NIA WARN: No swimming at Bustos Dam

HAGONOY, Bulacan—No fishing, dipping and swimming is allowed at the apron of Bustos Dam.

This was the warning of a ranking official of the national Irrigation Administration (NIA) after disclosing that rubber gates of the dam located in between San Rafael and Bustos town is nearing the end of its lifespan.

Felix Robles, the officer in charge of NIA’s Water Control and Coordinating Unit (WCCU) said a similar rubber gate of a dam in Florida in the United States burst recently leading to rapid outflow of water from the reservoir.

Robles and other dam officials were in this town yesterday during the first leg of disaster preparedness information drive initiated by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the National Power Corporation (Napocor)

“The lifespan of a rubber gate is 14 to 15 years, and it could be shorter like the one in Florida defending on the weather condition,” he said noting that rubber gates installed at Bustos Dam is as old as the one that burst in Florida.

Since rubber gates of Bustos Dam are nearing the end of its lifespan, Robles said they cannot ascertain its safety, and must be replaced immediately.

He advised local residents to stop fishing on the dam’s apron, while warning local tourists from dipping and swimming at the downstream of the dam.

“Its can burst anytime, and when deflated, water will rush downstream to the apron,” he said and added that every year they conduct repair on the cracks on the rubber gate by vulcanizing it.

At present, NIA has installed steel-fence on the downstream of the dam, but people continue to flock there as the provincial tourism office promote the dam apron as a good place to dip in during summer.

Robles said the potential of danger is very clear and imminent, that’s why they asked even barangay officials to discourage residents from fishing and swimming on the dam apron.

He said that the rubber gates of Bustos Dam were installed in 1998 by Zenitaka Construction which was contracted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which also spearheaded rehabilitation on the dam’s apron.

Built in the early 60s, Bustos town is operated by the NIA and serves as an after bay regulatory dam of the bigger Angat Dam in Norzagaray town.

It has six 80 meters long rubber gates which are 2.5 meters high.

Bustos Dam straddles the entire length of the Angat River in between Bustos and Rafael towns where water for irrigation were distributed through a network of irrgatin canals to as far west as Bocaue, Bulakan, and Hagonoy towns; and to as far east as San Miguel in Bulacan and Candaba in Pampanga. 

Holcim Philippines deploys employees for community work

Holcim COO Roland Wijnen

More companies have been encouraging employees to participate in volunteer programs during their off days, but last May 24, cement manufacturer Holcim Philippines’ almost 1,700 employees got to do this on company time.

To celebrate the Holcim Group’s 100^th birthday, Holcim Philippines deployed its workforce on a work day to go to its communities in La Union, Bulacan, Taguig, Misamis Oriental, and Davao to participate in various community service activities.

Holcim Philippines employees went to public schools near their facilities to clean and paint classrooms and tend gardens to help prepare these for opening of classes. Employees also held story telling sessions and road safety demonstrations for children there. The company also brought along dentists, doctors and barbers, who provided free service to the children

These form part of the Holcim Group’s Together for Communities initiative, which seeks to mobilize this year its 80,000 people in over 70 countries to render public service in various communities.

“These activities are Holcim’s way to give back to its communities which give our company the license to operate,” said Holcim Philippines COO Roland van Wijnen. “Moreover, activities as these deeply drive a sense of sharing among our employees.”

Van Wijnen said that aside from the Community Service Day, the company has lined up other activities throughout the year that would allow employees spend their time volunteering in communities instead of reporting for duty at the office.

The La Union Plant will lead a coastal clean-up, medical mission, and a book drive. Its Bulacan Plant had already deployed people to participate in the clean-up Bocaue River and the Pinagrealan Cave and has invited them to join a blood letting drive, visit a youth correctional and serve as teachers for a day. In Misamis Oriental, the plant will hold a highway clean-up and a beautification of a Gawad Kalinga village in the province. Davao employees, meanwhile, have a chance to join a tree and mangrove planting activity or spend time with the elderly.

