Let's Adventure to Mindoro!

Oriental Mindoro is stepping up efforts to protect its already fragile marine resources against abuse by “irresponsible and illegal users,” the provincial governor said.

The thrust of the provincial government is “towards the construction and promotion of policies and programs which will set forth the conservation of our marine biodiversity and enhancement of its resources,” Governor Alfonso Umali Jr. said.

Umali vowed to support the initiatives of nongovernment organizations, in partnership with the local government and line agencies, in guarding the province’s 20 marine protected areas (MPAs), including a mangrove forest reserve and a marine turtle sanctuary.

“By doing so, we are certain that our fragile and diminishing resources in coastal and marine areas of our territories will not be exacerbated and abused by irresponsible and illegal users of our marine life,” the former Oriental Mindoro Second District representative said.

The Oriental Mindoro Marine Protected Area and Law Enforcement Network was established last year to coordinate marine conservation efforts among the province’s coastal municipalities. Currently, the network is composed of 12 municipalities and one city.

In partnership with Conservation International-Philippines, the network conducts resource management assessments and surveys to establish new MPAs and correct the boundaries of existing areas for improved management.

CI-Philippines said other activities include the operational planning for Bantay Dagat members, participatory development of MPA management plans, communication campaigns and formulation of relevant marine protection laws.

Romeo Trono, country executive director of CI-Philippines, said, “We are very pleased with the progress of our partnership so far with Oriental Mindoro, and are glad to know that the local government fully recognizes the importance of MPAs and the effective enforcement of fishery and conservation laws.”

“It is also equally important to point out another recent milestone—the first joint meeting of the MPA networks of Oriental Mindoro and Batangas, which happened last May,” Trono said, adding that the meeting was attended by members and officers of the two networks who discussed relevant concerns and areas for collaboration.

“It is a very promising development for the conservation of the Verde Island Passage,” he said.

Verde Island Passage covers more than 1.14 million hectares between the provinces of Batangas, Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon. It is among the four priority marine biodiversity corridors of the Sulu Sulawesi Seascape, one of the world’s most diverse and productive ecosystems. The Verde Passage Corridor contains more than half of the Philippines’ documented fish species as well as many globally threatened species.

Ely H. Vargas, municipal agriculturist of Naujan, said that the MPA and Law Enforcement Network are useful tools for easy facilitation and implementation of programs and projects on marine resource protection.

“Through the network, linkaging and close coordination between and among MPA managers are strengthened, and vigilance and access to information among Bantay Dagat members are intensified,” he said.

CI-Philippines cited the successful rescue of a stranded dolphin in San Teodoro as a fruit of increased collaboration among stakeholders. The rescue was carried out through the combined efforts of the municipal Bantay Dagat and Fishery Management Office, with technical guidance from the Provincial Agriculture Office’s Fishery and Coastal Resource Management Division.

Aside from technical assistance in resource assessments and MPA establishment, CI-Philippines said it provides logistics support for enforcement, including patrol boats, searchlights, global positioning system (GPS) units, cameras, life vests, megaphones and binoculars.

Trono said these will be distributed to the network members to beef up the capacities of their respective Bantay Dagat groups.

MANILA, Philippines—A suspected communist rebel who took part in an ambush with Army soldiers in Oriental Mindoro was arrested about 10 hours after the gun battle, a military spokesman said Tuesday.

Armed Forces spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner, Jr. said troops from the 4th Infantry Battalion arrested New People’s Army fighter Heyo Idlaw, alias "Itag", at around 3 p.m. Saturday.

"Yesterday, he (Idlaw) went through paraffin test and we are waiting for the result of the test from the crime laboratory," Brawner said.

He said Idlaw was chanced upon by government troops pursuing fleeing rebels following a three-hour firefight in the village of Panaytayan, in the southern Oriental Mindoro town of Mansalay on Saturday.

Eleven members of the 23rd Division Reconnaissance Company died while seven others were wounded in the ambush.

It was the Army's biggest loss in a single encounter with the rebels this year.

Brawner said that Idlaw, who was undergoing debriefing, has admitted being involved in the clash.

Private Juralp Culili, a member of the 23rd Division Reconnaissance Company, identified Idlaw as one of the rebels the soldiers encountered last Saturday.

