APO Palawan celebrates 85th anniv via grand reunion

TO COMMEMORATE the 85th founding anniversary of the collegiate fraternity Alpha Phi Omega (APO), the Palawan APO alumni association will conduct a grand reunion homecoming with the theme “One Org, One Family, One Journey and One Service to Environment and Community” on December 16, 2010 at the A&A Plaza Hotel in Barangay San Miguel. Twelve select members will be awarded the TOP APO plaques.Aside from the grand reunion, other APO activities are also in line for new recruits and alumni from different universities. APO from the Palawan State University will be conducting Leadership Symposium on December 11 at the Performing Arts Center of PSU main campus. The APO from Holy Trinity University on the other hand organized a Friendship Family Day to be conducted at the Department of Agriculture in Barangay Irawan.  On December 16, after the mass at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, PAPOAA will have a motorcade and will then be divided into three groups for their service programs in their respective areas to implement their environmental advocacy on solid waste management. Stickers (like the one on this page) will be given away to  public vehicles at the terminal area of the New Market in San Jose, at the City Market in Barangay Tagumpay, and at Junction 1. The sticker contains the following message “Atin ang Palawan, Ito’y ating Ingatan. Basura’y Itapon sa Tamang Lalagyan, para Mapanatili ang Kalinisan ng Bayan”. This initiative is in observance of the City Government Oplan Linis Program and in cooperation with Petal Printing Press who donated the sticker to PAPOAA.APO was founded on December 16, 1925 at Lafayette College, Easton Pennsylvania, USA by Frank Reed Horton with the mission of developing leadership, promoting friendship and by providing service to the nation. These three characters that represent the three Greek letters which is Alpha for leadership, Phi for friendship and Omega for Services are the three guiding principles of APO members from around the globe.

By Edilberto Magpayo
The Palawan Times 

Bawal ang nakasimangot

BUNSOD NG mga reklamong natatanggap ng mga konsehal ay hiniling ng mga miyembro ng Sangguniang Panlungsod sa Human Resources and Management Office (HRMO) na maglagay ng smile and sad box sa bawat opisina.Ayon kay Konsehal Miguel Cuaderno IV may mga reklamong nakakarating sa kanila kaugnay sa asal ng ilang mga kawani ng pamahalaang lungsod.Ang mga face box ay ilalagay sa bawat departamento kung saan maaring lagyan ng mga residente ng komentong may kaugnayan sa uri ng paglilingkod ng nasabing opisina. Ito rin ay magsisilbing repleka ng bawat departamento sa uri at pamamaraan ng kanilang serbisyo sa sambayan.“May mga reklamo kasi na nakakarating sa amin. Minsan magbabayad na nga lang sisimangutan pa,” pahayag ni Cuaderno.Naniniwala ang konsehal na sa pamamagitan nito ay malalaman kung kontento ang mga mamamayang dumudulog sa bawat opisina at kung mayroong pagkukulang ay maiayos ito at mas lalong mapabuti ang pagseserbisyo ng pamahalaan. Maaring mapatawan ng kaukulang aksyon sinumang empleyadong mairereklamo hinggil sa kanilang pagseserbisyo sa taong-bayan. (Cheryl A. Galili) The Palawan Times

Wescom, Guam soldiers’ medical mission benefits 2,000 pax

The Western Command (WESCOM) and the Guam National Guard (GUNG)conducted last November 28 and 28 a free medical and dental civic action in Barangay Sta. Lourdes and Irawan, respectively.At least 2,700 residents of the two barangays (and the nearby barangays) benefited from the medical/dental mission which offered free blood pressure check-up, tooth extraction, circumcision and minor surgical operation.Free medicines were also handed out to patients who went through minor surgery and to those had their tooth extracted.The joint activity was conducted under the State Partnership Program (SPP) between the Philippines and Guam. The SPP paired US states with different countries initially for a bilateral military-to-military contact program which has evolved into a key instrument in facilitating cooperation on civil-military activities between the paired states.Even the incessant downpour of rain on the second day of the activity neither deter the medical team from giving nor the beneficiaries from receiving free medical and dental services.The 8th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-8) had even provided a service vehicle to fetch people, who couldn’t go to where the activity was being conducted, from a pre-coordinated assembly area.WESCOM said the activity was conducted “with the hope that they may be able to address some of the health concerns of the two beneficiary barangays.”Besides the medical/dental civic action program, the Guam National Guard, headed by MGen Donald J. Goldhorn, Adjutant General, was also in the city to conduct Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEES) with WESCOM soldiers which aimed to improve surgical and medical care techniques of the partner states through collaborative works. By Tristan Ray I. Besa, The Palawan Times

City dad leads mass oathtaking of barangay and youth NEOs

City Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn emphasized the importance of taking care of the city’s environment in his message during the mass oath taking ceremony held last November 29 at Puerto Princesa City Coliseum. Through video presentation, the city mayor highlighted how nature strikes once people abuses the environment.  More lives and properties will be destroyed including infrastructures projects of the government.In the said event, Hagedorn congratulated the re -elected officials whom he called the ‘survivors’ including the newly-elected ones. He likewise challenged them in upholding the mandate of their constituents. Despite of short notice regarding the change of schedules, the mass oath-taking ceremony was attended by nearly a thousand elected barangay officials and Sangguniang Kabataan (SKs).Hagedorn also assured its support to the barangay officials in realizing their vision towards the attainment of development.Meanwhile, out of 66 barangays of the city there were 43 incumbent officials representing 67% were re-elected while 21 or 32% were newly-elected officials. The term of office commenced on November 30 and will end on November 30, 2013. (Cheryl A. Galili) The Palawan Times

Puerto Princesa faces big challenge

THE CONFIDENCE of the investors to put up establishments in the city of Puerto Princesa is a great challenge to the local government unit and power players to come up with a long term solution to the current power problems, says Councilor Modesto Rodriguez II in his privilege speech.Rodriguez observed that with the increasing number of constructed establishments, the city government really needs to find a solution to the power shortage. He noted that once these establishments started operating, it is expected to encounter frequent power interruptions.Presently, there is a total of 46-megawatt installed capacity generated by the power generation companies for the city of Puerto Princesa and the entire province of Palawan. The delta P has 16 megattwatt capacity, PPGI Narra, 10 MW; PPGI Tiniguiban, 9 MW; NPC-Agrekko 11 MW for the total of 46MW. The dependable capacity however is only 32.7 MW because the Delta P is only producing  13.5 MW out of 16MW; PPG Narra 9/10; PPGI Tiniguban 2.2 /9; NPC-Agrekko 8/11 for a total of 32.7 megawatt. The councilor added that the current peak load as of the present is 24 MW during cold days while 27MW for summer days. This implies that there is a reserve of 8.7 MG for cold days and 5.7MW for summer.  The newly-built residential buildings were excluded form the computation.“With this new establishment that will start to operate, we do not know how much power that should be generated to meet the requirement. Baka kulangin na po ang ating reserve. Ang mangyari babalik na naman po tayo sa dating mga problema at ‘yan ay brown out,” Rodriguez stressed.He further added that under the economic equation once there is progress in the community, there’s an influx of more tourists and migrants, and more establishments and residential are expected to rise.“Kaya  bang suplayan ng kuryente natin under current power situation? Definitely not,” Rodriguez stated.He firmly believed that Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco) should have a distribtuin impact study and also a term of reference to determine how much power supply is needed.In view of this, majority of the city councilors manifested the appearance of the representatives of Paleco and power producers to appear before the question hour proceedings of the Sangguniang Panlungsod to give some updates on the current power situationThe councilors also believed that the city government needs an assurance from the electric cooperative or else invite other investors to sustain the economic progress of the city. It can be recalled that the city government is planning to purchase own generator set to augment the power needs of the city after experiencing series of power crisis.

