EARTHQUAKE:“Big Bang” might strike near Angat Dam anytime

By Ramon Efren R. Lazaro

MALOLOS CITY – An environmentalist group in Bulacan, fears that an impending strong earthquake may strike any time after a mild quake was recorded to have emanated from the province.

InterAksyon.com reported that “An earthquake, recorded at magnitude 3.8, shook Bulacan and parts of Metro Manila on Wednesday morning.

“Phivolcs said the quake was felt at Intensity 3 to 4 in Makati , Quezon City , and Pasig . There were no immediate reports of damage. Phivolcs said the quake occurred at about 10:07 a.m. (0207 GMT), with its epicenter 31 kilometers north of Dona Remedios Trinidad town in Bulacan.”

Bro. Martin Francisco, chairperson of the Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society Inc. (SSMESI),  noted that Angat Dam is located in the municipality of Norzagaray , an adjacent town of Dona Remedios Trinidad .

Francisco said that they are apprehensive that the mild quake might be a predecessor to a bigger and stronger earthquake “Batid naman ng marami na lagi kami sa Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society Inc (SSMESI) na nagpapaalala na baka ito na yun Big Bang ng Marikina West Fault Line kung saan ay kaakibat sa kinatatakutan natin ay maapektuhan ang kahinaan ng Angat Dam.”

 

In April this year, dam experts conducting safety study on the structural integrity of Angat Dam has recommended the immediate rehabilitation of the 44- year old dam and its dyke in Norzagaray, Bulacan after it was found that it was sitting on an earthquake fault line.

On the other hand, based on the draft final report submitted by John Grimston of Tonkin and Taylor International—the group commissioned by the government to conduct study on the structural integrity of Angat Dam in coordination with concerned government line-agencies—it was learned that during construction (of Angat dam), a series of fault traces were identified in the foundation of the main dyke for a distance of approximately 15km upstream of it.

Tonkin and Taylor team submitted findings and key conclusions that “the modelling indicates that the dam break flood wave will not only affect the areas near the Angat River, but spread and occupy vast areas well beyond the Angat River channel, and extend both upstream and downstream into the floodplain of the Pampanga River.’

The group also reported that “in total, there are 20 cities/towns in Bulacan, 7 cities/towns in Pampanga and 3 cities/towns in Metro Manila likely to be affected in a Dam/Dyke failure scenario.

It also said that inundation levels can reach as high as 10-30 meters in some areas of Norzagaray, Bustos and Baliuag, Bulacan due to the initial flood wave resulting from breakage. It may reach as high as 5-10 meters in some areas of Pulilan, Plaridel all the way to Calumpit and Malolos City . It is estimated that 3-5 meter flooding will reach areas of Pampanga (due to the Bustos Dam failure) and the flood plain all the way to Metro Manila. While other areas shall likely experience between 1-5 meters of flooding.

  

PHIVOLCS also opined that the Western Marikina Valley Fault ( WMVF) should be considered active, and that rupture of the main fault could trigger movement on the splay beneath the dyke of approximately 1 – 2m horizontal and 0.5m vertical.

Experts  noted that an earthquake on the Western Marikina Valley Fault could therefore trigger movement on the splay of fault trace mapping undertaken by PHIVOLCS suggests that the West Marikina Valley Fault (WMVF) runs several kilometres to the east of Angat Dam.

In September this year, government disaster response teams and officials from the national, provincial and local government conducted a simultaneous earthquake drill in Calumpit town.

Press statement from the Provincial Public Affairs Office headed by Maricel Cruz said that Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy Alvarado explained that the earthquake drill was conducted by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Council (NDRRMC) as part of their 3rd quarter nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill for critical infrastructure, like Angat Dam.

The drill was personally supervised by NDRRMC officials led by Usec Eduardo Batac, undersecretary for Civil, Veterans and Reserve Affairs of the Department of National Defense; Usec Benito Ramos, NDRRMC executive director and administrator of the Office of Civil Defense in coordination with the Provincial Government of Bulacan, the PDRRMC and representatives from the National Power Corporation, operator of the Angat Dam hydroelectric power plant.

“It pays to be always alert and ready on any eventuality so that we will not be caught flatfooted when disaster of such magnitude struck,” Alvarado said.

If such an incident occurs, dam officials will activate its emergency action plans and will immediately notify and disseminate information to local government units, concerned agencies and then activate the early warning system and monitor the situation.

