Naga City Journal

Naga historian leads mayoral awardees

2009-06-25T13:24:35Z

Eight outstanding Naguenos/Naguenas, one printing press, a local food chain, and a city science high school were given honors during the prestigious 2009 Mayoral Awards, one of the highlight events of the 61st Charter anniversary of this premier Bicol city.

Historian Jose V. Barrameda, Jr. led this years awardees who were conferred by City Mayor Jesse M. Robredo during formal rites at the convention hall of Villa Caceres Hotel at 7:00 p.m. Friday here, June 19, where Commissioner James S. Jacob of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission was the guest of honor and speaker.

Barrameda receive a medallion and plaque for coveting the Distinguished Mayoral Award, the highest mayoral award, for his exemplary achievements as historian and journalist.

Tthe second highest award, the Special Mayoral Award, was conferred on former City Schools Division Superintendent Nenita L. Ramos. Under her watch, the students of Naga City excelled in the major subjects of English, Science and Mathematics in the Bicol Regional Achievement Test until her retirement in 2006.

Barrameda took up journalism in the University of Santo Tomas, joined a course in applied sociology and anthropology, and studied film making in California, USA. He began his professional career in the Naga Times, and then soon wrote for Weekly Graphic and later on the Asia-Philippine Leader under National Artist Nick Joaquin.

In 1981, he was offered a Fulbright senior fellowship by the cultural affairs of the US Embassy, He declined the offer, since an independent research he was doing on the resistance movement in Bicol during World War II had its primary sources in the Philippines.

For bringing honor, recognition and positive impact to Naga City by their exemplary acts of civic duty, professional excellence, leadership and character, the following will be conferred mayoral recognitions:

Emeterio L. Aman. For developing new technology in house construction, anchored on global competitive standards, thus providing premium yet affordable lifestyle to a large number of Bicolano homeowners.

Vicente S. Avila. For his volunteerism and dedicated social involvement whose exemplary service has been affirmed by his election as National President of the Fraternal Order of Philippine Eagles.

Ira Sheena C. Howard. Honored as one of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines in 2008, she launched two innovative programs that helped make education in private schools more affordable to poor but deserving students.

Dr. Rufino L. Ramos III. For being chosen one of the 51 international scholars and the only Filipino delegate to the Young Scientists Program of the International Congress of Psychology in Berlin, Germany.

Tito G. Valiente. A Bicolano anthropolist, lecturer, film critic and national paper columnist, he was recently named a member of the prestigious Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (Urian), the countrys premier film critics group.

AMS Press. For sustaining its leadership in quality printing business in Bicol and South Luzon since 1956. The company is also known for having the lowest labor turn-over rate because of its excellent labor-management relations. For introducing to the city and the Bicol region what quality food,

BIGGS, Inc. As the largest home-grown food chain in Bicol, it introduced globally competitive cuisine and diner concept along with favorite local recipes where portion of its earnings are set aside for various community and charitable projects.

Camu Family. The familys enduring peanut vending entrepreneurship since the 70s sent their children and grandchildren to school to become professionals themselves. Their humble business for generations has become a popular landmark in the citys dynamic old business district at anytime of the day.

Naga City Science High School. For making history when its students won the 1st Doon Po Sa Amin Best Website Competition besting other high schools nationwide. Their entry was a research narrative that presents how the Penafrancia Festival is celebrated through the years while addressing current social issues around the religious tradition.

Naga blood program showcased in national confab

2009-06-25T13:23:25Z

BAGUIO CITY --- Naga City Councilor Nathan has been invited by the DOH National Center for Health Facility Development to attend the 3rd National Blood Summit held here last Tuesday, June 16, to share strategies being undertaken by Naga City in promoting voluntary blood donation.

As the citys director of Blood Program, he was invited by the DOH National Center for Health Facility Development to share the strategies being undertaken by the city to promote voluntary blood donation.

