by Kattryn Erryc Sayo The rescue and relief operations in Bulacan province improved, particularly during the surge of the powerful Southwest Monsoon (Hanging Habagat) on the second week of August 2012, a Provincial Special Operations Officer said yesterday.
The Southwest Monsoon was already being monitored on July 23 to 30 when tropical storm Ferdie entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility. It was being observed even before it gained strength from International storm Haiku on August 7.
“July 23 pa lang binabantayan na ang Habagat, no’ng pumasok ang bagyong Ferdie,” said Bulacan Special Operations Officer Raul Agustin.
The number of municipalities affected by the monsoon rains and floods were 23, thus, Bulacan was declared under a state of calamity. The 23 towns were affected by flash flood, back flooding and immense dam releases.
A faster response and rescue was said to be done during the disaster by the Bulacan Rescue Teams, Local Government Unit Response Teams, Rescue 117, and the Philippine National Police. Military trucks, rubber boats and motor boats were dispatched and used in the rescue, coming from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) and District II Congressman Pedro Pancho.
On August 12 to 15, massive relief operations took place in the whole province as ordered by Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, wherein a total of 216,000 packs of goods were provided to critically-affected residents.
By Deliza Maye Fernandez An amphitheater was planned to be built in Bulacan State University, upgrading its Gymnasium or the so-called Valencia Hall.
According to Nicanor Dela Rama, the Dean of the College of Engineering, this amphitheater was proposed by the university’s president, Mariano De Jesus.
“Dream na niya talagang magkaroon ng amphitheater ang BSU bago man lang siya magretire,” said Dela Rama.
The amphitheater was supposed to end its construction in March 2013 but due to the many off-days given by the past calamities, the construction has not even started yet. Therefore, the desired building cannot happen early next year but Dela Rama assured that this dream will come true.
One of the reasons why the building of the amphitheater could not start was the waiting of the bidding procedure. After going through planning and fixing the budget, the invitation of the bidders that are capable of construction is set. The budget is from the income of the university.
Dela Rama said that having an amphitheater will be an advantage for the students especially in their activities. According to him, it is desired to be classy and air-conditioned.
“Pinag-aaralan na rin 'yong upuan kung panao gagawin para mas marami ang ma-accommodate,” he added.
The amphitheater will be a lot bigger than the gymnasium in BSU.
Dela Rama stated that this is also going to be opened for other schools if they are going to be invited in particular events hosted by the university.
By Deliza Maye Fernandez Isa sa mga taun-taong kaganapan sa Bulacan State University ang singing competition na BulSU Pop Superstar.
Ayon kay Herminio Suarez, ang patnugot ng naturang paligsahan, ang pangunahing layunin ng programa ay ang madiskubre ang talento ng mga mag-aaral ng BSU at matukoy kung sino sa mga mag-aaral ang may inklinasyon sa musika. Ayon din sa kanya, nagsimula ang paghahanap ng superstar mula pa noong 1998.
Ang pondo ng BulSU pop ay nanggagaling sa Miscellaneous fee ng bawat mag-aaral ng BSU na nilalagay sa SocioCultural Fund.
“Binabalik naming sa estudyante in order to help their parents regarding the financial deficiency,” ani Suarez.
Ang BulSU Pop Superstar ay ginaganap kada taon at nagsisimula sa buwan ng Agosto at nagtatapos sa buwan ng Disyembre kasabay sa Foundation week ng unbersidad. May 20 na aspiring contestants na maglalaban-laban. Noong nakaraang mga taon, tatlo-tatlo ang tinatanggal kada elimination pero dahil sa maraming walang pasok nitong mga nakaraang buwan at mga araw, apat na ang tatanggalin hanggang sa maging walo na lang at maglalaban-laban sa grand finals.
May tatlong round ang naturang kumpetisyon. Sa unang elimination, maglalaban ang mga aspirants sa Original Pilipino Music (OPM). Ang apat na matatanggal ay mag-uuwi ng P1000 bawat isa. Sa pangalawang round, kakanta sila ng Danceable songs at mag-uuwi ng P1,200. Ang sunod at huling apat na matatangal sa 3rd round ay magkakaroon naman ng P1,500 bawat isa.