By Cheryl A. Galili
The Palawan Times 

Exciting add-ons to Puerto Princesa tour packages revealed

AWED with the majestic sights at the Underground River? Wait until you see dolphins swim with you, watch fireflies twinkle before your eyes, and a lot more nature-tripping exciting activities!“Come to Puerto Princesa and enjoy nature at its best. It’s a place where you can swim with the fish, float with the butterflies, sing with the birds, play with the dolphins, and navigate the longest underground river in the world,” Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn said in a recent interview with Palawan Times.This means that alongside the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP), the country’s official bet in the world search for the New 7 Wonders of Nature, they’re also set to intensify their campaigns for tourism attractions that the city government has recently developed in partnership with various communities.These are the dolphin watching at the Puerto Princesa City Bay, Ugong Rock in Barangay Tagabenit, Firefly Watching in Barangay Iwahig, Pambato Reef Diving and Snorkeling in Honda Bay, San Carlos Floating Restaurant, view decks also in Tagabenit and Barangay Buenavista and Mangrove Paddle Tours in barangays Bacungan and Cabayugan.The dolphin watching and firefly watching are under the community management of Barangay Tulingan, which is composed of fishermen formerly engaged in illegal fishing and living in nearly ten barangays that surround the City Bay.Ugong Rock, on the other hand, is being managed by residents of Barangay Tagabenit, primarily composed of Batak and Tagbanua indigenous peoples.Soon enough, he said, a zip line, known also by other names, such as foefie slide, zip wire, aerial runway, and death slide, will be constructed in Tagabenit as another outdoor adventure in Puerto Princesa.Another is a 375-meter canopy zip line which is waiting final construction in Barangay Irawan.Pambato Reef, also known as “mini Tubbataha Reef” in Honda Bay, is beginning to attract the attention of diving enthusiasts because it maintains its beautiful corals, Hagedorn said. Pambato Reef, he added, is an exceptional diving site in spite of its being close to human habitation.“Pambato Reef has become one of the well-known tourist spots in Honda Bay. It has surprisingly good reef life and fishes abound too. Nowadays, it is difficult to see still viable reefs in many parts of the world, especially in areas where many people reside”, he said.
By Clarinda I. Catimpo
The Palawan Times

City Meet athletes, tinaguriang ‘munting mga bayani’

TINAWAG NI Puerto Princesa City Sports Director Tony Reyes na mga “mumunting mga bayani” ang mga atleta sa City Meet 2010 sa kanyang mensahe sa Opening Program Ceremonies.Sinabi rin ni Reyes na ang City Meet ay hindi tagisan ng mga koponan kundi isang proseso o paraan upang makapili ang city government ng mga deserving athletes  na bubuo ng Puerto Princesa delegation sa darating na MIMAROPARAA Meet 2011 na gaganapin naman sa Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro sa darating na taon, at pati na rin sa makikipagpaligsahan sa iba pang regional, national at international sports competition.Sinusugan naman ni Department of Education Puerto Princesa City Superintendent Bong Arzaga ang sinabi ni Reyes at sinabi na ang “sports ay isang bagay na nagbibigay ng mga karangalan sa ating lungsod. “Ipinaabot po din natin ang ating pasasalamat sa ating punong lungsod, Mayor Edward Hagedorn, kasama sina Vice Mayor Cecil Bayron at mga konsehales sa kanilang walang sawang pagtulong at pagsuporta sa ating mga atleta,” ani Arzaga.Nagkaisa naman sina Reyes at Leaf Miraflores na mapapanatili ng Puerto Princesa ang kampeonato sa Elementary Division sa darating na MIMAROPARAA Meet 2011 at makukuha na ang kampeonato sa Secondary Level dahil sa palalakasin pa nila ang pagtutulungan at pagsusuportahan ng City Sports Office at City DepEd ng Puerto Princesa.
Ni Noli Hitosis
The Palawan Times

‘Something fishy’ sa live fish exporting, hinihinala

NANINIWALA ANG mga konsehal ng lungsod ng Puerto Princesa na hindi lahat ng mga isdang dinadala sa kamaynilaan ay huli sa malinis na paraan o hindi ginagamitan ng sodium cyanide.Ayon kay Konsehal Modesto Rodriguez II na minsan ng pinamunuan ang komite ng Agriculture and Aquatic Resources ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan, masuwerte umano ang isang mangingisda na makahuli ng isang suno sa loob ng isang araw kung kayat hindi kapani-paniwala na lahat ng mga isdang iniluluwas mula sa lalawigan araw-araw ay huli sa kawil.Aniya, ang bayan ng Roxas sa hilagang bahagi ng lalawigan ng Palawan kung saan ay pinapahintulutan ang ganoong uri ng negosyo ay hindi bababa sa sampung biyahe ng eroplano araw-araw upang magdala ng buhay na isda.Ang livefish trading o negosyo ng buhay-buhay ay multi-million industry. Ang isang pirasong red suno ay nagkakahalaga umano ng P3,500 hanggang P5,000 bawat kilo na nangangahulugan lamang na kikita rin ng malaking halaga ang isang negosyante. Ayon pa dito, karaniwang  stratehiya ng mga traders ay pinapasuka ang isda sa loob ng ilang araw bago kukunin sa aquarium at ipapasuri sa Cyanide Detection Test (CDT) ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) upang mabigyan ng certification para mailuwas patungo sa ibang panig ng bansa. Wala namang tiwala ang mga miyembro ng kapulungan sa kredibilidad ng mga kumukuha ng samples para ipasuri sa CDT lab.Sa salaysay ng mga kinatawan ng CDT na ipinatawag ng Sangguniang Panlungsod sa question hour ng kanilang regular sesyon, lumalabas na nakadepende lamang sila sa dokumentadong pagkuha ng kanilang partner agency tulad ng mga kinatawan mula sa lokal na pamahalaan o Philippine coast guard na nakatalaga sa lugar.Ayon kay Teresita Bengaño officer in-charge (OIC) ng CDT laboratory na nakatalaga sa lungsod ng Puerto Princesa, tinanggap lamang nila ang mga documented samples na isinusumite sa kanilang opisina bago isasailalim sa pagsusuri upang maberepeka kung paano ito hinuli. Sinabi rin ni Gina Virgo, Chemist ng CDT laboratory, kung ang sinusuring isda ay umabot sa .005 part per million (PPM) ito ay positibo sa cyanide contamination at negatibo naman kung mas mababa ang PPM nito. Idinagdag din nito na 100% reliable at accurate ang result ng kanilang pagsusuri gamit ang ISE na kayang i-detect ang 0.03 PPM ng isda.Para naman kay Konsehal Gregorio Q. Austria, bagamat masasabing accurate ang ginagawang pagsusuri ng CDT hindi naman nito kayang idetermina kung ang pinagkukunan ay huli o hindi huli sa sodium cyanide dahil inaasa lamang nila ito sa kanilang partner agency para kumuha ng sample. Subalit, ang problema umano dito ay ang lungsod ang ginagawang transshipment mode ng mga traders kung saan mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ang livefish industry.Samantala, kama-kailan ay nasakote ng Special Operations Group (SOG) ang dalawang truck na naglalaman ng mga buhay na suno kung saan lima sa mga ito ay nagpositibo sa sodium cyanide.Dahil sa pangyayaring ito dalawang ordinansa ang isinusulong nina Konsehal Eleuthrius L. Edualino at Henry A. Gadiano na naglalayong bumuo ng Task Force na siyang magbabantay sa mga boundaries ng lungsod at titingin sa mga sertipikasyon ng mga shippers. Isa pang ordinansa ang nakatakdang gawin ng konseho na nag-aatas naman sa lahat ng mga shippers na kailangang dumaan sa tanggapan ng CDT at ang mga taga CDT mismo ang siyang kukuha ng mga samples para suriin. Sa pamamagitan umano nito ay matitiyak na ang mga isdang iniluluwas at idinadaan sa lungsod ay  hindi kontaminado sa sodium cyanide. Iminungkahi naman ng konseho na magkaroon ng representasyon ang pamahalaang lungsod sa mga gagawing pagsusuri ng CDT.Nitong nakalipas na linggo ay pinakawalan naman ng pamahalaang lungsod ang 412 na pulang suno na nasakote ng SOG sa karagatang sakop ng Bgy. Sta. Lucia.

