Ilocos Sur, Philippines

By Freddie G. Lazaro

San Juan, Ilocos Sur (30 May) — A high ranking army official announced last Thursday that two New People’s Army (NPA) guerrilla fronts operating in Ilocos - Cordillera regions were dismantled after the intensive military operations along the hinterlands in the area.

These operations, which forms part on the implementations of AFP’s Oplan Bantay - Laya aiming to eradicate the problem of insurgency before 2010, gave the major setbacks and defeats to the members of the communist guerilla fronts.

Colonel Pompeo Limbo, Commander of the Army’s 503rd Brigade based in Barangay Sulvec, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, identified the recently abolished NPA guerilla fronts as Kilusang Larangang Guerilla (KLG) SANDINO, one of the NPA guerrilla fronts operating in the 2nd District of Ilocos Sur; and the KLG NAJERA operating along the tri-boundary of Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and Abra.

“The abolitions of these two NPA guerilla fronts were aggravated after significant number of its members surrendered to local authorities where these rebel surrenderees cited the low state of morale prevailing in the organization as their main reason for them to surrender or go on lie-low status,” Limbo said.

“The rebel’s low state of morale was brought about by the sustained campaign of government forces against the insurgents. The surrenderees further disclosed that the front was replaced by a Party Group, a smaller unit of the NPA, in order to maintain presence in the area and project that the NPA is still a force to contend with,” he added.

In addition, Limbo said that KLG NAJERA was declared dismantled by the AFP General Headquarters after the front suffered a major loss during a decisive engagement with soldiers from the army’s 50th Infantry Battalion (50IB) in Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte in November 17 of last year. In that encounter, five of the front’s members were reportedly killed and six others were injured. Government forces also recovered four high powered firearms.

Limbo said that the gains achieved by government forces as a result of the November 17 encounter were secured through the conduct of sustained Special Operations Team (SOT) operations in the tri-boundary causing the dismantling of all NPA politico-military infrastructures.

He also cited the all-out cooperation of the local residents in their campaign against insurgency in Ilocos - Cordillera regions.

“The most significant factor that led to the defeat of the NPA in the Ilocos-Cordillera region was the cooperation of the local populace who refused to be misled by the insurgents. The people in the region are now rejecting the incursions of “armed bandits” in their localities. It is high time that people enjoy peace and order in their communities and pursue their livelihoods without fear,” Limbo told. (PIA Ilocos Sur)

By Freddie G. Lazaro

Candon City (May 30) — Police operatives confiscated three high-powered firearms, one homemade gun, assorted live ammunitions and drug paraphernalias in a raid last Thursday at the residence of a suspected drug personality in Barangay Oaig Daya here. The suspected drug personality as well as the suspected gun owners was arrested during the raid.

In his report of Ilocos Sur Police Director, Senior Superintendent Virgilio G. Fabros, Chief Inspector Marlo Castillo, Candon City Chief of Police, identified the arrested suspect as Rowel Balocanag, 30, a resident of Barangay Oaig Daya, Candon City.

Siezed from the house premises of the suspect were one US Caliber.30 M1 Carbine, one M-16 Baby Armalite Rifle, one 12 Gauge Shotgun, one homemade gun (paltik), seven live ammunitions for 12 gauge shotgun, one magazine assembly for M-16 Armalite Rifle with 10 live bullets, one magazine assembly for Carbine with two live bullets, one heat sealed sachet of dried Marijuana leaves, one bundle of dried marijuana leaves wrapped with newspapers, two open plastic sachets of dried marijuana leaves and other drug paraphernalias.

The police operation was part of the OPLAN Sang Banat and OPLAN Paglalansag otherwise known as anti-illegal drugs and campaign on loose firearms, respectively.

“All the confiscated items were turned over to the crime laboratory of the Ilocos Sur Police Provincial Office for further examination,” Castillo said in his report.

The raid was held by virtue of search warrants issued by Judge Isidoro Pobre of the Regional Trial Court Branch 22 in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. The raid was done in a proper manner with the presence of the barangay officials.

There were reports that some of the confiscated firearms were voluntarily surrendered during the raid but the raiding policemen continuously conducted the search operation that resulted to the confiscation of the dried marijuana leaves and other drug paraphernalias.

The arrested suspect is presently detained at the Candon City Jail while charges on illegal possession of firearms and violation of RA 9165 are being prepared against him. (PIA Ilocos Sur)

By Freddie G. Lazaro

Vigan City (May 30) — The Department of Agriculture in Ilocos Region is promoting the use of organic fertilizers to increase crop production and reduce costs on farm inputs.

This is one of the initiatives by the national government to help alleviate farmers from the high costs of inorganic fertilizers. The cost of a bag of inorganic fertilizer had now reached up to P1,900.00.

Lawyer Cipriano Santiago, Regional Executive Director of the Department of Agriculture (DA), told on Friday that the agency is eyeing a counterparting agreement with the different local government units (LGUs) in the region for the purchase of shredding or chopping machine for waste materials to be used in the composting process.

He said that the agency will provide necessary technical assistance to the LGUs for the production of organic fertilizers for distribution to farmers.

Santiago stressed that the use of organic fertilizer and non-chemical dependent techonologies has led to better crop quality and higher yields.