The PDRMMC will then facilitate the establishments of command posts that will oversee traffic, security, transport, rescue, fire fighting units and logistic teams

Help us, family of slain brothers asked DOJ

SAN RAFAEL, Bulacan—Fearing for their lives, relatives of two brothers here slain six months apart called on Justice Secretary Leila De Lima’s help due to threats of a son of a local politician who vowed to eliminate them.

They specifically asked that warrant of arrest (WOA) be immediate issued against three security aides of a local politicians suspected in killing SPO4 Norberto Ignacio on April 15, and his younger brother Renato who was killed last October 20.

Renato was laid to rest on Saturday at Sto. Cristo Catholic Cemetery in the nearby town of Baliwag.

“Sana po tulungan ninyo kami, na mabigyan ng hustisya at magkaroon ng patas na laban kasi makapangyarihan sila at kami ay mahirap lang,” said Beth Ignacio, the younger sister of the victims.

She said that suspects in the killing of her two brothers are the same and added that the killing stemmed from argument between Norberto and son of a politician at a cockpit arena months before he was killed.

She did not name the politician but noted that he and his son are rich and wields so much power.

This was affirmed by Edman De Guzman, the victim’s niece who narrated that a the politician’s son lost in the cockpit arena in Baliwag town and beat up the man who won the money.

The man asked help from Nortberto who was then serving as a police officer.

The politicians son asked Norberto for the man with an alleged plan to kill.

But Norberto refused and told the politician’s son that it is wrong.

“Doon na nagbanta yung anak na pulitiko na uubusin ang pamilya namin,” De Guzman said noting that months later, Norberto was killed.

On October 20, Renato, the younger brother of Norberto was shot behind his head while he was about to have dinner with his wife Josephine.

Josephine was also shot by the assailant in the chest but miraculously survived as the bullet fire from caliber .45 hit her wedding ring and the bullet strayed to lower part of her body damaging her internal organs.

She is now in critical but stable condition at the Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos City and was not able to attend to the burial of her husband on Saturday afternoon.

During the burial, grieving relatives demanded justice for the killing of Norberto and Renato.

In an interview before the burial, De Guzman said that the killing of his uncles were both planned.

He said that both were shot behind their heads noting that Norberto was about to leave the Baliwag cockpit arena on April 15 when a suspect approach him and talked to him, while another came from behind and fired at his head.

In the case of Renato, he was about the have dinner when the suspect barged from a door behind him and killed him.

De Guzman also showed the grassy portion in a vacant lot behind Renato’s house where the suspect stayed and waited before killing him. 

Bulacan bags 2nd Seal of Good Housekeeping award

MALOLOS CITY—Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas conferred to the provincial government of Bulacan the 2011 Seal of Good Housekeeping recently.

This is the second seal received by Bulacan in two years.  The first was last year when DILG award the provincial government the 2010 Seal of Good House Keeping.

The annual award is given to outstanding local government units (LGUs) in recognition  for their  overall performance Index based on the Local Government Performance Measurement System, Innovation and implemented programs from 2009 – 2011, and awards received in 2011 from accredited International, National and local award giving bodies.

Governor Wilhelmino Alvarad and Vice Governor Danie Fernando receive the award from Roxas in a ceremony held at Oxford Hote in Clark Freeport early this week.

In a statement, Alvarado said that the award was given in recognition of Bulacan’s efforts in advancing the principles of accountability and transparency in local governance which also placed the province second in the Regional Gawad Pamana ng Lahi.

The regional award’s theme fof this year is, “Tanglaw Kinabukasan, Awtonomiyang Lokal: Reporma sa Pag-unlad ng Ekonomiya ng Pamayanan at Pagsulong ng Kapayapaan ng Taong Bayan”.

“Ipinagmamalaki ko ‘yung ginagawa naming pagpapatupad ng No helmet no ride, kasi unti-unti naiintindihan ng mga mamamayan na para din sa ikabubuti nila ‘yon, sa mga ibinababa naming programa, nagagalak akong sabihin sa inyo hindi iyon magiging matagumpay kung hindi nagkakaisa ang mga Bulakenyo, mula sa mga namumuno, mga empleyado at mga mamamayan, lahat may papel na ginagampanan at nagpapasalamat kami na nakikita at nabibigyan ng halaga ‘yung mga ginagawa naming pagsisikap sa Bulacan,” the governor said.

