CHEERDANCE. Continually building a - naga.gov.ph Q2_Vol.8o..pdf · Let us pray for the eternal repose of this great man – our former city mayor. A great Nagueño. An outstanding

RAFAEL RACSO V. VITAN L a y o u t a n d G r a p h i c s D e s i g n E d i t o r

ARMIE B . GUNAY L a y o u t a n d D e s i g n A s s i s t a n t

ANSELMO B . MAÑOW e b s i t e A d m i n i s t r a t o r

F LORENC IO T. MONGOSO , J R . REUEL M . OL I VER

E d i t o r i a l C o n s u l t a n t s

This quarterly magazine is published by the

City Government of Naga, thru the City Events,

Protocol and Public Information Office, with editorial office at

City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City

4400 Philippines

Tel: +63 54 881-8328+63 54 871-3098

Email: [email protected]: www.naga.gov.ph

J OSE V. COLLERASYLRAN JELV IC C . V I L L AFLOR

REYNALDO T. BAYLONXERES RAMON GAGERO

P h o t o g r a p h e r s

IAN MAR P. NEBRES LEED r o n e P i l o t

J OHN G . BONGATC i t y M a y o r

NELSON S . L EGAC IONC i t y V i c e M a y o r

JOSE B . PEREZE d i t o r

J ASON B . NEOL AM a n a g i n g E d i t o r

A Quarter ly Magaz ine of theCity Government of Naga

Bico l , Ph i l ipp ines

ISSN 2094-9383

Vol. 8, No. 2 | April - June 2017

ALLEN L . REONDANGAALEC FRANC IS A . SANTOSPAUL JOHN F. BARROSA

L I L IBETH SANCHEZT e c h n i c a l A d v i s e r s

ARMIE B . GUNAYSHARMA INE ZEN O . MANZANO

W r i t e r s

CHR ISTOPHER E . ANTON IORUEL P. SANDUCO

NELSON D . SERRANOC i r c u l a t i o n

PHOTO BY REYNALDO BAYLON

CHEERDANCE. Cont inual ly bui ld ing a c i ty of champions, Naga’s Youth show thei r

met t le in cheerdancing dur ing the Inter-school Olympics held at Plaza

Quezon in downtown Naga.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The “Naga SMILES to the World”

logo is composed of the two

baybayin characters, na and ga.

Na, shaped like a mountain,

provides a strong foundation for the

Narra tree which grew abundantly

along the Naga River while a zigzag

line denotes the majestic Malabsay

Falls.

Ga, shaped like a farmer’s plow,

is symbolic of the Nagueño’s

agricultural roots and hardworking

personality.

The baybayin Naga characters

rest on a wave-like element which

represents the Naga River and the

serpent, which is read in Sanskrit

as naga.

This new branding for Naga,

launched in 2010 by the dynamic

Bongat administration, envisions a

more livable city that is world-class.

The “An Maogmang Lugar” logo is

an attempt to capture Naga as we

want it to be – a city that is progressive

and yet environment-friendly, where

the people freely participate in the

day-to-day affairs of the government,

and where culture and arts are

flourishing.

The stylized design of “NAGA”

represents the city’s aggressive

march towards modernization and

progress. The sky-blue background,

the Narra tree, and the Naga River

represent our people’s desire for an

ecologically-balanced community.

The ring of people surrounding the

entire design shows the Nagueños’

participatory mechanism which is

part and parcel of the city’s way

of doing things. It also shows the

people’s concern and unity in

everything that is good for the city.

Today, the city, as Maogmang Lugar,

aims to portray more than a happy

place but a happy people who are the

true beneficiaries of everything good

that is happening in the city.

1 APRIL - JUNE 2017 APRIL - JUNE 2017 2

3 Mayor’s Message

7 Mayoral Awards Committee: Dr. Elna Chia’s Message

8 The Mayoral Awardees

29 Various social services activities highlight NAGA’S 69TH CITY CHARTER ANNIVERSARY

33 Bongat reassures his faith on the Nagueños, Barestriumphs

39 MODEL CITY AWARD

Naga as country’s livelihood and employment haven

42 Pilgrim City strengthens ties with Heritage City

48 Naga braces for summer with inspection of facilities, trainings for tourism workers

49 Why Naga has the most number of banks in Bicol

51 Anti-smoke belching unit sweeps streets of violators

52 Balatas dumpsite closure underway

53 ANOTHER GREAT

NAGUEÑO PASSES WAY Ramon H. Felipe, Jr., 97

54 Naga to host national agriculturists summit

55 Isarog Garden Society fetes 38th year

56 Ultimate Naga vacation

contest

57 Naga hosts ASEAN

workshop on disaster risk financing, insurance

58 Barangay reps to

teach first aid, rescue techniques, get training

59 One Student, One

Sports program readies Maogmang Lugar to be city of champions

61 MNWD assures supply of safe water

62 Revised Ordinance

Grants more perks for solo parents

63 Naga Investment Plan budget reaches P2.2B

64 CITY YOUTH MONTH

48 named to this year’s set of city youth officials

SP HIGHLIGHTS

65 Naga Bicycle Ordinance

66 For a clean and potable water

67 Hands-on mom Leni helps daughter Aika settle in the US

ON June 18, 1948, then Camarines Sur

Congressman Juan Q. Miranda,

along with Bicolano Senator Vicente

Madrigal and Bicolano Secretary Mariano Garchitorena,

witnessed the signing into law of House Bill 1255 that

he authored. It became Republic Act No. 305 which gave

Naga its Charter, making it the first of the few chartered

cities in the country. And unlike many other cities, Naga,

as provided for by its own charter, is a component city

independent of the province. Leon SA. Aureus became the

first mayor of the chartered city.

Three years before that, or in the early morning of

April 9, 1945, a composite guerilla force under the overall

command of Major Juan Q. Miranda entered Naga from

Camaligan with the primary objective of flushing out the

remaining Japanese soldiers from the dreaded garrison of

the Ateneo de Naga. While retreating, Japanese soldiers

traded shots with the Bicolano guerillas. Heavy fighting

erupted within the present Magsaysay Avenue, Dayangdang,

Blumentritt Street and Panganiban bridge. It was in the

battle at the bridge that Lt. Delfin Rosales, an unusually

brave young intelligence officer, heroically met his death.

He was mortally wounded by a Japanese sniper bullet as

he attempted to bring to safety a wounded guerilla named

Arcadio Catimbang. The bridge has since been named in

honor of the young lieutenant.

The battle to liberate Naga took three days – from

April 9 until April 12 – when the Japanese finally withdrew

from Naga and sought refuge in the slopes of Mt. Isarog.

When the Americans entered Naga, the Japanese had long

gone. Our Nagueño guerillas themselves liberated the city

without the aid of the Americans!

Those, ladies and gentlemen, are only among the most

important milestones of our proud history. And many more

are unfolding as we brave the challenges of each day, as we

continuously rebuild and make Naga a proud and livable

city. A city built by its people, a city whose history and

greatness are measured not by its material resources but

more so by how the people offered their lives, gave their

love, and dedicated their skills and talents to ensure a better

future ahead of us.

On the eve of our 69th charter anniversary, we are

again celebrating a special day for our outstanding citizens

--- the exemplary Nagueños and Nagueñas whose devotion,

talents, and professional expertise and commitment have

made a difference in the lives of our people, for the greater

good of our beloved city.

Their achievements in their chosen field and avocation

have definitely contributed to the enhancement of our city’s

honor, growth and glory. I am overwhelmed by today’s

roster of honorees – which shows that our people are in

continuing pursuit for excellence.

As I have always said, our city has scaled greater

heights, hurdled challenges, and became the best in its

class because of our people. Like our heroes in the past,

every one of us is doing its share to build a city that we all

dream of: happy, dynamic and prosperous, proud, and full

of promise. And it is only fitting that the best of our men

and women are tonight conferred the honors that bear the

names of our beloved and distinguished leaders and heroes:

Miranda, Aureus, Rosales, and Robredo.

We all love Naga for reasons we cannot fully

understand. It was love at first sight – for both of those

who were born here and those who chose to live and settle

down here. It was that love that inspired me to study hard

and finish my law studies with that personal commitment

to practice my law profession not anywhere else but here. It

was also that intense and unselfish love that I dreamed to

be its mayor someday. And thank you my dear constituents

for giving me that chance to realize that dream many times

over – three full terms at the least. For that, I am eternally

grateful. I sincerely hope that I did not fail you even as I

pledge to continue to meet your expectations even if I am

no longer your mayor.

At this point, I would like to request my fellow

Nagueños to pause and pay our respects and honor to one of

our best men in contemporary history in the field of public

service, governance and administration. I am referring to

our former City Mayor and Congressman – the Honorable

Ramon Hidalgo Felipe, Jr. who passed away last June 15 in

Manila at the age of 97. His body is expected to arrive here

in Naga on Monday, June 19.

Allow me to dedicate this Mayoral Awarding

Ceremonies in his honor.

Let us pray for the eternal repose of this great man –

our former city mayor. A great Nagueño. An outstanding

Filipino.

HONORING OUR BEST CITIZENS ON CHARTER DAY

Mayor's Message

The 70th P latinum Char ter Anniversar y Logo of

the City of Naga, depicted whol l y by a Narra tree,

embodies the sturdy character of the people of

Naga and the thriving robust local economy of the

city, standing st i l l through the years.

The si lhouette statue of the Q uince Mar tires

standing as the tree ’s root and body, signifies the

courageous and resi lent spir it of the Nagueños

since then, ser ving as a strong foundation of what

the city is now, and continuosl y suppor ting its

visions for the future.

The green, f lourishing treetop represents the ever-

growing aspirations of the city for its people, with

the able leadership of a good government, soar ing

high to even greater heights.

3 APRIL - JUNE 2017

L OG O DES I G N BY: RAY J O H N U B A L D O

Mayoral Awards 2017Committee

SS

SS

SS

SS

DR. ELNA N. CHIACHAIRMAN

MR. GILBERT N. ALBEROVICE CHAIRMAN

MR. JOSE V. BARRAMEDA, JR.MEMBER ADVISER

MR. J. ANTONIO A. AMPARADO, MNSA

MEMBER ADVISER

MS. ANGELICA P. AGONOYMR. REUEL M. OLIVER

MR. ROY B. SAN RAMONMR. ALLEN L. REONDANGA

MEMBERS

Search Committee

MR. JOBERT P. NARVADEZ MR. NICOLAS BEDA PRIELA

MR. JOSE B. PEREZ CHAIRMAN

MS. ZAYDA FE S. RIFAREALMS. SHARMAINE ZEN MANZANO

SECRETARIAT

SS SSBoard of JudgesSS SS

WARM NAGA SMILES!

This year we are celebrating the 69th Charter

Anniversary of the City of Naga. Already, were are

thinking of a grand celebration towards our 70th

year.

We all love Naga for reasons we cannot fully

explain. It was love at first sight – for both of those

who were born here and those who chose to live and

settle down here. It was that love that inspired me

to study hard and finish my law studies with that

personal commitment to practice my law profession

here. It was also that intense and unselfish love that

I dreamed to be its mayor someday. And for that, I

am deeply grateful for keeping me to lead you for

a consecutive 9-year term. I sincerely hope that

I did not fail you even as I pledge to continue to

meet your expectations even if I am no longer your

mayor.

Tonight, we are celebrating a special day

for our outstanding citizens --- the exemplary

Nagueños and Nagueñas whose devotion, talents,

and professional expertise and commitment have

made a difference in the lives of our people, for the

greater good of our beloved city. Their achievements

in their chosen field and avocation have definitely

contributed to the enhancement of our city’s honor,

growth and glory.

As I have always said, our city has scaled

greater heights, hurdled challenges, and became

the best in its class because of our people. Like our

heroes in the past, our people, which include every

one of us, are doing their best to build a city that we

all dream of: happy, dynamic and prosperous, proud

and full of promise. And it is only fitting that the

best of our men and women are tonight conferred

the honors that bear the names of our beloved and

distinguished leaders and heroes: Miranda, Aureus,

Rosales, and Robredo.

We also salute the young men and women

who have brought singular honor, recognition

and impact by excelling in various national and

international sports and academic competitions,

including those who landed as topnotchers in

different national professional examinations.

My warmest congratulations!

Message of the Mayor


RACSO VITANP H O T O S B Y SYLRANJELVIC VILLAFLOR REYNALDO BAYLON JOSE COLLERA

PH

OT

OS

BY

REYNA

LDO

BAYLON

Chairperson’s Welcome Speech

The Honorable

Mayor John Bongat and

her Fir st Lady Farah

Honorable Vice Mayor Nelson

Legacion and her

Lady Marrion

Honorable Members of the

Sangguniang Panglunsod

Depar tment and

Unit Heads and per sonnel

at Naga City Hall

Mayoral Honorees and their

proud family members

and fr iends Guests, ladies,

and gentlemen

When a person, organization, or institution does something good and extraordinary for himself -- but not for self-aggrandizement or self-glorification – his family and his community, such good deed does not go unnoticed.

Tonight is a special moment for this year’s outstanding citizens and city-based organizations or groups whose exemplary achievements and service to fellowmen have made our city prouder and helped make a difference in the lives of our people.

This year’s Mayoral awardees were chosen from a host of nominees who all distinguished themselves in their chosen fields of endeavor. It was difficult for us, as members of the Board of Judges, to select the best from among the best. We couldn’t just set aside any of the nominees, except for technical reasons, such as his or origin of birth, length of stay in the city or the number of years that a business enterprise, NGO, or volunteer group has been delivering its commitment to the city and its stakeholders, because we have to abide strictly with the rules and regulations governing this annual search and selection.

The Board of Judges, and one by one I would be proud to name them now --- Mr. J. Antonio Amparado, Mr. Joe Barrameda, Mr. Gilbert Albero, Mr. Roy San Ramon, Youth City Mayor Angelica Agonoy, and Mr. Allen Reondanga --- has given much of their time and effort in evaluating and validating the voluminous documentary supporting papers of each of the 30 shortlisted nominees, scrutinizing their personal, professional and organizational circumstances and qualifications; moral integrity; quality of service and degree of commitment, and; extent of involvement in, as well as impact of, the activity or project that have been introduced or implemented. We could not avoid lengthy discussions and sometimes heated debates because the primary goal was to pluck out the best for the limited awards that were up for conferment.

Good Evening!

DR. ELNA N. CHIAC h a i r p e r s o n , M a y o r a l A w a r d s 2 0 1 7

This annual Mayoral Awards has become one of the most, if not the most, prestigious and widely anticipated events happening in the city. It is not a competition or a contest – but a noble way of honoring those whose exemplary achievements have brought positive enhancement to Naga City’s growth, honor and glory. The city can only be as good as the people who live in it, manage it, and enrich its glorious past, preserve and nourish our proud history and heritage, and chart its course towards a brighter future as we and our leaders under the stewardship of Mayor John G. Bongat are doing now.

There are several award categories that we confer every year, all worthy of the honor derived from the names of our distinguished leaders and heroes, such as Juan Q. Miranda, Leon SA. Aureus, Jesse M. Robredo, and Lt. Delfin C. Rosales. Incidentally for this year, none of the nominees qualified for the Jesse M. Robredo Youth Award. That’s how stringent our criteria for each award are.

At this point, allow me to take this opportunity to thank the Secretariat for facilitating and organizing the meetings and preparing the documents for evaluation, confirmation and validation; the Search Committee for coming up with a roster of nominees and encouraging more to join as nominees; the Members of the Board of Judges for diligently, objectively and fairly evaluating and validating each nominee’s bid book as submitted by the nominators themselves.

And last but not the least, Mayor John Bongat -- whom we have not seen and talked to for the duration of the selection process ensuring our independence -- for the trust and confidence he has given us to come up with another successful, credible and exciting selection of this year’s Mayoral Awardees. This inspires and without reservation prompts us to say that “The best is even getting better.”

Congratulations to all of us! Thank you and Good Evening once again!

J U A N Q U E R U B I N M I R A N D A AWA R D

Th i s M a y o r a l Di s t i n g u i s h e d A w a r d i s t h e c i t y ’ s h i g h e s t a w a r d n a m e d a f t e r t h e F a t h e r o f t h e C i t y C h a r t e r o f Na g a . A s M e m b e r o f t h e Ho u s e o f Re p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e t h e n F i r s t Di s t r i c t o f C a m a r i n e s S u r ( t h e r e w e r e o n l y t w o d i s t r i c t s i n t h e p r o vi n c e t h e n ) s h o r t l y a f t e r t h e w a r , Re p . M i r a n d a a u t h o r e d Ho u s e Bi l l 1 2 5 5 w h i c h w a s s i g n e d a n d e n a c t e d a s Re p u b l i c A c t 3 0 5 o n J u n e 1 8 , 1 9 4 8 b y Pr e s i d e n t El p i d i o Q u i r i n o .

L E O N S A L E M A U R E U S AWA R D

Th e s e c o n d h i g h e s t a w a r d i s n a m e d i n h o n o r o f t h e f i r s t M a y o r o f Na g a a s a C h a r t e r C i t y . A p p o i n t e d b y Pr e s . Q u i r i n o , h e a c c e p t e d t h e g a r g a n t u a n t a s k o f g o v e r n i n g a n d r e h a b i l i t a t i n g t h e c i t y f r o m t h e r a v a g e s o f W o r l d W a r I I , w h e r e A u r e u s s e r v e d a s C o m m a n d e r M i r a n d a ’ s e x e c u t i v e o f f i c e r a n d t h e s e c o n d h i g h e s t r a n k i n g o f f i c e r o f t h e Ta n g c o n g V a c a G u e r i l l a U n i t .

J E S S E M A N A L A S TA S R O B R E D O Y O U T H AWA R D

I n t r o d u c e d i n 2 0 1 3 , t h i s a w a r d i s n a m e d a f t e r t h e f o r m e r Na g a C i t y M a y o r a n d I n t e r i o r a n d L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t S e c r e t a r y w h o i s w i d e l y h a i l e d a s a s e r v a n t - l e a d e r . Th e a w a r d r e c o g n i z e s t h e Na g u e ñ o y o u t h , i n d i vi d u a l o r g r o u p , w h o s t r i v e s a n d p e r s e v e r e s i n l i vi n g t h e “ t s i n e l a s ” t y p e o f l e a d e r s h i p a n d t h e k i n d o f g o v e r n a n c e t h a t t h e d y n a m i c a n d c h a r i s m a t i c m a y o r h a d b e e n w i d e l y k n o w n f o r .

LT. D E L F I N C . R O S A L E S AWA R D

Th i s a w a r d i s n a m e d a f t e r a y o u n g b r a v e s o l d i e r w h o p l u n g e d i n t o a h a i l o f b u l l e t s f i r e d b y J a p a n e s e s o l d i e r s t o s a v e a w o u n d e d c o m r a d e . I t i s c o n f e r r e d t o a n y c i t i z e n o f t h e c i t y f o r e x t r a o r d i n a r y a c t s o f h e r o i s m , v a l o r , a n d c i vi c d u t y , i n c l u d i n g a c t s o f h o n e s t y w o r t h e m u l a t i n g .

MayoralAwards

T H E

7 APRIL - JUNE 2017

MOST REV. ROLANDO J.TRIA-TIRONA, OCD., DD

ARCHBISHOP OF CACERES

THE AVENUE PLAZA HOTEL

As a multi-awarded homegrown world-class hotel,

The Avenue Plaza Hotel epitomizes not only Naga

City’s renowned reputation for hospitality and exquisite

cuisine, but also its strong character as a powerhouse of

increasing energy that turns itself into a warm place for

trade and commerce, convenient living, local, national and

international business meetings, social events, leisure and

homecomings. Its quest for excellence and the superior

service it delivers never go wrong because of its core belief

that the growth of Naga comes from its people, its citizens,

both individual and groups. Twelve years after it braved

the odds to meet world-class standards, Naga’s landscape

never ceases to grow, from Magsaysay Avenue to the East

Highlands, to Del Rosario, CBD II, and Almeda by-pass

highway, with the mushrooming of new investments and

establishments and the continued upgrading of services

and facilities in new growth areas. Truly, it is a product

of considerable investment, of distinct vision, pride of

place, and unwavering commitment. It is recipient of many

awards for excellent service by various international travel

and hotel groups, such as the Globe Trade Leaders Club in

Madrid, Spain, the League Travel Information Network

of Beijing, China and the latest of which -- the Traveler’

Choice for Best Service 2017 by TripAdvisor which has

been conferring the hotel with Certificate of Excellence

for 7 years now since 2011. As one satisfied visitor has

inscribed in the hotel’s guest book, “Avenue Plaza Hotel

is proof that a culture of service is possible in a provincial

city like Naga.”

Established on March 7, 1797, the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary, earlier known as “Seminario Conciliar de Nueva Caceres,” marks its 220 years of glorious existence this year. The seminary, since the Spanish colonial times, has produced thousands of priests and prominent laymen who have dedicated their lives, passion, and talents for the holistic development and advancement of its people, not only in the Bicol Region and other parts of the country but also in new mission areas outside of the Philippines. Among its illustrious alumni are foremost Bicolano patriots, martyrs and heroes that include the Most Rev. Jorge Barlin, the first Filipino Bishop who also served as Bishop of Caceres from 1905 to 1909; Jose Maria Panganiban, editor of La Solidaridad and honored by historians

HOLY ROSARYMINOR SEMINARY

SS

JUAN Q. MIRANDA

AWARD

SSSS

as the Avenger of Filipino Honor; Tomas Arejola, propagandist and patriot; Nine of the 15 Bicol Martyrs; other Bicol notables, such as Felix Plazo, Jose Abano, Tomas Zaldua, and Vicente Ursua and many others. Among its contemporary alumni are incumbent Papal Nuncio Tito Yllana and newly-installed Archbishop of Lipa, Most Rev. Gilbert Garcera. Today, the seminary stands not only as an impressive edifice with its distinctive Italian Renaissance-inspired architectural design but also as an enduring monument to a rich historic past. The seminary, which has been declared as a national historical landmark, serves as a magnanimous seat of wisdom, a wellspring of knowledge, and as torchbearer of the eternal refulgence of God’s evangelizing light.

APRIL - JUNE 2017 10

PH

OT

OB

Y SYLRA

NJELV

IC VILLA

FLOR

SS

LEON SA. AUREUS AWARD

SSSS

From a small oven she invested in after her wedding, this woman

entrepreneur, with the indigenous Bicol nut as her weapon, has conquered

the world – both literally and figuratively – as her variant pili-based

pastries are proudly displayed and sold in international trade fairs and

large malls in Japan, USA, Canada, China, the Middle East, and Paris in

France. Having experienced and found herself in the maelstrom of global

competitiveness, Lydia’s company – now dubbed as The House of Pili –

indulges more in product research, modern equipment and innovation to

penetrate the foreign market. But despite her success, Lydia never forgets

to put her feet on the ground. She remains to be an advocate of strong

partnership with government institutions and her local stakeholders

in fostering hard work and entrepreneurship especially among small

producers and traders. Her company always joins hands with national

agencies like DA, DOST, and DTI to make Bicol’s prime commodity a new

dollar-earner for the country. She continuously collaborates with them

in various skills and managerial trainings, benchmarking, and modern

processing and packaging to help other fellow food processors improve

their products and thus create more jobs for more people. No wonder,

she holds a string of awards tucked on her apron: 2008 National Gawad

Saka Award, 2008 One of 50 Men and Women of Science as Technology

Adoptor, 2009 Presidential Award for Outstanding Small Enterprise, 2016

Halyao Awards, and the 2017 Inspiring Filipina Entrepreneur Award, most

of which were conferred during ceremonies in Malacanang, and her latest

honor being recognized no less in a commendatory resolution issued and

passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Naga.

MARIA LYDIA PEREZ - LOMIBAO

SS

LEON SA. AUREUS AWARD

SSSS

A native Nagueño, Fr. Dan Imperial has generously

dedicated and continues to dedicate his life in the fields of

religious service, education, youth development, and the

promotion and enrichment of Bicol history, culture, and

the arts. His inspiring works and guidance have led to the

development of responsible and God-fearing youth leaders,

many of whom are now occupying important positions in

schools, and in the private and government sectors. Highly

esteemed as the pioneer of Campus Ministry in Bicol who

has championed youth service for over 45 years now, this

unassuming servant of God is also the moving spirit behind

the Voyadores Festival since its inception. He is a researcher,

lyricist and script writer of such notable musicales that include

“Ina nin Bikol”, “Si Nanay, Si Tatay” and “Manto ni Ina.”

He has represented the Philippines in various conferences

and exposure programs of the International Movement

for Catholic Students held in Japan, Korea, Thailand, and

Hongkong.

SS

LEON S.A. AUREUS AWARD SSSS


FR. DANILO T. IMPERIAL

For her exemplary accomplishments

as police officer and for working even

harder beyond her call of duty, P02

Fatima Ibias-Lanuza was aptly conferred

three prestigious awards in a row, first as

Outstanding Law Enforcer by no less than

President Rodrigo Duterte in August 27,

2016, then as Outstanding Filipino by Vice

President Leni Robredo on September

2, 2016, and again by President Duterte

on September 12, of the same year as

one of the Country’s Outstanding Police

Officers in Service (C.O.P.S.) given by

Metrobank. As a resident of Naga who

has been assigned in a police station in

nearby town, P02 Lanuza is well-known

for saving several child rape victims from

further harm and relentlessly pursued the

cases against the suspects. By organizing a

police team, the lady cop was instrumental

in saving 12 local residents, including a

minor, from the clutches of a notorious

human trafficker who would have sent

them to unknown destinations under harsh

working conditions. Imbued with high

SS

LT. DELFIN C. ROSALES

AWARD

SSSS

OLIVERA BROTHERS

They were actually seven singing brothers in the Olivera family of Bgy.

Sta. Cruz, Naga City but only five and sometimes four (until they stayed on as

trio) regularly composed the singing group, namely George, Allan, Cesar, Joel,

and the late Nelson who passed away November last year due to heart failure. In

their heyday when they frequented restaurants and night bars and during special

occasions such as weddings, Valentine’s Day, and other social events, they were

fondly referred to as “Los Calientes” or the Hot Ones, because of their lively

repertoire of Spanish songs, funny Bicol adlibs and repartees in between numbers.

As with their music, they are distinguishable by their Spanish-styled flaming red

long sleeve shirts. Their talent and the natural quest for better income sent them

to work abroad in such countries as Korea, Malaysia and Singapore, but they

would always go back home to be with their family and friends who adore their

music. They also dabble in favorite English pop and folk songs and Bicol classic

selections with equal passion and enthusiasm. There are many singing bands

and entertainment groups in Naga and Bicol but they are the only ones who

faithfully sing Spanish and Latino music, especially the more popular ones – such

as “Rancho de Grande,” Besa Me Mucho,” Quien Sera,” and “Eres Tu,” among

others -- although with distinctive mix of native Bicolano accent, accompanied

by classical guitar and the bajo or “double bass.” After all, Bicol, and particularly

Naga, have a rich Spanish cultural and historical heritage, such that the Oliveras’

presence and their brand of music during any occasion seem to bring back

memories of a glorious past made merrier by fiestas, abundant food, drinks,

familial gatherings, and joyful events to celebrate birth, marriage, and personal and

group victories.

sense of community involvement, the police officer also leads

in various livelihood projects and feeding programs, gives

lectures in universities about the ills of illegal drugs and the

salient provisions of laws on the protection of children and

the empowerment of women, and even adopted a rape victim,

fed her and sent her to school until she finished her college

studies and help more rape victims to continue their studies

while recovering from the stigma of sexual abuse.

P02 FATIMA IBIAS-

LANUZA


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LEON S.A. AUREUS AWARD

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ARCHDIOCESE OF CACERES CHORALE, INC.

Graduating at the top of his class as Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Social Studies at the University of Neuva Caceres, this exceptionally brilliant student placed 10th in the Licensure Examination for Teachers given by the Professional Regulation Commission last September 25, 2016. He is currently a member of the faculty of the University of Nueva Caceres-LINC Senior High School and a Social Science Teacher for Grade 11 General Academic Strand of the same university – his college Alma Mater.

