Ex-Liwayway Editor-in-Chief writes 30

Former Liwayway Magazine Editor-in-Chief Bienvenido "Ka Bien" Ramos of Malolos City, Bulacan passed away on Tuesday, April 24.  He was 82. Ka Bien as he is fondly and reverently called retired from Liwayway in the early days of Martial Law, but continue to write for Mabuhay, a local weekly publication.  He is also a prolific short story writer and has won numerous awards and recognitions.  His remains lies in state at their house in Brgy. Sto. Cristo, Malolos City.  He will be interred on Sunday, April 29 at the Legacy Memorial Park in Malolos.

Damaged irrigation dike impedes water flow to 500 hectares of rice lands

by Ramon Efren R. Lazaro

BOCAUE, Bulacan –At least 300 hectares of rice lands in this town were deprived of irrigation supply this dry season and some 200 hectares more received minimal water due to clogged and damaged irrigation dike of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

Farmers here noted that the rice self-sufficiency program of the Aquino administration that is being bragged by agriculture officials to be attainable by next year is a very big failure in their locality and that future scenarios for dry season cropping for the 500 hectares of the farmlands in their town are bleak unless drastic rehabilitation measures are immediately implemented.

These were the conclusions on the recent joint ocular inspection made by NIA personnel, farmers leaders from Bocaue and Pandi together with its municipal agriculture officers on why farm lands in Bocaue have been receiving only a minimal amount of irrigation water for more than 10 years.

Precioso Donato Punzala, assistant operations engineer of the National Irrigation Administration Region 3 Bulacan – Aurora – Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office (NIA-BANE IMO) said that the damaged dikes are located in the Lateral D of the south zone of the Angat-Maasim Rivers Irrigation System.

Punzalan said one of the reasons why the flow of water at the said irrigation system is being impeded is due to the dumping of garbage on it and made worst by growth of weeds, kang kong and quiapo plants on the waterway.

He added that a back hoe from NIA-BANE IMO is provided to Linaw na Bukal Irrigators Association, that was awarded a contract by NIA for the maintenance of the irrigation canal, to remove the debris clogging the said irrigation but some problems cropped up and the issues were forwarded to the legal services department in the central office of NIA.

It was also found out that there was something wrong in the cementing of the irrigation canal bottom that was only one and one-half foot deep instead of two and one-half foot deep that causes the impediment of the irrigation water flow downstream going to Bocaue that was done during a road widening that was made a few years back in Barangay Bunsuran in Pandi town, specifically on Lateral D Station 7+100 of the irrigation system        

Punzalan said that the group agreed to make a letter to the Department of Public Works and Highway for it to review the design of the bridge over the irrigation canal and make appropriate rehabilitation of it so as not to impede the flow of irrigation water under it together with the bridge located in Station 6+100 in Barangay Bagbaguin also in Pandi that has the same problem.

Seepages of water in the irrigation canal dikes that flows to drainages and creeks were also noted in Station 2+150 in Bagbaguin, Pandi; Station 2+900 in Manatal, Pandi; Station 3+250 and Station 4+250 in Masagana, Pandi.

Punzalan estimates that the volume of irrigation water that’s been loss through these seepages is enough to irrigate the 500 hectares of farm land in their service area in Bocaue.

Punzalan said the seepages are widely believed to have been cause by the burying of janitor fishes in the dike’s embankment and added that it needs concrete linings of approximately 200-300 meters fronting the creek.

Besides the problem on rehabilitating the dikes, Punzalan said that the constructions of houses by informal settlers along the dikes and on top of the irrigation canal in the towns of Pandi and Bocaue pose a very serious problem on the flow of irrigation water.

To address these problems, Punzalan said that it is imperative that local government units—provincial, municipal and barangay levels-- NIA, irrigators associations, concerned government agencies, farmers’ groups NGOs and media join forces together to find appropriate solutions to the problems.

Manolito Diaz, municipal agriculture and fishery council chairman of Bocaue said the problems on the diminishing irrigation water supply to Bocaue were constantly being reiterated in their meeting with their municipal agriculture personnel for more than 20 years now.

