Political observers urge Pelayo, Yabut to compromise

Political observers urge Pelayo, Yabut to compromise

By Bro. Herbert P. Mapiles

CANDABA – Political observers urged two of the top officials in this town to enter into a compromise agreement about their plan in the coming 2013 elections.

“They cannot be both congressmen at the same time.   Worse, they might find their heads on the ground with the current congressional dynasty laughing upon them,” Crisostomo Padilla, a retired public school teacher here said.

He added that with the recent development on the growing endorsement and support pouring in behalf of Mayor Jerry Pelayo on his congressional plan, he is in the best position to snatch the congressional seat from the ‘Bondocs.’

The other day Vice President Jejomar Binay publicly expressed his all out support on the supposed candidacy of Pelayo as congressman.

Earlier, Kapampangan business magnate Manny V. Pangilinan stated that he will stand behind Pelayo’s political plan on 2013. .

Pangilinan even addressed Pelayo as future congressman of the Fourth District of Pampanga in one of the occasions attended by officials of the provincial government.

Apparently, Pelayo appeared to be enjoying the support of all the mayors within the stretch of Pampanga River.  

Meanwhile, Board Member Ricardo Yabut, a well love public servant and known for his charisma,  is also eyeing the congressional seat with his slogan,” Basta Yabut, aabot.”

Yabut declared that he is ready to slug it out with Pelayo and the brother of graduating incumbent Congresswoman Anna York Bondoc-Sagum – Rimpy Bondoc who once held the position.

“One of them must give way. The better option is Pelayo to run for congress, Yabut for Candaba mayor should he decided not to seek re-election in the provincial board.

It can be noted that the congressional seat in the 4th district of the province has been in the possession of the Bondoc family for more than 20 years – from the  late Congressman Emigdio Bondoc to  former Congressman Rimpy,  then subsequently  inherited by   incumbent Congresswoman Anna York  Bondoc-Sagum.

DILG lauds town’s environment protection program

DILG lauds town’s environment protection program

By Bro. Herbert P. Mapiles

CANDABA – The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday lauded this local government unit for its performance in the conservation of environment.

This came as Candaba got the maximum score on this matter which DILG may give under the Local Government Performance Management System. (LGPMS)

However, DILG noted that the municipality is left behind in terms of revenue collections compared to other first class municipalities.

Vice Mayor Daniel Gallardo explained that  Candaba could not be compared to other municipalities of its kind considering that it is an agricultural area in nature.

 

DILG likewise stated that some of the enacted ordinances were not yet implemented which according to them need to be re-enacted as soon as possible in order to enjoy to full force of the law.

It was also noted that Candaba town lacks codification of laws involving gender and development and children code.

To this, Troy Grupo, Sangguniang Bayan Secretary stated that the term code should be distinguished from the word ordinance. These words, he said, cannot be used interchangeably.

LGPMS is a diagnostic tool that is used in planning, budgeting, legislation, monitoring and evaluation of performance and productivity of various local government units.

Local execs question DENR lack of participation in solving waste problem

Local execs question DENR lack of participation in solving waste problem

By Bro.  Herbert P. Mapiles

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Several local chief executives in the province questioned the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) for its failure to implement a comprehensive program in solving the solid waste problem  in the province in support to the mandate given to the local government units.

This came as provincial government through Governor Lilia Pineda recently convened the Solid Waste Management Council in a meeting held at Clark Freeport Zone.

Pineda said that admittedly under Republic Act No. 9003 otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, the local government units are mandated  to address the garbage problem in the respective localities.

However, the governor lamented that DENR being the lead agency with  huge source of funds from the national government  could  possibly include in their annual budget  sufficient amount for the establishment of sanitary landfill in the province. 

This according to her, is lacking among the local government units who were tasked by the law to handle the volume of garbage accumulated by the people on a daily basis.

The provincial Solid Waste Management Council meeting was attended by mayors, representatives from the DENR and Department of Interior and Local Government, (DILG) cause oriented groups and other stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Arturo Punzalan, provincial environment and natural resources officer disclosed that each municipality needs a maximum of P15,000 per truck, only for the hauling of garbage going to  Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill in Capas, Tarlac.