Alvarado added that the award will not only make Bulakenyos proud, but a reminder that Bulacancan do things if local leaders are united and focused in achieving set goals.

Last year, the provincial government of Bulacan received its first Seal of Good Housekeeping award along with a number of municipalities in the province like San Rafael town and the City of Malolos.

As this developed, the municipalities of Baliwag and Donya Remedios Trinidad were identified as waterless municipalities and were chosen as beneficiaries of the SALINTUBIG aid.

Baliwag received a total of P3 million  in aid, while the mountain town of Donya Remedios Trinidad received  P7 million for their clean water project.  (Dino Balabo)

Real time traffic advisory on NLEX, SCTEX now online

MALOLOS CITY—The Tollways Management Corporations (TMC) is now implementing a real time travel advisory for the expressways north of Manila, saying it’s the first of its kind in the country.

The travel advisory is available online on www.tollways.net.ph and can be viewed on desktop computers or mobile gadgets like smartphones and ad IPads.

“This is one of two innovations we are implementing in time for the Halloween weekend,” said Benigno Valles, TMC senior manager for corporate communications.

The other innovation is the Lakbay Norte Pass which will ensure faster transactions on toll plaza’s as motorists will not have to pay cash for toll fee.

Valles said that both innovations were designed for the motorists’ comfort especially those who will travel to provinces north of Manila before and after the All Saints day weekend.

Like in the past, the TMC which operates the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) is expecting a 15 to 20 percent increase in traffic volume on both expressways before and after the Halloween break.

Records show that average daily traffic volume along the NLEX is at least 155,000 vehicles. It is expected to climb to about 200,000.

Valles said that with the new innovations, motorists can plan their travel.

He added, “if they monitored that traffic flow along NLEx is slow, they can stop and rest for the meantime at gas stations along the expressway.”

 Updated every minute, the TMC website according to Valles not only shows traffic conditions on real time basis and real time travel time from one toll plaza to another. It also provides advisory in case of accidents or road repairs.

He said that it can also be accessed using smartphones with internet connection, but he also advised drivers to have a navigator to read the advisories for them while driving.

With regards to the Lakbay Norte pass launched last week, he said that it can be used from October 31 to November 4 by motorists driving Class 1 vehicle cars and passenger vans.

A magnetic swipe card, the Lakbay Norte Pass is a prepaid toll card available to Class 1 vehicles going to Dau, Tarlac and Subic and those travelling back to Manila.

However, Valles said that Lakbay Norte Pass has only one way value with specific areas for use.

The one way trip toll value of the prepaid cards are as follows, P218 for vehicles traveling NLEx Balintawak/Mindanao Avenue to Dau or vice versa; P322.for NLEx Balintawak/Mindanao Avenue to Tarlac or vice versa and P408 for NLEx Balintawak/Mindanao Avenue to Subic or vice versa .

Lanes dedicated to Lakbay Norte Pass holders are located at the Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue, Dau, Bocaue Tarlac and Subic toll gates.

The Lakbay Norte Pass can be bought at the NLEx Customer Service Centers in Balintawak, Valenzuela, Bocaue, Tabang and San Fernando and Shell stations in A. Bonifacio, Mindanao Avenue, Barangay Bahay Toro and Santolan, Quezon City, Buendia, Makati and at the SBMA Tipo Total Gas station.

Halloween Trivia

(Published on October 30, 2012 by Punto Central Luzon, www.punto.com.ph)

Ancient Origins of Halloween

Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).

The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1.

This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death.

Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.

In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future.

For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.

To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes.

When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

By 43 A.D., the Roman Empire had conquered the majority of Celtic territory.

In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.

The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees.

The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.

On May 13, 609 A.D., Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome in honor of all Christian martyrs, and the Catholic feast of All Martyrs Day was established in the Western church.

Pope Gregory III (731–741) later expanded the festival to include all saints as well as all martyrs, and moved the observance from May 13 to November 1. By the 9th century the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands, where it gradually blended with and supplanted the older Celtic rites.

In 1000 A.D., the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It is widely believed today that the church was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday.

All Souls Day was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels and devils.

The All Saints Day celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the traditional night of Samhain in the Celtic religion, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween.

Halloween Comes to America

Celebration of Halloween was extremely limited in colonial New England because of the rigid Protestant belief systems there. Halloween was much more common in Maryland and the southern colonies.