From two cropping seasons, Bocaue farmers particularly in barangays Caingin, Wakas, Bagumbayan, Sulucan and Bambang are now only capable of planting during the wet season, Diaz lamented and explained that the situation brings economic hardship to farmers’ families.

He also noted that large tracts of irrigated farm lands were already converted for other purposes in these villages and added that it is about time that local agriculture personnel  provide farmers with alternative livelihood projects, like teaching them on how to raise vegetables or livestock.

World Press Freedom Day forum slated

EVENT:                       

World Press Freedom Day Celebration

DATE:                                   

May 4, 2012 (whole morning or whole afternoon)

PROGRAM:           

Half-Day Simultaneous Programs in Manila, Bulacan, Cagayan de Oro, Davao,

Cebu, Gen. Santos and Baguio – A Total of Seven Areas Nationwide.  De La Salle University, Xavier University, Ateneo de Davao University, and University of San Carlos, Saint Louis University have tie-ups with the US EMBASSY.  They are called American Corners, so automatically they become venues for the forums.  The other two in Bulacan and Gen. Santos do not have American Corners but local organizers will have to get in touch with them.

Manila                                    De La Salle University

Bulacan                                  Bulacan State University

Cagayan de Oro                       Xavier University

Davao                                     Ateneo de Davao University

Cebu                                      University of San Carlos

Baguio                                    Saint Louis University

Gen. Santos                            Notre Dame University

TITLE:                       

Decriminalize Libel Now:  A Forum

January 31 marked a milestone for the campaign for freedom of expression as the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) released a resolution declaring the country’s libel law discordant with the provision in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that upholds free expression as a right.

The UNHRC, in light of a complaint filed by Davao-based broadcaster Alexander Adonis, upheld that defamation laws "should not … stifle freedom of expression".

UNHRC also ordered the government to provide compensation for the wrongful detention of Adonis, who has been in jail for more than two years now after being convicted on a libel case filed by former House Speaker Prospero Nograles.

The government must act to prevent libel laws from being abused by prevent such violations to happen again, and there is no other way to do so but to review and amend our draconian libel law and push for its decriminalization.

We wish to discuss the implications of the UNHRC resolution and its impact on Philippine media, given that fellow journalists continue to be vulnerable to intimidation through criminal libel.  Resource persons are legal experts and leaders  from media advocacy groups such as the PPI and the NUJP.  They will be joined by some editors and publishers as panelists from the local level.  In Manila, PPI trustees and Philippine Press Council editors will be panelists/discussants.

We hope to re-launch the campaign to decriminalize libel in the Philippines and launch the initiatives as presented in the first two forums in Manila (UP College of Law and Orchid Garden Suites.

Groundbreaking Initiative:

The Philippine Press Institute and the Philippine Press Council held the first roundtable discussion on the issue of libel and its proposed decriminalization on March 22, 2012 in Manila.

Even before this PPI-PPC forum, the NUJP has already initiated a forum at the UP College of Law to jumpstart the discussions and sustainable advocacy on decriminalizing libel.  This prompted PPI to organize one for print.

The PPI-PPC RTD gathered 20 guests representing academe, broadcast media, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and the Center for International Law represented by Atty. Harry Roque. Journalists Alexander Adonis from Davao City and Edwin Espejo from Gen. Santos City also shared the libel cases filed against them. The PPI Board was represented by trustees Amado Macasaet, Vergel Santos, Al Pedroche and Elnora Cueto.

“Every journalist should adopt this (decriminalization) as a natural advocacy,” Roque said.

The discussion included a survey of the current international statutes on libel, human rights and the freedom of expression vis-à-vis the journalism climate in the Philippines.

At the end of the roundtable discussion, the following proposed actions were identified to provide a framework moving forward the decriminalization of libel. This was imperative in view of the national and local elections in May 2013.

PROPOSED ACTIONS:

1.     Build database on libel suits filed against journalists.

2.     Intensify campaign for decriminalization of libel, both in national and international levels:

Lobby with Congress and Malacañang

Build unity among news organizations

3.     Educate members of media (particularly those in broadcast) about libel – the law, related international  standards/instruments, as well as journalism ethics.

