Capitol Radio Program on DZVC Tackles Environmental Issues

Leaving no stone unturned in its resolve to address the burgeoning issues and problems besetting the natural environment of the island, the Cua administration has launched its first ever environmental radio program, aiming to awaken the consciousness of every Catandunganon and rally their support for environmental programs and projects.

The program, Ikaw at ang Kalikasan, began airing Feb. 17, and will be aired regularly from 7 to 9 A.M. every Saturday. To be anchored by Forester Mar Donato of the Provincial ENRO, the two-hour program will be a mix of entertainment, general information, public service, and interaction with the listening public through Short Messaging System (SMS) and other modes. However, it will focus on local environmental issues and problems affecting the general well-being of Catandunganons.

Everyone is encouraged to share his or her thoughts and brilliant ideas on how the environment and natural resources of Catanduanes are better protected and preserved. Messages and other related concerns may be sent to cellphone number 0999-722-1607 during broadcast hours or through the program’s facebook account, Ikaw at Kalikasan. Non-government organizations and other civil society groups will also be invited in the coming days as guests and resource persons to share their insights about sustainable management of the environment and natural resources.

Source: Catanduanes Tribune - 25 February 2011

[+/-] Show Full Post...

[+/-] Hide Full Post...

NGO Urges PNoy to Convert Watershed Forest Into a Natural Park

VIRAC, Catanduanes - The Catanduanes Sustainable Development Inc., a non-government environment petition letter recently petitioned President Noynoy Quino His Excellency President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III to convert a watershed reservation in the province of Catanduanes into a Natural Park.

The petition paper states the alarming scenario affecting the vast flora and fauna, the life support system which are now in degenerative state due to uncontrolled human activities to the gradual decline in the quality and quantity of the ground water, surface water, and other essential ecosystem services.

The group also appealed to Gov. Joseph C. Cua and Rep. Cesar V. Sarmiento, for the immediate establishment of a natural park in the Island province.

The members of the ECODEVI advocates the establishment of the Catanduanes Natural Park through the expansion of the Catanduanes Watershed Forest Reserve (CWFR) under Presidential Proclamation 123 date June 23, 1997, to include large portion of Catanduanes Wilderness area with the ultimate goal of preserving vast habitats for biodiversity conservation in accordance with the National Integrated Protected Areas (NIPAS) and therefore ensuring human survival.

They also commit to keep the spirit of environmentalism alive as they intend to consistently be at the forefront in the crusade for biodiversity protection. The likewise commit to promote good governance as their gesture of support to Pres. Aquino. The chairman of the Board of ECODEVI is Luis L. Surtida, provincial administrator, Province of Catanduanes.(PIA/Catanduanes)

by EA Bagadiong
Source: PIA Press Release
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

[+/-] Show Full Post...

[+/-] Hide Full Post...

17th Century Old Pandan Church

The 17th century old church is located in the northernmost town of Pandan, Catanduanes. There is not much available information online except for a brief article on Wikipedia. 

The Pandan Church was built in 1874. The roof was completely razed by fire in a great conflagration of the town in the 1920s. This was repaired within five years during the incumbency of Father Jose Magno.

The roof of the church was again blown completely in December 1940 by a super typhoon considered as the strongest typhoon that ever passed Catanduanes. The typhoon left 60 dead and 75,000 homeless. It took many years to repair it;

Again, the church was destroyed by typhoon Jean in December 1947. And completely repaired under the management of Father Orias done near the end of 1953.

What is interesting about the wiki article is the mention of the strongest typhoon that hit the island province. I was wondering how strong it was, compared to today's howlers, since there is no record as to its intensity. The only available record started in 1945 and Typhoon Jean intensity in 1947 was only 175kph.

RELATED LINKS:

• Must See Sights in Catanduanes - Popular sights in the southern part of the island.
• Bato Church - Old Spanish built church in Bato.
• The Old LORAN Station - former US Coast Guard Station.
• Sights in the Northern Part - Sights in Gigmoto, Viga, Bagamanoc, Payo, Pandan and Caramoran.

[+/-] Show Full Post...

[+/-] Hide Full Post...

Heavy Rains in the Philippines

Heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides in the Philippines had affected more than 450,000 people and killed at least 18 by January 5, 2011, the United Nations reported. The Associated Press reported that nearly 13,000 residents had sought refuge in emergency shelters. Casualties resulted from drowning, burial by landslides, and electrocution.

This image shows rainfall over the Philippines from December 30, 2010, to January 5, 2011. The heaviest rainfall—more than 900 millimeters or 35 inches—appears in dark blue. The lightest rainfall—less than 100 millimeters or 4 inches—appears in light green. The heaviest precipitation is concentrated along the eastern coasts, southeast of Manila.

In early September 2010, the United Nations reported that the Philippines could face a strong storm season resulting from La Niña conditions. La Niña generally intensifies rainfall over the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and northern Australia.

This image is based on data from the Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis produced at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, which estimates rainfall by combining measurements from many satellites and calibrating them using rainfall measurements from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite.

Source: NASA Earth Observatory

[+/-] Show Full Post...

[+/-] Hide Full Post...