Pursuit operations against the communist rebels were ongoing in Oriental Mindoro, said Brawner, quoting officials from the 2nd Infantry Division in Oriental Mindoro.

"The pursuit operations are still ongoing and we believe that we will be able to catch up with the group within the next few days," Brawner said.

Business Mirror quoted Philippines environment secretary Mr Lito Atienza as saying that he has decided to suspend the environmental compliance certificate of a Norwegian mining firm in Mindoro after speaking with local government officials from the provinces of Mindoro Occidental and Oriental.

Earlier, executive secretary Mr Eduardo Ermita said in his weekly news briefing that Mr Atienza gave the assurance during a phone conversation on allegations that the DENR had issued an illegal ECC to Intex Resources.

Mr Atienza decided to suspend the ECC issued to Norwegian company Intex Resources for the Mindoro nickel project following a dialog with local officials and representatives of various stakeholders from Oriental and Occidental Mindoro.

He said that he would immediately look into the ECC, which he signed, on the assumption that the 11,000 hectare mine site is not within a watershed area, and that all requirements in the issuance of such ECC were fully complied with. He added that "As it appears, there was no consultation. That’s why I will look into it."

He also said for the project to proceed, there will be a genuine consultation with the concerned local government units, the communities, the Catholic Church, indigenous peoples and all other stakeholders in Mindoro.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) en banc has released the calendar of activities and periods of prohibited acts in connection with the conduct of the May 10, 2010 national and local elections.

The COMELEC, in Resolution No. 8646, promulgated July 14, 2009; said the election period will run from January 10, 2010 until June 9, 2010. Prohibited during this period, the COMELEC added are the alteration of territory of a precinct or establishment of a new precinct; the bearing, carrying and transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons in public places; suspension of local elective officials; and transfer of officers and employees in the civil service, etc.

The COMELEC pegged the campaign period for candidates for President, Vice-President, Senators and Party-List groups to February 9, 2010 until May 8, 2010.

Meanwhile, the campaign period for candidates for members of the House of Representatives and elective provincial, city and municipal officials will start March 26, 2010 and will end May 8, 2010.

The COMELEC has also set August 17, 2009 as the last day for filing of petitions for registration of political parties and for parties, organizations and coalitions under the Party-List system of representation.

The filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for all elective positions will run from November 20, 2009 until November 30, 2009. During the same period, registered party-list groups may also file manifestations of intent to participate in the party-list elections.

Casting of votes by overseas absentee voters (OAV) will start April 10, 2010 (Host country time) and will run until 3:00 PM of May 10, 2010 (Philippine Time).

Meanwhile, the country's voters have from 7:00 AM until 6:00 PM to cast their votes on Election Day, May 10, 2010.

Matapos ang halos anin na buwang pagtatago sa batas, sumuko sa mga awtoridad kahapon ng umaga Pebrero 16, 2009 ganap na alas 8:00 ng umaga sila Board Member Randolph "Randy" Ignacio, dating bokal at ngayon ay Provincial Asst. Agriculturist Peter Alfaro at Gaspar Bandoy Sr. close in security ni Former Mayor Joel "big J" Panaligan ng Mamburao.

Sa bisa ng warrant of arrest na inisyu ni Judge Ulysses Delgado RTC branch 44 Mamburao noong Setyembre 2008 sa kasong "Serious Illegal Detention" na isinampa sa kanila ng mga kaanak ni Romulo De Jesus Jr., isang public school teacher sa nabanggit na bayan.

Matatandaang sinampahan ng kasong Serious Illegal Detention sila Ignacio, Alfaro, Bandoy at Atty. Judy Lorenzo ng COMELEC sa ginawa nilang illegal na pag kulong kay De Jesus, kasagsagan ng bilangan noong 2007 local election. May mga hawak di umanong pekeng balota si De Jesus at involved sa ballot switching kaya nila ito ikinulong.
Ang tatlo ay sinamahan ni PNP PD P/Supt. Caessar Daniel T. Miranda sa kanilang pagsuko sa RTC branch 44 sa bayan ng Mamburao.

Nakakulong na sa Mamburao Provincial Jail sila Ignacio, Alfaro at Bandoy habang nakakalaya pa si Atty. Judy Lorenzo ng COMELEC. Walang inirekomendang bail ang korte sa kanila dahil heinous crime ang Serious Illegal Detention. Mariboy Ysibido

Another eleven (11) Mangyan Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Elementary Education graduates passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) given by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) in September 2008.