Earlier, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap reported that the DA’s “Organikong Pagsasaka” program has an allocation of P500 million this year.

The fund was part of President Arroyo’s P43.7-billion FIELDS initiative to further boost rice yields and guarantee food security amid the emerging global food problem.

The FIELDS program focuses on the six areas of support to farmers such as: Fertilizers; Irrigation and other rural infrastructure; extension, education and training for farmers; Loans; Dryers and other post-harvest facilities; and Seeds of the high-yielding varieties.

Under the FIELDS programs, the Arroyo government set aside some P43.7 billion in funding assistance.

Under “Organikong Pagsasaka,” the DA had already introduced the Modified Rapid Composting (MRC) technology and the use of “tamang abono” nationwide.

It was reported that the farmers who have participated in the program have an increase of 20 percent in terms of yields, 30-to 40-percent hike in terms of profits, and a 30- to 50-percent reduction in terms of expenses for farm inputs.

The Organikong Pagsasaka program harnesses the locally developed organic farming technologies. The agriculture technicians teach the farmers to produce their own high-grade biofertilizers from farm wastes.

The program will implement President Arroyo’s Executive Order 481 subjecting for country’s promotion and development of organic agriculture. The program will first focus on rice, corn and vegetable farms nationwide. (PIA Ilocos Sur)

By Freddie G. Lazaro

Vigan City (May 30) — A high ranking US official was impressed on the sustainability and preservation of beautiful heritage tourists’ spots and destinations in the province during his short visit here last Wednesday.

Deputy Chief of Mission of the US to the Philippines Paul Jones together with his wife were warmly welcomed by the provincial officials of Ilocos Sur and city officials of Vigan City led by Governor Deogracias Victor “DV” B. Savellano, Acting City Mayor Franz Ranches Jr and City Administrator Milagros Alquiza.

Before his tour around the city of Vigan, Jones had a launcheon meeting with the provincial and city officials. The lunch was sponsored by the city government headed by Mayor Eva Marie Singson Medina, who was on vacation leave, at Vigan Culture and Trade Center (VCTC).

In a press interview, he appreciated the continous preservation of the Ilocano cultures in the province.

“The preservations of century old Spanish ancestral houses and the sustainability the people’s livelihood in Vigan City since the Galleon Trade are so amazing,” Jones said.

The US official disclosed that his main goal in visiting the province was to strengthen the friendship between the Ilocanos and the Americans as well as to recall the history made between the country and the US specifically in the migration of Ilocanos in Hawaii.

He assured his full support to the programs in the province spefically on police transformation program, health care, education, environment and other related programs in line with the program from the national government.

He also assured the help of the American government to the country in case of food crisis.

In his one-day tour in Vigan City, Jones visited the following historical sites such as: the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral and the Archbishop Palace of the Nueva Segovia - the only surviving 18th century archbishop palace in the country and served as headquarters of General Emilio Aguinaldo in 1889 and the invading American Forces in 1899; the pagburnayan or the “jar making factory” in Vigan; the Syquia mansion - the residence of Former Philippine President Elpidio Quirino and was the repository of the memorabilia of the late president; the Camanggaan Handloom Weaving - the place on weaving abel-Iloko, a traditional product of Vigan which is one of the major exports during the Galleon Trade; the famous “hidden garden” of Vigan; and the Calle Crisologo along the century old Spanish houses. (PIA Ilocos Sur)

By Freddie G. Lazaro

Vigan City (May 30) — The head of the country’s group of state-owned universities and colleges had confirmed that there are no plans for tuition fee hike this school year, it was learned Friday.

Dr. Lauro B. Tacbas, President of the University of the Philippines and current President of the Philippine Association of State Universities and College President (PASUC), told that the issue on tuition fee hikes had not been discussed during their recent meeting in Malacanang.

He pointed out that the present priority programs of the different state universities and colleges in the country is the development of learning facilities to produce quality graduates to cope with the continous global competitiveness in education.

Meanwhile, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed earlier the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to freeze all tuition fee increases in the 110 state-run colleges and universities nationwide to help students and parents cope with the global rise in oil and food prices.

She also appealed to private colleges and universities to reconsider and freeze plans to hike tuition and other school charges, in the meantime.

The President said the freeze on tuition fees would greatly help ease the financial burden of students and their parents. At present, parents are spending an average of P450 per unit, or about P10,000 per school year for their children taking a 21-unit load in college.

The Chief Executive said shelving tuition fee increases in SUCs and private institutions of learning would also help reduce the college dropout rate and set off an environment conducive to quality tertiary education for all.

Likewise, the President directed the CHED to undertake an extensive study on the extent of compliance of past tuition fee increases with the law, which provides that school administrators set aside 70 percent of the new fees for salaries and other benefits of their faculty and non-academic personnel, and 20 percent for modernizing their facilities.

“Although government cannot deny private business the fruits of its legitimate investments, especially in lofty causes such as higher learning, it must nonetheless balance this interest with that of the rest of our people who regard college education the lasting legacy to future generations,” she said.

An estimated 21.66 million enrollees are expected to troop to the various schools nationwide when classes open on June 10. (PIA Ilocos Sur)