The DOH invitation dated May 27, 2009 and signed by Dr. Andres Bonifacio of the Philippine Blood Center, have cited the citys program as one of the best practices in effective donor education, recruitment, retention and care.

As director of Nagas blood program, Councilor Sergio presented a paper entitled Voluntary Blood Donation: The Naga City Approach. He was assisted by Dr. Ray Ibarrientos and Mr. Mario Chavez, both of the Bicol Medical Center Blood Bank and Transfusion Service.

The paper introduced the citys Program, its rationale and its various innovative strategies it employs to sell to the public the idea of voluntary blood donation, and make them buy and embrace the idea.

It zeroes in on the citys recently concluded 2009 World Blood Donor Day celebration. Salient results and highlights of the citys WBDD event were emphasized.

Councilor Sergio said that the citys new approach to WBDD celebration, which is basically citywide, multi-sectoral and inter-faith, got the attention of the DOH. The results of the celebration have confirmed DOHs positive impression on Nagas program.

City Mayor Jesse Robredo was elated, too. He expressed his desire to finally include the Blood Program in the long list of the Naga Citys innovative programs. Said program was only started last January, this year.

Naga SP opposes discriminatory House bill

2009-06-22T12:41:46Z

Taking the cue from the League of Cities of the Philippines, the city Sanggunian here filed Resolution No. 2009-221 opposing stringly House Bill No. 6303 that seeks to amend Section 450 of Republic Act 7160, as amended by Republic Act 9009, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991.

The resolution came on the heels of an advisory from the League of Cities requesting all cities to lobby their congressmen for the outright rejection of House Bill 6303.

The House Bill attempts to address the violation of the Cityhood Laws of the Constitution by proscribing that municipalities which sought to be converted into cities before June 30, 2001 and whose charters have already been approved by both houses of Congress be exempted from the income tax requirement.

Congress had recently converted 16 municipalities into cities while they allegedly had not satisfied the minimum income requirement of P100,000,000.00 per annum which the Supreme Court affirmed us unconstitutional.

Adding more cities would reduce the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of all cities even if these converted new cities failed to satisfy the income requirement called for by the Local Government Code of 1991.

The Sanggunian Resolution of this city opposing House Bill 6303 are anchored on three basic arguments: (a) the legislative measure hastily creating new cities violates the equal protection clause under the 1987 Constitution; (b) it violates Section 6, Article X of the 1987 Constitution; and (c) it seeks the compliance requirements for creating a city to be applied retroactively in violation of Section 450 of the Local Government Code of 1991.

The resolution was filed by City Councilor Nelson Legacion and which is expected to be passed unanimously by all the members of the city council.

Legacion noted that when the decision of the Supreme Court in the League of Cities of the Philippines vs. Comelec, et al. became final (rejecting the conversion of the 16 municipalities into cities), the City of Naga was subsequently notified that it was going to receive IRA adjustment of P42 million.

He also underscored that House Bill 6303 should be opposed not only by the City of Naga but also by other cities because its enactment into law would again deprive them of large portion of the cities share in the Internal Revenue Allotment, or IRA.

Naga opens governance institute

2009-06-22T12:40:38Z

Country Director Bert Hofman of the World Bank and 2008 Gawad Haydee Yorac awardee Milwida Nen Guevara, former Finance undersecretary and currently chief executive officer of Synergeia Foundation led the formal launching of the Naga City Governance Institute (NCGI) on Saturday, June 20, 2009 at Crown Hotel, along Elias Angeles Street, this city.

The institute is another pioneering project of the city government under Ramon Magsaysay Awardee City Mayor Jesse Robredo which, among others, seeks to document homegrown best practices, sponsor training activities to promote their scaling up, establish partnerships, and advocate policies that will help improve local governance in Bicol.

It was created pursuant to Executive Order No. 2009-004 on People Power Day last February 25, this year, to serve as the main agency of the city government that will respond to the challenge of growing, promoting and sustaining local governance innovations in Naga City and the Bicol region.