4.      Strengthen accountability mechanisms:

In-house or internal mechanisms: ombudsman, correction and apology

Geographical: Press Councils

Thru press organizations: PPI, NUJP, etc.

Thru monitoring groups: CMFR, academe, CSOs

5.      Conduct research on how criminal libel impacts on press freedom and free expression rights in the country.

6.     Build a network of lawyers that will address press freedom related cases, including criminal libel. (Similar to Media Legal Defense Inc.)

7.     “Know your rights” campaign:

Know who to contact – lawyer, NUJP hotline, editors/publishers/station managers

Have bail money ready

Have form for posting bail ready

In some areas, find out the operation of the night courts

8.      Monitor media bills being filed in Congress. (Check Escudero bill – full decriminalization)

9.     Training on libel defense with the help of UP College of Law

10.  Use the social media for campaigning

PARTNER/GRANTOR:                       

Embassy of the United States of America

ORGANIZER:           

Philippine Press Institute as Project Implementer in cooperation with NUJP-Manila and the Center for International law with Regional Members in said areas as Partners for Local Initiatives in collaboration with local KBP and NUJP chapter members

COUNTERPART:           

Mobilization, Technical Expertise, Call for Action, Center for International assigning a legal expert in each area (this means spending for transportation of the expert), NUJP assigning one person too in each area

VENUE/S:

American Corners and/or Partner-Universities

SPEAKERS:                       

Media Leaders from the PPI, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Local Press Clubs and Press Councils and Editors/Publishers, Legal Experts from the Center for International Law (optional)

ATTENDEES:           

PPI Members (Print), Broadcast members of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP), Members of Press/Media Organizations, Some educators and teachers of Journalism Schools, Advocacy Groups (Non-Media) such as Civil Society Organizations and NGOs

It will be a mixed of community stakeholders attending the forum.  Since the school venue has already a target audience, attendance should have more media practitioners.

CONTENT:                       

Speeches/Presentations and Open Forum/Ceremonial such as candle-lighting, holy mass, prayer rally

Keynote in Manila:  Official of the U.S. Embassy

Main Peg:  Decriminalization of Libel (cognizant to the Aquino administration's centerpiece advocacy on fighting corruption and in the light of media re-examining themselves).  As a pressing issue now, the advocacy campaign aims to heighten awareness on it and make known the proposed plan of actions from the first two forums held in Manila.  In relation to this, the FOI bill also has to be an accompanying topic.

Attendant Topics/Segments (to be chosen as part of the program):  Killings of Journalists, Media Accountability, Media Re-examining Themselves, Ethics and Civic Journalism (Engaging the Public), Threats to Press Freedom, Freedom of Information

Even if the forum is localized in the six areas outside Manila, each program will have libel as the main focus where all the underlying or related topics will have to be based on.  Depends on the program schedule, all attendant topics can be accommodated.  But owing to the unique media landscape in each area, the local organizer should be able to tweaked the program to render more relevance and local impact.

OUTPUT:                       

Press Releases and Written Activity Report

LOGISTICS:                       

Venue, Meals, Administrative Costs, Honoraria for Speakers, ‘Bulk’ Amount for the Local Programs for invitations, printing of programs, kits if there are any, LCD projector for powerpoint presentations from speakers, modest honoraria for speakers, photo and reportorial documentation; other excess expenses shall be borne by the organizer as counterpart

Manila – PPI Head Office

Bulacan – Dino Balabo, Mabuhay Newspaper

Cagayan de Oro City – Allan Mediante, BusinessWeek Mindanao

Davao City – Jess Dureza, Mindanao Times

Cebu City – Cherry Ann Lim, Sun.Star Cebu

Baguio City – Jane Cadalig, Baguio Midland Courier

Gen. Santos City – John Paul Jubelag, Mindanao Bulletin

April 2, declared holiday in Bulacan

MALOLOS CITY –  It’s a long weekend for Bulakenyos due to the declaration of Monday, April 2, 2012 as a special non-working holiday in Bulacan in observance of the 224th birth anniversary of the prominent poet and orator Gat Francisco Baltazar also known as Balagtas.

