Saturday, July 26, 2008

Social workers demand benefits

by Larry Lopez / PIA

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Social workers employed with the provincial and municipal governments in the province are lobbying for additional benefits mandated under RA 94331 or the Magna Carta for Public Social Workers in the country.

The group of public social workers is asking for a P50/day subsistence allowance plus hazard pay, which is computed at 20 percent of their monthly rate.

Judith Puday of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, who is representing the group, said they have initially presented their position in the provincial executives’ July monthly meeting.

“This move came about following the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Magna Carta in November last year,” Puday said.

But the group understands that local government units are already at the mid-year of their budgetary period, that is why members have considered presenting their cause before the local finance committees for proper fund allocation.

“Since the approval of the IRR last year, other local government units have already released additional mandated benefits to public social workers,” Puday said.
The Magna Carta for Public Social Workers mandates the state to promote and improve the social and economic well-being of public social workers to make them more responsive to the needs of their clients.

TESDA-Kalinga ready for nat’l best masonry event

by Gigi Dumallig / PIA

TABUK CITY , Kalinga – In preparation for the nationwide Best Masonry competition, 43 skilled masons in the province recently joined the launching of the program at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Kalinga training center that started last July 11.

According to TESDA information officer Belmar Angngolin, the agency utilized the unfinished 9x12 square meters building of TESDA office as a venue for the provincial competition to test the capabilities of skilled masons.

“Just after seven days of actual work, they have surprisingly accomplished more than what was expected as seen in the construction’s physical improvement,” he said.

He said that Donald Oplay emerged as the winner during the competition and will be representing the province during the regional feat this October.

Among the categories include hollow blocks laying, plastering, and installation of rails and balusters. The activity was sponsored by Holcim Company Philippines, which donated the 200 bags of cement used during the competition.

“The company also provided for the trainers for the 10-day training for the masons including their gears, tools and allowances,” he said
Holcim is one of the world’s leading producers of cement and aggregates that is working in more than 70 countries and employs almost 90,000 people.

Meanwhile, TESDA-Kalinga provided the other construction materials and other training support.
Through the comprehensive antipo-verty alleviation program of the Arroyo administration, more and more skilled Filipinos are provided opportunities for better paying jobs both locally and abroad with the provision of free government skills training assistance and scholarships through TESDA.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

ikalinga ranked 2nd in the latest Nursing Board

Alrin Flores Falgui from TNHS and who took his nursing in FEU placed 2nd with an average of 85.8%. in the latest Nursing Board Exam held on June 1 & 2, 2008..The result was released on July 23, 2008.

Korean firm eyes Tabuk as corn source for feeds

By Gigi Dumalig
PROSPECTIVE KOREAN INVESTMENT. Some executives of the KC Feed, a Korean company engaged in the production of animal feeds, along with some Korean government personnel visited Tabuk City July 17, 2008. They met with Mayor Camilo Lammawin, Jr. and agricultural personnel of Tabuk City and officials of the Department of Trade and Industry in the province regarding the possibility of investing in corn production in the city.** Photo by Estanislao Albano, Jr.

TABUK CITY, Kalinga - KC Feed Co. Ltd.., a Korean company producing feeds for poultry and swine, and several other products has placed Tabuk City in its list of sources of raw corn products for its feed processing business.

In a recent consultation meeting with the city government headed by mayor Camilo Lammawin Jr., the Korean company representatives said that they are ready to initially buy 20,000 metric tons of corn annually from the city.

In a response, city agriculturist Gilbert Cawis said that Tabuk can handle the demand citing that the city is currently utilizing a total of 3,000 hectares of farm lands for yellow corn production generating an average of 6 ,000 metric tons per hectare every cropping season.

Considering that farmers are harvesting twice a year, the 2,000 hectares could already produce around 26,000 metric tons and that production could still increase if additional 2,825 hectares of potential land will also be developed for the same purpose, Cawis said.

After the consultation, the Korean team conducted a field visit and made an on-the-spot soil test in one of the farms in Cudal, Tabuk.

They also visited some traders and trucking businesses in the locality to see the possibility of doing business with them especially in the exporting of corn products from the province.

If indeed the KD Feed Company will pour their investment in the province, corn farmers will be assured of a better market and will be encouraged to enhance their production and technical skills to meet international market demands, thus increasing their opportunities to earn more.