ALDRIN ALFONSO ALCANTARA

A consistent honor student throughout her school years, Cherie Ann proved herself to be the best in her chosen field by topping the Psychologist Licensure Examination given last August 2016 in Manila. But what is more than her brilliant mind, her heart is also in the right place. Right after graduating from the Ateneo de Manila University with honors, the young Nagueña became a Jesuit Volunteer and served as school principal and teacher in a rural boarding school in Palawan for one year. She continued to work with both government and non-government organizations in the field of development and humanitarian services. Her experiences further include working through peace negotiations with OPAPP to Disaster Response and Preparedness Training for the UN World Food Program. She also provided Psycho-Education Training, as well as Child Assessment Therapy Services for different clinics and non-government organizations in the Philippines.

Cherie Ann is a member of the British Psychological Society and is at present pursuing another Master’s Degree in Applied Pediatric Neuropsychology at University College in London.

CHERIE ANN T. LO

As past president of the prestigious Camarines Sur Medical Society, Dr. Marimil S. Bombase holds a string of accomplishments both in the practice of her profession and her active involvement in various community and religious projects and activities. Last year, no less than the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Naga honored her with Resolution No. 2016-220 congratulating and commending her for being selected as the Most Outstanding Bicolano Physician in Private Practice for the Year 2015-2016 by the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) – Bicol Regional Council, as well as the Most Outstanding Physician Award by the PMA during its 109th Annual Convention held during the same year in Cebu City. She is also being lauded for having volunteered for almost 20 years that helped make the city government’s programs on nutrition and children’s and mothers’ health a success. With Dr. Bombase’s guidance and assistance, Naga City achieved the lowest malnutrition rate among pre-school children in Bicol. She also worked hard in providing malnourished pregnant mothers free pre-natal check-ups and medications. As the Resolution states, “Dr. Bombase’s impressive achievements, leadership style and commitment to serve others… will serve as an inspiration to other medical practitioners in the city and of the entire country, and is worthy of emulation, recognition, and public acknowledgement.”

MARIMIL SAHAGUN BOMBASE, M.D.

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MAYORALRECOGNITIONSS SS

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Striving to become one of the finest Ambassadors of Goodwill, especially in the field of music, this mixed vocal group that provides regular Mass service at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral every Sunday and on special Ecclesiastic occasions has brought honor, pride and glory to the City of Naga and the nation by winning the Bronze Medal in Pop/Gospel and Classical Mixed Categories during the 2016 Busan Chorale Festival and Competition held in Busan, South Korea. It also became a finalist and participated in various competitions and concerts in different parts of the country and Manila, as well as in Xiamen, China.

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15 APRIL - JUNE 2017

As a center of excellence in the Bicol Region providing holistic quality patient care, this private medical institution was hailed as 2nd Runner-Up for Level 2 hospitals, Runner-Up for Best in Surveillance of Anti-Biotic Resistance, Runner-Up for Best in Environmental Cleaning and Decontamination, and Runner-Up for Isolation Precaution Management given by the Philippine Hospital Association. Its involvement in extension services through the yearly outreach activities of the hospital has as beneficiaries indigent children, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities.

NAGA IMAGING

CENTER COOPERATIVE (NICC)

DOCTORS HOSPITAL

Having been selected as one of the Top 20 youth organizations in the Philippines by the Search for the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations in the country by the Office of Senator Bam Aquino, this theater group based in the Universidad de Sta. Isabel has been staging plays, musical interpretations through skits, monologues, variety shows and short films, and conducting seminar workshops since its inception in 2000 to enlighten and educate the audience on current issues and advocacies that, among others include the care and protection of the environment, good governance and politics, moral values, and civic duties.

TEATRO DE STA. LUISA

This 13-year old Class Valediction from the Blessed Lights International Christian Academy who is an incoming freshman at the Philippine Science High School has won Bronze Medal in the International Mathematics Competition held in Singapore last year – the latest honor she received since winning the Silver Medal during the International Mathematics Wizard Challenge held in Hongkong in 2015, the Bronze Medal in the Hua Cup International Olympic Math, also held in Hongkong in 204, and the Silver Medal in the 10th Asia Cup Stars of the Olympic Match Finals in Hongkong, also in 2014. Her feat is what many talented young Filipino mathematicians hope deeply to achieve.

RANIA MAXINE TOLEDA SAVILLA

Having earned a Diploma in Midwifery at the City College of Naga, Hazel successfully placed 7th in the national Midwifery Licensure Examination given last April 2016. She is now taking up her 4-year Bachelor of Science in Midwifery at the same City College of Naga.

HAZEL BIGCAS SIBULO

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For bringing honor, pride and glory to the

City of Naga and her fellow Bicolanos by winning

a Silver Medal in Arnis during the Palarong

Pambansa held in Legazpi City, Albay last April

2016 and a Bronze Medal in Arnis during the

Batang Pinoy National Championships held in the

City of Tagum. Davao del Norte last November

27-December 2, 2016.

For bringing honor, pride and glory to the City

of Naga and his fellow Bicolanos by winning a Bronze

Medal in Taekwondo during the 2016 Batang Pinoy

National Championships held in the City of Tagum,

Davao del Norte last November 27 – December 2,

2016.

JOYCE S. BELBES

JUSTIN PECONCILLO BERSABAL

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He brought honor, pride, and glory to the

City of Naga for having placed 10th in the national

Licensure Examination for Physical Therapists

given by the Professional Regulation Commission

last August 2016. He currently works as a Physical

Therapist at the NICC Doctors Hospital where he

has gained the respect and admiration of both his

co-workers and the patients because of his particular

skill and admirable work ethics.

JOSE OSCAR BARBA

TEJADA

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RECOGNITIONSS SS

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For bringing honor, pride and glory to the City

of Naga and her fellow Bicolanos by winning a Bronze

Medal in Team Gymnastics during the Batang Pinoy

National Championships held in the City of Tagum,

Davao del Norte last November 27 – December 2, 2016.

ALLIAH NADINE S. AGSAO


This barely 9-year old child gymnast will go places as she began to reap honors in performance sports at an early age. Already, she has brought honor, pride and glory by winning a Bronze Medal in Rhythmic Gymnastics in the Batang Pinoy National Championship held at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in December 2016 and a Silver Medal in the National Cheer Dance Competition held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila last March 2016.

ISABELA MAE G.

CAYETANO

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For bringing honor, pride and glory to the City of Naga and her fellow Bicolanos by winning a Gold Medal in 2000-KM Walk Athletics during the Batang Pinoy National Championships held in the City of Tagum, Davao del Norte last November 27 – December 2, 2016.

ROSE C. BOK

For bringing honor, pride and glory to the City of Naga and her fellow Bicolanos by winning Silver and Bronze Medals in Arnis during the Palarong Pambansa held in Legazpi City, Albay last April 2016 and a Bronze Medal in Arnis during the Batang Pinoy National Championships held in the City of Tagum. Davao del Norte last November 27-December 2, 2016.

ANNE MARGARETTE

M. BRON

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For bringing honor, pride and glory to the City of Naga and her fellow Bicolanos a Gold Medal in Taekwondo during the 2016 Batang Pinoy National Championships held in the City of Tagum, Davao del Norte last November 27 – December 2, 2016 and a Silver and Bronze Medal in Taekwondo during the 2016 Palarong Pambansa held in Legazpi City, Albay last April 2016

QUEENIE PLATON CHAVEZ

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For bringing honor, pride and glory to the City of Naga and his fellow Bicolanos by winning a Bronze Medal in 2000-KM Walk Athletics during the Batang Pinoy National Championships held in the City of Tagum, Davao del Norte last November 27 – December 2, 2016.

AARON R. GAOR

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MAYORALRECOGNITIONSS SSSS


For bringing honor, pride and glory to the City of Naga and his fellow Bicolanos by winning a Silver Medal in the 400-meter dash in the Para Games of the 2016 Palarong Pambansa held in Legazpi City, Albay last April 2016.

She will be 9 years old in October 2017 yet but already she has made her city proud

as she brings honor and glory through her exemplary achievements in gymnastics.

She won a Silver Medal in All Girl Junior Jazz Division during the National Dance Championship held last March 2016. In her tender age, she has represented Naga

City in various local, regional, and national gymnastics competitions since 2015 when she

was barely seven years old.

ATIYA THERESE N.

DIMAIWAT

DINRY FERCH B.

FULGENTES

For bringing honor, pride and glory to the City of Naga and his fellow Bicolanos by winning a Bronze Medal

in 50-meter Free Style during the Batang Pinoy National Swimming Championships held in the City of Tagum,

Davao del Norte last November 27 – December 2, 2016.

GAUDENCIO B. ESPIRITU,

JR.

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For bringing honor, pride and glory to the City of Naga and her fellow Bicolanos by winning a Bronze Medal in Rythmic Gymnastics during the Batang Pinoy National Championships held in the City of Tagum, Davao del Norte last November 27 – December 2, 2016.

ARICA E. DY PUECO

For bringing honor, pride and glory to the City of Naga and her fellow Bicolanos by reaping honors in Rhythmic Gymnastics that consisted of a Gold Medal in Rope Event and another Gold Medal in Hoop Event during the 2016 Palarong Pambansa held in Legazpi City, Albay last April 2016.

SHAIRA GABRIELLE E. GUEVARA

For bringing honor, pride and glory to the City of Naga and her fellow Bicolanos by winning a Bronze Medal in Arnis during the Palarong Pambansa held in Legazpi City, Albay last April 2016 and a Bronze Medal in Arnis during the Batang Pinoy National Championships held in the City of Tagum. Davao del Norte last November 27-December 2, 2016.

JOSEPH MIGUEL P.

PARADAFor bringing honor, pride and glory to the City of Naga and his fellow Bicolanos by winning a Bronze Medal in Arnis during the Palarong Pambansa held in Legazpi City, Albay last April 2016 and a Bronze Medal in Arnis during the Batang Pinoy National Championships held in the City of Tagum, Davao del Norte last November 27-December 2, 2016.

KARLOS DOMINIK D. MACALLA

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For bringing honor, pride and glory to the City of Naga and her fellow Bicolanos by winning a Bronze Medal in Arnis in the 2016 Batang Pinoy held in the City of Tagum, Davao del Norte last November 27 – December 2, 2016.

YESHA QUIER SANCHEZ

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For bringing honor, pride and glory to the City of Naga and her fellow Bicolanos by winning a Silver Medal in Rhythmic Gymnastics during the Palarong

Pambansa held in Legazpi City, Albay last April 2016.

HELENAKAYE A.

SECILLANO

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For bringing honor, pride and glory to the City of Naga and his fellow Bicolanos by winning a Bronze Medal in Taekwondo during the Batang Pinoy National Championships held in the City of Tagum, Davao del Norte last November 27 – December 2, 2016.

ALADINO M. DE LOS SANTOS, JR.

For bringing honor, pride and glory to the City of Naga and her fellow Bicolanos by winning a Silver Medal in Taekwondo during the 2016 Batang Pinoy National Championships held in the City of Tagum, Davao del Norte last November 27 – December 2, 2016 and Bronze Medal in Taekwondo during the 2016 Palarong Pambansa held in Legazpi City, Albay last April 2016.

JAYVEE PACONCILLOBERSABAL

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NAGA C i t y w i l l b e c e l e b r a t i n g i t s 7 0 t h Pl a t i n u m y e a r a s a c h a r t e r e d c i t y b y J u n e

2 0 1 8 .

I n t h e m e a n t i m e , t h e c i t y c e l e b r a t e d t h i s y e a r ’ s 6 9 t h c h a r t e r a n n i v e r s a r y

w i t h a n a r r a y o f a c t i vi t i e s , m a n y o f w h i c h w e r e f o c u s e d o n s o c i a l s e r vi c e s t h a t

s e r v e d a s a f i t t i n g p r e l u d e t o a g r a n d e r c e l e b r a t i o n n e x t y e a r .

A l o n g t h e b a t t l e c r y “ S e r b i s y o n g Na g u e ñ o , ” t h e s i g n i f i c a n t a c t i vi t i e s i n c l u d e d t h e L a n d

Ti t l e Di s t r i b u t i o n b y t h e Ho u s i n g S e t t l e m e n t a n d De v e l o p m e n t Of f i c e ( HS DO) ; t h e i s s u a n c e

o f Na g a C i t y S e n i o r C i t i z e n s I d e n t i f i c a t i o n C a r d s t h r o u g h t h e Of f i c e o f t h e S e n i o r C i t i z e n ’ s

A f f a i r s ( OS C A ) ; a n d t h e Na g a C i t y Tr i m o b i l e a n d Pa d y a k Dr i v e r s I Ds t h r o u g h t h e Pu b l i c

S a f e t y Of f i c e - Tr a n s p o r t M a n a g e m e n t C e n t e r ( PS O- TM C ) , a n d s e v e r a l o t h e r s o c i a l s e r vi c e s

a c t i vi t i e s .

Th e s e o t h e r a c t i vi t i e s i n c l u d e d t h e M e d i c a l a n d De n t a l

M i s s i o n b y t h e C i t y He a l t h Of fi c e ( C HO) ; C a s t r a t i o n , V a c c i n a t i o n &

De w o r m i n g a n d Pe t Tr a i n i n g b y t h e C i t y V e t e r i n a r y Of f i c e ( C V O) ;

Bu s i n e s s Na m e Re g i s t r a t i o n b y t h e Ne g o s y o C e n t e r ; a n d t h e Bo o m

n a Bo o m s a Pl a z a Q u e z o n b y t h e G e n e r a l S e r vi c e s De p a r t m e n t

( G S D) .

Th e C i t y C i vi l Re g i s t r y Of f i c e ( C C RO) a l s o c o n d u c t e d e a r l i e r

i t s C i vi l Re g i s t r a t i o n Da y w h e r e i n t h o s e n e e d i n g c i vi l r e g i s t r y

d o c u m e n t a t i o n a n d c h a n g e s / c o r r e c t i o n s i n t h e i r r e c o r d s w e r e

g i v e n q u i c k a s s i s t a n c e .

M a y o r J o h n Bo n g a t a l s o p r e s i d e d o v e r a s a y e a r l y t r a d i t i o n

t h e J u n e Br i d e M a s s C i vi l W e d d i n g t h a t o f f i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d a s

69TH CITY CHARTER ANNIVERSARY

VARIOUS SOCIAL SERVICES ACTIVITIES HIGHLIGHT

NAGA’S

RACSO VITANP H O T O S B Y SYLRANJELVIC VILLAFLOR REYNALDO BAYLON JOSE COLLERA

By ARMIE B. GUNAY


h u s b a n d s a n d w i v e s e r s t w h i l e c o u p l e s w h o h a d b e e n l i vi n g

t o g e t h e r w i t h o u t t h e b e n e f i t o f c i vi l m a r r i a g e .

A l s o p a r t o f t h e c i t y ’ s a n n u a l c h a r t e r c e l e b r a t i o n i s

t h e c o n t i n u i n g a d v o c a c y i n p r o t e c t i n g t h e e n vi r o n m e n t

t h r o u g h t h e C i t y w i d e C l e a n - U p , Na g a C i t y Pi l i m a n i a Bi k e

Ru n ; a n d t h e Na g a C i t y A r b o r Da y a n d Tr e e Pl a n t i n g A c t i vi t y

a t M t . I s a r o g Na t u r a l Pa r k .

Th e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t f u r t h e r l a u n c h e d t h e W e e k e n d

M a r k e t a n d c o n d u c t e d t h e C e r e m o n i a l Pa l a y S e e d s

Di s t r i b u t i o n . Pi l i t r e e t a g g i n g o r l a b e l i n g l i k e w i s e c o n d u c t e d

i n c e l e b r a t i o n o f t h e 6 t h Pi l i m a n i a a n n i v e r s a r y .

C h a r t e r Da y J o b F a i r f o r t h o s e s e e k i n g e m p l o y m e n t

o p p o r t u n i t i e s w a s c o n d u c t e d , a s w e l l a s t h e G a w a d - K a l i n g a

( G K ) - C i t y G o v e r n m e n t h o m e b u i l d p r o j e c t a n d t h e G K a n d

G i n h a w a n g Na g u e ñ o t u r n o v e r o f h o u s i n g u n i t s t o t h o s e

f o r m e r s e t t l e r s n e a r t h e d u m p s i t e .

M e a n w h i l e , v a r i o u s d a n c e g r o u p s i n t h e c i t y w e r e

g i v e n t h e i r o p p o r t u n i t y t o s h o w c a s e t h e i r t a l e n t s a n d w i n

p r i z e s i n t h e C h a r t e r Da y C o n c e r t a n d Da n c e S u p r e m a c y

F i n a l s .

A C h a r t e r A n n i v e r s a r y Z u m b a Pa r t y w a s a l s o

c o n d u c t e d t o a d d f u n t o t h e w e e k - l o n g c e l e b r a t i o n .

A K i n a l a s F e s t i v a l , c e l e b r a t i n g Bi c o l ’ s o r i g i n a l c u i s i n e ,

w a s h e l d t o s h o w c a s e t h e b e s t o f Na g a o r i g i n a l ’ s k i n a l a s

d i s h c o o k i n g .

Th e 1 s t I n t e r - s c h o o l Ol y m p i c s Op e n i n g C e r e m o n y

a n d 1 4 t h C h a r t e r Da y I n t e r - C o l l e g i a t e Ba s k e t b a l l

To u r n a m e n t w a s o p e n e d a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Nu e v a

C a c e r e s s p o r t s p a l a c e .

Th e a w a r d i n g o f w i n n e r s i n t h e I n t e r - Ba r a n g a y

S u m m e r S p o r t s F e s t d u r i n g t h e m o n t h s o f A p r i l a n d M a y

w a s h e l d e a r l i e r .

Th e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t i n s t i t u t e d t h e f i r s t Du g o n g

Na g u e ñ o A w a r d s t o p a y t r i b u t e t o v a r i o u s i n d i vi d u a l s , g r o u p s ,

a n d i n s t i t u t i o n s w h o v o l u n t e e r e d a s d o n o r s i n t h e b l o o d

d o n a t i o n d r i v e s o f t h e c i t y .

Du r i n g t h e S t a t e o f t h e C i t y Re p o r t b y M a y o r J o h n

Bo n g a t , t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t a l s o r e c o g n i z e d a n d h o n o r e d

t h e c i t y ’ s t o p t a x p a y e r s d u r i n g t h e p r e vi o u s y e a r . C i t y Ha l l

e m p l o y e e s w h o h a v e r e n d e r e d l o n g y e a r s o f s e r vi c e a n d

s i g n i f i c a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n i n t h e c i t y ’ s d e v e l o p m e n t a n d

e c o n o m i c g r o w t h w e r e a l s o h o n o r e d d u r i n g t h a t s a m e

o c c a s i o n .

Th e a n n u a l M a y o r a l A w a r d s w h i c h h o n o r s o u t s t a n d i n g

c i t i z e n s , g r o u p s , a n d i n s t i t u t i o n s w h o b r o u g h t h o n o r , s e r vi c e s

a n d c o n t r i b u t i o n t o Na g a ’ s p r o g r e s s a n d d e v e l o p m e n t s e r v e d

a s h i g h l i g h t t o t h e c h a r t e r d a y c e l e b r a t i o n .

MAYOR BONGAT delivers his State of Our City Report which details the gains

and triumphs of the city that were achieved because of the strong partnership and cooperation among the Naguenos. Behind

him is Vice Mayor Nelson Legacion who presides over the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s regular

session that featured the mayor’s report.

STATE OF OUR CITY

REPORT 2017

BONGAT REASSURESHIS FAITH ON THENAGUEÑOS, BARES TRIUMPHS

STRESSING h i s s t r o n g f a i t h o n t h e Na g u e ñ o s t h a t h e s a i d n e v e r w a n e s t o b r i n g o u t t h e b e s t i n Te a m Na g a , M a y o r

J o h n G . Bo n g a t a s k e d h i s c o n s t i t u e n t s t o c o n t i n u e t o j o i n h i m i n t h e j o u r n e y t o w a r d s h i s t h i r d a n d f i n a l t e r m i n o f f i c e .

F i r s t e l e c t e d t o t h e p o s t i n 2 0 1 0 , Bo n g a t , w h o s e t e r m a s c i t y m a y o r w i l l e n d i n 2 0 1 9 , o n c e m o r e a s k e d b e f o r e t h e j a m p a c k e d Pe o p l e ’ s Ha l l o n Tu e s d a y , J u n e 1 3 , 2 0 1 7 , f o r t h e p u b l i c ’ s a l l - o u t s u p p o r t t o h i s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n : “ I n t h i s l a s t t e r m o f m i n e , I a p p e a l t o y o u t o g i v e i t y o u r a l l . “ I tao na nindo an gabos na suporta asin t iwala na hinahagad ko para sa padagos na marikas na pag-uswag kan satuyang ciudad . ”

Th e m a y o r r e c o u n t e d t h e d a y s w h e n h e w a s c i t y c o u n c i l o r i n 2 0 0 1

b e e n , t h e s o - c a l l e d U b o s k u n u b o s , G a b o s k u n g a b o s , ” h e s a i d .

“ A n d i n t h e l a s t e l e c t i o n s , l a s t M a y 2 0 1 6 , y o u s t o o d y o u r g r o u n d . Yo u h a v e p r o v e n t i m e a n d a g a i n y o u r w o r t h a s o u r r e l i a b l e p a r t n e r s i n g o v e r n a n c e . W h a t r e a s o n d o I a n d m y t e a m h a v e t o l o s e f a i t h i n y o u , m y f e l l o w Na g u e ñ o s a n d Na g u e ñ a s ? ” h e a s k e d t h e c r o w d , w h i c h c o n s i s t s m a i n l y o f

c o m m u n i t y l e a d e r s , b u s i n e s s m e n , s u p p o r t e r s a n d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m d i f f e r e n t s e c t o r s i n t h e c i t y .

Th e m a y o r c o n c l u d e d h i s s t a t e o f t h e c i t y r e p o r t b y a s s u r i n g h i s p e o p l e o f h i s f a i t h i n t h e m , a n d t h a t h e p r a y s t h a t t h e y , i n t u r n , p u t t h e i r s i n h i m t o b e a b l e t o l e a d Te a m Na g a t o e v e n g r e a t e r h e i g h t s . “ F o r i n t h e e n d , i t ’ s n e v e r a b o u t t h e l e a d e r n o r t h e p e o p l e b u t h o w y o u a n d I h a v e w o r k e d a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o w o r k t o g e t h e r a s a t e a m t o w a r d s a s h a r e d f u t u r e , b r i g h t e r t h a n b e f o r e , a n d h a p p i n e s s , m o r e f e l t t h a n e v e n b e f o r e , ” h e s a i d .

A vi d e o p r e s e n t a t i o n t h e n s u m m a r i z e d Te a m Na g a ’ s a c h i e v e m e n t s o v e r t h e l a s t s e v e n y e a r s u n d e r h i s l e a d e r s h i p :

u p t o t h e t i m e h e w a s e l e c t e d c i t y m a y o r . He s a i d h e d i d h i s b e s t d u r i n g t h o s e d a y s b e c a u s e h e b e l i e v e s t h a t h i s c o n s t i t u e n t s d e s e r v e n o l e s s .

“ Yo u h a v e p r o v e n t o b e Te a m Na g a ’ s r e l i a b l e p a r t n e r s t h r o u g h t h e y e a r s , n e v e r w a n i n g i n s u p p o r t t o b r i n g o u t t h e b e s t i n u s . M y f i r s t a n d s e c o n d t e r m s h a v e b e e n a s w e e p i n o u r f a v o r , p h e n o m e n a l a s i t h a s

a t t h e f o r e f r o n t . Th i s c o m m u n i t y -d r i v e n t h r u s t i s m a n d a t e d b y EO 2 0 1 2 - 0 1 8 .

Ne x t i s t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f b i r t h i n g f a c i l i t i e s a t t h e b a r a n g a y l e v e l t h a t b e g a n i n 2 0 1 5 . Th e s e l y i n g - i n c e n t e r s h e l p i n e n s u r i n g s a f e m a t e r n a l d e l i v e r i e s b y g i vi n g p r e g n a n t w o m e n a c c e s s t o p r o f e s s i o n a l c a r e a n d t h e p r e v e n t i o n o f i n f a n t a n d m a t e r n a l m o r b i d i t y a n d m o r t a l i t y .

Bo n g a t a l s o i s s u e d EO 2 0 1 4 - 0 2 5 w h i c h c r e a t e d t h e C o m m u n i t y - b a s e d Re h a b i l i t a t i o n

HEALTH AND NUTRITION

Ov e r t h e y e a r s , t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t w a s a b l e t o p u r s u e k e y i n n o v a t i v e p r o g r a m s t h a t a i m t o m a k e q u a l i t y h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n s e r vi c e s m o r e a c c e s s i b l e t o t h e p e o p l e i n t h e b a r a n g a y s .

W i t h Ex e c u t i v e Or d e r 2 0 1 1 - 0 3 4 t h a t c r e a t e s t h e Na g a C i t y I n t e g r a t e d He a l t h a n d De v e l o p m e n t A p p r o a c h ( I HA NDA ) p r o g r a m , t h e L G U w a s a b l e t o e n h a n c e i t s h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n p r o g r a m s b y i n t e g r a t i n g t h e b a r a n g a y s e r vi c e s , m a n p o w e r , l o g i s t i c s , a n d t r a i n i n g w h i l e t h e c a m p a i g n t o e l i m i n a t e m o s q u i t o e s ’ b r e e d i n g g r o u n d s h a s a c h i e v e d s i g n i f i c a n t r e s u l t s i n t h e c i t y ’ s 2 7 b a r a n g a y s b e c a u s e o f t h e r e g u l a r h o l d i n g o f n o -n o n s e n s e h o u s e - t o - h o u s e s e a r c h a n d d e s t r o y o p e r a t i o n s w i t h t h e Ba r a n g a y He a l t h W o r k e r s ( BHW s )

By JASON B. NEOLA


P H O T O S B Y SYLRANJELVIC VILLAFLOR

S e r vi c e s ( C BRS ) p r o g r a m t o b e a b l e t o p r o vi d e t h e r e s i d e n t s w i t h r e h a b i l i t a t i o n s e r vi c e s a t t h e b a r a n g a y l e v e l t h r o u g h t r a i n e d BHW s . Th e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e Ou r L a d y o f L o u r d e s I n f i r m a r y i n Ba r a n g a y C a r o l i n a i s a l s o a m o n g t h e s i g n i f i c a n t a c h i e v e m e n t s o f t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t t h a t p r o vi d e s i m m e d i a t e m e d i c a l a t t e n t i o n t o p a t i e n t s i n u p p e r b a r a n g a y s . Th i s f a c i l i t y d e - l o a d s t h e Na g a C i t y Ho s p i t a l o f h u g e n u m b e r o f p a t i e n t s .

FOR IN THE END, IT’S NEVER ABOUT THE LEADER NOR THE PEOPLE BUT HOW YOU AND I

HAVE WORKED AND WILL CONTINUE

TO WORK TOGETHER AS A

TEAM TOWARDS A SHARED FUTURE, BRIGHTER THAN

BEFORE, AND HAPPINESS, MORE FELT THAN EVEN

BEFORE

HOUSING AND URBAN POOR

Be c a u s e o f t h e c i t y ’ s r o b u s t e c o n o m y , p r o p e r t y d e v e l o p m e n t , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e vi b r a n t h o u s i n g s e c t o r , c o n t i n u e s t o b e o n e o f t h e m a i n d r i v e r s o f l o c a l e c o n o m i c g r o w t h . A p p l a u s e c a m e f r o m t h e c r o w d w h e n Bo n g a t s a i d t h a t h o u s i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n i n t h e c i t y g r e w b y 3 . 7 % a n n u a l l y o v e r t h e l a s t 1 0 y e a r s , f a s t e r t h a n t h e 2 . 3 % a n n u a l g r o w t h i n t h e c i t y ’ s p o p u l a t i o n .

