Vol. XIX, No. 21 | May 26 - June 1, 2014

>>>DOST releases hazard maps for a safer country

> News. ...P/2

Vol. 19, No. 21 | May 26 - June 1, 2014 E-mail: balikasonline@yahoo.com Telephone: (043) 417.1662 Smart/TNT: 0912.902.7373 Globe/TM: 0917.512.9477 Php 12.00/copy

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DALAWANG sunog ang bumulaga sa kainitan ng hapon ng Mayo 13, 2014 sa Lunsod Batangas kung saan isang buhay ang nabuwis.

Unang sumiklab ang sunog sa isang bahay sa Sitio Duluhan, Brgy. Cuta, pasado ala-una ng hapon. Hindi pa man lubusang naapula ang apoy, bagaman at deklarado nang under control na ng kawa-nihan ng pamatay sunog, sumiklab naman ang ikalwang sunog sa Barangay Sta. Clara.

Nagmula ang sunog sa isang bahay na kaagad kumalat sa mga kalapit na kabahayan hanggang sa maabot nito at tupukin ang isang gusali ng mga silidaralan sa Sta. Clara Elementary School.

Nabuwis ang buhay ng isang Nestor Bautista ng makulong siya sa mga natutupok na kabahayan. Hindi pa man matiyak kung magkano ang kabuuang pinsala ng sunog, tiyak namang malaki ang magiging epekto nito sa pagbubukas ng klase sa Sta. Clara Elementary School.

Nabatid na hindi kaagad naapula ng Batangas City Fire Department at Batangas City Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce Fire Brigade ang apoy dahil sa kakulangan ng maayos na fire hydrant sa naturang lugar.|

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Mga opisyal ng barangay, pwedeng mabigyan ng eligibility ng CSC

PASS THE FOI! NUJP chair Rowena Carranza Paraan and PPI chairman-president Jess Dureza sign the petition for the immediate passage of the Freedom of Information bill at the petition launch this morning at the University of the Philippines. | PPI PHOTO

MAAARI nang mag-aaply para sa Barangay Official Eligibility (BOE) na iiisyu ng Civil Service Commission (CSC) ang lahat ng mga halal at hinirang na mga opsiyal ng mga barangay.

Ang BOE ay isang pribilehiyo na ibinibigay sa mga opisyal ng barangay, kabilang ang mga tagapangulo ng Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), na nakapaglingkod kahit isang termino man lamang sa isang barangay.

Ang naturang eligibility ay katumbas ng Career Service Subprofessional eligibility na hinihingi sa mga first level positions sa pamahalaan o sa mga posisyong nauukol sa clerical, trades, crafts, and custodial service.

Ayon sa CSC, angpagkakaloob ng BOE ay istriktong ipatutupad sa mga nakatapos man lamang kahit isang termino. Maaari lamang bigyan ng konsiderasyon ang mga hindi nakakumpleto ng termino kung ang kakulangan ng panahong ipinagsilbi ay wala pang 15 araw.

Weak child protection Twin bills to expand PhilHealth

coverage up for Senate action

p. 2

Ang mga opisyal ng barangay na nakatapos n ng kanilang termino bago sumapit ang Agosto 1, 2012 ay maaaring mag-file ng aplikasyon para sa BOE hanggang Agosto 1, 2014.

Pagkalipas nito ay hindina maaaring magbigay ng BOE ang CSC para sa mga nakatapos na ng termino bago mag-Agosto 1, 2012.

Samantala, iyon namang natapos ang termino makalipas ang Agosto 1, 2012 ay maaaring magapply ng tuluy-tuloy.

Ang mga hinirang (appointed) na opisyal gaya ng Kalihim at Ingat Yaman ng barangay na nasa fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity ng punumbarangay ay hindi kwalipikado sa BOE. Ang aplikante ay kailangang magsumite ng notaryadong saysay na hindi siya related up to the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity sa nag-appoint na punumbarangay.

>>>SERBISYO SIBIL..sundan sa P/3

‘I don’t want to go to jail!’

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Batangas, naghahanda na para p. 3 p. 4 sa ASEAN integration sa 2015

p. 5

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NEWS

Balikas

May 26 - June 1, 2014

DOST releases hazard maps for a safer country PREVENTING disasters is now greatly aided by scientific tools such as hazard maps.

This kind of map shows areas that are affected or vulnerable of a particular hazard, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, flooding and tsunamis. It helps in preventing serious damage and deaths.

In the joint project of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) called “Yolanda Rehabilitation Scientific Information Centers” (YoRInfoCenter), these hazard maps are available for individuals and organizations that need such crucial data in rehabilitating Yolanda-stricken areas.

A one stop shop for scientific data, the YoRInfoCenter will provide all available data like highresolution hazard maps, satellite imageries, and other tools that are necessary for the systematic and practical rehabilitation of the areas ravaged by typhoon Yolanda.

The maps are produced by the DOST-UP DREAM Project and DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

According to Dr. Eric Paringit, project leader of DREAM, “Hazard maps are created to provide early warnings to the people in times of danger, installation

of the requirements for housing, mapping out for the agriculture and other natural resources.”

“The maps are used in locating the damaged areas, in knowing if an establishment still exists, and in creating the rehabilitation plans,” Paringit added.

According to Dr. Elmer Billedo of the DENR-MGB, the maps are used in knowing the “impacted areas.”

The hazard maps are available in the barangay scale to let the people know the hazard areas in their respective places. These maps were verified by the Japan’s Society of Civil Engineer, said Billedo.

Also available at the YoRInfoCenter are Multiple Hazard Maps that put together in one map the different hazard-related information for a study area in order to convey a composite picture of the natural hazard of varying magnitude, frequency, and area of effect.

DENR-MGB has completed 102 hazard maps out of 171 municipalities affected by typhoon Yolanda. DREAM has likewise completed a number of maps developed through Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology.

The maps can be downloaded in the websites of DOST and DENR and will be distributed in respective areas.|S&T MEDIA SERVICE

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SOCIAL SERVICES. Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph G. Recto asks questions to representatives of

the Department of Health (DOH) and the state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in this morning’s hearing by the committee on Health and Demography. Taken up during the hearing were Senate Bill Nos. 711 and 712, both authored by Recto, seeking to promote the treatment and eradication of Tuberculosis and the mandatory Philhealth coverage for all senior citizens.| ALEX NUEVAESPANA

Twin bills to expand PhilHealth coverage up for Senate action THE Senate was asked few days ago to pass twin measures aimed at expanding coverage of state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) by including the full treatment of Tuberculosis (TB) and mandating compulsory coverage to all senior citizens.

Senate President Pro Tempore Sen. Ralph G. Recto said Senate Bill (SB) 711 would mandate PhilHealth to include the treatment of TB regardless if the patient is a member or not.

Recto said enrolling TB in the PhilHealth’s ‘sickness’ menu would speed-up the treatment and eradication of the disease nationwide.

“A person afflicted with TB should no longer suffer the social stigma of such sickness but should look forward to a healthier future with PhilHealth playing the role of emancipator,” Recto said.

The Senate leader noted that TB has now dislodged even the most notorious causes of death in the country by capturing sixth

rank, which translates to 75 Filipinos between the age 15 to 64 dying from TB daily.

In the list of World Health Organization (WHO), the country is ranked 9th of the total 22 countries that are considered high risk for TB cases.

“The PhilHealth coverage of TB treatment would expunge the country from the WHO watch list – a list that should cause more worry than the many convoluted versions of ‘Napolist,” Recto said.

Moreover, Recto said at least P8 billion taxpayers money is lost yearly due to sickness and deaths attributed to TB. A TB treatment costs around P8,000 to P10,000.

It was estimated that about P4 billion to P5 billion is needed to ensure a TB-free population.

A companion measure to SB 711 is Recto’s proposal to also bring all senior citizens under the tutelage of PhilHealth.

Recto, in filing Senate Bill 712, wants the estimated 6.1

million lolos and lolas of the country to bring home their own PhilHealth cards.

Currently, only indigent senior citizens are qualified for PhilHealth coverage.

The mandatory coverage of all senior citizens would entail a funding requirement of P14.64 billion, which could be sourced from the agency’s National Health Insurance Fund.

“The mandatory coverage of all senior citizens would be our simple gift for the productive years that they pumped in during their heydays -- a fitting send-off to their twilight years,” Recto said.