Some of these board passers are already teaching in Mangyan community schools as professional and volunteer teachers.

1. Erol Antaw, full-time teacher, Mangyan Education Center (MEC, a private secondary school) in Bait, Mansalay

2. Atoy Tugas, full-time teacher, Akliang Primary School, Bongabong

3. Noel Taywan, municipal-funded teacher, Paitan Elementary School

4. Nelsa Banay, municipal-funded teacher, San Roque Elementary School

Taywan and Banay teach a class composed of Mangyans and Tagalogs (lowlanders).

5. Mayette Espiritu, Tauga Diit Primary School in Bongabong

6. Laarni Reyes, Iblagon Primary School in Roxas

7. Uyan Rag-op, Abintang Primary School in Bulalacao

Espiritu, Reyes and Rag-op are currently on their community service as volunteer teachers as part of their college scholarship grant received from Mangyan Mission (MM).

8. Rolyn Banay

9. Alicia Baruyot

10. Jessica Gawid

11. Darwin Ondoy

The last four are fresh graduates who opted to pass the LET first before taking on the responsibility of teaching. Some took their oath as professional teachers last December 6 at the Philippine Regulatory Commission (PRC) in Lucena City.

Some of these Mangyan LET passers were MM scholars and Provincial Planning Development Office (PPDO) scholars. MM scholars are expected to complete one year of community service in different Mangyan communities after they finish their degrees. They receive Php 2,000.00 as their monthly allowance as teachers.

Two other Mangyans passed the LET given last April.

Today, Oriental Mindoro has 172 Mangyan teachers educating children and youths in far-flung Mangyan villages. Out of these 172, forty (40) are LET passers.

Mangyans find it difficult to pass the LET because their English comprehension is not that good and they find it difficult to express themselves in a language rarely heard and used in their communities.

MANILA, Philippines — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s naming of controversial retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan as an official of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) is dangerous to the agency, but she was just being consistent.

This observation was from the militant peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), which lamented on Saturday that Palparan’s appointment came at a time when farmers were commemorating the 22nd anniversary of the Mendiola Massacre.

Thirteen militant farmers were killed and over a hundred others were injured when government troops fired live bullets on protesters trying to march to Malacaňang Palace 22 years ago to demand genuine land reform.

"Major Gen. Jovito Palparan is yet to pay for his crimes and now Mrs. Gloria Arroyo considers him to the drugs board post. Their teamup, as Arroyo self-proclaimed herself as an anti-drug czarina, is still bonding, as how they dealt with the legal-democratic movement, attempting to wipe-out activists that call for genuine land reform and Arroyo's ouster," said Danilo Ramos, KMP secretary-general, in a press statement.

Palparan has been blamed by activist and human rights group for the disappearances and summary executions of a number of leftist activists in the central and northern Philippines when he was in the active military service.

KMP said that since Mrs. Arroyo assumed the presidency in 2001, a total of 933 people became victims of extra-judicial killings, of which 528 were peasants and 109 were KMP leaders.

It said there were also 129 peasant activists and leaders who were victims of enforced disappearances and scores are accused of criminal cases and imprisoned in different jails around the country.

“Of this Arroyo's sickening human rights record, Gen. Palparan served as one of the promoter as he experimented on the activists of Oriental Mindoro in 2003 to 2004," the group said.

Palparan has repeatedly denied the charges, but maintained that his campaign against the communist movement had been very effective.

"The peasants call for punishment for Palparan as even the United Nations Humans Rights Committee concluded that the government and military are responsible to the murders of Eddie Gumanoy and Eden Marcellana in 2003 in Oriental Mindoro," said Ramos.

Eddie Gumanoy was the former chairperson of Kasama-TK (KMP Southern Tagalog chapter), while Eden Marcellana is the Karapatan-Southern Tagalog secretary-general and wife of Kasama-TK secretary-general Orly Marcellana, who is included in the ST 72, framed up with multiple murder case.

"The Arroyo government is really consistent, as those who commit crimes against the people are being promoted or assigned with luxurious posts. We firmly believe that Gen. Palparan is not considering the post to resolve the drug problem but attracted with the level of bribery hounding drug cases, such as the alleged P50 million bribe," Ramos explained.