Th e c i t y m a y o r a d d e d t h a t h i s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n c o n t i n u e s t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e l e s s w e l l - o f f s e g m e n t o f t h e h o u s e h o l d

p o p u l a t i o n i s n o t l e f t b e h i n d . He s a i d t h a t r e m a r k a b l e f e a t w a s a c h i e v e d b e c a u s e o f t h e c i t y ’ s k e y a p p r o a c h e s a n d s t r o n g p a r t n e r s h i p s w i t h s t a k e h o l d e r s l i k e t h e K a a n t a b a y s a K a u s w a g a n ( K s K ) p r o g r a m a n d t h e Na g a C i t y De v e l o p m e n t a n d Ho u s i n g Bo a r d ( NC DHB) .

K s K b e n e f i c i a r i e s h a v e g r o w n t o m o r e t h a n 9 , 0 0 0 i n 2 0 1 5 , w h i c h r e p r e s e n t s 2 3 % o f t h e 4 0 , 5 0 0 e s t i m a t e d t o t a l n u m b e r o f h o u s e h o l d s . Th e f i g u r e i s m o r e t h a n t w i c e t h e 4 , 0 0 0 h o u s e h o l d s o r i g i n a l l y t a r g e t e d f o r c o v e r a g e s i n c e i t s i n c e p t i o n i n 1 9 8 9 .

Th e c i t y s t i l l n e e d s t o a d d r e s s m o r e t h a n 5 , 0 0 0 p e n d i n g a p p l i c a t i o n s d u e t o p o p u l a t i o n g r o w t h l a r g e l y d r i v e n b y m i g r a t i o n .

A n o t h e r i n i t i a t i v e t h a t c a n a d d r e s s t h e n e e d s o f t h e L e a s t Ec o n o m i c a l l y Re s i l i e n t C o m m u n i t i e s ( L ERC S ) , n o t o n l y i n t e r m s o f h o u s i n g , i s t h e G i n h a w a n g Na g u e ñ o p r o g r a m ( c r e a t e d u n d e r EO 2 0 1 4 - 0 9 4 ) . Th e p r o g r a m i s h o l i s t i c i n n a t u r e i n a d d r e s s i n g s a n i t a t i o n , e d u c a t i o n , h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n , a n d l i v e l i h o o d n e e d s . I t n o w c o v e r s 2 5 c o m m u n i t i e s i n 1 4 b a r a n g a y s w i t h 8 0 0 f a m i l i e s b e l o n g i n g t o t h e p o o r e s t o f t h e p o o r .

EDUCATION, ARTS, CULTURE AND SPORTS

Th e c i t y ’ s b e i n g a c e n t e r o f e d u c a t i o n w a s

f u r t h e r b o o s t e d n o t o n l y i n t e r m s o f p r o vi d i n g q u a l i t y e d u c a t i o n f r o m p r e s c h o o l t o g r a d u a t e c o u r s e s . I n 2 0 1 6 , e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g c i t y a n d b a r a n g a y - o p e r a t e d S EED M o n t e s s o r i a n d Ed u c a r e c e n t e r s w h i c h p r o vi d e p r e s c h o o l t r a i n i n g , h a v e r e a c h e d 2 8 3 , w h i c h i s 5 6 % h i g h e r t h a n i t w a s s e v e n y e a r s a g o w h e n Bo n g a t f i r s t b e c a m e M a y o r i n 2 0 1 0 .

I n a n t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e c i t y ’ s g r o w i n g s c h o o l - a g e p o p u l a t i o n a n d t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l i n t h e n e w c u r r i c u l u m , t h e p r i v a t e s e c t o r g r e w b y 7 5 % a n d t h e p u b l i c s e c t o r b y 4 5 % .

Bo n g a t a l s o r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n r a t e s i n p r e s c h o o l , e l e m e n t a r y a n d s e c o n d a r y a r e h i g h e r b y 1 6 % , 3 4 % , a n d 5 1 % , r e s p e c t i v e l y , w h e n c o m p a r e d t o t h e p r o j e c t e d s c h o o l -

a g e p o p u l a t i o n .

He s a i d t h a t t h e c h a l l e n g i n g p a r t i s t o m a k e s u r e t h a t n o s c h o o l c h i l d r e n i n t h e c i t y a r e d e p r i v e d o f t h e i r r i g h t f u l p l a c e i n t h e s y s t e m .

“ W i t h De p Ed - Na g a , t h e Na g a C i t y S c h o o l Bo a r d , b a r a n g a y o f f i c i a l s , p a r e n t s a n d o t h e r s t a k e h o l d e r s

w o r k i n g t o g e t h e r a n d t h e t o o l s t o m a k e i t h a p p e n , l i k e t h e Q U EEN/ S a n g g a w a d a n , e S k w e l a / Ba r a n g a y L i t e r a c y W o r k e r , t h e c i t y s c h o l a r s h i p p r o g r a m s , a n d t h e De p Ed ’ s A l t e r n a t i v e L e a r n i n g S y s t e m , w e w i l l b e a b l e t o o v e r c o m e i t . ”

Bo n g a t ’ s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a l s o p u r s u e d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f De l Ro s a r i o Na t i o n a l Hi g h S c h o o l a s e n d o r s e d b y S P Re s o l u t i o n 2 0 1 7 - 1 8 8 , w h i c h

i s n o w o p e r a t i o n a l w i t h 7 9 e n r o l l e e s . Th e L G U - r u n C i t y C o l l e g e o f Na g a , w h i c h o f f e r s BS M i d w i f e r y a n d t e c h n i c a l v o c a t i o n a l c o u r s e s , i s n o w e x p a n d i n g i n t o r e l e v a n t

a c a d e m i c p r o g r a m s l i k e o f f i c e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d p u b l i c a d m i n i s t r a t i o n .

Bo n g a t a l s o r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n r a t e s i n p r e s c h o o l , e l e m e n t a r y a n d s e c o n d a r y a r e h i g h e r b y 1 6 % , 3 4 % , a n d 5 1 % , r e s p e c t i v e l y , w h e n c o m p a r e d t o t h e p r o j e c t e d s c h o o l -

a g e p o p u l a t i o n .

w o r k i n g t o g e t h e r a n d t h e t o o l s t o m a k e i t h a p p e n , l i k e t h e Q U EEN/ S a n g g a w a d a n , e S k w e l a / Ba r a n g a y L i t e r a c y W o r k e r , t h e c i t y s c h o l a r s h i p p r o g r a m s , a n d t h e De p Ed ’ s A l t e r n a t i v e L e a r n i n g S y s t e m , w e w i l l b e a b l e t o o v e r c o m e i t . ”

De l Ro s a r i o Na t i o n a l Hi g h S c h o o l a s e n d o r s e d b y S P Re s o l u t i o n 2 0 1 7 - 1 8 8 , w h i c h i s n o w o p e r a t i o n a l w i t h 7 9 e n r o l l e e s . Th e L G U - r u n C i t y C o l l e g e o f Na g a , w h i c h

o f f e r s BS M i d w i f e r y a n d t e c h n i c a l v o c a t i o n a l c o u r s e s , i s n o w e x p a n d i n g i n t o r e l e v a n t a c a d e m i c p r o g r a m s l i k e o f f i c e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d p u b l i c a d m i n i s t r a t i o n .


P H O T O B Y REYNALDO BAYLON

P H O T O S B Y SYLRANJELVIC VILLAFLOR, REYNALDO BAYLON & JOSE COLLERA

P H O T O B Y SYLRANJELVIC VILLAFLOR

r i s i n g u p i n o u r u p l a n d b a r a n g a y s , ” t h e m a y o r s a i d .

L a s t M a y 1 1 , t h i s y e a r , t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t r e c e i v e d a s p e c i a l a w a r d f r o m Th e M a n i l a Ti m e s f o r e c o n o m i c vi t a l i t y , c o u r t e s y o f t h e o u t s t a n d i n g p e r f o r m a n c e i n t e r m s o f i n c o m e b y t h e Na g a C i t y Pe o p l e ’ s M a l l w h i c h g e n e r a t e d P5 5 - M i n t o t a l r e v e n u e s i n 2 0 1 6 . To g e t h e r w i t h t h e Bi c o l C e n t r a l S t a t i o n , t h a t h a s b e e n t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a c l e a n a n d o r d e r l y p u b l i c t r a n s p o r t t e r m i n a l , t h e b i g g e s t o f i t s k i n d a n d m o s t p r o f i t a b l e i n t h e e n t i r e Bi c o l Re g i o n , w i t h m o r e t h a n P4 5 M i n r e v e n u e s i n t h e s a m e y e a r .

PEACE AND ORDER AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Pr o t e c t i v e s e r v i c e s i n t h e c i t y a r e f u r t h e r e n h a n c e d b y t h e p r e s e n c e o f 2 6 v o l u n t e e r s a n d 5 0 p o l i c e a i d e s h i r e d b y t h e L G U t h r o u g h i t s Pu b l i c S a f e t y Of f i c e . U p o n t h e d e s i g n a t i o n o f PS S u p t . J u l i u s M u ñ e z a s c i t y d i r e c t o r o f t h e Na g a C i t y Po l i c e Of f i c e , t h e m o r a l e a n d p e r f o r m a n c e o f p o l i c e p e r s o n n e l h a v e s i g n i f i c a n t l y i m p r o v e d a n d p a v e d t h e w a y f o r a m o r e e f f e c t i v e a n d f u n c t i o n a l p a r t n e r s h i p b e t w e e n t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t a n d t h e PNP.

Th e g o o d w o r k i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h e L G U a n d t h e p o l i c e h a s l e d t o s i g n i f i c a n t a c h i e v e m e n t s l i k e t h e 2 5 % d e c r e a s e i n i n d e x c r i m e v o l u m e – f r o m 2 , 4 9 7 f r o m J u l y 2 0 1 5 t o J u l y 2 0 1 6 t o 1 , 8 7 5 f r o m J u l y 2 0 1 6 t o d a t e . Th i s c a n b e a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e s u c c e s s f u l a n t i - d r u g c a m p a i g n w h i c h c o m p l e m e n t s Pr e s i d e n t Du t e r t e ’ s i n i t i a t i v e s .

Th e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t ’ s S a l v a r Bu h a y p r o g r a m h a n d l e s t h e v o l u n t a r y s u b m i s s i o n o f 3 , 5 4 5 d r u g p e r s o n a l i t i e s . L e d b y t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t ’ s Na g a C i t y Da n g e r o u s Dr u g s Bo a r d a n d t h e PNP, t h e p r o g r a m i s a c o m p r e h e n s i v e , p e o p l e - c e n t e r e d , c o m m u n i t y - d r i v e n e f f o r t t o w a r d s r e i n t e g r a t i o n o f d r u g p e r s o n a l i t i e s i n t o m a i n s t r e a m o f s o c i e t y , e f f e c t i v e l y c o m p l e m e n t i n g t h e Op l a n Do u b l e Ba r r e l o f t h e PNP.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:

• 4 0 7 a n t i - d r u g a r r e s t s u n d e r t a k e n b y l a w e n f o r c e r s f r o m J u l y 1 , 2 0 1 6 t o d a t e .

• I s s u a n c e o f EO 2 0 1 6 - 0 0 8 e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e Na g a C i t y A n t i - Dr u g s Ta s k F o r c e ( C A TF ORC E) t h a t f u n c t i o n s a s c o o r d i n a t i n g m e c h a n i s m f o r t h e v a r i o u s e n f o r c e m e n t a g e n c i e s i n t h e c i t y .

• I n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h t h e DOH, t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t w a s a b l e t o i n t e n s i f y e a r l y i n t e r v e n t i o n , r e h a b i l i t a t i o n , a n d a f t e r c a r e s e r vi c e s .

• Th e L G U i s p a r t n e r i n g w i t h t h e C a m a r i n e s S u r Tr e a t m e n t a n d Re h a b i l i t a t i o n C e n t e r i n S a n F e r n a n d o i n t h e L I F E C o u n s e l l i n g C e n t e r , a n o u t -p a t i e n t c o u n s e l l i n g f a c i l i t y f o r d r u g d e p e n d e n t s a n d t h e i r r e l a t i v e s .

• 1 5 b a r a n g a y s i n t h e c i t y h a v e b e e n d e c l a r e d b y PDEA a s c l e a r e d o f d r u g m e n a c e .

CLEANLINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

• EO 2 0 1 2 - 0 1 3 c r e a t e d t h e F l o o d M a n a g e m e n t Bo a r d t h r o u g h w h i c h t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t ’ s i n i t i a t i v e f o r f l o o d m a n a g e m e n t a p p r o a c h w a s i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z e d .

• EO 2 0 1 2 - 0 1 4 c r e a t e d t h e Na t u r a l W a t e r w a y s M a n a g e m e n t C o u n c i l w h i c h c a r r i e d - o u t t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f s t o r m d r a i n a g e s a n d f a c i l i t a t e d a n e n h a n c e d w a t e r w a y s m o n i t o r i n g a p p r o a c h o f M t . I s a r o g b u f f e r z o n e a r e a s .

• A l o n g w i t h t h e Te c h n i c a l A s s i s t a n c e 8 4 9 3 o f t h e C l i m a t e C h a n g e C o m m i s s i o n : Th e C l i m a t e Re s i l i e n c e a n d G r e e n G r o w t h f u n d e d b y A DB h a s e a r m a r k e d t h e e n h a n c e d p l a n n i n g a n d c l i m a t e c h a n g e p r o g r a m s o f t h e c i t y .

LIVELIHOOD, EMPLOYMENT, BUSINESS AND HUMAN DEV’T

Na g a , n o w b e i n g r e g a r d e d a Ne x t W a v e C i t y h a s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 5 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e i n t h e I T-BPM i n d u s t r y c o m p o s e d o f m u l t i - n a t i o n a l f i r m s l i k e I BM , C o n c e n t r i x , a n d S t e l l a r , a n d s m a l l l o c a l e n t e r p r i s e s . Th e b r i g h t p r o s p e c t i n t h i s i n d u s t r y g o e s a l o n g s i d e w i t h t h a t o f t h e b u s i n e s s s e c t o r t o w h i c h t h e g r o w i n g n u m b e r o f b u s i n e s s e s t a b l i s h m e n t s r o s e t o 7 , 5 1 0 , a s o f t h e e n d o f 2 0 1 6 . Th e f i g u r e i s 3 8 % h i g h e r t h a n t h e 5 , 4 5 9 f i r m s r e g i s t e r e d i n 2 0 1 1 a n d 8 6 % h i g h e r t h a n t h e 4 , 0 2 5 f i r m s r e g i s t e r e d i n 2 0 0 0 .

Th e t o u r i s m i n d u s t r y i s s u r g i n g a s t h e c i t y h i t t h e o n e m i l l i o n m a r k i n t e r m s o f t o u r i s t

a r r i v a l s i n 2 0 1 5 . I n 2 0 1 6 , t h e n u m b e r g r e w t o 1 . 2 m i l l i o n . I t c a n a l s o b e o b s e r v e d t h a t t h e c i t y h a s a c h i e v e d a r o b u s t 2 4 8 % g r o w t h i n t h e n u m b e r o f a c c o m m o d a t i o n e s t a b l i s h m e n t s f r o m 2 1 i n 2 0 1 1 t o 7 3 i n 2 0 1 6 w i t h a v e r a g e o c c u p a n c y r a t e s o f m o r e t h a n 6 0 % .

“ Ne w r e s o r t s a r e b e i n g s e t u p i n Na g a ’ s Ea s t Hi g h l a n d To u r i s m Z o n e . W i t h i n t h e y e a r , w e w i l l a l s o s e e a PEZ A - r e g i s t e r e d i n d u s t r i a l e c o - z o n e m a n u f a c t u r i n g e n g i n e e r e d p r o d u c t s f o r e x p o r t s

• Th e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e I n t e g r a t e d Na g a Ri v e r Re vi t a l i z a t i o n Pr o j e c t ( i NRRP) i s c o n t i n u e d .

• W h i l e t h e S e p t a g e M a n a g e m e n t Pr o j e c t o f t h e M e t r o Na g a W a t e r Di s t r i c t i s i n f u l l s w i n g , t h e c i t y c a n l o o k f o r w a r d t o i m p r o v e d w a t e r q u a l i t y i n d i c a t o r s f o r t h e 1 5 - k m r i v e r s y s t e m , w h i c h h a s b e e n d e s i g n a t e d b y DENR a s a W a t e r Q u a l i t y M a n a g e m e n t A r e a ( W Q M A ) Th u s , t h e c i t y d e v e l o p e d t h e “ Bo k a s h i Ba l l Pr o d u c t i o n ” p r o j e c t t o p r o d u c e b i o - e n z y m e s t h a t w i l l b e a p p l i e d t o t h e r i v e r i n e f o r t h e i r r e vi v a l .

TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, PEOPLE EMPOWERMENT AND GOOD GOVERNANCE

• A c c o r d i n g t o Bu r e a u o f L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t F i n a n c e , Na g a r e m a i n s No . 1 a m o n g Bi c o l c i t i e s i n t e r m s o f t o t a l o p e r a t i n g i n c o m e a n d l o c a l r e v e n u e s o u r c e s .

• I n 2 0 1 6 , Na g a j o i n e d t h e Bi l l i o n a i r e s ’ C l u b , h a vi n g e a r n e d a t o t a l o f P1 . 1 b i l l i o n i n t o t a l o p e r a t i n g i n c o m e , w i t h o n l y 4 7 % d e p e n d e n c y o n I RA

• L G U - Na g a i s t h e f i r s t Ph i l i p p i n e L G U t o h a v e e m b a r k e d o n a 3 0 - y e a r S u s t a i n a b l e U r b a n De v e l o p m e n t Pl a n , c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e A m b i s y o n Na t i n 2 0 1 4 l o n g Te r m V i s i o n l a u n c h e d b y t h e n a t i o n a l g o v e r n m e n t t h r o u g h t h e NEDA .

• Na g a h a s b e e n t h e c o u n t r y ’ s m o s t c o m p e t i t i v e c o m p o n e n t c i t y f o r t h e l a s t 2 y e a r s .


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MODEL CITY. The Manila Times President and CEO Dante Francis Ang II (3rd from left) poses with Mayor John G. Bongat (4th from left) during the awarding ceremonies of the Top Philippine Model Cities with Naga City being named the country’s Livelihood and Employment Haven. Also in photo (from left to right) are CEPPIO’s Zayda Fe Rifareal, City Civil Registrar Alexander M. Cayetano, Manila Times’ Chief Operating Officer Blanca Mercado, Naga SMILES Magazine Editor Jose B. Perez, and Jason B. Neola of the Office of the City Administrator.

MANILA - - - T h e M a n i l a T i m e s , t h e c o u n t r y ’ s o l d e s t a n d l o n g e s t - r u n n i n g n e w s p a p e r s i n c e 1 8 9 8 , h a s c h o s e n N a g a

C i t y a s o n e o f t h e T o p 1 3 P h i l i p p i n e M o d e l C i t i e s , t h e m o s t l i v a b l e u r b a n c e n t e r s a c r o s s t h e P h i l i p p i n e s .

C a l l e d “ T h e P h i l i p p i n e M o d e l C i t i e s , ” w i t h t h e t h e m e “ B e y o n d t h e M o s t L i v a b l e U r b a n C e n t e r s , ” t h e e v e n t s e r v e d a s f a c i l i t y t o r e c o g n i ze t h e n a t i o n ’ s t o p m o d e l c i t i e s t h a t s t a n d o u t o n d i f f e r e n t a r e a s o f e x c e l l e n c e s u c h a s p e a c e a n d o r d e r , l i v e l i h o o d a n d e m p l o y m e n t , s o c i a l s e r v i c e s , a m o n g o t h e r s .

N a g a w a s a l s o g i v e n a S p e c i a l C i t a t i o n a s t h e c o u n t r y ’ s t o p “ L i v e l i h o o d & E m p l o y m e n t H a v e n , ” o w i n g p r i m a r i l y t o t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t ’ s g o v e r n a n c e i n n o v a t i o n s a n d p o l i t i c a l w i l l i n i n t r o d u c i n g c h a n g e s t h a t l e d n o t o n l y t o t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e p u b l i c m a r k e t i n t o a l u c r a t i v e e c o n o m i c e n t e r p r i s e o f t h e c i t y a n d i t s s m a l l e n t r e p r e n e u r s , b u t a l s o t o t h e m a r k e t ’ s t r a n s f o r m a t i o n t o w a r d s s u s t a i n i n g a c u l t u r e o f d i s c i p l i n e , c l e a n l i n e s s a n d i n c l u s i v e d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g w i t h i n t h e r e b r a n d e d N a g a C i t y P e o p l e ’ s M a l l .

A s h o r t l i s t o f 3 7 c i t i e s w e r e d r a w n o u t b a s e d o n t h e l o n g l i s t e d c i t i e s ’ t e a c h i n g o f e n v i r o n m e n t a l i s s u e s i n s c h o o l s ; i n n o v a t i o n i n g r e e n b u i l d i n g a n d p u b l i c s p a c e s ; e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f g o o d n e t w o r k i n g b e t w e e n a n d a m o n g a l l s e c t o r s ; a n d d e l i v e r y o f e x c e l l e n t s e r v i c e s t o t h e p u b l i c , i n c l u d i n g t o u r i s t s .

N a g a w a s g i v e n t h e L i v e l i h o o d /E m p l o y m e n t H a v e n A w a r d f o r c r e a t i n g j o b s a n d p r o g r a m s t h a t h e l p e d i n s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e e n t r e p r e n e u r i a l s p i r i t o f t h e N a g u e ñ o s . T h e e f f o r t e l i c i t e d p o s i t i v e r e s u l t s t h a t a l l o w e d t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t u n d e r

M a y o r J o h n B o n g a t ’ s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n t o e a r n t h e m o n i k e r c h a m p i o n o f m i c r o a n d s m a l l e n t r e p r e n e u r s .

H i g h l i g h t e d i n t h e c i t a t i o n w a s t h e r e b r a n d i n g o f f o r m e r N a g a C i t y P u b l i c M a r k e t i n t o N a g a C i t y P e o p l e ’ s M a l l ( N C P M ) t h a t m a d e t h e l a r g e s t s i n g l e - r o o f p u b l i c m a r k e t i n A s i a , c o n s t r u c t e d i n 1 9 6 5 , t o b e c o m e o n e o f t h e c i t y ’ s m o s t p r o f i t a b l e e c o n o m i c e n t e r p r i s e s a n d m a i n e c o n o m i c d r i v e r s t o d a y .

N C P M , w i t h i t s 3 6 ,0 0 0 s q . m e t e r - f l o o r a r e a , r e m a i n s t o b e t h e o n e - s t o p - s h o p a n d b u d g e t - f r i e n d l y s u p e r m a r k e t i n t h e c i t y , c a t e r i n g n o t o n l y t o N a g a r e s i d e n t s b u t a l s o

t o l o c a l s o f n e i g h b o r i n g t o w n s , a s w e l l a s t o t o u r i s t s v i s i t i n g M e t r o N a g a .

N e x t i s t h e G r O W N e g o s y o , a c o n t r a c t i o n o f t h e B a r a n g a y G r o w i n g O p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r W e a l t h N e g o s y o p r o g r a m , w h i c h a i m s t o p r o m o t e a n d g r o w l i v e l i h o o d o p p o r t u n i t i e s a t t h e b a r a n g a y l e v e l t h r u m i c r o a n d s m a l l e n t e r p r i s e o p e r a t i o n s .

A b r a i n c h i l d o f M a y o r J o h n G . B o n g a t , G r O W N e g o s y o a l s o o p e r a t e s b y r a i s i n g t h e b a r a n g a y l e v e l e m p l o y m e n t r a t e , i m p r o v i n g t h e h o u s e h o l d i n c o m e l e v e l s , g i v i n g w a y t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f m o r e p r o u d b a r a n g a y - o w n e d p r o d u c t s , a n d a t t a i n i n g t h e c i t y ’ s v i s i o n f o r e c o n o m i c e m p o w e r e d c o m m u n i t i e s .

By JASON B. NEOLA

G r OW Ne g o s y o b e n e f i c i a r i e s a r e b e i n g s u p p o r t e d b y t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t t h r u t h e d e l i v e r y o f e s s e n t i a l s e r vi c e s f r o m w o r k i n g c a p i t a l t o f i n a n c i n g a n d m a r k e t i n g s u p p o r t t o s k i l l s a n d m a n a g e m e n t t r a i n i n g i n c l u d i n g p r o d u c t d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p r o d u c t i o n e q u i p m e n t s u p p o r t .

Th e f o r u m - c u m - a w a r d s e v e n t , w h i c h w a s h e l d l a s t M a y 1 1 a t t h e Ne w W o r l d M a n i l a Ba y , c i t e d Na g a ’ s m a j o r c o n t r i b u t i o n i n i m p r o vi n g t h e q u a l i t y o f l i f e o f i t s c o n s t i t u e n t s , t h e r e b y m a k i n g i t s b u s i n e s s e n vi r o n m e n t f r i e n d l i e r a n d t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s a s a g r e a t p l a c e t o l i v e .

L i k e Na g a , t h e 1 2 o t h e r c i t i e s w e r e a l s o g i v e n h o n o r b a s e d o n t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e c o n t r i b u t i o n s i n t h e a c h i e v e m e n t o f e c o n o m i c p r o g r e s s a n d s u s t a i n a b l e d e v e l o p m e n t f o r t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s .

Th e s e a r e : C i t y o f S t a . Ro s a ( S a f e Ha v e n A w a r d ) ; Ba t a n g a s C i t y ( En vi r o n m e n t - F r i e n d l y / C l e a n & G r e e n A w a r d ) ; C i t y o f S a n F e r n a n d o ( Bu s i n e s s - F r i e n d l y A w a r d ) ; Ta g a y t a y C i t y ( Re t i r e m e n t Ha v e n A w a r d ) ; Pa r a ñ a q u e C i t y ( Ed u c a t i o n Hu b A w a r d ) ;

Q u e z o n C i t y a n d Z a m b o a n g a C i t y ( S o c i a l S e r vi c e - Or i e n t e d A w a r d ) ; M a n d a l u y o n g C i t y ( W e a l t h C e n t e r A w a r d ) ; G e n e r a l S a n t o s C i t y ( Ro a d a n d Ho m e Ha v e n A w a r d ) ; L a o a g C i t y ( Em e r g e n c y a n d Di s a s t e r M a n a g e m e n t A w a r d ) ; Da v a o C i t y ( To u r i s m Hu b A w a r d ) a n d Ba c o l o d C i t y a s t h e To p Ph i l i p p i n e M o d e l C i t y .

M a n i l a Ti m e s Pr e s i d e n t a n d C h i e f Ex e c u t i v e Of f i c e r Da n t e F r a n c i s A n g I I p e r s o n a l l y c o n g r a t u l a t e d M a y o r Bo n g a t a f t e r t h e c i t y m a d e i t t o t h e To p 1 3 Ph i l i p p i n e M o d e l C i t i e s . He a l s o w i s h e d t h a t Na g a w i l l c o n t i n u e d o i n g t h e g o o d w o r k .

MODEL CITY AWARDNaga as country’s livelihood and employment haven

“ I h o p e t h a t t h i s e v e n t w o u l d i n s p i r e Na g a t o s o a r h i g h e r a n d r e a c h e v e n h i g h e r g o a l s . I a m v e r y h a p p y t h a t Na g a C i t y i s a m o n g t h o s e h a vi n g s e l e c t e d b y a v e r y d i s t i n g u i s h e d c o m m i t t e e o f j u d g e s t o b e o n e o f t h e w i n n e r s a s w e a l s o h o p e t h a t t h e e x a m p l e s o f Na g a w i l l b e a n i m p o r t a n t l e s s o n f o r t h e r e s t o f t h e c o u n t r y , ” h e s a i d .