Both TB patients and senior citizens would be unburdened of their obligation to pay monthly premiums with PhilHealth, according to the twin bills’ author.

SB 711 or Alis TB Act amends Section 12 of Republic Act No. 7875, As Amended

by R.A. No. 10606, Otherwise known as “An Act Instituting a National Health Insurance Program for All Filipinos and

Establishing the Philippine Health insurance Corporation for the Purpose.” SB 712, on the other hand, seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9994, Otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.”

As of December 2013, there were 31.27 million registered members and 45.63 million dependents totaling to 76.90 million Filipinos provided with Philhealth coverage.

For 2014, additional 14.7 Million families are being targeted to be enrolled and covered with Philhealth.

For this purpose, government subsidy of P35.338 Billion was appropriated in the 2014 national budget.

This amount is higher byP22.726 Billion from the 2013 government subsidy.

The Philhealth’s Reserve Fund amounts to approximately P116 Billion.

Recto’s bills were taken up in today’s hearing by the Senate committee on Health and Demography chaired by Sen. Teofisto Guingona III.| BALIKAS NEWS TEAM

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SECURITY AND PREPAREDNESS. One important

aspect of Project NOAH is the creation of flood hazard maps where high-risk areas as well as safer grounds are identified and said information are easily accessed through computers and cellular phones for fast transmission where time is a critical factor. Photo shows Dr. Mahar A. Lagmay explaining the ongoing initiatives being done to mitigate hazards during the press briefing.|HENRY DE LEON

FOOD SECURITY.

DA mitigation strategies vs El Niño complete –Alcala THE Department of Agriculture announced very recently that mitigation and adaptation measures intended to cushion the impact of an expected long dry spell due to the effects of the El Niño

phenomenon are already being put in place even as sources of additional budgetary requirements are being identified.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said govern-

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (2nd from left) briefs media recently on the update of farm output performance in the first quarter of the year. Alcala also bared mitigation and adaptation measures the DA has put in place to lessen the adverse effects of the upcoming El Niño expected to arrive at the last quarter of the year. The DA has already allotted P1.61 billion for El Niño mitigation schemes, of which the bulk of more than P500 million will be allotted for the provision of seeds, planting materials, and other production inputs. With Alcala in the photo are (L-R): DA Usec.

Segfredo R. Serrano, Usec. Emerson U. Palad, and Asec. for Field Operations Edilberto M. De Luna.| PNA-DA PHOTO

ment interventions include putting in place policy initiatives, water management and conservation measures as well as modern and innovative farming and fishery technologies, among others, to soften the effects of the dry weather.

“The DA is also mobilizing local government units, civil society, non-government organizations and others to actively participate in implementing the intervention programs," Alcala added.

"We will also engage in a massive information and education campaign to create awareness and motivate a wider participation among all stakeholders,” he said.

For these interventions, the DA estimated it will need an initial budget of P1.61 billion, of which P764.3 million is readily available while the remaining P842.6 million is still being sourced with the Department of

Budget and Management.

Alcala said that more than a third of the financial requirement – P583.3 million – will be used to putting in place policy interventions which include buffer stocking and the provision of seeds, planting materials and other production inputs.

At P339.83 million, the second biggest allocation would fund water management and conservation measures such as the establishment of small-scale irrigation facilities, repair and rehabilitation of irrigation systems and the application of technologies adaptable to El Niño which include cloud seeding operations.

“We have already begun introducing drought-tolerant rice varieties along with the use of water-saving technologies to rice farmers and at the same time urging others to plant dry weather crops like

>>>FOOD...turn to P/6

NEWS

May 26 - June 1, 2014

Balikas

3

Batangas, naghahanda na para sa ASEAN integration sa 2015 KUMIKILOS na ang pamahalaang lunsod ng Batangas sa pamamagitan ng Office of the City Veterinary and Agricultural Services sa paghahanda ng agricultural sector sa mangyayaring ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Integration sa 2015.

Kaugnay nito, isang orientation seminar tungkol dito ang isinagawa sa OCVAS Training Center, Mayo 22.

Layunin ng nabanggit na pagtitipon na mabigyan ng sapat na kaalaman at maisulong ang kakayahan ng mga Batangueño sa pakikipagkalakalan bilang paghahanda sa AEC Integration sa 2015 at matulungan sila na makipagsabayan sa mga bansa sa Timog Silangang Asya.

Humigit kumulang sa 200 participants ang dumalo sa orientation seminar na mga myembro ng iba’t ibang sektor sa lunsod tulad ng kooperatiba, yellow corn growers association, bantay dagat, poultry growers, Rural Improvement Club (RIC) at iba pa.

Ang nasabing gawain ay bilang kapalit ng Agro Industrial Fair na isinasagawa ng OCVAS kada dalawang taon.

Hangad din nito na maturuan ang mga participant sa mga pagbabago sa merkado, pangisdaan, paghahalaman

at paghahayupan.

Magugunita na may Foreign Trade Agreement ang Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN) na isang political at economic organization ng sampung bansa sa Southeast Asia. Ito ay nabuo noong August 8, 1967 at kinabibilangan ng Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore at Thailand at kalaunan ay naging kasapi na din ang Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

Sa pamamagitan ng kasunduan na ito na nilagdaan noong January 1, 2010, nabibigyan ng pagkakataon na makapagpalitan ng kalakal (open trade) ang naturang mga bansa ng walang taripa o buwis partikular sa mga agricultural products.

Nabibigyan din nito ng oportunidad ang mga magsasaka na makapag export ng kanilang produkto.

Ayon sa tala, ang agribusiness ay ikatlo sa siyam na key export sectors kung kayat ito ang pinagtutuunan ng pansin ng pamahalaang lungsod.

Nagsilbing resource speakers sina Trade Industry Development Specialist Chief Marissa Argente ng DTI Batangas na nagbigay ng Overview of Asean Economic Community. Tinalakay ni

ASEAN INTEGRATION.

Aktibong nakiisa sa mga panayam ang may 200 participants sa orientation workshop ng OCVAS ukol sa ASEAN Integration.| CONTRIBUTED PHOTO AGAP Partylist Congressman Rico Geron ang Plans/ Programs of Agri/Coop sector for AEC’s Integration, habang nagbigay naman ng overview ng city government program sa ilalim ng United States Agency for International Development/ INVEST si City Program Adviser Emil de Quiros.

Ipinaabot ni Mayor Eduardo B. Dimacuha ang kanyang mensahe sa pamamagitan ng kanyang kina-

tawan na si City Administrator Phillip Baroja na pagbibigay prayoridad sa mga programa na mag-aangat sa antas ng pamumuhay ng mga mamamayan at magwawaksi sa kahirapan.

Ayon naman kay ABC President Angelito Dondon Dimacuha, patuloy ang lokal na pamahalaan sa pag-iisip ng mga pamamaraan tulad ng night market at trade fair upang maipakilala at maitampok ang mga produkto ng

mga local manufacturers bilang pagsuporta sa mga small and medium enterprises sa lungsod.

Magbibigay ang OCVAS ng tuloy tuloy na pagsasanay hanggang sa packaging ng mga produkto upang matulungan ang mga ito na magkaroon ng seal of good agricultural processes para sa mga magsasaka, seal of good animal husbandry para sa mga naghahayupan at seal of good aqua culture practices

para sa larangan ng pangisdaan.

Para sa mga hindi nakadalo sa orientation seminar, maaaring makipag-ugnayan sa tanggapan ng OCVAS para sa mga small group discussion tungkol dito.

Ang ikalawang orientation seminar ay nakatakdang ganapin sa June 20 para naman sa mga eggplant growers at iba pang sektor.| RONNA E. CONTRERAS

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113th Araw ng Lalawigan ng Rizal activities lined up THE Rizal Provincial Government has set its series of activities for the 113th Araw ng Lalawigan ng Rizal celebration this coming June 2014.

Rizal Provincial Information Officer Anthony Mateo said recently that the provincial government plans to hold the Araw ng Lalawigan celeb-

ration at the Ynares Center grounds, Antipolo City.