KMP affirmed opposition to Arroyo's consideration of Palparan to the drugs board post, instead he should be castigated. Also, the group believes that the drug problem would never be solved under the Arroyo regime as Mrs. Arroyo herself is grossly corrupt, as she is involved with the P728 M Fertilizer Scam, P217.8 M Rice Scam and more. The corruption in the Justice department is just an offshoot of her governance.

"Certainly, if Gen. Palparan gets the post, either we all get killed being framed up as pushing drugs, or we get arrested accused of being drug pushers and users," Ramos said. The group believes that the drugs body would also be used against activists who is calling for Arroyo's ouster. - GMANews.TV

MANILA, Philippines -- Starting next March, the education and health departments will jointly conduct random drug testing of students in the 9,300-plus public and private high schools nationwide.

The testing, part of the government's drug education program, “will continue in school year 2009-2010,” Education Secretary Jesli Lapus has told the Inquirer.

“It is timely to do this as illegal drugs have become rampant in some parts of the country,” said Lapus, adding the tests were necessary for the protection of the country's 6.5 million-plus high school students.

Lapus noted that random drug testing has been done in selected schools in the past "and there have been positive findings.”

He was apparently referring to the 2005 drug tests conducted by the DepEd and DoH where some 8,670 students from 287 high schools nationwide were randomly tested for illegal drugs.

At least 115 of those students tested “positive” for methamphetamine, popularly known as shabu, and other illegal drugs, according to a report furnished by Education Assistant Secretary Thelma Santos.

The tests were conducted in all regions except Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, and Mimaropa (short for Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan).

Northern Mindanao topped the list with 13 students found positive for drug use, followed by Central Visayas, Southern Mindanao, and Caraga with 12, 10, and 9, respectively.

According to Santos, “we'll provide the DoH with the list of public and private high schools. It's up to them to choose the schools.”

“The school visits of the drug testing teams, which start next March, will be unannounced,” she said.

Santos clarified that students "will not be forced to undergo drug tests.” But she stressed that “there will be close monitoring of high schools where there's high prevalence of illegal drug use.”

A check with DepEd files showed that as early as August 4, 2003, the agency had issued guidelines on random drug testing of high school students.

Department Order 63, signed by then Education Secretary Edilberto De Jesus, said the activity was pursuant to Section 36-C of Article 3 of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The drug tests aim to “determine the prevalence of drug users among the studentry, assess the effectivity of school- and community-based prevention programs, deter the use of illegal drugs, facilitate the rehabilitation of drug dependents, and strengthen the collaborative efforts of identified agencies against the use of illegal drugs.”

According to the DepEd order, “drug test results shall be treated with utmost confidentiality and shall not be used in any criminal proceedings” against those found positive for drug use.

RA 9165, on the other hand, orders the DepEd to “integrate drug abuse prevention concepts into subjects such as Science, Health, and Makabayan in the elementary level, and Science and Technology and Makabayan in the secondary level, as well as in the non-formal education program, particularly in functional education, literacy, and values education.”

The law also calls for the “continuous development, updating, and adoption of learning packages to support the existing drug education concepts in textbooks and instructional materials” and “mobilization of school health and nutrition personnel in complementing classroom instruction on drug abuse prevention.”

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SOCORRO, ORIENTAL MINDORO – Father Joseph Matulin Boongaling distributed Christmas calendars to his parishioners with a personal message of gratitude.

“This is to thank them for their positive response to the tapungan that aims to make the parish self-reliant,” explains the 42-year-old parish priest of the Holy Family Parish (HFP) here, about 60 kilometers away from the City of Calapan.

Tapungan is like the Tagalogs’ saknungan or bayanihan, which is how HFP calls its parishioners’ voluntary contribution of time, treasure and talents for the needs of the church.

It was launched in May and there are now more than 2,000 parishioners who participate with their monthly share of money, ranging from P5 to P500.

In the case of Antonina Montaril, 55, called Nanay Asuncion, of Barangay Lapog Riversite, she allocates P50 monthly tapong (share), from her fisher-husband’s income.

“Her case inspires us. Really, it’s not so much the amount that matters, but the big heart that responds to God’s love by wanting to share,” says Annie Andrea Luarca, a pastoral associate.

