Floods and Landslides

One time, I got stranded in the mountains in the north because of landslides and had to wait for hours before earth-moving equipments reached the area to clear the dirt and debris. After the long wait, we hit the road thinking that all was clear ahead, but upon reaching barangay Pagsangahan, the river was overflowing. That was four years ago... Please watch the news footages below.

September 24, 2008: GMA News Research names landslide prone areas.

October 29, 2007: Landslide kills 5 in Baras, Catanduanes.

What are landslides and how are they caused?

COA Report - 2007

VIRAC, Catanduanes - Analyzing the financial condition of this province, the Commission on Audit in its 2007 report said the island province’s condition was not financially sound since the cash available at the time the audit was made was only P159.6 million where its total liability was 169.6 million., or a negative balance of P10 million.

With the liquidity ratio of .94 to 1, according to the COA report, this means that the province has no sufficient cash to pay or liquidate its current and long-term obligations.

It noted further that current assets of P272.10 million was higher than the total liabilities of P169.6 million, or a current ratio of 1.6 to 1 which meant that the provincial government was solvent to meet its current obligations.

Catanduanes became an independent province on October 24, 1945, thru Commonwealth Act 687. However, it was RA 7160 which gave local government units total independence in managing its administrative affairs, in conformity with the national government thrust for sustainable and economic growth.

The COA also noted that the P20.5 million it contracted with the World Bank SRRIP thru the Department of Interior and Local Governments was not recorded in the books of the provincial government, resulting to the understatement of assets and liabilities. The loan, according to the audit report, has remained “substantially” unpaid.

Further, it was pointed out that the provincial government recognized liabilities amounting to P6.36 million when in fact the goods intended to be acquired were not yet delivered by the supplier.

Following are the other salient findings by the COA audit report:

- cash advances totaling P8.93 million remain unliquidated as of end of 2007, in violation of government accounting rules;

- various procurement amounting to P963,930.13 were made thru reimbursement basis contrary to Section 12 of RA 9184, or the Government procurement Act. It was suggested that all procurement transactions be first evaluated by the bids and Awards Committee prior to actual procurement;

- the provincial capitol negotiated a contract for rental of equipment at P7.4 million where the supplier showed an asset of only P50,000.”With such circumstance, the agency (provincial government) should not have rated the supplier as eligible and negotiated the contract with the supplier having no heavy equipment to be offered for lease,” COA stressed;

- Procurement of textbooks thru direct contracting without coordinating with the division office of the Department of Education

- Investment of P4 million SEF Fund in high yield savings account which is not allowed in the utilization of said fund;

- Performance Bonus, Extra Cash Gift and excess Bonus totaling P8.7 million were given to capitol officials and employees despite the fact that the capitol has already exceed its Personnel Services (PS) limitations;

The report also underscored that out of six audit recommendations COA made on the province’s previous year’s violations, only one was accordingly implemented in 2007, two were partially implemented, and three were not at all implemented.(By Jose B. Perez - Bicolmail)

Crab Center Not A Cartel

Only a few knows that the crab shells is equally important as the meat itself because of this polymer found in the shell called chitin.

Chitin is a biological substance which may be compared to the polysaccharide cellulose and to the protein keratin. Although keratin is a protein, and not a carbohydrate like chitin, both keratin and chitin have similar structural functions.

Chitin is used industrially in many processes. It is used in water purification, and as an additive to thicken and stabilize foods and pharmaceuticals. It also acts as a binder in dyes, fabrics, and adhesives. Industrial separation membranes and ion-exchange resins can be made from chitin. Processes to size and strengthen paper employ chitin.

Hoping that the crab center would not end-up as a cartel in the future.

DOLE Helps Catanduanes For Crab Center

Virac, Catanduanes (2 December) -- This island province in Bicol may yet become the crab capital of the Philippines.