Th e p a n e l o f j u d g e s s p e n t a l m o s t a w e e k e v a l u a t i n g t h e d o c u m e n t a r y e vi d e n c e s s e n t b y t h e c i t i e s a n d w e r e g a t h e r e d t o g e t h e r f o r t h e t a l l y i n g o f s c o r e s a n d f i n a l j u d g i n g l a s t A p r i l 2 6 . I t w a s g r u e l i n g , A n g s a i d , b u t t h e e vi d e n c e s m a d e t h e m h a p p y t o k n o w t h a t e v e r y c i t y i s s t r i vi n g t o e x c e l t o m a k e t h e l i v e s o f t h e i r c o n s t i t u e n t s b e t t e r .

Th i s y e a r ’ s b o a r d o f j u d g e s i s c o m p o s e d o f Pr i n c i p a l A r c h i t e c t a n d U r b a n Pl a n n e r F e l i n o A . Pa l a f o x J r . , A t t y . El e a n o r Ro q u e , h e a d o f P& A Ta x A d vi s o r y a n d C o m p l i a n c e Di vi s i o n ; Di r e c t o r Ro s e m a r i e Bo s c h - On g , d i r e c t o r o f W I L C ON De p o t a n d M a r i f e B. Z a m o r a , c h a i r m a n o f C o n v e r g y s Ph i l i p p i n e s S e r vi c e s C o r p .

BOARD OF JUDGES. The country’s top architect and urban planner Felino A. Palafox, Jr. was chairman of this year’s selection of the country’s top model cities. During the forum-cum-awarding rites, Palafox also gave a lecture-presentation on “Cities of the Future: Philippine as 500, 2021 and Beyond.” Philippines at 500 refers to the country’s years of colonial rule by the Spaniards, British, Americans and Japanese which saw the rise and devastation of Philippine cities.


PHOTO BY JOSE COLLERA

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LAST M a y 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 , t h e Pi l g r i m C i t y o f Na g a a n d t h e He r i t a g e C i t y o f V i g a n , t h r o u g h t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e c i t y m a y o r s , Ho n o r a b l e J o h n G . Bo n g a t a n d Ho n o r a b l e J u a n C a r l o s S . M e d i n a , a l o n g w i t h t h e i r v i c e - m a y o r s , Ne l s o n S . L e g a c i o n a n d L o u r d e s DG . Ba q u i r a n , s i g n e d t h e C i t y S i s t e r h o o d A g r e e m e n t a t V i g a n C o n v e n t i o n C e n t e r a f t e r a j o i n t s e s s i o n

b e t w e e n t h e t w o c i t y c o u n c i l s . I t w a s a h i s t o r i c m o m e n t a s b o t h c i t i e s , o n e f r o m t h e e xt r e m e n o r t h e r n r e g i o n o f L u z o n a n d t h e o t h e r f r o m S o u t h L u z o n , w e r e a m o n g t h e f o u r Ro y a l C i t i e s c r e a t e d b y a Pa p a l Bu l l o n A u g u s t 1 4 , 1 5 9 5 , w h i c h a l s o e s t a b l i s h e d t h e C i t i e s o f M a n i l a a n d C e b u .

Th e S i s t e r h o o d A g r e e m e n t b r o u g h t t h e t w o c i t i e s c l o s e r a s t h e y e a c h p l e d g e d t o m a x i m i z e t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e e f f o r t s t o w a r d p r o m o t i n g p e a c e a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g , t h r o u g h p e o p l e - t o - p e o p l e i n t e r a c t i o n i n t h e a r e a s o f c u l t u r e , e d u c a t i o n , n e w t e c h n o l o g y , c o m m e r c e ,

APRIL - JUNE 2017 42P H O T O B Y R E Y N A L D O B AY L O N

t r a d e , a g r i c u l t u r e , e c o l o g y , a n d l o c a l g o v e r n a n c e .

F o l l o w i n g i s t h e s p o n s o r s h i p s p e e c h o f C i t y C o u n c i l o r J o s e ‘ S o n n y ’ Ra n o l a , M . D. e x p r e s s i n g t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h e c i t y t w i n n i n g a g r e e m e n t :

Mayors Juan Carlos S. Medina and John G. Bongat of the Cities of Vigan and Naga, respectively;

Vice-Mayors Lourdes DG. Baquiran and Nelson S. Legacion of the said two cities;

Our fellow members of the Sangguniang Panglunsod of the two cities;

My fellow workers in government;

Guests, ladies and gentlemen:

MARHAY na aga po saindo gabos! Naimbag a bigat!

W e a r e d e e p l y h o n o r e d a n d p l e a s e d f o r t h e w a r m e m b r a c e y o u h a v e e x t e n d e d i n w e l c o m i n g u s t o t h e b e a u t i f u l a n d a l l u r i n g C i t y o f V i g a n !

Tr u l y , w e h a v e b e c o m e i n s t a n t s i s t e r c i t i e s s i n c e t h e t i m e t h a t y o u r l o c a l o f f i c i a l s , h e a d e d b y M a y o r M e d i n a , c a m e t o o u r c i t y f o r a b r i e f v i s i t a n d i n t e r a c t i o n t h a t r e s u l t e d i n a f r u i t f u l e x c h a n g e o f i d e a s a n d e x p e r i e n c e s i n o u r c o m m o n d e s i r e t o f i n d w a y s a n d d i s c o v e r o p p o r t u n i t i e s i n s e r v i n g b e t t e r o u r f e l l o w c o n s t i t u e n t s .

Pr i n c i p a l l y , o u r c o m i n g h e r e i s t o f o r m a l i z e o u r i n f a t u a t i o n w i t h e a c h o t h e r a s s i s t e r s a n d w o u l d l i k e t o s i g n a f o r m a l a g r e e m e n t t o f u r t h e r f o s t e r o u r f r i e n d s h i p a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g s o a s t o p r o m o t e a n d i m p r o v e t r a d e , c o m m e r c e a n d i n v e s t m e n t , e d u c a t i o n , e x p e r t a n d s e c t o r a l e x c h a n g e p r o g r a m s , c r o s s v i s i t s , t o u r i s m a n d o t h e r m a j o r c o n c e r n s t h a t u p l i f t g o o d g o v e r n a n c e a n d c o m m u n i t y d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p a r t i c i p a t i o n b e t w e e n o u r t w o c i t i e s .

Hi s t o r i c a l l y , w e a r e t w i n s w h o s e u m b i l i c a l c o r d s c a n b e t r a c e d t o t h e Pa p a l Bu l l , e n t i t l e d “ super specula militantes ecclesia ” i s s u e d b y Po p e C l e m e n t V I I I o n A u g u s t 1 4 , 1 5 9 5 , t h a t e s t a b l i s h e d t h e S p a n i s h c o l o n i a l c i t i e s o f Nu e v a C a c e r e s a n d Nu e v a S e g o v i a , m a k i n g o u r r e s p e c t i v e t e r r i t o r i e s t h e f i r s t f o u r Ro y a l C i t i e s i n t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s t h a t i n c l u d e M a n i l a , a n d C e b u .

A s w e a l l k n o w , Nu e v a S e g o v i a i s t h e n a m e o f t h e a r c h d i o c e s e n o w l o c a t e d i n t h e v e n e r a b l e a n d h i s t o r i c

t o w n o f V i g a n h e r e i n I l o c o s S u r . Th e t o w n o f V i g a n w a s f o u n d e d b y J u a n d e S a l c e d o , a g r a n d s o n o f M i g u e l L o p e z d e L e g a s p i w h o f o u n d e d t h e c i t y o f M a n i l a . S a l c e d o w e n t t o t h e I l o c o s i n n o r t h e r n L u z o n t o p u t u p a m i l i t a r y s e t t l e m e n t i n V i g a n i n 1 5 7 2 . I n 1 5 7 4 h e e s t a b l i s h e d a S p a n i s h r e s i d e n c e i n t h e p o b l a c i o n i n h o n o r o f Pr i n c e F e r d i n a n d , t h e f i r s t b o r n s o n o f K i n g Ph i l i p I I o f S p a i n , a n d n a m e d i t V i l l a F e r n a n d i n a .

Be c a u s e o f d i s t a n c e a n d t h e n e e d f o r a s i t e a t t h e c e n t e r o f t h e d i o c e s e , t h e S e e o f Nu e v a S e g o v i a w a s t r a n s f e r r e d t o V i g a n i n 1 7 5 8 a t t h e r e q u e s t o f Bi s h o p J u a n d e l a F u e n t e Ye p e s , d u r i n g t h e p o n t i f i c a t e o f Be n e d i c t X I V . Th e c i t y o f Nu e v a S e g o v i a w a s s l o w l y b e i n g w a s h e d a w a y b y t h e r i v e r . V i g a n , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , w a s r i s i n g a s a c e n t e r o f S p a n i s h c u l t u r e , p o l i t i c s a n d e c o n o m y . Th e b i s h o p s t h e r e f o r e p r e f e r r e d t o s t a y i n V i g a n . Th e v i l l a t h e n b e c a m e C i u d a d F e r n a n d i n a d e V i g a n i n h o n o r o f t h e r e i g n i n g k i n g o f S p a i n .

Nu e v a C a c e r e s , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i s t h e n a m e o f t h e a r c h d i o c e s e b a s e d i n Na g a .

Th e A r c h d i o c e s e o f C á c e r e s i s a M e t r o p o l i t a n S e e t h a t c o m p r i s e s t h e Bi c o l r e g i o n , w h i l e d i r e c t l y o v e r s e e i n g t h e t h i r d , f o u r t h , a n d f i f t h c o n g r e s s i o n a l d i s t r i c t s o f C a m a r i n e s

S u r . Th e A r c h d i o c e s e , h a v i n g b e e n f o u n d e d i n 1 5 9 5 i n Nu e v a C á c e r e s ( n o w Na g a C i t y ) , i s a l s o c o n s i d e r e d a s o n e o f t h e o l d e s t d i o c e s e s i n t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s w i t h C e b u , S e g o v i a a n d M a n i l a . Nu e v a C a c e r e s t h e n h a d j u r i s d i c t i o n t h a t s t r e t c h e d f r o m S a m a r i n t h e s o u t h a n d I s a b e l a Pr o v i n c e i n t h e n o r t h .

Th e A r c h d i o c e s e i s a l s o h o m e t o t h e Ou r L a d y o f Pe ñ a f r a n c i a , t h e Pa t r o n e s s o f Bi c o l a n d i a , a n d i s c o n s i d e r e d t o b e o n e o f t h e l a r g e s t M a r i a n Pi l g r i m a g e s i n A s i a .

W i t h t h e i r c o m m o n h i s t o r i c a l h e r i t a g e , i t i s n o w o n d e r t h a t b o t h t h e I l o c a n o s a n d t h e Bi c o l a n o s a r e a d e e p l y

OUR INA GOES TO ILOCOS SUR. Naga City Mayor John G. Bongat (2nd from left) gifts City of Vigan Mayor Juan Carlo S. Medina (leftmost) with an image of Our Lady of Penafrancia upon the signing of the Sisterhood Agreement between the two cities. Assisting the mayor are Naga Vice Mayor Nelson S. Legacion and CEPPIO Chief Allen Reondanga (2nd and first from right, respectively).

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l e a v e s . Ou r p i n a n g a t , t o o , h a s g a b i l e a v e s a s p r i n c i p a l i n g r e d i e n t s o a k e d i n c o c o n u t m i l k .

W e a r e a m a z e d b y p r e s e r v a t i o n o f y o u r S p a n i s h c o l o n i a l h i s t o r y t h a t m a k e s V i g a n a U NES C O He r i t a g e S i t e . Th e d i s t i n g u i s h e d t i t l e i s m a i n l y a n c h o r e d o n t h e S p a n i s h c o l o n i a l s t r u c t u r e s t h a t h a v e r e m a i n e d i n t a c t , i t s c o b b l e d s t o n e s t r e e t s a n d u n i q u e a r c h i t e c t u r e t h a t i s a f u s i o n o f Or i e n t a l a n d S p a n i s h c o l o n i a l d e s i g n a n d e n g i n e e r i n g .

I n M a y 2 0 1 5 , V i g a n w a s o f f i c i a l l y r e c o g n i z e d a s o n e o f t h e n e w 7 W o n d e r C i t i e s , a l o n g w i t h t h e c i t i e s o f Be i r u t , Do h a , Du r b a n , Ha v a n a , K u a l a L u m p u r , a n d L a Pa z .

U n t i l W o r l d W a r I I , Na g a , t o o ,

r e l i g i o u s p e o p l e . I n f a c t , m a n y I l o c a n o d e v o t e e s a n d t r a n s i e n t m e r c h a n t s , a s w e l l , g o t o Na g a f o r t h e Pe n a f r a n c i a f i e s t a e v e r y S e p t e m b e r .

W h i l e Nu e v a C a c e r e s w a s s e t t l e d a l o n g a t r i b u t a r y o f t h e w i n d i n g Bi c o l Ri v e r , Nu e v a S e g o v i a , t o o , w a s b u i l t n e a r t h e m o u t h o f I b a n a g Ri v e r . V i g a n i t s e l f , w e a r e t o l d , i s v i r t u a l l y a n i s l a n d , w h i c h u s e d t o b e d e t a c h e d f r o m t h e m a i n l a n d b y t h r e e r i v e r s – t h e g r e a t A b r a Ri v e r , t h e M e s t i z o Ri v e r , a n d t h e G o v a n t e s Ri v e r .

W e l e a r n e d f u r t h e r t h a t V i g a n d e r i v e d i t s n a m e f r o m “ Bi g a a , ” a g i a n t t a r o p l a n t b e l o n g i n g t o t h e g a b i f a m i l y t h a t t h r i v e s o n t h e b a n k s o f t h e r i v e r . I n c i d e n t a l l y , o n e o f Bi c o l ’ s f a m o u s d i s h e s , “ L a i n g ” , o r “ G u l a y n a Na t o n g ” i s m a i n l y m a d e o f g a b i

w a s p r o u d o f i t s S p a n i s h c o l o n i a l s t r u c t u r e s , u n t i l m a n y o f t h e m w e r e r a z e d t o t h e g r o u n d d u e t o m a s s i v e b o m b i n g s b y A m e r i c a n w a r p l a n e s t o l i b e r a t e t h e c i t y f r o m t h e J a p a n e s e f o r c e s w h o w e r e b e l i e v e d h o l e d i n t h e s e o l d c o l o n i a l g o v e r n m e n t b u i l d i n g s . W h a t r e m a i n e d t o t h i s d a t e a r e t h e r e s t o r e d o r r e n o v a t e d Na g a M e t r o p o l i t a n C a t h e d r a l , Th e Ho l y Ro s a r y S e m i n a r y , t h e U n i v e r s i d a d d e S t a I s a b e l , a n d v e r y f e w s u r v i v i n g h e r i t a g e h o u s e s i n t h e i r S p a n i s h a n d e a r l y A m e r i c a n c o l o n i a l d e s i g n s .

V i g a n i s p r o u d t o h a v e p r o d u c e d a p r e s i d e n t o f t h e Re p u b l i c , t h e l a t e Pr e s i d e n t El p i d i o Q u i r i n o , w h i l e Na g a C i t y h a s s o f a r p r o d u c e d a v i c e p r e s i d e n t i n t h e p e r s o n o f Ho n o r a b l e L e n i Ro b r e d o , t h e w i f e o f o u r f o r m e r C i t y M a y o r , t h e l a t e J e s s e M . Ro b r e d o .

No w , u n d e r o u r r e p r e s e n t a t i o n , t o g e t h e r w i t h o u r r e s p e c t i v e M a y o r s a n d V i c e M a y o r s , t h e C i t y o f V i g a n a n d t h e C i t y o f Na g a w i l l j o i n t l y s i g n a C i t y S i s t e r h o o d A g r e e m e n t o n t h i s h i s t o r i c d a y .

Th i s d o c u m e n t w i l l s e r v e a s a s i n c e r e e x p r e s s i o n o f o u r p e o p l e ’ s d e s i r e t o m a x i m i z e o u r r e s p e c t i v e e f f o r t s t o w a r d s t h e p r o m o t i o n o f p e a c e a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g , a n d p e o p l e - t o - p e o p l e i n t e r a c t i o n i n t h e a r e a s o f c u l t u r e , e d u c a t i o n , n e w t e c h n o l o g y , c o m m e r c e , t r a d e , a g r i c u l t u r e , e c o l o g y , a n d l o c a l g o v e r n a n c e .

Ou r c o m m o n o b j e c t i v e s a s a f o r e m e n t i o n e d d e s e r v e t h e h i g h e s t a t t e n t i o n a n d p r i o r i t y o n t h e p r i n c i p l e t h a t t h e q u e s t f o r p e a c e a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g c a n b e t t e r b e a t t a i n e d t h r o u g h t h e p e r s o n a l l e v e l o f a w a r e n e s s o f t h e p e o p l e o f o u r t w o c i t i e s .

W h i l e t e r r i t o r i a l l y w e a r e p o l e s a p a r t , w i t h V i g a n i n t h e I l o c o s Re g i o n w h i c h i s o n n o r t h e r n m o s t p a r t o f L u z o n w h i l e Na g a i n Bi c o l i s s i t u a t e d i n t h e s o u t h e r n m o s t p a r t o f L u z o n , t h i s S i s t e r h o o d A g r e e m e n t p r o v i d e s f o r u s t h e s h o r t e s t a n d c l o s e s t w a y t o f o r g e o u r c a m a r a d e r i e a n d f r i e n d s h i p a n d e n r i c h f u r t h e r t h e s i m i l a r i t i e s o f o u r c u l t u r a l h e r i t a g e a n d n o b l e p u r p o s e f o r t h e b e t t e r m e n t o f o u r f e l l o w c i t i z e n s .

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p e a k m o n t h s w i t h t h e m o s t n u m b e r o f

t o u r i s t vi s i t i n g t h e c i t y .

Th r o u g h t h i s S i s t e r h o o d A g r e e m e n t , t h e c i t i e s o f V i g a n a n d Na g a p l e d g e t o c o n t i n u e t o t r a n s f o r m o u r s e l v e s i n t o p o c k e t s o f p e a c e a n d p r o s p e r i t y , e f f i c i e n t m a n a g e m e n t o f c i t y a f f a i r s , a n d g o o d g o v e r n a n c e .

A t t h i s p o i n t , I a m p r o u d t o a n n o u n c e t h a t t h e C i t y o f Na g a , t h r o u g h a Re s o l u t i o n p a s s e d b y t h e S a n g g u n i a n g Pa n l u n g s o d , a s a p p r o v e d b y o u r C i t y M a y o r , a s t r e e t i n Ba r a n g a y Pe q u e ñ a , o n e o f t h e b i g g e s t b a r a n g a y s i n Na g a C i t y , h a s b e e n c h r i s t e n e d V i g a n S t r e e t , i n h o n o r o f y o u r b e l o v e d c i t y .

D i o s m a b a l o s p o ! A g y a m a n a k !

By JUAN ESCANDOR JR.


P H O T O S B Y R E Y N A L D O B AY L O N

DRONE PHOTO BY

IAN MAR NEBRES LEE

PHOTOS BYXERES

RAMON GAGERO

( c o v e r i n g t i m e , s a v i n g s a n d F C DU d e p o s i t s ) o f

P2 1 . 6 3 B v s L e g a z p i ’ s P1 8 . 7 7 B, o r a d i f f e r e n c e o f

P2 . 8 6 B.

Eq u a l l y r e v e a l i n g i s t h e f a c t t h a t Na g a

C i t y h a s a t o t a l o f 3 0 6 , 0 6 6 a c c o u n t s , c o m p a r e d

t o L e g a z p i ’ s 2 7 6 , 5 2 4 a s o f De c e m b e r 3 1 , 2 0 1 6 ,

a c c o r d i n g t o PDI C ’ s s u m m a r y o f d i s t r i b u t i o n o f

d o m e s t i c d e p o s i t s .

L e g a z p i C i t y ’ s g r a n d t o t a l ( P3 2 , 2 0 B) v e r s u s

Na g a ’ s ( P3 0 . 9 9 B) i s p r i m a r i l y c r e d i t e d , p e r PDI C ’ s

r e p o r t , t o i t s h i g h e r De m a n d / No w A c c o u n t s

( L e g a z p i ’ s P1 3 . 4 2 B v s Na g a ’ s P9 . 3 4 B, o r a

d i f f e r e n c e o f a l m o s t P4 B) .

Th i s m a y b e e x p l a i n e d , a c c o r d i n g t o a

r e t i r e d p r i v a t e b a n k e r , t o L e g a z p i C i t y ’ s p o s i t i o n a s

t h e r e g i o n a l a d m i n i s t r a t i v e c e n t e r o f Bi c o l , w h e r e

m o s t o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t f u n d s i n t e n d e d f o r Bi c o l

f r o m t h e i r n a t i o n a l o f f i c e s ( s u c h a s DPW H, De p Ed ,

DBM ) a r e d o w n l o a d e d t o t h e r e g i o n a l o f f i c e s

b a s e d i n L e g a z p i C i t y t h r o u g h t h e i r d e p o s i t o r y

b a n k s b a s e d i n t h e s a m e c i t y .

Th i s a l s o e x p l a i n s w h y t h e r e g i o n a l o f f i c e

o f L a n d b a n k , a g o v e r n m e n t d e p o s i t o r y b a n k , i s

b a s e d i n t h a t c i t y . Bu t t h e s e m o n i e s ( De m a n d /

No w A c c o u n t s ) s t a y o n l y f o r l i m i t e d p e r i o d s i n

t h e b a n k s w h e r e t h e y w e r e o r i g i n a l l y d e p o s i t e d

b e c a u s e t h e y a r e a f t e r a l l i n t e n d e d f o r t h e

o t h e r p r o v i n c e s , c i t i e s a n d m u n i c i p a l i t i e s , a s

w e l l a s o t h e r g o v e r n m e n t o f f i c e s a n d a g e n c i e s

t h r o u g h o u t t h e Bi c o l r e g i o n .

A d e m a n d d e p o s i t a c c o u n t i s j u s t a a n o t h e r

t e r m f o r a c h e c k i n g a c c o u n t . Th e d i f f e r e n c e

b e t w e e n a d e m a n d d e p o s i t a c c o u n t ( o r c h e c k i n g

a c c o u n t ) a n d a n e g o t i a b l e o r d e r o f w i t h d r a w a l

( NOW ) a c c o u n t i s t h e a m o u n t o f n o t i c e y o u n e e d

a n d o r d e r s i t u a t i o n a n d t r a f f i c p r o b l e m .

Ot h e r r e l a t i v e f a c t s w i l l c o m e a l o n g a s w e

p r o c e e d w i t h m y a r t i c u l a t i o n , p r e - e m p t e d i n

a w a y ( m y a p o l o g i e s ) b y t h e m e r e t i t l e o f t h i s

a r t i c l e .

Ye s , t h e r e a r e m o r e b a n k s ( p r i v a t e a n d

g o v e r n m e n t c o m b i n e d ) i n Na g a t h a n i n

L e g a z p i : 6 3 f o r Na g a , 4 7 f o r L e g a z p i a s o f

De c e m b e r 3 1 , 2 0 1 6 , a s c o n f i r m e d b y t h e PDI C

r e p o r t . A n e w b a n k , S t e r l i n g Ba n k o f A s i a , w a s

o n l y r e c e n t l y o p e n e d i n Na g a ( i t w i l l o p e n

a n o t h e r Bi c o l b r a n c h i n L e g a z p i s o o n e r ) , w h i l e

m o r e n e w b a n k i n g o f f i c e s w i l l b e o p e n e d t h i s

y e a r w i t h t h e o p e n i n g s o o n o f Ro b i n s o n s Pl a c e

Na g a n o t l a t e r t h a n i n S e p t e m b e r ’ s c e l e b r a t i o n

o f t h e Pe n a f r a n c i a F e s t i v a l . No l e s s t h a n t w o

b r a n c h e s w i l l a l s o f o l l o w i n L e g a z p i o n c e i t s S M

C i t y L e g a z p i i s c o m p l e t e d s o m e t i m e n e x t y e a r .

F o r c l e a r e r c o m p a r a t i v e p i c t u r e , t h e

n u m b e r o f BDO b a n k i n g o f f i c e s i n Na g a a l o n e

h a s r e a c h e d 9 b r a n c h e s , i n c l u d i n g i t s r e g i o n a l

o f f i c e h e r e , w h i l e L e g a z p i h a s o n l y 4 , w i t h o n e

e a c h i n Ta b a c o C i t y , Da r a g a , a n d Po l a n g u i . Th e

BDO b r a n c h e s i n Na g a d o n o t i n c l u d e t h o s e i n

Pi l i , Na b u a , a n d I r i g a ( a n d s o o n t o b e o p e n e d

b r a n c h i n C a l a b a n g a , a l s o i n C a m a r i n e s S u r ) .

A f e w y e a r s a g o , t h e r e w a s n o t a s i n g l e

b a n k a l o n g M a g s a y s a y A v e n u e , Na g a ’ s

e n t e r t a i n m e n t a n d f o o d s t r i p . No w i t h a s 6 f r o m

t h e r o t u n d a t o t h e c o r n e r o f Ba l a t a s l e a d i n g

t o t h e Ba s i l i c a . A n o t h e r n e w p l a y e r w i l l j u s t b e a

m a t t e r o f t i m e .

I n d e e d , w h y a r e t h e r e m o r e b a n k s i n Na g a

d e s p i t e t h e r e l a t i v e l y b i g g e r a m o u n t o f t o t a l

d o m e s t i c d e p o s i t s r e p o r t e d i n L e g a z p i ?

A c u r s o r y l o o k a t t h e PDI C r e p o r t o n

d i s t r i b u t i o n o f d o m e s t i c d e p o s i t s w i l l l e a d u s t o

m o r e r e v e a l i n g f a c t s .

Na g a b e a t s L e g a z p i i n n o n - c h e c k d e p o s i t s

Na g a o u t r a n k s L e g a z p i i n t e r m s o f 1 ) s a v i n g s

d e p o s i t s , 2 ) t i m e d e p o s i t s , a n d 3 ) f o r e i g n c u r r e n c y

d e p o s i t s w h i l e L e g a z p i o v e r s h a d o w s Na g a o n l y i n

t e r m s o f De m a n d / No w De p o s i t s .

To a p r i v a t e b a n k e r , t h e t h r e e k i n d s o f

d e p o s i t s t h a t a c c r u e m o s t t o Na g a b a n k s a r e

w h a t m a t t e r b e s t f o r a d y n a m i c b a n k i n g i n d u s t r y .

I t m e a n s t h a t t r a d e a n d b u s i n e s s a r e m o r e a l i v e

a n d v i b r a n t i n t h i s c i t y t h a t i s a w a s h w i t h h i g h e r

d i s p o s a b l e i n c o m e f r o m a m o n g i t s r e s i d e n t s ,

h e n c e t h e m o r e n u m b e r o f b a n k s . I t a l s o m a k e s

n o s u r p r i s e w h y t h e c o u n t r y ’ s l e a d i n g b a n k s

l o c a t e t h e i r r e g i o n a l o f f i c e s i n Na g a , s u c h a s

Ba n c o d e Or o , PNB, DBP a n d M e t r o b a n k , t o n a m e

a f e w . A s a r e s u l t o f t h i s , t h e c o u n t r y ’ s l e a d i n g c a r

b r a n d s h a v e s e t u p t h e i r r e g i o n a l s a l e s a n d s e r v i c e

c e n t e r s i n d i z z y i n g s p e e d h e r e i n Na g a a n d i n

n e a r b y Pi l i t o w n , w h i c h i s m e r e l y 1 3 k i l o m e t e r s

a w a y f r o m t h e n e a r e s t b a n k i n Na g a .

I n t e r m s o f s a v i n g s d e p o s i t s , Na g a h a d

P1 6 . 3 6 B i n 2 0 1 6 w h i l e L e g a z p i h a d P1 4 . 1 3 B

d u r i n g t h e s a m e p e r i o d . A l l n u m e r i c a l d a t a t o

f o l l o w w i l l c o v e r t h e p e r i o d “ a s o f De c e m b e r 3 1 ,

2 0 1 6 ” a s r e p o r t e d b y PDI C .