Boongaling says the Holy Family Parish used to be known as “better off” compared to other parishes.

But, he reveals, it was because of earnings from the sacramental fees for the dead and from the parish cemetery.

Shift

Boongaling, however, has been careful in implementing tapungan.
It took his team two years of preparations – which included recollections, pilgrimage conference, homilies, festivals and community consultations.

In the parish’s 2007 pilgrimage, Boongaling emphasized that tapungan is a pledge to God and not to the priest, citing Bible passages and explaining where the funds would go.

Luarca, working closely with Boongaling, recalls that the program was not spared from initial doubts and negative reactions because they were changing traditional practices.

“I really was not comfortable that people would ask how much they had to pay for a sacrament because it’s a service of the church,” confesses Boongaling.

With his core team, Boongaling made tapungan creative and colorful to attract attention and excitement, and utilized the LCD projector.

A liturgical musician, he composed an inspirational theme song titled “Sa Diwa ng Kapatiran,” whose tune is that of a lively march.

Luarca explains how tapungan works.

The parishioners are grouped into four zones in the poblacion and 12 communities following a color-coding for practical reasons, like easy segregation, aesthetics and meaning.

An individual gets a one-page letter indicating his pledge of number of hours per week and amount per month to be contributed.

He signs this up and submits it to the parish.

Boongaling returns the letter for a reminder.

A contributor then gets an envelope entitled “Ang Aking Pangako sa Diyos” with the Hapag ng Pamilyang Mindoreño (HNPM) logo covered with plastic.

It contains the name of the zone and community on top. Four columns under it are monthly dates (from May 2008 to May 2009), the amount pledged, the amount received by the counter, and the signature of the volunteer who received the amount.

Luarca said the preparations, while done by volunteers, cost around P5,000 ($102), including photocopying, boxes, clothes bags and tapungan native basket.

Some system

The monthly pledges can be submitted in four ways: During the monthly community Mass, during Tapungan Sunday, which is every fourth Sunday of the month in the parish church (first and second Mass) and individually through the parish office, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Luarca relates: “Now, those without envelopes become curious asking why they do not have one. But it no longer has to be Father Boongaling to explain but those who have pledged.”

The counting of tapong is done on a Sunday after the fourth Sunday by four counters (a leader and three members) from the Pamayanan Pastoral Council (PPC) and Parish Finance Council (Pafinco).

As incentive, the community gets 20 per cent of the total monthly tapong in their area.

This November, Boongaling gladly reports that the tapong collection has increased to P61,000 from P42,632 when it was launched in May.

The monthly parish expenses are about P180,000.

Learning experience

Father Boongaling says his past experiences on voluntarism helped him arrive at the right formula.
He is most grateful to the Hapag ng Pamilyang Mindoreño, the core program of the diocese launched on July 15, 2006 where priests were asked about their dream for their parish.

“I wanted people to make the church a part of their life,” says Boongaling, who is now 15 years old in the ministry.

When he was assigned at the HFP in 2006, he kept in his heart the dream of leaving a legacy in three forms: A self-reliant parish which supports all the needs of the parish; a meaningful liturgy where people understand it, appreciate it and are able to put it into action, and an increase in the number of leaders (koswtowing).

Now Boongaling’s dream is coming alive.

By ROBERT A. EVORA

CALAPAN CITY — The indigenous people of Oriental Mindoro, speaking through the local office of the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP), clarified reports that they were participants in a consultative assembly (CCA) held recently in Sablayan town, Occidental Mindoro.

"It (the consultation) is very misleading as far as the NCIP in Oriental Mindoro is concerned, and we have nothing to do with that FPIC (free and prior informed consent) consultation," said Reynante Luna, Oriental Mindoro NCIP provincial officer.

A statement issued by Intex Resources Philippines Inc., a mining company, said that the "Mangyans, an indigenous tribe, native to Mindoro, are now in the final stage of formalizing a memorandum of agreement that would allow a mining company to explore for nickel deposits in their ancestral lands."

"Di totoo yan (that’s not true)," Oriental Mindoro Gov. Arnan C. Panaligan said when he was informed of the MoA signing between the Mangyans and Intex executives.

