by admin | Nov 18, 2014 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
Loon, Maribojoc uplift as nat’l geologic monument?
NATURAL MONUMENT? Seas off Loon and Maribojoc retreated from 50-100 meters seaward as the earthquake in 2013 uplifted these shorelines. When the phenomena exposed interesting geological data, the DENR mulls on declaring these over 11 kilometer shorelines as protected. Fishermen fear, they may lose their access to the sea. (RAC/PIABohol)
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, November 18, (PIA) –-The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) considers declaring the uplifted shores of Loon and Maribojoc a National Geological Monument (NGM), but residents in these areas may not like it.
An eventual declaration of the uplifted areas could mean limited access to the fishermen and residents who have live life of gleaning, spear-fishing and other marine-related activities, a local artist and self-confessed environment advocate feared.
According to Rene Eune Ponte, a declaration may mean the national government taking full control and management of the area, to the detriment of communities who live by the shorelines, having a say at what is best for them.
Made an irritating issue between government and fishermen who started building boat-huts across the 50-100 meters so they could be closer when the waters retreated after the earthquake, the uplifted reefs now become a DENR object for preservation and conservation.
A year ago, a devastating earthquake shook Bohol and its neighboring provinces. This resulted in the uplift of portions of the intertidal zone within waters of Loon and Maribojoc in western Bohol.
And, for various reasons, the uplift becomes an object of interest of the community members, scientists, national and local governments, land use planners, and private individuals.
This pushed the DENR Secretary to consider the declaration of the area as NGM by the National Committee on Geological Sciences (which is under the DENR).
The DENR believes by so doing, it assures protection and conservation of the features exposed after the October 15, 2013 co-seismic uplift, according to a paper submitted by the DENR Mines and Geo sciences Bureau (MGB).
Earlier, an MGB team undertook a rapid assessment of the uplifted coastal zone in Loon and Maribojoc.
“The uplifted area is a predominantly marine carbonate platform with patch coral reefs stretching from north of Loon town center southward and eastward to Barangay Guiwanon in Maribojoc,” a line in their report reads.
The team concluded that the approximately 11.5 kilometers length of emerged shore, mostly ranging in width from 200-250 meters, is the pre-earthquake foreshore (or intertidal) zone.
“Based on the present height of the notches that mark the pre-earthquake eroding zone and high tide line, the earthquake raised the rocky shoreline and adjoining foreshore by at least 0.7 meters with a consequent seaward regression of the high tide line by about 50-100 meters,” their observations stated.
Within the intertidals, MGB pointed out that everything in from coral patches and breaks in the rocks accentuating the monotonous landscape, to the shells and other evidences of the former biota of the intertidal zone, the regenerating mangroves; all are of “geoscientific and ecological importance.”
“The features should be conserved and protected for the appreciation of present and future generations, and to educate the public on geological phenomena associated with tectonics as well as biological and ecological succession of various species of plants and animals that normally follow abrupt changes in the environment,” the reports bared.
For this, the DENR recommends a 2-stage Action Plan for the coastal areas’ preservation, as in the designation of a Geo-conservation Site by the secretary and to be followed by detailed studies for the formulation of a Management Plan and establishment of a Bohol Geopark that would include the uplifted area as one of the areas of geological significance.
A marker or signage with the Declaration will put up the explanation of the geological phenomenon that led to the uplift and exposed features that are of scientific and educational significance and worthy of preservation for its ecological and geo tourism value.
The designation hopes to protect locally and nationally important geological and ecological site; increase public awareness, understanding and enjoyment of the landscape, rocks, fossils, biota and provide an environment for learning about local geology including how certain geological phenomenon can abruptly change the landscape and biota.
Then, a detailed study on the formulation of Conservation and Management Plan as well as the establishment of the Bohol Geopark leads to the endorsement of the proclamation of the area as natural monument under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS).