Angie Blanco, DILG provincial director, explained that under the devolution of power, the department like DENR is bereft of authority to establish a  sanitary landfill as this is already given to the local government units. 

Mabalacat Mayor Marino Morales hoped that DENR would give consideration so that the province of Pampanga would be able to establish its own landfill.

Town gets P3.9-M for road rehabilitation

Town gets  P3.9-M  for road rehabilitation
By Bro. Herbert P. Mapiles

STA. ANA – More than P3.9 million has been allocated by the provincial government for the rehabilitation of the Sta. Ana – Magalang road along the portion of Barangay San Agustin here.

Engineer Olimpio Pangan of the Provincial Engineer’s Office, in an interview, disclosed that the said project was already awarded to the winning bidder and the construction will start anytime after holy week.

The  Sta. Ana – Magalang road was  damaged in the last quarter of 2011 when strong typhoons bombarded the province.

Strong rains in the area resulted to the breaching of Matubig creek affecting thousands of residents from  Barangay San Agustin, San Roque including San Pablo.

Earlier, the concerned residents requested the provincial government to pay attention with their problem before rainy days begin.

They claimed that if the reconstruction will start this early, they will be  forced to take the Arayat road just to reach this town plaza during rainy season.

This According to them, will be additional burden in terms of transportation expenses plus the inconvenience during school and work days.

Candaba wildlife reserve Bird Flu free

CANDABA –  With the influx of migratory birds in town’s Swamp Wildlife Reserve, the local chief executive here discarded the possibility of the entry of birds carrying Bird Flu.

 

Mayor Jerry Pelayo, in a previous interview told Sun Star Pampanga, migratory birds coming from the neighboring countries are totally free from Bird Flue.

 

“Tourists and other bird enthusiasts need not worry about this,” he said.

 

It can be recalled that as early September last year, the Anti Bird Flu Task Force has been re-activated to closely monitor the entry of migratory birds particularly those coming from Asian countries with reports of bird flu infection.

 

The initiative aims to protect both tourists and locals from any possible harm due to bird flu. It conducts regular surveillance and screenings on ducks this bird migration season which started from September until March. 

 

The Anti Bird Flu Task Force was chaired by Mayor Jerry Pelayo with representatives from municipal agriculture office, health office and local police.

 

Latest on bird count.

In January 3, the municipal government with the help of “Kaakbay” group conducted a local bird census. They have recorded more than 12,5000 migratory birds in the four sites including the wildlife reserve in Dona Simang in Barangay Visal Sto. Cristo here.

 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources subsequently conducted a separate bird counting and recorded at least 11,000 migratory birds.

 

In January 15, the Wild Bird Club accounted only 10,000 migratory birds in the recently concluded Asian Waterbird Census in this town’s Swamp Wildlife Reserve

Speed limit on major road sought

CANDABA –  Local folks here urged authorities to strictly implement speed limit for motorcycles on major road  starting from the town plaza down to Pansol area in Barangay Pasig.

This came as several accidents involving motorcycles were recorded in the past few months.

“Dapat hulihin na ang mga driver na walang disiplina sa pagmamaneho para hindi na sila makapang damay pa ng iba. Pwedi na yung speed limit na 30 kilometer per hour. Ang hindi susunod ikulong kung kinakailangan,” Eljohn Dela Cruz, a resident here stressed.

Leny Manalo, Mayor Jerry Pelayo’s chief of staff, in a previous interview, said several drivers are irresponsible and manifest lack of discipline in driving.

“Kailangan siguro mag sample tayo para tumino yung ilang nagmomotor. Yung iba pa nga nag uunahan pa kaya na nakakatama sila,” Manalo added.

Earlier, the  road approaching Candaba Bridge was tagged as a “killer road” after a certain Emilio Ignacio was killed by a fast moving motocycle.

The approach of the bridge traverses a sharp curve, making the drivers “blind” to coming vehicles from the other lane.

With this, the residents reiterated their request for the Department of Public Works and Highways to consider relocating at least two houses erected at the foot of the bridge. 

Portion of Arnedo Dike collapses anew

CANDABA – Despite fair weather condition, the portion of Arnedo Dike in Barangay Mandasig this town collapsed anew the other day.

According to the residents, the nearby road is no longer passable as its basement was totally taken by the flow of water in Pampanga River.