Ni Cheryl A. Galili
The Palawan Times

Additional marine battalion to tighten security in Palawan

There’s no need to worry.The additional marine battalion that has been deployed to the southern part of the province of Palawan is not here because the marines are planning to launch a military offensive, Commodore Edgardo D. Tamayo, flag officer-in-command of the Naval Forces West (NAVFORWEST), clarified.Tamayo explained that the deployment of the 12th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-12), the full force of which arrived in Puerto Princesa City last November 28, was primarily to tighten security in the province, particularly in the southern part.The increased visibility of government forces where these soldiers will be assigned [may] deter terrorist individuals or groups from committing acts that will disrupt the peace of the province, Tamayo further explained.The MBLT-12 will be setting up a detachment camp in Bgy. Abo-Abo in the municipality of Sofronio Española and will be the primary marine unit that is responsible in keeping the southern part of the province secure from insurgency and the likes.To welcome the personnel of the MBLT-12, who arrived onboard the ship BRP Dagupan (LC 551), the NAVFORWEST headed by Tamayo as the operational commander of the newly-arrived marine battalion, organized a welcome ceremony at the Tidepole Detachment Beaching Area.Major General Juancho M. Sabban, commander of the Western Command (WESCOM) and who himself is a marine soldier, graced the welcome ceremony as the guest of honor. For a very long time, only one marine battalion was being deployed in the province. The additional battalion of marine soldiers was deployed in Palawan in response to the request of the local government to tighten the security in the province.

By Tristan Ray I. Besa
The Palawan Times

PSU freshmen dominate regional stat quiz

TWO FRESHMEN students of the Palawan State University (PSU) placed first and fourth runner-ups in the recently concluded regional competition of the 19th Philippine Statistical Quiz (PSQ) held in Calapan City, Mindoro Oriental.First runner-up is Jer Japeth Yu, 17 years old of the College of Electrical Engineering, and, fourth runner-up is Elcid M. Bocacao, 17 years old of the College of Petroleum Engineering. Both freshmen students were coached by Mr. Rudy Bacolod.The students received cash, certificates of recognition and trophy. For the cash prize, the 1st runner-up received P5,000 and P1,000 for the fourth runner-up.Thessa Mae Peña of the Divine Word College of San Jose was judged as the region’s champion. She will represent MIMAROPA region in the national round of the Philippine Statistical Quiz to be held next month in Manila.The Philippine Statistical Quiz is a yearly project of the National Statistical Office collaborated by the Philippine Statistical Association. The PSQ is designed to assess the competency and skills of college freshmen in statistics as acquired from high school. The contest aims to promote public awareness and appreciation of statistics and its vital use in the economic and social development of the country.


By Clarinda I. Catimpo
The Palawan Times

80-HA demo area, hinati-hati ng OISCA

HINATI-HATI NG mga  trainees ng Organization, International Social and Cultural Association (OISCA) ang 80 ektarya na demonstration area ng pamahalaang panlalawigan para sa programang Palayan sa Bayan at Hayupan sa bayan sa ilalim ng Tanggapan ng Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO).Ayon kay Noel Jagmis, Tribal Chieftain ng mga Tagbanua sa Bgy. Cabigaan at pangulo ng Palawan Tribal Federation ang 80 ektarya na sakop ng inaaplyang Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) ng mga katutubo ay napatituluhan na at nahati ng mga mag-aaral ng OISCA na nagmula sa ibang panig ng munispyo na nakapagsanay sa naturang lugar.Ang proyekto ito ng pamahalaang panlalawigan sa pamamagitan ng OISCA ay naging kapaki-pakinabang lalo na sa mga hindi nakapagpatuloy ng kanilang pag-aaral sa mas mataas na antas gayundin sa mga katutubo upang mas lalong malinang ang kanilang kakayahan sa sector ng agrikultura.Ang OISCA ay nagsimula taong 1976 sa ilalim ng panunungkulan ng dating gobernador Salvador P. Socrates  kung saan naglaan ng 40 ektarya ang pamahalaang panlalawigan para sa programa sa agrikultura sa pakikipag-ugnayan din sa mga katutubong naninirahan sa lugar.“Ang 80 ektaryang demonstration areas ay titulado na sa mga estudyante ng OISCA. Ang project ay napakaganda pero nadislocate kami,” sentimiyento ni Jagmis.Sinalaysay naman ni Paul Jagmis Sr. retiradong guro at dating konsehal sa naturang bayan na 40 ektarya lamang ang naunang inilaan para sa demonstration training subalit hiniling na magkaroon ng panibagong 40 ektarya subalit ito diumano ay hindi naidaan at napagkasunduan ng mga katutubo at ng pamahalaang panlalawigan.Ang 80 ektaryang lupain na sakop ng OISCA at ang karagdagang 350 ektarya ay inaplayan na at hinati-hati na rin ng mga hindi katutubo at dayuhan sa lugar at naging trainees ng OISCA.Ayon pa sa dating konsehal, ang pagkakaroon ng OISCA sa lalawigan ay malaking tulong sa paghubog ng mga talento at kakayahan ng mga katutubo at ordinaryong mamamayan sapagkat nakatulong umano ito upang mapa-unlad ang sariling buhay.Samantala, sa pangyayaring ito ay hiniling ng mga katutubong Tagbanua sa kinauukulan na magawan ng aksyon ang ginawang paghahati ng nasabing lupain.Nangako naman ang mga kinatawan ng Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) na dumalo sa naturang pagtitipon na ipapaabot nila sa tanggapan ng Provincial Administrator ang nasabing reklamo upang magawan ng kaukulang aksyon.

 The Palawan Times

MGB believes there is responsible mining in Palawan

Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-MIMAROPA Regional Director Rolando de Jesus believes responsible mining exists in Palawan with the mining operations for nickel laterites of Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC) in Rio Tuba, Bataraza, and Berong Nickel Corporation (BNC) in the municipality of Quezon. Through “Sulong Palawan”, a radio program that discusses mining exploration and operation in the province, De Jesus said that as a regional director of the MGB that pushes responsible mining practices, he believes “there is responsible mining” contrary to what anti-mining groups continue to claim.Responsible  mining, the MGB regional director explained, also begins with them in the provision of approval for mining exploration.“First is exploration to ensure there is deposit. If there is confirmed deposit, we will proceed to determine this, its grade and its quantity. If the grade and quantity are low, what is the use of allowing? Not only that, if the fund for operation of a certain mining company proposing is not enough to fulfill his environmental and social commitments, we do not allow them,” De Jesus stated.He said their current direction from Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje is to “weed out undesirable proponents, those who merely speculate” to push for a stronger responsible mining in the Philippines, including Palawan. Commenting on mining activities in Palawan, De Jesus said he believes that as the “last ecological frontier”, the province should be protected against irresponsible mining practices and unscrupulous mining proponents. This is also the reason the MGB, he claimed, is seriously scrutinizing all mining proposals in Palawan.“Among all industries, mining is one that really faces difficulties when it comes to obtaining permits to operate from the government. I can honestly say, and I am proud to say that before we allow any mining proponent to explore and operate, we give consideration to all laws, including engagement of the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) on the subject of the free and prior informed consent (FPIC)”, he said.Permits, he asserted, are not provided to mining corporations that fail to get FPICs and that fail to obtain the endorsement of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) as mandated in Republic Act 7611, also known as the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan.“We do not give permits to the mining proponents that fail to get the endorsement of the PCSD that’s why it’s not easy. Besides, there are other documents for them to submit”, De Jesus furthered, adding that mining proponents do pass through the needle’s eye before they can begin exploration and operation in Palawan.What is good in Palawan, the regional director said, is that there is “transparency” when it comes to mining exploration and operation. All stakeholders, including non-government organizations (NGOs) that are anti-mining, have participation in ensuring responsible mining through the multi-partite monitoring team (MMT).The MMT is composed of representatives from the DENR, the MGB, local government units, NCIP, and other public and private stakeholders. The MMT monitors everything from a mining company’s operation, environment rehabilitation and development plan, to its implementation of social development and management program (SDMP).