As the beliefs and customs of different European ethnic groups as well as the American Indians meshed, a distinctly American version of Halloween began to emerge.

The first celebrations included "play parties," public events held to celebrate the harvest, where neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell each other's fortunes, dance and sing.

Colonial Halloween festivities also featured the telling of ghost stories and mischief-making of all kinds.

By the middle of the nineteenth century, annual autumn festivities were common, but Halloween was not yet celebrated everywhere in the country.

In the second half of the nineteenth century, America was flooded with new immigrants.

These new immigrants, especially the millions of Irish fleeing Ireland's potato famine of 1846, helped to popularize the celebration of Halloween nationally.

Taking from Irish and English traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today's "trick-or-treat" tradition.

Young women believed that on Halloween they could divine the name or appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings or mirrors.

In the late 1800s, there was a move in America to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers than about ghosts, pranks and witchcraft.

At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. Parties focused on games, foods of the season and festive costumes.

Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything "frightening" or "grotesque" out of Halloween celebrations. Because of these efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of the twentieth century.

By the 1920s and 1930s, Halloween had become a secular, but community-centered holiday, with parades and town-wide parties as the featured entertainment.

Despite the best efforts of many schools and communities, vandalism began to plague Halloween celebrations in many communities during this time.

By the 1950s, town leaders had successfully limited vandalism and Halloween had evolved into a holiday directed mainly at the young. Due to the high numbers of young children during the fifties baby boom, parties moved from town civic centers into the classroom or home, where they could be more easily accommodated.

Between 1920 and 1950, the centuries-old practice of trick-or-treating was also revived.

Trick-or-treating was a relatively inexpensive way for an entire community to share the Halloween celebration.

In theory, families could also prevent tricks being played on them by providing the neighborhood children with small treats. A new American tradition was born, and it has continued to grow.

Today, Americans spend an estimated $6 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country's second largest commercial holiday.

Today's Halloween Traditions

The American Halloween tradition of "trick-or-treating" probably dates back to the early All Souls' Day parades in England. During the festivities, poor citizens would beg for food and families would give them pastries called "soul cakes" in return for their promise to pray for the family's dead relatives.

The distribution of soul cakes was encouraged by the church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits.

The practice, which was referred to as "going a-souling" was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given ale, food, and money. 

The tradition of dressing in costume for Halloween has both European and Celtic roots. Hundreds of years ago, winter was an uncertain and frightening time.

Food supplies often ran low and, for the many people afraid of the dark, the short days of winter were full of constant worry.

On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes.

To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits.

On Halloween, to keep ghosts away from their houses, people would place bowls of food outside their homes to appease the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter.

Gubernatorial bet plans to withdraw candidacy

Jaime Almera

MALOLOS CITY—A Bulacan gubernatorial candidate announced on Saturday his plans to withdraw his candidacy within this week.

If it will push through, the gubernatorial race in the province will be a one-on-one battle between incumbent Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado and independent candidate Ernesto Balite.

Jaime Almera, another independent gubernatorial candidate announced his plans to withdraw from the race on Saturday.

He made the announcement on his Facebook account saying, “iwi-withdraw ko na yung aking COC filed for Governor of Bulacan this coming week.”

While he did not state his reasons for his withdrawal, Almera said that his decision is final and apologized to his friends and followers.

The plan to withdraw came a week after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Bulacan initiated an investigation on apparent nuisance candidates in the province.

Last October 20, Lawyer Elmo Duque, the provincial election supervisor of Bulacan has a one-on-one conference with six independent candidates who filed their Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for provincial elective posts.

The said independent candidates included Almera and Balite who are both filed their COC for governor.

If Almera’s plan to withdraw his candidacy, it will his second time in eight years to withdraw from the gubernatorial race.

In 2004, Almera filed his COC for governor but his father withdrew it with his consent.

On Saturday morning, Gov. Alvarado said in his weekly radio program that running virtually unopposed in the 2013 polls have its own benefits as far as governance is concerned.

He said that absence of strong contender will allow him to focus on local governance with political will, noting that it usually suffer during election.

This is due to political accommodation as politicians avoid voter’s disappointments by rejecting their requests.

“Pag halalan, puro suyuan iyan para hindi magtampo ang mga botante,” the governor said.

PNP vows crackdown on illegal firecracker

PPMDAI's Celso Cruz showing legal fireworks.