I n t i m e d e p o s i t s , Na g a h a d P3 . 0 8 B w h i l e

L e g a z p i h a d P2 . 7 2 B; i n F o r e i g n C u r r e n c y De p o s i t

U n i t ( F C DU ) , Na g a h a d P2 . 1 9 B w h i l e L e g a z p i h a d

P1 . 9 2 B. C u m u l a t i v e l y , Na g a h a d t o t a l d e p o s i t

THAT A l b a y , a n d f o r t h a t m a t t e r , L e g a z p i

C i t y , h a v e m o r e b a n k d e p o s i t s t h a n

a n y w h e r e i n Bi c o l s h o u l d n o t b e a

s u r p r i s e , c o n s i d e r i n g t h a t L e g a z p i C i t y i s t h e

a d m i n i s t r a t i v e c e n t e r o f t h e Bi c o l Re g i o n .

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e Di s t r i b u t i o n o f Do m e s t i c

De p o s i t s i n t h e Ph i l i p p i n e Ba n k i n g S y s t e m , a s

r e l e a s e d b y t h e Ph i l i p p i n e De p o s i t I n s u r a n c e

C o r p o r a t i o n ( PDI C ) , A l b a y h a d a g r a n d t o t a l o f

P4 5 . 9 8 B b a n k d e p o s i t s , P3 2 . 2 0 B o f w h i c h a r e i n

b a n k s i n L e g a z p i C i t y w h i l e C a m a r i n e s S u r h a d

P4 3 . 8 1 B, w h e r e P3 0 . 9 9 B o f w h i c h a r e i n b a n k s

i n Na g a C i t y , a l l o f w h i c h a r e a s o f De c e m b e r

3 1 , 2 0 1 6 .

Bu t t h a t i s o n l y h a l f o f t h e w h o l e s t o r y .

Be i n g t h e r e g i o n a l c e n t e r o f Bi c o l , A l b a y ,

o r m o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y L e g a z p i C i t y , h a s i t s p e r k s

a n d b u i l t - i n a d v a n t a g e s , e s p e c i a l l y w i t h r e g a r d s

t o g o v e r n m e n t t r a n s a c t i o n s , p r o g r a m s a n d

p r o j e c t s , o n e o f w h i c h i s t o h a v e c o n c e n t r a t e d

a l l t h e r e g i o n a l o f f i c e s i n t h a t p a r t o f t h e Bi c o l

p e n i n s u l a w h e r e Bi c o l ’ s t o p t o u r i s m i c o n , t h e

m a j e s t i c a n d i n c o m p a r a b l e M a y o n V o l c a n o , i s

l o c a t e d .

Bu t b e f o r e w e - - e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e f r o m

t h e s e t w o p r o v i n c e s a n d c i t i e s - - g e t e x c i t e d ,

l e t ’ s d e l v e f i r s t o n t h e f o l l o w i n g f a c t s :

Bo t h L e g a z p i a n d Na g a a r e f i r s t - c l a s s

c i t i e s , a c c o r d i n g t o c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s m a d e b y t h e

De p a r t m e n t o f F i n a n c e b a s e d o n Ph i l i p p i n e

C i t i e s ’ i n c o m e s a n d o t h e r r e l a t e d f i n a n c i a l a n d

s o c i o - e c o n o m i c i n d i c a t o r s .

I n t e r m s o f s i z e o f a r e a a n d p o p u l a t i o n ,

L e g a z p i i s b i g g e r . Th e r e g i o n a l c e n t e r h a d a

p o p u l a t i o n o f 1 8 2 , 2 0 1 p e o p l e a s o f 2 0 1 0 i n a n

a r e a o f 1 5 3 . 7 s q . k i l o m e t e r s w h i l e Na g a h a s a

p o p u l a t i o n o f 1 7 4 , 9 3 1 p e o p l e i n a n a r e a o f

8 4 . 4 8 s q . k i l o m e t e r s .

Na g a ’ s p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y , h o w e v e r , a t

2 , 0 7 0 . 6 8 p e o p l e / s q . k i l o m e t e r i s h i g h e r t h a n

L e g a z p i ’ s 1 , 1 8 5 . 4 3 p e o p l e / s q . k i l o m e t e r .

Po p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y i s t h e n u m b e r o f

p e o p l e l i v i n g p e r u n i t o f a n a r e a ( e . g . p e r s q u a r e

k i l o m e t e r ) , o r t h e n u m b e r o f p e o p l e r e l a t i v e

t o t h e s p a c e a c t u a l l y o c c u p i e d b y t h e m . Th i s

i n d i c a t o r i s v i t a l t o g o v e r n m e n t p o l i c y m a k e r s

a n d u r b a n p l a n n e r s t o a d d r e s s i n c r e a s i n g n e e d s

f o r u t i l i t i e s a n d f a c i l i t i e s ( s u c h a s m o r e a c c e s s

r o a d s , b e t t e r w a s t e d i s p o s a l s y s t e m , a n d o t h e r

p u b l i c s e r v i c e s ) a n d t o i n v e s t o r s , a s w e l l , w h o

n e e d s u c h d a t a t o m e a s u r e a p l a c e ’ s e c o n o m i c

d y n a m i s m , o r t h e i r d o w n s i d e , s u c h a s p e a c e

VIBRANT AND DYNAMIC. From this angle, which is atop the 5th floor of the on-going construction of Robinsons Place Naga, is a clear view of the burgeoning CBD II with its familiar landmarks, such as (clockwise, from foreground left) the domed Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum, IBM, STI, Sogo Hotel Naga, SM City Naga, Bicol Health Access Hospital, St. Joseph School, NICC Doctors Hospital, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

MICHAEL EBORDA ALEGRE/NAGA 365 PHOTOGRAPHERS NETWORK

By JOSE B. PEREZ

t o g i v e t o t h e b a n k o r c r e d i t u n i o n b e f o r e

m a k i n g a w i t h d r a w a l .

M o s t g o v e r n m e n t a c c o u n t s f a l l u n d e r

t h i s c a t e g o r y . NOW a c c o u n t s , f o r i n s t a n c e ,

a r e f u n d t r a n s a c t i o n s f r o m t h e n a t i o n a l

o f f i c e , s a y DPW H, t h a t a r e d o w n l o a d e d t o

t h e i r r e g i o n a l o f f i c e s f o r s p e c i f i c o b l i g a t i o n s

d o w n t o t h e d i s t r i c t e n g i n e e r i n g o f f i c e s ,

o r De p Ed a c c o u n t s t h a t a r e d o w n l o a d e d

t h r o u g h t h e r e g i o n a l o f f i c e s a n d r e l e a s e d

t h r o u g h d e p o s i t o r y b a n k s t h a t m a y i n s o m e

c a s e s i n c l u d e c h o i c e p r i v a t e b a n k s , t o r e a c h

t h e r e s p e c t i v e De p Ed Di v i s i o n Of f i c e s f o r

w h i c h t h e y a r e i n t e n d e d . Th e s e a c c o u n t s

h a v e s p e c i f i c p u r p o s e s ( s u c h a s p a y r o l l a n d

a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a n d o p e r a t i n g e x p e n s e s )

a n d m a y l e s s s i g n i f i c a n t l y c o n t r i b u t e t o

t h e m o n e y i n c i r c u l a t i o n f o r c o m m e r c i a l

t r a n s a c t i o n s , u n l i k e , s a y , t h e p e r s o n a l s a v i n g s

a c c o u n t s t h a t m a k e t h e m a r k e t p l a c e g o

r o u n d .

F u r t h e r , n o t a l l a c c o u n t s t h a t g i v e y o u

c h e c k s a r e “ c h e c k i n g a c c o u n t s . ” Ot h e r d e p o s i t

p r o d u c t s , s u c h a s m o n e y m a r k e t a c c o u n t s , o r

n o t i c e o f a l l o t m e n t m a y a l l o w y o u t o w r i t e

c h e c k s , b u t t h e y a r e n o t g e n e r a l l y s u i t e d f o r

d a y - t o - d a y b u s i n e s s , g i v e n t h e r e s t r i c t i o n s o n

t h e i r u s e . I n a d d i t i o n , a l e n d e r m a y g i v e y o u

c h e c k s t o a c c e s s c r e d i t , s u c h a s a p e r s o n a l

l o a n , h o m e e q u i t y l o a n , o r o t h e r l i n e s o f

c r e d i t b e i n g p r o v i d e d b y a p r i v a t e g r o u p

o r t h e g o v e r n m e n t . S t r i c t l y s p e a k i n g , t h e s e

a r e n o t p a r t o f t h e d i s p o s a b l e i n c o m e t h a t

c o n s u m e r s u s e t o f u e l l o c a l t r a d e a n d c o m m e r c e ,

u n l i k e t h e s a v i n g s , t i m e , a n d f o r e i g n c u r r e n c y

d e p o s i t s t h a t Na g a b a n k s a r e t e e m i n g w i t h .

C A M S U R V S A LB AY

Pa r t l y b e c a u s e o f i t s t e r r i t o r i a l s i z e ,

C a m a r i n e s S u r , i n c l u d i n g Na g a , h a s a t o t a l o f 1 5 7

b a n k i n g o f f i c e s c o m p a r e d t o A l b a y ’ s ( i n c l u d i n g

L e g a z p i C i t y ) 1 1 3 b a n k b r a n c h e s a s o f t h e

a f o r e m e n t i o n e d PDI C r e p o r t i n g p e r i o d .

C a m a r i n e s S u r ’ s t o t a l n u m b e r o f a c c o u n t s

r e a c h e d 6 7 2 , 9 3 5 v s A l b a y ’ s 4 9 3 , 8 5 6 d u r i n g t h e

s a m e p e r i o d .

F o l l o w i n g s i m i l a r p a t t e r n w i t h Na g a ’ s

d o m e s t i c d e p o s i t s , C a m a r i n e s S u r h a s l o w e r

De m a n d / No w De p o s i t s a t P1 3 . 0 8 B c o m p a r e d t o

A l b a y ’ s P1 7 . 8 8 B. Bu t C a m a r i n e s S u r b e a t s A l b a y

i n S a v i n g s , Ti m e a n d F o r e i g n C u r r e n c y d e p o s i t s .

U n d e r s a v i n g s d e p o s i t s , C a m a r i n e s S u r h a d

P2 4 . 2 8 B v s A l b a y ’ s P2 2 . 2 5 B.

C a m a r i n e s S u r h a d a t o t a l P3 . 6 8 B i n t i m e

d e p o s i t s w h i l e A l b a y h a d P3 . 2 0 B. U n d e r F o r e i g n

C u r r e n c y d e p o s i t s , C a m a r i n e s S u r h a d P2 . 7 5 B,

s l i g h t l y h i g h e r t h a n A l b a y ’ s P2 . 6 5 B.

M O R A LE O F T H E S T O RY

W h a t i s t h e m o r a l e o f t h i s a r t i c l e ? Th a t w e

h a v e t w o e m e r g i n g d y n a m i c c i t i e s t h a t f u e l o u r

r e g i o n a l e c o n o m y , e a c h o n e d o i n g i t s b e s t s o t h a t

c o l l e c t i v e l y w e m a y c o m p e t e o r b e a t p a r w i t h

o t h e r p r o g r e s s i v e r e g i o n s i n t h e c o u n t r y .

WHY NAGA

HAS THE MOST

NUMBER OF BANKS IN

BICOL


P H O T O S B Y SYLRANJELVIC VILLAFLOR

By JASON B. NEOLA

ANTI-SMOKE BELCHING UNIT SWEEPS STREETS OF

VIOLATORS

SEEKING t o r e d u c e a i r p o l l u t i o n g e n e r a t e d

b y m o t o r v e h i c l e s v i o l a t i n g t h e e m i s s i o n

s t a n d a r d s s e t b y t h e De p a r t m e n t o f

En v i r o n m e n t a n d Na t u r a l Re s o u r c e s ( DENR) , t h e

C i t y En v i r o n m e n t a n d Na t u r a l Re s o u r c e s Of f i c e ’ s

a n t i - s m o k e b e l c h i n g t e a m r e t u r n e d t o t h e s t r e e t s

l a s t F e b r u a r y 2 8 a n d M a r c h 3 0 , t h i s y e a r , t o r u n

a f t e r s m o k e b e l c h i n g a u t o m o b i l e s .

Th e t e a m , c o m p o s e d o f p e r s o n n e l f r o m t h e

C i t y ENRO, m a n n e d a r o a d s i d e m o n i t o r i n g a n d

a p p r e h e n s i o n c h e c k p o i n t a l o n g t h e M a h a r l i k a

Hi g h w a y i n Ba r a n g a y C o n c e p c i o n G r a n d e , h e r e ,

t o c o n d u c t e m i s s i o n t e s t s b y u s i n g a n o p a c i m e t e r

m a c h i n e f o r d i e s e l - f e d e n g i n e s .

J a y s o n T. V a r g a s , C i t y ENRO’ s p o l l u t i o n

c o n t r o l o f f i c e r a n d o f f i c e r i n c h a r g e o f p o l l u t i o n

c o n t r o l a n d m a n a g e m e n t d i v i s i o n , s a i d h i s g r o u p ,

t h e A n t i - S m o k e Be l c h i n g U n i t ( A S BU ) , w a s a b l e

t o f l a g d o w n 6 1 m o t o r v e h i c l e s d u r i n g t h e 2 - d a y

o p e r a t i o n . Ei g h t o f t h e m f a i l e d t h e e m i s s i o n t e s t s

a s d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e o p a c i m e t e r .

Th e m a c h i n e , w h i c h m e e t s t h e

r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e n a t i o n a l s t a n d a r d ( l i m i t s

a n d m e a s u r e m e n t m e t h o d s f o r e x h a u s t s m o k e

f r o m c o m p r e s s i o n i g n i t i o n e n g i n e ) , a n d t h e

I n t e r n a t i o n a l Or g a n i z a t i o n f o r S t a n d a r d i z a t i o n

( I S O) , h a s t h e c a p a b i l i t y t o d e t e r m i n e t h e

v i s i b l e p o l l u t a n t s f r o m t h e e x h a u s t s m o k e w i t h

m e a s u r e d r e s u l t s d i r e c t l y a c h i e v e d .

Ba s e d o n DENR’ s 6 l e v e l s o f a i r q u a l i t y f o r

s u s p e n d e d p a r t i c u l a t e s , w h i c h i s c a t e g o r i z e d i n t o

G o o d , F a i r , U n h e a l t h y f o r S e n s i t i v e G r o u p s , V e r y

U n h e a l t h y , A c u t e l y U n h e a l t h y , a n d Em e r g e n c y ,

Na g a ’ s a i r q u a l i t y h a s b e e n r a t e d a s “ G o o d . ”

A s s i s t i n g t h e t e a m a r e p e r s o n n e l f r o m t h e

DENR- En v i r o n m e n t M a n a g e m e n t Bu r e a u , Na g a

C i t y Po l i c e Of f i c e a n d t h e L a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n

Of f i c e . Th e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t w h i c h w a s

c o m m e n d e d b y DENR i n p a s t y e a r s b e c a u s e o f

i t s o r d i n a n c e a n d r e l e n t l e s s c a m p a i g n a g a i n s t

s m o k e b e l c h e r s h a s b e e n p e r f o r m i n g t h e t a s k

s i n c e y e a r 2 0 0 0 .

I n p r e v i o u s y e a r , t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t w a s

a b l e t o c o l l e c t f i n e s a m o u n t i n g t o P1 1 0 , 0 0 0 f r o m

v i o l a t o r s o f a n t i - s m o k e b e l c h i n g p r o v i s i o n s u n d e r

Re p u b l i c A c t 8 7 4 9 , a l s o k n o w n a s t h e C l e a n A i r

A c t o f 1 9 9 9 .

SMOKE BELCHER! Personnel of Anti-Smoke Belching Unit of LGU Naga’s City Environment and Natural Resources

Office conduct emission test along the main road of Barangay Concepcion

Grande on a delivery truck by using an opacimeter machine.

t h e a p p r e h e n d e d v e h i c l e w i l l u n d e r g o a s e m i n a r o n

p o l l u t i o n c o n t r o l a n d m a n a g e m e n t c o n d u c t e d b y t h e

DOTC .

Th e A S BU i s c o m p o s e d o f M a y o r J o h n G .

Bo n g a t , C i t y ENRO h e a d Os c a r P. Or o z c o , C h r i s t o p h e r

J h u n S . Z a n t u a , J a y s o n T. V a r g a s , t e a m l e a d e r ; J u a n S .

Pa y c a n a J r . V i c t o r M . F a u s t o , Ed g a r d o C . Pe ñ a , C a r l o s

S h e r w i n S P. Es t a n i s l a o , A n t o n i o V . Ol a r t e , A l e x S a n

J o s e , Eu g e n i o F e l i n , M a r v i n S a g u n , A l b e r t o Da r i l a y ,

Pi o S a m o n t e , a n d 3 m e m b e r s o f t h e Na g a C i t y Po l i c e

Of f i c e .

M a y o r J o h n G . Bo n g a t , h o w e v e r , s a i d t h a t

t h e m a j o r c o n c e r n o f t h e c a m p a i g n i s n o t t o

g e n e r a t e i n c o m e b u t t o c o m p e l t h e m o t o r i s t s

t o c o m p l y w i t h t h e C l e a n A i r A c t . “ W e s h o u l d

b e h a p p i e r i f w e g o t a l o w e r n u m b e r o f v i o l a t o r s

a s t h i s w o u l d m e a n w e h a v e a l e s s e r n u m b e r o f

c o n t r i b u t o r s t o a i r p o l l u t i o n , ” h e s a i d .

Th e p e n a l t i e s i m p o s e d b y t h e C i t y ENRO

b a s e d o n RA 8 7 4 9 :

a ) F i r s t o f f e n s e - a f i n e n o t l e s s t h a n

1 ,0 0 0 a n d n o t t o e x c e e d Tw o t h o u s a n d p e s o s

( P 2 ,0 0 0 ) ;

b ) S e c o n d o f f e n s e - a f i n e n o t l e s s t h a n

Tw o t h o u s a n d p e s o s ( P 2 ,0 0 0 ) a n d n o t t o e x c e e d

F o u r t h o u s a n d p e s o s ( P 4 ,0 0 0 ) ; a n d

c ) Th i r d o f f e n s e - 1 y e a r s u s p e n s i o n o f

t h e M o t o r V e h i c l e Re g i s t r a t i o n ( M V R) a n d a f i n e

o f n o t l e s s t h a n Th r e e t h o u s a n d p e s o s ( P 3 ,0 0 0 )

a n d n o t m o r e t h a n S i x t h o u s a n d p e s o s ( P 6 ,0 0 0 ) .

I n a d d i t i o n , t h e d r i v e r a n d o p e r a t o r o f


DRONE PHOTO BY IAN MAR NEBRES LEE

By JHON B. DELOS REYES

MAYOR J o h n G . Bo n g a t , t o g e t h e r

w i t h V i c e M a y o r Ne l s o n L e g a c i o n ,

C i t y En g i n e e r L e o n B. Pa l m i a n o I V ,

a n d S o l i d W a s t e M a n a g e m e n t Of f i c e

( S W M O) h e a d En g r . J o e l P. M a r t i n ,

h a s f o r m a l l y a n n o u n c e d d u r i n g a p r e s s c o n f e r e n c e

h e l d a t t h e m a y o r ’ s o f f i c e o n A p r i l 2 7 , 2 0 1 7 t h e

e v e n t u a l c l o s u r e o f Ba l a t a s d u m p s i t e a n d t h e s t a r t o f

t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f m o d e r n s a n i t a r y l a n d f i l l w i t h i n t h e

n e x t f e w m o n t h s .

Th e Ba l a t a s d u m p s i t e h a s b e c o m e o n e o f t h e

p e s t e r i n g i s s u e s i n t h e p a s t y e a r s , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e

u n p l e a s a n t s m e l l s p a w n e d b y d e c a y i n g g a r b a g e i n t h e

c i t y ’ s o p e n d u m p s i t e a n d t h e a b s e n c e o f c o n t r o l l e d

m o d e r n w a s t e d i s p o s a l s y s t e m .

Th e m a y o r s a i d t h e c l o s u r e h a s t o f o l l o w a f t e r a

n o t i c e t o p r o c e e d w a s a p p r o v e d b y t h e S a n g g u n i a n g

Pa n g l u n s o d o n A p r i l 1 7 , 2 0 1 7 t o Pa s i g C i t y - b a s e d C B

G a r a y Ph i l w o r k s C o n s t r u c t i o n t h a t w i l l s t a r t t h e c l o s u r e

a n d t r a n s f e r o f t h e c i t y ’ s g a r b a g e d u m p i n g s y s t e m t o

a n e w s i t e .

Th e m a y o r c l a r i f i e d t h a t o n l y 7 0 % o f t h e

d u m p s i t e w o u l d b e i m m e d i a t e l y c l o s e d w h i l e t h e

r e m a i n i n g 3 0 % w i l l s t i l l b e u s e d i n t h e m e a n t i m e t h a t

f u l l c l o s u r e a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n o f n e w m o d e r n s a n i t a r y

l a n d f i l l a r e b e i n g s t a r t e d .

V i c e M a y o r Ne l s o n L e g a c i o n h a s f o r e w a r n e d t h a t

d u e t o t h e c l o s u r e p h a s e t h a t w o u l d e n t a i l m o v e m e n t

o f d u m p e d g a r b a g e , e m i s s i o n o f f o u l o d o r f r o m t h e

d u m p s i t e w o u l d b e i n e vi t a b l e .

En g r . Pa l m i a n o e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e o l d d u m p s i t e

w o u l d f i r s t b e f l a t t e n e d b y g r a d e r s a n d t h e p a t c h i n g

u p o f s l o p e s t o a v o i d e r o s i o n o f t h e l a n d f i l l . A f t e r t h e

p a t c h i n g o f t h e d u m p , i t w o u l d b e c o v e r e d w i t h l a y e r s o f

s i l t , c l a y , a n d t o p s o i l f o r v e g e t a t i o n p u r p o s e s . A d r a i n a g e

s y s t e m w i l l b e c o n s t r u c t e d f o r t h e r u n o f f f i l t r a t i o n , a n d

t h e n t h e f i l t e r e d w a t e r w i l l u n d e r g o t r e a t m e n t b e f o r e i t s

f i n a l r e l e a s e d o w n t h e Na g a Ri v e r .

S W M O h e a d En g r . M a r t i n e x p l a i n e d t h a t t o l e s s e n

s m e l l e m i s s i o n , h i s m e n w i l l w o r k a t n i g h t i n s t e a d o f

d a y t i m e w h e n m o s t p e o p l e a r e a w a k e .

He s a i d t h e b a r a n g a y s o f De l Ro s a r i o , C o n c e p c i o n

G r a n d e , a n d C o n c e p c i o n Pe q u e ñ a w i l l b e m o s t a f f e c t e d

b y t h e o b n o x i o u s s m e l l b e c a u s e o f t h e ‘ A m i h a n ’ w i n d s

o b t a i n i n g t h i s s u m m e r . On t h e o t h e r h a n d , b a r a n g a y

S a n F e l i p e a n d i t s n e i g h b o r i n g z o n e s w i l l b e m o s t

a f f e c t e d i f t h e w i n d s s h i f t t o ‘H a b a g a t ’ .

A s a c o u n t e r m e a s u r e , S W M O w i l l b e a p p l y i n g

m a s s d e o d o r i z e r s t o l e s s e n , i f n o t n e u t r a l i z e , t h e

e m i s s i o n o f f o u l o d o r e m a n a t i n g f r o m t h e d u m p s i t e .

Th e S W M O, i t w a s l e a r n e d , a p p l i e s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 , 0 0 0

l i t e r s o f a n t i - o d o r s p r a y p e r d a y a t t h e d u m p s i t e .

M a y o r Bo n g a t s a i d t h e c o n t r a c t o r w i l l h a n d l e t h e

c o n s t r u c t i o n o f r u n o f f c a n a l , w a s t e w a t e r t r e a t m e n t a n d

l a n d f i l l c l o s u r e .

S W M O, t h e C EO, a n d C i t y He a l t h Off i c e , o n t h e

o t h e r h a n d , w i l l t a k e c a r e o f m i n i m i z i n g t h e s t e n c h f r o m

t h e d u m p s i t e w h i l e i t i s b e i n g p r e p a r e d f o r e v e n t u a l

c l o s u r e w i t h i n a 6 - m o n t h p e r i o d , w h e r e t h e f i r s t t w o

o r t h r e e w e e k s w o u l d b e m o s t c r i t i c a l t o t h e r e s i d e n t s ’

s e n s e o f s m e l l .

Th e C i t y Ev e n t s Pr o t o c o l , a n d Pu b l i c I n f o r m a t i o n

Of f i c e ( C EPPI O) h e a d e d b y A l l e n L . Re o n d a n g a w i l l

t a k e c a r e o f p u b l i c a d vi s o r i e s r e g a r d i n g t h e d u m p s i t e

c l o s u r e p r o c e s s a n d a c t i vi t i e s u n t i l c o n s t r u c t i o n o f n e w

d u m p s i t e h a s b e g u n a n d b e e n c o m p l e t e d .

En g r . Pa l m i a n o s a i d t h a t t h e o d o r l e s s n e w

s a n i t a r y l a n d fi l l i n Bg y . S a n I s i d o r i s e x p e c t e d t o b e

c o m p l e t e d i n o n e y e a r w i t h i n i t i a l f a c i l i t i e s t o h a v e b e e n

r e a d i e d b y m i d - J u n e , t h i s y e a r .

Th e c i t y m a y o r h a s a s k e d s t a k e h o l d e r s t o d o t h e i r

p a r t b y r e l i g i o u s l y s e g r e g a t i n g t h e i r h o u s e h o l d w a s t e s

f r o m t h o s e t h a t m a y b e r e c y c l e d o r s o l d t o j u n k s h o p s

o r b e s t o r e d a t t h e M a t e r i a l Re c o v e r y F a c i l i t i e s ( M RF )

o f e v e r y b a r a n g a y . I n t h i s w a y , t h e y c o u l d h e l p l e s s e n

t h e l o a d o f g a r b a g e a n d m a y g e n e r a t e i n c o m e t h r u t h e

M RF .

Th e m a y o r s a i d h e m a y d e s i g n a t e b a r a n g a y

e n vi r o n m e n t a l i s t s a n d v o l u n t e e r w o r k e r s w h o w i l l h e l p

m a i n t a i n t h e M RF a n d e d u c a t e t h e p e o p l e o n p r o p e r

w a s t e d i s p o s a l a n d s e g r e g a t i o n .

A p p r o x i m a t e l y t h r e e y e a r s a f t e r t h e c o m p l e t i o n

o f n e w s a n i t a r y l a n d fi l l , t h e c i t y p l a n s t o p u t u p a w a s t e -

t o - e n e r g y fa c i l i t y t h a t i s e x p e c t e d t o g e n e r a t e a d d i t i o n a l

e n e r g y fr o m t h e w a s t e s a n d g a r b a g e c o l l e c t e d .

BALATAS DUMPSITE CLOSURE UNDERWAY

70% of the dumpsite would be immediately closed

30% will still be used in the meantime that full closure and construction of a new modern sanitary landfill are being started.

PHOTOS BY REYNALDO BAYLON

NAGA TO HOST NATIONALAGRICULTURISTS SUMMIT

THE Ph i l i p p i n e A s s o c i a t i o n o f A g r i c u l t u r i s t s ( PA A ) w i l l b e h o l d i n g i t s 5 t h Na t i o n a l C o n g r e s s a n d 2 0 1 7 Ph i l i p p i n e A g r i c u l t u r i s t s S u m m i t o n J u l y 1 7 , 2 0 1 7 a t t h e V i l l a C a c e r e s Ho t e l h e r e i n

Na g a C i t y .

Th e PA A i s t h e n a t i o n ’ s a c c r e d i t e d p r o fe s s i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r t h e a g r i c u l t u r e s e c t o r .

