COMELEC TO DECIDE FATE OF POLL AUTOMATION ON FEB. 10

BAGUIO CITY – The Commission on Election (COMELEC) will not force for complete  poll automation in the coming May 2010 national and local elections if   it is not really feasible.

COMELEC Commissioner Armando Velasco said that  nationwide tests  are being conducted   especially on spots which do not have cell sites to determine availability of signals using the Broadband Global Access Network (BGAN).

Last Wednesday, January 25, the Comelec conducted field tests in 10 sites in the country with Bakun, Benguet the pilot site in the Cordillera. Trials will continue and we will have to fast track all  of this to come up with a decision whether to go ahead with  poll automation,  he  said. (continue)

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SOIL IN MT. PROV VERY SICK – DR. RAMAT

BONTOC, Mt. Province  – “The soil  here has become very sick and may even get worst if excessive use of chemical farm inputs stay at high level,” thus said Dr. Ireneo Ramat, Head of the Fertility Division of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Speaking before a group of farmers during the opening program of the 5th Cordillera Organic Agriculture Congress  last week at the Mt. Province Multi-Purpose Hall, Ramat called on farmers to shift from synthetic to organic farm inputs if they want to save their soil.

Vegetable farmers in the province resort to massive application of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides to match the high production of lowland farmers.  But this practice unknowingly is actually killing your major source of livelihood, because you will soon loss your soil  when it can no longer bring you enough income, Ramat quipped. (continue)

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TO RESCIND OR NOT TO RESCIND JARCO-LA TRINIDAD MOA?

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—To rescind or not to rescind the Memorandum of Agreement ( MOA) between the JARCO Realty and Development Corporation and the Municipality of La Trinidad?

This is now the question between contending parties within the Sangguniang Bayan in separate interviews conducted by the karitoon.com recently.

Councilor Jerome Selmo said, “the mall and the trading post could not co-exist together.

Selmo, favoring that the JARCO-La Trinidad MOA be rescinded averred, a mall is a traffic magnet, so with the trading post, we will have a future traffic nightmare in La Trinidad. (continue)

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LA TRINIDAD RESIDENTS MAY PETITION JARCO MALL, MAYOR SAID NO NEED FOR CONSULTATION UNDER BOT

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—There is a possibility that residents and small business owners within the La Trinidad public market may file a petition opposing the construction of a three-strory mall.

This was learned by the Baguio Chronicle in an interview with Caloy Ham, building owner along KM 5 La Trinidad Benguet.

According to Ham, there was no regarding the construction of a three story mall now being utilized as a parking area near the public market. (continue)

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P645.4M 2010 BUDGET APPROVED FOR BENGUET

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—The Benguet Provincial Board has finally approved the 2010 budget of the province during its regular session.

Approved was P645, 454,048.50.

Vice Governor Cresencio Pacalso said there is marked increase in this year’s budget allocation, contributing to this is a high beginning balance during the start of the physical year. (continue)

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IBJ Offers $5,000 for Justice Fellows

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet— To sustain justice and to check abuses across Asia, the International Bridges for Justice (IBJ) has formally launched its 2nd Justice Makers Fellowship Competition over the week.

The competition formally opened on January 27 in 76 countries world.

Dr. Michael Bengwayan, an IBJ facilitator for the Philippines said, the competition is open to applicants who have concrete, achievable ideas to promote and foster criminal justice and . (continue)

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COLD SPELL GOOD FOR TULIP GROWING-BENTREZ

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—The cold spell hitting Benguet during the months of December to February is not that bad after all, as learned from Provincial Agriculturist Lolita Bentrez in an interview over the week.

When temperature hits six degrees Celsius, this is the best temperature to grow tulips, Bentrez said.

The flowers would mature right away thus increasing sales of the farmers, she said. (continue)

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VILLANUEVA NEW BCBC PREXY; GIBO BAGUIO MEDIA’S CHOICE

BAGUIO CITY—Veteran Radio Reporter Delfrado “Jun” Villanueva will be taking over as the new president of the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club (BCBC) after elections were conducted over the weekend.

Villanueva, an anchorman of Bombo Radyo Phillipines garned 56 votes, beating Artemio Dumlao of the Philippine Star for the post.

Other elected officers are: Harley Palangchao (Midland Courier/ Manila Times), vice president for print; Joseph Manzano (DZWT), vice president for radio; Migs Velarde (Sky Cable), vice president for TV; Liza Galao (Midland Courier), Secretary; Precy Mangibat (Bombo Radyo); treasurer; Larry Madarang (Baguio Chronicle/ Manila Times); and Board of Directors, Alah Sungduan (Mt. View Cable Corp); Dodie Mendillo (ABS-CBN); Darius Bajo (GMA-7); Roderick Osis (Sunstar Baguio). (continue)

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CAGAYAN’S PRISTINE ISLANDS EYED AS NEXT ‘BORACAY’

By FRANCIS C. HIDALGO Jr.

TUGUEGARAO CITY – Cagayan’s still unexplored Babuyan group of islands has all the potentials to be one of the country’s leading tourism destinations at par, or could even surpass, more known tourism sites, including Aklan’s much touted Boracay beaches.

According to Cagayan’s economic consultant Juan “Jack” Ponce Enrile Jr., the Babuyan islands in the South China Sea-Pacific Ocean coastlines are the province’s ‘sleeping giants’ in terms of tourism potentials, and that their development would surely accelerate economic  boom in the country’s northernmost areas. (continue)

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PREPARE FOR EL NINO–DA

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—“We are now suffering from draught”, this according to Cesar Rodriguez, regional director of the Department of Agriculture to farmers in an interview recently.

The Cordillera is now suffering from mild El Niño, he said.

This phenomenon is caused by the sudden change of temperature which has affected our oceans, according to Rodriguez. (continue)

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