This road is located at the back of the house of Rene Maglanque who is reportedly eyeing the mayoralty position next election. 

Manalastas narrated that before the onslaught of the previous typhoons; Northern Builders was seen working on the scoured portion of the dike. 

Initially, the contractor gained the admiration of the residents for the engineering intervention it has implemented.  

In fact, she claimed, the newly concreted portion of the dike sustained strong current of water brought about by Typhoon ‘Pedring.” 

However, Manalastas said they were surprised that Northern Builders silently pulled out its heavy equipments and did not finish the concreting of the remaining stretch of the affected dike. 

“As this developed, hundreds of families were isolated with the Arayat-Apalit setback levee serving as an alternate route going to public market and town plaza. 

 The Arnedo Dike is now more than 70 years old which according to officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways has already out live its lifespan.

CANDABA – Several residents here urged the barangay officials of Pansinao and Lanang to close the open dump in between the borders of the two villages.

According to the residents, the indiscriminate dumping of domestic waste is already affecting the community.

Mang Jojo added that the open dump site is easily accessible to people, especially children who are vulnerable to physical and chemical hazards posed by waste.

Aside from this, the people also expose to rodents, insects, and other vermin attracted to open dump site.

With this, the residents urged the barangay officials of Pansinao and Lanang to come up with a consolidated effort to stop the dumping of garbage in the area. 

Embracing technology for modern reporting; making media available for citizen journalism

Embracing technology for modern reporting; making media available for citizen journalism
By Bro. Herbert P. Mapiles

Modern technology has brought new taste of reporting whether for print or broadcast media. The conventional way of data gathering now faces major changes. The way reporters gathered and disseminated news is also changing. Internet starts information revolution!

In my case as sill new in the profession, assigned to cover the 4^th district of Pampanga involving eight towns including Apalit, Candaba, Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, San Luis, San Simon andSanto Tomas, I find it hard to travel on a daily basis on theses places to get information for my news stories, except of course when the situation obliges me to do so.

To complement this limitation, I decided to mobilize some of my friends, who like me are also members of an amateur radio group in Pampanga to feed me information about the various events and activities in their respective places.

I find it effective and useful during recent calamities wherein I managed to gather information up to small details of the flooded barangays in the coastal towns of the province.

With the advent of social media, I am now in the process of developing a website – to allow ordinary citizens to participate in news gathering by allowing them to air their grievances, opinions, and views. In effect, we are making media available for citizen journalism.

The accessibility of the Internet - with blogs, podcasts, streaming video and other web-related innovations - is what has made citizen journalism possible.

Citizen journalism will lead to better involvement of the residents in governance by knowing and demanding their rights especially when the denied by public officials.

Aweca Foundation and UPS International plant trees to feed children

Exactly a year now, the Aweca Foundation and UPS International have been implementing a unique combination of global volunteerism advocacy in upland Barangays of Pampanga.Dubbed as School Caravan: Plant a Tree to Feed a Child, the project involves the propagation, planting and selling of tree seedlings to generate funds and resources to feed malnourished indigenous children in target areas.

 Ma. Rollyn Palo of the Aweca Foundation said that more than 800 UPS International employees from Clark, Metro Manila and even from other countries have volunteered their time and efforts in the propagation of 5,000 trees and planting of 1,000 seedlings when the project was initiated in 2010.

These volunteers, according to Palo, also rendered their time and efforts  on other project-related activities such as feeding of malnourished pupils, tutoring of slow learners, and the beautification of Sitio Target Elementary School in Barangay Sapangbato, Angeles City and Villa Maria Integrated School in Porac.

 Palo said, the pupils, together with their concerned teachers, parents and other community members took charge of maintaining the seedlings and trees in their respective school-based nurseries.

 “With this delegation of tasks from propagation to replanting of seedlings to their maintenance and protection, stakeholders and beneficiaries alike mutually share in the responsibilities,” she added.

A year after the project implementation, some of the propagated seedlings were purchased by the same volunteers from UPS for their global volunteerism activity last October 22 where around 3,300 mahogany seedlings and cassava were planted by 350 UPS Clark employees, AWECA Foundation staff and barangay officials along the megadike in Barangay Maliwalu, Bacolor.

