Friday, August 31, 2012

Cong. Velasco meets with MSC scholars today

Earlier today, Congressman Velasco addressed more than 2,000 scholars of Marinduque State College (MSC) under the Leaders and Achievers of Velasco (LAV) program for the school year 2012-2013, broken down as follows: MSC Boac: 1,338 recipients; MSC Sta. Cruz: 540 recipients; MSC Gasan: 59 recipients; MSC Torrijos: 135 recipients.

As clearly stated above, these figures are for Marinduque State College alone and do not include beneficiaries from the other schools like Educational Systems Technological Institute (ESTI), St. Mary's College of Marinduque (SMCM), Marinduque Midwest College, Buyabod School of Arts and Trade (BSAT), Torrijos Poblacion School of Arts and Trade (TPSAT) and Sta. Cruz Institute (SCI).

Since the program started in 2010, regular students who applied for the LAV program in that year and who have remained enrolled in said school since then have received a total of Php 12,500 each. For this school year alone, the amount of Php 5.5-million covering the LAV educational assistance program has been remitted directly to the Marinduque State College. This excludes funds remitted to other schools. 


Funds from Velasco's PDAF are remitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), directly to all participating schools under a MOA entered into by the parties concerned. After distribution of the relevant vouchers, all cash payments are handled by the school's accounting department with students directly receiving the cash from the said school department. The same process is observed in all the other colleges (public or private), participating in the LAV program.   

Also read:
http://marinduquegov.blogspot.com/2012/11/lav-scholarship-program-strengthened.html

The MSC educational assistance recipients under the LAV program listen to Cong. Velasco's inspirational message..

Mr. Almario Seno, main contact person in the Office of Congressman Velasco in charge of the LAV program distributing vouchers to some of the students.

Velasco scholars line up to receive their vouchers.


MSC President Romulo H. Malvar presents a certificate of recognition to Cong. Velasco as vice-presidents Dr. Homer Montejo and Dr. Leodegario Jalos look on.

 Cong. Velasco meeting some of the scholars with Educational Assistance Officer, Mr. Almario Seno who handles the LAV program.

More students line up while others patiently wait for their turn.

Starting 'em young in softball and baseball in Boac


Boac Mayor Roberto M. Madla and Cong. Lord Allan Velasco.
With financial support from the Office of Cong. Velasco the Municipal Government of Boac implemented the training of athletes and in officiating of softball and baseball games in the municipality. In coordination with elementary and high schools and barangays, selected young athletes from Boac's 61 barangays received training during scheduled dates in Lupac, Balimbing and Mainit. The project recently culminated in a softball and baseball tournament held at the Boac Reservation Area.  A new baseball tournament (for elementary schools) and softball (for high schools), starts in September that will culminate in December, part of the town fiesta celebration in Boac.

Starting 'em young.

Training in Brgy. Lupac

Softball players meet at the Boac Reservation Area.

Softball Champion: BALIMBING

Brgy. Balimbing Chairman, Antonio Jalotjot (in green) and team captain
receive their prize and trophy from Mayor Madla and Chief of Staff, Erick Abad of the Office of Cong. Velasco.

Baseball Champion: MAINIT.
Young athletes receive their prize and trophy with Brgy. Mainit Chairman Rene Montaron.

.

Sta. Cruz Sports Complex rising


Sta. Cruz Mayor Percival P. Morales with Cong. Lord Allan Velasco.
Mayor Percy Morales of Sta. Cruz has long dreamed of building a sports complex  in his town as venue for continued sports training programs and for the holding of bigger sports tournaments and other events. He conveyed his idea to Cong. Velasco who immediately committed support for the construction of the said sports facility.

By October 2011, a ground-breaking ceremony was held, graced by Velasco, Morales and Party List Representative Mark Aeron A. Sambar of Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA), Velasco's colleague in Congress who was tapped for additional fund support.

Blueprint of the Sta. Cruz Sports Complex presented to Cong. Velasco.

A site owned by the Municipality of Sta. Cruz in Barangay Baliis was chosen  for the project, a move that excited officials and residents of the said barangay and nearby barangays who see the project as a new vehicle to boost tourism and economic development in their area. Velasco shown here during an earlier visit to the site.


Cong. Velasco and Cong. Sambar with Mayor Morales
during the ground-breaking ceremony in Oct. 2011.

The two congressmen have provided Php 5-million each from their respective Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) for the sports complex now on the rise.