PA A V i c e Pr e s i d e n t a n d C o n v e n t i o n C h a i r Ro s a l i n a M . L a p i t a n s a i d t h e s u m m i t w i l l p r o vi d e i t s m e m b e r s t h e v e n u e t o d i s c u s s i s s u e s a n d u p d a t e s o n t h e a g r i c u l t u r e p r o f e s s i o n , a s w e l l a s c r o s s c u t t i n g t e c h n o l o g i e s o n r e s i l i e n c e a n d s u s t a i n a b i l i t y t o i n c r e a s e f o o d s e c u r i t y , c o m p e t i t i v e n e s s , a n d p r o d u c t s a f e t y i n t h e l i g h t o f A S EA N r e g i o n a l i n t e g r a t i o n .

S h e a d d e d t h i s w i l l a l s o g i v e t h e m o p p o r t u n i t y t o s h a r e r e s e a r c h f i n d i n g s a n d b e s t p r a c t i c e s w h e r e t h e a c a d e m e a n d t h e l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t u n i t s j o i n h a n d s i n e x t e n d i n g t h e k n o w l e d g e l e a r n e d t o f a r m e r s a n d s t a k e h o l d e r s i n t h e a g r i c u l t u r e s e c t o r .

Th i s y e a r ’ s t h e m e i s : “ En h a n c i n g t h e a g r i c u l t u r e p r o f e s s i o n t o w a r d s a r e s i l i e n t a n d s u s t a i n a b l e a g r i c u l t u r e i n t h e g l o b a l c o m m u n i t y . ”

Th e s u m m i t w i l l a l s o w i t n e s s t h e l a u n c h i n g o f n e w c h a p t e r s a n d t h e f i r s t o a t h - t a k i n g o f l i c e n s e d a g r i c u l t u r i s t s o u t s i d e M e t r o M a n i l a .

Na g a C i t y M a y o r J o h n G . Bo n g a t w i l l g i v e t h e w e l c o m e r e m a r k s w h e n t h e s u m m i t s t a r t s a t 9 : 0 0 a . m . o f t h e o p e n i n g d a y .

I n c i d e n t a l l y , t h i s c i t y h a s b e e n r e c i p i e n t o f l a s t y e a r ’ s Q u a l i t y C o r n A c h i e v e r s A w a r d i n t h e o u t s t a n d i n g c i t y c a t e g o r y , w i t h s o m e o f i t s p e r s o n n e l a t t h e c i t y a g r i c u l t u r e o f f i c e h a v i n g b e e n h a i l e d a s o u t s t a n d i n g c o r n c o o r d i n a t o r a n d a g r i c u l t u r e e x t e n s i o n w o r k e r s ( A EW ) , n a m e l y En g r . M e n a n d r o C a l i n g a c i o n a n d Be n d i c t o He r a l d o , r e s p e c t i v e l y .

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s y s t e m a n d g r a d u a t e d c l a s s v a l e d i c t o r i a n i n 1 9 3 2 .

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s c h o o l d i p l o m a w i t h f i r s t h o n o r s .

I n c o l l e g e a t t h e A t e n e o d e M a n i l a , Ra m o n w a s a f u l l s c h o l a r , t h e Pr e s i d e n t o f t h e

A t e n e o S t u d e n t C o u n c i l , A s s o c i a t e Ed i t o r o f t h e G u i d o n , a n d a n o r g a n i s t o f t h e A t e n e o

C h o i r . He r e c e i v e d h i s A B i n 1 9 4 0 , g r a d u a t i n g s u m m a c u m l a u d e a n d w a s g r a n t e d a f u l l

s c h o l a r s h i p t o t h e C o l l e g e o f L a w . W h e n w a r b r o k e o u t o n De c e m b e r 8 , 1 9 4 1 , Ra m o n

r e p o r t e d f o r d u t y w i t h t h e U S A F F E a s a n ROTC s e r g e a n t , b u t h e n e v e r s a w a c t i v e d u t y .

I n t h e s u m m e r o f 1 9 4 1 , Ra m o n m e t h i s f u t u r e w i f e , A i d a d e Be l e n A b e l l a , a f e l l o w

Bi c o l a n a . Th e y w e r e m a r r i e d a t t h e A r c h b i s h o p s ’ Pa l a c e h e r e i n Na g a . Th e i r u n i o n b o r e

e i g h t c h i l d r e n : C e c i l e , A n n a b e l , A m e l i a , M a r l e n e , Em e t e r i o , Ra m o n , A n t e r o a n d J e s u s .

I n 1 9 4 5 , Ra m o n p l a c e d t h i r d i n t h e Ph i l i p p i n e Ba r Ex a m i n a t i o n s , e v e n b e f o r e

f o r m a l l y g r a d u a t i n g f r o m l a w s c h o o l . A c t i v e i n s o c i o - c i v i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s , h e s e r v e d

a s Pr e s i d e n t o f t h e J u n i o r C h a m b e r I n t e r n a t i o n a l ( Na g a ) f r o m

1 9 5 7 t o 1 9 5 8 . Ru n n i n g a s a n i n d e p e n d e n t L P c a n d i d a t e , Ra m o n

b e c a m e t h e m a y o r o f Na g a C i t y i n 1 9 6 3 a n d s e r v e d u n t i l 1 9 6 5 .

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t o r u n f o r C o n g r e s s m a n o f t h e f i r s t d i s t r i c t o f C a m a r i n e s S u r ( t h e

p r o v i n c e t h e n w a s d i v i d e d i n t o o n l y t w o d i s t r i c t s , w i t h Na g a C i t y

b e l o n g i n g t o t h e f i r s t d i s t r i c t ) . He w o n a g a i n s t t h e i n c u m b e n t ,

Re p . J u a n F . Tr i v i ñ o . W h i l e i n C o n g r e s s , h e w a s c h o s e n o n e o f

Te n Ou t s t a n d i n g C o n g r e s s m e n e v e r y y e a r o f h i s f i r s t a n d s e c o n d

t e r m s b y m e d i a . I n 1 9 6 9 , h e w a s e l e c t e d M i n o r i t y F l o o r L e a d e r .

W h e n m a r t i a l l a w w a s d e c l a r e d i n 1 9 7 2 , Ra m o n r e t u r n e d

t o h i s p r i v a t e l a w p r a c t i c e . I n M a r c h 1 9 7 5 , h e j o i n e d t h e

A r a n e t a G r o u p o f C o m p a n i e s a s i t s v i c e p r e s i d e n t f o r L e g a l

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a n o p p o s i t i o n m e m b e r t o t h e C o m m i s s i o n o n El e c t i o n s ,

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JAM PACKED! 2017 Philippine Agriculturist’s Summit with Sen. Cynthia Villar as Keynote Speaker

PARTICIPANTS of the break-out session allotted for Paper Presentations focused on latest agricultural and scientific studies, institutional development and agricultural policy.

PAPER PRESENTATION. As part of the 2017 Philippine Agriculturist’s Summit, Ernesto (Jap) Asence III, one of Naga City’s Agricultural Technologists, presented his MBA Thesis entitled, Entrepreneurial Competencies of Farmers and Its Impact on the Performance of the SARIG Program at the summit.


Pa m b a n s a e l e c t i o n s . He c o n t i n u e d t o a s s u m e t h e s a m e p o s t u n d e r Pr e s i d e n t C o r y

A q u i n o , u n t i l h e r e t i r e d o n F e b r u a r y 3 , 1 9 8 8 .

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Ho l y M a s s a t t h e Ba s i l i c a M i n o r e .

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o f Na g a C i t y l o c a l s a n d t o u r i s t s a l i k e . Th i s

y e a r , t h e y a r e h o l d i n g a n o t h e r c o n t e s t

s p o n s o r e d b y Na g a C i t y ’ s p r e m i u m b r a n d s .

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c o n s i s t i n g o f t h r e e d a y s - t w o n i g h t s

a c c o m m o d a t i o n a t a Na g a C i t y h o t e l , a

t o u r f r o m t h e i r p a r t n e r e d t r a v e l a g e n c i e s ,

g i f t c e r t i f i c a t e s f r o m v a r i o u s Na g a C i t y

r e s t a u r a n t s , a n d e v e n g i f t c e r t i f i c a t e s f r o m

Na g a C i t y s p a s .

ISAROG GARDEN SOCIETY FETES 38TH YEAR

THE I s a r o g G a r d e n S o c i e t y F o u n d a t i o n o n M a y 2 0 c e l e b r a t e d i t s 3 8 t h c h a r t e r a n n i v e r s a r y w i t h a h o s t o f a c t i vi t i e s i n s i d e t h e Na g a C i t y Ec o l o g y Pa r k . Th e Pa r k w a s o p e n e d w i t h f r e e

a d m i s s i o n t o t h e p u b l i c o n t h a t d a y .

F e D. L a y s a , r e t i r e d DA r e g i o n a l d i r e c t o r a n d p r e s i d e n t o f t h e I G S F , s a i d t h i s y e a r ’ s a n n i v e r s a r y t h e m e i s “ Na t u r e i s o u r Tr e a s u r e . ”

Th e I G S F d e v e l o p s a n d m a n a g e s t h e Na g a C i t y Ec o Pa r k , t h r u a m e m o r a n d u m o f a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e C i t y g o v e r n m e n t o f Na g a t h a t t h e n C i t y M a y o r J e s s e M . Ro b r e d o i n i t i a t e d .

A c t i vi t i e s i n c l u d e d a m a s s , p l a n t a n d f o o d s a l e a t t h e Ec o Pa r k a n d f r e e p a c k s o f a s s o r t e d v e g e t a b l e s e e d s a n d p l a n t i n g m a t e r i a l s , c o u r t e s y o f t h e De p a r t m e n t o f o f A g r i c u l t u r e . V a r i o u s g a m e s w i t h p r i z e s w e r e a l s o o f f e r e d t o t h e p u b l i c .

Na g a C i t y M a y o r J o h n Bo n g a t , a l o n g w i t h s o m e m e m b e r s o f t h e S a n g g u n i a n g Pa n g l u n s o d c a m e a s g u e s t s d u r i n g t h e m a s s a n d a n n i v e r s a r y p r o g r a m .

To u r i s m Di r e c t o r M a r i a ‘N i n i ’ Ra v a n i l l a g a v e a t a l k o n Ec o To u r i s m . Re y Pi m e n t e l , a p l a n t b r e e d e r , s p o k e o n t h e v a r i o u s e n d e m i c o r n a m e n t a l p l a n t s o f e c o n o m i c v a l u e w h i l e t e c h n i c a l s e m i n a r s w e r e a l s o h e l d a m o n g g u e s t s a n d m e m b e r s .

38TH YEAR AND GOING STRONGER. Members of the Isarog Garden Society prepare for their coming anniversary celebration (top photo): Badette Guinhawa, Emer Florendo, Sweet Rosales, Lita Macandog, Rosie Lo, Tessie Sia, Lilibeth Guysayko, Beda Realuyo, Fe Laysa, Dollie Chavez, Nene Panganiban, Terry Razon, Tess Las, and Mike Pauig. In lower photo are Lilibeth, Beda, Sweet, and Dollie Chavez with food tents already initially set up.

ULTIMATE NAGAVACATION CONTEST

Th e U l t i m a t e Na g a C i t y V a c a t i o n

C o n t e s t a i m s t o p r o m o t e t o u r i s m i n

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p r o vi d e d b y l o c a l b u s i n e s s e s . Th e r e w i l l

b e f o u r w i n n e r s o f t h e Na g a C i t y v a c a t i o n

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c e r t i f i c a t e s f r o m r e s t a u r a n t s a n d c a f é s

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i n f o r m a t i o n , vi s i t w w w . n a g a c i t y g u i d e .

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a n d c o m m u n i t i e s a l i k e .

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f o r t h e y e a r s 2 0 1 7 - 2 0 2 2 u n d e r t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f Pr e s i d e n t Ro d r i g o Ro a Du t e r t e .

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u n i t s ; a n d r e d u c e t h e i m p a c t o n t h e p o o r e s t a n d m o s t vu l n e r a b l e s e c t o r s . Th r o u g h t h e s e

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a t t h e o n s e t o f a d i s a s t e r .

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i n t e n t i o n t o n o t o n l y o r g a n i z e t h e v a r i o u s a g e n c i e s a n d

g o v e r n i n g b o d i e s i n t h e c o u n t r y , b u t a l s o t o e n c o u r a g e

c o o p e r a t i o n a n d p a r t i c i p a t i o n f r o m t h e c o m m o n F i l i p i n o

p e o p l e .

“ Th i s i s a v e r y p o s i t i v e s t e p t o w a r d s f o r m u l a t i n g

c o n c r e t e p o l i c i e s a n d a c t i o n s f o r t h i s m a t t e r , ” A l m o d a l s a i d

d u r i n g a n i n t e r vi e w .

“ W e w a n t t o i n v o l v e e v e r y b o d y , b e c a u s e t h i s i s o u r

a f f a i r s . Th i s i s a v e r y i m p o r t a n t c o n c e r n t o e v e r y o n e o f u s , ”

s h e a d d e d .

Th e w o r k s h o p w a s t h e t h i r d a n d l a s t t o b e c o n d u c t e d

i n t h e c o u n t r y a s t h o s e f o r t h e V i s a y a s a n d M i n d a n a o

c l u s t e r s w e r e a l r e a d y c o m p l e t e d .

NAGA HOSTS ASEAN WORKSHOP ONDISASTER RISK FINANCING, INSURANCE By ANA-LIZA S. MACATANGAY

“Kumbaga, binababa me si training. Bako lang si mga barangay officials, mga tanods, barangay health workers, kundi pati po sa every member of the family,” e x p l a i n e d d e l Ro s a r i o .

I n t e r - a g e n c i e s i n c l u d i n g He a l t h

Em e r g e n c y M e d i c a l S e r vi c e s ( HEM S - BM C ) ,

Ph i l i p p i n e Re d C r o s s ( PRC ) , Bu r e a u o f F i r e

Pr o t e c t i o n ( BF P) , Ph i l i p p i n e C o a s t G u a r d ( PC G )

a n d Ph i l i p p i n e Na t i o n a l Po l i c e ( PNP) p e r s o n n e l

s e r v e d a s t r a i n e r s — i m p a r t i n g k n o w l e d g e

a n d k n o w - h o w i n t h e f o l l o w i n g : Di s a s t e r Ri s k

Re d u c t i o n M a n a g e m e n t ( DRRM ) a n d F a m i l y

Pr e p a r e d n e s s , Ba s i c L i f e S u p p o r t , F o r e i g n Bo d y

A i r w a y Ob s t r u c t i o n , Ba s i c Re s c u e Te c h n i q u e s

a n d Ext r i c a t i o n , W a s t e M a n a g e m e n t ,

Ea r t h q u a k e A w a r e n e s s a n d Pr e p a r e d n e s s ,

F i r e Pr e v e n t i o n a n d S u p p r e s s i o n , Ro l e

o f PNP i n Di s a s t e r s a n d Em e r g e n c y ,

I n c i d e n t C o m m a n d S y s t e m , I n t e r - A g e n c y

Ne t w o r k i n g a n d S e r vi c e De l i v e r y Ne t w o r k

a n d W a t e r S a f e t y a n d Re s c u e .

Re t u r n d e m o n s t r a t i o n s , f i e l d t r a i n i n g

e x e r c i s e s a n d s i m u l a t i o n d r i l l s w e r e

c o n d u c t e d t o e n s u r e p a r t i c i p a n t s ’ a c q u i r e d

s k i l l s a n d e x p e r t i s e i n t h e c o n d u c t e d

t r a i n i n g .

L e a r n i n g f r o m t h e p r e vi o u s

e x p e r i e n c e o f e m e r g e n c i e s a n d d i s a s t e r s

t h a t r e c e n t l y h i t t h e r e g i o n , De l Ro s a r i o

u n d e r s c o r e d t h e p r i c e l e s s i m p o r t a n c e o f

a w e l l - e q u i p p e d h u m a n r e s o u r c e , a s t h e i r

b i g i n v e s t m e n t , t o o , i n c a p a c i t y - b u i l d i n g

o f t h e i r c o n s t i t u e n t s i n Na g a C i t y , a r m i n g

t h e m w i t h t h e n e c e s s a r y s k i l l s .

De l Ro s a r i o b e l i e v e s t h a t c o m m u n i t y

r e s p o n d e r s i n d e p e n d e n t o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t

i s i n d i s p e n s a b l e d u r i n g t i m e s o f c a l a m i t i e s .

“Human resource will remain as human resource until it is harnessed, and so, we develop them and capacitate them, for them to be of help also in the community,” s t a t e d C i t y

C o u n c i l o r De l Ro s a r i o .

BARANGAY REPS TO TEACH FIRST

AID, RESCUE TECHNIQUES ,

GET TRAINING

By ARMIE B. GUNAY

JOSELITO SA. DEL ROSARIOCITY COUNCILOR




P H O T O B Y S Y L R A N J E L V I C V I L L A F L O R

p a r t n e r i n g e n t i t y , s p e c i f i c a l l y t h e c i t y

g o v e r n m e n t o f Na g a , t h e De p Ed , a n d

t h e c i t y ’ s 2 7 b a r a n g a y c o u n c i l s t o g e t h e r

w i t h t h e Ed u c a t i o n , S c h o l a r s h i p s a n d

S p o r t s Of f i c e ( ES S O) a n d t h e C i t y Ev e n t s ,

Pr o t o c o l a n d Pu b l i c I n f o r m a t i o n Of f i c e

( C EPPI O) .

C i t i n g s p o r t s a s a h u m a n r i g h t

f o r a l l i n d i vi d u a l s , t h e e x e c u t i v e o r d e r

m a n d a t e s a l l t h e p a r t n e r i n g e n t i t i e s

t o “ p r o vi d e s p o r t s a c t i vi t i e s t o s c h o o l

c h i l d r e n t o p r o m o t e t h e i r g o o d h e a l t h ,

e d u c a t i o n a n d w e l l - b e i n g . ”

I t i s u n d e r s c o r e d a l s o i n t h e

e x e c u t i v e o r d e r t h a t w i t h t h e o p e r a t i o n o f

t h e p r o g r a m , c h i l d r e n , w h o a r e b e c o m i n g

l e s s e n g a g e d i n p h y s i c a l a c t i vi t i e s w i t h

t h e r i s e o f i n t e r a c t i v e t e c h n o l o g y , w i l l b e

l e d t o a w e l l - r o u n d e d l i f e s t y l e .

ONE STUDENT, ONE SPORTS PROGRAM READIES MAOGMANG LUGAR TO BE CITY OF CHAMPIONSTO PROVIDE t h e y o u n g o n e s w i t h c o m p e t e n c e t o e x c e l

i n s p o r t s , u n d e r s t a n d a n d a p p l y t h e c o n c e p t o f

t e a m w o r k a n d t h e v a l u e o f s p o r t s m a n s h i p a r e w h a t

t h e “ On e S t u d e n t , On e S p o r t s ” p r o g r a m o f t h e l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t

h e r e a d v o c a t e s .

Th e p r o g r a m w h i c h i s a n c h o r e d o n t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t ’ s

t h r u s t t o b u i l d a c i t y o f c h a m p i o n s w i l l a l s o e n h a n c e t h e s p o r t s

p r o g r a m o f t h e De p a r t m e n t o f Ed u c a t i o n ( De p Ed ) a n d s t r e n g t h e n

c o l l a b o r a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e t w o g o v e r n m e n t e n t i t i e s a s t h e L G U

c o n s o l i d a t e s i t s n e w a n d e x i s t i n g s p o r t s p r o g r a m s u n d e r o n e

u m b r e l l a c a m p a i g n .

Ex e c u t i v e Or d e r 2 0 1 6 - 0 4 8 , w h i c h s e e k s t o e n h a n c e t h e

De p a r t m e n t o f Ed u c a t i o n ( De p Ed ) s p o r t s p r o g r a m b y e s t a b l i s h i n g

a n d i m p l e m e n t i n g t h e “ On e S t u d e n t , On e S p o r t s ” p r o g r a m o f

t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t a n c h o r e d o n t h e t h r u s t t o b u i l d a c i t y o f

c h a m p i o n s w a s i s s u e d o n No v e m b e r 4 l a s t y e a r b y M a y o r J o h n G .

Bo n g a t , a n d w i l l t a k e e f f e c t t h i s s c h o o l y e a r 2 0 1 7 - 2 0 1 8 .

Th e e x e c u t i v e o r d e r d e t a i l s h o w t h e p r o g r a m w i l l o p e r a t e

a s i t a l s o d e f i n e s t h e r o l e s , f u n c t i o n s a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f e a c h

KIDS ENROLLED in the city government’s month-long Annual Summer Sports Camp take a break after undergoing lectures on the fundamentals

of basketball. The sports camp is one of the sports programs which will be consolidated under the “One Student, One Sports” program being pursued by the

administration of Mayor John G. Bongat.

By JASON B. NEOLA

HOW WILL IT GO?

Ba s e d o n t h e i m p l e m e n t i n g

g u i d e l i n e s , t h e s t u d e n t s s h a l l , u p o n

e n r o l m e n t , i n i t i a l l y c h o o s e t h r e e o u t o f

t h e 2 2 Pa l a r o s p o r t s d i s c i p l i n e s t h a t t h e y

l i k e b e s t s i n c e t h e y m u s t b e a l l o w e d

t o d e v e l o p n a t u r a l l y a s t h e y m a t u r e

p h y s i c a l l y , m e n t a l l y , a n d e m o t i o n a l l y a t

d i f f e r e n t r a t e s .

S p o r t s e x p e r t s , c o a c h e s , a n d

s p o r t s p s y c h o l o g i s t s b e l i e v e d t h a t i t i s

n o t g o o d f o r t h e m a t u r a t i o n p r o c e s s o f

t h e s t u d e n t s t o a l l o w t h e m t o s p e c i a l i z e

i n o n e s p o r t e a r l y i n l i f e . I n s t e a d , t h e

c h i l d m u s t b e a l l o w e d t o s a m p l e a

r a n g e o f s p o r t s o r s e v e r a l p h y s i c a l

a c t i vi t i e s b e f o r e s e t t l i n g o n o n e s p o r t s .

A t a g e s 2 - 5 , w h e n c h i l d r e n a r e

b e g i n n i n g t o m a s t e r b a s i c m o v e m e n t s

b u t a r e s a i d t o b e t o o y o u n g f o r m o s t

t y p e o f o r g a n i z e d s p o r t s , u n s t r u c t u r e d

f r e e p l a y c o m e s o u t t h e b e s t l i k e

r u n n i n g , c l i m b i n g , k i c k i n g , t u m b l i n g

d a n c i n g , p l a y i n g c a t c h w i t h l i g h t w e i g h t

b a l l , a n d p e d a l i n g a b i c y c l e w i t h a

t r a i n i n g w h e e l . C l o s e s u p e r vi s i o n b y

c o a c h e s , m e n t o r s o r t r a i n o r s i s h i g h l y

n e e d e d w h e n c h i l d r e n a r e d o i n g t h e s e

s p o r t s a c t i vi t i e s .

A t a g e 6 - 7 , w h e n t h e c h i l d r e n ’ s

c o o r d i n a t i o n a n d a t t e n t i o n s p a n s

i m p r o v e a n d t h a t t h e y a r e a b l e t o

f o l l o w d i r e c t i o n s a n d u n d e r s t a n d

t h e c o n c e p t o f t e a m w o r k , o r g a n i z e d

s p o r t s a c t i vi t i e s a r e s u g g e s t e d s u c h

a s , s o f t b a l l / b a s e b a l l , s o c c e r , f o o t b a l l ,

m a r t i a l a r t s , t e n n i s , t r a c k a n d f i e l d , a n d

s w i m m i n g .

A t a g e 8 a n d a b o v e , m o s t s p o r t s

i n c l u d i n g c o n t a c t s p o r t s m a y b e

a c c e p t a b l e a s l o n g a s t h e s t u d e n t i s

p r o vi d e d w i t h p r o t e c t i v e g e a r . S c h o o l

c h i l d r e n m u s t b e c a r e f u l l y s u p e r vi s e d

d u r i n g s t r e n g t h a n d c o n d i t i o n i n g

t r a i n i n g .

I t i s a l s o e m p h a s i z e d t h a t a s

a c h i l d t r i e s v a r i o u s s p o r t s , p h y s i c a l

e d u c a t i o n t e a c h e r s m u s t s t a y i n v o l v e d

a n d c o n s i d e r t e a m a s s i g n m e n t s w h e r e

c h i l d r e n a r e g r o u p e d a c c o r d i n g t o

p h y s i c a l m a t u r i t y a n d s k i l l l e v e l . A f t e r

t h e d e v e l o p m e n t p r o c e s s o f p h y s i c a l

a c t i vi t i e s a n d s k i l l s t r a i n i n g , t h e P. E.

t e a c h e r i s r e q u i r e d t o p r e p a r e a n

i n v e n t o r y c h a r t s h o w i n g t h e s p o r t s

e v e n t t h e c h i l d r e n a r e i n c l i n e d i n .

Th i s , i n o r d e r t o g u i d e t h e t e a c h e r s

t o p r o vi d e p r o p e r d i r e c t i o n t o

s t u d e n t s t o w a r d s t h e i r s p e c i f i c s p o r t s

s p e c i a l i z a t i o n .

G r a d e s 3 - 1 0 s t u d e n t s w h o a r e

r e a d y f o r a h i g h l y c o m p e t i t i v e l e v e l

a r e g u i d e d t o c h o o s e o n l y o n e o r

t w o s p o r t s a n d f o c u s s o l e l y o n i t u n t i l

t h e J u n i o r L e v e l . A t t h i s p o i n t , t h e

s t u d e n t e n j o y s t h e g a m e a n d e x c e l s

a b o v e a l l o t h e r s f o r s p e c i a l i z a t i o n

i n t h e s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l ( G r a d e s

1 1 - 1 2 ) s u c h a s c o a c h i n g , o f f i c i a t i n g ,

f i t n e s s a n d w e l l n e s s , s p o r t s m e d i c i n e ,

s p o r t m a n a g e m e n t , e t c . o r f o r c o l l e g e

s c h o l a r s h i p s .

MONITORING SCHEDULES

F o r t h e m o n t h o f J u n e t o

J u l y , s t u d e n t s w i l l b e g i v e n t h e

l i b e r t y t o c h o o s e i n i t i a l l y 3 s p o r t s

d u r i n g e n r o l m e n t p e r i o d w h i l e t h e

p r e p a r a t i o n o f t h e a v a i l a b l e f a c i l i t i e s


PHOTO BY FRANCIS BARJA


a n d e q u i p m e n t i s g o i n g o n a l o n g

w i t h t h e c o n d u c t o f Ph y s i c a l F i t n e s s

Te s t i n g / A n t h r o p o m e t r i c Te s t i n g , a n d

t h e t r a i n i n g o f c o a c h e s a n d t r a i n o r s .

F o r A u g u s t t o S e p t e m b e r ,

e xp l o r a t o r y a c t i vi t i e s / f r e e p l a y f o r

p r e - s c h o o l a n d k i n d e r , Te a m g a m e s /

C o n t a c t g a m e s f o r G r a d e 6 a n d a b o v e ,

c h e c k i n g o f t h e S p o r t s I n v e n t o r y

C h a r t , S p o r t s C a r a v a n ( s c h o o l a n d

b a r a n g a y l e v e l ) , p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f

s t u d e n t s i n s c h o o l i n t r a m u r a l s .

F o r Oc t o b e r t o J a n u a r y ,

p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f s t u d e n t s i n I n t e r -

S c h o o l S p o r t s Ev e n t s / C o m p e t i t i o n s ,

p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f s t u d e n t s i n d i s t r i c t

m e e t a n d c i t y m e e t , l i v e - i n a n d l i v e -

o u t c o n c e n t r a t i o n t r a i n i n g o f c i t y

a t h l e t e s , p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f Na g a C i t y

a t h l e t e s i n Ba t a n g Pi n o y a n d o t h e r

n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l s p o r t s

e v e n t s .