"How can the Mangyans of Oriental Mindoro formalize an MoA for a free prior informed consent when they were not consulted by NCIP of the province? That consultation was held in Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro by that province’s NCIP provincial officer, and so it goes to show that our natives in Oriental Mindoro have nothing to do with that MoA the Intex people are bragging about," a local official said.

Oriental Mindoro, not Occidental Mindoro, is the impact area" of the 10,000-hectare Mindoro nickel project, operated by Intex Resources in Barangay Villa Cerveza, Victoria town, this province. "Di po namin alam ang nasabing consultation, at walang coordination sa amin (NCIP)," Luna said. "We are not questioning the process that they are undertaking, but we can’t be a part of the consultation process to protect the best interest of the indigenous people (IP) of Oriental Mindoro," Luna said.

He also said that the IPs of Oriental Mindoro were not told of that community consultative assembly held last July 12 in Occiental Mindoro.

The CCA is a process to get the FPIC as required by Republic Act No. 8371 or the Indigenous People’s Rights Act.

Mining companies are required by the law to secure FPIC before they can explore or exploit mineral resources in ancestral lands.

Earlier, Provincial Legal Officer Lorybelle M. Tanyag served a cease-and-desist order (CDO) to Engineer Narcisa Eder, Occidental Mindoro NCIP provincial officer. The CDO prevented the NCIP officer "from pursuing your consensus-building activities and any other activities in furtherance of and/or preparatory to all forms of mining operations within the territorial jurisdiction of Oriental Mindoro."

CALAPAN CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has approved the application of a Mindanao-based mining firm to mine for gold and other precious metals in areas declared by the United Nations as "a biosphere reserve" in Oriental Mindoro, triggering an uproar from local officials and residents here.

Environment Secretary Jose L. Atienza, Jr. reportedly granted the application of Agusan Petroleum Resources Corp. for a financial or technical assistance agreement (FTAA) reportedly without any prior consultation with local officials.

Among those who have expressed opposition to the project are Gov. Arnan C. Panaligan, first district Rep. Rodolfo G. Valencia, and San Teodoro town Mayor Apollo Feraren.
In granting the FTAA to Agusan Petroleum, Atienza stated in his memorandum to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that "no adverse claim, protest or opposition was filed against the application," ignoring the existing 25-year mining prohibition being imposed by local government units (LGUs) in Oriental Mindoro.

"Our stand is no to Agusan mining because it is within the watershed area of Alag-Linao Kawayan, the proposed site of a hydro power project, and adjacent to the Mindoro Heritage Museum, a natural park showcasing the unique biodiversity of the island," said Mayor Feraren.

The FTAA granted to Agusan Petroleum and Minerals Corporation covers an area of 3,000 hectares proven to have rich deposits of gold, silver, copper, iron ore, and other minerals.
Agusan’s exploration and mining area covers the "highly-environmentally sensitive" towns of Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, and Baco, in Oriental Mindoro; and Abra de Ilog and Mamburao towns in Occidental Mindoro.

All five towns are known as "Mindoro’s agricultural, biodiversity, and tourism belt."
Puerto Galera was long ago declared by the United Nations as a "biosphere reserve" and recently declared by a Paris-based club as "one of the world’s most beautiful bays" along with 32 other world bays tagged as "world wonders."

Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, and Baco towns are an integral part of the DENR-protected Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor and declared recently as the "center of centers of the world’s marine biodiversity."

Because of this unique position in the world’s marine biodiversity, a memorandum of agreement was signed last month by the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro, represented by Panaligan, the League of Municipalities of Oriental Mindoro, represented by Feraren, and the Conservation International Foundation for its "protection, conservation, and sustainable management."

Congressman Valencia said that "before (the DENR) issues anything, it must get the concurrence of the LGUs concerned, have a clear understanding with them, and must respect the LGUs."

MANILA, Philippines - A predawn quake that state seismologists said was an aftershock of a "major" quake Saturday last week rocked parts of Southern Luzon, including Metro Manila, on Thursday.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) seismologist Rommel Grutas said the aftershock was recorded at 2:04 a.m. Thursday.

"Usually pag malaki ang lindol, series of aftershocks ang nagaganap (After a major quake, you have to expect a series of aftershocks)," he said in an interview on dzBB radio.

Grutas said the "main quake" occurred before noon last Saturday near Mamburao in Occidental Mindoro province, at magnitude 6.5.