Pagdating ng Grand finals, ang walong natitira ay maglalaban-laban. Ang 3rd prize ay mag-uuwi ng P4,000; ang 2nd naman ay P6,000; sa 1st naman ay P8,000 plus trophy at ang tatanghaling grand champion ay magkakaroon ng P10,000 with trophy. Ang apat na walang pwesto ay magkakaroon ng tigtu-2,500php.
“Siyempre once na nanalo siya, everytime na ma-i-invite tayo (BSU) na mag-represent, siya yung ita-top ko,” saad ni Suarez tungkol sa tatanghaling BulSU Pop Superstar.
Bukod sa BulSU pop, nakaplano na ring gawin ang Choral Competition sa naturang unibersidad.
by Isabelle dela Cruz In the 2002 magazine issue of Philippine Journalism Review, an article entitled Watching the watchdog, Local press councils hope to make a difference, Ma. Roselle B. Miranda affirmed that media's one of the many functions is that of government watchdog. She had this comely question: What happens when the public has a complaint against the media? The press council is a self-regulatory body which began in Sweden in the 1940s is one answer. It was replicated in other countries. In the Philippines, the restoration of liberal democracy in 1986 was mixed up with the traditional idea of press council. Philippine Press Institute organized the Philippine Press Council for the purpose of accepting complaints of media's abuse to the public.The most serious problem that the press council in Metro Manila had faced was obviously the lack of eagerness or willingness of the person whose legal rights were violated to file a complaint. Another was the insufficient information of the public regarding on the existence and role of the council.
Publications like Philippine Journalism Review and the in-house ombudsman system are the other forms of self-regulation and function as the watchers of the watchdog. It reminds the media of its ethical and professional lapses such as inaccuracy, bias and sensationalism. Another problem of Manila-based press council was the capacity to receive and respond to the complaints from the communities outside Manila. Even if the complaints were already filed there was no assurance that the council could address them because it was doubtful that the council could have either the enough manpower or time to do that.
The establishment of regional press councils in year 2002 in Cebu, Baguio, and Palawan - where Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) began working with local partners in the press and non-government organization communities to plan, build and launch local press councils to hopefully solve the problems that seems to be incapable of having a solution.
CMFR organized a program to start the process of establishing the Philippine model for local press councils. "Corruption in Media: A Multi - Sectoral Perspective" was held on October 1999, where 28 leaders of the Philippine Press Community nationwide attended and decided that a new framework would help greater ethical compliance and professionalism of the free press in the country. From this meeting, plans to organize local press councils with more number of representation from non-media sectors began. Non-media representatives were included in the councils to disprove the public's perception that a press council is an "old boys club" formed by journalists to protect their own.
by Isabelle dela Cruz BULACAN - After a year, the terror of Typhoon Pedring recurred in the town of Hagonoy, leaving several barangay severely flooded.
The rarity happened on August 7, continuing until friday of that week, when the Southwest Monsoon (Hanging habagat) brought a great downpour of rain leaving Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Laguna and other areas near NCR flooded and under a state of calamity.
Four out of four residents of Hagonoy said that they had experienced higher level of floods during Typhoon Pedring rather than Southwest Monsoon, but the monsoon caused more damage to them. They suggested that the best solution to preventsevere inundation is to have self-discipline in disposing waste materials.
“Nagdulot ng malaking kaabalahan sa isang tulad ko na ang hanapbuhay ay sa construction. Naantala ang aking trabaho dahil sa pagbaha na umabot hanggang baywang sa kalsada, hanggang tuhod sa bakuran at bukong-bukong sa loob ng bahay. Mas malalim 'yong tubig baha noong nakaraang Bagyong Pedring. 'Yong nakapagpalala sa baha ay 'yong mga basura na nagkalat sa kapaligiran na nagpapabara sa mga kanal. Solusyon dito ay kailangan tayo mismo mag-ayos ng basura natin at matataas na daanan. May mga tumulong naman sa amin at nagbigay ng relief goods,” said Rustico Santos, 54, from Abulalas, Hagonoy.
