Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Strong opposition to Carmencita loan

Marinduque First Saturday Movers in a meeting. Some prominent Marinduque names associated with it are Gen. Recaredo A.Sarmiento II, Gen. George Alino, former Gov. Aristeo Lecaroz, Atty. Milton Mendoza, Engr. Bernardo Jambalos III, Capt. Emmanuel Regio, Atty. Benjo Buenviaje, Romeo Hermoso, former Mayor Pedrito Nepomuceno, Victor Rodriguez, Anastacio Revilla, Jr. and Ronald Tanco.


Apparently bent on pursuing another multi-million peso loan with PNB, the Marinduque Provincial Government received stronger opposition from the Marinduque First Saturday Movers, popularly known as Marinduque Movers.


In its new resolution (No. 2012-12) dated October 20, 2012, Marinduque Movers conveyed to the Provincial Government that “the flip-flopping SP Resolutions only shows how the proponent of the loan has no clear idea on the exact amount they need and it follows that they do not have, again, a clear idea on what projects are to be undertaken”. The group also noted that “the repair of airport runway is a national government concern and repairs should be undertaken by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and not by the Local Government.”

The Marinduque Movers also stressed this time that from the reading of the relevant SP resolutions pertaining to the loan, there is no clear amount in the mind of the proponent as the proposal started with the amount of Php 300M, reduced to Php 250M, eventually settling to Php 150M allegedly for the repair of the Marinduque Airport Runway (Php 100M) and for the repair of provincial roads (Php 50M). Opposition to the loan has likewise been expressed through a resolution by the Sangguniang Bayan of Gasan as well as critical discussions in the social media.

It will be recalled that the DOTC had already confirmed in a recent letter to Congressman Velasco dated September 12, 2012, that both DOTC and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) have allocated funds for the development of the Marinduque Airport amounting to Php 80M. It also confirmed that the continued development of the Marinduque Airport has been endorsed to CAAP.

It will also be recalled that the repeated argument used by Governor Carmencita Reyes to justify the loan as announced by her over local radio that ZestAir, the only airline company servicing Marinduque at present, will cease local operation starting October 27 due to the airport runway situation has been belied by the continued servicing of the airport by the said airline. Congressman Velasco has also confirmed that another airline is set to service the airport within the year.



Noting that requisites to determine the viability of the loan proposal have not been submitted by proponent for review, Marinduque Movers stated that this is “a clear indication that the loan proposal has no concrete and justifiable purpose” and makes the move questionable “aside from it being untimely and a suspect for deceit”.

As if to underline its suspicion of “deceit”, Marinduque Movers also noted that a member of the provincial board delivered a privilege speech vehemently opposing the loan proposal citing various reasons “including the intentional infringement of established Sangguniang Panlalawigan rules”, complaining further that it was without the knowledge of the minority group, “…it was not discussed nor presented formally as the proponent has not submitted any financial feasibility study and program of works for the proposed projects, and, most notably without the endorsement of the Treasurer, Accountant, PPDO, and most importantly the Provincial Development Council and its approval was allegedly railroaded.”

In August, a citizens’initiative spearheaded by Marinduque Movers and signed by more than two thousand registered voters of Marinduque petitioning to repeal the SP loan resolutions was formally presented to the provincial authorities. The provincial government has apparently just chosen to ignore the said move from its constituency.  




Monday, October 29, 2012

Trip Schedule to Cawit and Balanacan Ports, Marinduque from Dalahican Port (Lucena)


Update as of December 21, 2013:
Cawit Port is closed. Only Balanacan Port is operational.
Montenegro and Starhorse plying the route Dalahican-Balanacan-Dalahican.
Only 2-3 trips daily; Schedules erratic.


(Note: Marinduque Airport is not operational at present).

UPDATE AS OF APRIL 15, 2014:

CAWIT PORT HAS RESUMED OPERATIONS AS 

OF APRIL 13, 2014:

Photo: Raoul  J. Magcamit

What Ofel did to Sabang Bridge, Buenavista

Damage to Sabang Bridge in Buenavista. Photo: Honey Mhalyn Medallon

This is what the turbulent flood waters caused by Typhoon 'Ofel' did to Sabang Bridge located between Brgy. Quatro and Sitio Escolta, Brgy. Libas in Buenavista. Visitors pass through this bridge in going to Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa. The said resort could still be reached as the river may still be crossed by wading or in a vehicle through a shallow ford on the eastern side of this damaged bridge. 

Friday, October 26, 2012

Typhoon "Ofel" causes flashfloods in Marinduque

Almost waist-deep flood in the Boac market site. Fb photo by Connie Villegas.


Tropical Storm "Ofel" made landfall over Masbate yesterday and started crossing Sibuyan Island in Romblon, even as Marinduque and 36 other areas were placed under storm signals Thursday morning.

Batangas, Lubang Island, Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Masbate including Ticao Island, Panay Island, Guimaras and the Northern part of Negros Occidental will experience stormy weather with rough to very rough seas, PAGASA earlier announced. 

By 1:00 pm yesterday flashfloods have occurred in Mogpog, Boac, Gasan, Sta. Cruz and Buenavista towns of Marinduque. A boy was reported missing after being carried away by floodwaters in barangay Bocboc. An 88-year old woman from Torrijos was reported to have died of hypothermia. Minor landslides were reported in Mogpog, Sabang bridge in Buenavista was reported to have suffered damage. Some interior barangays in Boac (like Canat, Bayuti, Boi), still remain isolated as of now due to the swelling of the Boac River.