Thursday, August 30, 2012

More infra projects in Mogpog

Mataas-na-Bayan, Mogpog, Barangay Resolution 19/2012
A Barangay Resolution was forwarded by the Office of the Sangguniang Barangay of Mataas na Bayan, Mogpog, one of numerous similar resolutions thanking Cong. Lord Allan Velasco for projects undertaken in their respective barangays. The said Mataas-na-Bayan resolution expressed thanks for the completion of the rip-rapping in Quezon St., Purok Ilang-Ilang, Mataas na Bayan in Mogpog, Marinduque. 

Purok Ilang-Ilang, Quezon St., Mataas na Bayan, Mogpog

Rip-rapping project

The farm-to-market road covering barangay Janagdong to Market -Site in Mogpog
is now being  concreted by DPWH , a priority project with funds from Cong. Velasco's PDAF. 

The Janagdong-Market Site farm-to-market road.
Above is the  Market-Site side now being concreted.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Cong. Velasco's uninterrupted LAV program

Part of the Leaders and Achievers of Velasco (LAV) educational assistance program are students from MSC Torrijos and TPSAT (Torrijos Poblacion School of Arts & Trades), shown here during a recent activity in said municipality. Distribution of cash payments are scheduled on Aug. 29 for TPSAT and Aug. 30 for BSAT.
Distribution of the relevant vouchers are undertaken in schools or activity areas on scheduled dates. Under the program, regular college students who have completed the requirements (i.e. certificate of registration, birth certificate), receive Php 5,000 per school year, Dean's listers receive Php 10,000 per school year. All students enrolled in technical education schools such as BSAT and TPSAT that are accredited by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), who take from 2-6 months free-training courses all receive additional Php 1,000 educational assistance under the LAV program.

Cong. Velasco shown here with LAV recipients from Marinduque Midwest College in Gasan.

In addition to the schools mentioned, MSC Sta. Cruz and Sta. Cruz Institute (SCI) college students who have applied are also recipients of the LAV program, as well as those studying at MSC Boac (Main Campus), MSC Gasan, Educational Systems Technological Institute (ESTI) and St. Mary's College of Marinduque (SMCM).

Cong. Velasco during the recent activity with LAV recipients from Buyabod School of Arts and Trades (BSAT).


Monday, August 27, 2012

Tubong ritual for Cong. Velasco in Brgy. Daig

A rousing tubong dance-ritual awaited Cong. Lord Allan Velasco during the recent launching of a farm-to-market road in barangay Daig in Boac.

Cong. Velasco accompanied by his staff are all smiles as flowers and coins are tossed, part of the tubong (also known as putong), by the barangay ladies. 

Barangay Daig local officials led by Brgy. Chairman Noel M. Naling with Velasco.

In the town of Boac, other similar farm-to-market road projects have been undertaken or are in various stages of implementation in barangays Agot, Agumaymayan, Bangbangalon, Bantay, Binunga, Buliasnin, Bunganay, Lupac, Mainit, Maligaya, Mansiwat, Maybo, Mercado, Ogbac, Pawa, Pili, Poras, Santol, Tagwak, Tambunan, Tampus and Tugos. Based on requests put forward by the individual barangays to the office of Cong. Velasco, other barangay projects for flood control, river bank revetment, waterworks, multi-purpose buildings and covered courts are undertaken by the DPWH Marinduque Office with funding from Velasco's PDAF and other sources. Electrification of remote Boac sitios that have never been energized have been completed or are in the works.  

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Featured videos on Maniwaya Island, Sta. Cruz tourist spots and Marinduque Tourism

Maniwaya Island, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque
The first two videos are fairly recent posts from chavez governador of Sta. Cruz, Marinduque, the third one was first posted three years ago, when Cong. Lord Allan Velasco was still the provincial administrator of Marinduque and features initiatives by the former administration to lift Marinduque tourism to new heights.

MANIWAYA ISLAND 

STA. CRUZ MARINDUQUE ECO-TOURISM

MARINDUQUE IN MY HEART

Friday, August 24, 2012

Nostradamus 2012, Of galactic alignments and cosmic events


"Nostradamus' Quatrain 3:46

"The sky... we presage
Through clear signs and by fixed stars;
Suddenly the age of change approaches,
Neither for its good, nor for its evils."

That, or his enduring message as a compassionate sage:

"The transformation will be very difficult,
Cities and provinces will gain by the changes;
Their hearts held high, prudence established, the cunning ones expelled, 
The sea, the land restored as human harmony awakens."

NOSTRADAMUS 2012 by History Channel

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Velasco's barangay projects in Buenavista

Sitio Biga in Tungib

Buenavista is one the most picturesque places in Marinduque, but considered the  poorest town compared to the other five municipalities here. Congressman Lord Allan Velasco has thus prioritized barangay requests therein for road projects, waterworks, improvement/construction of multi-purpose buildings, covered courts and electrification of many remote sitios.


