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