The sun shines brightly now with improved weather condition and power has returned as Ofel leaves the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Age Falsification: Vanity or outright deception?

Phyllis Haver (1899 - 1960) - Photo via The Golden Age of Hollywood

(May Dagdag-Bawas din sa edad).

Just like in the canvassing of votes - Philippine-style - during pre-PICOS elections, there’s also something called subtracting time (‘shaving’) from and adding time (‘padding’) to one’s age resorted to by some actors, actresses, athletes and some politicians. In the case of actors and actresses, talent managers do it pala for their protégées so they get hired for roles and for publicity purposes. The deed is done through repeated oral or written statements, and in the case of certain local politicians, it strangely appears to have even inspired family members of original perpetrators to perpetuate the same practice.

Recently in the local entertainment industry, a winner in a television reality show pegged his age at 24 when in truth he shaved that age by five years, a fact ignored, for whatever reason, by producers of the show.

In the sports business, a scandal was created some years ago when the Little League World Series stripped Zamboanga City of its title. It was discovered after the games that some of its players were too old for Little League, an incident that caused furor and outrage to many Filipinos. To avoid a repetition of the said fraud, teams joining now must have a copy of birth certificates, with documents being checked again as teams advance in the tournament.

Age falsification is similarly resorted to by some local politicians for propaganda purposes and for other reasons only known to them. In his book “Stalin”, (oh, him again), historian E. Radzinski argues that the year of birth of Joseph Stalin was changed from 1878 to 1879 to have a nationwide celebration of his 50th birthday. The incorrect date of December 21, 1879 was since printed in many publications during Stalin’s reign, and remains as one of the most widely reported incorrect dates of birth. Eva Peron had her birth certificate altered after becoming First Lady of Argentina, making herself three years younger. Read.

A local Marinduque candidate for the 2013 Elections has apparently followed suit and deliberately shaved five years, thinking, in all likelihood, that the poor, exploited electorate could hardly care anyway for such habitual acts of lying and deception.

Monday, October 22, 2012

ZestAir Marinduque daily flight schedule from October 28, 2012

New ZestAir daily flight schedule Manila - Marinduque and Marinduque - Manila 

According to ZestAir's website www.flyzest.com the new Marinduque flight schedule 
starting October 28, 2012 onwards is as follows: 

Manila - Marinduque (DAILY) ETD 1205, ETA 1255; 
Marinduque - Manila (DAILY) ETD 1330, ETA 1420  



2013 Funds for Marinduque Airport: P80M

Marinduque Airport.
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has affirmed to Congressman Lord Allan Q. Velasco the allocation of funds for the development of Marinduque Airport in the CY 2013, amounting to a total of Php 80-M. The scope of works to be undertaken are the expansion of apron (Php 20-M), the rehabilitation of PTB (Php 6-M),the concrete paving of taxiway (Php 4-M), all of which are to be funded by DOTC totaling Php 30-M), and the continuation of improvement of runway (Php 50-M) to be funded from Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP CY 2013).

In a letter dated Sept. 24, 2012, to Cong. Velasco, Assistant Secretary for Planning, Atty. Jaime Raphael C. Feliciano also informed the Congressman that for the continued development of the Marinduque Airport, DOTC has further endorsed Velasco’s request to CAAP, the agency directly responsible for the financing and development of national airports, for consideration in the preparation of their annual program.

There was local controversy that erupted here when the provincial government of Marinduque, through Governor Carmencita O. Reyes, announced that a bank loan has been negotiated by her, part of which is the rehabilitation of the airport runway in the amount of Php 100-M. A petition filed in August and September 2012 by concerned citizens led by the Marinduque First Saturday Movers, Inc. (MFSMI), an NGO composed of prominent Marinduquenos for the repeal/withdrawal of three resolutions passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Marinduque concernng the loan, has apparently been ignored up to the present. The proposed loan has totalled Php 300-M.

Marinduque Movers stressed in its petition that "repair of our Airport should not be undertaken by the provincial government", further contesting Gov. Reyes' statement "that the P100M from the proceeds of the planned loan to be spent for the improvement of the Marinduque Airport shall be reimbursed by the DOTC is hard to believe as it will contradict government established rules and regulations on expenditures". 

Friday, October 19, 2012

Time for starfishes, tun shells and angel fishes

It's sem-break. Some local college boys are bent on spending their three week vacation to explore places they've never been to. After camping out last weekend in Mahinhin, they were thrilled to discover a lesser-known waterfall in Mogpog, then a couple of days later, they decided it was time for the beach. Like little children they searched for marine life in Amoingon beach and found blue starfishes, living tun shells and angel fishes (above).

Amoingon beach in Boac with shallow coral gardens.

Time for spending hours away from textbooks and exams.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Unique Marinduque provincial scholarship program

Provincial scholarship grantees and their parents line up at the Boac residence of Gov. Carmencita O. Reyes.

