‘Epals,’ shoulder parking cause major traffic problems in Albay

04 Jun 2013 

Written by Manly M. Ugalde / Correspondent

 

LEGAZPI CITY—Road obstruction continues to plague Albay, from town centers and the provincial capital to barangay road sides.

Political advertisements popularly known as epal pepper waiting sheds, while the shoulders of the national road have become extended parking areas and auto shops of bus companies.  Farmers continue to use road sides to dry their palay and road signs directing detours have resulted in four-lane roads becoming one-way, single-lane zones.

What department agency gets the brunt of the complaints? Who else but the Department of Public Works and Highways?

Former Sen. Victor Ziga singled out the First District saying government projects such as waiting sheds have become eyesores.  Ziga’s son Ricky of United Nacionalist Alliance ran as congressman for the First District of Albay was defeated by Edcel Lagman Jr. of Liberal Party, son and namesake of outgoing Rep. Edcel Lagman. The two went on a neck-to-neck fight with the controversial former Quezon City councilor garnering 53,000 votes against Ziga’s 51,000.

The former senator said that a week after the election, his son Ricky’s campaign posters were already removed, while the oversized posters and tarpaulins of the Lagmans have occupied government projects even long before the start of the past campaign period. This despite of the ban issued by Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson against epal posters and the obstruction in roads of any objects that normally affect the flow of traffic.

Re-elected Third District Rep. Fernando Gonzalez of Albay said he had already cleared his district of his campaign posters and tarpaulins and ordered his district engineer to see to it the national road is cleared of any obstruction.

Two weeks before the election, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office issued a memorandum to all district engineers to be vigilant and remove epals in government projects within the distance of 100 meters as directed by Singson.

“This seems to be true only on paper. In reality, these DPWH officials particularly district engineers are scared to antagonize their congressman,” said former Jovellar town mayor Jose Arcangel Jr.

 Arcangel who is the president of the local non-governmental Pipols Against Graft and Corruption (PAGC) said the national road in the First District of Albay is not only the province’s epal capital but also a parking lot for big buses where paint jobs and repair are done.

The PAGC official said manually operated tricycles known as padyak cruise the national roads province-wide with passengers. Worse, some padyaks are operated by youngsters not yet 18 years old, adding this is most noted in Tabaco City.

Ziga said because of the delayed reconstruction of three bridges along the national highway in Barangay San Fernando in Santo Domingo town, motorists and commuters had to make 5-kilometer detours for almost two years.  When the three bridges were completed, another bridge 2 kilometers away was reconstructed at barangay Bonga in Bacacay town. Instead of the DPWH constructing a short and nearby detour route, a 6-kilometer long detour using a provincial road was designated, to the dismay of commuters and motorists.

DPWH records showed the San Fernando detour road was opened as detour after two typhoons hit the province in early 2011. The three bridge projects damaged by the typhoons were supposed to be started in January 2012 and completed by June that year.  However, only one was finished as scheduled, with the two others completed last February and April this year.

District Engr. Roberto Rito of the Albay First District Engineering Office admitted the unusual delay in the completion of the bridge projects but blamed the contractor, DSB Construction, for it. DPWH records showed DSB controls almost 80 percent of the projects in the First District of Albay. DPWH officials said the lack of finances, manpower and equipment greatly hampered the completion of the bridges.

Rito said the maintenance section under Leopoldo Barela whom he entrusted to handle the bridge projects instead of the construction section said the heavily damaged San Fernando road used as detour for almost two years was expected to be repaired using P6 million from last year’s funds but that did not happen because, according to Barela, the funds did not arrive and there was no assurance it would materialize.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/regions/14472-epals-shoulder-parking-cause-major-traffic-problems-in-albay

2 groups fight over P700-million fund for rehab of abandoned mine site on Albay island-town

 

 

 

18 Feb 2014 

Written by Manly Ugalde / Correspondent 

LEGAZPI CITY—At least two local groups are allegedly fighting for the rehabilitation of the mining site on the island-town of Rapu-Rapu in Albay, which was reportedly abandoned by the South Korean-owned Rapu-Rapu Minerals Inc. (RRMI).

On February 16 the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Albay Chapter, represented by lawyer Emerson B. Aquende and two former Rapu-Rapu councilmen, Marino E. Baranda Jr. and Giovanni Guapo, and former RRMI Vice President for Public Affairs Cecilia Calleja, filed in court an environmental case to compel RRMI to comply with the Mining Act provision that requires the rehabilitation of abandoned mine sites.