The said announcement is pursuant to the Provincial Ordinance No.C-004 also known as “An Ordinance Enacting the New Provincial Administrative Code of Bulacan”, Chapter II, Section 27, The Provincial Legal Holidays and Proclamation No. 355, signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. by authority of President Benigno Aquino III dated March 27, 2012.

“Sama-sama nating gunitain ang araw ng kanyang pagsilang sa pamamagitan ng pagkilala sa kanyang mga kontribusyon hindi lamang sa lalawigan kundi sa buong bansa," Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said.

Baltazar was born in Panginay, Balagtas (formerly Bigaa), Bulacan on April 2, 1788 to Juan Baltazar, a blacksmith, and Juana de la Cruz.

Called Prince of Tagalog Poets for his impact on Filipino Literature equivalent of William Shakespeare, he became famous on his epic Florante at Laura.

The popular Filipino debate form Balagtasan was named after Balagtas and he was recognized and became the front cover for two weeks of the Pahayagang Kastilyano, a Spanish publication.  (PPAO)

DESPITE CHURCH WARNING:5 devotees to join crucifixion rites

MALOLOS CITY—The Church maintained its position over reenactment of Christ’s crucifixion saying it is just a “popularized religiosity.”

As this developed, local tourism groups in Bulacan are gearing up for influx of tourists and pilgrims for the annual crucifixion rites in Paombong where at least five devotees are expected to join on Good Friday.

Bishop Jose Oliveros of the Diocese of Malolos said Christians were not asked by God to imitate what Jesus Christ had done over 2,000 years ago.

He said that Jesus Christ’s teaching is very clear as stated in the Bible.

“The Lord taught us to come carry our cross daily and follow him.  He did not say come and reenact My crucifixion,” Oliveros said.

He also said that the cross is a symbol of every suffering that Christians can bear for Jesus Christ.

“During the Lenten season we are given the opportunity to mortify ourselves and mortification means sacrificing or dying to one self,” the bishop said.

He added that reenactment of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion is just an expression of popularized religiosity.

“We were asked by Jesus Christ to be a good Christian,” Oliveros said and asked if those doing reenactment of the crucifixion has become good Christians by coming to church every Sunday.

Oliveros also said that what is important during the Lenten season is for people to come and renew their relationship with God.

Meanwhile, the Bulacan Tourism Convention and Visitors Bureau (BTCVB) initiated rehabilitation of the crucifixion site at Barangay Kapitangan in Paombong town.

Jose Clemente, chair of the BTCVB, said the rehabilitation was meant to improve facilities of the Sto. Cristo Chapel in Barangay Kapitangan which draws tourists every year.

He described the annual crucifixion rites as the only tourism attraction in the province that gained followers even without promotion.

Meanwhile, Michael Katigbak, one of the devotees who joined the rites last year said he will join again this year for the sixth time.(DB)

Balagtas interchange opening hailed, Sta. Rita toll plaza decongested

PLARIDEL, Bulacan—Every morning, spouses Bernardo and Tess Vicente rushes to get to their work places in Quezon City from their house at Rocka Village at Barangay Tabang here.

This is to avoid usual traffic jam that clog the Cagayan Valley Road (CVR) from the Plaridel public market to the Sta. Rita toll Plaza along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

At night, the same traffic greets them as they go home.

But not on the night of March 20, or at least six hours after the inauguration of the Balagtas Interchange and the subsequent opening of the 6.87 kilometer Plaridel By-pass road which is part of the still to be completed 24.61 kilometer arterial road project that will link the NLEX to Barangay Maasim in San Rafael town, just west of the boundary of San Rafael and San Ildefonso towns.

“Maluwag na, mabilis pa ang biyahe,” said Bernardo in a text message sent to Business Week.

As an engineer of the Maynilad Water Services Inc., (MWSI), Bernardo said he and his wife Tess, an instructor at the University of the Philippines, hopes that decongestoon of the CVR will continue.