 Palo said that “the proceeds were turned over to the respective heads of these elementary schools who supervise the feeding project being managed by the concerned parents.” The beneficiaries are 146 indigenous pupils of Sitio Target, 312 in Villa Maria, and 181 in Camachile elementary school.

 A portion of the proceeds were also allotted for the procurement of seeds, organic fertilizers and other required supplies to ensure the sustainability of school-based tree nurseries to assure that on the following year, different organizations will be invited to buy the seedlings for another evolving effect of the project.

  

“The idea of the volunteers buying back the same seedlings after one year of propagation forplanting in other communities and serve as a feeding to the malnourish children is another revolutionary approach of the project which definitely creates a multiplier effect on the part of its target beneficiaries.

 The AWECA Foundation is positive that the basic principle of volunteerism among concernedcivic organizations and stakeholders in the community would result to valuable food security to the beneficiaries,”  Palo said.

Advocacy for community-based journalism

Advocacy for community-based journalism

By Bro. Herbert P. Mapiles

Since I started working for Sun Star Pampanga, it has been my advocacy to write community-based stories. Some of these stories are not commonly published in the past as they involve topics which are unique to local folks in my beat assignment such as the turtles invading the national road, adventurous gecko hunters who shift to bounty hunting, bird hunters in Candaba - a town known for its migratory birds, asking for a day to practice their shooting skills, dogs along major streets causing series of motorcycle accidents and a lot more.

At the back of these stories is my desire to educate the readers about the danger of having ecological imbalance. Too much turtles might ruin fishing industry also too much birds might compromise the harvest of the farmers.

Consequently, our stories have moved officials into action. Few months ago, the top officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) cancelled several infrastructure projects involving rehabilitation of Pampanga major dikes.

This came first as the Guemasan Dike in Arayat town scoured due to strong current of water coming from the upstream of Pampanga River .

Sun Star Pampanga came up with a story with the provincial elected officials and other local chief executives asking DPWH to reconsider the decision.

It was in September 13, 2010, when Governor Lilia Pineda first told the public that Secretary Rogelio Singson approved a P25-M budget for the proposed cut-off channel at Pampanga River along the portion of Barangay Guemasan.

The cut off channel aims to bring back the flow of water in the area to its original course, otherwise thousands of residents not only in Arayat but the also in the neighboring towns might be displaced.

The governor then recognized the role of media in information dissemination. Sun Star was the first to write the stories on this matter.

I remember Governor Pineda in one of the ocular inspections in the scoured dike asking members of the media present.

The construction of cut off channel was completed but the problem remains. This time, the dike's portion  along Barangay Cupang was instead hit by huge volume of water resulting to the displacement of eight families.

Our story came out, with this; the provincial government provided financial assistance amounting to P25-K for the affected families.

Recently, when Typhoon "Quiel" bombarded the province affecting several thousands of residents particularly in the 4th district, Sun Star Pampanga closely monitor through its stories the real situation and every single development.

With the help of other media entities both local and national, several cause oriented groups, non-governmental organizations and individuals sent relief goods and assistance for the flooded families.

Subsequently, Philippine Medical Association (PMA) conducted a series of medical missions dubbed as 'Doctors on Boat'  to different towns in the 4th district. It was Dr. Mike Aragon, PMA chairman on media affairs, who contacted us for coverage.

From him, we learned that their group initiated water sampling  in the isolated villages in Masantol town  as there were reports of  diarrhea cases in the localities. 

It was Sunday morning then, when we crossed Pampanga River using a speed boat commissioned by the Philippine Army.

After one hour of travel, we finally reached Barangay Nigui in Masantol. After a series of interviews to residents, we learned that at least 20 children were hospitalized due to diarrhea.

The story was first published with us although it was first came out with the television networks. Basically, this spells the difference between the print and broadcast media.

Another story which I think deserves a space here, is a story about the allege over collection of electric bills by the Pampanga 1 Electric Cooperative.  (Pelco 1)

The consumers-members of Pelco 1 claimed that the 80 percent increase in their electric bills should be properly explained to them. 

Folks thanked us as the story was published in Sun Star Pampanga. 

This story led to the creation of Pelco1 Consumers Protection Group (PCPG) - a group organized by the people to protect themselves from abuses by officials of power coop.