Some 180 hectares were damaged by mining activities in Rapu-Rapu.

The complaint said that after RRMI completed its eight-year mining contract on August 30, 2013, the South Korean company “in apparent collaboration with government officials concerned,” did not implement the rehabilitation provision of its contract. The complaint said the eight-year mining for gold, zinc, silver and copper in Rapu-Rapu town had earned P65 billion for the mining operator. It asked the court for an environmental protection order, writ of preliminary attachment and writ of continuing mandamus with damages at P5.1 million for actual damages, P100 million as exemplary damages and P10 million as moral damages.

Aside from RRMI, those charged were Environment Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje and Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director Leo L. Jasareno, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Executive Director Gilbert Gonzales and MGB Regional Director Theodore Rommel E. Pistaño.

A highly reliable source, however, said the delay in the implementation of the rehabilitation plan was caused by the efforts to have the rehabilitation project channeled and awarded to a group led by a certain Christopher Flores, a former Guinobatan town mayor and close adviser of Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda. The other group is said to be of Cecilia Calleja, the former RRMI vice president for public affairs backed by lawyer Julito “Sarge” Sarmiento of the Puno and Puno Law Offices. Sarmiento was the former legal counsel of RRMI.

At stake is the P700-million fund from the mining company for the rehabilitation of the 180-hectare Rapu-Rapu mining site, sources said.

In an earlier interview, Calleja confirmed the complaint would be handled by the Puno and Puno Law Offices represented by Sarmiento.

The complaint said RRMI had earlier prepared a rehabilitation program, the Final Mine Rehabilitation Decommissioning Plan (FMRDP) that was submitted to the DENR.

The plan allots $4 million for the rehabilitation program, but this was reportedly rejected by Paje as “too deficient.” In its latest and final estimate considered as a fully compliant cost, the FMRDP had placed the amount at $16 million or roughly P704 million.

The complaint, however, said FMRDP has only a current deposit of P158 million, or a shortfall of P550 million, and the complainant is asking the court to order the DENR and RRMI to stop the mining company’s attempt to ship out its one and final last shipment of ore minerals valued at P440 million.

Even if the shipment were held, however, there is still a shortfall of P106 million to comply with the needed P704-million rehabilitation fund.

Calleja said the FMRDP funds will be handled by the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee (MRFC), with Paje and Salceda as members.

Calleja denied any interest to bid for the rehabilitation of Rapu-Rapu, saying her interest is for the RRMI to comply its contract under the 2005 Philippine Mining Act.

It would be recalled that the Rapu-Rapu, mining operation had figured in a mine tailings spill in 2006 barely a year after its operation was started by the then Lafayette Mining Inc. that is owned by Australians. The mine accident resulted in the killing of fishes at the Albay Gulf and the waters off nearby Sorsogon.

Then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo created the Bastes Commission to investigate the mines disaster, headed by Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes. The investigation result had recommended the closure of the mining operation but it was ignored by Malacañang.

Then-Representative Salceda was among the prominent personalities who led the protest rallies against the Rapu-Rapu mining operation.

Two years after the mine disaster, the Australian mining operators sold the Rapu-Rapu operation to a group of Koreans who renamed the company as the Rapu-Rapu Minerals Inc.

 

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/nation/27775-2-groups-fight-over-p700-million-fund-for-rehab-of-abandoned-mine-site-on-albay-island-town

 

DENR EXECS, MINING FIRM CHARGED FOR ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE

 

 

16 Feb 2014

 Written by Manly M. Ugalde / Correspondent

 

LEGAZPI CITY—The Integrated Bar of the Philippines and former members of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Rapu-Rapu in the province of Albay have filed in court an environmental case for violation of the Environmental  Protection Order against Environment Secretary Ramon JP Paje, three officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and four South Korean mining firms and their seven officials.

Filed at the Regional Trial Court here on January 16, the four-page complaint said after raking P65 billion in income during their eight years in copper, gold, silver and zinc mining operation, the accused in apparent neglect and  collaboration simply abandoned the mining area and failed to rehabilitate the damaged environment involving 180 hectares of mined sites in the island Rapu-Rapu town.