A random survey of provincial scholarship programs in Philippine provinces shows that applicants have to take a qualifying examination or must pass set criteria to obtain the necessary government support. In Cavite, some 5,228 took the exam and only 519 qualified. In Aklan, students passing the qualifying exams are entitled to scholarship for four-year courses. There, students who maintain grades not lower than 2.5 per semester are provided P1,000.00 allowance, while those with grades lower than 2.5 receive P500.00 allowance per semester.

But for the provincial scholarship program in Marinduque, applicants do not have to pass qualifying exams or pass set criteria as those undertaken in the other provinces. Applicants for scholarship are merely asked to submit a Personal Information Sheet (PIS), provide character references and provide names of at least 20 persons who would be willing to support ‘Nanay’ (Gov. Carmencita O. Reyes) and her daughter ‘Ate Gina’.

“Isulat ang at least 20 mga pangalan ng mga tao na puwede mong himukin o hikayatin na sumama sa magandang layunin ng ating lalawigan sa pamamagitan ni Nanay at Ate Gina,” the PIS form states.

The same PIS form are filled out by those seeking employment or medical assistance.

‘Ate Gina’ referred to in the PIS form is Regina Victoria O. Reyes, a lawyer. She currently holds no position in the provincial government but has assumed the responsibility of turning over the cash payments to grantees.  As a must, grantees are accompanied by a parent when claiming the scholarship grant. The amount of cash, anywhere from P 3,000 to P 5,000 are paid at the Governor’s residence in Boac. “Himukin o hikayatin na sumama sa magandang layunin” apparently refers to the fact that the governor’s daughter has recently filed her certificate of candidacy for the position of Congressman of Marinduque. Gov. Reyes has, likewise, filed her bid for another second term as governor.

Meanwhile, in Bukidnon, scholarship applicants must be high school graduates who belong to the upper 10% of the graduating class with no failing grade in any subject in the senior year as certified by the high school principal and must have passed the college admission test with a grade of 85% and above or its equivalent to qualify. In Cebu province, college scholarships are awarded to the top 10 of the graduating class from public high schools for students whose family income must not be higher than P220 daily. Additional incentives are given to graduates, those who graduate with honors and Dean’s awardees.

In Batangas, Benguet and Pangasinan, similar scholarship programs are undertaken by the provincial government to indigent but qualified grantees to enable them to have access to quality education.


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Agnes Locsin's dance-work 'Moriones', 1991.

The boys of Teatro Balangaw group created in 2009, "Moryonan" a dance-drama interpretation of the local Moriones tradition that depicts the legend of Longinus, the Roman soldier who pierced the side of Jesus on the Cross. They were village boys from barangays Bognuyan, Poblacion and Bacong-Bacong in Gasan, Marinduque. The dance, an offshoot of an earlier 2002 Teatro work directed by this blogger with selected students of Bangbang National High School and Marinduque Midwest College, was part of the Viva Marinduque-Philippine Arts Festival Project (above photo).

But there's a 1991 choreographic work by Agnes Locsin of Ballet Philippines.
Agnes Locsin, one of the most progressive dance choreographers in the country, used the Moriones of Marinduque as inspiration for her choreographic work, "Moriones" that earned for her the silver medal and the Prince Takamado Award in the 1991 International Choreographer's Concourse in Tokyo. Locsin's Moriones was described as a piece "where the male dancers turned, whirled and jumped on each other’s backs to a very rhythm-contagious soundtrack, leaving the viewer pleasantly exhausted at the end". I have mentioned her work in an earlier article about a similar work by Katilau in 2010.

I have never seen Locsin's work until today when I came across this newly posted YouTube video, "Moriones. Ballet Philippines", and am glad that through the Internet, Locsin has now shared her famous work with the rest of the world.




Inspired by the Moriones Festival of Marinduque, Locsin's Moriones was choreographed for Ballet Philippines 2's participation at the Recontres Festival Du Danse in La Baule, France. It was also a study for movement for the Guardias Civil dance for Encantada. 

World Premier: July 1991, Manila
Music by Philip Glass
Choreography by Agnes Locsin
Lighting Design by Katsch Catoy
Costume and Mask Design by Conrad Dy-Liaco

Monday, October 15, 2012

UNESCO adressed Budapest Conference on Cyberspace

Graphic poster produced during the Budapest Conference on Cyberspace

Freedom of speech should not be compromised by measures taken in the name of cybersecurity – whether these measures are against cyberfraud or cyberwarfare. This was the message delivered by Guy Berger, UNESCO’s Director of Freedom of Expression and Media Development, at the Budapest Conference on Cyberspace on 4 and 5 October 2012.

The Conference was convened by the government of Hungary. It followed the 2011 London Conference and built on 2001 Budapest Convention on Cybercrime.
UNESCO’s input at the Conference stressed the importance for cyber security measures to following international standards concerning policies and practices that could limit freedom of expression.
“These standards place strong conditions about transparence, predictability, legitimate purposes and due process, on any limitations of freedom of speech. Only by following these standards can we confine the limitations to the narrowest range and avoid both arbitrary and hidden violations,” said Berger.
The speech by Guy Berger is available here.