The program will include a Thanksgiving Mass, recognition of local outstanding athletes in the recently held Southern Tagalog Calabarzon Athletic Association (STCAA), bar topnotchers and ASEAN Paralympics

winners and launching of the launching of the YES (Ynares Eco System) Seal of Excellence in line with the provincial government’s priority programs. Mateo also added that there are no awardees for the annually held Gawad ng Anak ng Lahing Bayani for 2014.| PIA

....................................................................................................................... <<<SERBISYO-SIBIL...mula sa P/1

Mga opisyal ng barangay, pwedeng mabigyan ng eligibility ng CSC Maaaring ihain ang aplikasyon sa CSC Regional Office o sa mga Field Office na nakasasakop sa mga barangay kung saan nanungkulan ang aplikante. Ang

aplikasyon ay may kaukulang bayad na P500.

Ang mga panuntunan sa pagkakaloob ng BOE ay nakapaloob sa CSC Memorandum Circular No. 13, s.

DOLE turn over P750K assistance to General Trias THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) recently turned-over P750,000.00 worth of financial assistance for Livelihood Foodcart roject of the local government of Gen. Trias.

The amount is the first tranche of the P1.5 million financial assistance commited by DOLE to the local government's livelihood project to cover the distribution of 79 foodcarts including P2,000.00 initial capital for every beneficiary.

During the turnover held at the municipal town plaza, DOLE Undersecretary Atty.

Danilo Cruz said the local government was chosen as

beneficiary of the project because of its sound management under Mayor Antonio Ferrer and the members of the municipal council.

Mayor Ferrer thanked DOLE for the financial assistance with the assurance that many residents especially the marginalized sectors in the community will benefit from the project.

Members of the municipal council, DOLE Region 4A regional director Maria Zenaida Angara-Campita; DOLE Region 4A TSSD head Imelda Desipeda, and DOLECavite provincial director Ignacio Santi, Jr. witnessed the check turn-over.| RUEL FRANCISCO

2012. Maaaring i-download ang Application Form at tala ng mga requirements sa website ng CSC na www.csc.gov.ph.

Para sa iba pang kabatiran, maaaring personal na

VP Binay vows gov’t help for OFW doused with boiling water in Saudi VICE President Jejomar C. Binay on Tuesday vowed that the Philippine government will pursue the filing of charges against an Arab employer who poured boiling water on a Filipina household helper working in Saudi Arabia.

“I have already instructed the Special Concerns Unit of the Office of the Vice Presibumisita sa kanilang mga tanggapan. Sa lalawigan ng Batangas, ang CSC Office ay nasa likod ng kapitolyo, sa gilid ng Batangas Provincial Community Park, sa dating Social Welfare Administration (SWA).| J. RAYOS

Fifteen SPES beneficiaries will be

dent (OVP) to coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh to get updates on the case and pursue the necessary legal actions,” Binay, the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFW) Concerns, said.

“Kalunos-lunos po ang dinanas ng ating kababayan.

No person deserves to be treated that way. Kung mapapatunayan natin na minaltrato siya, magsasampa tayo ng kaso at sisiguraduhin natin na mabibigyan siya ng hustisya,” he added.

The Vice President said he has also instructed Atty.

Deogracias Grafil, head of the OVP Special Concerns Unit, to coordinate with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to verify if the OFW was legally employed and to check what other forms assistance can be offered to the OFW. Binay also renewed his call to Filipinos aspiring to work abroad to apply through legal channels.

“Para rin po ito sa sarili ninyong kaligtasan. Mas madali po kayong matutulungan ng pamahalaan kung sakali mang makaranas kayo ng aberya o anumang suliranin,” he said.| BALIKAS NEWS

OPINION

Balikas

4

May 26 - June 1, 2014

The myth of the principle of equality before the law

By BENJIE OLIVEROS THE dispensation of ‘justice’, or rather injustices, is so blatant in the Philippines that one could not help but ask: For how long would we allow these to happen?

Let us take the case of three persons.

On one side are former president and current Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and pork barrel scam conduit Janet Lim Napoles.

Arroyo was arrested the second time in October 2012 when she checked in at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center where she was detained months before on charges of electoral fraud, which was dismissed. This time she was arrested for plundering the $8.8 million funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. She was subsequently acquitted in another plunder case in connection with the P728 million ($16.177 million) fertilizer fund scam. There are more corruption/plunder cases involving her, her family, and her former Cabinet, including the bribery-ridden NBN-ZTE broadband deal and the illegal transfer of OFW funds to finance the distribution of PhilHealth cards to bolster her 2004 presidential campaign.

With all these cases awaiting her, she is comfortably “detained” in a suite at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center and the government is paying for her stay there.

Janet Lim-Napoles, who is being accused of facilitating the skimming of P10 billion ($222 million) from pork barrel funds under the Priority Development Assistance Fund, was fetched and brought to Malacañang to “surrender” to President Aquino himself. President Aquino even served as advance party to Camp Crame to make sure that her detention is safe.

From Camp Crame, Napoles was soon transferred by three convoys of vehicles to a bungalow unit inside Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna. The unit is the same facility where former president Joseph Estrada was detained. A food taster was even assigned to her to make sure that nobody poisons her.

She is currently being treated at the Ospital ng Makati by her own doctors from the high-end St. Luke’s Medical Center.

Compare the situation and treatment of Arroyo and Napoles to Andrea Rosal who was arrested March 27 on suspicion of being a member of the New People’s Army. Her only crime is that she is the daughter of the late spokesperson of the Communist Party of the Philippines Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal, for which she was abducted when she was only three years old. And also perhaps, she took to heart the principles that her father stood and fought for: Serving the working masses. She was seven months pregnant when she was arrested, made to sleep on the concrete floor of a jail cell she shared with 31 prisoners, and when her aunt asked the permission of jail authorities to provide her with an electric fan and some cold water, it was denied. When the court granted her request for hospitalization, she was brought back and forth from her detention cell to the Philippine General Hospital because of problems in coordination; all the while this was happening she was already experiencing labor contractions. Two days after giving birth, her baby died. She was allowed a mere three hours to visit her baby’s wake and her request to attend the burial was denied.

Such is the contrasting fate of Arroyo and Napoles on one side, and Andrea Rosal on the other. The former two are being charged with enriching themselves with the people’s money and Rosal is being charged on suspicion of fighting for the interest of the masses. The Aquino government took the extra effort and expense to make sure that Arroyo and Napoles are being taken cared of while it made her detention difficult for Andrea Rosal.

Of course, what could one expect? Arroyo and Napoles came from and served the interests of the ruling class – to which President Aquino belongs

>>>PERSPECTIVE..turn to P/7

CBCP online

perspective

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Weak Child Protection NETIZENS and the public viewers were appalled by the news about the man who killed his own child and posted the latter’s picture in the social media for his wife to see. Earlier, the mass and social media were filled with dismay as footage of an irresponsible nurse who put a scatch tape in the mouth of one her days-old baby patients to keep her from crying. Equally detestable is the incident involving the maltreatment of a child by her nanny while the parents are away. All these crimes were “caught on tape” and posted in the social media.

These crimes are highly reprehensible indeed.

Behind them are very sick but unpardonable minds.

They reflect the present state of our society—one that resists a cultrue which puts children first before anyone or anything else.

In spite of the public indignation against child abuse and exploitations, measures to prevent and punish them seem deficient, if not inutile. Authorities fail to address the rising incidence of crimes against children.

Meanwhile, overeactions on juvenile delinquency, especially the clamor to lower down the age of criminal responsibility, seems to get more attention from the govenrment and the media. Debates on what to do with children-in-conflict with the law gain more publicity than the efforts to strengthen child protection.

Sexual abuse and physical violence are the most common forms of child abuse in the Philippines. They

can happen almost everywhere—at home mostly, and sometimes in school. For various reasons, children and parents are reluctant to report child cases. This is the reason why these abuses are mostly unaddressed and continue to be committed.

There is ongoing systemic child neglect in the Philippines. Unfortunately, both the government and the public have been tolerating such systemic child neglect. The failure of the government to curb the rising numbers of child abuse incidents is usually met with public tolerance and resignation. The public shares the blame. It has not done its part to protect its children and to insist on decisive government action to promote their welfare.

We are not lacking in legal framework and child protection policies. However, these instruments remain good in paper only. It seems that the efforts to carry out these policies and the programs intended to give flesh to them are weak, if not lacking. And as such, child protection in the Philippines is one of the weakest in the world.