With the operation there of the luxury resort Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa, with the concreting of the long road leading to the said resort a road that extends to Dampulan in the southeastern side of Marinduque (portions of which are still in various stages of completion), and with the new energy shown by the people of Buenavista to contribute to its development, the Buenavista situation is fast seeing a reversal.


This video shows Cong. Lord Allan Velasco's barangay projects in this town. 



Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Search for G. & Bb. Gasan 2012

G. at Bb. Gasan 2012 Winners

The “Araw ng Gasan” weeklong festivities are aimed to showcase “the fecundity and uniqueness of our indigenous culture thus strengthening the awareness, appreciation and pride of every Gaseno”, stated Gasan Mayor Vicky Lao-Lim in her festival message. “The success of our celebration is anchored in community engagement and involvement in all the activities.”

The week-long activities, all of which were concluded with resounding success indeed, ranged from Fun Run (Aug 13), Bibong Batang Gaseno (Aug 14), Walkathon (Aug 15), Bakbakan sa Araw ng Gasan (Boxing, Aug 16), Layag Contest and Bancathon (Aug 17), Palaro ng Lahi and Singing Contest (Aug 18), Search for G. at Bb. Gasan 2012 (Aug. 19), Kalesayahan Festival, Drum & Glockenspiel Corps Competition, Awards Night & Pasayaw ng Bayan (Aug 20).

From left to right: Unica Vargas, Brgy. Tiguion; Rose Ann Par, Brgy. Mahunig; (Bb. Gasan 2012): Ryalyn Joy Sadiwa, Brgy. Bachao Ilaya;(Bb. Gasan Turismo);  Jerlyn Sotta, Brgy. Pinggan; Gladys Aulea Vitto,  Brgy. Banuyo; Shaira Mae Drilon, Brgy. Uno (Bb. Gasan Kalikasan).

From left to right: Arjay Montiel, Brgy. Banuyo; Arpe Tan, Brgy. Tiguion; Michael Fanoga, Brgy. Bacong-Bacong; (G. Gasan 2012); Erickson Palosa, Brgy. Mahunig; (G. Gasan Kalikasan); Mark Jero Bagaporo, Brgy. Dili; (G. Gasan Turismo); Richmond Seno, Brgy. Uno.

Bb. Unica Vargas
G. Arjay Montiel
Bb. Rose Ann Par
G. Michael Fanoga
Bb. Ryalyn Joy Sadiwa
 
Bb. Gasan 2012 was crowned by Mayor Vicky Lao Lim and
Congressman Lord Allan Velasco

Bb. Gasan Kalikasan, Bb. Gasan 2012 and  Bb. Gasan Turismo

G. Gasan 2012, G. Gasan Turismo and G. Gasan Kalikasan
Pageant photos courtesy of Agelio Sena.

Search for G. & Bb. Gasan 2012 video:


Sunday, August 19, 2012

Heaven is a place where nothing happens

Lethargic, laid-back, peaceful, fourth class, poor

Island Marinduque with its beautiful landscapes and as locale to one of the country’s richest mineral resources has constantly been described as lethargic, laid-back, peaceful, fourth class, poor . The ‘impoverished kind of living’ of the majority of its unempowered inhabitants, who are reduced to depending on alms, dole-outs and favors they could squeeze from traditional politics, reckoning these as eternal debt, continue to glare. Such kind of politics, must in turn be preserved through corrupt practices whatever trappings are left of an old feudalistic system, that provide comfort and heaven on earth to the rich and powerful - that extends to their well-entrenched allies and subalterns in government. At times, the conspiracy could also extend to national official halls and undertaken in the spirit of ‘kaibigan, kamag-anak, kaklase’.
A formula for heaven – heaven as a place where nothing ever happens.
Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens
Listen to HEAVEN by Talking Heads

Friday, August 17, 2012

Topsy-turvy 'out of time' huge loan desire

The Marinduque Capitol Building, circa 1928.

"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves, in the course of time, a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it." - Frédéric Bastiat (1801-1850)


In May 2012, for the proposed improvement of the road network infrastructure development project in the province of Marinduque, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), authorized Gov. Carmencita O. Reyes to negotiate a loan agreement with the DBP.
Two months later, in July 2012, the SP amended the said resolution to include the authority to negotiate not only with DBP but “with any government or private financial institution” not only for road network infrastructure development projects this time but also, for “other priority socio economic development programs”.

When word got out about these seemingly topsy-turvy operations, a group of concerned citizens found the proposed loan to be “counter-productive, unreasonable, unnecessary, and certainly out of time.” “The subject resolutions were not referred to the Provincial Development Council of Marinduque, the statutory body tasked to approve and endorse the annual investment plan of the province”, as stated in the petition for repeal of the resolutions, see yesterday's post.