This development is an offshoot of the Arroyo administration’s economic efforts to make the country investment friendly making it a favored investment prospect by international business groups.**

Kalinga officials exalts Cordi leaders

BY: ggd PIA Kalinga
Tabuk City, Kalinga (21 July) -- Local officials led this year's commemoration of the 21st Cordillera Day in the province by paying tribute to the struggles of political leaders to realize the creation of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Governor Floydelia R. Diasen said that "we are blessed that we have reached this day to celebrate the Cordillera Day", which she said "could not be achieved without the leaders who toiled and worked hard" to gain our identity as Cordillerans.

Providing a glimpse of Cordillera history, Vice Governor Jocel Baac, exalted the past leaders and their efforts. "Let us give focus to the historic significant of this occasion to the people and leaders who sacrificed and work to achieve the creation of CAR," he said.

"There are many reasons why our leaders struggle for its creation, since it was only the vehicle for us to prosper and develop," he said adding that "our leaders believed that we are being left behind," by the past Presidents in terms of national development.

"The only remedy seen by our leaders is to have an autonomous government of our own for us to utilize our own natural resources and culture, for the Cordillerans to unite towards development," he said.

The creation CAR through Executive Order 220 on July 15, 1987 he said was the vehicle to towards achieving autonomy in the Cordillera.

"CAR is only a turning point, a planning stage and as a start for us to draft the charter for the autonomy," the Vice Governor said he expressed hope that with proper information dissemination Cordillerans will someday get to understand and appreciate the efforts to have an autonomous region. (ggd/PIA-Kalinga)

Kalinga traders top Cordi sales in Luzon Island Fair

by L. Lopez

Tabuk City, Kalinga (21 July) -- Kalinga exhibitors to the Luzon Island Trade Fair at the SM Mega Mall brought home a total sales of P836,176, the highest this year, among the participating provinces of the Cordillera region.

Benita Mangadap of the Department of Trade and Industry provincial office, who led the exhibitors to the July 9-13 inter-regional fair, said this year's sales by the province is really a big haul.

Next with the highest sales was Abra with P349,295, followed by the province of Apayao with P256,345; Mt. Province - P77,475; Benguet - P50,900 and Ifugao -P27,370. The top performer last year was the province of Abra, Mangadap said.

This is the third time that the DTI organized the annual Luzon Island Fair, where exhibitors from the various regions participate with their indigenous products.

Among the top performers of the province's exhibitors include Ayatu's Ethnic Craft with P347,750; Praj's Gift Shop and Gen. Merchandise - P173,291; Nor-Ref Processed Food Products - P102,832; Ness'a Kalinga Weaving -P65,728; Our Tribe Food Products -P54,120; Tribal Heritage -P48,800; Mikah's Weaving -P28,295 and Kalinga Food Treat - P15,360.

The fair showcasing a wide array of locally-produced items is part of the country's program to promote the One Town One Product (OTOP) project aiming to assist small entrepreneurs in the country.

Aside from creating market outlets to small traders, DTI also provides other technical assistance on product development where trainings on packaging and designs are provided.

These types of trainings are necessary to sustain the demand for the products and make them stay competitive out there in the market, Mangdap said. (PIA Kalinga)

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Kalinga launches "Kape de Motit"

(ggd/PIA-Kalinga)
Tabuk, Kalinga (11 July) -- Coffee enthusiasts could now have a taste of the exotic and expensive civet coffee with the launching of the "Kape de Motit", a locally processed civet coffee by the Nor Ref Food Products of Tabuk City.

According to Miss Maria Cecilia T. Baral, Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Kalinga, what made this coffee unique is that it come from the droppings of civet or locally known as "motit."

The motit is a cat- like wild animal that feeds on delicately selected red coffee berries. But since the beans are not digested they are excreted. These are then collected and processed just like any ordinary coffee bean.

"But unlike the ordinary coffee, civet coffee produces a distinct taste and aroma believed to be due to the enzyme and breakdown of the bean's proteins in the civet's intestine aside from the high quality of beans being picked by the civet when feeding," Baral said explaining why the product is considerably expensive.

In the world market, one the most popularly known civet coffee product is the Kopi Luwak (Civet Coffee) of Indonesia which has a selling price of up to $1,300 per kilo and sold mainly in the US and Japan It is also considered as the most expensive coffee in the world according to Forbes Magazine.

Launched during the 7th Matagoan Trade Fair sponsored by City Government of Tabuk in partnership with the DTI, the Kape di Motit is available through Nor Ref Food Products, also the maker of the first processed coffee in the province – the Kalinga Brew.