GUIGUINTO, Bulacan—The Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed to crackdown on illegal pyrotechnics products as the yuletide season draw near.

This developed, the PNP also advised pyrotechnics manufactures in Luzon attending a safety workshop here yesterday to be responsible in production in order to achieve the zero pyrotechnics related injuries this year.

The workshop was organized by the Philippine Pyrotechnics Manufacturers Dealers Association Inc., (PPMDAI) which drew participants from northern, central and southern Luzon.

Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, head of the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) told the STAR that they will confiscate illegal pyrotechnics products which include oversized firecrackers and smuggled fireworks.

“We have the responsibility to ensure safety of the people and we will do it by confiscating illegal pyrotechnics products,” he said.

Daway (L), Petrasanta (R)

Petrasanta explained that any pyrotechnics products with over .2 grams of chemical content are illegal.

Some of the oversize pyrotechnics that the PNP warned to confiscate include pla-pla, super lolo, lolo thunder, bin-laden, goodbye Philippines, goodbye Gloria, kwiton bomb, and giant whistle bomb.

Other smaller products like piccolo and watusi are also banned due to danger it pose on children.

With regards to smuggled products, he explained that it cannot be allowed, otherwise, the domestic pyrotechnic industry will continue to suffer.

This was affirmed by Senior Superintendent Ferdinand Daway, the chief of the PNP explosives management division.

Daway said that law governing pyrotechnics manufacture, sales and distribution in the country only allowed totally knocked down materials.

“It is illegal to import pyrotechnics unless it is totally knocked down,” he said.

 Daway noted that smuggled fireworks are openly sold in in the domestic market.

He said that some businessmen are smuggling the said products and passing it to the market as local manufactured by stripping its label and replacing it with local labels.

This scheme, the PPMDAI said has been going on for about 10 years.

Participants to Fireworks Safety Training Workshop

Vimie Erese, the president of the PPMDAI admitted that said scheme has caused decline in the domestic pyrotechnics industry.

She said that at present, there are only 20 registered manufacturers in the country compared to 40 last year.

“We are still struggling not only because of high cost of raw materials imported from abroad but with the presence of smuggled products that some businessmen are distributing locally,” she said.

For his part, Engineer Celso Cruz, the chairman emeritus of the PPMDA explained that for some businessmen, it is more profitable to smuggle pyrotechnics than produce it locally.

“It is so easy, they will not maintain workers, they will only need a warehouse.  But the said practices is killing the industry,” Cruz said.

The commercial pyrotechnics industry was born in Bulacan in the late 1800s when a Spanish friar taught a young man in Sta. Maria town to mix black powder to produce skyrockets or kwitis which they used in waking up people for the annual misa de gallo.  (Dino Balabo)

1st Bulacan Buildex 2012 hailed

MALOLOS CITY—Government officials and businessmen hailed the recently concluded 1^st Bulacan Builders Exposition 2012 (Buildex 2012) here saying it’s a big step in inspiring public and private partnership.

Organized by the Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) in coordination with the provincial government of Bulacan, the three-day Buildex 2012 drew hundreds of participants along with at least 80 exhibitors.

“This is the first of its kind, because no province has organized an activity like this,” said Blesila Lantayona, the director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Central Luzon.

She explained that builder’s exposition is usually organized by countries, and not by province of a local business chamber.

Lantayona also said that she was not surprised why the BCCI and the provincial government of Bulacan pushed for Buildex 2012.

She said that the no other province in the country is home to companies that holds product standard (PS) mark from the DTI.

“There are 32 companies in Bulacan that holds 32 PS marks for at least 52 different products,’ she said.

Lantayona said that existence of products manufactured in Bulacan with PS mark only shows that the province is primed for the exposition.

She added that it also proves that products manufactured in the province are of high quality.

Rhine Aldana, the provincial director of the DTI in Bulacan said that some of the products manufactured in the province with PS mark are cement, galvanized iron roofing, nails and even plastics based pipes.

She added that quality of products sold in the province is also screened by sellers.

This is through the Bulacan Association Hardwares Inc.m, (Bahai) which was organized last year to ensure that only products that have PS mark will be sold in the province.

For his part, Lawyer Miguel Varela, the president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said that the exposition is timely fast becoming an investment haven for real estate with bustling metropolitan areas.

He said that Bulacan is now developing to take advantage as a vital economic growth area in the country that will complement Metro Manila.