Carmelita Bernardo, a 52-year-old church volunteer from San Pedro, Hagonoy said, “Hanggang baywang ang baha sa amin, mas malalim 'yong baha noong Pedring pero mas malaki ang pinsalang naidulot ng hanging habagat kasi mas marami ang apektadong tao. Sa aking pagninilay ang kalamidad na ito ay dala ng pag-abuso ng mga tao sa ating kalikasan. Mahalin at pangalagaan natin ang biyayang sa pamamagitan ng hindi pagpapalit nito sa matataas na building o subdivision. Mas maraming tumulong noong bagyong Pedring kaysa sa pananalanta ng hanging habagat.”
“Malaking pinsala po sa bawat tahanan, lunsod at lalawigan ang dinulot ng habagat na nagdala ng baha na umaabot sa lalim na binti sa bakuran namin at lagpas tuhod sa kalsada. Lubog halos buong bakuran dito sa Abulalas at San Pedro. Mas malaki tubig nung Bagyong Pedring pero maraming namahagi ng relief goods subalit ngayon sa habagat wala po kaming natanggap na anuman. Perwisyo ito sa mga mag-aaral , palaisdaan at bayan bayan. Siguro magandang solusyon ay malinis na kapaligiran, dapat buo ang mga kanal upang mabilis ang paghupa ng tubig baha. Una sa lahat magdasal tayong lahat sa Diyos at magkaisa,” said Felipe Sarmiento, 48, a construction worker and one-year resident of Abulalas Hagonoy, Bulacan.
“Mahirap dahil hindi makatuyo ng mga damit tapos hanggang sa kalsada may tubig. Naapektuhan din kami ng Pedring mas malalim nga 'yon kaysa sa habagat pero mas naging perwisyo ang hanging habagta dahil sa matagal na pag-ulan at pagbaha. Mayroon namang tumulong sa amin pero kailangan may ticket ka para makatanggap ka ng tulong. Siguro ang pinakamabuting solusyon ay ang pag-iwas sa pagtatapon ng basura sa mga ilog o sapa,” said Maria Santiago, 47, a house wife and nine-year resident of Abulalas Hagonoy Bulacan.
by Deliza Maye Fernandez BALAGTAS, BULACAN-- Patay ang maglololo matapos silang literal na tadtarin ng mga saksak noong Agosto 16 ng madaling araw, sa St.Francis Village ng Burol 2nd.
Kinilala ang mga biktima na sina Rodrigo Sta. Ana, 77-anyos, nagtamo ng siyam na saksak; ang anak nitong si Christina Sta. Ana, 42-anyos, may 22 na saksak; ang mga apong sina Corrine Joy Sta. Ana, 12-anyos na may 45 na saksak at si Christian Sta. Ana, 10-anyos at may apat na saksak at bali sa braso. Sinasabing ang tubo, screw driver at kitchen knife ang ginamit sa pamamaslang sa mga ito.
Ayon ka Police Chief Inspector, Alfonso Cruz ng Balagtas, pagnanakaw ang nakikitang motibo ng mga suspek dito. Bagama’t walang forced entry, nalimas naman ang mahigit P100,000 na galing sa nagbayad sa kanila sa negosyo nilang Ricemill. Ang pangunahing suspek ay ang mga kamag-anak at mga pahinante nito. Pinaniniwalaan namang nasa impluwensiya ng droga ang mga suspek sa nangyaring insidente.
Samantala, naghihinagpis naman ang isa pang apong si Mark Roque matapos makitang nakahandusay ang kanyang mga kamag-anak sa bahay. Animo’y nailigtas siya ng kanyang pagsilong muna bago tuluyang umuwi dahil sa lakas ng ulan. Sigaw niya ngayon ang katarungan para sa pamilya niya.
“Sana kinuha na lang nila 'yong pera, di na lang sana pinatay. Sana sumuko na sila kahit wag nang ibalik yung pera,” ani Roque.
Nangako naman ang mga pulis na magkakaroon ito ng hustisya lalo’t malakas ang sinasabi ng mga ebidensya at kanilang pag-iimbestiga na kakilala ng mga biktima ang mga suspek.
by Deliza Maye Fernandez Bulacan-- Improper disposal of garbage is the major environmental problem in Balagtas, according to the town's Environmental Officer.
In the recent monsoon rains that made the municipality sank in flood, some part of it has broken the history of Ondoy making the area flooded for the first time. Other barangays had not encountered the high-level of floods before, unlike what the monsoon rains had brought.