Freedom of Expression on Internet

© iStockphotos
UNESCO recognizes that the Internet holds enormous potential for development. It provides an unprecedented volume of resources for information and knowledge and opens up new opportunities for expression and participation. UNESCO assumes its responsibility of promoting freedom of expression on Internet and has integrated it to its regular program. The principle of freedom of expression must apply not only to traditional media but also to the Internet and all types of emerging media platforms which will definitely contribute to development, democracy and dialogue.
With growing access to information in cyberspace, there is a raise of limit of access and information in cyberspace, done by a variety of actors which have diverse goals and values. In addition to Internet’s transborder feature, there are so many factors shaping the level of free expression on Internet, and there exist various policy approaches which have implication on freedom of expression. The real challenge is to fully exploit the potential of new media while not compromising civil liberties, including the right to freedom of expression, to education and also to privacy.
UNESCO seeks to trigger discussion on a wide range of issues related to Internet freedom at global, regional and national levels. UNESCO takes the responsibility to explore the changing legal and regulatory framework of Internet and provide member states with policy recommendations aiming to foster a conducive environment to freedom of expression on the net.


One paradisical island in Marinduque

Get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
Come to Marinduque and discover the lesser known paradisical islands
north, south, east and west of it.

One of them north-east is called Maniwaya in Sta. Cruz.
Maiwaya's beaches are covered with powdery white sands.

There you could go around on a delightful walk by yourself or with a dear one,
find a corner and bask in the pleasant warmth of the sun to ponder eternity.

There is a small resort in Maniwaya you could check out.

Blogger stats for pageviews fixed

Marinduque Rising stats for pageviews
now fixed by Blogger, thank you!
Sunday, October 14, 2012

Missing stats for pageviews

We've received many reports about missing pageview counts on Blogger stats, and we're working to resolve this problem as quickly as possible. Thanks for bearing with us -- we apologize for the inconvenience this issue has caused. (Blogger)

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Marvelous Mabusay Falls

"In all things of nature,
there's something of the marvelous." - Aristotle

More photos shared by Richard Nardo's friends,  Jericho Loberes and Mark Francis Dacles in the video below.
Marvelous Mabusay Falls, Marinduque, Ph

Friday, October 12, 2012

Age of Aquarius and Mayan End of a World Age

Age of Aquarius
“When the moon is in the Seventh House and Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide our planets and Love will steer the Stars
This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius…”
A powerful change is believed to be sweeping the world now. Seekers worldwide claim these are “the times described in the Holy Bible as the Last Judgment and in the Koran as Qiyamah – the Resurrection Time. Astrologically it is called the Age of Aquarius, the Time Of Rebirth and of great spiritual development on the Earth”. (The Paraclete Shri Mataji)
The Age when everything becomes unified. (Source)


"In the New Age we break free of centuries of false doctrines, destructive indoctrinations, absurd ideas, and children’s stories about God, education, medicine, and love. The corrupt foundations of false society crumble. This time of crises is not the signal of the end of the world. What comes is not the end, but the beginning. The dream humanity has lived for centuries ends and we awaken to a bright new day, a bright new way .

Now in the Age of Aquarius, everything becomes unified. All our differences, all our dualities mix together like the fragrances of a flower shop, with all of the different flowers adding their bouquet to the overall mix until they are inseparable. Each individual flower remains distinct and individual, each one’s fragrance is unique and discernible when you come up close to it, yet joined together in unity with the others in the wonderful mixture that is the smell of the shop.

Our individual worth comes from inside, from what we have inside, through our development, our evolution, and what we can give to society. Now our drastic differences dissolve and we integrate into the whole. We integrate and unify with the energy of the universe, with the great cosmic spirit.

Mystically, Aquarius signifies friendship. Friendship bursts upon us in its most elevated sense, in its most noble aspect — with understanding, collaboration, and fraternity. Love and friendship will have nothing to do with possessing or ego. The idea of love meaning "you belong to me" ends in the New Age. The thought of friends of convenience, friendship based on an ulterior motive such as business ends. Love and friendship based on anything other than pure love, the divine and pure love of God, changes the sentiment into a coin of exchange — you no longer have love or friendship because of who you are, but because of what you do or can do for me…

 Under their combined influence, friendship with an agenda disappears into true fraternity, into pure unity. Then we can prepare ourselves for unity with the universal spirit. . . . In the Age of Aquarius, we break from the past to invent the future we desire in our society and in our person. The answers we find will be wholly new ones, totally original ones, but they require a thorough examination of what has been and what we wish to come. All our institutions as we know them must adapt to this new reality." 

Mayan End Age 12-21-2012 
"Both the Hopis and Mayans recognize that we are approaching the end of a World Age... In both cases, however, the Hopi and Mayan elders do not prophesy that everything will come to an end. Rather, this is a time of transition from one World Age into another. The message they give concerns our making a choice of how we enter the future ahead. Our moving through with either resistance or acceptance will determine whether the transition will happen with cataclysmic changes or gradual peace and tranquility. The same theme can be found reflected in the prophecies of many other Native American visionaries from Black Elk to Sun Bear." — Joseph Robert Jochmans


"An Apocalypse (Greek: “lifting of the veil” or “revelation”) is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted." — Wikipedia




Fabled Spiritual Retreat Debates its Future

"BIG SUR, Calif. — At twilight, not far from a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, a Mayan shaman spoke of the return of Kukulkan to dozens of listeners sitting on the floor inside a yurt: As Venus, a planet of special significance to the ancient Mayans, passed directly between the Sun and Earth in June, the forces out there were heralding the return of Kukulkan, the snake deity, and the start of a new age of spiritual enlightenment in 2012.