F o r t h e m o n t h o f F e b r u a r y ,

p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f Na g a C i t y a t h l e t e s i n

Pa l a r o n g Bi k o l , Po s t Ph y s i c a l F i t n e s s

Te s t ( PF T) , a n d t h e s c h e d u l e f o r

s t u d e n t s t o c h o o s e o n e s p o r t t h a t h e /

s h e w a n t s t o c o n c e n t r a t e i n , f r o m t h e

3 s p o r t s h e / s h e o r i g i n a l l y c h o s e .

M a r c h t o M a y , l i v e - i n a n d l i v e -

o u t c o n c e n t r a t i o n t r a i n i n g o f c i t y

a t h l e t e s f o r Pa l a r o n g Pa m b a n s a ,

p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f Na g a C i t y a t h l e t e s i n

Pa l a r o n g Pa m b a n s a , S u m m e r S p o r t s

C a m p , I n t e r - Ba r a n g a y S p o r t s F e s t i v a l ,

a n d t r a i n i n g o f c o a c h e s a n d t r a i n o r s .

MORE b e n e f i t s a w a i t s o l o p a r e n t s i n Na g a C i t y w i t h t h e a p p r o v a l o f t h e Re vi s e d S o l o Pa r e n t s ’ Or d i n a n c e b y t h e S a n g g u n i a n g Pa n l u n g s o d o f

Na g a l a s t M a y 1 6 .

A u t h o r e d b y V i c e M a y o r Ne l s o n S . L e g a c i o n a n d C i t y C o u n c i l o r El m e r S . Ba l d e m o r o , t h e r e vi s e d o r d i n a n c e m a n d a t e s t h a t c h i l d r e n o f i n d i g e n t s o l o p a r e n t s b e p r i o r i t i z e d i n t h e c i t y ’ s S A NG G A W A DA N Pr o g r a m a n d a u t o m a t i c a l l y b e c o m e m e m b e r s o f t h e Q u a l i t y U n i v e r s a l Ed u c a t i o n Em p o w e r m e n t i n Na g a ( Q U EEN) Pr o g r a m . A s m e m b e r s o f t h e s e p r o g r a m s , t h e y w i l l b e e n t i t l e d t o r i c e a n d s c h o o l f e e s u b s i d i e s .

I n c e n t i v e s w i l l a l s o b e g i v e n t o c h i l d r e n o f i n d i g e n t s o l o p a r e n t s w h o a r e i n t h e t o p t e n o f t h e i r g r a d u a t i n g c l a s s a n d t o p f i v e o f t h e i r y e a r l e v e l f o r n o n - g r a d u a t i n g s t u d e n t s . Ho w e v e r , o n l y o n e c h i l d p e r i n d i g e n t s o l o p a r e n t s h a l l b e g i v e n p r i o r i t y i n t h e Te r t i a r y S c h o l a r s h i p Pr o g r a m o f t h e c i t y , u n l e s s h i s o t h e r c h i l d r e n m e e t t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r a u t o m a t i c s c h o l a r s h i p .

F u r t h e r , t h e r e vi s e d o r d i n a n c e r e q u i r e s t h a t s o l o p a r e n t s b e p r i o r i t i z e d a s b e n e f i c i a r i e s i n n e w u r b a n p o o r r e s e t t l e m e n t s i t e .

Bu r i a l a s s i s t a n c e t o s o l o p a r e n t s a n d t h e i r c h i l d r e n w a s a l s o i n c r e a s e d f r o m P2 ,0 0 0 t o P3 ,0 0 0 a n d t h e y a r e

n o w e n t i t l e d t o f r e e h o s p i t a l i z a t i o n a t t h e Na g a C i t y Ho s p i t a l a n d Bi c o l M e d i c a l C e n t e r .

“Based on a World Health Organizat ion-funded study, i t is learned that, out of about 94 mi l l ion Fi l ip inos, there are 13.9 mi l l ion solo parents. In the City of Naga, the number of solo parents is expected to be very substant ial and must therefore be attended to i f the ci ty is real ly ser ious in prevent ing the consequent problems of solo parenthood such as poverty, lack of employment, chi ldren deprived of educat ion and juveni le del inquents,” s a y s V i c e M a y o r L e g a c i o n i n h i s e x p l a n a t o r y n o t e h e f o r w a r d e d t o t h e c i t y c o u n c i l .

Th e C i t y L e g a l Of f i c e ( C L O) s h a l l a l s o g i v e f r e e n o t a r i a l s e r vi c e s a n d l e g a l a s s i s t a n c e t o a n i n d i g e n t s o l o p a r e n t i n a c i vi l c a s e i n v o l vi n g t h e c u s t o d y o f c h i l d r e n o r i n a c r i m i n a l c a s e w h e r e s / h e i s t h e c o m p l a i n a n t .

F o r s o l o p a r e n t a s s o c i a t i o n s , t h e y m a y b e g r a n t e d a l i v e l i h o o d a s s i s t a n c e o f P1 0 ,0 0 0 o r h i g h e r . M e a n w h i l e , p a r t n e r - e s t a b l i s h m e n t s a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o e x t e n d 5 - 1 0 % d i s c o u n t , o r h i g h e r , o n a l l g o o d s o r s e r vi c e s t o p u r c h a s e d b y s o l o p a r e n t s a n d t h e i r c h i l d r e n .

I t m u s t b e n o t e d t h o u g h t h a t o n c e a b e n e f i c i a r y h a s a c h a n g e i n h i s s t a t u s o r c i r c u m s t a n c e w h e r e i n h e i s n o l o n g e r a l o n e i n c a r r y i n g o u t t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f p a r e n t h o o d , h e o r s h e s h a l l n o l o n g e r b e c o n s i d e r e d a s o l o p a r e n t a n d s h a l l n o l o n g e r q u a l i f y f o r t h e b e n e f i t s g i v e n i n t h e r e vi s e d o r d i n a n c e . Th o s e w h o f a i l t o d i s c l o s e s u c h c h a n g e a n d c o n t i n u e t o a v a i l o f t h e b e n e f i t s u n d e r t h e o r d i n a n c e s h a l l b e p r o s e c u t e d fo r Es t a f a a n d s h a l l b e r e q u i r e d t o r e i m b u r s e t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t o f a l l b e n e f i t s h e r e c e i v e d a f t e r t h e c h a n g e i n h i s s t a t u s .

“ F o r u s t o m a k e t h e b e s t b e t t e r i n o u r M a o g m a n g L u g a r , t h o s e w h o h a v e l e s s i n l i f e m u s t h a v e m o r e i n l a w , ” V i c e M a y o r L e g a c i o n s a i d .

w i l l i n c l u d e a r e s t a u r a n t a n d h a l l f o r

s e m i n a r s w i l l b e p u t u p .

A n s w e r i n g q u e s t i o n s f r o m

n e w s m e n , Pa l m a r e v e a l e d t h a t t h e

M NW D i s a l w a y s p r e p a r i n g f o r t h e

f u t u r e w h e n p o t a b l e w a t e r s u p p l y

w o u l d i n e vi t a b l y b e d e p l e t e d d u e t o

b u r g e o n i n g p o p u l a t i o n a n d t r a d e a n d

c o m m e r c e .

C o n s t r u c t i o n b o o m h a s b e e n s e e n

i n Na g a i n r e c e n t y e a r s , w i t h m o r e m a l l s ,

c o m m e r c i a l b u i l d i n g s a n d s u b d i vi s i o n s

r i s i n g t h a t a l l r e q u i r e m o r e s u p p l y o f

w a t e r f o r d r i n k i n g a n d c o m m e r c i a l u s e s .

A s t o t h e f o r m a l o p p o s i t i o n

r e g i s t e r e d b y M NW D a n d o t h e r

c o n c e r n e d s t a k e h o l d e r s a g a i n s t t h e

p l a n n e d i n s t a l l a t i o n o f a h y d r o - p l a n t i n

t h e b o s o m o f M t . I s a r o g t h a t i s f e a r e d

t o a f f e c t M NW D’ s w a t e r s o u r c e , Pa l m a

s a i d t h e y a r e s t i l l w a i t i n g f o r t h e f i n a l

r e p l y a n d a c t i o n b y DENR S e c r e t a r y G i n a

L o p e z o n t h e m a t t e r .

M e a n w h i l e , V i c e M a y o r Ne l s o n

L e g a c i o n w h o w a s a l s o a m o n g t h e

r e s o u r c e s p e a k e r s i n t h e K a p i h a n s a i d t h e

c i t y i s a l l o u t i n i t s s u p p o r t t o t h e p l a n s

a n d p r o g r a m s o f t h e M NW D a s f a r a s

c o n s e r v a t i o n , e x p a n s i o n a n d p r o t e c t i o n

o f p o w e r s u p p l y i s c o n c e r n e d , i n c l u d i n g

t h e t o u r i s m p r o m o t i o n i n M t . I s a r o g .

He d i s c l o s e d t h a t a b u i l d i n g - c u m -

r e c e p t i o n c e n t e r h a d b e e n c o n s t r u c t e d

n e a r M a l a b s a y F a l l s f o r t h e c o n v e n i e n c e

o f vi s i t o r s a n d t o u r i s t s , a s i d e f r o m t h e

c o n s t r u c t i o n / r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f s t e p s a n d

r a i l i n g s t h a t l e a d t o t h e f a l l s .

He a l s o r e v e a l e d t h a t S M

F o u n d a t i o n h a d v o l u n t e e r e d t o s u s t a i n

t r e e p l a n t i n g a r o u n d t h e a f f e c t e d a r e a i n

M t . I s a r o g b y p r o vi d i n g s i t e f o r s e e d l i n g

p r o d u c t i o n a n d s i t e d e v e l o p m e n t . He

a d d e d t h a t t h e c i t y h a d p u r c h a s e d a

1 . 6 - h e c t a r e p r o p e r t y i n Pa n i c u a s i o n

w h e r e r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s , w h i c h

WATER c o n s e r v a t i o n

a n d p r o t e c t i o n r e m a i n

t o b e t h e t o p c o n c e r n o f

t h e M e t r o p o l i t a n Na g a

W a t e r Di s t r i c t ( M NW D) , a c c o r d i n g t o i t s

C h a i r m a n , J o r g e T. Pa l m a .

Pa l m a w a s s p e a k i n g d u r i n g t h e

K a p i h a n s a M e t r o Na g a h e l d a t Bo b

M a r l i n Re s t a u r a n t b e f o r e m e m b e r s o f

t h e l o c a l m e d i a .

W h i l e a d m i t t i n g t h a t p o t a b l e

w a t e r s o u r c e h a s i n e vi t a b l y b e e n

d e p l e t i n g , e s p e c i a l l y w i t h t h e o n s e t o f

t h e h o t s u m m e r m o n t h s , Pa l m a s a i d t h e

w a t e r d i s t r i c t h a s b e e n c l o s e l y w a t c h i n g

t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e r e a r e e n o u g h , i f n o t

a b u n d a n t , w a t e r s u p p l y f l o w i n g i n

t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n s y s t e m a n d f a u c e t s o f

m e m b e r - c o n s u m e r s .

Th e M NW D p r o vi d e s w a t e r s u p p l y

t o s o m e 5 0 , 0 0 0 s e r vi c e c o n n e c t i o n s

( c o m m e r c i a l , i n d u s t r i a l , a n d r e s i d e n t i a l )

i n t h e C i t y o f Na g a a n d f o u r o t h e r

a d j o i n i n g t o w n s , n a m e l y : C a m a l i g a n ,

C a n a m a n , M a g a r a o , a n d G a i n z a .

He s a i d t h e r e a r e t w o s p r i n g

w a t e r s o u r c e s , s i t u a t e d a t t h e f o o t o f

M t . I s a r o g , a n d 2 6 e l e c t r i c a l l y p o w e r e d

p u m p i n g s t a t i o n s a r o u n d t h e c o v e r a g e

a r e a . W a t e r c o n s e r v a t i o n i s vi t a l i n

e n s u r i n g s u p p l y , h e s a i d .

Pa l m a a s s u r e d t h a t M NW D’ s

p o t a b l e w a t e r s u p p l y a r e s a f e b e c a u s e

o f t h e i r c o n s t a n t m o n i t o r i n g a n d

l a b o r a t o r y t e s t i n g o f w a t e r s a m p l e s

f r o m t h e s o u r c e d o w n t o t h e p i p e l i n e s .

“ Th e p r o l i f e r a t i o n o f b o t t l e d w a t e r

s t a t i o n s a r o u n d t h e c i t y a n d t o w n s

d o e s n o t m e a n t h a t o u r w a t e r q u a l i t y i s

i n f e r i o r o r l e s s s a f e t h a n t h e m ; i t s i m p l y

m e a n s t h a t t h e i r b u s i n e s s ( b o t t l e d

m i n e r a l w a t e r w h i c h a r e h a n d y ) i s

b o o m i n g a n d w e s h o u l d w e l c o m e t h e m , ”

s a i d Pa l m a e v e n a s a f e l l o w M NW D

e m p l o y e e p r e s e n t d u r i n g t h e p r e s s

d i a l o g u e q u i p p e d t h a t a f t e r a l l , t h e i r

( m i n e r a l w a t e r o p e r a t o r s ) s o u r c e m a i n l y

c o m e s f r o m o u r ( M NW D) p i p e l i n e s .

A s t o t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f w a t e r s h e d s

i n M t . I s a r o g , Pa l m a s a i d t h e y h a v e

r e c e n t l y i n k e d a M e m o r a n d u m o f

A g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e DENR a n d t h e

C i t y G o v e r n m e n t o f Na g a , o t h e r l a w

e n f o r c e m e n t a g e n c i e s s u c h a s b o t h t h e

PNP a n d Na g a i n C a m a r i n e s S u r , a n d

v a r i o u s s t a k e h o l d e r s f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n ,

p r e s e r v a t i o n a n d r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f a

p o r t i o n o f M t . I s a r o g t h a t c o m p r i s e s

t h e h e a d w a t e r s o u r c e s o f K a l i n i s a n a n d

Na b u n t u l a n S p r i n g s i n Bg y . Pa n i c u a s o n ,

t h i s c i t y . Th e s e w a t e r s p r i n g s a r e

e s s e n t i a l i n s u s t a i n i n g w a t e r s u p p l y t o

t h e l o w l a n d s , h e s a i d , t h a t ’ s w h y t h e i r

u p k e e p s h o u l d b e a s s u r e d .

Th e a g r e e m e n t a l s o p r o vi d e s

c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h t h e p o l i c e t o e n s u r e

e c o - t o u r i s m , e n vi r o n m e n t a l a w a r e n e s s ,

a n d s o c i o - e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t f o r

t h e p r o t e c t i o n a n d m a i n t e n a n c e o f t h e

1 0 , 0 0 0 - h e c t a r e M t . I s a r o g Na t u r a l Pa r k

t h a t a l s o s e r v e s a s w a t e r s h e d a r e a y e a r

i n a n d y e a r o u t .

MNWD ASSURES SUPPLY OF SAFE WATER

WATER CONSERVATION, PROTECTION. MNWD Chairman Jorge Palma (3rd from left), along with other resource speakers (l-r, lower photo) Naga City Police Chief PSSupt. Julius Munez, MNWD Dir. Marilissa Ampuan, Vice Mayor Nelson Legacion, PSupt. Errol Garchitorena of the CamSur PPO, and MNCCI Pres. Gilbert Albero, face members of the local media (upper photo) for the question and answer portion of the Kapihan sa Metro Naga.

Pa l m a s a i d t h e y a r e c l o s e l y w o r k i n g

w i t h t h e Bi c o l I n s t i t u t e f o r S c i e n c e a n d

Te c h n o l o g y t o e x p e d i t e t h e p r o d u c t i o n

a n d p r o p a g a t i o n o f r a i n w a t e r h a r v e s t e r

e q u i p m e n t i n a l l p u b l i c a n d p r i v a t e

e s t a b l i s h m e n t s , i n c l u d i n g r e s i d e n t i a l

h o u s e s t h a t w i l l c a t c h r a i n w a t e r t o b e

u s e d d u r i n g d r y p e r i o d s t o a u g m e n t

n o r m a l s u p p l y .

He a l s o r e v e a l e d t h a t t h e M NW D

h a d b e g u n t o d e v e l o p a 6 - h e c t a r e s i t e

i n Bg y . C a r o l i n a f o r s e w e r a g e a n d w a t e r

t r e a t m e n t p l a n t t h a t w i l l c l e a n s e w a t e r

s o u r c e a n d r e c y c l e u s e d w a t e r i n t o t a p

w a t e r .

Th e K a p i h a n s a M e t r o Na g a i s a

r e g u l a r d i a l o g u e i n t e r a c t i o n b y i n vi t e d

r e s o u r c e s p e a k e r s w i t h m e m b e r s o f

t h e l o c a l m e d i a o n i s s u e s a f f e c t i n g t h e

c i t y a n d t h e b u s i n e s s s e c t o r . I t i s j o i n t l y

f a c i l i t a t e d b y t h e M e t r o Na g a C h a m b e r

o f C o m m e r c e a n d I n d u s t r y , PI A , K BP-

C a m a r i n e s S u r , a n d t h e C i t y G o v e r n m e n t

o f Na g a , w i t h p r i v a t e e s t a b l i s h m e n t s

p a r t n e r i n g a s h o s t s a n d s p o n s o r s .

REVISED ORDINANCE

GRANTS MORE PERKS FOR

SOLO PARENTS

61 APRIL - JUNE 2017 APRIL - JUNE 2017 62P H O T O B Y

SYLRANJELVIC VILLAFLOR

P H O T O S B YREYNALDO BAYLON

“ L e t t h e m e x p e r i e n c e t h e c o r d i a l i t y o f y o u r w o r k p l a c e s

w h e r e t h e y ( C YOs ) w o u l d p e r f o r m t h e i r f u n c t i o n s a l o n g s i d e t h e i r

c o u n t e r p a r t o f f i c i a l s i n t h e l e g i s l a t i v e a n d e x e c u t i v e o f f i c e s o f t h e

c i t y g o v e r n m e n t , ” Bo n g a t s a i d .

W i t h r e g a r d s t o t h e c e l e b r a t i o n n e x t m o n t h o f t h e C i t y

Yo u t h M o n t h , a m e m b e r o f t h e s t a f f o f C i t y C o u n c i l o r a n d C YO

Ex e c u t i v e Di r e c t o r Ra y - A n C y d r i c k Re n t o y s a i d t h e y o u t h o f f i c i a l s

h a v e s t a r t e d p l a n n i n g f o r t h e h o l d i n g o f d i f f e r e n t a c t i vi t i e s t h a t

w i l l h i g h l i g h t t h e c e l e b r a t i o n o f t h e Na g a C i t y Yo u t h M o n t h .

C i t y Yo u t h Hu m a n Re s o u r c e De p a r t m e n t He a d M a r y Ro s e

A s i s s a i d t h a t t h a t b y S a t u r d a y t h e y w i l l c o m e u p w i t h a l i s t o f

a c t i vi t i e s f o r t h i s y e a r ’ s c e l e b r a t i o n o f y o u t h m o n t h .

Th e Na g a C i t y Yo u t h M o n t h Pr o g r a m w a s a w a r d e d i n

2 0 0 7 a s o n e o f t h e c o u n t r y ’ s 1 0 o u t s t a n d i n g l o c a l g o v e r n a n c e

p r o g r a m s . I t i s a c o m p e t i t i v e l o c a l i n t e r n s h i p i n i t i a t i v e t h a t

e x p o s e s t h e c i t y ’ s f u t u r e l e a d e r s t o t h e c h a l l e n g e s o f u r b a n

g o v e r n a n c e . F o r a m o n t h e a c h y e a r , t h e p r o j e c t e n a b l e s s e l e c t e d

y o u t h l e a d e r s t o e x p e r i e n c e h o w t o h a n d l e l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t

o p e r a t i o n s .

Th i s y e a r ’ s b a t c h o f C YOs w h o w i l l w o r k w i t h t h e i r

c o u n t e r p a r t e l e c t e d c i t y o f f i c i a l s a r e :

Yo u t h M a y o r A n g e l i c a P. A g o n o y o f Br g y . M a b o l o ; Yo u t h

V i c e M a y o r A u g u s t C e z a r S . A b a d , Br g y . S a n F e l i p e ; 1 s t Yo u t h

C o u n c i l o r M a . Ri z a A n i k a A . M a r c o , Br g y . S a n F e l i p e ; 2 n d Yo u t h

C o u n c i l o r W e e n a M a r i e A . Pa l o m i a n o , Br g y . C o n c e p c i o n Pe q u e ñ a ;

3 r d Yo u t h C o u n c i l o r A u d r e y J e s c e l A . Es c o t o , Br g y . De l Ro s a r i o ;

4 t h Yo u t h C o u n c i l o r C h r i s t o p h e r K e n L . M e n d o z a , Br g y .

S a n I s i d r o ; 5 t h Yo u t h C o u n c i l o r J o h n e l l e J a d e T. Pa r e d e s , Br g y .

L i b o t o n ; 6 t h Yo u t h C o u n c i l o r Da n i c a Be a T. F a l c o n , Br g y . Ta b u c o ;

7 t h Yo u t h C o u n c i l o r K h y r w i n O. Hi d a l g o , Br g y . De l Ro s a r i o .

8 t h Yo u t h C o u n c i l o r J e s s a S . Ni e v e s , Br g y . Tr i a n g u l o ; 9 t h

Yo u t h C o u n c i l o r I a n K e n n e t h T. Ba d o n g , Br g y . C o n c e p c i o n

Pe q u e ñ a ; 1 0 t h Yo u t h C o u n c i l o r K a t h l e e n A l e x i s C . L l o r e n t e , Br g y .

S t a . C r u z ; 1 1 t h Yo u t h C o u n c i l o r Th e r e s e El a i n e DC . L o m e d a , Br g y .

S t a . C r u z ; 1 2 t h Yo u t h C o u n c i l o r L e a M a r i e V . A l i n d a y , Br g y . De l

Ro s a r i o .

Th e C i t y Yo u t h Of f i c i a l s w h o w i l l b e w o r k i n g w i t h t h e i r c o u n t e r p a r t d e p a r t m e n t

a n d s e c t i o n h e a d s :

A b o g a d o , C o l l i n M a e C . ( Br g y . C o n c e p c i o n Pe q u e ñ a ) ; A g u i l a r , Z o r i l l a Ri z h A .

( Br g y . S t a . C r u z ) ; A ñ o n u e v o , A n g e l i c a A . ( Br g y . Pe ñ a f r a n c i a ) ; A s i s , M a r y Ro s e M . ( Br g y .

Ba g u m b a y a n S u r ) ; Ba d o n g , M a r y F r a n c e T. ( Br g y . S t a . C r u z ) ; Ba s b a s , F a t i m a F e A .

( Br g y . Ba g u m b a y a n No r t e ) ; Be r t e s , Er i c k a M a e B. ( Br g y . L i b o t o n ) ; C e n t e n e r a , J u l i a n

C a r l o V I M . ( Br g y . C o n c e p c i o n G r a n d e ) ; C l a vi t e , A x c e l C h r i s t i a n V . ( Br g y . Pa n i c u a s o n ) ;

C o l i c o , M i c o l J o y O. ( Br g y . C o n . Pe q . ) ; De C a s t r o , J e s e l l e M a r i e I . ( Br g y . C a l a u a g ) ;

De L e o n , Ro n a l d A . ( Br g y . C a r o l i n a ) ; Do l l e n t a s , J e a n S J . ( Br g y . Ba l a t a s ) , Do m e t i t a ,

C h a r m a i n e A p r i l C . ( Br g y . Ba l a t a s ) ; Es p e d i d o , F r a n c e s El o i s e E. ( Br g y . Pa c o l ) , Es t a y o ,

Ra c h e l O. ( Br g y . C a l a u a g ) ; F e r n a n d e z , J o n a h A n n M a r i o n C . ( Br g y . S a n F e l i p e ) ;

F l o r a n z a , S h a i n a N. ( Br g y . Di n a g a ) ; F r a n c i s c o , S u s i e S . ( Br g y . Pa c o l ) ; F r i a s , J o r i e l

Br i n t o n B. ( Br g y . S a n F e l i p e ) ; G a r c i a , Ne l g e m M a e M . ( Br g y . M a b o l o ) ; G i a n a n , M a .

C l a u d e t t e H. ( Br g y . C o n . Pe q . ) ; L l a m a s a r e z , A n d r o T. ( Br g y . Pa c o l ) ; M a r a vi l l a , Al b r e t c h

DR. ( Br g y . S a n F e l i p e ) ; Pe n i n o , S y J u r n J . ( Br g y . S a n F e l i p e ) ; Pe r e z , Pa u l i n e M a e H.

( Br g y . L i b o t o n ) ; Po n c e , Z y r a D. ( Br g y . S a b a n g ) ; Ra z o n a b l e , L e n y V . ( Br g y . Tr i a n g u l o ) ;

Re b a n c o s , M a r y vi l O. ( Br g y . De l Ro s a r i o ) ; Re f u g i o , J a m e s Na t h a n i e l ( Br g y . S a n

F e l i p e ) ; Re l l o s o , K a t h r y n A n g e l i c G r a c e T. ( Br g y . C a r a r a y a n ) ; Ro d o l f o , Ni c k o C . ( Br g y .

Pe ñ a f r a n c i a ) ; Ro d r i q u e z , M a r y Ph i l l i n e C . ( Br g y . C o n . Pe q ) , a n d Ru b i , J o h n Ol i v e r B.

( C o n c e p c i o n Pe q u e ñ a ) .

THE Na g a I n v e s t m e n t Pl a n i n 2 0 1 8 , o r t h e o f f i c i a l l i s t o f p r o j e c t s t o

b e a p p r o v e d b y t h e c i t y c o u n c i l , h a s r e a c h e d P2 . 2 B, V i c e M a y o r

Ne l s o n L e g a c i o n s a i d .

L e g a c i o n s a i d t h e Na g a I n v e s t m e n t Pl a n i n c l u d e r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n ,

p u b l i c u t i l i t y j e e p n e y t e r m i n a l , e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f e x p o r t p r o c e s s i n g z o n e ,

a n d s t r e e t l i g h t s m o d e r n i z a t i o n , a m o n g t h e p r o j e c t s t o b e u n d e r t a k e n

b y t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t .

He s a i d t h e i n v e s t m e n t p l a n b u d g e t i s w a y a b o v e t h e p r o j e c t e d

b u d g e t o f t h e L G U i n 2 0 1 8 o f P1 . 2 B.

L e g a c i o n s a i d t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t w i l l n o t i m p o s e n e w t a x e s

b u t w o u l d s o u r c e f u n d s f r o m n a t i o n a l g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s l i k e t h e

De p a r t m e n t o f Pu b l i c W o r k s a n d Hi g h w a y s a n d t h e De p a r t m e n t o f

A g r i c u l t u r e a n d o t h e r NG A s .

He s a i d t h e i n f r a s t r u c t u r e p r o j e c t s t o b e i m p l e m e n t e d n e x t y e a r

i n c l u d e t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e n e w c e m e t e r y a n d t h e c i r c u m f e r e n t i a l

r o a d f r o m C a l a u a g t o S a n F e l i p e , a m o n g o t h e r s .

L e g a c i o n s a i d t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t a l s o p l a n s t o s t a r t n e x t y e a r

t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f e a s t - b o u n d j e e p n e y - v a n t e r m i n a l w i t h a n a r e a o f

3 , 0 0 0 s q u a r e m e t e r s .

He s a i d Ro b i n s o n s Pl a c e Na g a h a s o f f e r e d t o d e s i g n a t e a t e r m i n a l

f o r j e e p n e y s i n s i d e t h e c o m p o u n d b u t t h e a r e a i s s m a l l b e c a u s e t h e c i t y

n e e d s a t l e a s t h a l f a h e c t a r e .

Th e e a s t - b o u n d t e r m i n a l w i l l s e r vi c e j e e p n e y s a n d v a n s g o i n g t o

Pa r t i d o , Ri n c o n a d a a n d A l b a y .