Another Centennial celebration activity is the roll out of its Project Fostering a Child’s Education (FACE) in all its sites, a program wherein employees volunteer to shoulder some of the schooling expenses of underprivileged but deserving students and regularly interact with them to provide guidance. Holcim Philippines tested the program in its Bulacan Plant for 24 student beneficiaries. It was inspired by a similar initiative by its former COO Ian Thackwray who personally supports the education of 160 students until they finish high school.

All these activities are in line with Holcim Philippines’s Sagot Ko ang Bukas online campaign (http://sagotko.holcim.ph) which seeks to encourage its employees and partners to pledge on how they can contribute to a better future. The Sagot Ko ang Bukas campaign is Holcim Philippines’ effort to make people better understand the concept of sustainability and bring it down to a personal level.

Tornado hits Bulacan town

HAGONOY, Bulacan—Over 50 houses were partially damaged after a tornado hit two villages in San Miguel town the other day.

This developed, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) is looking into the string of tornadoes that hit the province since 2007.

Liz Mungcal, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) said that at least 90 families were affected by the tornado that hit Barangays Penambaran and King Kabayo in San Miguel town.

Packed with strong winds and gust of rainfall, the tornado ripped house roofing made of light materials.

Mungcal said no one was reported injured and the provincial government has sent relief goods and other assistance to victims.

This developed, the PDRRMO is also verifying reports of another tornado, locally known as “buhawi” in Hagonoy town, while Pagasa is studying series of incidents in the province.

Hilton Hernando, an officer of Pagasa’s Pampanga River Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (PRFFWC) told thre STAR that the agency is already looking into the incidents.

He said that while the study is inconclusive yet, they are considering it as an effect of climate change.

He added,” or it could be because we have better reporting system now due to advances of technology.”

Based on records, the frequency of tornado that hit Bulacan started to increase in 2007 when the towns of Bustos, Baliuag, San Rafael, and San Miguel were hit in different occasions.

It was followed by another sting in 2008 in Ballgatas and Bocaue towns.

Last year, Calumpit town was hit twice by two separate tornadoes, while another was reported in Hagonoy town

700 kneeling carabaos starred in Pulilan, Bulacan

CITY OF MALOLOS- Thousands of people from all walks of life celebrated the Carabao Festival to witness the parade of 700 kneeling carabaos and well decorated floats in the streets of Pulilan yesterday, May 14.

According to Mayor Vicente Esguerra Sr. of Pulilan, the Carabao Festival is celebrated to give honor to their patron saint, San Isidro Labrador, a farmer.

“Sa kasaysayan, itoy’ talagang bilang pasasalamat kay San Isidro para sa masaganang ani sa nagdaang taon, kaya makikita n’yo lumuluhod talaga ‘yung mga kalabaw sa tapat ng simbahan, at kaya naman mga kalabaw, dahil sila ‘yung talagang katuwang ng mga magsasaka sa paggawa sa bukid, hanggang sa naging tradisyon na, dinadayo na at naging tourist attraction kaya naman para ipagmalaki ang mayaman nating kasaysayan at kultura, pinaghahandaan natin ito taun-taon,” Esguerra explained.

Teresita Tetangco, Municipal Information Officer  of Pulilan said “marami talaga ang nakiisa sa pagdiriwang ngayon, mayroon tayong 700 na makukulay na kalabaw na may body paint, mahigit 40 na komersyal na karosa bukod pa sa 19 na karosang pinaghandaan ng 19 na barangay, at wala tayong motorized na karosa ha, lahat kalabaw ang bumida.”

The festival’s highlights include the kneeling of carabaos in front of the church and the parade of symbolic floats that featured Bulacan products like agriculture and aquaculture.

“Masaya, makulay at talaga namang kaabang-abang ito hindi lang para sa mga lokal na residente ng Bulacan, kundi maging sa mga turista, kaya naman pinagbubuti ng ating pamahalaan ang pag-promote ng ating turismo, dahil kung masigla ang turismo, magiging masigla din ang kabuhayan ng mga Bulakenyo,” said Gob. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado.