By Tristan Ray I. Besa
The Palawan Times

Leaders challenged for ‘voyage of unity’

This is to show that, in spite of our differences, we are riding on one boat, one ship of state which is the Philippines and only by being together and working together (as the crew did) will we able to safely reach the next port.

Miss Palawan wins Miss Silka 2010!

Miss Palawan, Imelda Schweighart, from Puerto Princesa City, wins the coveted title of Miss Silka Philippines 2010 held November 27 at the Market! Market! in Taguig City. Schweighart also won Best in Swimwear &Best in Carnival Costume. Schweighart was charming and regal, waving and smiling to the cheering crowd as she took her queenly walk and acknowledged the crowd’s approval and delight. Imelda, indeed, will be a most worthy and proud representative of the the country’s last ecological frontier during her one year reign. Other winners in the recently concluded 2010 Miss Silka Philippines beauty pageant were: 1st runner up Miss Cavite Christine Bender; 2nd runner up Miss Dumaguete Melba Ann Macaset; 3rd runner up Miss Cagayan de Oro Catherine Almirante.

Special award winners were Best in Talent & Best in Casual Interview – Miss Cavite Christine Bender; Best in Long Gown & Online Choice Award – Miss Cagayan de Oro Catherine Almirante; Miss Photogenic – Miss Zamboanga Nancy Leonard; Miss Congeniality – Miss Iloilo Charmaine Nunez; and Committee’s Choice Award – Miss Ozamis Jeany Rose Joromat. Bong Achidor, marketing organizer of Samichella’s Creations, said the Miss Silka search has been running for almost five years now.“Beauty, intelligence and talent are some of the attributes that Cosmetique Asia Corporation is looking for in the Miss Silka Philippines 2010 search,” Achidor said, he added that all major events of the search are free courtesy of Cosmetique Asia Corporation, makers of Silka products.The show began in a spectacular fashion with the contestants wearing their festival costumes in a musical number. After that all the ladies appeared on stage in their beautiful evening resort wear pieces and the evening gown segment featured the creations of popular designer Alex Gonzales-Soncio.Only one girl fulfilled all its commitments, personal and emotional, combining integral beauty and charm, and she is no other than a Palaweña.

By Joel Contrivida
The Palawan Times

Fish kill in Bataraza probed

Authorities are verifying sightings of fish kill near a large nickel mining operation in Palawan. Last week, residents of Bataraza town reported hundreds of dead fish floating near the port facility used by the Coral Bay Nickel Mining Corp. (CBNC) and the Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp.The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources was reported to have sent field personnel to collect fish samples in the area.Residents are worried that waste discharges from the nearby mining operations could have poisoned the fish. A caretaker from a lobster stocking facility was interviewed by Inquirer, and said he retrieved up to four kilos of dead fish from just one portion of the bay. Another resident said they previously reported fish kill in the area but no action was made by the companies or the government agencies.
A local businessman said that  fish were killed last year, but there was no investigation or action regarding the incident.Waste from a hydrometallurgical processing plant is supposed to be treated before being discharged into the bay. The plant cleanses low grade laterite ore using chemicals such as sulfuric acid.

By Clarinda I. Catimpo
The Palawan Times

RP’s tallest Christmas tree shines

It’s a novel attraction this year but it will certainly be one of the major attractions for residents of Puerto Princesa City and for visitors coming over for the holiday season.

 By Clarinda I. Catimpo
The Palawan Times

City Tourism lauds the creation of environmental council

Clarinda I. Catimpo
The Palawan Times

 THE CITY Tourism Office (CTO) lauds the creation of City Environmental Council of Puerto Princesa to address the city’s environmental concerns. According to City Tourism Officer Rebecca V. Labit, it’s a welcome development for both city and investors that would like to put up their business here. She said having the said council like Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) would expedite the approval of the city’s projects since it is totally independent from the province of Palawan. “Good for us, and it’s a good development for the city of Puerto Princesa,” Labit commented on the passage of the said ordinance. On October 16, the city council finally approved the legislative measure authored by Councilor Modesto Rodriguez II for the creation of the city’s environmental council which will perform same tasks as that of the PCSD. The said legislations had undergone several committee hearings prior to its approval. Earlier, Rodriguez manifested that the city government should have its own council that will deal with its environmental concerns. However as of press time, the city council still endorses projects to PCSD despite its being HUC. He noted that the absence of such council causes some delays to the implementation of the projects since PCSD meets once a month and there are other concerns which are being tackled concerning the entire province.

PNS, PSU language training site for teachers

Clarinda I. Catimpo
The Palawan Times 

 THE Palawan National High School and the Palawan State University in Puerto Princesa City will be two of the many expansion site of the language training for teachers set early next year. This, after the Department of Education with the support of the Government of Spain, through the actions of the Ministry of Education of Spain, Instituto Cervantes and the Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional Para el Desarollo (AECID), has recently trained select public school teachers from 54 schools nationwide in teaching the Spanish language. The 102 teachers were trained by professors from Universidad de Salamanca provided for by the Ministry of Education of Spain. Training was conducted at Instituto Cervantes in Manila and at the Ecotech Center in Cebu last month. Published through DepEd Memorandum number 445 series of 2010 last October 12, the training aims to capacitate the teachers on: linguistic command of Spanish in grammar and vocabulary aspects from functional communicative approach; available resources to integrate culture content in Spanish as a Foreign Language (SFL) class; methodological approaches for teaching-learning SFL and offering patterns for the design and implementation of activities; communicative competence in real contexts of Spanish usage, by consolidating the competencies of each major skill (reading, writing,listening, and speaking); and Spanish culture and civilization, in order to contribute to a better understanding of the country and its people’s way of life. Some 21 Spanish-speaking countries with economic activities worth $4 trillion await the services of the Business Process Outsourcing sectors which demand call center agents that speak Spanish. Aside from PNS and PSU, other expansion schools will be Civil Aeronautics Administration NHS in Pasay City, Ramon Magsaysay HS in Manila, Amparo HS in Caloocan City, Carlos P Albert HS and Tandang Sora Integrated in Caloocan City, Paranaque NHS, Tinejeros HS in Malabon City, Mangatarem NHS in Pangasinan, Don Eulogio de Guzman Memorial NHS in La Union, Santiago City NHS, Cagayan NHS, Dipaculao NHS in Aurora, Juan R Liwanag MHS in Gapan City, Pampanga HS in San Fernando City, Bayorbor NHS in Batangas, Lumbang NHS in Batangas City, Bernardo Lirio MNHS in Tanauan City, Domingo Yu Chu NHS in Oriental Mindoro, Looc NHS in Romblon, Camarines Sur NHS in Naga City, Catanduanes NHS, La Castellana NHS in Negros Occidental, Lourdes Ledesma del Prado MNHS in Tanjay City, Cebu City NSHS, Quinapundan NHS in Eastern Samar, and Balua NHS in Cagayan de Oro City.

