros Oriental came following the creation of a Special Investigation Task Group that is primarily tasked to investigate the assassination of Degamo.

Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. earlier said replacing the entire Negros Oriental police force is part of the government’s efforts to restore peace and order in the province and the people’s trust in the uniformed personnel.

Degamo was meeting with constituents in his residential compound in Pamplona town on March 4 to distribute aid when at least 10 armed men barged in and indiscriminately shot them.

Lizardo said Negros Oriental police force finds consolation that it was able to immediately arrest some of the suspects hours after the attack, alongside their military counterparts.

Four suspects are now under the custody of the Department of Justice while the fifth one died after allegedly shooting it out with government troops.

Lizardo said there was no further word yet from national headquarters on the relief or transfer of more Negros Oriental police personnel

Source: Philippines News Agency

Most parts of the country will experience isolated rain showers, the weather bureau said Friday.
The northeast monsoon or “amihan” affecting Northern and Central Luzon will bring light rains over the Ilocos and Cordillera regions, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 4 a.m. weather bulletin.
The rest of the country will have isolated rain showers caused by localized thunderstorms.
Flash floods or landslides are possible during severe thunderstorms, PAGASA said.
Partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail over the entire archipelago.
Meanwhile, moderate to strong winds and moderate to rough seas will prevail over the eastern section of Luzon and the Visayas.
Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate with slight to moderate seas, PAGASA said

Source: Philippines News Agency

Hog suppliers in Negros Occidental province have opted to transport live pigs to buyers in Luzon, particularly Metro Manila, after they have been restricted from passing through the Cebu ports going to the Eastern Visayas region.

Cebu banned the entry of live hogs, sows, piglets, boar semen, pork, and pork-related products from Negros Island from March 6 to April 5 after pigs from Negros supposedly contaminated the hogs in Carcar City, where hogs have been found positive for African swine fever (ASF).

As of Friday, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has yet to respond to the appeal of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson here to allow hogs from the province to pass through the Cebu ports.

“I’m just hoping that we can get a feedback but then it’s possible we’re not. But in the meantime, our hog raisers are back selling to Manila,” Lacson said.

Data from the Provincial Veterinary Office showed that since March 7, hog raisers in Negros Occidental were able to supply 1,100 heads of live pigs to Metro Manila.

“I was told they are back delivering to Manila. Although the prices are lower than that of Leyte, but the thing is it’s important that we can sell. That’s the latest information I received from the Provincial Vet. It’s PHP20 per kilo less. That’s huge but it’s still better that they can sell,” he told reporters.

Lacson said the possibility of passing through Dumaguete port via Dipolog port going to Leyte province has been considered but the transport cost is too high.

Negros Occidental, which has a PHP6-billion swine industry, is listed as a dark green zone or ASF-free by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

After the DA confirmed the ASF infection in Cebu, Negros Occidental, along with Bacolod City, imposed a ban on the entry of all live pigs, boar semen, pork, pork products and other pork-related items from Cebu province, including Bantayan Island and Camotes Island.

The ban of the province and this city also covers Luzon, Mindanao, Eastern Visayas, Panay Island and Guimaras Island, which all have reported cases of ASF between 2019 and 2022.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office in the Cordillera Administrative Region (FO-CAR) will provide PHP10,000 financial assistance to the identified vendors who were affected by the Baguio City market fire on March 11.
In a news release on Thursday, the DSWD said some 1,700 vendors will receive financial assistance through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).
The amount, it said, would be necessary to re-start or pump prime their businesses which were destroyed by the fire.
On March 12, the DSWD provided some PHP1.5 million worth of relief assistance through the FO-CAR to persons and vendors affected by the fire incident.
FO-CAR officials coordinated with the CAR Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) immediately upon hearing the fire incident to assess the situation of the victims.
The FO-CAR also distributed food packs and non-food items to the victims, according to the city government of Baguio.
As of March 14, the DSWD Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center reported a total of 2,200 persons, covering 1,700 vendors with razed stalls and 500 surrounding vendors, unable to sell for two days. These 2,200 vendors were initially assisted by the FO through the provision of family food packs after the onset of fire.
To date, the FO CAR has 40,660 Family Food Packs ready for distribution to disaster-affected families and PHP5 million standby funds available for emergency relief supplies.
The Field Office continues to coordinate with the CDRRMC for significant updates and any request for resource augmentation

Source: Philippines News Agency