'The cosmos is talking to us — we need to listen,' said the shaman, Miguel Angel Vergara. 'Kukulkan shines in the infinite. Kukulkan is the sacred energy beating in every atom. Kukulkan is the feathered serpent living in your heart forever.' (New York Times, August 19, 2012)

Thursday, October 11, 2012

More young people lured by Mabusay Falls now

The last weekend saw many young college studes experiencing the unique wonders offered by Mabusay Falls in Mahinhin, Boac. This series of falls is previously unknown even to long-time residents of the barangay.

It took this group of eleven boys and girls some two hours
 from Central Mahinhin to get there.

This weekend adventure, they swear, is not going to
be their last in Mabusay Falls.

Mabusay means 'fallsy', a term for the many waterfalls one encounters 
when going to the main waterfall with, in this instance, interesting caves hidden beneath.


Photos contributed by Jericho Loberes (Laylay) & Mark Francis Dacles (Pangi).

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Continuation of Toto Nepo's post on Marinduque Capitol loan

Some of the heavy equipment that are subject of the P75-M loan have been already delivered to the Capitol during the term of former Gov. Bong Carrion.

8. Tungkol po sa P75-Million Loan ng nakaraang Administrasyon ni Gov. Bong Carreon na sinabing hinid pa rin dumarating ang mga heavy equipment, ang totoo po nito ay hindi nila kinukuha sa Pier ang mga natitirang ekwipo na hindi nailabas noong termino ni Gov. Bong Carreon dahil sa hindi malaman kung sino raw ang magbabayad ng cost of storage at demurrage ng kinakalawang na ekwipo sa pier. Ang totoo po ay saguting yan ng Pamahalaang Palalawigan kung walang tinutukoy sa kontrata kung sino ang magbabayad ng singil sa storage at demurrage.

Sa akin pong palagay, dahil po sa pamumulitika ay hindi na kukunin ang mga natitirang ekwiposa pier sa Maynila. Dahil matagal na pong panahon ang lumipas ang mga equipment po ay considered abandoned na at sa aking pagtantiya ay nailit na ng Bureau of Customs (BOC) o ibang pananalita ay forfeited na in favor of the government.

Ako po bilang concerned citizen at naghihinayang sa mga equipment ay nag-offer ng serbisyo para makuha nag mga equipment at ma-release from BOC custody pero hindi po ako nakatanggap ng kasagutan mula sa Gobernador.

Dapat po nating malaman at maintindihan na consummated na po ang pag-utang at ang bilihan ng mga heavy equipment na inaprubahan ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan at ng Gobernador at kung ako ang tatanungin ay ang titulo na ng mga equipment ay sa Pamahalaang Panlalawigan na at dapat kuhanin para mapakinabangan na.

Sa totoo lang po ay isa kami sa nag parating ng reklamo sa Commission on Audit (COA) para i-audit itong pangungutang na ito at ang pag-iwan sa pier ng mga ekwipo.

Mayroon pong mga kasalukuyang Bokal na kasama sa pag-utang at pag-bili ng Heavy Equipment pero sa ngayon ay tahimik at walang ginagawa tungkol sa naiwang equipment sa pier.

Noon pong 1999 ay may Ordinansang Panlalawigan na Nagtatayo ng 2 Motor Pool, at 2 ring set ng Heavy Equipment, isa sa Sta Cruz para sa Sta. Cruz at Torrijos, at isa sa Boac, para sa Boac, Mogpog, Gasan at Buenavista, at ito ay nagsasaad ng maglalaan ng at least P5 Million para sa pagkumpleto ng heavy Equiopment para sa naturang 2 Motor Pool. Bakit kaya hanggang ngayon ay hinid pa rin makumpleto ang ating mga equipment? Saan napupunta ng P5MM every year na allocation na sa loon ng halos 10 taon at kung tutuusin at maroon ng P60Mllion kung tinutupad ang paglalaan ng P5MM taon taon.

Pagpapatayo ng sports complex. Noong 1988 pinatayo po namin ng Pamahalaang Bayan ng Boac ang isang Sports Oval sa lugar (Boac Reclamation Project) na sinasabing pagtatayuan ng Sports Complex. Sana po noon pa ay sinundan nga ang pagpapagwa ng Sports complex dito para naman sana ay sa panahon ngayon ay tapos na, ginagamit na at napapakinabangan na ng ating mga kababayan lalo pa ang mga eskwela. Bakit ngayon lang nila naisp ang ganitong proyekto? Dahil ba may pinapagawa na Sports Complex sa Sta. Cruz?

Ang ibang pondo ay gugulin sa edukasyon ng kabataan. Bakit ngayon lang? At saka libre naman po ang edukasyon mula elemntarya hanggang Mataas na Paaralan o High School. Bakit gugulan ang edukasyon?

Sinasabi na “maikli na ang panahon mga anak”, di po ba dapat “napakahabang panahon na mga anak”. Ang tanong po bakit po ngayon lang kayo nakaisip ng mga ganitong pangungutang at pagpapagawa ng kalsada , sports complex etc.