Underwater cleanup set in Bacuit

Clarinda I. Catimpo
The Palawan Times

A COASTAL and underwater cleanup activity is set in the beaches around Bacuit Bay in El Nido, Palawan on November 10, coinciding with the celebration of World Responsible Tourism Day. According to the statement released by the cleanup organizer, El Nido Resorts, guests will be invited to join the staff in the beach cleanup. After the activity, participants will be treated to eco-cocktails and a film showing while the resorts’ environment officers talk about El Nido’s beauty and unique biodiversity. The activity is the resorts’ way of celebrating responsible tourism, winning recently the Sustainable Hotel Award in the Sustainable Destination category at the 21st Annual Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) held recently in Hong Kong. It was cited for its various programs in marine and terrestrial ecosystem preservation and protection, which include marine turtle conservation, coastal and underwater cleanups, installation and maintenance of and mooring buoys. According to the statement released by the cleanup organizer, El Nido Resorts, guests will be invited to join the staff in the beach cleanup. After the activity, participants will be treated to eco-cocktails and a film showing while the resorts’ environment officers talk about El Nido’s beauty and unique biodiversity. The activity is the resorts’ way of celebrating responsible tourism, winning recently the Sustainable Hotel Award in the Sustainable Destination category at the 21st Annual Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) held recently in Hong Kong. It was cited for its various programs in marine and terrestrial ecosystem preservation and protection, which include marine turtle conservation, coastal and underwater cleanups, installation and maintenance of and mooring buoys.

Operatives nab anew 84 mynahs in Rizal

Cheryl A. Galili
The Palawan Times

THE COMBINED team of the Palawan NGO Network Inc.-Global Legal Action for Climate Change (PNNI-GLACC) and PNP-Maritime officials had seized 84 illegal wildlife parts vulnerable wildlife species which are ready for shipment following a raid in southern Palawan. The talking mynahs were found crowded in five cages and were abandoned in a forested area in Punta Baja, Rizal. No suspect were arrested. Undoubtedly, the Wildlife Conservation Act sends a message that Palawan is serious about tackling the illegal wildlife trade. According to Beth Maclang, Advocacy Officer of PNNI, information from their source revealed that these wildlife species will be ship out on the said date via twin-engine motorized banca going to the province of Batangas. The shipment has been under surveillance for quiet sometime prior to the conduct of joint operation. Although she refused to name the perpetrator, the latter confirmed that it was the one involved in March 2006 operations of PNNI-GLACC that posted bail before the court. Maclang believed that there influential persons behind this rampant wild syndicates in southern Palawan. However, she assures that they’ll intensify their endeavors to prosecute this syndicate. Recently, the apprehending team successfully seized abandoned 24 talking mynahs in said town going to Batangas. “Ang hinala ng PNNI-GLACC ay mayroon silang nakukuhang proteksyon at may mga impormasyon na sila ay may malalaking koneksyon pero hindi titigil ang PNNI-GLACC para sila mapanagot,” Maclang stressed. The advocacy officer also lamented that indigenous people (IP) who are highly-vulnerable group are being use for the advantage of the perpetrators in exchange of small amount. As per information, the talking mynahs were bought to them in prizes ranging from P200 toP250 depending on its size. However it is being sold to the black-market at P8,000 per bird. “Nakakaawa ang ating mga katutubo dahil sinasamantala ang kanilang kaunting kaalaman para sa ganitong klaseng gawain,” she lamented. The apprehending team is also appealing to everyone to be aware and vigilant in protecting our environment and its inhabitants. This year has seen four successful operations of the PNNI-GLACC against illegal wildlife traders in southern Palawan.

WESCOM soldiers join race to make Palawan dengue-free

Tristan Ray I. Besa
The Palawan Times

Armed with the purpose of raising the awareness of the people of Puerto Princesa City and the province of Palawan about the dangers of the dengue disease and how to avoid them and, in the long term, make this city dengue-free, soldiers from the different services of the Western Command (WESCOM) joined last November 7 the fun race organized by the 1 Ganap Guardian, Inc. dubbed “Anti-Dengue Awareness Fun Run.” Soldiers from the Western Command; Naval Forces West; 570th Composite Tactical Wing; 8th Marine Battalion Landing Team; Palawan CAA Administrative Unit, 59th Infantry Battalion of Philippine Army; and the 6th Civil Relations Group of CRSAFP raced with other participants from the Provincial Police Office led by its director, P/SSupt Aurelio Trampe; the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary-District Palawan; the Provincial and City Health Office; PNP Maritime and several private individuals in a 3-kilometer, 5-kilometer and 10-kilometer run in the city. The anti-dengue advocate group, 1 Ganap Guardian, Inc., teamed up with the PCGA, through Captain Nelson Gaspar in organizing the fun run event, the first activity it conducted for its advocacy. Speaking after the race, Capt Gaspar shared with the participants that their vision to make Puerto Princesa a dengue-free city was met with skepticism by several people. “They said it was not possible,” Capt Gaspar related but continued, unfazed, that “if everybody cooperates, we have no doubt that we can achieve our mission and make Puerto Princesa City and the province of Palawan dengue-free.” Dr. Dean Palanca of the City Health Office said, “the awareness of the people about dengue, a hemorrhagic viral disease that can be acquired through the bite of a carrier mosquito, is a big step towards its prevention.” After the fun race activity, the participants proceeded to conduct an information campaign about preventive measures to avoid dengue. The WESCOM contingent headed by Capt. Abraham F Celzo PN, Chief of Staff said, that WESCOM has already conducted info campaign about dengue and the ways to prevent and detect it. The information campaign was conducted as a response to the outbreak of dengue all over the country in the past months. Other organizations who helped organized the activity include the Malampaya Foundation, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. and the Palawan Safe Riders Club.

Hagedorn junks 21 tricycle permits

Cheryl A. Galili
The Palawan Times

CITY MAYOR Edward S. Hagedorn has returned the approved resolution of the Sangguniang Panlungsod granting the request for the transfer of 21 motorized tricycle operator’s permits (MTOPs) franchises by way of sale. The letter dated November 4, 2010 from City Secretary Samson Negosa transmitted to the august body contained Hagedorn’s disapproval to the legislative measure. The mayor noted that the approval of the said transfer of franchises by way of sale will cause further congestion of the national highway and city street. Hagedorn commented that not allowing further transfer of franchise will reduce the number of authorized tricycle franchises plying the city streets. Recently, the Sangguniang Panlungsod approved a resolution urging the city engineering department to come up with the alternative routes including the possible opening of the new roads to ease the traffic congestion within poblacion. The council observed that the continuous incresase of vehicle volume causes too much traffic during rush hours. The city has tried implementing the 50-50 traffic scheme with the aim of reducing the numbers of tricycles plying in the street. It likewise implemented the truck ban and re-routing schemes. It seems, though, that it can no longer address the traffic congestion. In several radio interviews, the city mayor has also expressed his desire to ease the traffic burden by opening of new alternative road.

Improvements for military facilities in Kalayaan underway

By Tristan Ray I. Besa
The Palawan Times


Keep your fingers crossed on this one. The military facilities in the Kalayaan Island will be upgraded and improved, National Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin said during his visit at the Western Command (WESCOM) last November 9, in line with the modernization program that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is presently pushing for. The defense secretary, who was accompanied by the AFP Chief of Staff LtGen Ricardo A. David Jr., made an assessment of the current condition of the military facilities in the area with which they will base the improvement and upgrading they will implement. He said he also wanted to personally see the condition of the soldiers assigned in the area. In addition, Gazmin said they are also planning to construct a dock port in the island. Presently, the island of Kalayaan does not have one, while the neighboring islands occupied by the other Asian states already have several access infrastructures in place. The Kalayaan Island, which the Philippines is staking a claim, is part of the Spratly Archipelago which other Asian nations, including China, Vietnam and Malaysia, claim in whole or in part. The upgrading of military facilities in Kalayaan, according to the defense secretary, is a recognition of the important responsibilities that WESCOM carry out. When a local reporter pointed out in a press conference during the secretary’s visit that improvements of the military facilities in Kalayaan have already been proposed by previous administration but turned into nothing in the end, Gazmin said they are also working on putting into place a program that will ensure the continuity of the projects even if the leadership will change. He explained that one of the primary hindrances in the implementation of AFP projects in the past is that a good project may be shoved into the backburner because a leader has been replaced by another who wants a different project. The program they are ironing out will ensure the continuity of projects despite the change in leadership.