Their hope is the same with the purpose for the construction of the arterial toad project.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said it was meant to reduce travel time to and from eastern Bulacan and Central Luzon NLEX.

He said more travel time will be reduced once the 24.61 kilometers arterial road project that will link the NLEX with the Philippine Japan Friendship Highway or the old Maharlika Highway is completed.

Singson said it will also boost economic activity in eastern Bulacan and Central Luzon.

Based on date released by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the 6.87 kilometer Plaridel by-pass road is under the contract package 1 of the Phase 1 of the project funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency JICA).

The Plaridel by-pass road which straddles Barangay Borol 1^st in Balagtas town to Barangay Bulihan in Plaridel town was completed last November 25 amounted to P1.570-Billion.  It has one 60-meter bridge and 2.40-kilometer access road.

The 7.75-kilometer contract package II of the project which is also under the Phase I will extend the contract package I to Bustos town.  Jica is readying P543.326-Million of the said project.

Singson said that it is projected to be completed by next year, but contractors said it will be completed by June this year.

He said that he is looking forward for the early implementation of the contract package III and IV under phase II covering a total of 9.86 kilometers from Bustos to Barangay Maasim in San Rafael town.

The said segment of the project will also be bankrolled  by a loan from JICA.

For his part, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ramoncito Fernandez said the Plaridel Bypass road and the Balagtas Interchange is a good manifestation of public-private partnership (PPP).

“In this PPP, the government provided the road infrastructure while the Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) will operate and maintain it as the country’s newest tollway,” he said.

The MNTC installed the fixed and non-fixed equipment necessary for an efficient tollway system.

Rodrigo Franco, president and CEO of the MNTC said they allocated a total of P109-M for the said equipment, plus P22-M for operation and maintenance of the Balagtas interchange and portion of the by-pass road.

With regards to toll fee, Edmundo Reyes, the executive director of the Toll Regulatory Board said they approved its collection at the Balagtas interchange.

Reyes said that toll fees to be collected will be based on existing per kilometer collection of the Traffic Management Corporation, the operator of the NLEX. 

De Lima fetes outstanding Bulakenyas

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan, March 21 (PIA) – Justice Secretary Leila De Lima conferred yesterday the Gawad Medalyang Ginto 2012 to the most exemplary Bulakenyas at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center here, stressing the “immortal” achievements of heroines from the province.

Gracing as the guest speaker for the event in line with the observation of the

International Women’s Month, De Lima said she was reminded of history lessons which tell the accomplishments of Bulakenya heroines like Trinidad Tecson, the Mother of Biak-na-Bato, and the 21 Women of Malolos who braved putting up a

school to teach Spanish language.

“In Bulacan, through this award, we don’t need to remind the men for them to acknowledge the contributions of women. I want to impart to you my warmest salutation for the example you have been showing not only in words but more especially in actions,” said De Lima in Filipino.

She and Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado led the conferral of the Natatanging Babae award with P10,000 to Emelita San Pedro from Angat town for the Women Empowerment category, and to Marilyn Baldivas of Meycauayan City for the Resource Generation category.

The Natatanging Samahang Pangkakabaihan award with P20,000 was given to Soroptimist International of San Jose Del Monte City District III Club No. 170203 headed by Fidelina Mier.

Among the winners for the Gawad Medalyang Ginto sectoral categories were Rowena Francisco of San Rafael as Matagumpay na Ginang ng OFW; Florentina Salonga from Plaridel as Matagumpay na Babaeng Makakalikasan; Segunda Bartolome from San Jose Del Monte City as Matagumpay na Babaeng

Mangangalakal; and the Municipality of Obando headed by Francisca Mendoza as Matagumpay na Konsehong Pambayan para sa Kababaihan 2012.

“We are highlighting the contributions of women in our development in this time preceded by history like the Women of Malolos. Many say that behind every triumph of a man, the picture and spirit of a woman could be found,” said Alvarado in Filipino.

Eva Fajardo, chairman of the Panlalawigang Komisyon para sa Kababaihan ng Bulacan, said prior to the event, there were already 66 women and 14 organizations that had been awarded by this commission. (JMG/PIA 3)