He said the epicenter of Thursday's predawn quake was traced to 42 km northwest of Mamburao in Mindoro Occidental, at magnitude 5.3.

Initial reports reaching Phivolcs showed Thursday's quake was felt at Intensity 4 in Paluan in Occidental Mindoro, which Grutas said was enough to jolt people from sleep.

The quake was felt at Intensity 3 in Puerto Galera, and Intensity 2 in Tagaytay City, Makati City, Quezon City, and Muntinlupa City.

"Sa Makati maraming makaramdam niyan pag sa high-rise building, usually upper floors (It can be felt in Makati, especially in the upper floors of high-rise buildings)," he said. - GMANews.TV

(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines — Two strong earthquakes rocked Mindoro, Metro Manila and parts of Luzon before noon Saturday, but no casualty or damage was initially reported.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the first quake measuring magnitude 5.3 struck at 11:04 a.m. and was centered 81 kilometers underground.

The second quake measuring magnitude 6.5 struck at 11:09 a.m. and was centered about 107 kilometers deep.

Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said the epicenter of the quakes were traced at 34-50 kilometers off Mamburao town in Mindoro Occidental, or about 170 kilometers south of Manila.


The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said reported the first was magnitude 5.6 and the second was a stronger but deeper magnitude 6.1, with the epicenter at 72 km southwest of Batangas, 73 km west of Calapan in Mindoro, or 146 km south-southwest of Manila.

The earthquakes were reportedly felt as far as Apalit town in Pampanga province, about 220 kilometers north of the epicenters, said Solidum. They were also felt in Bataan province west of Manila and Batangas south of the capital.

Solidum also said the quakes were recorded at Intensity 5 in the Mindoro area, notably in Calapan, Lubang and Naujan.

It was felt at Intensity 4 in Puerto Galera, Mindoro Occidental, and in Manila, and Intensity 3 in Quezon City and other places.

Residents of Quezon City reported that the quake was strong enough to make picture frames hanging on walls swing.

Nonetheless, Solidum said there was nothing to worry about.

He said the quakes were caused by underground movements along the Manila Trench.

He said while the magnitude of the quakes were strong, these were not enough to cause damage as they occurred about 80-120 km underground.

“Since it happened deep undersea, there’s no risk of tsunami," he told a radio station. - With a report from AP

The National police are poised to arrest two Oriental Mindoro cong­ressmen, whom the anti-graft court ordered arrested for failing to appear at their promulgation hearing earlier this week.

Mindoro Representatives Rodolfo Valencia of the First District and Alfonso Umali Jr. of the Second District were convicted in a 14-year-old graft case filed when they were still governor and provincial administrator, respectively.

The Sandiganbayan sentenced Valencia and Umali—along with other provincial officials—to six to 10 years in prison and perpetual disqualification from public office.

The lawmakers could have posted bail for the graft conviction involving the payment of P2.5 million in provincial funds to a private ferry service, but the bench warrant issued for the lawmakers’ non-appearance is non-bailable.

The Sandiganbayan is scheduled to hold a hearing today, when the court is scheduled to take up the bench warrant.

Police Supt. Edwin Diocos of the Detective and Special Ope­ration Division of the Criminal Investi­gation and Detection Group told The Manila Times that the arrest warrants from the Sandi­ganbayan was turned over to the police at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Police referred the warrants to their regional operating units, particularly in Region 4B and in the National Capital Region, based on the addresses of the cong­ress­men, which are in Oriental Min­doro and in Makati City.

“It means arrest for the two congressmen at any opportune time they will be located,” Diocos explained.

Earlier Wednesday, Valencia issued the statement that the graft case is “politically motivated.”

He explained that as the gover­nor, he simply acted to implement a provincial council resolution to extend an emergency loan to Alfredo Atienza, a boat owner, “so that we could utilize his vessel to save lives and properties and implement our rescue and reha­bilitation efforts.”

His province had been struck by three typhoons at the time, and the ferry was a critical link of people in the province to other parts of the Philippines.

“Because of the province’s effective handling of the situation at that time, I was awarded no less than by former President Fidel V. Ramos as ‘Most Outstanding Governor in Calamity Management,’” he added in the statement.
-- Maricel V. Cruz