Time and again, the call for serious child protection remains unheaded. We are good in drafting policies but sorely bad in implementing them. This is the cancer that eats away our fidelity to the future of our children and society.|

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Ang Mabuting Balita Idinalangin ni Jesus ang Kanyang mga Alagad A bilingual weekly newspaper of general circulation published by the PAHAYAGANG BALIKAS, INC., a corporation duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with Certificate No. CS201401804.

Office: The BALIKAS Centre, Guades Comp., Purok 3, Brgy. Calicanto, 4200 Batangas City, Philippines  043.417.1662 |  0912.902.7373 | 0917.512.9477 E-mail: balikasonline@yahoo.com | www.facebook.com/pages/Balikas Lipa Office: San Sebastian St.,Brgy. 10, Lipa City Joenald Medina Rayos Publisher / Editor-in-Chief

Ronalina B. Lontoc

Columnists: Gerry M. Zamudio | Atty. Jose Sison Atty. Jesus Dureza | Atty. Ramel C. Muria

Circulation In-Charge

Staff Reporter: Melinda R. Landicho Contributors: Jack L. Aquino Jerome Jay C. Sapinoso Jessie delos Reyes

Atty. Roberto Iñigo Sanchez Legal Consultant

Official Representative - Lipa Office

Special Project Editor

Nicetas E. Escalona Lifestyle Editor

Benjie de Castro

Cecille M. Rayos-Campo

Member: Batangas League for Alternative Development & Services (BLADES), Inc.

Ad rate:

Commercial : P165/col. cm. | Legal Notices : P130/col. cm

Ang pangalang “BALIKAS” ay hango sa mga salitang ‘balik’ at ‘kalikasan’.

Hangad ng pahayagang ito na maging kasangkapan sa paghahatid ng mahahalagang impormasyon upang maibalik ang dating anyo ng ating inang kalikasan.|

Pagkasabi ni Jesus ng mga pananalitang ito, tumingala siya sa langit at kanyang sinabi, Ama, dumating na ang oras; parangalan mo na ang iyong Anak upang maparangalan ka niya. Sapagkat binigyan mo ako ng kapangyarihan sa sangkatauhan upang bigyan ko ng buhay na walang hanggan ang lahat ng ibinigay mo sa Anak. Ito ang buhay na walang hanggan: ang makilala ka nila, ang iisa at tunay na Diyos, at ang makilala si Jesu-Cristo na iyong isinugo. Inihayag ko sa lupa ang iyong karangalan; natapos ko na ang ipinapagawa mo sa akin. Kaya, Ama, ipagkaloob mo sa akin ngayon ang kaluwalhatiang taglay ko sa piling mo bago pa likhain ang daigdig.

Ipinakilala na kita sa mga taong ibinigay mo sa akin mula sa daigdig. Sila'y iyo at ibinigay mo sila sa akin, at tinupad nila ang iyong salita.

Alam na nila na ang lahat ng ibinigay mo sa akin ay mula sa iyo; dahil itinuro ko sa kanila ang mga aral na ibinigay mo sa akin, at tinanggap naman nila. Natitiyak nilang ako'y tunay na galing sa iyo, at naniniwala silang ikaw nga ang nagsugo sa akin.

Idinadalangin ko sila; hindi ang sanlibutang ito ang idinadalangin ko, kundi ang lahat ng ibinigay mo sa akin, sapagkat sila'y sa iyo.

Ang lahat ng sa akin ay sa iyo, at ang lahat ng sa iyo ay sa akin; at napaparangalan ako sa

pamamagitan nila. At ngayon, ako'y papunta na sa iyo; iiwanan ko na ang sanlibutang ito, ngunit sila ay nasa sanlibutan pa. Amang banal, ingatan mo po sila sa pamamagitan ng kapangyarihan ng iyong pangalan, ang pangalang ibinigay mo sa akin, upang kung paanong ikaw at ako ay iisa, gayundin naman sila'y maging isa. Habang kasama nila ako, iningatan ko sila sa pamamagitan ng kapangyarihan ng iyong pangalan, ang pangalang ibinigay mo sa akin. Pinangalagaan ko sila at walang napahamak sa kanila, maliban sa taong humanap ng kanyang kapahamakan, upang matupad ang kasulatan. Ngunit ngayon, ako'y papunta na sa iyo, at sinasabi ko ito habang ako'y nasa sanlibutan pa upang mapuspos sila ng aking kagalakan. Naibigay ko na sa kanila ang iyong salita, at kinapootan sila ng mga tao sa sanlibutang ito, sapagkat hindi na sila taga-sanlibutan, tulad ko na hindi taga-sanlibutan. Hindi ko idinadalanging kunin mo sila sa daigdig na ito, kundi iligtas mo sila sa Masama! Hindi sila taga-sanlibutan, tulad ko na hindi rin taga-sanlibutan. Italaga mo sila sa pamamagitan ng katotohanan; ang salita mo ang katotohanan. Kung paanong isinugo mo ako sa sanlibutan, gayundin naman, isinusugo ko sila sa sanlibutan. At alang-alang sa kanila'y itinalaga ko sa iyo ang aking sarili, upang maitalaga rin sila sa pamamagitan ng katotohanan.|

May 26 - June 1, 2014

OPINION

Hindi naipagkait ang karapatan MAYAMANG hasyindero si Rudy mula sa Timog. Legal siyang kasal kay Jasmin at nagkaroon sila ng dalawang anak na lalaki, sina Roy at Jay. Hindi nagtagal ang kanilang pagsasama dahil maagang namatay si Jasmin.

Na-realize ni Rudy na malungkot at nakakabagot ang buhay ng isang biyudo. Isa pa, hindi niya kaya ang responsibilidad ng pagiging solong magulang na ginagampanan ang papel ng tatay at nanay para sa kanyang mga anak. Hindi nagtagal nagkita sila ni Dianne, dati niyang karelasyon. Tulad niya ay nag-iisa at libreng-libre na si Dianne. Nagkaibigan sila.

Kaya lang, pakiramdam ni Rudy ay hindi na siya makakabawi sa sakit ng pagkawala ng pinakamamahal niyang si Jasmin. Ayaw na niyang maranasan na mahalin ng ganoon katindi si Dianne para lang muling mawala sa kanya kaya hindi niya pinaabot sa puntong pakakasalan ang babae.

Sa kabila nito, nagbunga ang kanilang relasyon hanggang sa magkaroon sila ng apat na anak na pareparehong lalaki. Nangyari ito sa loob nang mahigit 12 taon nilang pagsasama.

Itinuring na anak ni Rudy ang apat na batang lalaki at parte ng kanyang pamilya. Ibinigay niya sa bata ang parehong pagmamahal, pag-aaruga at materyal na suporta tulad ng sa lehitimo niyang anak. Kahit ang mga anak niyang sina Roy at Jay ay tinuturing na kapatid sa ama ang mga bata. Nakatira silang lahat sa hacienda ng pamilya at pinag-aaral sa pinakamagagandang eskuwelahan.

Isa na lang ang kulang, kailanman ay hindi pormal na kinilala ni Rudy ang mga bata bilang kanyang mga anak alinsunod sa mga paraan na nakasaad sa batas.

Kahit sa kanilang mga birth certificate ay hindi nakapirma si Rudy. Pero para makabawi sa kanila, bago siya mamatay ay nagdesisyon si Rudy na pakasalan

na si Dianne.

Matapos mamatay si Rudy, gumawa ng kasulatan (Extrajudicial Declaration of Heirs) ang mga lehitimong anak na sina Roy at Jay upang paghatian ang mga naiwang ari-arian ni Rudy. Sinadya nilang hindi bigyan ng mana ang kanilang mga kapatid sa ama na noon ay pawang mga menor de edad pa lamang.

Ayon kina Roy at Jay, dahil hindi naman pormal na kinilala ng kanilang ama ang mga bata, ayon sa dikta ng batas at hindi rin naman nagsampa ng kaso ang mga ito para kilalanin sila ng ama, hindi sila puwedeng maging lehitimong anak ni Rudy dahil lang sa ginawa nitong pagpapakasal sa kanilang ina bago namatay ang lalaki. Tama ba sina Roy at Jay?  MALI. Malinaw na teknikalidad lang ang pinanghahawakan nina Roy at Jay. Pero sa pagkakataong ito, dapat magbigay-daan ang teknikalidad sa dikta ng konsensya, pagkakapantay-pantay at hustisya. Panahon na para bigyan ng liberal na interpretasyon ang batas pabor sa mga anak sa labas na itinuturing nating “natural children”.