“Hindi naman binabaha ng gano'n kagrabe ‘tong Balagtas eh. Usually, binabaha lang naman tayo ‘pag nagpapalabas ng tubig 'yong mga dams nang sabay-sabay’” said Reynaldo Miranda, the encironmental officer of Balagtas.
The initial response of the government with these environmental problem is the segregation of garbage and proper waste disposal. The biodegradable wastes especially the ones that are coming from the market will be set for the compost and will be used for planting the 1,600 seedlings of trees given by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The non-biodegradable wastes will be put on Material Recovery Facilities in which the garbage will be divided according to its kind such as papers, plastic and others that can be recycled and sold.
Meanwhile, the implementation of the No-plastic ordinance has been set in the municipality. “Inuunti-unti natin ‘yan kasi hindi pa masunod ng tao kasi nasanay na tayo sa paggamit ng plastic, marami ang matitigas ang ulo,” said Miranda.
Reconstructing the roads and renovating other facilities are some of the responses of the government in Balagtas. Miranda assured that people in the said municipality may look forward that the flood they had encountered by the Monsoon rains will never happen again. But still, he assured that if the municipality will experience another environmental problem, they will always be there to respond as instant as possible.
by Kattryn Erryc Sayo The Southwest Monsoon (Hanging Habagat) rains which took place on the second week of August 2012 were enough to create a disaster to the residents of Plaridel, Bulacan.
Plaridel is one of the few towns in Bulacan which rarely gets flooded because of its elevated land. But just this year, in the surge of the odd yet intense Southwest Monsoon, the municipality was shockingly affected with inundation. A total of 16 barangays were disturbed and distressed.
“Ang Plaridel kasi mataas. Pero nitong pagdating ng Habagat mataas talaga ang tubig sa ilang barangay. Halos lahat ng barangay apektado,” said Engr. Reynaldo dela Cruz, the Action Head of the Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO).
“Malala ito dahil kung titignan natin ‘yong damages, marami-rami. ‘Yong mga pananim, particularly palay ay nalusaw, maraming bakuran ang lumubog. May konting roads din na nasira, nagkaroon ng hukay-hukay, especially sa may Parulan. Medyo malaki rin ang damage sa may Angat River. Nagkaroon ng soil erosion. So ‘yong mga illegal settlers do’n in-evacuate,” added Engr. Dela Cruz.
According also to Engr. dela Cruz, 5% of the whole municipal budget has been used as calamity fund, all for the package of relief goods, cooked foods, sleeping mat and blanket, as well as the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure.
An estimation of 1,082 households were affected, particularly a total of 5,450 persons. The evacuated families ranged up to 796, specifically consisting of 4,026 persons.
The Don Caesario San Diego gym in the barangay of Poblacion became the temporary home or evacuation center of the victims, including some public elementary and high schools in Bagong Silang, Banga 1st, Banga 2nd, Culianin, Parulan, San Jose, Sipat and Tabang.
“’Yong 1,082 families na ‘yon, or ‘yong 5,450 affected residents, nasa evacuation center man o hindi, ay nabigyan lahat ng assistance,” said Arlyn Valencia, Coordinator of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO).
The number of relief goods distributed extended up to 2,400 packages. 500 of which were from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), 400 came from former RP Vice President Teofisto Guingona, and the other 1,500 packs were from the municipality.
Aside from those, the town Mayor Anastacia R. Vistan also provided sleeping mats and blankets, and cooked foods, and Non-Government Organizations donated assorted breads, bottled water, cooked foods and used clothes.
The total cost of assistance granted by both the Local Government of Plaridel and Non-Government Organizations was Php712,700.
by Christine Mae Juan BULACAN- Isang MassCom student ng Bulacan State University (BulSU) na nag ngangalang Larry*, hindi nya tunay na pangalan, ang napag-alamang may kaduda-dudang utang sa unibersidad.
Nakatakdang magbayad si Larry ng kanyang tuition fee noong ika-6 ng Agosto at laking gulat nito na mayroon pala siyang utang na nagkakahalagang Php104,066. Nang kanyang tanungin kung bakit ganoon kalaki ang kanyang utang, sinabi lamang sa kanya na makipag-usap sa accounting management ng nasabing unibersidad.