Sumasangayon po ako na hindi masama ang mangutang. Ang mga negosyante at ang mga nagtatayo ng industriya ay nangungutang, pero dapat po nating malaman at maintindihan na ang isang nangungutang ay dapat magbayad, hindi lamang ang halangang inutang kung hindi pati na rin ang interes o tubo sa inutang. Sa negosyo at industriya, sila ay umuutang dahil sa ang pinalalaanan nila ay pamumuhunan at alam nating lahat na ang negosyo ay may balik na kita at ang kinikita nila ang kanilang ipambabayad sa kanilang inutang na halaga kasama ng tubo. Sa kaso po ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ay ang uutangin ay gagastusin sa pagpapagawa ng proyektong Nasyunal at pag natapos po ang proyekto wala namang maibabalik at sa katagalan ay muling ipapagawa at walang tunay na ibabalik sa kaban ng bayan.

Bakit ngayon lang?

Toto Nepomuceno's fb post on Marinduque Capitol loan issue

Pedrito "Toto" Nepomuceno (former Boac mayor and former provincial board member), is the Corporate Secretary of Marinduque First Saturday Movers, Inc. (MFSMI). It is a non-government organization of well-known professionals, businessmen, former leaders who have held national and local government positions and sees itself as a bridge unifying Marinduquenos. It provides moral support, initiates community projects, provides information on issues affecting the people of Marinduque to improve the quality of life in this island-province.

On the issue of the Php 300-Million Loan being negotiated by the administration of Gov. Carmencita O. Reyes with the Philippine National Bank (PNB), a move that continues to be opposed by MFSMI, Nepomuceno posted the following in Marinduque Mandin's facebook group account on September 14, 2013:

Katugunan sa mga pahayag ng Kgg. na Gobernador Carmencita O. Reyes kaugnay sa balakin ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan na mangutang muli ng Milyon milyon Piso, karadgadan sa P75,000,000.00 unang inutang sa Banko ng nakaraang administrasyon ng dating Gobernador Jose Antonio N. Carreon.

Ang sambayanang Marinduqueno po ay nangangamba sa binabalak na pag-utang muli ng Milyon-milyon Piso ng kasalukuyang Administrasyon ng butihing Gobernador Carmencita O. Reyes. Sa punto pong ito na nagbigay ng mga pahayag ang ating Gobernador hinggil sa binbalak na pag-utang ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ako po bilang isang mamamayang nagmamalasakit at nangangamba rin para sa ating magandang kinabukasan, at bilang dating Mayor ng Boac at dating Bokal ng lalawigan at bilang isang isang Bankero na may sapat na kaalaman sa pananlapi, pribado man o pampubliko, ay nagbibigay ng mga tugon o mga sagot sa mga pahayag ng ating butihing Gobernador Carmencita O. Reyes.

1. Una po ay matindi ko pong pinabubulaanan na ang aming pagtutol at pangangatuwiran ay mula sa pinalabo at malisyosong pananaw na may halong pulitika. Wala po kaming balak na wasakin ang pagkakaisa ng mga Marinduqueno. Isa lamang po ang gaming layunin, ang pangalagaan ang interes at kapakanan ng bawat Marinduqueno sa pamamaraang maayos, mahinahon, makatarungan at naayon sa batas;

2.
Tama po, ang ekonomiya ng ating lalawigan ay nakasandal sa tradisyunal na industriya, ang pangingisda, pagsasaka at paghahayupan na sa matagal ng panahon ay napabayaan at walang naging pag-unlad, kaya hanggang ngayon ay umaasa pa rin tayo sa halos namamatay nang industria ng pagniniyog. Sa hinaba-haba ng panunungkulan ng nakaupong Gobernador, mawalang galang na po, maitaanong ko lamang, bakit wala tayong nabuo o naitayong industriya at mag kalakalang makapagbibigay ng trabaho at hanapbuhay sa ating mga kababayan? Bakit hanggang ngayon ay umaasa tayo sa pagniniyog samantalang alam na natin na hindi na maasahan ang industriya ng niyog mahigit ng 40 taon ang nakakaraan.

3
. Totoo po wala tayong base ng pagkakakitaan tulad ng ibang bayan na maraming pumapasok na namumuhunan na nagkapagpaunlad ng kalakalan at nagtatayo ng mga industriya. Bakit nga po baga walang pumapasok na namumuhunan sa ating lalawigan. Isa po at alam nating lahat na ang pinakamabigat na dahilan ay ang kawalan ng maayos, maasahang supply ng kuryente, patubig, at iba pang pangunahing pangangailanagn ng mamamayan at ng mga nangangalakal at ng namumuhunan sa pagtatayo ng negosyo at industriya sa isang lugar. Salat po tayo sa mga pangunahing pangangailangan at dahil dito ay maitatanong po natin kung ano ang nangyari sa mga dekadang dumaan na sana ay naisaayos na at naitayo ang mga pangunahing inpraestruktura ng ating lalawigan. Sa kawalan ng maayos na programa at pamamalakad, hanggang ngayon ang ating lalawigan ay salat at sa mahabang panahon ay naghahangad pa rin ng mga simple at pangunahing pangangailangan, tulad ng maayos kalsada, eskwelahan at maayos na hospital at kuryente at patubig;