Kape di motit is the fourth processed coffee launched in the province being supported by the One Town One Product (OTOP) program of the government.

Previously promoted coffee products include the Kalinga Brew, Kalinga Blend and the Mananig Wild Coffee. (ggd/PIA-Kalinga)

Kalinga gov to deliver first State-of-the-Province report on Cordillera Day

by: ggd/PIA Kalinga
Tabuk City, Kalinga (12 July) -- Governor Floydelia R. Diasen is set to deliver her State of the Province Address (SOPA) this Monday as one of the highlights in the province's commemoration of the 21st Cordillera Day Celebration at the Capitol Grounds.

According to the Governor's Executive Assistant Mr. Simeon Bentican, the lady governor is expected to report on her P.E.A.C.E. development agenda accomplishments, update on the implementation of the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Programs in the province and how the province is coping with the present economic recession.

Among the highlights Bentican said include an update on the local government efforts in resolving the Malapiat land dispute and the assistance being provided the victims of said man-made disaster.

Under the education program will be her report on educational and livelihood assistance given to poor but academically deserving students.

Implemented support services and interventions will highlight her Agricultural Productivity report to include how the province is progressing in its hybrid rice and corn production that is considerably contributing to the country's target production supporting the national government's food security program.

She is also expected to give light on the province's environmental preservation plans to include the management of the province's vast watershed and forest areas and sustainable revenue generation development plans that include eco-tourism development.

Her report on health according to Bentian include efforts to resolve issues on the delivery of better health services and the concerns of health service providers. She will likewise provide an overview of the province accomplishments on special health programs that has eventually gave honour to the province.

Meanwhile, with the theme "Moving Forward! Cordillera on the High Road to Development," the celebration of Cordi Day in the province features a tree planting activity after a short program which commences with a motorcade and graced by local officials.

In respect to the celebration, July 14 is declared as a special non-working holiday in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) through Proclamation Order No. 1551 in lieu of the July, 15 Cordillera Day. (ggd/PIA-Kalinga)

Tabuk City sends 86 skilled welders to Hanjin shipyard in Subic

by L. Lopez

Tabuk City, Kalinga (12 July) -- The city is sending 86 skilled welders to work at the Hanjin shipyard in Subic after the company conducted orientation and recruitment here.

This is part of the labor employment program of the city government tied up with local and outside employers.

Hanjin, a Korean- owned and managed corporation engaged in ship building industry came here through its representatives upon the invitation of the city government.

But Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Provincial Officer Avelina Manganip issued a clarification of Hanjin's wage scale, noting that its hiring of young laborers is supposed to be covered under the DOLE's Worker's Appreciation Program (WAP).

According to Executive Order 139 which provides guidelines for the WAP, hired young laborers should receive a wage of not less than 75% of the prevailing minimum wage in the first three onths of their work, Manganip explained. Companies usually provide a probationary period of at least three months to newly hired workers.

After the 3-month period, they should be hired as regular workers, meaning they should receive the regular wage rate and other benefits, provided by law.

Manganip expressed this view to assure worker's care and welfare, especially those who are getting their first employments.

At the labor department, it is our mandate to protect workers and provide what the law says on the welfare and safety of workers, Manganip said.

She also re iterated the security and safe conditions of those recruited by the corporation to avoid problems that may arise from work later on. (PIA Kalinga)

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Grenade blast fails to derail Tabuk City celebration

By Estanislao Albano, Jr.

Tabuk City, Kalinga – The grenade blast in the carnival area inside the city government compound here a day before the observance of the first founding anniversary of the city and its 7th Matagoan Festival failed to derail or even just dampen the celebration which run from June 23 to 26.

Chief of Police Alfredo Dangani declared that had the motive of the perpetrator been to sabotage the celebration, then he has failed because the celebration proceeded smoothly and the activities especially the parade on the second day were well attended.

The parade dragged for three hours because the head intersected with the hind part at the intersection of the provincial road and Quezon Street where it was arranged for the one group to stop to allow the other group to proceed alternately. This is the first time that this happened in a parade in the city center.

Police and ushers had to shove people at the entrance of the Tabuk People’s Gymnasium to make a way for Tourism Regional Director Purificacion Molintas who was the guest speaker on the third day.

In her speech, Molintas made no direct reference to the grenade incident but merely said that one of the basic expectations of tourists from a place they visit is assurance of their security and safety.

