Make Your Stand And Be Heard

This will be my last post for the year 2008. I am posting a video about the ill-effects of mining in Rapu Rapu island in the province of Albay. Please view the video.

Post your comments and be heard for this not only matters today's generation but the future generation as well. Make your stand now!

Happy New Year and God Bless Catanduanes!

Will Northern Catanduanes Be Another Semirara?

This photo above was taken at Semirara open pit coal mine. Below are diagrams from Philippine Department of Energy.

List of Operating Contract Holders
as of 31 January 2007
Company: Monte Oro Resources and Energy Inc.
Location of Mine: Ubi, San Miguel, Caramoran, Catanduanes
Status: Exploration

Contact Person: Mr. Jose Miguel Cabarrus, President CEO
Office Address: 2284 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City
Phone: 893-8409 Fax: 817-4137

source: DOE

source:money.cnn.com/

RELATED LINKS:

• Philippine Mining Act of 1995 - Summary of Philippine Mining Act of 1995
• Responsible Mining Easier Said than Done - Responsible mining the answer to a real Catanduanes development?
• An Island Without Salt - Observations, challenges and food security.
• Sights in the Northern Part - Potential tourist attractions and sights.
• The Road Going to North - Latest view of the new Catanduanes circumferential road and landscape.

Christmas Wishes of Local Celebrities and Politicians

An interview of personalities and celebrities like Sharon Cuneta, Sen. Dick Gordon and others on how they would spend their christmas holidays.

The Php 105 million: Boon or Bane?

The approval of the governor-initiated Php 105 million loan by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan can be construed as Christmas gift of the legislative body to the executive branch.

Probably in the spirit of the Christmas season, the SP headed by Vice Gov. Alfred Aquino decided to approve almost the entire amount of Php 111 million.

Imagine if as originally planned, only Php 56 million was allowed, the administration would suffer a substantial setback in terms of fund-sourcing for its Real Property Tax Administration Enhancement Program (RPTAEP) etc.

Animosities and bad blood were avoided. The executive, and the legislative had “meeting of minds”.

Consequently, Gov. Joseph C. Cua and his economic/financial managers are now grinning from ear to ear. Now it would be safe to say that whatever Gov. Cua wants, Cua gets.

History will tell, however, whether the decision to avail said loan by the provincial government is a good decision or not. For the record, it was only PBM Shirly A. Abundo who objected to such substantial loan.

The workaholic and approachable legislator have yet to see a feasibility study which according to her is very important..

Accordingly, almost all of the PBMs have capitulated to the wishes of the executive department.

The way it seems, the fiscalizing function of the SP had been nipped-in-the-bud ab initio. Majority of the SP members are pro-administration. Hence, the smooth sailing of the Cua administration.

Well, as long as it is for the good of the province, no problem. Some quarters, however, are apprehensive of such multi-million-peso loan.

Successful or not, the province will have to shoulder the millions of pesos for its principal loan and interests.

The bottom-line is the 10-year period of payments. “Tapos na ang term of office ni Gov. Cua, assuming that he can serve for three terms, patuloy pa rin magbabayad ang provincial government,” one observer said in Taglish.

“Tapos na ang term of office ng mga PBMs kasama na si Vice Gov. Aquino, tuloy pa rin ang financial obligation ng provincial government,” the man added.

With the IRA to be used as guarantee, the general public hopes and prays that the financial managers and technocrats in the Capitol will not bungle in their decision.

Otherwise, woe unto the persons responsible for such decision to avail of multi-million loan.

Nevertheless, optimist that we are, this publication joins the thousands of taxpayers who wish our local leaders the best of luck in their attempt to chart a progressive island province.

Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year KAPERYODIKO!

source: Bicol Peryodiko Editorial

Happy Holidays!

To friends, associates, colleagues, relatives and all the nameless visitors... Wherever you are, wishing you all a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

Please post your christmas wish below.