Candaba swamp eyed to respond for the impending water crisis

CANDABA --- The municipal government here eyed Candaba swamp as an abundant source of portable water for Kapampangans and people in the neighboring provinces including Metro Manila. 

According to Mayor Jerry Pelayo, this was in response to the scarcity of potable water in Bulacan, Pampanga and the Northern part of Metro Manila. 

During the water summit held in the City of San Fernando the other day, it was learned that the province is expected to face crisis on potable water in the next fourteen years following reports that over-extraction of groundwater might diminish its supply to the communities.

“Yung tubig sa swamp ay pwedi nating i-convert into drinking water. Habang nagkakaroon tayo ng problema sa groundwater ay sagana naman tayo surface water,” Pelayo said.

The also mayor stated that this could be attained with the establishment of Candaba water reservoir along the swamp . Aside from the benefit of potable water , the same could also irrigate thousands of hectares of farmlands in Central Luzon. 

Its 1,000-hectare reservoir would serve as a year-round fishing ground for the fishermen in Candaba. Candaba Swamp acts as a natural flood retention basin holding wet season overflow from the Maasim, San Miguel, Garlang, Bulu and Penaranda Rivers, and draining into the Pampanga River. 

The natural retention capacity is estimated at approximately 1.5 billion cubic metres. The average depth of water is l-2m, and the maximum about 5m. 

The establishment of Candaba water reservoir would be complemented with the eco-tourism development in Candaba and the whole province of Pampanga by providing an effective system of managing water for the conservation of the Candaba swamp and its wildlife.

Public warns on over-extraction of groundwater

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -  The Provincial Government  yesterday warned the public  that excessive use of deep wells and groundwater contributed to the sinking of the land.

Governor Lilia Pineda said the ground level in  Masantol and Macabebe towns has reached below sea level.  She said, problem on  land elevation in some towns  is caused by excessive use or extraction of groundwater.

This statement was issued by Pineda yesterday during the water summit held in this city attended by the officials of various districts, local chief executives, provincial officials and other interested sectors.

Pampanga is reportedly showing signs of over extraction of groundwater sources.

With this, Pineda has enjoined all water utilities in the province to support the proposed the integrated water resource management regarding the use of surface in lieu of the groundwater.

The provincial government also  initiated efforts to address pressing concerns related to the water situation of Pampanga.

It was also disclosed that almost all of Pampanga’s water supply comes from groundwater sources.

Based on ongoing studies as explained by officials of the provincial government , it is estimated that  by 2025, 12 out of 22 municipalities and two cities in Pampanga may be at risk of groundwater shortage.

The effects of groundwater over-extraction include deterioration of water quality, land subsidence, drying up of wells, increased pumping cost, adverse environmental effects and reduction in surface water.

 As this developed,  the governor  is eying surface water as best alternative to groundwater following report that  almost  90 percent of Pampanga’s surface water is unutilized. 

PML sad over DOJ chief defiance

CITY OF SAN FERNANO – The Pampanga Mayors’ League was saddened over the defiance of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on temporary restraining order (TRO) on the watch list order (WLO) issued by the Supreme Court in favor of  former President and now Pampanga Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

 

Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, PML president, said the former president is willing to comply with all the conditions set by the higher court before she could be allowed to go abroad for medical treatment. 

Pelayo added that the Department of Justice is mandated to implement the law involving the right to travel of the former president as the Supreme Court has already spoken and settled the issue. 

He also stressed that De Lima is engaging into public mind conditioning and even resorting into trial by publicity. He claimed that GMA cannot be prevented from going abroad as no single case against her is already in any court.

The Supreme Court order allowed Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad. However, the SC imposed three conditions for the former First Couple to avail themselves of the TRO, according to SC Spokesman and Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez.

First, they have to post a cash bond of P2 million.

Second, they should appoint their lawyers to receive in their behalf all the processes or subpoenas that may be issued by the DOJ in the poll fraud cases or the Office of the Ombudsman in the plunder complaints involving Mrs. Arroyo.

Third, they should report to the Philippine consular offices or embassies in the countries they would be travelling.

De Lima yesterday  received a copy of the temporary restraining order stopping the department from implementing its travel ban against former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. 