The Bohol Geopark establishment will raise to international community the geo/eco tourism values of the Uplifted Terrane and the many other tourist areas in the province of Bohol, said the MGB in its recommendation.
But for residents, when the DENR starts solo managing the site, small fishermen would bear the brunt.
“See, we have to manually haul our boats from the boat-houses on the base of the cliffs across 50-100 meters of dried intertidal zones, and finding a way is no joke. How could we do that when the area could not be opened for our access?, a fisherman asked.
Why don’t we allow the people to decide what to do with the area, the same fisherman asked in Cebuano.
Maybe, they can allow the town to manage the area and find portion of the areas suitable for scientific study, others for livelihood, tourism activities and sports and recreation sites, he suggested. (RAC/PIABohol)
by admin | Nov 17, 2014 | Headlines, National News
Malacañang reduces taxes, penalties for independent power producers
Malacañang said on Sunday that President Benigno Aquino III signed an Executive Order that grants the reduction and condonation of real property taxes and interest/penalties for independent power producers (IPP).
In the radio interview with dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., said Executive Order 173 covers real property taxes and interest/penalties assessed on the power generation facilities of IPPs under build-operate-transfer contracts with government-owned and/or -controlled corporations.
Pursuant to the executive order, real property taxes imposed by LGUs for all years up to 2014 on “property, machinery, and equipment actually and directly used by IPPs for the production of electricity under a build-operate-transfer contract will be reduced to an amount equivalent to the tax due with computed date on assessment level of 15 percent of the fair market value of said property, machinery, and equipment depreciated at the rate of two percent per annum less any amounts already paid by the IPPs.”
Coloma said this is to prevent any liabilities from the part of the National Power Corporation that could lead to an increase or spike in the cost of electricity.
President Aquino signed the EO last October 31, 2014.
“The same executive order also stated that “all fines, penalties, and interest on such deficiency, real property tax liabilities are also hereby condoned and the concerned IPPs are relieved from payment thereof,” Coloma continued. (PCOO)
by admin | Nov 17, 2014 | Headlines, National News
Gov’t employees to get 13th month pay, cash gift starting this week
Secretary of Budget and Management Florencio “Butch” Abad announced that starting this week, government employees and officers will get the remaining half of their 13th month pay and cash gift before the coming Christmas.
Abad said, “For the past year, government employees have been working quietly and without fanfare for the good of the nation. It’s only proper that their efforts and hard work are given fair recognition. The year-end bonus and extra cash should help them prepare for the holiday season and its demands.”
Under Budget Circular 2010-1 first issued on August 28, 2010, government personnel are entitled to a year-end bonus equivalent to a month’s pay as well as a cash gift of P5,000. The budget circular covers civilian and uniformed personnel across all government departments and agencies, including regular co-terminus employees in government.
The funds for the bonuses and cash gifts for national government agencies (NGAs) are sourced from the 2014 National Budget. Government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs) will tap into their corporate funds for the bonuses, while local government units (LGUs) will source their perks from local government funds.
Abad noted that, “Funds to support the requirements of government personnel were released to the agencies at the very start of the year. The General Appropriations Act (GAA)-as-release-document ensures that funds are sufficiently available to the agencies from the very start, so that they can roll out the year-end bonuses and cash gifts at the appropriate time.”
Government employees and officers first received half of their 13th month pay and cash gift last May. This is because the first half of the bonus and cash gift can only be given not earlier than May 1 and the remaining half not earlier than November 15.
Last year, President Benigno S. Aquino III ordered an early release of the year-end bonus and cash gift to help government employees affected by Typhoon Yolanda. Prior to this, they also received their year-end bonuses early in the aftermath of Ondoy. (PCOO)
by admin | Nov 17, 2014 | Headlines, National News
DTI, miseguro nga mas luwas gamiton ang mga LED Christmas lights
MANILA, Nov. 17 (PIA)–Giseguro sa Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) nga mas luwas gamiton ang mga LED Christmas lights.