Sa mga nakalipas na panahon po ay masasabi kong meron tayong naging base ng ating pakakakitaan, ang pagmimina. Pero bakit po wala tayong napala sa halos 30 taong pagmimina sa ating lalawigan. Tandaan po natin na ang pagmimina, pag nahukay na po ang mineral sa ating lupain ay yaan po ay tuloyan ng nawawala kaya nararapat lamang na ang kapalit ay ang tamang buwis na maipagpapagawa ng mga pangunahing pangangailangang inprastruktura. Noog panahon ng pagmimina ang Balanacan Road at ang Circumferential Road na 120 km lamang ay hindi man lamang naipatapos masementuhan. Bakit wala tayong napala sa pagmimina sa ating lalawigan, Napinsala pa ang ilog Boac at nakaamba pa ang panganib ng mga Dams sa Marcopper.

4. Totoo po na may mga kalsada, tulay at eskwelahan na napagawa na, subalit hindi pa rin kumpleto at hanggang ngayon po ay hindi pa rin tapos ang pangunahin kalsada sa buong lalawigan.

Kahit sino naman po ang nag-upo bilang Congressman o Gobernador ay taon taon ay may pondong inilalaan para sa mga Congressional District at ito ay sa pagpapagawa ng mga pangunahing inprastruktura ng mga Distrito, tulad ng mga kalsada, tulay, eskwelahan, atb.. Kahit sino po ang Congressman ay maitatayo ang mga eskwekahan, magagawa nag mga kalsada at tulay, at mga iba ng gawaing pang-nasyunal. Ganyan din po ang sa pagpapailaw – ito po isang National Government Project at kahit sino ang naka upong Congressman ay ito ay darating sa ating lalawigan. Hinid po dapat akuin ito ni Gobernadotr Reyes na siya ang nagpagawa dahil lahat ng ito na proyekto ng national government nagkataon lamang na siya ang nakaupo bilang congressman noong panahong na ipinatutupad ang pagpapailaw sa mga probinsiya, at kanayunan. Ganoon din po san mga kalsada ay tulay at eskwelahan . Ang tanong po naman, bakit hindi naging sapat ang pagpapagawa nila sa loob ng napakahabang panahon nila sa katungkulan. Inuulit ko po, kahit sino po ang nakaupo ay darating sa ating lalawigan ng mga proyektong pang-nasyunal.

Kung ating po ihahambing ang mga nagawa sa loob ng mahabang panahong sa ating lalawigan at ang nagawa sa ibang bayan at ibang mga lalawigan, makikita po natin ang malawak na agwat sa mga inpraestruktura. Naiwan na po tayo sa lahat ng aspeto ng kaunlaran, inpraesturktura, ekomomiya at kabuhayan.

5
. Totoo po napakaliit ng ating kinikita sa ating lalawigan, ngunit hindi po ibig sabihin nito ay hindi natin makakamit ang kaunlaran sa ating lalawigan. Nasa maayos na pag-paplano at pamamahala at tamang paghawak ng pananalapi nakasalalay ang pag-unlad ng ating lalawigan. Hindi po natin masasabing dahil sa kakarampot na ayuda na galing sa Pamahalaang Nasyonal sa pamamgitan ng “Internal Revenue Allotment” (IRA) ay hindi na natin maisusulong ang kaunlaran ng ating lalawigan. Ang halagang P360 Million mula sa IRA ay hindi natin masasabing kakarampot. Hindi rin kakarampot ang tunay na kinikita ng lalawigan na P26 Million. Nasa maayos na paggamit ng pananalapi lahat nakasalalay ang ating pag-unlad. Maliban po sa nabanggit ng halaga ay meron pang P70 Million ang ating Congresista at nadadagdagan pa ito taon taon. Meron nga pong taon na mahigit sa P300 Million ang mga proyektong pinapatupad ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), at hind pa rin po kasama ang nilalaan ng ibang mag Departamento ng Pamahalaang Nasyunal. Marami pong pananalapi ang pamahalaan at hinid kinakailangang mangutang sa Banko para maisulong ang proyektong pangkaunlaran ng bayan.

6. Parang ngayon lamang po nasabing marubdob niyang hangarin madulutan ng kaginhawahan ang ating mga kababayan sa kanilang paglalakbay sa isang maayos na konkretong daan. Napakatagal naman po niya bago napansin ang ating kasalatan sa maayos na daan. Ano po ang ginawa nila noong sila ay magkatuwang sa loob ng 9 na taon?

7
. Sinasabi po kinakailangang mangutang ng Pamahalaang panlalawigan na gugulin sa mga sumusunod:

a. Farm to Market Road - hindi po natin kailangang mangutang para sa Farm to Market road dahil ang Department of Agriculture (DA) at Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) ay pupuwedeng pagkunan ng pondo para sa pagpapagawa ng Farm to Market road;

b. Pag-papayos ng Gasan airport – hindi kinakailanagn gastusan yan ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Marinduque dahil yan po ay nasa pamamahala ng Nasyunal na Pamahalaan at ang mga proyektong pagpapaayos po ng Paliparan, tulad ng Daungan ay nasa poder ng National Government. Bakit po natin aakuin at gagastusan ang proyektong dapat ay ginagawa ng National Government?

