Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (29 May) — The Regional Trial Court in Basco town in Batanes province recently slapped 12 Vietnamese fishermen who was found guilty of fishing within the vicinity of Ivojos Island in May 30 last year of one year imprisonment.

The court made the decision after the respondents pleaded guilty to a lesser offense, admitting that they were actually engaged in unauthorized fishing and have captured ’sabalo’ or mother bangus when they were apprehended which is in violation of Section 86 and 98 of Republic Act 8550 or the Philippine fisheries Code of 1998.

They were also ordered to render environment–related community service and for the three highest officers of the boat to compensate for their fine amounting to P10,000.00.

Four of the 12 Vietnamese poachers are underage and court officials turned them over to Batanes provincial social welfare office for custody on a suspended sentence as provided by RA 9344.

“Proper agencies have informed the Vietnamese embassy on their plight but to date we have not received any response, much more action, from said office,” Cornelio Sebastian, an official of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources here said.

“Their embassy has totally neglected their countrymen” he added, echoing lamentations from the Batanes provincial government over budget for the provisions of the convicts.

The Vietnamese were found in actual fishing using air compressors when they were apprehended by local PNP and Bantay Dagat volunteers. They have, since then, remained at the Batanes Provincial Jail under the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

The court said that it will give credit to the period from the time the respondents have undergone preventive detention until the promulgation of judgment last May 16.

This is the second conviction made by the courts in region 02 since the renewed campaign against poachers or foreign fishermen spearheaded by BFAR following its mandate under RA 8550.

This is also in addition to the collection of two hundred ten thousand US dollars in penalties from Taiwanese fishermen made by the fisheries agency the past couple of years. (BFAR/PIA NVizcaya)

Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya (29 May) — Mayor Nestor Sevillena here said he is very much willing and glad to pour in local government counterpart and assistance should the national government asks for their help in the on-going repair of the airport in this town.

The rehabilitation of the Bagabag airport here is one of the commitments of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during her State of the Nation Address(SONA) last year to transform Northern Luzon as agri-business economic hub.

Last week, Sevillena rode on a replica of an airplane called “Air Bagabag” during the grand parade for the closing of the weeklong celebration of the “Panagyaman” or thanksgiving festival, commemorating the 169th founding anniversary of Nueva Vizcaya.

He said they decided to create the airplane as it depicts the identity of this town in the North Luzon Agri-business Quadrangle, created to spur development in Northern Luzon.

“We would like to promote our town as the host of the airport being developed now by the national government. We are showcasing it because we really mean business. This is not only for Nueva Vizcaya for the entire Cagayan Valley as well,” Sevillena told PIA.

Once the full rehabilitation of the airport is in place, Sevillena said their municipality will benefit from it economically because of the employment and livelihood opportunities that can be earned by his constituents.

“This will also serve as a venue to promote our One Town, One Product(OTOP) item,” he added.

Sevillena said that while the development of the airport already started, they are also doing tree planting activities near the area.

“If we will be tapped by the national government to do other work then we will be glad to do so,” he said. (PIA NVizcaya)

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (29 May) — Officials of the SN Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc which operates the Magat Hydro Power Plant located within Alfonso Lista in Ifugao and Ramon in Isabela, said they are now ready to pay their host local government units their share of the National Wealth Tax (NWT).

In a faxed statement, Aboitiz said they are now poised to remit tax payments amounting to P36.3 million to its host LGUs after the Department of Energy(DOE) sent official letters to their host LGUs that the power firm can now directly remit tax payments to them.

“This is a very welcome news, like music to our ears,” said barangay chairman Jovito Velenzuela of Sto. Domingo in alfonso Lista, Ifugao.

He said the long-awaited tax payments of Aboitiz will allow them to recover swiftly from the setback they suffered from the delayed payments.

Payment of the NWT is typically done on a quarterly basis. However, to alleviate the situation in various localities that rely on the NWT to defray major LGU operational costs, the company has decided to pay upfront its taxes for the next 3 quarters for 2008. The company will resume paying quarterly after this.

Earlier, Ifugao governor Teodoro Baguilat made a series of meetings with DOE Sec. angelo Reyes to facilitate the issuance of direction from the energy department regarding the payments of NWT both by the National Power Corporation and SN Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc.

DOE had clarified that for NWT 2007, National Power Corporation is liable to pay since the tax is based on power sales in 2006. Aboitiz will only shoulder payment starting April 2008 since it only took over the 360MW Magat Power Plant in April 2007. (PIA NVizcaya)

Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya (29 May) — Newly-organized aero modelers recently took part in the recently-concluded “Panagyaman” festival in May 24 by conducting an air show within the Clissoc field here.

Aero modelers showed how to operate mini - airplanes among the crowd.

Board member Glen Afan, president of the 15-men Aero Modelers’ Club said they usually use the runway of ths town’s airport for their games. The members come from Solano, Bayombong and this town.

“In this way, we are promoting the airport and its facilities while introducing other games,” he said.

He said they are also planning to conduct the 1st Regional Airshow in Cagayan Valley this year to attract and promote the craft among the public.

Aero modelers have been conducting the airshow yearly during the week-long “Panagyaman” festival here.

Afan said indulging in this kind of hobby has many benefits because it eases stress, it develops family bonding and discourages other vices.

“While playing you are like a pilot but you are on the ground doing your thing,” he said. (PIA NVizcaya)

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla on Sunday warned environment officials to be “more careful” in directing a foreign mining company to resume operations and defy an order of stoppage from the provincial government.

Environment Secretary Lito Atienza earlier warned the provincial government that the order to stop the earth-moving activities of OceanaGold Philippines Inc. in upland Didipio village in Kasibu town was illegal.

“Nobody can stop the governor, not even Atienza. I am warning the secretary, that being a former city mayor, and a person in authority, he should not be violating the provisions of law; he should uphold the law,” Padilla said.

On May 6, OceanaGold’s activities in Didipio stopped after provincial officials blocked the company’s access roads to enforce a cease-and-desist order (CDO) issued by Gov. Luisa Cuaresma on April 9 for its refusal to settle its supposed local tax obligations.

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