This developed, Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado said that Buildex 2012 was meant to show the competitiveness of Bulacan.

He said that he was saddened by the fact that Bulacan is equated with disasters after the the floods spawned by Pedring last year and southwest monsoon last August.

“Buildex 2012 showed that Bulacan can be a haven for suburban living and we are working together to make that happen,’ he said.

Do not abandon NorthRail, bizmen asked PNoy

MALOLOS CITY—Business leaders here called on President Aquino not to abandon the anomalous NorthRail project noting that further development of the province and of Central Luzon depends on it.

As this developed, other businessmen said Bulacan might have two railways in the future saying that NorthRail project might be built on the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

Renato Simbulan, the president emeritus of the Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) told the STAR that the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) reminded the President on the importance of the said project.

He said that it is part of a resolution submitted by the PCCI to the President during the recent Philippine Business Conference (PBC).

“NorthRail is very important to us here,” Simbulan said noting that it should not be totally abandoned.

As former head of the BCCI, he said that he collaborated with former Subic Bay Administrator Felicito Payumo and Rufo Colayco of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) for the said project in the early 90s.

“We saw NorthRail as the major key in development of Central Luzon provinces,” Simbulan noting that concept for the project came after the American left Clark Field in Pamapnga to avoid devastation brought by the eruption of the Mount Pinatubo.

By mind-90s, the concept of the project was completed and an agreement was signed with China in 2004 for the implementation of railway project that will link Metro Manila and Clark Field.

Initial design was for a rapid railways, but later it was modified into a commuter train that will service Caloocan city and towns of Bulacan up to Pampanga.

However, the emergence of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport led to consideration of design.

Business leaders and former Department of Transportation and Communications officials said there is a need for a rapid transport that will link Clark Field and Manila in less than one hour.

The natural answer is the NorthRail project, but it was abandoned in 2008 by Chinese contractors until contract was rescinded months ago.

This developed, Ambrosio Cruz of Archer Realty and former mayor of Guiguinto town said that there is a possibility that Bulacan might just have two railways system.

Citing conversation with DOTC officials, Cruz said that the rapid train system can be constructed in record time in between the north and southbound lanes of the NLEX.

With regards to the old Philippine National Railways track which was cleared to give way to the NorthRail Project, Cruz said the government is considering to establish a commuter train there.

“We just have to wait, but we might just have more than what we are asking for,” he said.

Cruz added that when completed, the railway project terminal in Bulacan will become an instant growth area.

The same was echoed by Mara Bautista, the former executive director of the BCCI who said that in Japan and other countries, areas where a train terminal was built experienced quick progress as businessmen came to invest. 

Wacky & wicked Halloween adventure

It’s that time of the year again when cute fairies, prince and princess, superheroes, villains,

zombies, witches and wizards roam around the walkways of SM City Baliwag to have a spooky-fun

time this Halloween season.

The Halloween’s magical charm certainly excites the young and the young at heart. That’s

why SM City Baliwag has lined up an array of events starting October 25 to make the Halloween

celebration more enchanting.

Be sure to drop by the mall’s atrium and take a photo opportunity at the Wicked Pumpkin

Centerpiece for that spook-tacular snapped moment with friends and family. For Marvel and DC

Comics fanatics, visit life-size replicas of Iron Man, Spiderman and Batman at the Superhero Nook at

SM Cinema Baliwag.

From the creepiest to the cutest of designs, a selection of ready to wear Halloween costumes

are available at the SM Department Store’s Children’s Wear and Accessories section. Kids can

take their pick from the store’s mix of awesome outfits where they can dress as ninjas, vampires,

skeletons, ballerinas, mermaids as well as animal-themed costumes like turtles and bees among

others.

At 2 p.m. on October 28, pet lovers and owners will be showing off their ‘boo-tiful’ pets in ‘howl-

oween’ costumes for the annual Halloween Pet Show and Costume Contest dubbed, “Bow Wow

Wacky Dog Show” happening at the Event Center. With Philippine Canine Club Inc. as one of the

major partners, winners of the Best in Pet Costume will receive a total of P5, 000 worth of SM Gift

Certificates and freebies.

To register for the contest, interested pet owners may present a proof of purchase worth P500

from any of the stores inside the mall. A purchase of SM Foodcourt Baliwag’s Yard Cup with an SM

Bottled Water also entitles a pet owner to join their pet.