“Noong sinabi naman naming pahingi ng copy ng resibo ng utang n'ya ayaw naman ibigay, makipag-usap daw si Larry sa grupo niya (pangalan ng grupo ay hindi maaaring banggitin). Nagulat ako kasi sobrang laki no'n. Parang lahat na ng bayarin ng grupo s'ya na magbabayad. 'Di ko rin alam buong issue n'ya doon sa grupo kung bakit ganoon kalaki 'yon,” ayon kay Jean, hindi nya tunay na pangalan, na kasama n'yang magbabayad noong araw na iyon.
Napag-alamang hindi lamang si Larry ang nagkaroon ng mahal at kaduda-dudang utang sa unibersidad dahil sa organisasyong ito. May mga ilang estudyanteng kabilang o myembro ng grupong ito ang muntik ng hindi maka-graduate at makapag-enroll sa susunod na semestre dahil sa utang nila sa cashier na nagkakahalaga namang Php 10,000.
Ayon sa ilang graduates na myembro ng organisasyon (ayaw ipabanggit ang pangalan), hindi mawawala 'yong utang na iyon hangga’t hindi binabayaran o nakikipag-usap sa mga namumuno ng nasabing grupo.
Ayon kay Chadlyn Samaniego, isa sa mga senador ng BulSU Student Government (SG), “Bawal 'yong ganoon lalo na kung ayaw din bigyan ng copy si Larry no'ng sinasabing utang n'ya raw. Dapat gumawa s'ya ng letter para sa amin na may pirma nya, tapos kakausapin namin s'ya at kami na 'yong gagawa ng aksyon”.
“Ayokong humingi ng tulong sa SG o magsumbong. Nakakatakot, baka pag-initan ako. Kakausapin ko nalang sina ma'am”, takot na paglalahad ni Larry.
Nakipag-usap na si Larry sa nasabing grupo noong ika-6 ng Agosto at napag-alamang mayroon s'yang utang dito na Php700 lamang.
“Hindi na ko sasali sa bagong grupo na binubuo namin. Nakausap ko na sina ma'am, Php700 lang utang ko. 'Pag nakita akong sumasayaw sa bagong grupo baka pag-initan na naman ako,” pahayag ni Larry.
by Juvy Gail Colili Guguinto, Bulacan -Isang matinding pag-ulan ang dala ng Hanging Habagat sa mga taga-Central Luzon noong nakaraang linggo, na nagdulot ng pagbaha at pagkasira ng mga pananim sa bayang ito.
Lumubog ang malaking bahagi ng sakahan sa bayan ng Guiguinto ng Bulacan. Nakaranas din ng pagkalubog sa baha ang mga residente, na sinasabing hindi inaasahan at hindi pangkaraniwan.
“100% of the plains in guiguinto are damaged, they are submerged in the flood. Ine-report ko talaga 100%. Nag-ikot din naman kami, talagang lahat nakalubog, 100% talagang nag-submerge, malalaman natin ngayon kung may makaka-recover (crops) kasi mga bata pa eh. Four days na siyang lubog (yung mga pananim). Hanggang ngayon hindi pa din lumulutang yung ano (punla). Kahit bumaba na ang tubig medyo mahina na 'yon,” ani Dr. Eduardo Jose, kawani ng munisipyo ng Guiguinto tungkol sa agraryo.
Dagsag pa ni Jose, ''Yong chance ng recovery walana siguro. Kung meron man kaunting-kaunti lang ang makaka-recover. Kasi nga hanggang ngayon (Agosto 10) hindi pa lumulutang o hindi pa nakikita ung mga puno at mga halaman, wala na matutunaw na 'yon.”
Hanggang sa ngayon wala pa ring plano ang munisipyo tungkol sa mga nasirang pananim.
“Sa ngayon wala pa, nagrereport pa kami sa Provincial, then regional makakarating ng National 'yon. May mga ginagawa namang programa pero hindi pa sa siguro sa ngayon. I-e-estimate pa kung ilan o gaano yung na-damage tsaka lang mag-pro-program at mag-ba-budget para sa rehab (rehabilitasyon ng pananim). Minsan nagbibigay sila ng seedling tapos pataba.” ani Jose.
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