Nuke not welcome in Palawan

By Clarinda I. Catimpo
The Palawan Times

 CLOSE ON the heels of the revelation that Palawan “is a possible site for a nuclear power plant to generate cheaper electricity” comes the reaction of Governor Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra that nuke is not welcome in the province that is dubbed as the country’s last ecological frontier. This after the Senate has insisted earlier that a nuclear power plant is in the Philippine’s future. The promotion of alternative energy, including nuclear power, is one means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile said during a Senate finance committee hearing recently. Enrile suggested that the national government is welcome to use Luzon’s northeastern quadrant as a site for a nuclear power plant well away from population centers because it never experienced major earthquakes. He suggested that the national government consider the Balabac island chain as a site for the nuclear power plant. But Mitra reckoned that renewable energy such as solar and wind should be a smarter choice in the long run. “There are other provinces where they can set that [nuclear power plant] up. We prefer clean and renewable energy,” Mitra told Palawan Times in an interview. He added that renewable energy is currently the provincial government’s priority, and nuclear comes last. “Renewables are getting cheaper so why do you want to go for nuclear? It is not cost effective,” Mitra said. Apparently, foreign nuclear equipment suppliers have expressed their willingness to invest in the country’s nuclear power industry, National Power Corp. spokesman Dennis Gana said in an interview with reporters. He said the US, Japan, Korea, Russia, and France have already showed interest in the Philippines’ nuclear power industry as “we are the only country in the region [that] has not gone [into] nuclear energy.” Another industry official shared the same sentiment with Gana, saying that most foreign companies capable of providing nuclear power facilities are interested to come into the country. “However, most of them are just monitoring the development of our nuclear policy, but there are some who are more proactive,” the source, who refused to be named, told reporters. Napocor, together with the Energy Department and other government agencies, takes the lead in studying nuclear power development options for the Philippines. The government has received numerous proposals from the foreign community to study the possibility of rehabilitating the mothballed 600-megawatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP). Other companies expressed willingness to provide assistance to the government in coming up with its nuclear power development program. One of them was US-based Excel Services Corp. who provides regulatory and engineering services to the nuclear industry, nuclear regulators, and federal agencies in the US and other countries. Toshiba Corp., one of Japan’s biggest supplier of nuclear reactors, has also expressed interest to help the Philippines re-power the BNPP. Korea Electric Power Corp. (Kepco) also expressed interest in reviving the BNPP. It already conducted a study on the country’s mothballed nuclear facility. Kansai Electric Power Corp. and Tokyo Electric Power Corp., on the other hand, wants to provide technical assistance to the Philippine government for its nuclear power program. At the moment, the cost of power in Palawan is reportedly more than P9 per kilowatt hour. Earlier, Energy Secretary Jose Almendras reported that most of the Asian countries have already built nuclear power plants. Had the Philippines pushed through with the operation of the nuclear power plant in Bataan in 1976, the power rate in our country today would only have been P1.89 per kilowatt hour, he said. Right now, South Korea gets 42 percent of its power from nuclear plants. The same is true, too, with Indonesia and Thailand, which get 20 percent each of their power supply from nuclear sources. Nuclear waste cannot be treated technologically, thus the fear on its ill effects on the environment.

Iskolar na Medicine students? Why not!

Clarinda I. Catimpo
The Palawan Times

APRUBADO na ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Palawan ang pagsasali ng mga piling deserving students na kumukuha ng kursong Bachelor of Science in Medicine sa scholarship program ng lalawigan.
Sa ginanap na Special Session ng Sanggunian noong November 15, pinaboran ng mayoriya ng mga bokal ang isinulong na resolusyon ni Board Member Gil P. Acosta na isama ang kursong Medicine sa iniaalok na scholarship program ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan. Ito ay matapos ng masusing pag-aaral ng Committee on Education na pinamunuan ni Board Member Derrick Pablico.
“Kung dati problemado ang lalawigan sa mga abogado at nag-aangkat pa ng serbisyo mula sa Kalakhang Maynila, we are hoping na dumami rin ang duktor na legitimate Palaweños should this resolution be implemented soon,” ani Acosta.
Ngunit para kay Governor Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra, pipiliin pa ng mabuti kung sinu-sino ang karapat-dapat na susuportahan sa pag-aaral ng Medicine at hindi basta-basta ang pagtatanggap ng aplikante.
“Medical scholarships are costly but even before the [Provincial Board] started discussing it, we have already asked the PHO to scout for existing medical students which the province can support,” pahayag ni Mitra sa panayam ng Palawan Times.
Aniya, hindi porke aprubado na ng Sanggunian ay maisasakatuparan kaagad. Marami pa umanong proseso ang pagdadaanan upang mahanapan ng sapat na pondo para masustina ang pag-aaral ng isang BS Medicine student hanggang ito’y maging ganap na manggagamot.
Isang welcome development naman ito para kay Dr. Peter Hew Curameng, ng Department of Health – Palawan extension office.
“That would be very good,” maikling pahayag ni Curameng sa panayam ng Palawan Times.

Marines celebrate 60 years of excellent, honorable and dedicated service

Tristan Ray I. Besa
The Palawan Times

Remembering its history and rejoicing its accomplishments, the Philippine Marine Corps celebrated last November 18 its 60th “birthday” at the Capitol Pavilion. The celebration became a “time to pause, reflect and reminisce history” as Lt. Col. Adolfo B. Albalante, commanding officer of the 8th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-8), traced how the Marine Corps evolved from being purely a combat unit to being an active partner in bringing progress and development to the community. Albalante stated with pride how, 60 years after it has been established, the Philippine Marine Corps has managed to “stand formidable against the passing of time.” Major General Juancho M. Sabban, commanding officer of the Western Command (WESCOM), brought everybody for a walk down the memory lane as he talked of “how time has shaped” the Philippine Marine Corps, from being an instrument of a strategic operation in the Spratly Archipelago where the Philippines staked a claim on eight of its islands in 1970s, to fighting the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in 1980s, and finally to becoming champions of counterinsurgency and environmental protection in 1990s. “Palawan has served as the background to the indomitable spirit of the marines,” MGen Sabban said. He also reminded his audience of the “long history of [the Philippine Marine Corps] of caretaking Palawan.” From the WESCOM Commander’s point of view, the province of Palawan owes the progress and development it presently enjoys to the “excellent, honorable and dedicated service” that the marines have rendered. In the same vein, Sabban encouraged the marine soldiers to continuously “pursue the culture of excellence” and to be inspired to render service to the country by the “legacy of heroism and bravery” that the other soldiers who came before them had shown. In the midst of the celebration, the soldiers did not forget their fallen comrades who had given up their lives for the country. The soldiers reserved a time to solemnly remember them.