On October 31 at 10 a.m., kids of all ages are invited to be part of SM City Baliwag’s Wacky

and Wicked Trick or Treat where youngsters can don their favorite character or Halloween costume

as they collect goodies from the various shops inside the mall. Pass by SM Hypermarket and get a

bag-full of sweet treats. What’s more, mom or dad’s P500 worth of purchase from SM Hypermarket on

the same day entitles her child to grab all the candies from a bowl using one hand during the store’s

Dakot All You CANdy promo.

At 2 p.m., get the chance to win one of the 3 Wickedly Wacky Costume Contest where three

winners will emerge from three different categories which includes the Cutest Halloween Costume,

Spookiest Halloween Costume and Wackiest Halloween Costume. The top three runner ups for each category will receive SM Gift Certificates worth P5,000, P2,500 and P1,500 plus exciting freebies

from major sponsors.

Cap off the Halloween adventure with the most thrilling and mind blowing exhibition of live

science experiments at the Mad Science event happening on October 31, 4 p.m. at the mall’s Event

Center.

Experience a bewitching journey this Halloween season only at SM City Baliwag!

Real time traffic updates for NLEx, SCTEx now available online

MALOLOS CITY—The Tollways Management Corporations (TMC) is now implementing a real time travel advisory for the expressways north of Manila, saying it’s the first of its kind in the country.

The travel advisory is available online on www.tollways.net.ph and can be viewed on desktop computers or mobile gadgets like smartphones and ad IPads.

“This is one of two innovations we are implementing in time for the Halloween weekend,” said Benigno Valles, TMC senior manager for corporate communications.

The other innovation is the Lakbay Norte Pass which will ensure faster transactions on toll plaza’s as motorists will not have to pay cash for toll fee.

Valles said that both innovations were designed for the motorists’ comfort especially those who will travel to provinces north of Manila before and after the All Saints day weekend.

Like in the past, the TMC which operates the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) is expecting a 15 to 20 percent increase in traffic volume on both expressways before and after the Halloween break.

Records show that average daily traffic volume along the NLEX is at least 155,000 vehicles. It is expected to climb to about 200,000.

Valles said that with the new innovations, motorists can plan their travel.

He added, “if they monitored that traffic flow along NLEx is slow, they can stop and rest for the meantime at gas stations along the expressway.”

 Updated every minute, the TMC website according to Valles not only shows traffic conditions on real time basis and real time travel time from one toll plaza to another. It also provides advisory in case of accidents or road repairs.

He said that it can also be accessed using smartphones with internet connection, but he also advised drivers to have a navigator to read the advisories for them while driving.

With regards to the Lakbay Norte pass launched last week, he said that it can be used from October 31 to November 4 by motorists driving Class 1 vehicle cars and passenger vans.

A magnetic swipe card, the Lakbay Norte Pass is a prepaid toll card available to Class 1 vehicles going to Dau, Tarlac and Subic and those travelling back to Manila.

However, Valles said that Lakbay Norte Pass has only one way value with specific areas for use.

The one way trip toll value of the prepaid cards are as follows, P218 for vehicles traveling NLEx Balintawak/Mindanao Avenue to Dau or vice versa; P322.for NLEx Balintawak/Mindanao Avenue to Tarlac or vice versa and P408 for NLEx Balintawak/Mindanao Avenue to Subic or vice versa .

Lanes dedicated to Lakbay Norte Pass holders are located at the Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue, Dau, Bocaue Tarlac and Subic toll gates.

The Lakbay Norte Pass can be bought at the NLEx Customer Service Centers in Balintawak, Valenzuela, Bocaue, Tabang and San Fernando and Shell stations in A. Bonifacio, Mindanao Avenue, Barangay Bahay Toro and Santolan, Quezon City, Buendia, Makati and at the SBMA Tipo Total Gas station.

Empower Women, Build Disaster-Resilient Communities

Legarda and Mayor Lorna Silverio of San Rafael, Bulacan,.

Senator Loren Legarda urged government to ensure that women and girls are provided avenues to participate in order to build disaster-resilient communities.

“Women and girls account for 52% of the world’s population. Over 100 million of which are affected by disasters annually,” Legarda noted.

“As they bear the impact of disasters, it is important that we pay attention to their experience and knowledge,” she added.

Legarda, the United Nations Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, also said that even disaster rescue efforts discriminate against women.