Sinasabi po ang utangin ay isang “Credit Line” lamang na sasagot sa mga gagastusin sa pagpapagawa ng Airport. Ito po ay isang panglilinlang dahil wala pong ganyan sistema sa ating pamahalaan. Hindi rin po kapanipaniwala na isasauli ng Department of Transportation and Communication ang halagang gagastusin sa pagpapagawa ng airport. Sa piniiral sa polisiya ng pamahalaan, lahat po na sinasabi nila ay walang katutuhanan. Ang Credit Line po ay ginagamit sa negosyo pero sa pamahalaan po ay walang gumagawa ng ganito.

Meron pamamaraan ng isang pag-garantiya sa isang proyektong gagawin para mapatibay ang pagbabayad sa isang nangunguntrata. Ito po ay ang tinatawag na “Letter of Credit” na sa pagtatapos ng isang kontrata ay siyang sasagot sa pagbabayad. Pero hindi rin po ito karaniwang ginagamit sa Pamahalaan.

At kung totoo pong garantiya lamang ang inuutang nasaan po ang mga kontrata o Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) mula sa DOTC at sa Banko at Provincial Governtment of Marinduque (PGM)?

Bakit ngayon lamang naisip na ipagawa ang Airport na sa napakatagal ng panahon ay hindi sila nagpursiging hilingin sa DOTC ang pagpapaayus ng ating airport. At isa pa, ano po ang nangyari sa proyektong sinimulan noong 1998 na naglalayun na pahabaain ang airport runway. Isa po sa dahilan kung bakit tumigil ang pag serbisyo ng PAL sa Marinduque ay ang short runway, kaya naman ito ay ipinagawa noong bago magdekada 2000, Kaya nga lamang po, mukhang hinid natapos, Tapos daw ang pondo pero hindi natapos ang proyekto.

Tulad po sa aking pagpupursige noon sa pagpapagawa ng Talao talao Access Road sa Dalahica Commercial Port (noong panahon na walang gumagalaw na mga pulitiko dahil sa mga botanteng eskwater sa lugar ng Talao-talao) at para na rin mabuksan at magamit ito para sa mga pasahero ng Marinduque, sana ay nangulit din sila noon pa man para maipagawa ay ating Airport.

Ununulit ko po wala pong basehan at walang bisa ang garantiyang sinasabi sa ulat ng butihing Gobernador Carmencita O. Reyes.

Nakakatawa po ang sinabing ang uutangin ay Credit Line lamang, pero gagastusin sa pagpapagawa ng Airport at ito ay babayaran ng DOTC. Kailan at saan po kayo nakakita na ang mahirap na lalawigan ang magpapagawa ng proyektong dapat ay gugulan ng Pamahalaang Nasyonal.

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Marinduque blackout on 10/10 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

The National Power Corporation-Small Power Utilities Group (NPC-SPUG), Marinduque Operations Division has requested the Marinduque Electric Cooperative (Marelco), for eight hours of total blackout from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012, to give way "for the test and commissioning of main transformer" in line with the energization of 10MVA Substation and 69KV lines.
Source: NPC and Marelco.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Lyn Angeles is back!

Lyn Angeles

It was a pleasant surprise to see Adeline “Lyn” Angeles, former provincial board member from Mogpog, during the luncheon hosted by Cong. Lord Allan Velasco. Lyn is that feisty lady who has not been with local politics for some nine years now after deciding to take up challenges in another field, believing that “there’s life after politics”.  Lyn was always in the middle of local environmental issues then during her stint as Bokal, and feels strongly now that she could contribute a lot more to the new directions being taken by a new breed of leaders to truly achieve what's close to her heart - environmental protection in the island-province of Marinduque.

Wen cheers up guests

It’s getting to be a bit chilly and rainy these days in Marinduque. The sun was out, though, during a get-together for partymates hosted by Cong. Lord Allan Velasco and wife, Mrs. Rowena Kristina “Wen” Velasco last Saturday in Torrijos. A beaming Wen flashes a V-sign in this photo with Boac Mayor Roberto Madla and Sta. Cruz Mayor Percival Morales. The charming lady 's presence did cheer up the guests.

Friday, October 5, 2012

World Teachers Day celebrated in Boac

 Boac Mayor Roberto M. Madla pays tribute to the Boac teachers. 

The Boac Municipal PTA Federation spearheaded today’s celebration of World Teachers Day at the Boac Covered Court. The day is held annually on October 5 since 1994 to mobilize support for teachers and to ensure that the needs of future generations will continue to be met by teachers.


For the Boac teachers’ unwavering dedication to impart knowledge and skills to their pupils, the Municipal Government of Boac and the Supreme Pupils Government joined in the celebration.
  
Engr. Aurelio "Jojo" Leva III, president of the Boac Municipal PTA Federation paying tribute to the teachers. 

World Teachers’ Day was inaugurated on 5th October 1994 by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). In a speech read for Cong. Lord Allan Velasco during the Boac affair by Ms. Florida Calupig, the legislator also paid tribute to Mrs. Mariam B. Rivamonte of Sta. Cruz, Marinduque who was recently chosen as one of the winners, the first awardee from Marinduque, in the 2012 Metrobank Search for Outstanding Teachers.

Special awards given to special teachers.

'Take a stand for teachers' is the World Teachers Day slogan for 2012.