Matagal na panahon silang nagtamasa sa karapatan at pribilehiyo ng isang kinikilalang anak at kahit na sa karapatan ng isang lehitimong anak kaya pangit na magsampa pa sila ng kaso upang kilalanin na kanilang natural na magulang.

Kahit hindi nila hiningi ay binusog naman sila ng pagmamahal, pag-aaruga at materyal o pinansyal na suporta ng kanilang ama na para lang sa lehitimong anak nito (Tongoy vs. Court of Appeals, 123 SCRA 99).

Halatang ito ang pinagbatayan ng bagong batas, Family Code, kaya tinanggal na ang kondisyon na kailangang magsampa ng kaso para kilalanin ang mga ilehitimong anak.|

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Dapat isaalang-alang ng China ang mayamang Kasaysayan ng Tsinoy sa Pilipinas NOONG nakaraang linggo, mga kababayan, parte ng programa namin sa Master in National Security Administration sa National Defense College of the Philippines na pinamumunuan ni Dr. Fermin Deleon, dating Heneral sa AFP, ay ang pagbisita sa Bahay Tsino sa Intramuros. Binabati ko nga pala ang aming mga professor na sila Dr. Ananda Almase at Dr. Chester Cabalza na sumama sa amin, kasama na rin ang mga classmates ko na pinamumunuan ng aming presidente na si Col. Ferdinand Fraginal at kasama din pala namin ang aming course director na si Cmdr. Otom Bautista.

Ang Bahay Tsino ay isang museum kung saan nakalagak ang mga dokumento ukol sa kasaysayan ng mga Tsinoy sa Pilipinas, ng buhay nila sa Pilipinas, at ng mga naiambag at patuloy na inaambag ng mga Tsinoy sa buhay at kasaysayan ng ating bansa.

Isang pagbabalik-tanaw sa kasaysayan ang namuo sa akin habang inaanalisa ko kung paano mapatitibay ang relasyon ng Pilipinas at Tsina sa harap ng hidwaan sa West Philippine Sea. Bago pa man dumating ang mga Kastila at mga Western Colonizers sa ating bansa, buhay na buhay na ang palitan ng negosyo sa pagitan ng mga Tsino at ng mga kababayan nating namuhay na noon. Noong kalakasan ng pakikipaglaban natin kontra sa mga Kastila, ang mga mestizo de Sangley o mga Chinese mestizos katulad nina Rizal, Aguinaldo, Lopez Jaena, Pedro Paterno, ang Gomburza at ang Trece Martires ng Cavite ang silang nanguna sa mga kilusang reporma at rebolusyon.

Noong napasailalim ang Pilipinas sa Amerika, dahil sa mga pangyayari doon sa China – simula sa Taiping Rebellion, Chinese Civil War, Boxer Rebellion, at sa pagbagsak ng Qing Dynasty – libu-libong Tsino mula Fujian province ang nagsilikas papuntang Pilipinas.

Naiwasan nila ang kahirapan, famine, at political

persecution dahil sa bukas pusong pagtanggap ng mga Pilipino sa kanila.

Sa kasalukuyan hindi maitatanggi na nagkaroon na ng tatak sa ating isipan ang ipinakitang pagmamahal sa bayan nina Cardinal Sin, ng pamilyang Lopez ng Iloilo, Sergio Osmeña Sr., General Vicente Lim, mga naglalakihang pangalan sa ating lipunan katulad ng mga Cojuanco, mga business taipans katulad nina Henry Sy, Andrew L. Tan, John Gokongwei, Lucio Tan, mga national artists na sina Ang Kiukok (Visual Arts) at Leandro Locsin (Architecture), at maging ng mga alagad ng sining na sina Charlie Co, Joey Gosienfiao at Mother Lily. Sila ang mukha ng Tsina sa lipunan natin ngayon.

Nag-transform ang mga Chinese dito sa atin mula sa pagiging barefooted, illiterate, impoverished, peasant immigrants para maging Tsinoy sa panahon ngayon.

Pinaghalo ng isang migranteng Tsino ang mga ‘pinaka’ ng mga Pinoy at ng mga Chinese to claim his rightful place in the Philippine sun.

At hindi po sila bystanders sa pag inog ng ating lipunan. Like the rest of our countrymen, kumakayod, nakikipaglaban at nagsasakripisyo ang mga ito sa pagpanday ng bansang Pilipinas.

Ang kayamanang ito ng kultura’t tradisyon ay dapat isaalang-alang ng Tsina sa patuloy nitong illegal na pangungupkop sa ilang isla sa West Philippine Sea. Dapat nga bigyan ng mahalagang pansin ito ng Tsina dahil para na nilang kapatid ang mga Pilipino.

Dapat hindi nito isantabi ang naipundar na papel ng mga Tsinoy sa ating lipunan. Bagkus, dito dapat magsimula ang pagpanday nito ng isang mapayapa at progresibong pagkakaisa sa pagitan ng ating bansa at ng Tsina. Dapat maging Asian Big Brother ang Tsina at hindi imahing sanhi ng pagkawatak watak ng pagkakaisa sa Asya.

Ayon pa sa isang historian, isang mortal na

Balikas

5

Mayor Duterte: “I don’t want to go to jail’ WHILE several sectors are encouraging Mayor Rody Duterte to run for Philippine president, he has a way of saying: “THANKS, BUT NO THANKS!” His reason: “Filipinos somehow send to prison presidents starting from Erap, now Gloria and who knows, later maybe Pnoy too! No, I don’t want to go to jail myself!” How can you argue against that? End of discussion.

HAZARDOUS --Being in public office can now be “hazardous”. But still, that cannot justify why some of them awarded themselves “hazard pay” by getting their dirty fingers in the cash-filled cookie jar!

CALLOUSED? -- For the first time ever, our country is facing a corruption issue in a magnitude never before experienced with the wholesale involvement of high public officials. While foreign officials resign from their high positions if faced with a controversy, not a single Pinoy official up to now has resigned -- not even a single “leave of absence” while every single day, the list grows longer and longer! Are we now a calloused people?

SYSTEMIC GAP -- There is something grievously wrong with the system.

If Benhur Luy and Janet Napoles did not have a " falling out", this scam would have not been publicly known. And many officials may still merrily help themselves with the taxpayers' money. Our control systems just didn’t work. So, how do we fix this?

COUNTDOWN --- There are 721 remaining days left to the May 9,2016 national elections. In the meantime, the NAPOLIST issue is still raging with new twists and additional names. Entertaining for all voters! Let's see if our voters are more circumspect next time.

SMOKING BAN --- Unknown to many, it is not only in Davao City where there is a smoking ban in public places. This is enforced nation -wide by virtue of RA 9211 passed as early as in 2003, otherwise known as the Tobacco Regulation Act. WORRISOME --- I’m getting more worried about the Bangsamoro agreement. I heard the MILF is admitting that the agreement signed needs constitutional amendments to implement it. Then I hear Malacanang saying there is no need to amend the Constitution. Which is which?

VS. CHINA --- Vietnamese protests against China due to their territorial dispute in the South China Sea resulted to violence like burning of suspected Chinese factories in Vietnam. Lately, China has decided to evacuate 3,000 Chinese residents from Vietnam fearing more anti-Chinese violence will erupt. We are taking the peaceful option by filing our claims with the United Nations. Pinoys are more CIVILIZED. THAI MARTIAL LAW --- The Thai Armed Forces declared martial law a few days ago. TV stations were shut down and even social media were warned to “behave”. A friend from Bangkok sent word that it's peaceful there now especially that the rivals, red and blue shirted factions that caused a standoff, were warned. The generals now call the shots! Déjà vu!

DEADLY --- Some interesting data. There are now 34 million Filipinos in FACEBOOK. Out of 10 Pinoys, 3.5 are connected with the Internet. This is a potent force to do national transformation and reform. Information technology can be potent, devastating and deadly. It can destroy as well as build!

SUBIC BAY --- During our brief visit at Subic Bay at Olongapo over the weekend, I saw some US naval vessels now docked at the world- class naval facilities that were moribund for years since we closed the US bases during Pres. Cory’s time. I talked at the sidewalk with the locals and they were glad with the new developments. Now we’ve gone full circle. Pres. PNoy opened what was closed during his mother’s time. Poetic justice!