The local governance forum at Crown Hotel followed after the formal blessing of the NCGI office which is temporarily situated at the Naga City Youth Center.

Other speakers during the forum where Prof. Leonor M. Briones of the UP National College of Administration and Governance who spoke on the Millennium Development Goals and good local governance in the Bicol region; Prof. Ernesto M. Serote, former Directormof Training at UP School of Urban and Regional Planning; and Dr. Ricardo D. Nolasco, associate professor of the UP College of Social Science and Philosophy.

Harvey Key, program director of the Ateneo School of Government gave his brief message while Guillermo M. Luz, executive vice president of Ayala Foundation, delivered his keynote address entitled Why Good Local Governance Matters.

The activity is timed as one of the major highlights of the weeklong celebration of the 61st Charter anniversary of the City of Naga.

City Health Office Alerts Public vs. Dengue, Swine Flu

2009-06-15T06:44:19Z

NAGA CITY --- An intensified campaign against Dengue/Hemorrhagic Fever (H-Fever) was re-launched here Friday last week to alert the public against the disease that becomes prevalent during the months of June, July and August.

The health drive will also focus on educating the public about the Influenza A (H1N1) virus. This was disclosed by City Health Officer Dr. Vito Borja whose office is now working closely with the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) in Legazpi City for the re-launching of the city-wide Dengue awareness program which kicked off in Barangay Tinago, here.

First part of the one-day activity involved a briefing by the DOH on the viral diseases to personnel of the City Health Office (CHO) and members of the local media who were invited to be in the frontline of the DOH-CHO Dengue-AH1N1 awareness program.

Borja said they are doubling their time in the holding of massive education-information campaign (EIC) to prevent further incidence of the viral diseases in the locality.

A CHO update on dengue said 61 persons, mostly children, were found to be positive for Dengue/H-Fever since January 2009.

DOH and CHO personnel will do the rounds in the citys public and private schools to talk with school heads and principals after the re-launching rites.

Borja said all the 37 public elementary and secondary schools in the city were scheduled to be visited by the team including private elementary and high schools.

DOH Regional Office Nurse Nilo Aquino, who is in-charge of the campaign against Dengue, said the undertaking is being held simultaneously with other local government units (LGUs) nationwide.

Puksain ang Kiti-kiti, Sugpuin ang Dengue, is this years rallying call of the campaign that encourages the public to heed the 4-S approach: search and destroy of all containers where Aedes aegypti albopictus mosquitoes (mosquitoes carrying the virus) may lay eggs, wearing of self-protection measures like long pants and long-sleeved garments, seek early consultation when symptoms manifest like skin ashes, fever for two days, muscle and joint pains and say no to indiscriminate fogging.

2009 Mayoral Awards Set

2009-06-15T06:40:50Z

NAGA CITY --- A historian, a social anthropologist, an outstanding student, a civil engineer, a national fraternal organization president, and a doctor of philosophy are among the nominees to this years annual mayoral awards as one of the highlight activities of the 61st charter anniversary of this city.
The prestigious awards will be conferred on Friday, June 19, or a day after the grand civic parade on June 18 which is the actual date of the charter anniversary.
The annual awards are presented to individuals or groups who have distinguished themselves by their exemplary achievements in various fields of endeavor, thereby contributing positive enhancement to the citys growth, honor and glory.
Nominees are evaluated by the Board of Judges on their achievements in either government service, professional service or volunteer service. They are graded according to the following criteria: personal qualifications and moral authority (40%); quality of service and degree of commitment (30%); and extent of involvement and impact of project/activity (30%).
Three specific awards are normally given each year: 1) Distinguished Mayoral Award (highest city award) for a Nagueno/a who has sustained his/her outstanding achievement or service for at least ten years; 2) Special Mayoral Award for outstanding performance, achievement or service for at least five years; 3) Mayoral Recognition Award, for a Nagueno/a who has brought singular honor, recognition and positive impact to Naga City by the award given the nominee on the national or international level.
This years celebration will feature a grand civic parade, groundbreaking for the proposed Plaza de Nueva Caceres, amazing race, bike race, fun run, inter-collegiate basketball tournament. Fireworks will add color to the celebration during the mayoral awards night.
Before leaving for a special engagement in Germany last week, City Mayor Robredo reminded his top managers and activity organizers at city hall that the theme of the celebration should be consistent with our message of where we were, where we are, and where we want to be.
He stressed that we should be proud of our successes and feel secure of the future because our people own what we have accomplished so far.