Paolo Ajose, one of the festival enthusiasts applauded the beauty and abundance of Carabao Festival this year.

“Inaabangan ko ‘to taun-taon at kakaiba yung nakita ko ngayon, ang daming kalabaw na lumuluhod, ang gaganda ng floats, it’s really worth the wait, kahit mainit, okay lang, ang ganda,” said Ajose.

The event was also made possible with the help of Central Luzon Designers Group and BSU Artist Students who designed and decorated the carabaos and floats in the festival.

“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa lahat ng tumulong at nakiisa para sa ikatatagumpay ng Carabao festival 2012, magkita-kita tayo ulet sa susunod na taon,” said Mayor Esguerra.(PPAO)

Explore Philippine Fiestas at SM City Baliwag

Mall goers will get a rare opportunity to experience the country’s colorful festivals as SM City Baliwag and Filipino Heritage Festival Inc. exhibits Philippine Fiestas which will run on May 21 to 27.

The display will showcase how the Philippines is known to be the “Land of Fiestas” with photos depicting the vivid culture of celebrating feasts across the country. It will also illustrate how the festive spirit of Filipinos strengthen the country’s rich history and tradition.

On display at SM City Baliwag’s Event Center are 32 vibrant images of festivals such as the Panagbenga in Baguio, Giant Lantern in Pampanga, Sinulog in Cebu, and Ati-Atihan in Aklan, among others.

Aimed to create consciousness, respect and pride for the legacies of Filipino cultural history, and love of country, the month of May was declared as National Heritage Month in accordance to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Proclamation No. 439 on 11 August 2003.

Academe leads environment summit in Bulacan

MALOLOS CITY—Environmental protection gained another boost as leading universities in the province spearhead the first in a series of summits for the care, protection and nurture of the Environment.

Dubbed as “Ora Mismo”, the summit will be held at the Barasoain Center for Innovate Education (BarCIE) at the La Consolacion University of the Philippines (LaCUP) campus here on May 15 to 17.

Spearhead by the Sentro ng Edukasyon Para sa Ekonomiya at Kalikasan (SEEK) of the Bulacan State University (BulSU) and complemented by the LaCUP’s Saint Augustine International Institute for Justice and Peace (SAIIJ), the summit is expected to draw more than 100 participants from the academe, local government units (LGU) environmental advocacy groups.

This came as regional offices of the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued separate memorandums encouraging educators and LGU officials participation in the three day summit workshop.

Marwin Dela Cruz, the director of SEEK said the summit was aimed at opening a venue for dialogue for members of the academe in order to develop honest to goodness measures and programs for the protection of the environment.

“We also want to organize a strong and united academe that will initiate course of action on issues of environment and sustainability,” he said adding that members of the academe must harness and pool resources together.

He said,” it is about time for the academe to make its stand on the issue of the environment because we have been silent for a long time.

Dela Cruz said that knowledge gain in the series of summits they will hold can later be integrated to school’s curriculum.

“If we can integrate environmental protection and conservation to our courses and curriculum, we can mitigate disasters and easily adapt to the threats of climate change,” he said.

The summit will be keynoted by Dr. Particia Licuanan of CHED followed by others experts like Monsignor Pablo David, the auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of San Fernando in Pampanga; Director Lormelyn Claudio of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

Also invited as resource persons are Dr. Catalino Rivera of the Lyceum of Northwestern University, Dr. Reynaldo Cruz of LaCUP, Dr. Nilo Francisco of the Centro Escolar University, Rodney Galicha of Al Gore’s The Climate Reality Project, Bro, Martin Francisco of the Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society, and Dr. Reynaldo Naguit of BulSU.  (Dino Balabo)Academe

No water crisis in Malolos, water manager said

MALOLOS CITY—There is no water crisis in this city, the general manager of the Malolos City Water District said

However, he admitted that water pressure in their pipelines has been low, and local concessionaires continue to complain.

Both MCWD official and its concessionaire also expressed concerned over water rates in the proposed Bulacan Bulk Water Project which is seen to address increasing depletion of groundwater in the province.

