Army encounters group of NPAs in Sta. Catalina town
By Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 7 (PIA) --- Army soldiers of the 32nd Division Reconnaissance Company clashed against seven fully armed New People’s Army (NPA) members in an encounter this week at sitio Avocado, Barangay Talalak in Sta. Catalina town.
Information Officer, Captain Anecito Naz said the NPAs are believed to be members of the Platoon “Robinsons” of Southeast Front of the Komiteng Rehiyon-Sentral Bisayas.
The firefight lasted for only five minutes as the NPAs hastily withdrew in the nearby creek lines leaving one back pack, one bandolier with four magazines of M14 with five ammunition, one hand grenade, subversive documents and personal belongings, said
Capt. Naz.
No casualties were reported on both forces. However, the government troops believed that the NPAs were wounded.
Following the encounter, the Army is conducting an ongoing hot pursuit operation to track down the direction of the fleeing rebels.
The same group of rebels also figured in an encounter three weeks ago against the troops of 79th Infantry Battalion in sitio Estakahan, Barangay Apoloy in Siaton.
Capt. Naz said the inability of the NPA to resist an encounter for a longer period of time and the number of ammunition recovered manifested that the NPA in Southeast Negros is already a spent force.
The army official noted that the rebels now lack seasoned fighters, armaments and ammunitions.
The series of encounters that happened since last year show that the Negrenses cooperated with the military by putting up a strong military and social pressure by providing information on the presence of armed group and compelling them to abandon their armed struggle, cited Naz.
However, the military officer said the focus of the internal peace and security plan of the Armed of Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the conduct of its operations is in the winning the peace and not just defeating the enemy. (rmn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)
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PCOO, GK host youth camp
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 27 (PIA) -- More than 100 youth leaders participated in the Pilipinas Natin Balangayan Camp held recently, March 23 to 25, at the Negros Oriental National High School (NOHS) in Dumaguete City.
The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) together with Gawad Kalinga (GK) Negros Oriental spearheaded the three-day camp which aimed to mold the youth-participants into patriotic leaders and nation builders.
PCOO Coordinator Toby Madayag said the Pilipinas Natin is a campaign to build a volunteerism movement that thrives on the people’s continuing response to the call for change.
Madayag said the youth camp was in preparation for the GK Bayani challenge where more than a hundred houses will be built for tropical storm Sendong victims in Amlan town on April 9 to 14.
PCOO is presently coordinating with various youth and citizen volunteer groups for the conduct of the “Bayani Challenge” where they promote volunteerism effort to rebuild the houses of the typhoon-affected people in the area.
The campers participated in the activities on team building that hoped to strengthen the youths’ commitment in nation building, volunteerism at the community, and other sessions that harnessed the creativity of the participants, said Madayag.
The youth leader-volunteers came from Silliman University, ACSAT, St. Paul University, Foundation University, Negros Oriental State University (NORSU), and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation from the municipalities of Dauin and Amlan and Dumaguete City. (rmn/JCT/PIA 7, Negros Oriental)
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Army's 302 IB receives award of recognition
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 27 (PIA) -- The 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army received recently an award of Command Plaque of Merit in recognition of its search and rescue, and relief operations during the tropical storm Sendong and the powerful earthquake that hit Negros Oriental.
The Commanding General, Philippine Army (CGPA) Lt. General Emmanuel Bautista of AFP, presented the plaque of merit to brigade commander, Col. Francisco Patrimonio during the 115th Founding Anniversary program held at Fort Bonifacio, Metro Manila.
According to Information Officer Capt. Anacito Naz of the Philippine Army, the brigade fully utilized their military personnel and equipment including the 79th and 11th Infantry Battalions, 703rd Community Defense Center, 32nd Division Reconnaissance Company, and the brigade’s operationally controlled units with the support of Tactical Operations Group-6 (TOG-6) of the Philippine Air Force during the disaster relief and rescue operations.
The same awards were also received by Privates Marlon Vera and Danny Faigane, both members of the Philippine Army’s 32nd Division Reconnaissance Company, who were deployed in the landslide area in Barangay Solonggon, La Libertad to conduct rescue operation.
They were awarded for their moral courage and rare display of honesty in returning the P90,000 cash owned by Virginia Callora found in the retrieval site, said Capt. Naz.
The awarding highlights the 115th Philippine Army anniversary celebration which also awarded the outstanding military officers and enlisted personnel, reservists, ROTC Cadets, CAFGU and civilian employees.
Naz said National Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin delivered his message as guest of honor during the event.