Naga Stands Prepared for Swine Flu Threat

2009-06-04T10:07:58Z

By Alec Francis Altea Santos

NAGA CITY --- With 14 confirmed cases of swine flu in the country, City Health Officer Dr. Vito Butch Borja assured the public that the city is well-prepared in the event of a swine flu outbreak.

In an interview, Dr. Borja said that a previous suspected case in the city two weeks ago resulted in the activation of a contingency plan formulated for disease outbreaks. The suspected patient, a four-year old girl who had come home with her parents from San Diego, has since been cleared by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Alabang, Metro Manila.

As a result of the incident and swine flu scare, the local government allotted half a million pesos as a contingency fund in the event of an outbreak. According to Dr. Borja, the city health office purchased 20 sets of Personnel Protection Equipment (PPEs) to protect health workers in direct contact with infected patients. A portion of the fund will also be used for contact tracing to track down possible infected individuals. The remainder of the fund will be used to buy Tamiflu and Oseltamivir, which were proven to counteract Influenza A H1N1s deadly symptoms.

However, the city health officer added that if more cases were reported and confirmed in the city, more funding will be needed to quarantine suspected patients and if needed, entire communities. The local government is obligated to provide for the necessities of quarantined patients, their families, and communities.

A medical technician from the RITM has also been detailed to the city to help monitor and manage suspected swine flu cases. In the event of another suspected case, a sealed ambulance will immediately bring the patient to the RITM facility for further testing. Ideally, the city will need a special room at the Bicol Medical Center to isolate additional Influenza A H1N1 cases, Dr. Borja quipped. But with no such room in existence, he explained that suspected patients can be housed in a quarantined tent.

There is also a contingency plan for isolating neighborhoods or entire barangays in a worse-case scenario. The AFP, PNP, and the PSO will provide security and ensure that no individuals can enter or leave a quarantined area to avoid the spread of the deadly disease. A barangay will remain in quarantine for 7 to 10 days, depending on the findings. Dr. Borja added that the first and best way to prevent a spread of the virus is through quarantine.

Barangay health workers have also been oriented on the A H1N1 virus, says Dr. Borja. He also claimed that the city has enough staff to deal with a crisis. In the event of an outbreak, drug manufacturers have assured the city that they will send the much-needed medicine in two days time.

Surigao Slates Naga Study Visit

2009-06-04T10:04:20Z

NAGA CITY --- Aiming to further enhance its revenue generation capabilities, the City Government of Surigao and the Surigao Land Administration and Management Project Implementation Unit are coming to visit this premier Bicol city on June 16-19.

They will be here to observe how the Robredo administration has successfully implemented its Real Estate Sales Assessment System (RESAS) and other best practices that Naga has been known for among local government units in the country.

RESAS is designed to provide a tool for analysis of real estate sales transaction data gathered by the City Assessor to come up with a fair market value.

Surigao City Mayor Alfonso S. Casurra wrote Mayor Robredo that any information and practices they would learn about may help them adopt practices that will help enhance their city governments system and database development and will also aid our legislative body in the approval of new Schedule of Market Value come 2010 where the 5th General Revision of Real Property is scheduled.

Surigao City, in partnership with the national Land Administration Management (LAM) agency (ROD and CENRO-DENR), is one of the recipients of a programmatic grant from the ISF Grant Unit through funding by the Australian government.

SM Changes Traffic, Market Landscape in Naga

2009-06-01T13:46:02Z

By Juan Escandor Jr.