However,  she said, she will be consulting with the Office of the Solicitor General on the filing of motion for reconsideration.

In the mean time, she maintained that her order banning the Arroyos from leaving the country stays.

‘Killer road’ in Candaba claims life anew

CANDABA – Local folks here recently branded the portion of the national road fronting the public cemetery in Barangay Pasig  approaching Candaba bridge as ‘killer road’.

According to locals, the said road poses clear and present danger to motorists as the approach of the bridge traverses a sharp curve lines making the drivers blind on coming vehicles from the other lane.

As this developed, the said ‘killer road’ claimed another victim who died in a hit and run incident early Saturday.

The fatality was identified Emilio Ignacio, resident here. 

In two separate incidents, Cecelio Talao, resident of Barangay Paralaya and Marvin Pelayo, of Barangay Mandasig were heavily injured when fast moving motorcycles hit them while crossing the ‘killer road’. 

With this, they blamed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on the alleged engineering lapses as they failed to relocate and clear the area with at least two residential houses constructed right after the bridge’s approach.  

Several vehicular accidents took place frequently and most of the victims were ordinary citizens walking along the road.

Cabalens in USA brace for ‘Aldo Ning Kapampangan’ celebration

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Pampanga Day Celebration Commission USA (PDCC) in coordination with provincial government is bracing for 440^th ‘Aldo Ning Kapampangan’ to be held at LAX Hilton Hotel, Los Angeles, California on Dec. 03, 2011.

The celebration was organized by Kapampangans in the United States with a theme of ‘One Culture, One Community.’

Governor Lilia Pineda together other provincial officials and local chief executives are set to go abroad to join the Cabalens in the US in commemorating the founding anniversary of the province.

Part of the celebration is a ‘Governor’s Forum’ wherein Pineda is expected to present the Pampanga Development Plan.

The governor will also deliver her updated State of Province Address (SOPA) to inform the Kapampangans in the US about the accomplishments, programs and other sustainable projects that directly affects the lives of the people in the province.

‘We hope to make the activities of the Pampanga Day Celebration as contribution to the tourism industry in Pampanga, which will ultimately encourage capital investment by Kapampangan professionals from the United States,” PPDC Press Commissioner Larry Pelayo disclosed in his official statement.

The Pampanga Day Celebration Commission was founded several years ago in Los Angeles for the purpose of celebrating the foundation day of the province of Pampanga annually in the month of December.

It was organized and registered in 2007 with the Secretary of State of California, as a civic entity of seven members coming from different towns of Pampanga.

PDCC now on its 5th year, alternately prepares baryo fiesta celebration and gala night on the observance of the Pampanga Day annually.

It is a gala night this year with trade exhibitors from the Philippines and guests led by Pineda serving as the first honorary chairman of PDCC.

PML expresses disappointment on attempt to revive dike's asphalting project

 Take two? Multi million asphalting project along
 the portion of San Luis town.

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - The leadership of Pampanga Mayor's League (PML)  yesterday expressed disappointment over the recent attempt of the camp of 4th district Congresswoman Dra. Anna York Bondoc-Sagum to revive P72-million worth of asphalting project of Arayat-Apalit setback levee.

Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, PML president, claimed that with  the current levee's structural defects,  asphalt overlay on top of it will not help solve the flooding problem in the province as recently experienced by all towns adjacent to Pampanga River.  

"Enough for it. Hundreds of millions has been wasted on previous asphalting project. The funds for this should be instead spend ifor rehabilitation of Arayat-Apalit setback levee," Pelayo said. 

"Ano bang meron dito sa asphalting project na to? Bakit ganun na lamang ang kanilang kagustuhang matuloy ito gayong ilang bahagi nito ang mahina na at posibli pang pumutok sa panahon ng malakig pagbaha na pwedi pang  magpalubog sa malaking bahagi ng Pampanga," the mayor asked. 

Antonio Molano, Public Works Regional  Director,   earlier, called  for the suspension 26-kilometer Arayat-Apalit setback levee's asphalting project  following a series of breaches of the Arnedo Dike and the Arayat-Apalit setback levee caused by typhoons. 

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) conducted an inventory of all projects to know the real condition of the them before proceeding with the rehabilitation works.