Among the invited guests in the celebration were the previous Army Commanders, Philippine Air Force and Navy Commanders, Area Commanders, Major Army Units and Brigade Commanders, Foreign Armies Defense Attaches, USEC Escueta of DND, USEC Carolina of PVAO and other prominent personalities. (rmn/JCT - PIA 7, Negros Oriental)
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PCA braces vs brontispa coconut infestation
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 267(PIA) -- The “Brontispa” coconut leaf beetle infestation has affected 22,000 coconut trees in Negros Oriental, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) reported.
PCA Provincial Coconut Development Manager Brendan Trasmonte said the Brontispa longissima has been monitored to be spreading out, particularly from Bayawan City to the towns of Basay, Siaton, and Guihulngan City.
Trasmonte said that of the number of trees infested, 19,000 come from Bayawan and neighboring towns; and 2,000 coco trees infected in Guihulngan.
Brontispa feeds on young leaves and damages seedlings and mature coconut palms. This insect belongs to the order of Coleoptera and Chrysomelidae family along with a number of beetle species.
Treatment is being done on affected coconut trees, which includes spraying with “karate” chemicals, pruning, and cut-and-burn to contain the spread of the invasive pests, said Trasmonte.
However, some farmer groups in affected areas have been trained to develop and use biological control, parasitoids, organisms or typical parasites that ultimately prevent the proliferation of the beetle, said the PCA official.
Initially, the local government of Bayawan has started culturing parasitoids to help eliminate the Brontispa problem.
Meanwhile, Representative Jocelyn Limkaichong has allocated P5 million in support of PCA’s coconut planting and replanting program.
The local government units in the first district will put up its coconut nursery expected to start in June, in time for the rainy season, said Trasmonte.
The first district has 32,839 hectares planted with 2,413,854 bearing coconut and 870,469 non-bearing trees.
For the second district, about 29,677 hectares of land are planted with 2,968,137 coco bearing and non-bearing fruits. While in the third district, 3,026,807 of coconut trees planted in 30,266 hectares of land. (rmn/JCT-PIA 7, Negros Oriental)
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Dumaguete City receives P100K for typhoon victims from Taguig City
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 27 (PIA) -- Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria received a check worth P100,000 from the City Government of Taguig today as donation to victims of tropical storm “Sendong” that badly hit Dumaguete City last December 17, 2011.
Taguig City Councilor Jimmy Labampa and Councilor Ricardo Jordan, the treasurer of the Councilors League Of the Philippines, handed over the financial assistance in behalf ofTaguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano to the city government of Dumaguete through Mayor Sagarbarria.
The turnover was witnessed by Negros Oriental Board Member Peve Obanina Ligan and Claire Bangaysiso, the political officer of Vice-President Jejomar Binay.
Councilor Labampa said they hope that their little contribution can help the city government of Dumaguete to rebuild houses of victims that were wiped out and partially damaged by the Typhoon Sendong.
Sagarbarria for his part thanked the City Government of Taguig for helping the affected families in Dumaguete City.
The city government of Dumaguete received more than P5 million total amount of financial assistance for the typhoon victims. (JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)
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PRC to hold mobile processing in Dumaguete
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 27 (PIA) -- The Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) will hold a mobile processing activity for professionals on April 19 to 20, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Dumaguete City.
The venue will be at Robinson’s Place in Calindagan, this city.
During the activity, PRC will renew Professional ID Cards, release PRC IDs, and hold registration for Teachers’ Bar and Nurses.
Professionals who are interested to avail of the services are requested to visit the Dumaguete City Public Employment Office (PESO) at the second floor of Bldg. 2, Public Market Complex for the complete list of requirements or call 226-3530.
Those requesting for the release of their PRC ID’s are also encouraged to visit the PESO office to have their names listed. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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ICT-Dumaguete to host ICT Summit
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 27 (PIA) -- Stakeholders in the information and communications technology (ICT) in Dumaguete City is preparing to host a Provincial ICT Summit on July 20-21 at the Convention Center, this city.
ICT Dumaguete President Randolf Bandiola said the summit aims to bring together the players and various representatives of ICT, including the small medium enterprises (SMEs) and agriculture sector to create new business opportunities and be competitive.
The activity also supports ICT in agriculture and drive-related sectors to increase growth and development by offering better communication and promotion channels, said Bandiola.
ICT interventions may have greater impact on agricultural production and post-harvest activities of farmers and improve rural livelihoods, the Dumaguete-ICT head said.
The ICT summit organizers invited resource persons from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Department of Agriculture national office to present the benefits of ICT in agriculture.
The summit carries the theme “Convergence” to unite leading sectors such as agriculture, education, tourism, SMEs and health and collectively push for ICT advocacies to improve local economic development. (JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)