“There is no water crisis in Malolos,” said Nicasio Reyes, the general manager of the MCWD said in vernacular.

In a telephone interview, he insisted that current water supply in the city is enough for it’s over 230,000 population.

However, he said that some concessionaires have to understand that they cannot enjoy the usual water pressure.

“There are areas that have low water pressure, especially those at the tail end of our pipeline,” he said.

But local concessionaires like Eduardo Camua of Barangay Pablo here said that even those living by the main road where the major pipelines are located are suffering for low water supply due to low water pressure.

The same was echoed by concessionaires from Barangays Sumapang Matanda and Bulihan here.

Reyes also admitted that low water pressure was due to increasing ground water depletion aggravated by summer heat and lack of rainfall in the weeks before.

To address the situation, he said that they are now installing pressure pipe in their water pumping stations in selected areas of the city to increase their water pumping capacity.

Meanwhile, Reyes andlocal concessionaires express hope that proposed Bulk Water project in the province will soon be implemented.

But they expressed concerned over possible water rates.

Reyes said that when the Bulaccan Bulk Water Project was introduced to them in 2007, they were informed that water districts in the province are likely to be charged with P16 per cubic meter of water.

“That’s too high because we were only charging P12.50 per cubic meter, and if the project was implemented then, our water rates could have climbed to P30 per cubic meter including production cost,” he said.

Earlier, Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado said they are still negotiating with a number of proponents for the Bulacan Bulk water project.

He said that their main contention ion wagter rate saying they want water rate in the province to be lower compared to Metro Manila.

This is due to the fact that the province was granted water right from the Angat Dam in the early 90s for hosting that dam since the early 60s.

Nata de coco maker selling shabu in Bulacan

by Ramon Efren R. Lazaro

A nata de coco manufacturer based in Santa Maria town has found bigger profit by selling methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Jose S. Gutierrez, Jr. identified the suspect as Chua Kian Cheng, alias A-Pe Chua, 40 years old, owner of a food manufacturing business in Sta. Maria, Bulacan that is engaged in processing nata de coco.

In a statement, Guitierrez said the suspect claims that he is a native of Xiamen , China and  holds a tourist visa and renews it every three monthsfor the last two and a half years.

. “Coordination is being made with the Bureau of Immigration to verify the claims of the suspect as he could not present his passport,” Gutierrez added.

The suspect was apprehended when operatives of PDEA, supported by elements from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), conducted a buy-bust operation.

A poseur-buyer was able to transact business with Chua for the purchase of  100 grams of

shabu worth P400,000.00 on April 30 wherein the suspect agreed to rendezvous with the poseur-buyer along Balasing Street , Barangay Pulong Buhangin in Santa Maria town.

 Upon the pre-arranged signal, joint operatives of PDEA and PAOCC apprehended the suspect who has in his posession 100 grams of shabu.

“Chua has the capacity to deal up to 5 kilos of shabu per transaction. We could have entered into a bigger transaction to nail him deeper, but we were constrained by our limited resources,” Gutierrez said.

Guiterrez added that Chua is a member of the Li-Chua Drug Group and has been under the surveillance of PDEA. From 2009, a total of 15 members of the Li-Chua Drug Group have been arrested, including Chua.

The suspectis presently under the custody of PDEA and shall face charges for selling dangerous drugs in violation of Section 5, Article II, Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Gutierrez explained that the Li-Chua Group has operations in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces in Regions 3 and 4A and based on intelligence reports, the said group used to operate two shabu clandestine laboratories dismantled by PDEA in the past two years.

One was the mini-laboratory in Caloocan dismantled in February 2011, and the other one

was in Las Piñas dismantled in August 2010.

Records show that from 2002 to present, a total of 247 Chinese were arrested by PDEA and other law enforcement units for violating RA 9165. This comprises 53 percent of all the foreign nationals arrested for involvement in illegal drug activities in the country.

This year alone, 11 Chinese have already been apprehended: five were involved in operating the Ayala Alabang clandestine laboratory, the otherswere involved in bulk-selling and possession of shabu.