"We will definitely help Catanduanes become the crab capital of the Philippines," strong words for such a strong vision from DOLE Bicol regional director Ernesto C. Bihis during the launching in this province of the DOLE On the Road for Hope (DOLE-ORAH) project last month.

Pledging to the crowd of people last November 10, that DOLE Bicol will find ways to channel 'better funds' for the Catandunganon recently launched project "crablets" or "crab meat" production, Bihis said "This is our support to the provincial government's commitment in strengthening its people's earning capacity."

Crab meat production first publicity was way back in 2006 when an organization in Camarines Norte started to export its produce to other parts of the region.

However, it was later found out that the abundant source of 'crablets' - the raw materials for crab meat, is found at Catanduanes.

Further, it was learned that the organization in Camarines Norte was actually getting its raw materials from Catanduanes.

The Provincial Government, led by Governor Joseph Cua, then mapped the island and identified 3 barangays as the crab source. Cua then provided a common service area or bagsakan for the catchers.

A provincial ordinance was also enacted preventing catchers from selling or smuggling the crablets to outside buyers.

"He (the governor) wanted that all catch to be brought to the provincial government bagsakian," Bihis narrated.

He said that with this provincial government's initiative, DOLE Bicol has seen the benefit of a fund grant to improve the technology of crablet and crab meat production. "This project would definitely generate additional income to the constituents and will actually increase employment," Bihis pointed out.

Bihis ordered DOLE Catandunaes provincial head Emma P. Acuña for a feasibility study for funding purpose. "If the papers are laid down early then perhaps we could release funds early." (DOLE/PIA)

A 25-Year Moratorium On Mining Activities

Perhaps its about time for our leaders and policy makers to put an end to the divisive issue of mining in our island. A 25-year moratorium on mining in any form in Catanduanes would be the best Christmas gift for us all.

A moratorium would give us a breathing space to think over what is good for the people of Catanduanes. Refocus our resources and programs for projects that requires immediate attention like tourism, livelihood, health care, education and eventually put to rest the issue of mining exploration.

A moratorium would encourage private resort developers and venture capitalists to reconsider developing our place knowing that their investments are protected from enviromental degradation which is detrimental to a tourism industry.

USGS: Open File Report 2006 - 1063

The Republic of the Philippines Coalbed Methane Assessment: Based on Seventeen High Pressure Methane Adsorption Isotherms

U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Colorado
Philippine Department of Energy
Metro Manila, Philippines

Catanduanes Coal District

The coal sample in the Catanduanes coal district was collected from the Eocene Hitoma and Payo Formations. The formations consist of carbonaceous shale, siltstone, sandstone, and coal beds. The coals are in distinct beds, 0.3-1.5 m thick, and in stringers; those in the carbonaceous shales were deposited in a paralic environment. The coal measure is in a northeast-trending basin bounded by two northeast-trending faults. The beds are steeply dipping to almost vertical, having been deformed by faulting along both northeast and northwest trends (del Rosario and Pastor, 2005a).

Catanduanes is an island, part of a group of islands in a southeast-trending peninsula of Luzon.

Coal districts of the Philippines containing lignite to semi-anthracite coal (rank determined by GRCDD using ASTM classification) in strata ranging from Eocene to Pleistocene in age. The coal samples (indicated by blue arrows) from 10 coal districts were re-analyzed for their apparent rank by the U.S. Geological Survey. The coal resources for each of the districts are indicated in million metric tonnes (MMT). Modified from Balce and others (2005).

Photograph of a dipping coal-bed outcrop in Catanduanes coal district. Hammer handle is about 30.5 cm long. From del Rosario and Pastor (2005a).

Photograph showing trenching at an outcrop in Catanduanes coal district for collecting coal samples. From del Rosario and Pastor (2005a).

Photograph illustrating the preparation of a coal sample, immediately following collection, for shipment to laboratory. Preparation consisted of double bagging the coal sample, putting wet tissue in the plastic bags, and wrapping for shipment. From del Rosario and Pastor (2005b).

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