Marines show off skills

 Tristan Ray I. Besa
The Palawan Times

Showing their competence in disaster response operations and in maritime resources protection, the Western Command (WESCOM) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) – Maritime Group conducted last November 11 a joint capability demonstration activity at the Baywalk Park in Puerto Princesa City. Marine soldiers and members of the PNP-maritime group deftly maneuvered rubber boats along the bay while chasing each other as civilian spectators gathered along the breakwater to watch the demonstration. WESCOM Commander Major General Juancho M. Sabban said the activity aims to show the public that “even with our limited resources and equipments, we are working hard to protect our seas” and at the same time assure them that the men who are tasked to protect our maritime areas from violations are well-trained and adeptly capable of carrying out their mandates. Sabban shared that marine troops will be deployed in Balabac, the West Coast and areas along the northern part of the province of Palawan to protect the Philippine waters in these areas from poachers, human traffickers, smugglers, terrorists and other kinds of maritime law violators. Basic facilities for maritime protection in these areas are already being established, he added.

Helmet law violators face stiffer penalties

 Cheryl A. Galili
The Palawan Times

NO MORE excuses.
15 days after  its approval, the law enforcement agencies will strictly implement the approved amended City Ordinance No. 253 that imposes higher penalties to all motorcycle drivers and their passengers who are not using standard helmets.
On November 15, during its regular session, Councilor Henry A. Gadiano who chairs the committee on transportation moved for its approval citing amendments in the sections 5 and 148 of the ordinance known as an ordinance establishing the Traffic Code of the City and providing penalties and violations.
Gadiano stressed that wearing helmets will greatly reduce fatalities in road accidents. Records show that the main culprit of fatality in several vehicular accidents is not using a proper helmet or not wearing protected helmet.
“Marami ang nadidisgrasya dahil sa hindi pagsusuot ng tamang helmet, kadalasan mas nauna pang natatanggal ang helmet kapag natumba,” he said referring to the ‘construction helmets’ which are commonly used by some of the motorcycle drivers and their back riders.
The councilor added that imposition of higher penalties to the drivers and   passengers who are not wearing standard helmet will oblige them instead of paying the prescribed penalties.
Under the law, those who will be caught not wearing protective helmets face a minimum fine of P500 and a maximum penalty of P1,500 plus cancellation of license.
In previous public hearings conducted at the People’s Amphitheater in Mendoza Park, Gadiano hears the sentiments of concerned agencies regarding this proposal and it was unanimously supported by drivers and operators.
The use of protective helmet is also a national policy after the approval of Republic Act 100054 of Mandatory Helmet Act of 2010 which was approved and signed by former president Gloria M. Arroyo.

DFA Passporting Office

Ni Eduardo Aro
The Palawan Times

NAKAKADALAWANG TAON na ang DFA Passporting Office sa Lungsod ng Puerto Princesa.  Sa kalagitnaan din ng buwang ito noong 2008 nagsimulang tumanggap ng application para sa pasaporte ang opisina.
Noong huling dalawang buwan at kalahati ng 2008 ay tumanggap ang Passporting Office  ng 716 na application — 535 para sa regular na pasaporte at 181 para sa pasaporteng para sa hajj sa Mecca ng mga Muslim na Filipino. 
Noong 2009, tumanggap ang opisina ng 4,247 na mga application para sa regular na pasaporte at 47 pasaporteng gagamitin sa hajj. Sa unang 10 buwan ng 2010 ay tumanggap ang opisina ng 4,761 mga application para sa regular na pasaporte at 106 para sa pasaporteng pang-hajj.
Tumatanggap dito ng application para sa regular na pasaporte buhat sa lahat ng Pilipinong naninirahan sa Palawan.  Hindi na kailangan ang appointment  para makapag-apply.
Kailangang magdala ang aplikante ng birth certificate na galing sa NSO at ID na may litrato, at isulat ang mga hinihinging impormasyon sa application form.  Ang regular na processing fee ay P950 (3 linggo) at P1,200 naman para sa express processing fee (2 linggo). 
Ang regular na pasaporte ay may validity na limang taon subalit hindi na ito maaaring gamitin sa paglalakbay limang buwan bago ito magpaso.  Para sa dati nang may pasaporte na kukuha ng bagong pasaporte, kailangang dalhin ang lumang pasaporte kapag mag-a-apply ng bago.
Ang application form ay maaaring i-download mula sa website ng DFA na  www.dfa.gov.ph.
Kaugnay nito, naghahanap ang DFA ng Staff House na may tatlong silid tulugan, sariling banyo at parking area. Maaari pong makipag-ugnayan sa kanilang tanggapan.
Ang DFA Passporting Office ay matatagpuan sa 2nd Floor, City Coliseum, San Pedro at may telepono blg. 434-1773.

Pacquiao brings home more ‘bacon’

By Peter Q. Mata
 The Palawan Times

Manny Pacquiao was the talk of the sporting world in the wake of his astonishing beatdown of Antonio Margarito. Already a multi-millionaire, Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has at least another US$25 million coming for battering Mexican Antonio Margarito into submission in Texas last weekend. That is before the taxman lops off a big chunk of it. But for all intents and purposes, boxing’s pound-for-pound king no longer needs to work for the rest of his life, unless he overindulges and blows it all away. For his 12-round, 36-minute work in the ring with Margarito, Pacquiao earned an estimated $25 million, equivalent to 1.1 billion pesos. This translates to $694,000 or 30.5 million pesos per minute. All in all, Margarito landed 135 power punches during the bout – which meant that for every one of those punches Pacquiao took, the Filipino idol earned $135,000 – or 8 million pesos. What the Pacquiao-Margarito fight failed to generate at the gates it drew from pay-per-view (PPV). Figures show the Pacquiao fight stands to be one of the most watched ever in boxing history: as many as 1.5 million PPV hits. If the bruising fight indeed hit 1.5 million PPV buys, it would eclipse the 1.4 million PPV buys posted by the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Shane Mosley bout in May and confirm Pacquiao’s status as PPV’s most bankable boxer at present. With each buy costing $54.95, Pacquiao-Margarito PPV hits of 1.5-million translate to $82 million. From total PPV sales, Pacquiao stands to get about 12.5 percent of the projected $82-million revenue, or $10 million. This is on top of his guaranteed purse of $15 million for the fight that earned him an unprecedented eighth world title in as many weight classes. Those four fights brought him $67 million altogether. That does not include the estimated $25 million he earned from his fight with Margarito. Ranged against those amounts, Pacquiao’s gross pay as a congressman about P75,000 pesos a month, would seem like only loose coins for him. While he is also entitled to an annual country wide development fund of P70-million, that money is intended for projects in his congressional district. Veteran promoter Bob Arum has seen it all in a career spanning almost half a century and he unwaveringly believes Pacquiao has become the best fighter of all time. Arum has worked with giants of the ring such as Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran but none of them, in his opinion, ever dominated with both fists in the manner of the diminutive Filipino southpaw.

Palarong Panlalawigan umarangkada sa Brooke’s Point

Ni Clarinda I. Catimpo
The Palawan Times

Pangungunahan nina Governor Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra at Vice Governor Clara Fems Reyes ang pagbubukas ng taunang Palarong Panlalawigan sa Nov. 21, 2010 sa Brooke’s Point Sports Complex. Ang palaro ay magsisimula sa pamamagitan ng parada ng opisyales, atleta, trainor ng bawat delegasyon mula sa munisipyo at magtatapos sa Brooke’s Point Sports Complex. Ayon kay Amado Gonda, Physical Education and School Sports Supervisor ng DEPED Palawan, handang-handa na ang lahat para sa nasabing palaro. Napagalaman na sumailalim na sa screening o ang pagtatasa kung kwalipikado at sinisigurong nasa tamang edad ang mga manlalaro ng bawat delegasyon. Isasagawa naman ang panayam sa mga atleta mula ika-18 hanggang ika-20 ng Nobyembre at gaganapin naman ang solidarity meeting ng lahat ng delegasyon sa gabi ng ika-20 ng Nobyembre. Ayon pa kay Gonda, paglalabanan sa elementarya at sekondarya ang mga larong basketball, baseball, volleyball, softball, badminton, taekwondo, boxing, sipa/sepak takraw, lawn tennis, table tennis, arnis, athletics at gymnastics. Bukod sa nabanggit ay may dalawang events ang madadagdag sa palaro at ito ay ang dance sports at arnis para sa mga babae. Ang mga mapipiling mga atleta sa palarong ito ang siyang magrerepresenta sa delegasyon ng Palawan sa MIMAROPARAA na gaganapin sa Calapan, Mindoro. Samantala, isang friendship game ang gagawin pagkatapos ng programa ng pagbubukas ng palaro na katatampukan ng mga empleyado ng pamahalaang panlalawigan at mga empleyado mula sa lokal na pamahalaan ng Brooke’s Point. Sa gabi ay maghahandog ang pamahalaang panlalawigan ng isang salo-salo para sa mga delegasyon ng iba’t-ibang munisipyo. Pormal na magsisimula ang mga palaro sa ika-22 at magtatapos sa ika-25 ng buwang kasalukuyan.