SENIORS --- Several malls in Manila have “pay per use” premium restrooms @ P10 per pax. However senior citizens need not pay if they show their IDs. One time my wife Beth noticed me paying the lady attendant by the door! Later, she asked me why. “No it was not a tip, I couldn’t just find my ID,” I explained. That was half the truth. The other half was that she was so young and pretty that I just didn’t have the heart, the industry and the patience to look for my ID in my wallet! ( Hahaha! No worries! All in the mind!)|

............................................................................................... kasalanan ang hindi pagpapahalaga sa sakripisyo’t magandang mga ginawa ng mga nauna sa atin.

Sana ay makita ito ng gobyerno ng China at makita nila ang magandang nagawa ng mga naunang Tsino na nagkaroon ng importanteng halaga sa bansang bukas pusong tumanggap sa kanila noon.  Batiin ko nga pala ng lahat ng mga brod and sis ko sa Alphi Phi

Omega na nagsagawa ng “Operation Tule” sa Brgy. Pinagtungulan, San Jose Batangas kamakailan na inorganisa ni Brod Manny Guce.

Pagdating po sa “Medical and Dental Civic Action Project” at “Operation Tule”, maasahan nyo po dyan ang mga doctors and dentist ng APO. Pati si Brod Dr Mike Hernandez ng Office of the Vice President ay dumating din pala.

Salamat brod!

BUSINESS

Calabarzon solon seeks reduction of individual income tax rate to 15% MANILA — Another lawmaker is seeking to reduce the income tax rate of individuals from the present 32 percent to 15 percent for the country to fully benefit from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Integration in 2015, and help the country’s workforce cope with inflation and the higher costs of living.

Rep. Angelina Tan, M.D. (4th District, Quezon) said for the country to fully benefit from the ASEAN Integration, the country needs to amend its current income tax schedules since it is expected that human capital would flow to where it could earn best.

Tan, vice chairperson of the House committees on social services, and on labor and employment, said her proposal embodied in House Bill 4278 is consistent with the country’s commitment to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint which seeks to transform ASEAN into a single market and production based by December 2015.

“The AECis guided by the following essential elements : free flow of goods;

free flow of services; free flow of investments’ free flow of capitals; and free flow of skilled labor.

Tan said among the 10-member countries of the ASEAN, the country has the highest tax rate at 32 percent after Thailand and Vietnam. “Hence, in order to attract human capital and prevent the migration of our own skilled workforce, it is imperative to reduce the existing income tax rates while maintaining the progressivity of our income tax system,” she said.

She said her proposal would also help the country’s workforce keep up with inflation and cope with the higher costs of living.

“Amidst higher inflation, which should be expected as a result of increase in food prices due to agricultural damage caused by typhoon Yolanda and higher demand for commodities on the back of relief operations, and increase in the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) power rates among other factors, no significant increase in wages had been made, thereby further reducing the purchasing power of our workers. Hence, reducing the country’s income tax rates for individuals will help our workforce keep up with inflation and cope with the higher costs of living,” said Tan. Last March, Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo (2nd District, Valenzuela

City), a deputy majority leader, filed House Bill 4099 seeking to lower individual and corporate income tax rates to 15 percent from the current 32 percent and 30 percent, respectively.

Gunigundo said his proposal, if enacted into law, would definitely reduce the number of Filipinos who do not pay taxes as lower taxes mean higher level of compliance.

He said the advantages of having 15 percent income tax rates are enormous, among them it will stimulate the economy by providing individual taxpayers more after tax income or disposable income which they can either save or spend in the engagement of services or purchase of goods that they are subject to Value-Added Tax (VAT).

In House Bill 4273, which is now pending at the House committee on ways and means chaired by Rep. Miro Quimbo (2nd District, Marikina City), Tan sought the further amendment of Section 24 (A) (2) of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended, pertaining to rates of Income Tax on Individual Citizen and Individual Resident Alien of the country.

The proposal provides that the taxable income of individuals shall be computed in accordance with and at the rates established in the following schedule.| PNA

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PhilRice creates Climate Change Center for rice sector MANILA — As part of the Department of Agriculture’s climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has created its own hub to spearhead the planning and implementation of climate change management in relation to rice farming.

Aptly called the Climate Change Center (CCC), the center is tasked to conduct studies on understanding, impact assessment, and cushioning the effects of climate change to the rice industry.

Ricardo Orge, CCC director and chief of the Coping with Climate Change program, said one of the major concerns of the center is to explore various ways to help our farmers adapt to extreme climate changes.

“The effects of climate change can be felt now more than ever, especially in the heels of an anticipated El Niño phenomenon. Our vision at the CCC is to have a climate-resilient farming system where enough food will become available to every farming household particularly during

adversities and calamities,” he said.

The CCC was created in compliance to the Seven-Wide Programs on Climate Change (DA-SWPCC) that was approved last year by DA Sec. Proceso Alcala to synchronize all efforts of DA bureaus and attached offices on climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Orge said the CCC is composed of agronomists, plant pathologists, engineers, social scientists, communication specialists, and other rice researchers who study recent climate patterns and its effects to rice farming.

“The CCC is expected to complement major PhilRice programs such as coping with climate change, farming without fossil fuel energy, integrated rice-based agribiosystems and other projects that concern climateresiliency,” he explained.

In its framework, the center hopes to generate new knowledge and information on climate change in identified areas, develop climate change adaptation, rice technologies and strategies, and explore other

sources of food and income.

“A lot of studies show that resilience to climate change can be best achieved through diversification of sources of income,” the agriculture specialist said.

“Within the context of ensuring household food security and income, we want to develop a farming system that could withstand climaterelated stresses. It must also be highly-diversified but integrated to offer farmers alternative food sources and livelihood,” Orge added.

At present, he said the CCC is developing various strategies on rice variety development, pest and

nutrient management, water harvesting and conservation and diversified/integrated farming.

The center is also devising decision support tools that include area mapping, and vulnerability studies among others.

“Despite the odds in our current weather conditions, we want to reassure our farmers that PhilRice will always be sensitive to addressing their needs through our strengthened research and development efforts. We assure them that their welfare is always our priority at the CCC,” Orge said.|CIELITO M. REGANIT

LEGAL NOTICE EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH ABSOLUTE DEED OF SALE NOTICE is hereby given that the estate of the late SPS. ANGEL B. ALCAYDE SR. and MAURAA. ALCAYDE, who died intestate on November 1, 1998 and June 16, 1983, respectively, consisting of two (2) parcels of land, both situated at Sampaguita before Pitogo, bauan, Batangas, to wit: (1) covered

by OCT No. 14138 / Tax Dec. No. 05-0024-00116, with an area of 2,376 square meters, and (2) covered by OCT No. P-14642 / Tax Dec. No. 05-0024-00150, with an area of 8,974 square meters, respectively, have been extra-judicially settled by and among their heirs with Deed of Absolute Sale, per Doc. No. 274; Page No. 55; Book No. XXXX; Series of 2014 of ATTY. NESTOR C. FERNANDEZ, Notary Public.

Pahayagang Balikas / May 19, 25 & June 2, 2014

May 26 - June 1, 2014

6

.............................................................. <<<FOOD..from P/2

DA mitigation strategies vs El Niño complete –Alcala sorghum, cassava and sweet potato,” Alcala said.

He said that the DA has also been proactively responding to the threats of a long dry spell ahead of announcements from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) of the El Niño phenomenon that may start affecting the country in June and peak by year’s end.

“As early as March, the Bureau of Soils and Water Management has carried out cloud seeding operations to ensure water reserves in all major dams,” Alcala said.

“The cloud seeding operations has resulted to sufficient water levels in all our dams except Angat Dam which is below its critical level,” he said.

Alcala added that for this month, cloud seeding operations will continue in the provinces of Bulacan, Nueva Vizcaya and Isabela to increase water levels not only in Angat dam but also in Magat dam.

“Apart from these, we have reactivated the El Niño Task Force and strengthened capabilities of all DA agencies tasked to provide direct interventions,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the DA reported that the current dry spell had already caused

P823.3 million in damages covering more than 34,000 hectares.

Most of the damages were in Region II with 23,539 hectares affected, amounting to about P426.5 million in production losses due to moisture stress.