In its prefatory statement, complainants said that “while Filipinos too often tolerate abuse by visitors who leave their hosts to clean up any mess that is left behind, there are limits in welcoming foreigners to exploits every bit of our country’s natural resources whenever they put our host communities’ environment, as well as their present and future generations at serious risk to incalculable peril and total alienation from their own homeland as our guests way of reciprocating our hospitality and bidding us a cruel good-bye.”

Complainants, led by Marino E Baranda and Giovani B. Guapo were former Rapu-Rapu SB members among those who endorsed the mining firms’ operations to the DENR. They petitioned the DENR to issue the  environment certificate compliance (ECC) for the Rapu-Rapu mining operation of the then-Lafayette Mining Inc. operated by Australian nationals.

Included as complainant is also a former vice president for public affairs of the accused mining firms named Cecilia Calleja.

The complaint also said barely a year  into the Rapu-Rapu mining operations in 2006, a mine tailing spill occurred that killed fishes in the Albay gulf reaching as far as the sea of nearby Sorsogon province to the grave prejudice of small fishermen.

Prompted by demand for the closure of the mining operation from the Church and environmentalists as a result of the mines disaster, then- President Arroyo  created the Bastes Commission to investigate. Headed by Sorsogon Bishop Arturo  Bastes, the probe recommended the closure of the Rapu-Rapu mines operation. The recommendation, however, was ignored by the Arroyo administration. Two years later, Lafayette Mining Corp. sold its Rapu-Rapu Mines  to the South Korean firm.

Among those charged in the government side were Paje, his Mines and Geoscience Bureau Director Leo Jasareno, Bicol MGB Regional Director Theodore  Rommel Pestano and Bicol DENR Executive Director Gilbert Gonzales.

At least five South Korean-owned firms and seven of its officials were among those initially charged. These are the  Rapu-Rapu Minerals  Inc. (RRMI), Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project (RRPP), Rapu-Rapu Processing Inc. (RRPI), Rapu-Rapu Holdings Inc. (RRHI) and Korea Malaysia Philippines Resources Inc. (KMPRI).

Among the mining firm officials charged were Jason Lim (a South Korean),  Soon Bang-ko, Levin Alonso, Rogelio E. Corpuz, Marcial Campos, Ben Dayao and Young Bong-ha.

The complaint sought for a temporary environmental protection order, writ of preliminary attachment and writ of continuing  mandamus and damages.

The complaint said after the eight-year contract to operate the  mining operation in Rapu-Rapu town, the South Korean-owned firms  started implementing the closure of their Rapu-Rapu mining  starting on August 30, 2013.

The companies, however,  said that on September 9, September 11, and October 29 last year, the South Korean firm still managed to make three ore shipments out of the country valued at  $12.5 million in blatant disregard of an MGB directive to stop any further shipment pending implementation and completion of the rehabilitation contract for the mined sites.

Cecilia Calleja, one of the signatories in the complaint and former vice president for public affairs of the South Korean-owned RRMI, said the mining operators would simply abandon Rapu-Rapu without the rehabilitation plan implemented adding that even separated employees have not been paid of the separation pay.

Calleja said an amended complaint would be filed to include Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda of Albay in his capacity as member of the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee (MRFC) which handles the rehabilitation fund estimated in 2007 at P158 million.

The South Korean nationals estimated in 2007 an actual rehabilitation to reach P400 million, Calleja said.

She said despite glaring efforts to simply abandon the mined sites without complying the rehabilitation plan, government officials concerned have not shown evident actions to compel the South Korean firms comply with the rehabilitation program.

The complaint said the South Korean firm is even exerting too much pressure to the DENR to allow  its one last shipment of ore mineral and that if allowed would render Rapu-Rapu claim for the restoration of its damaged site.

 

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/economy/27665-denr-execs-mining-firm-charged-for-ecological-damage

Bicol police chiefs told to shape up as crime clearance stays low

Details Category: Regions

10 Feb 2014

 Written by Manly M. Ugalde / Correspondent

LEGAZPI CITY—Bicol police director, Chief Supt. Victor Deona, warned his police chiefs on Monday to shape up and show their worth or face the consequences, as he enters his sixth month at the helm.

Deona took over as Bicol police chief in October last year, replacing Chief Supt. Clarence Guinto who had retired from the service. He was the region’s former deputy regional director for administration.

Citing the 2013 performance reports, the region’s police chief said the “crime-solution efficiency” all over Bicol had an average of only 20 percent and a 44 percent average for the “crime-clearance efficiency.”

Crime solved, according to Deona means the suspect is arrested and a case is filed, while crime cleared is that the case is filed with the suspect identified but remains at large.