Wescom says ‘SORRY’

Ni Tristan Ray I. Besa
The Palawan Times

Muling inihingi ng paumanhin ng commander ng Western Command (WESCOM) ang nangyaring kaguluhan sa pagitan ng mga sundalo ng 8th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-8) at ng 570th Composite Tactical Wing (CTW) noong ika-12 ng Nobyembre sa isang painuman sa Rizal Avenue, lungsod ng Puerto Princesa.
Sa pagdiriwang ng ika-60 taong kaarawan ng pagkakatatag ng Philippine Marine Corps sa Capitol Pavilion noong nakaraang ika-18 ng Nobyembre, muling inulit ni Major General Juancho M. Sabban ang ginawang paghingi ng pag-unawa sa mga tao sa nangyaring kaguluhan sangkot ang mga sundalo.
Matatandaan na nauwi sa pagkakasakitan ang hindi pagkakaunawaan ng dalawang sundalo—isang marines at isang airforce– sa isang painuman. Ang dahilan diumano ng iringan ay isang babae.
Sa mga nauna nang panayam kay Sabban sa radyo, sinabi nitong paiimbestigahan niya ang pangyayari at aalamin kung sinu-sino ang mga dapat managot. Ang mga mapapatunayang may kasalanan at makakatanggap ng naayong parusa.
Sa gitna ng pagbibigay ng kanyang pahayag sa pagdiriwang ng ika-60 taon ng Philippine Marine Corps sinabi ni Sabban na bagama’t hindi pinahihintulutan ng sandatahang lakas ang hindi magandang ipinakita ng mga sundalo, kung saan ang kabilang partidong sangkot ay mga marines, hindi rin dapat kalimutan ng mga tao na malaki ang naibahagi ng marines sa pag-unlad ng lalawigan ng Palawan.
Sinabi rin ng pinuno ng WESCOM na hindi dapat makaligtaan dahil sa pangyayaring ito ang mahabang kasaysayan ng pangangalaga ng mga marines sa lalawigan.
Ipinaalala nito na naging mahalagang instrumento ang marines sa pagpapalaganap at pagpapanatili ng kapayapaan sa lalawigan ng Palawan at anumang kaunlarang tinatamasa nito ngayon ay bunga ng matagumpay at kahanga-hangang pagtupad ng mga sundalo sa kanilang mga tungkulin.
Maliban sa pagpapanatili ng kapayapaan, naging aktibo rin ang marines sa pakikipagtulungan sa iba’t-ibang sektor ng pamayanan upang makapagdala ng mga proyektong pangkaunlaran sa mga lugar na nangangailangan nito.
Pinaalalahanan din nito ang mga sundalo na laging sumunod sa mga alituntunin ng kanilang sinumpaang tungkulin. Bilang mga naatasang tagapangalaga sa kaligtasan ng bansa at ng mga tao, pinagsabihan niya ang mga ito na laging sumunod sa mga prinsipyong pangkapayapaan at patuloy na igalang ang mga karapatang pantao.
Sa pag-alala sa mga kapwa nila sundalo na nagbuwis ng buhay upang makamit ang kapayapaan, hiniling ni MGen Sabban na ang mga iniwan nilang pamana sa lahat na bunga ng kanilang kabayanihan at katapangan ay magbigay ng inspirasyon sa lahat ng mga sundalo na patuloy na magbigay ng mahusay at marangal na serbisyo sa mga tao at sa bansa.
Muli ring binigkas ng mga sundalong marino ang kanilang panunumpa bilang simbolo ng pagpapatibay nila sa kanilang pagsunod sa mga alituntunin at prinsipyong pinaniniwalaan nila.

Post-Halloween film premieres in Puerto Princesa

By Joel Contrivida
The Palawan Times

The City famous for its Subterranean River had its taste of a premiere night via “Saka Adlaw Sa Lebengan”, a 20-minute short film produced by  Likhang Indie Pelikula Sining o LIPS under the direction of Paolo Buera, a homegrown indie filmmaker of Palawan.
The film had its first screening last November 2 at A&A Plaza Hotel in a very formal premiere night that well attended including character actor Joel Molina, a true-blue Palaweño.
“Saka Adlaw” tackles the story of two perennial ghost where one is seeking justice after being brutally murdered and raped, while the other is on the verge of accepting her fate as a departed soul.  The twist and turn of the film delighted the audience as the story progresses with an unpredictable story line. The film title, a Cuyono word meaning “one day in the graveyard”, stars local young talented artists Myra Miraflores, Geann Pilapil and Bea Mae Ocampo.
According to Buera, most of the actors in the project underwent an acting workshop under his supervision. Buera is a fellow of Nick De Ocampo in many film workshops of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, that was before he started making independent and self produced films such as “The Answer” and “Biak Na Bato”.
Aside from the City premiere, Saka adlaw is also having its inter-Palawan screening, one in San Vicente and the other in the Rizal. Buera told Palawan Times that the budget for this short film is amounting to P300, 000 only, and he is planning to include this short film in different film festivals here and abroad if given a chance.
Produced by Clarita Skjoenglistad, Saka Adlaw is also sponsored by the City Government of Puerto Princesa thru Mayor Edward Hagedorn, Provincial Government of Palawan thru Gov. Abraham Mitra, A&A Plaza Hotel and Natasha.
His next project is a full length movie entitled “Prinsesa ng Baybay”, a period movie based in the colorful history of Puerto Princesa, but there is no date yet for this next film as he is still looking for a possible producer.

“Voyage of Balangay” pinili ang Puerto Princesa bilang port of entry

Ni Richard L. Bantayan
The Palawan Times

SINALUBONG ng mga opisyal ng Pamahalaang Panlungsod ng Puerto Princesa ang makasaysayang pag-biyahe ng 42-man team ng “Voyage of Balangay,” na pinamumunuan ng kanilang team leader na si dating DOTC Undersecretary Art Valdez.
Ito rin ang parehong grupo na umakyat sa tuktok ng Mt. Everest sa Tibet. At matapos nga ang matagumpay na pag-akyat sa pinakamataas na bundok sa mundo ay umiikot naman sila sa buong Southeast Asia gamit ang reconstructed na balangay, isang pre-colonial boat na nahukay ng archeologists sa Butuan noong 1976 carbondated 32 A.D. pa.
Naging emosyonal ang grupo na kinabibilangan din nina Leo Oracion, Pastour Emata, atbp. nang marining nilang kantahin ang Lupang Hinirang sa unang pagkakataon mula nang umalis sila sa Pilipinas at simulan ang ekspedisyon noong Setyembre 2009.
Bunsod nito, hinamon ni Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn ang grupo na bagtasin ang pamosong Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park o ang Underground River, na agad namang tinanggap ng grupo.