Corn accounted for majority of the losses which is estimated at P583.6 million while rice losses accounted for P221.3 million.

Alcala said that present losses in rice production –which stands at 0.31 percent of the total national rice production volume — were still negligible.

“The early harvesting of the dry season cropping as well as other mitigation measures contributed to the minimal loss in rice,” Alcala said.

In the meantime, Alcala said that they have already prepared and positioned early-maturing rice seed varieties, corn seeds and other crop seeds for distribution to offset early losses.

“The DA is prepared for the long haul as far as the anticipated El Niño is concerned. But we are also hoping that the Habagat would come before the year ends so that production would return to normal,” he said.| PNA

.............................................................. <<<PERSPECTIVE..from P/4

The myth of the principle of equality before the law – while Andrea Rosal, by her name and affiliation, is a threat to the interests of the ruling elite. Filipino bureaucrats and politicians need the likes of Arroyo and Napoles to make sure that they are able to divide the

spoils of power while they would rather have the likes of Andrea Rosal eliminated from the face of the earth.

So how could there be equality before the law?| WWW.BULATLAT.COM

“TIME IS THE MOST VALUABLE THING A MAN CAN SPEND.” - Theophrastus, philosopher

BANKING

WOMEN’S RURAL BANK, INC. Deposits | Loans | Financing Services Carandang St., Poblacion, Rosario, Batangas

BATANGAS RURAL BANK FOR COOPERATIVES, INC. Deposits | Loans | Financing Services Collecting Agent of Meralco, BCWD, etc.

Pastor Avenue, Market Site, Cuta, Batangas City

Tawag na sa Pahayagang Balikas Telephone No. (043) 417.1662 * 0917.521.9477 * 0912.902.7373 para sa inyong pagpapalathala.

Nicetas E. Escalona, Lifetimes Editor

LIFE TIMES walang bakanteng oras sa gawain ay hindi magbibigay ng tamlay sa sarili.

Magiging maagap sa lahat ng bagay kaya nasa tamang landas ang tinatahak na kaunlaran.

Capricorn (Dis. 22-Ene. 19) - Maganda ang pagkakataon upang hanapin ang dekalidad na investment kaysa magmukmok at walang gawain. Ang talino ay malaking puhunan sa ikauunlad kaya panahon na upang magamit sa makabuluhang bagay.

Aquarius (Ene. 20 - Peb. 18) - Upang magtagumpay, magsaliksik ng mga detalye at iayon sa sarili. Kung may hindi nalalaman huwag mahiyang magtanong.

Pisces (Peb. 19-Mar. 20) Kumpetisyon sa trabaho lalo na sa promosyon ang magiging mahigpit subalit kung may promosyon sa pinapasukan, asahan na isa ka sa kanila.

Aries (Mar. 21-Abril 19) - Huwag nang hanapin sa malayo ang hinahanap dahil nasa tabi o harapan lamang ito nakalagay. Sa hindi inaasahang lugar ay malamang nakalagay o makikita ang hinahanap.

Taurus (Abril 20-Mayo 20) - Mas nanaisin mong mamasyal kaysa pumasok sa trabaho o paaralan na dapat paglabanan dahil daan ito ng iyong kabiguan sa hinaharap.|

Filipino media leader included in list of 100 Information Heroes MALAYBALAY CITY – National Union of Journalists of the Philippines chair Rowena Paraan has been named as one of the 100 Information Heroes by the France-based Reporters San Frontieres (Reporters Without Borders), the NUJP said in a statement today.

NUJP said this is the first time RSF published a list of profiles of 100 Information Heroes.

RSF said in its statement

that “these ’100 heroes’ help to promote the freedom enshrined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the freedom to ‘seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.’ They put their ideals in the service of the common good. They serve as examples.”

NUJP added Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senate public information

committee chair Grace Poe sent their commendations to NUJP chair Rowena Paraan for making it to the RSF list.

“I admire your commitment to uphold the truth and justice, ensuring that our people will have informed choices on pertinent issues.

The passion and dedication you have put in your work and advocacy have brought pride and honor to our country,” NUJP quoted Binay’ letter to Paraan dated

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Gemini (Mayo 21-Hun. 21) Makinig, magmasid at pag-aralang mabuti bago magbigay ng suhestiyon o opinyon. Huwag magpabigla-bigla dahil ito ang puno ng maraming pagkakamali.

Cancer (Hun. 22-Hul. 22) - Ituloy ang gustong gawin dahil naghihintay ang tagumpay maliban kung labag sa batas ng tao at Diyos. Huwag sayangin ang panahon sa hindi pagkilos sa binabalak. Maganda ang resulta sa gagawin kung sisimulan kaagad.

Leo (Hul. 23-Ago. 22) - Tanging ikaw lamang ang makakatuklas sa tamang daan ng iyong tagumpay kaya huwag mag-atubiling paglaanan ng panahon ang pagsasaliksik.

Virgo (Ago 23-Set. 23) - Magiging matibay ang iyong pundasyon sa larangan ng trabaho kung may magaganda kang mungkahi sa ikakaganda at ikauunlad ng negosyo.

Libra (Set. 24-Okt. 23) - Sikapin ang naanlitanang mga gawain ay matatapos bago sumapit ang hapon.

Ang anumang maiwanang gawain ngayon ay magiging walang kabuluhan sa hinaharap.

Scorpio (Okt. 24-Nob. 22) - Maging matapang sa pagharap ng problema. Huwag susuko dahil hangga’t may bukas pa, merong pag-asa.

Sagittarius (Nob. 23-Dis. 21) - Ang paghahanap ng

May 5.

Meanwhile, Poe filed Senate Resolution 629 lauding the information hero.

“Paraan is a living legacy to a profession widely considered as a dangerous profession. She is highly regarded for her active role in defending press freedom and in upholding the rights of media practitioners,” Poe said in a statement.| MINDANEWS

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Environmental group to street vendors: Stop selling lead-laden school supplies MANILA — As parents and students go on back-to-school shopping spree before the start of classes next month, an environmental watch group on Thursday urged street vendors anew to refrain from selling toxic school supplies.

According to the environmental group EcoWaste Coalition, most of these vendors are selling their items either in Divisoria in Manila or Baclaran in Pasay and Paranaque, unaware that lead is a harmful substance that could damage a child’s developing brain.

The group confirmed that Artex Fine Water Colors are

being sold in Baclaran for P65 to P85 per set after conducting a market surveillance along F.B. Harrison St. in Parañaque and Pasay.

After conducting test, samples of these watercolors were found positive for lead in the range of 5,900 to 37,000 parts per million (ppm), specifically on the yellow block.

The Department of Health–Food and Drugs Administration (DOH-FDA) has confirmed with the Department of Trade and Industry–Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection (DTI-BTRCP) that

Artex Fine Water Colors brand “is not registered/ notified nor is there pending application for registration/ notification.”

EcoWaste project protect coordinator Thony Dizon, in a statement, noted that the presence of high levels of lead in Artex Fine Water Colors warrants automatic product recall but it has yet to happen.

“We first notified the manufacturer Venus Commercial Co. and then our health and trade regulators about this threat to children’s health, but we have yet to hear an order from either the company or the government withdrawing Artex from the

market,” Dizon said.

“It’s no wonder that vendors still sell Artex, which uninformed consumers buy,” he added.

Because of this, the group exhorted the national and local authorities to immediately prevent the rampant sale of the leadladen water color sets.

“We appeal to both the national and local authorities to take immediate and decisive steps to rid the market of dangerous and substandard school supplies like Artex Fine Water Colors,” Dizon pointed out. “If not now, when?”

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Binay to OFWs: Heed DFA, DOH advice vs MERS-COV VICE President Jejomar C. Binay has added his voice to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Health’s call for Filipinos in the Middle East to take precautionary measures against the Middle East Respiratory SyndromeCorona Virus (MERS-CoV).

“I urge our OFWs in the Middle East to follow the steps prescribed by the DOH. These are easy enough and should go a long way in preventing infection,” he added.

The Vice President also urged Filipinos in the region

not to panic and confirm reports about the virus with Philippine officials in their area.

“The World Health Organization (WHO) has not yet declared that there is a MERSCoV outbreak or epidemic, so there is no cause for panic. If rumors start to circulate, the best thing to do is to ask your respective embassies or consulates,” said Binay.

The MERS-CoV was first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia.