He s a i d n e w r o a d s w i l l b e c o n s t r u c t e d a n d t h e w i d e n i n g a n d

i m p r o v e m e n t o f t h e r o a d s w i l l b e u n d e r t a k e n i n De l Ro s a r i o , C a r a r a y a n

a n d S a n I s i d r o r o a d g o i n g t o Ha c i e n d a s d e Na g a w h e r e t h e 2 5 - h a

p r o p o s e d e x p o r t p r o c e s s i n g z o n e w i l l r i s e .

L e g a c i o n s a i d t h e t r i - p a r t i t e a g r e e m e n t h a s b e e n s i g n e d b e t w e e n

M a y o r J o h n Bo n g a t a n d En g r . A m a n a n d M r . Pa y u m o t o d e v e l o p t h e

e x p o r t p r o c e s s i n g z o n e .

He s a i d F u j i w i l l b e t h e f i r s t i n v e s t o r i n t h e p r o p o s e d e x p o r t

p r o c e s s i n g z o n e w h i c h w i l l r e c r u i t h u n d r e d s o f e m p l o y e e s .

CITY YOUTH MONTH48 NAMED

TO THIS YEAR’S SET OF CITY YOUTH

OFFICIALS

THE C i t y Yo u t h Of f i c i a l s Ex e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e h a s

n a m e d 4 8 i n - s c h o o l y o u t h w h o w i l l c o m p o s e t h i s

y e a r ’ s b a t c h o f c i t y y o u t h o f f i c i a l s ( C YOs ) .

Th e s t u d e n t s w i l l b e a s s i g n e d t o h a n d l e d i f f e r e n t

p o s i t i o n s i n t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t t o p e r f o r m t h e i r

m a n d a t e d t a s k s a s c i t y y o u t h o f f i c i a l s a l o n g w i t h t h e i r

c o u n t e r p a r t e l e c t e d o f f i c i a l s , d e p a r t m e n t h e a d s a n d c h i e f s

o f o f f i c e s .

Th e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f c i t y y o u t h o f f i c i a l s i n v a r i o u s p o s t s

w h i c h a l l o w s t h e m t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n r u n n i n g t h e a f f a i r s o f

t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t a s y o u t h m a y o r , y o u t h vi c e m a y o r ,

y o u t h c o u n c i l o r s , y o u t h d e p a r t m e n t h e a d s a n d y o u t h

c h i e f s o f o f f i c e s i s p r o vi d e d u n d e r t h e o r d i n a n c e t h a t

i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z e s t h e Na g a C i t y Yo u t h Of f i c i a l s Pr o g r a m .

C i t y Or d i n a n c e 2 0 0 9 - 0 1 7 a l s o d e c l a r e s t h e p e r i o d

f r o m A p r i l 1 5 t o M a y 3 1 e a c h y e a r a s C i t y Yo u t h M o n t h ,

a n e v e n t w h e n y o u t h o f f i c i a l s a r e g i v e n t h e “ o p p o r t u n i t y

t o h a n d l e t h e o p e r a t i o n s o f t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t a s i d e

f r o m e n g a g i n g i n p o l i c y d e t e r m i n i n g a n d m o n e t a r y

d i s b u r s e m e n t s . ”

Th e s t u d e n t s - t u r n e d - p u b l i c s e r v a n t s , a f t e r p a s s i n g

t h e q u a l i f y i n g w r i t t e n a n d o r a l e x a m i n a t i o n s , a r e g i v e n

t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o s e r v e t h e c o n s t i t u e n c y f o r o n e a n d a

h a l f m o n t h s . Th i s y e a r , n o n e f r o m t h e o u t - o f - s c h o o l y o u t h

a p p l i e d t o b e a C YO, u n l i k e i n 2 0 1 6 w h e n t h e r e w e r e f o u r

w h o p a s s e d t h e e x a m s .

I n h i s m e s s a g e , M a y o r J o h n G . Bo n g a t s a i d t h a t t h e

d o o r s o f t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t a r e a l w a y s o p e n , e s p e c i a l l y

t o t h e y o u t h s e c t o r ’ s p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n v a r i o u s u n d e r t a k i n g s

t h a t t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t h a s b e e n p u r s u i n g . He e v e n

c a l l e d o n c i t y h a l l e m p l o y e e s t o a l l o w t h e C YOs t o f e e l

t h e s a m e w a r m t h a n d f r i e n d l i n e s s t h e y h a v e s h o w n t o

p r e vi o u s b a t c h e s o f y o u t h o f f i c i a l s .

WORKING PARTNERS Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod led by Vice Mayor Nelson S. Legacion (foreground, lower photo) shake hands with the members of the City Youth Officials batch 2017 after the oath-taking last Monday at the City Hall grounds with Mayor Bongat as administering officer. Photo shows congratulating the CYOs are City Councilors Cecilia de Asis, Dr. Jose “Sonny” Rañola, Salvador del Castillo, Greg Abonal, Julian Lavadia, Elmer Baldemoro (partly hidden), and Ray-An Cydrick Rentoy, who is also the CYO executive director.

By JASON B. NEOLA

NAGA INVESTMENT PLAN BUDGET REACHES P2.2B

By JUAN ESCANDOR JR.


P H O T O S B Y JOSE COLLERA

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IN 2 0 1 6 , t h e Na g a C i t y Po l i c e Of f i c e

r e c o r d e d 5 0 c y c l i s t s w h o w e r e

i n j u r e d i n a c c i d e n t s . I n t h e s a m e

y e a r , t h e e n t i r e c o u n t r y s a w 1 9 6

p e r s o n s k i l l e d a n d 7 , 4 6 4 p e r s o n s i n j u r e d a n d

d i s a b l e d d u e t o b i k e a c c i d e n t s . W i t h o u t n e c e s s a r y

i n t e r v e n t i o n s , c y c l i s t s w i l l c o n t i n u a l l y b e e x p o s e d t o

r i s k s

He n c e , t h i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n , t o g e t h e r w i t h

C o u n c i l o r J o s e l i t o S . A . d e l Ro s a r i o , h a s w r i t t e n a n d

s p o n s o r e d t h e Na g a Bi c y c l e Or d i n a n c e . En a c t e d

o n M a y 1 6 , 2 0 1 7 d u r i n g t h e c o u n c i l ’ s 4 3 r d Re g u l a r

S e s s i o n , Or d i n a n c e No . 2 0 1 7 - 0 3 0 s e e k s t o r e c o g n i z e

t h e r i g h t o f c y c l i s t s t o s a f e r o a d c o n d i t i o n s , a s w e l l

a s a d v a n c e c y c l i n g a s a m o d e o f t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a n d

a s a m e a n s t o p r o m o t e h e a l t h y l i f e s t y l e a n d l o v e f o r

t h e e n vi r o n m e n t .

On e n h a n c i n g r o a d s a f e t y , t h e Na g a Bi k e

Or d i n a n c e e n vi s i o n s t h e d e s i g n a t i o n o f b i c y c l e

l a n e s o f a b o u t 1 . 5 m e t e r s i n a l l n a t i o n a l r o a d s a n d

c i t y p r i m a r y a n d s e c o n d a r y r o a d s i n Na g a . Na t u r a l l y ,

c y c l i s t s s h a l l b e g i v e n p r i o r i t y i n t h e u s e o f t h e s e

b i k e l a n e s a n d , t h u s , p a r k i n g a v e h i c l e a n d c r e a t i n g

o b s t r u c t i o n o n t h e s a m e s h a l l b e p u n i s h a b l e .

Th e r e i s a l s o a p r e s c r i b e d d i s t a n c e b e t w e e n

c a r s a n d b i c y c l e s . C a r d r i v e r s a r e r e q u i r e d t o

m a i n t a i n n o l e s s t h a n t h r e e ( 3 ) m e t e r s f r o m a b i c y c l e

i n f r o n t o r a t t h e b a c k , a s w e l l a s n o l e s s t h a n o n e

a n d a h a l f ( 1 . 5 ) m e t e r s b e s i d e i t w h i l e d r i vi n g . On

t h e p a r t o f t h e c y c l i s t s , w e d i s c o u r a g e o p e r a t i n g a

b i c y c l e a t a s p e e d g r e a t e r t h a n 3 0 k i l o m e t e r s p e r

h o u r w i t h i n C e n t r a l Bu s i n e s s Di s t r i c t s 1 a n d 2 a n d

i n s u c h a r e a s w h e r e a n y a p p l i c a b l e l a w o r r e g u l a t i o n

s o p r o vi d e s , e x c e p t , o f c o u r s e , o n t h e o c c a s i o n o f o r

d u r i n g b i k e s p o r t s o r p r o m o t i o n a l e v e n t s .

A s i d e f r o m b i c y c l e l a n e s , b i c y c l e p a r k i n g w i t h

b i k e r a c k s a n d i r o n h o o k s w i l l a l s o b e p r o vi d e d b y

t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t i n a p p r o p r i a t e p u b l i c p l a c e s ,

p u b l i c s c h o o l s , a n d g o v e r n m e n t o f f i c e s . Pr i v a t e

s c h o o l s , m a j o r b u s i n e s s e s t a b l i s h m e n t s , e s p e c i a l l y

m a l l s , b a n k s , r e s t a u r a n t s , h o s p i t a l s , a n d t h e l i k e , a r e

l i k e w i s e u r g e d t o p r o vi d e s i m i l a r f a c i l i t y .

On p r o m o t i n g c y c l i n g a s a n a l t e r n a t i v e m o d e

o f t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , t h e Na g a Bi c y c l e Or d i n a n c e

m a n d a t e s t h e A r t s , C u l t u r e , a n d To u r i s m Of f i c e

t o e s t a b l i s h a n d i m p l e m e n t a p r o g r a m t h a t

w i l l p r o m o t e Na g a a s a Bi k e - F r i e n d l y C i t y . A n

e d u c a t i o n a l p r o g r a m s h a l l a l s o b e i n s t i t u t e d t o

i n c r e a s e t h e p e o p l e ‘ s a w a r e n e s s o n b i k e s a f e t y

a n d r o a d s h a r i n g . W e a l s o i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z e t h e

c i t y ’ s Bi k e - t o - W o r k Pr o g r a m , a s w e l l a s s t r e n g t h e n

c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h t h e De p a r t m e n t o f Ed u c a t i o n ’ s

Bi k e - t o - S c h o o l Pr o g r a m .

No v e m b e r i s d e c l a r e d a s Na g a ’ s Bi c y c l e

M o n t h . I n t h i s t i m e o f t h e y e a r , L e s s C a r Da y s s h a l l

b e d e c l a r e d w h e r e i n s e l e c t e d r o a d s o f Na g a s h a l l b e

c l o s e d t o m o t o r v e h i c l e s a n d b e d e c l a r e d a v a i l a b l e

o n l y t o b i c y c l e s . A c t i vi t i e s a n d c o m p e t i t i o n s f o r b i k e

e n t h u s i a s t s s h a l l a l s o b e c o n d u c t e d i n s a i d m o n t h .

A s m a n y c y c l i s t s a r e c o m p l a i n i n g a b o u t

t h e b i c y c l e p l a t e b e i n g g i v e n t o t h e m b y t h e c i t y

g o v e r n m e n t u p o n r e g i s t r a t i o n o f t h e i r b i k e s , t h e

o r d i n a n c e r e p l a c e s i t w i t h a s t i c k e r a n d r o a d I D. Th e

C i t y Po l i c e Of f i c e a n d a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e f r o m L a n d

Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n Of f i c e .

G i v e n i t s c o m p o s i t i o n , w e h i g h l y e n c o u r a g e

a l l b i k e o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n Na g a t o o r g a n i z e t h e m s e l v e s

i n t o c l u b s d e p e n d i n g o n t h e p r i m a r y p u r p o s e o r u s e o f

t h e i r b i c y c l e s . Pa r t i c i p a t i o n o f b i k e e n t h u s i a s t s i s c r u c i a l

s i n c e i n e v e r y m a j o r d e c i s i o n t h a t t h e Bo a r d w i l l a d o p t ,

w e h a v e e x p r e s s l y p r o vi d e d t h a t a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f

t h e c y c l i n g c o m m u n i t y m u s t b e i n a c t u a l a t t e n d a n c e

d u r i n g i t s d e l i b e r a t i o n f o r s u c h d e c i s i o n t o b e v a l i d

a n d b i n d i n g . A m o n g t h e c r u c i a l t a s k s o f t h e Bo a r d ,

a s i d e f r o m e n s u r i n g t h e e f f e c t i v e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f

t h e o r d i n a n c e , a r e t h e e n d o r s e m e n t o f t h e d e s i g n s o f

t h e s t i c k e r a n d Ro a d I D, p l a n n i n g o f t h e a c t i vi t i e s t o

b e h e l d i n t h e Bi c y c l e M o n t h , a n d t h e a p p r o v a l o f t h e

De v e l o p m e n t Pl a n o f t h e Bi k e Pa r k t o b e c o n s t r u c t e d i n

a c i t y g o v e r n m e n t - o w n e d l o t .

Th e Na g a Bi c y c l e Or d i n a n c e i s u l t i m a t e l y g e a r e d

t o w a r d s t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f c y c l i s t s a n d p r o m o t i o n o f t h e i r

w e l f a r e a n d , c o n s e q u e n t l y , t h a t o f t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c .

He n c e , a s e r i e s o f p u b l i c c o n s u l t a t i o n s c o n d u c t e d f r o m

No v e m b e r 2 0 1 6 t o F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 7 w a s d o n e t o e n s u r e

t h a t p r o vi s i o n s o f t h e o r d i n a n c e c a p t u r e s t h e s e n t i m e n t s

a n d n e e d s o f t h e c y c l i n g e n t h u s i a s t s , w o r k i n g c l a s s e s

a n d o t h e r s t a k e h o l d e r s . Th o u g h i t m a y t a k e s o m e t i m e

t o f u l l y m a t e r i a l i z e t h e l e t t e r s t h e r e o f , g i v e n t h a t t h e

d e s i r e d c y c l i n g i n f r a s t r u c t u r e s s h a l l b e i n c o r p o r a t e d i n

t h e Na g a C i t y 3 0 - Ye a r S u s t a i n a b l e U r b a n De v e l o p m e n t

Pl a n , p a s s a g e o f t h e o r d i n a n c e e n s u r e s t h a t w e s h a l l s e e

t h e m s o o n e r r a t h e r t h a n l a t e r .

NAGA BICYCLE ORDINANCE

s t i c k e r m u s t b e p l a c e d a t t h e r e a r o f t h e b i k e a n d e x p o s e d

t o p u b l i c vi e w , w h i l e t h e r o a d I D, w h i c h s h a l l c o n t a i n c o n t a c t

d e t a i l s i n c a s e o f e m e r g e n c y , m u s t b e w o r n b y t h e c y c l i s t

o n h i s w r i s t .

C o n s i s t e n t w i t h o u r a d h e r e n c e t o p a r t i c i p a t o r y

g o v e r n a n c e , t h e o r d i n a n c e a l s o c r e a t e s a Bi c y c l e Bo a r d .

He a d e d b y t h e C i t y M a y o r a n d c o - c h a i r e d b y t h e C i t y V i c e

M a y o r , t h e Bo a r d s h a l l c o n s i s t o f t h e r e s p e c t i v e p r e s i d e n t s

o f t h e Tr a n s p o r t Bi k e C l u b , S p o r t s - To u r i s m Bi k e C l u b a n d

He a l t h - W e l l n e s s Bi k e C l u b , t h e C h a i r o f S P C o m m i t t e e o n

Tr a n s p o r t , t h e C i t y En g i n e e r , t h e Pu b l i c S a f e t y Of f i c e r , t h e

C i t y Pl a n n i n g a n d De v e l o p m e n t Of f i c e r , t h e C h i e f o f Na g a

WE c a n s u r vi v e f o r 3 0 d a y s o r m o r e w i t h o u t f o o d . Ho w e v e r , w i t h o u t w a t e r ,

s t u d i e s s h o w t h a t w e c a n o n l y l a s t f o r a w e e k . Th i s m a y n o t b e s u r p r i s i n g

t h o u g h i f w e t h i n k o f t h e f a c t t h a t o u r b l o o d i s e s t i m a t e d t o b e c o m p r i s e d o f

8 3 p e r c e n t w a t e r a n d t h e h u m a n b r a i n i s m a d e u p o f a b o u t 7 5 p e r c e n t w a t e r .

G i v e n t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f w a t e r i n o u r s u r vi v a l a n d d a i l y l i vi n g , i t i s i n c u m b e n t u p o n

t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t t o m a k e s u r e t h a t a l l n e c e s s a r y m e a s u r e s i n s a f e g u a r d i n g a n d e n h a n c i n g

w a t e r q u a l i t y a r e i n p l a c e . C o n t a m i n a t i o n o f w a t e r a t i t s s o u r c e a n d i n t h e e x i s t i n g 8 0 w a t e r

r e f i l l i n g s t a t i o n s i n Na g a s h o u l d b e a v o i d e d a t a l l c o s t s .

He n c e , t h e 1 2 t h S a n g g u n i a n g Pa n l u n g s o d o f Na g a , t h r u t h e s p o n s o r s h i p o f C o u n c i l o r

J o s e C . Ra ñ o l a , M D, c h a i r p e r s o n o f t h e C o m m i t t e e o n He a l t h , a n d h i s c o u n t e r p a r t , C i t y Yo u t h

C o u n c i l o r A u d r e y J e s c e l Es c o t o , e n a c t e d Or d i n a n c e No . 2 0 1 7 - 0 3 9 , o r “ Th e Na g a C i t y Dr i n k i n g

W a t e r Q u a l i t y Re g u l a t o r y Or d i n a n c e . ” Th i s l e g i s l a t i v e m e a s u r e g e n e r a l l y a i m s t o e n s u r e t h e

c l e a n l i n e s s a n d p o t a b i l i t y o f t h e w a t e r b e i n g s u p p l i e d i n a n d b y a l l w a t e r s u p p l y s y s t e m s a n d

d i s t r i b u t o r s .

To r e a l i z e i t s o b j e c t i v e s , a l l w a t e r s y s t e m s i n Na g a w i l l u n d e r g o a p e r i o d i c

m i c r o b i o l o g i c a l a n a l y s i s a t a n i n t e r v a l o f n o l o n g e r t h a n s i x m o n t h s . S y s t e m a t i c c h e m i c a l

e x a m i n a t i o n a n d t e s t f o r d e t e c t i o n o f p o s s i b l e r a d i o a c t i v e c o n t a m i n a t i o n w i l l b e c o n d u c t e d

a n n u a l l y . A s f o r n e w l y - c o n s t r u c t e d w a t e r s y s t e m s , i t i s r e q u i r e d t h a t a l l o f t h e s a i d p r o c e d u r e s

( p h y s i c a l , c h e m i c a l a n d m i c r o b i o l o g i c a l t e s t s , a s w e l l a s a n e x a m i n a t i o n fo r d e t e c t i o n o f

p o s s i b l e r a d i o - a c t i v e c o n t a m i n a t i o n ) b e d o n e b e f o r e t h e y c a n o p e r a t e a n d s e r v e t h e p u b l i c .

A l l a s s e s s m e n t s s h a l l b e p e r f o r m e d o n l y i n p r i v a t e o r p u b l i c l a b o r a t o r i e s d u l y - a c c r e d i t e d b y

t h e De p a r t m e n t o f He a l t h . Th e c r i t e r i a s e t i n DOH’ s Na t i o n a l Dr i n k i n g S t a n d a r d s s h a l l b e t h e

o n e t o b e o b s e r v e d .

I n c a s e a n a g e n c y o r p e r s o n n e l o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t , d u l y -

a u t h o r i z e d a n d s o o r d e r e d t o c o l l e c t s a m p l e s f o r a n a l y s i s ,

n o o p e r a t o r , m a n a g e r o r o p e r a t o r o f a n y w a t e r s u p p l y

s y s t e m s h a l l p r o h i b i t t h e c o l l e c t i o n o f w a t e r s a m p l e .

Ot h e r w i s e , i t s h a l l b e c o n s i d e r e d a s a vi o l a t i o n o f

t h e o r d i n a n c e , p u n i s h a b l e b y a f i n e o f P1 , 0 0 0 . 0 0

f o r t h e f i r s t o f f e n s e , P3 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 f o r t h e s e c o n d

o f f e n s e a n d , f o r t h e t h i r d o f f e n s e , a f i n e o f

P5 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 a n d c a n c e l l a t i o n o f b u s i n e s s p e r m i t .

A l s o p r o vi d e d i n t h e o r d i n a n c e i s

t h e s e a l i n g o f r e f i l l e d w a t e r c o n t a i n e r s . No

p e r s o n s h a l l d i s p e n s e , s e l l o r d i s t r i b u t e

c o n t a m i n a t e d w a t e r f o r d r i n k i n g , f o r i t i s

i m p e r a t i v e t h a t a l l w a t e r s u p p l y s y s t e m s

m u s t m a i n t a i n t h e h i g h e s t w a t e r q u a l i t y

s t a n d a r d s l a i d d o w n i n t h e S a n i t a r y C o d e

o f t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s a n d o t h e r r e l e v a n t l a w s

a n d r e g u l a t i o n s . V i o l a t i o n s t h e r e o f a r e a l s o

p u n i s h a b l e u n d e r t h e o r d i n a n c e .

FOR A CLEAN ANDPOTABLE WATER

SP

HIG

HLI

GH

TS:

To e n s u r e t h e e f f e c t i v e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f Or d i n a n c e No . 2 0 1 7 - 0 3 9 , t h e Na g a C i t y Dr i n k i n g W a t e r Q u a l i t y M o n i t o r i n g C o m m i t t e e i s

c r e a t e d . I t i s c h a i r e d b y t h e C h a i r m a n o f t h e S P C o m m i t t e e o n He a l t h a n d c o - c h a i r e d b y t h e C i t y He a l t h Of f i c e . Th e M a n a g e r o f t h e M e t r o

Na g a W a t e r Di s t r i c t , t h e A s s i s t a n t C i t y He a l t h Of f i c e r , t h e S a n i t a r y I n s p e c t o r , t h e C i t y En g i n e e r , t h e C i t y En vi r o n m e n t Off i c e r , t h e Pu b l i c S a f e t y

Of f i c e r , t h e C h a i r p e r s o n o f t h e Na g a C i t y Pe o p l e ’ s C o u n c i l , t h e h e a d o f Ta s k F o r c e Tu b i g , a n d a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e f r o m t h e De p a r t m e n t o f He a l t h

w i l l s i t a s m e m b e r s o f t h e c o m m i t t e e . A m o n g s a i d c o m m i t t e e ’ s p r i m a r y f u n c t i o n s a r e t o e v a l u a t e t h e l a b o r a t o r y r e s u l t s a n d f o r m u l a t e p o l i c i e s

a n d p r e s c r i b e r e g u l a t o r y m e a s u r e s b a s e d t h e r e o n .

W e a i m t o l i v e i n a M a o g m a n g L u g a r , c o n s t i t u t e d n o t o n l y o f h a p p y b u t a l s o h e a l t h y a n d p r o d u c t i v e p e o p l e . A c l e a n a n d p o t a b l e w a t e r

i s i n d i s p e n s a b l e t o t h e r e a l i z a t i o n t o s u c h vi s i o n .

T a b a r a n g p o k i t a s a p a g - m a n t e n i r n i n m a l i n i g n a i n o m o n g t u b i g .


P H O T O S B YJOSE COLLERA

VP’S DAUGHTER AIKA. A Harvard scholar. FACEBOOK PHOTO

Inside Track is Rappler’s intelligencer on people, events, places and everything of public interest. It’s a take-off from Newsbreak’s Inside Track section. Contributions are most welcome. Just send bits of information to [email protected].

Vice President Leni Robredo

makes a side trip to Massachusetts to

help clean and fix the apartment of

her daughter who will study

in Harvard for a year


HANDS-ON MOM LENI HELPS DAUGHTER AIKA SETTLE IN THE USBy PATTY PASION

HANDS-ON MOM. Vice President Leni Robredo helps her daughter Aika settle in her new apartment in the US. Photo from the Vice President’s Facebook page

MASSACHUSETTS, USA

- - - V i c e Pr e s i d e n t L e n i

Ro b r e d o s q u e e z e d i n

m o t h e r d u t i e s a f t e r a s p e a k i n g

e n g a g e m e n t i n L o s A n g e l e s , a s s h e

f l e w t o M a s s a c h u s e t t s t o c h e c k o n

h e r e l d e s t d a u g h t e r , A i k a .

Ro b r e d o p o s t e d p h o t o s o f

h e r a n d A i k a , w h o i s a n i n c o m i n g

g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t o f Ha r v a r d

U n i v e r s i t y ’ s J o h n F . K e n n e d y S c h o o l

o f G o v e r n m e n t a s a n Ed w a r d S .

M a s o n f e l l o w .

“ I h a d a s p e a k i n g

e n g a g e m e n t i n L A d u r i n g t h e

w e e k e n d a n d d e c i d e d t o f l y t o

Bo s t o n r i g h t a f t e r t o h e l p A i k a

s e t t l e i n . I t w a s a v e r y h e c t i c t w o

d a y s f o r b o t h o f u s a s w e f i x e d a n d

c l e a n e d h e r a p a r t m e n t i n s i d e t h e

c a m p u s , ” t h e V i c e Pr e s i d e n t w r o t e

i n h e r p u b l i c F a c e b o o k p o s t .

“ Ex c e p t f o r a m e e t i n g w i t h

U n i t e d W a y F o u n d a t i o n t h i s a f t e r n o o n t o e x p l o r e a p o s s i b l e

p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h o u r A n g a t Bu h a y p r o g r a m , I w a s a f u l l - t i m e

m o t h e r o n c e a g a i n , ” s h e a d d e d .

Pr i o r t o h e r Bo s t o n s i d e t r i p , t h e V i c e Pr e s i d e n t a t t e n d e d

t h e F i l i p i n o A m e r i c a n S y m p h o n y Or c h e s t r a ( F A S O) G a l a 2 0 1 7 ,

w h e r e s h e d e l i v e r e d a s p e e c h . Th e t r i p w a s s p o n s o r e d b y t h e

g r o u p t h a t h o s t e d h e r .

Ro b r e d o w e n t t o t h e U S u n a n n o u n c e d l a s t Th u r s d a y ,

J u n e 1 5 . He r t r i p c o i n c i d e d w i t h t h e t i m e Pr e s i d e n t Ro d r i g o

Du t e r t e s t a y e d o u t o f t h e p u b l i c e y e f o r 5 d a y s .

S o m e o f Ro b r e d o ’ s c r i t i c s h a v e q u e s t i o n e d t h e t i m i n g o f

h e r t r i p . S o f a r , t h e Of f i c e o f t h e V i c e Pr e s i d e n t h a s n o t i s s u e d a

s t a t e m e n t r e s p o n d i n g t o c r i t i c s .

Ro b r e d o i s s c h e d u l e d t o r e t u r n t o M a n i l a o n Th u r s d a y ,

J u n e 2 2 .

I n h e r f i r s t y e a r i n o f f i c e , t h e V i c e Pr e s i d e n t h a s vi s i t e d t h e

U S t w i c e . F i r s t w a s a t r i p t o Pe n n s y l v a n i a i n J u l y 2 0 1 6 t o vi s i t

t h e F i l i p i n o c o m m u n i t y t h e r e . S e c o n d w a s a f a m i l y g a t h e r i n g

f o r t h e h o l i d a y s t h a t c o i n c i d e d w i t h a d e s t r u c t i v e t y p h o o n t h a t

a f f e c t e d h e r h o m e t o w n i n C a m a r i n e s S u r .

He r o n l i n e c r i t i c s s p r e a d m a l i c i o u s r u m o r s , c l a i m i n g

Ro b r e d o m e t w i t h p h i l a n t h r o p i s t L o i d a Ni c o l a s L e w i s t o

a l l e g e d l y p l o t t h e d e s t a b i l i z a t i o n o f t h e Du t e r t e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n .

Ro b r e d o h a s s i n c e d e n i e d t h i s . – R a p p l e r .c o m

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CHEERDANCE. Continually building a - naga.gov.ph Q2_Vol.8o..pdf · Let us pray for the eternal repose of this great man – our former city mayor. A great Nagueño. An outstanding