Deona began the monthly performance-rating evaluation of police chiefs this month. He said in a conference in January that a failed performance in three months would lead to mandatory relief of the police chief involved.

Deona declined to name the police stations with the zero-performance and no output in law enforcement.

However, he admitted the 2013 police performance of his command covering the region’s six provinces was alarming.

Deona said of the total 40,332 crimes committed as reported, 18,384 were declared cleared, and 7,615 were considered solved.

This is plain and simple police deficiency, Deona said.

During the regional command conference, Deona ordered to raise crimes solved to at least 35 percent and crimes cleared by 50 percent.

Topping the lists in crime is the province of Camarines Sur with 11,392; followed by Albay with 10,220; Naga City with 7, 175 cases; Masbate with 5,035; Camarines Norte with 2,971; Catanduanes with 2,137; and Sorsogon with 1,401 cases.

In Legazpi City last year the Philippine National Police raised concern over the incidence of murder and robbery cases, prompting local executives to ask for additional 200 policemen.

 

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/regions/27369-bicol-police-chiefs-told-to-shape-up-as-crime-clearance-stays-low

2 LAWMAKERS, MAYOR EYEING ALBAY GOVERNORSHIP IN 2016

Details Category: Regions

02 Feb 2014

 Written by Manly M. Ugalde / Correspondent

LEGAZPI CITY—This early, at least two congressmen and a city mayor are eyeing the governorship of Albay as the province now enjoys more visits from local and foreign tourists and the province is projected to become a socioeconomic hub like California.

Political analysts said that with the highly popular Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda ending his third and last term as provincial chief executive in 2016, prominent politicians are expected to begin jockeying to vie for the elective position.

Sources said that virtually unknown, Albay province is remembered mainly for being the site of the majestic and famous perfect cone Mayon volcano.  It is now the most sought-after convention site with the Oriental Hotel (formerly called the Mayon International Hotel) located in uphill Albay district overlooking Mount Mayon, and the internationally known Misibis Bay Resort helping boost tourism.

In 2015 Albay is set to be among the hosts of the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (Apec) summit with Misibis Resort as the conference site. Misibis is found on Cagraray Island in Bacacay town reachable by land, boat and a cable car. It is a 30-minute drive from Legazpi City, the provincial capital and regional center.

Added to this is the completion and opening of the P4-billion Bicol International Airport (BIA) in time for the Apec summit. President Aquino wants to operate the BIA 24/7.  Salceda was a proponent of the airport project located atop the hill of Barangay Comon in Daraga town. It was started during the last year in office of then-President- now-Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Former Albay governors and now Congressmen Fernando Gonzalez (Third District)  and Al Francis Bichara (Second District) have openly signified their intention to return to the capitol. Bichara’s third term as congressman will expire in 2016, while Gonzalez, who is on his second term, said he was more comfortable being a governor, a post he handled for only one term (2004-2007) after losing his re-election bid against then-Congressman Salceda.

The other prominent political figure eyeing the governorship is Legazpi Mayor Noel Rosal, who was city mayor from 2001 to 2010, succeeded by his wife for one term and returned during the 2013 election.  Rosal served as the city administrator during his wife’s incumbency. Sources said Rosal is open to either the governorship or the Second District congressman to be vacated by Bichara.

Salceda is said to be eyeing the Senate or a congressional seat. His logistics and popularity among the electorate makes him a formidable opponent. He has residences in Polangui, his hometown; as well as Daraga in the Second District and Tabaco City in the First District.

Jose Arcangel, former mayor of Jovellar town for 24 years, sees the political scenario emerging thus: Bichara would run as Daraga mayor while outgoing Daraga Mayor Jerry Jaucian would run as congressman for the Second District, Gonzalez for governor and Salceda for the Third District, with Rosal seeking re-election.

Salceda’s political officer Peter Encisa said the governor has lately been considering running for the Third District congressional seat.

Ironically, the political figures eyeing the governorship and the most sought second congressional district are all from the Third District.  Salceda, Bichara, Gonzalez and Rosal are all from the Third District with Salceda from Polangui town, and Gonzalez, Bichara and Rosal from neighboring Ligao City.

The second biggest among the six Bicol provinces, Albay was once controlled by the Imperial family of Legazpi for nearly three decades.

 

http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/regions/26915-2-lawmakers-mayor-eyeing-albay-governorship-in-2016