According to the WHO website (http://www.who.int/

c s r / d i s e a s e / coronavirus_infections/faq/ en/), the countries that have reported cases of MERS include Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen (Middle East); France, Germany, Greece, Italy, and the United Kingdom (UK) (Europe); Tunisia and Egypt (Africa); Malaysia and the Philippines (Asia); and the United States of America (Americas).

According to the WHO, the virus appears to be circulating widely throughout the

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May 26 - June 1, 2014

Arabian Peninsula. “All recent cases that have been reported outside the Middle East first developed infection in the Middle East; then the cases were exported outside the region. These travel related cases do not appear to have infected others in their countries. In 2013 cases exported to France and the UK led to limited human to human transmission,” the website said.

The number of confirmed cases worldwide is recorded at 243, including three deaths.

Pinoy recipes. Lutuing Pinoy Gambas

Add the sugar and stir until it melts, then pour vinegar and tomato paste.

Cook for a few minutes, pour in the tomato Purée.

Season with salt and simmer for another 2 minutes.

Remove from heat and set aside.

Sautéed Shrimp: Clean, peel and remove the head of the shrimp, leave the tail.

In a large skillet heat the oil over medium heat.

Add the garlic and cook until it begins to fry.

Add the chilli and cook for 1 minute.

Turn the heat up to high and add the shrimp.

When the shrimp starts to change color, strain and add the garlic sauce.

Add lemon juice and cooked until sauce thicken.

Place in a serving or sizzling plate, garnish with dried chilli and fresh cilantro.

Cooking Tips : In sautéing the shrimp, remove the seed of the slice chilli for mild spice.

Any kind of tomato in can be use for the sauce, mashed in a metal strainer with spoon to Purée.

For garnish, fresh cilantro or parsley and dried chilli.

SAUTÉED shrimp or prawn in spicy garlic sauce, usually served as a finger foods or side dish in bars and restaurants. The garlic shrimp is usually cooked in Puréed chunk tomato, garlic and chilli, garnished with parsley or cilantro and dried chilli.

Ingredients: SAUTÉED SHRIMP 1 Pound shrimp 4 Chile 1 Lemon 4 Cloves garlic 2 Tablespoons cilantro Salt to taste 2 Tablespoon vegetable oil Dried chilli (optional) GARLIC SAUCE : 2 Cup tomato chunks 2 Tablespoons sugar 2 Tablespoons vinegar 1 Tablespoon tomato paste 2 Green chilli 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil 1 Head garlic Salt to taste Cooking Directions: Garlic Sauce: Pour the canned tomato chunks in a blender and blend to Purée.

Heat oil in a medium size pot over medium heat .

Add garlic and chilli, slowly sauté until they start to turn light brown.

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32 PAHALANG 1 Uri ng maliit na isda 6 Official Receipt 7 Paslit 9 Putulin ang malambot na bahagi ng kahoy 13 Simbolo ng Osmium 14 Agad-agad 16 Taling 19 Pagkain ng maysakit 20 Kahon 21 Yugyog 22 Aporo ng damit 23 Paghanap o pag-alam sa kulang 25 Paghahanap ng isang bagay ng walang tanungtanong tungkol dito 27 Simbolo ng Radium 28 Salu-salo sa isang kasalan: Espanyol 29 Mabutong prutas

31 Simbolo ng Bismuth 32 Kapisanan PABABA 1 yungib sa Palawan 2 Tauhan sa Bibliya 3 Irish Republican Army 4 Bulol 5 Hango 8 Panimplang matamis 10 Poncio ______ ng Imperyo Romano 11 Sawata 12 Tugon 14 Alalay 15 Gamit ng karpintero 17 Bundok sa Bataan 18 Disinterya 22 Hinaing 24 Lagay sa balikat 26 Panalo 29 Si Sayyaf 30 Tan ngayon

>Wanna be featured here? Please contact us at 0917.512.9477 | 0912.902.7373 | 043.417.1662 for inquiries.

Ronalina B. Lontoc, Special Project Editor

F.E.S.T.

......................................................................... >>>FESTIVALS & FEASTS..., EVENTS..., SHOWBIZ & SPORTS...TRAVEL & TRENDS<<<

May 26 - June 1, 2014

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2 swimmers shine with 3 golds apiece in 2014 PNG Team Batangas, nagningning sa Coca-Cola Tourney T WO swimmers stamped their class, winning three gold medals each in the second day of the swimming competitions of the 2014 Philippine National Games on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex swimming pool.

Hannah Dato, who competed in the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore, dominated the girls’ 200-meter freestyle, 50m butterfly and 400m individual medley to solidify her position in the national team.

On the other hand, Brandon Willis Sing pocketed his three gold medals in the boys 200m backstroke, 100m back and 200m medley relay.

In the billiards competition, national team member Rubilen Amit regained the 9-ball title after beating Iris Ranola, 9-3, in the finals.

In the men’s division, unheralded John Maurico toppled last year’s champion John Limuel Rebong in a thrilling 9-8 victory in the men’s 9ball.

Meanwhile, the bid of world champion Dennis Orcollo, Warren Kiamco and Carlo Biado to be retained in the national team suffered some snag after they failed to advance in the early stages of the tournament.

The three national team members reasoned out that the last-minute announcement of the Billiards Sports Confederation of the Philippines (BSCP) of their participation did not give them enough time to prepare.

TEAM Batangas won 1st runner up in the National Coca-cola PBA Youngstars 2014. The team defeated five other regional teams including KABAKA of National Capital Region (NCR) in the semis, but lost in a championship game against Cebu, on May 23, at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.

Team Batangas is represented by the Batangas City players.

Raphael Jose L. Chavez and Victor John Alarcon were awarded as two of the Five Mythical Players of the tournament. They both received offers to play in big universities in Manila.

Mayor Eduardo B. Dimacuha with the members

of Sangguniang Panlungsod awarded Team Batangas and presented its coaches and players after the flag ceremony of the city government employees this morning.

Team Batangas coaches: Paolo J. Perez, Celo Gutierrez, Coco Gutierrez, Jeyo Resurrecion, Rodzen Ilustre, Boying Anonuevo, & Phoebo Ansel Perez.

Players: Kim Eisen Hernandez, Jimbeam Bathan, Arturo Oliva III, Enrique Miguel Encarnacion, Raphael Jose Dimayuga, Jastine Dayle Garcia, Neil Bryan Macaraig, Byron Patrick Maranan, Aeron Mark Igasan, Raphael Jose Chavez, Victor John Glenn Alarcon.| CITY PIO

DOST 4A, Rizal provides water hyacinth dryer to Cardona locals ANTIPOLO CITY —Members of the Samahan ng Kababaihan ng Barangay Patunhay Inc. are receive their second government shared service water hyacinth dryer.

The Department of Science and Technology Calabarzon and Rizal Provincial offices recently delivered and assembled a P 200,000 worth drying machine to be used by the organization for their dried water lily handicraft production.

Members of the group already have access to a drying machine provided earlier by the Department of Trade and Industry – Rizal but have requested for another machine due to the increasing demand for dried water lily products such as wallpapers, bags and other handicrafts.

The drying machine augments the processing time needed for water hyacinths especially during the rainy season where sun drying is less feasible. Lily stalks are sundried for one day before being processed in the drying machine for two hours at around 60 degrees Celsius using organic fuel such as coconut husks and rice hulls.

The provision of the shared service facility is also done in support with Gender and Development (GAD) as DOST supports the Cardona-based women’s group as well as the Bangon Kababaihan Bagong Cainta (BKBC) which also processes dried water hyacinth based crafts.| GIDEON GAPAYAO

PRESERVE OUR CORALS. Patuloy

ang panawagan ng mga environmentalists para sa patuloy na pangangalaga ng mga yamang dagat gaya ng mga bahurang ito sa karagatang sakop ng Calatagan, Batangas.

Sa pag-momonitor ng ilang cause-oriented groups, nabatid na may mga iresponsable pa ring mga beachgoers na nagtatapon ng mga basura at plastic na sumisiksik sa mga bahura.| JESSIE DELOS REYES

Go away from drugs....

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D’ BLADES JAMM We welcome home-grown bands, students, amateur jammers.

BLADES Centre, Guades Comp., Purok 3, Calicanto, Bats. City For inquiries and schedule, Call of Text 0912-902-7373 to 74.

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