She urged the city to protect its tourists not only because satisfied tourists came back again and again but because the Department of Tourism, with the aid of the law enforcement arms of the government, is monitoring crimes against tourists and by tourists.

In an interview after the program, Molintas who attended the celebration starting on the night of the first day to the afternoon of the third day said that news of the grenade explosion never gave her second thoughts about her scheduled trip to the city.

She said that bombings and kidnappings happen everywhere adding that she always makes it a point to attend ‘first time celebrations regardless of obstacles.’

Molintas also intimated that she liked what she saw during the celebration although there were minor adjustments which need to be made apart from the need to develop the city’s ‘must sees’ and ‘must buys.’

Molintas said that the city should be able to offer something that is truly from the city or is symbolic of what the city is such as a brand of Kalinga coffee or goodies and arts and crafts.

Regarding the Longest Hybrid Rice Linudag Show which was staged for the first time this year and was supposed to be one of the main attractions of the celebration, Molintas said that the city can improve on it in the future ‘especially if they gun for the Guinness Record.’

The linudag – rice wrapped in lao leaves and cooked in bamboo cuts over slow fire – were prepared and cooked at the agriculturist office inside the city compound starting in the afternoon of June 22 and then suspended on a wire laid out along the provincial road from barangay Magsaysay to barangay Appas for an approximate length of 2.5 kilometers night of June 23.

At around 9 AM of June 24, the linudag was gathered and distributed to the public in the city compound.

The target was to link Bulanao and Dagupan Centro which are seven kilometers apart with linudags but according to City Agriculturist Gilbert Cawis who headed the committee in-charge of the event, there were a lot of things they failed to consider when they set the target such as the length of time it takes to prepare and cook a linudag which is one and half hours and likewise the availability of enough people to produce enough linudags for the distance.

‘This is a learning experience. We will do better next year. We could assign all 42 barangays of the city to cook linudags so that we could produce enough for seven kilometers on time,’ Cawis said.

The linudag received mixed reviews from those who were able to taste it. There were some who praised it and wished they got more but there were also those who said that the linudag they got were either too hard for human consumption or were spoiled.

A mediaman from Baguio City was also noted the absence of community participation in the activity saying that the linudag were not opened and tasted on the road nor was the public invited to view the preparation activities such as being done in similar activities in other places.

Other major events of the festival especially the search for Mutya ng Tabuk and Mr. Matagoan on the first night and the street dancing on the third day were resounding successes.**

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

With peace, Tabuk can be region’s next mighty city

by Harley Palangchao

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The mayor of this city appealed to his constituents to be instruments of peace, saying that Tabuk can maintain its monikers as the “hybrid rice” and “rice bowl” capital of the Cordillera region if the people are united.

This, as Tabuk City mayor Camilo Lammawin Jr. appealed to his constituents to take part in the efforts to address the reported rice shortage in the country.

Lammawin made the appeal in his speech during the first year anniversary of Tabuk’s cityhood and 7th staging of the Matagoan (Life) Festival.

But maintaining its prestigious monikers needs unity among the sub-tribes in this city, Lammawin said, as he urged his constituents to be part of the uphill bid to attain lasting peace in this city and in the province in general.

“It is better to sweat in peace than to bleed in conflict,” were the words of Lammawin, as he emphatically said that a peaceful community will hasten socio-economic development.

The mayor apparently wanted to impart to his constituents that peace and order and development go hand in hand, as he joined his constituents in celebrating what he described as a “new chapter” in the long history of Tabuk.

Noting that Tabuk City is gaining solid ground in hastening socio-economic activities, the mayor again challenged his constituents to be part of the peacekeeping efforts.

“Achieving (lasting peace) and order is a possibility but we should make it a reality,” Lammawin said.

He then said that united TabukeƱos means having a united front that charts the destiny of the young city.

Lammawin’s challenge came two days after a grenade blast on June 22 almost dampened the opening day of the Tabuk City foundation day celebration and the Matagoan Festival.

Notwithstanding the terror attempt, Tabuk marked a historical event when it displayed Linudag or bamboo-cooked hybrid rice along the stretch of the national highway between Bulanao and Dagupan last June 24. It was a show of pride and glory as the “hybrid rice capital” in the Cordilleras.
While lack of funds blocked the plan to invite a representative from the Guinness Book of World Records to Tabuk, this young city is the first in the country to display cooked hybrid rice spanning to almost 3.5 kilometers.