NAGA CITY--- The traffic volume has increased 35-40 percent on the route around the vicinity of the newly opened SM Mall here which also ushered in additional market clients from the provinces of Camarines Norte, Albay and Sorsogon, according to local officials here Wednesday.

Joselito SA. Del Rosario, executive officer of the Public Safety Office (PSO), revealed Tuesday the increased volume of public utilities plying the vicinity of the mall in addition to some 2,200 public units plying the Panganiban Avenue, the main road to the SM City Naga, has congested the traffic.

Del Rosario said the PSO is employing the rerouting traffic scheme that requires some vehicles to take specific routes in minor city streets and follow number coding to ensure the traffic flow even as he said the rerouting is still on its experimental stage.

Del Rosario said the effect of the opening of SM, which occupies a 4.6-hectare lot at the 27-hectare Central Business District II (CBD II) in the northwest portion of the city, has yet to change when classes open in June with the additional foot traffic expected to increase in the area.

Dominating the landscape with an imposing 87,959 sq. m., two-story structure, the SM Mall has also drawn a market of its own that comes from the provinces of Sorsogon, Albay and Camarines Norte that according to Florencio Mongoso Jr., chief of the Naga City Public Employment Office, is an add-on to the existing traditional market patronizing the citys trade and commerce.

Mongoso said that so far the SM Mall has employed 1,880 workers of which 1,050 came from places outside Naga City and 800 of them are residents of this city while its operation here would bring in revenue to the city coffers P40-million every year in taxes and fees.

Mongoso noted, however, that there were some 40 percent reduction of foot traffic at the CBD I, which has served as the old central business district since the Spanish time along the edge of the Naga River, where a hyper mart and homegrown department stores and restaurants are located.

But he said there are no indications yet of the negative effects to establishments viability offering services similar to the services offered in the SM Mall like restaurants and food outlets and merchandising establishments and movie houses.

The SM Mall that opened May 1 has four movie houses with a total seating capacity of 1,400, food court and restaurants, mostly Bicol-based brands, SM department store, SM Supermarket, SM Appliance Center, ACE Hardware, Watsons and hosts of other business joints, from IT stores to real estate property offices.

Nagueno is Youngest US Golf Champ

2009-06-01T13:44:48Z

SAN FRANCISCO, California --- A 14-year old son of a Nagueno is making waves in the US golf scene, having been crowned as the youngest champion in the San Francisco City Championship.

Carlos Briones whose father Greg is a member of Ateneo de Naga University High School Class of 1982 became the youngest mens champion in the citys 92-year history.
Carlos didnt speak English when he moved from Naga City to the US at age 5. His first words were McDonalds and cheeseburger. Two years later he found a hobby when he swung a club for the first time at Tony Lema Golf Course in San Leandro.

At first, I didnt like golf you have to think a lot, he said. But then I kept playing and started to like it a little. I just get hooked.

Briones learned the game nearly as quickly as the new language. He told his story March 8 at Harding Park, holding a large crystal bowl signifying his victory.
Brinoes earned his place alongside Gary Vanier, Ken Venturi and George Archer on the long list of city winners. He played 70 holes during that tournament -36 to overcome former UCLA quarterback Drew Olson, then highlighted by furious comeback over the final five holes, and 34 more to subdue Core.

Even at his early age Carlos, a freshman at Moreau Catholic High in Hayward, just turned 15 last March 12 fatigue became a factor. He complained about wobbly legs on the 13th tee, so his father and caddie, Greg, gave him an energy bar and a quick pep talk.

The match was all-square at the time, but Carlos moved ahead when Core made bogey on No. 14. Carlos stretched his lead with a fabulous up-and-down to save par on No. 15 and secured the victory by sinking a slick, downhill 7-foot putt for par on no. 16.
He responded with a vigorous fist pump even before the ball disappeared into the hole.
The thrill of making that putt was amazing, he said.
Carlos Padilla Briones, purong Bicolano. Oragon. With report from San Francisco Chronicle