All National Roads Concreted by 2015

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has disclosed that, based on the current pace, the concreting of the national road network in Catanduanes will be achieved before the end of 2015.

Graveled road to Cabuyoan

Catanduanes DPWH District Engineer Ignacio Odiaman made the statement to the Tribune last week while engineers were finalizing the programs of work covering the P682 million budget of the district for 2011.

"Of the amount, about P673 million will be spent for the concreting of the circumferential road network in Viga, Gigmoto, Baras, Gigmoto and Pandan." Odiaman said, adding that P9 million will be used as counterpart of the Philippine government for the Spanish-funded construction of Sicmil bridge.

Congressman Cesar V. Sarmiento, for his part, expressed elation at the report that the Philippines and Japan have already signed and exchanged notes covering the grant of a P21.4-billion loan for the for the repair and maintenance of roads in various parts of the country, including Catanduanes.

Road at western seaboard going to Caramoran

Ambassador Makoto Katsura signed and exchanged notes on Friday (Jan. 28) with Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, formally granting the official development assistance. The 40.8-billion-yen loan for the "Road Upgrading and Preservation Project" was coursed through the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

"This means that the second phase of the Catanduanes Circumferential Road Improvement Project from Viga to Pandan will proceed soon," he said.

To cost over P1.2 billion, the RUPP project for Catanduanes will involve the concreting of 9.49 kilometers of road from Viga to Bagamanoc and another 48.65 kilometers towards Pandan. Last year, road right-of-way consultations were made by engineers of the DPWH Central Office with stakeholders from three towns which will be affected by 12 to 20-meter road right-of-way required to widen the road, construct drainage and other roadside facilities.

Sub-standard secondary road

The barangays with identified major right-of-way problems are: barangay Peñafrancia in Viga in view of the proposed realignment of Quiambag bridge; barangay San Rafael and Salvacion in Bagamanoc in view of the proposed road widening and road realignment; and, barangays Bagumbayan and Taopon in Panganiban due to the provision for road widening and slope protection structure in the area.

The impending implementation of the Japanese-funded road project prompted Rep. Sarmiento and DPWH officials to request for the realignment of the P673 million, which was originally intended for the Bagamanoc-Pandan road section, to the 62-kilometer Codon-Caramoran-Pandan section as well as the national secondary road linking Bato, Baras, Viga and Gigmoto, and the Payo-Supang road section.

"With the expected completion of the concreting projects totaling 29 kilometers, we will have achieved the paving of 62 percent of the 315-kilometer national road network in Catanduanes by the end of 2011," DE Odiaman stressed. This does not include the 58 kilometers to be paved under the RUPP project, he said.

CCRIP Phase 1 near Viga, Catanduanes

He added that under five-year plan prepared by his office, another 12 percent will be added in 2012 and onward until the entire network is paved by 2015.

The Catanduanes project is part of the P3.9 billion worth of projects to be implemented by the DPWH in the Bicol region this year.

DPWH Regional Director Danilo E. Dequito said that the projects will be implemented in accordance with the 3-Rs criteria formulated by DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson to be adopted strictly by the department field engineers in the execution of the projects to ensure its durability and at the right cost.

Dequito explained that the 3-Rs refer to first, it should be the right project, second, at the right price and third, it should be constructed with the right quality to ensure its durability.

During construction of CCRIP - Phase 1

He said the projects are composed of P3.8 billion worth of locally funded projects and P36 million worth of foreign assisted projects.

Dequito said the province of Camarines Sur has been allocated a total of P1.2 billion worth of projects to be implemented in the five districts of the province. Masbate, Dequito said, was earmarked a total of P784.5 million worth for various projects; Catanduanes P682 million; Camarines Norte P195.4 million; Sorsogon P154.3 million; Albay with P142.7 million; and P703 million worth of projects classified as region wide. (with a report from PIA-V)

Source: Catanduanes Tribune - 06 February 2010

[+/-] Show Full Post...

[+/-] Hide Full Post...

Inauguration of Solong Mini Hydro, Set This February

VIRAC, Catanduanes (PIA)- The inauguration of the Solong mini hydro power plant with a 3.6 power generation is scheduled this February, 2011 after almost two years of construction.

View more presentations from irisnicole13.

According to project manager G. FLoro Barrameda of Sunwest Water and Electric Company (SUWECO), there’s still no exact day set for the inauguration because it will depend on the availability of the schedule of the guest speaker.

Hitoma 1 and 2 of Barangay Obi, Caramoran will also be inaugurated on the same date. According to Barrameda, since last week of January, they already started supplying with FICELCO from 1.6 to 2.6 megawatts power generations depending on the request of the Cooperative.

If operation will be full-blast, according to the contract they can supply up to 3.6 megawatts from the two sources from Hitoma 1 and 2 with 1.5 and Solong with 2.1 megawatts. At present, the power plant is still under dry run and will be stable this year.

The mini hydro power plant is also expected to help in solving the current power supply condition in the province.(PIA/Catanduanes)

By EA Bagadiong
Source: PIA Press Release
Thursday, February 03, 2011

[+/-] Show Full Post...

[+/-] Hide Full Post...