Earlier, the Pampanga mayors  approved Resolution no. 14, Series of 2011 urging President Benigno Aquino III to suspend all DPWH projects intended for the third and fourth district of the province.

This initiative will cover only projects which are not  in accord with the duly approved priority and development programs of the province, especially on risk and disaster management prevention.

"The people have spoken through their mayors, Congresswoman Anna should respect it. They wanted rehabilitation instead of asphalt over lay in Arayat-Apalit setback levee. Dito kasi  kawawa ang taongbayan dahil sila ang tuwirang apektado kung hindi magagawan ng paraan ang paghina ng dike. Yun naman may gusto ng asphalting hindi naman niya nakita ang tunay na kalagayan ng dike nang bumabagyo," Pelayo stressed. 

It was learned that some P72 million have been allocated for the upgrading of Arayat-Apalit setback levee, P165 million for the upgrading of the Pampanga Delta and another  P50 million for the dredging of the waterways.

Local party sets to start basketball league

CANDABA - The convenor of Anak ng Candaba Movement (ACM) is set to open its first inter-barangay basketball league earlry next week. 

The league will be participated in by basketball enthusiasts in all 33 barangays  . Its opening ceremony will be held at Ms. Park in barangay Mandasig here.

"Simultaneous ang mga laro natin sa tatlong venues pagkatapos ng grand opening day. Mayroon tayo dyan sa Candaba east, west at north. Yung mananalo sa bawat area ay maglalaban laban dito sa championship day," Diony Guevarra, one of the convenors of ACM said. 

Earlier, the  municipality of Candaba led by Mayor Jerry Pelayo sponsored a sports clinic regularly administered by NCAA Commissioner Coach Aric del Rosario.

This sports clinic aims to discover potential in various athletic fields including basketball. The same was brought  far-flung barangays which receieved positive response from the youth. 

Meanwhile, ACM is a local party organized by Patrick “Pat” Pelayo son of Mayor Jerry Pelayo  who is reportedly running for mayor against a former DOTC official Rene Maglanque. 

‘Anak ng Candaba’ aims to establish a society that will promote partnership development in the municipality on all sectors. It was also the intention to establish a democratic and centralized political structure that will protect and look up to the welfare of every individual in the municipality.

MGB,DPWH to local execs - relocate families in Arayat

ARAYAT - Officials of Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in  Region III had recommended to Governor Lilia Nanay Baby Pineda and Mayor Luis "Chito" Espino the relocation of the inhabitants located at the foot of the mountain in San Juan Bano village, this town to other safe places.

This amidst the continuous threat posed by Mount Arayat's possible landslide due to heavy down pour as huge volume of sediments such as pyroclastic materials, lahar, lava and huge boulders are found on topside of the mountain.

This developed as Gov. Pineda has instructed a group composed of Col. Gregorio Pio Catapang of the 703rd Brigade of the Philippine Army, Noel Lacadin, MGB geologist, officials from DPWH and DENR-PENRO, CENRO to  conduct an aerial survey and geological hazard study on the real status of Mt. Arayat after the recent typhoons. 

MGB geologist disclosed that these sediments were accumulated when this inactive volcano erupted 10,000 years ago. 

DPWH officials said no amount of engineering intervention could contain or prevent the landslide, which they said, is accident waiting to happen. 

DPWH said the funds needed for the construction of a relocation center is cheaper than the funds that could be spent for the construction of a diversion system for the landslide prone villages.

"And this diversion system is not a guarantee for the safety of the residents as the water and rolling lahar, boulders and lava will still flow to another way going down the foot of the mountain and we cannot prevent nature to take its course," DPWH, MGB said. 

Gov. Pineda said the municipal government should initiate the immediate relocation of the affected families in San Juan Bano before it's too late.

Espino bared he has already instructed the people there, however, the residents chose to stay.

Floridablanca Mayor Eddie Guerrero who was around during the assessment made by Pineda and the group of officials who conducted the aerial survey, said relocation is highly needed but before it could be done, there is a need for a social preparation and this could never be done overnight.

It can be recalled that as early as 2009, after the landslide tragedy brought by typhoon Ondoy, the affected 270 residents were advised to relocate to other safer place.

A year after the tragedy, Gov. Pineda has initiated the construction of 64 bunk houses as temporary shelters for the affected families.