Matud pa ni DTI Undersecretary Victorio Dimagiba, gawas sa tago ang bombilya niini, dili pa kini daling maguba.
Apan miingon si Dimagiba nga medyo mahal lang hinuon ang mga LED Chrismas lights nga naa sa P400 o kapin pa ang presyo niini.
Pahinumdom pa sa DTI, angay susihon og maayo ang palitong mga Christmas lights ug siguradohon nga may import commodity clearance o ICC mark kini.
“Kapag manipis masyado ang hawak niyo sa kable, huwag niyo na pong bilhin yun, kasi siguro kapag pinigtas mo yun, yung strand niya, eh talagang manipis pa yata sa buhok eh, iinit yun, pag uminit po yun maaaring mag-cause ng sunog,” pasabot pa ni Dimagiba. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
by admin | Nov 17, 2014 | Headlines, National News
TESDA, nipasidaan batok sa mga ilegal nga training ug recruitment centers
MANILA, Nov. 17 (PIA)–Nipasidaan ang Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) sa mga mamumuo ug estudyante batok sa mga ilegal nga training ug recruitment center.
Gihimo ni TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva ang pasidaan human gipasirad-an sa Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) ang RRR International Training Center tungod sa giingong ilegal nga pang-recruit og mga aplikante aron maka-trabaho sa mga pabrika sa Japan ug Korea.
Matud pa ni Villanueva, wala sa ilang listahan ang RRR International Training Center nga adunay buhatan sa Plaza Cristina Building sa Dolores, San Fernando, Pampanga isip technical vocational school ug training center.
Una nang gibutyag sa POEA ang mga training center nga walay awtoridad nga mang-recruit og mga trabahante.
Gitambag usab sa TESDA sa publiko partikular na sa mga ginikanan nga susihon gayud og maayo kun tinuod bang lihitimo ang gipahigayong pagbansay-bansay sa ilang mga gihinganlang kumpanya ilabi na nga mga menor de edad ang kasagarang i-recruit niining mga pekeng technical vocational schools ug mga training centers. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
by admin | Nov 17, 2014 | Headlines, National News
Gikunhoran sa Malakanyang ang buhis ug silot sa mga independent power producers
MANILA, Nov. 17 (PIA)–Gipahibalo sa Malakanyang kagahapon nga gilagdaan na ni Presidente Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III ang Executive Order nga nagtugot sa pagpakunhod ug condonation sa real property taxes ug interest/penalties alang sa mga independent power producers (IPP).
Matud pa ni Kalihim Herminio Coloma Jr. sa Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO) nga ang Executive Order 173 naglangkob sa mga real property taxes ug interest/penalties nga gi-assess sa power generation facilities sa IPPs ubos sa build-operate-transfer contracts tali sa government-owned and/or -controlled corporations.
Matud pa sa maong executive order, ang real property taxes nga gipahamtang sa mga local government units (LGUs) alang sa tanang tuig taman 2014 kalabot sa property, machinery, and equipment nga direktang gigamit sa IPPs alang sa produksyon sa elektrisidad ubos sa build-operate-transfer contract, kunhoran sa kantidad nga kapareho sa buhis nga bayronon sa computed date sa assessment level nga 15% sa fair market value sa maong property, machinery ug equipment nga gi-kubos sa 2% per annum kuhaan sa kantidad nga gibayran na sa IPPs.
Gipasabot ni Coloma nga kini aron mapugngan ang bisan unsa mang utang gikan sa parte sa National Power Corporation nga makaingon unya sa pagsaka o pagsuyak sa kantidad sa kuryente.
Gilagdaan ni Presidente Aquino ang maong EO niadtong October 31, 2014.
“The same executive order also stated that “all fines, penalties, and interest on such deficiency, real property tax liabilities are also hereby condoned and the concerned IPPs are relieved from payment thereof,” dugang pa ni Coloma. (PCOO)
