Mike dela Rama

Stories from Mike dela Rama

NFA Assure Rice Supplies Despite Mayon Eruption
Mike dela Rama
Sunday, December 20th, 2009

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 17- The National Food Authority (NFA) regional office here assured local officials of Albay that there is a sufficient rice supplies not only for the province but for the entire Bicol region.

Catalina Jaylo, NFA regional Enforcement and Regulatory officer told members of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) that as of December 14, 2009, there are 1.5 million bags of rice available. "The available supply is good for 122 days consumption for the six provinces in the region."

ASEAN Diplomats Visit Albay
Mike dela Rama
Thursday, November 19th, 2009

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 12- Fifteen diplomats and disaster officers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam are set to visit the province of Albay on November 20 to 22.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda said the purpose of their visit is to look into the Albay Provincial Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) and other institutions as well as evacuation centers in the province.

"They intend to learn from our experiences and best practices of the province in managing disaster," Salceda said.

Albay Social Welfare Office Starts Stock Filing of Relief Items
Mike dela Rama
Sunday, November 8th, 2009

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 6  - The Social Welfare and Development Office in the province of Albay has started its stock filing of food relief items specially rice which will be distributed to evacuees in case heavy rains continue to pour.

Albay Provincial Social Welfare Officer Yulanda Guanzon said that 1,000 sacks of NFA (National Food Authority) rice were released to the provincial government on Friday.

Albay Boosts Disaster Response Capability
Mike dela Rama
Sunday, November 1st, 2009

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct. 27  - The provincial government of Albay is now working for a massive build-up on disaster response capability to secure the zero casualty goal.

"We have acquired 13 new rubber boats amounting to P5.5 million, nine units of ambulances worth P3.4 million and 1,000 public address systems, (P6 million at P6,000 each) to boost our disaster response," the governor said.

Albay Suspends GSIS Loan Deductions Among Employees
Mike dela Rama
Saturday, October 10th, 2009

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct. 10  - Starting this month, the provincial government will no longer deduct the loan payments in the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) from the salaries of its employees.

"President Arroyo's approval of my demand side relief package with immediate effectivity will help both local and national government employees cope up with the recent crisis brought by the recent typhoons," Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said.

BFAR Reports Illegal Fishing in Some Sorsogon Coastal Areas
Mike dela Rama
Saturday, September 5th, 2009

SORSOGON CITY, Sept. 3 (PNA) - Illegal fishing is still rampant in some coastal areas in the province of Sorsogon, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) provincial office.

Sorsogon provincial fisheries and aquatic resources chief Gil Ramos said that dynamite and other modes of illegal fishing are more rampant in the coastal areas of Magallanes town.

Task Force Mayon to Conduct Dry Run Evacuation
Mike dela Rama
Saturday, July 18th, 2009

LEGAZPI CITY, July 15- Immediately after its reactivation, the Task Force Mayon is set to conduct massive dry run evacuation even as the alert status has remained at level 2 since Friday last week.

According to Abundio Nunez Jr., administrative officer of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 901st Infantry brigade is tasked to lead the evacuation dry run.

Enrile Defends PGMA on Cha-Cha
Mike dela Rama
Saturday, June 13th, 2009

LEGAZPI CITY, June 12 (PNA) - Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile has defended President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on the issue of Charter Change (Cha-Cha) being pushed by the House of Representatives.

New PNR Central Station in Naga City Seen
Mike dela Rama
PNA
Saturday, May 9th, 2009

LEGAZPI CITY, May 7 (PNA) - The Philippine National Railways (PNR) management announced Wednesday that construction of new central station in Naga city to serve as railway terminal in Bikol is expected to be completed before the end of 2009.

Nicolas Beda Priela, Private Sector Consultant to the PNR, told members of the Regional Development Council (RDC) during the full council meeting that repair and rehabilitation of rail tracks and bridges were on-going.

Department of Tourism Grants P2.5-M Assistance to Sorsogon
Mike dela Rama
PNA
Saturday, May 9th, 2009

LEGAZPI CITY, May 7 (PNA) - The Department of Tourism (DOT) said the last tranche of the P2.5-million fund assistance to the province of Sorsogon for the establishment of various infrastructure and other tourism projects, has been released earlier this week.

DOT Bicol regional director Maria Ong-Ravanilla said the grant was given under the Expanded Grassroots Entrepreneurs for Eco-Tourism (GREET) program of the DOT which had been conceived to enhance livelihood opportunities in the tourism sector.

Albay to Declare State of Imminent Danger to Fight Swine Flu
Mar S. Arguelles
Mike dela Rama
Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

LEGAZPI CITY, April 30 (PNA) --- The provincial government of Albay will declare a state of imminent danger following the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration placing the swine flu virus epidemic under Alert Level 5, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said today.

Salceda said he has urged the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to convene for the immediate passing of a resolution on the declaration.

Philhealth Issues Alert on Salmonella
Mike dela Rama
Monday, April 27th, 2009

LEGAZPI CITY, April 21 (PNA) - PhilHealth Bikol vice president and regional director Orlando Iñigo, Jr. announced that members and dependents can now enjoy the New In-Patient Benefit Package effective this month if they are victims of Salmonella and in conditions when hospitalization is needed.

Iñigo noted that the occurrence of the salmonella alarm in several places in and outside the Philippines scares the public as it displays serious conditions caused by severe infections which are dangerous and could be fatal.

Shellfish Ban Remains in Sorsogon Bay
Mike dela Rama
Monday, April 27th, 2009

SORSOGON CITY, April 23 (PNA) -- The shellfish ban remains hoisted in Sorsogon Bay with still high concentration of red tide organism, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

BFAR has recently issued a shellfish bulletin that included anew Sorsogon Bay and Juag Lagoon in Matnog town, this province, as among the bodies of water where the shellfish ban is imposed.

Restoration of Pantao Port Urged
Mike dela Rama
Monday, April 27th, 2009

LEGAZPI CITY, April 21 (PNA) - Bicol Regional Development Council and Albay Governor Joey Salceda has urged the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to restore the construction of Pantao Port project in Libon, Albay.

"The point is the province is taking a strong stand that should make Pantao port an integral part of economic development," Salceda said.

According to the governor, the provincial government is working hard to get Pantao port restored.

"The two roads, Libon Pnato and Ligao - Pioduran are vital signs of our continuing commitment to the project," he said.

Albay Allots P16M for Australian Model Higher Education Scheme
Mike dela Rama
Monday, April 20th, 2009

LEGAZPI CITY, April 15 (PNA) - Albay Governor Joey Salceda announced Wednesday that the province is adopting the Australian model on Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) starting school year 2009-2010 with an initial fund of P16 million.

Under this program, those who enroll in Bicol University main campus and Albay-based private colleges can apply with the Education Quality for Albayanos (EQUAL) for a loan of P5,000 per semester for every semester for the entire course.