On August 1, 2012, members of the SP requested for a meeting with certain key officials of the DOTC in Manila to provide funding assistance for the Marinduque Airport Runway Project, estimated to cost Php 90-million. After the meeting the SP passed Resolution No. 735 dated August 1, 2012 (same date), stating among others that “Whereas, the Body is likewise happy to know that the DOTC had already plans for the proposed extension and rehabilitation of the Marinduque Airport Runway...”

Two weeks later - just the other day, in fact, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan decided to further amend the second Resolution issued last July, this time authorizing the governor to negotiate a loan agreement not with DBP but solely with Philippine National Bank (PNB), in the amount of Php 150-million. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan specified this time that Php 100-million out of that loan is for the completion of the Marinduque Airport Runway and Php 50-million for farm-to-market roads.

Curiously, on or about the same time that this was going on, Governor Reyes went on radio to announce that she had already negotiated with PNB for a Php 300-million credit line in favor of the provincial government of Marinduque, with official notice already received, she said. Reyes said the loan will be used for farm-to-market roads, airport runway, construction of a sports complex and education (citing the need to continue her son's - former Cong. Edmund Reyes, Jr.'s scholarship program).

“Maikli na ang panahon mga anak, hindi natin maisusulong ang proyektong pangkaunlaran na tanging minimithi ng ating kalalawigan ng sabay-sabay kung tayo ay hindi uutang sa bangko…”, she said.

After a political career that spanned 41 years (from 1971 as Delegada to present), Reyes, based on her own foregoing statement, ("time is already short my children, we cannot push for development projects that are the only desire of our provincemates, all at the same time, if we will not obtain a loan from the bank..."), has really ran out of time, four decades apparently not being enough to push for Marinduque's development.


Marinduque Capitol building, born 1928, haunted by ghosts, and now 84 years old.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Petition to repeal Marinduque loan resolutions filed

Former Gov. Aristeo M. Lecaroz (1967-1988)

“The planned loan is counter-productive, unreasonable, unnecessary, and certainly out of time”, apparently with the filing of certificates of candidacies for next year’s elections to be conducted in October this year.

A petition by former Governor of Marinduque, Aristeo M. Lecaroz and more than 1,000 registered voters to repeal the relevant Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolutions No. 637 and 710 was filed recently.

" It will only aggravate the already dwindling finances of the province” as it could be used instead “to more socially and morally responsive undertakings geared towards the upliftment of the lives of the people of Marinduque”, the petition stated.

On May 2, 2012, the Sangguniang Panlawigan passed Resolution No. 637 “authorizing the Honorable Governor Carmencita O. Reyes to negotiate a loan agreement with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), for the proposed improvement of the road network infrastructure development project in the province of Marinduque, subject to the ratification by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.”

Petitioners maintain that the loan intended for such road networks may be funded through other government sources citing as an example the allocation for infrastructure projects provided in the General Appropriations Act and administered by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) “is sufficient enough to address the infrastructure concerns of the current dispensation”.

A later amendment (Resolution No. 710 of July 4, 2012), was made by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan granting authority to Gov. Reyes to negotiate a loan agreement not only with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), but also with any government or private financial institutions for the intended loan to be used for “road network infrastructure development projects”, this time adding the phrase “and other priority socio economic development programs”.

Opinions expressed by some people in government as well as individuals attached the issue on the possibility that the real purpose of the loan is to raise huge campaign money for election purposes. The filing of certificates of candidacy for next year’s elections comes in just a couple of months, in October.

Gov. Carmencita O. Reyes is the octogenarian governor of Marinduque.  Her political career now spans forty one (41) years. She was Marinduque’s delegate to the Constitutional Convention convened in 1971. The closeness of ‘Delegada’, as she was fondly called then, to the Marcoses during the Martial Law days is of public knowledge. She was Interim and Regular Assemblywoman for Marinduque from 1978 to 1986 (up to Edsa Revolution), then Congress Representative from 1987 to 1998, Governor from 1998 to 2007, Congresswoman from 2007 to 2010, then Governor from 2010 up to the present (2012).

It will be recalled that Reyes posted bail in the amount of Php 60,000 on charges of technical malversation apart from violation of the anti-graft law in connection with the Php 728-million fertilizer scam.


Culture-laden, beautiful island Marinduque that was bruited about by international travel watchers two years ago as one of world’s top islands occupying the No. 2 spot then, is one of the country’s smallest provinces with only six municipalities, its people still stuck to an ‘impoverished kind of living’.

Read related post.