“In the 2006 tsunami that killed scores in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, male survivors outnumbered its female counterparts in a 3 to 1 and 4 to 1 ratio,” she noted.

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Legarda, who chairs the Senate Committee on Climate Change, also said that in times of disaster and economic stress, women are the primary caregivers, bearing the burden of caring for the sick and carrying out much of the household workload after a disaster. Women have distinct nutritional needs that make coping with disasters tougher and harsher.

“Despite these, women have been silently and effectively at the frontline of disaster prevention and climate change adaptation efforts,” Legarda said.

“In the Municipality of San Francisco in Camotes Island, Cebu, which is one of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction’s 29 model communities worldwide that are exemplars in disaster risk reduction and management, 90% of officers in charge of environmental protection and disaster prevention programs in each and every purok are women, since most of the male residents are focused on making a living for their families. The Purok System focuses on mobilizing local resources in creating local and practical solutions based on the vulnerability and unique needs of every community. The program includes the “no trash segregation – no collection” policy,” she added.

“Let us recognize and empower women, who are agents of solutions, indispensable holders of valuable knowledge and skills, and able leaders from the grassroots level to the global stage,” Legarda concluded.

The world celebrated the International Day for Disaster Reduction in October 13, with the theme "Women and Girls: the [in]Visible Force of Resilience.

DA upgrades breed of animals in Central Luzon

By Rebecca Grace S. David

The Department of Agriculture’s Regional Livestock Division maintains multiplier farms and livestock production centers to improve the reproductive potential of local breed of small and large animals.

The DA maintains a multiplier farm in Central Luzon, where 41 purebred sheep have produced 22 offsprings, of which eight have been given to farmers.

Over the past seven months, the breeders in their livestock production centers consisted of 60 head of goat, 47 sheep, 43 swine, 246 chicken and 84 ducks.

Some 2,305 offsprings of their chicken and 192 head of goats and sheep have been distributed to farmer-beneficiaries.

Artificial insemination has also been done on 2,462 cattle, 4,351 carabaos, 1,300 swine and 64 goats. From these inseminated animals were produced upgraded breed of 1,118 cattle, 1,507 carabaos, 9,236 swine and 79 goats.

DA Regional Director Andrew Villacorta said to rid and control animal diseases, animal vaccination, deworming, and treatment were administered on dogs, swine, sheep, goats, carabaos, and cattle. This

is aside from the laboratory testing of 1,107 sick animals to determine their illness.

The DA also conducted meat processing seminars where the participants included 640 wives, out-of-school youth, persons with disabilities and members of cooperatives. (CLJD/RGSD-PIA3)

Food expo to highlight Meat Safety Consciousness Week in CL

By Rebecca Grace S. David

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Oct 10 (PIA) -- A three-day food expo will highlight the observance of the 20th Meat Safety Consciousness Week in Central Luzon.

"Forty exhibitors, who are members of the Pampanga Meat Processors as well as small and medium-scale food producers, will sell their products at discounted price during the fair," said Clarita Sangcal,

regional technical director of the National Meat Inspection Service.

Sangcal also said, "A motorcade will likewise be held within the City of San Fernando in Pampanga to create awareness of the need to consume only safe meat."

Slaughterhouse operators will attend a seminar on "The Animal Welfare Act" on October 16 where they will be taught proper slaughter, distribution, sale, and storage of meat.

October 15-19 has been declared annually as Meat Safety Consciousness Week which is enclosed in the celebration of Consumer Month every October.

This year’s theme is “Karneng Ligtas at Sapat, Kabalikat ang Lahat" which it aims to gather the livestock industry together and emphasize the role of everyone to ensure the safety of meat for consumption.

(CLJD/JGB-PIA 3)

Central Luzon is now red tide free

By Joelyn G. Baluyut

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Oct 10 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has declared the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, and Zambales free from paralytic shellfish poison or most known as red tide.

According to the report submitted, the coastal waters of Bulacan and Bataan (towns of Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Orani, Abucay and Samal) in Manila Bay; Masinloc Bay in Zambales continue to be free from toxic red tides.

“And shellfish from the mentioned areas can now be gathered, harvested, and sold in markets for human consumption,” said BFAR.

Meanwhile, shellfishes collected at Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental; and coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit.

BFAR noted that all types of shellfish and Acetes ap or alamang from the said areas are not safe for human consumption.

“Fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking,” BFAR added.