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