published February 19, 2009 in BusinessWorld and GMANews.tv
TACLOBAN CITY — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will focus on a massive clean-up campaign in Jiabong, Samar early this year to revive the ailing mussel industry in the area.
Juan Albaladejo, BFAR regional director for Eastern Visayas, said mussel culture will be temporarily stopped in 1,000 hectares of foreshore area to give way to the clean-up drive.
"Jiabong’s mussel output is down 90%. White tide appears because phosphate and nitrites are still there in the seabed. These have caused another mussel kill," Mr. Albaladejo said.
The mussel kill was reported in November last year at the two-hectare techno demo farm established by the government.
The first mussel kill, which was reported in May to June last year, forced most mussel farms in Jiabong to stop operating.
It was traced to pollution caused by the stake method of mussel culture, or the use of bamboo poles to attract mussel spats.
The poles have worsened siltation in the area and caused poor water circulation leading to an increase in nitrogenous waste deposits.
Farmed mussels continuously exposed to hypoxic conditions become stressed because of critically low levels of oxygen and are susceptible to secondary microbial infections which may result in mass mortalities.
The fishermen have since started using the raft hanging method but the area has remained polluted.
"Even the newly established mariculture (marine agriculture) zone was affected. The pollution is worse as a result of more than 30 years of unsustainable mussel farming activities," Mr. Albaladejo said.
The mussel kill caused losses of P38 million, the BFAR said. The significant decline in harvest has affected at least 137 registered farmers in the top mussel-producing municipality.
A rehabilitation project was launched last year. As of this week, only 65 of 1,000 hectares have been cleared of rotting bamboo poles by divers.
The BFAR is responsible for 70% of the rehabilitation activities while the remaining 30% is shouldered by the local government. At least P250,000 has been spent to restore the 65 hectares.
"We will draw up a system to clean up the areas faster and at a lesser cost. If we don’t conduct a massive cleanup, the same problem will occur. If we can get this done in one month, the production will recuperate after six months," Mr. Albaladejo said.
Jiabong town is a major supplier of mussels for the country’s markets. It also serves as a central trading center for mussels that are shipped to Metro Manila, Davao City, Bicol, Cebu City and other parts of the country.
Aside from Jiabong town, other mussel-producing areas in the Maqueda Bay area in Samar are Villareal, Motiong, Tarangnan and Talalora.
Mussel kills have also been reported in these areas due to coastal dead zones, characterized by the lack of oxygen in the water.
Villareal town Mayor Renato Latorre said the waste from the upland area and households must have contributed to the formation of the coastal dead zone in the bay.
"All the waste from the mountain down to the lower lands goes directly to the sea with the absence of water treatment facility.
"I believe it’s not just the stake method that caused the pollution," Mr. Latorre said.
Maqueda Bay produced 10,616 metric tons of mussels worth P43.24 million in 2006. The mussel industry supports 651 households as well as traders, processors, bamboo splitters and transport operators in Samar. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Intensified drive vs salmonella sought
published February 02, 2009 in BusinessWorld and GMANews.tv
TACLOBAN CITY– The Department of Agriculture has called on local government units in Eastern Visayas to intensify security measures after cases of salmonella infection have spread to this city and the island municipality of Daram in Samar province.
Local officials believed that the incident in nearby areas was triggered with transport of animals from the town of Sta. Rita in Samar where 760 pigs were affected.
To avert the problem, the quick response team of the Agriculture department recommended the following: a ban on the movement of pigs from infected to non-infected areas; isolation, treatment and therapy for infected animals; ban on slaughtering of sick pigs; and setting up checkpoints in strategic places.
"We have to make sacrifice this time. It is very risky to transport hogs from infected areas even those that are healthy," said Agriculture Regional Executive Director Leo Cañeda in a meeting with town mayors in the second district of Samar.
In a report, Agriculture officials confirmed that "most of the sick pigs from Sta. Rita town were slaughtered and some were sold to Tacloban City while dead carcasses were buried, thrown to the sea, rivers and canals."
Suspected cases
City veterinary office chief Eunice Alcantara said there were sporadic cases of suspected salmonella infection in some Tacloban villages last week.
"We cannot confirm that it’s salmonella infection. We’re not able to get samples since people resorted to early slaughter after animals have shown some symptoms of the disease," she told BusinessWorld.
Most of the reports are from the northern villages of the city. Checkpoints were set up in Diit village and Marasbaras district to check shipments from neighboring Leyte towns.
Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez earlier issued a notice to residents to report any occurrence of salmonella infection.
In Daram, Samar, municipal agriculturist Dolores Mustacisa said at least seven villages in their island municipality have reported cases of salmonella infection among backyard-raised pigs. An estimated 70 pigs have been infected.
"It was reported to us after people slaughtered their animals. People are not aware. We have strengthened our monitoring to get samples before the death of hogs with active cases," Ms. Mustacisa said.
The Agriculture department has imposed a ban on slaughtering of sick pigs as this would trigger the further spread of the animal disease. Improper disposal of leftover meat is one of the major factors attributing to the rising case of salmonella.
San Sebastian (Samar) Mayor Arnold Abalos said he has asked for vigilance among village officials.
"We have already conducted information dissemination to prevent the disease from affecting the livelihood of our swine raisers," said Talalora Mayor Cornelio Bersales.
Sta. Rita Mayor Lisandro Kim Adolfo said they have been asking for additional policemen to man checkpoints.
The Agriculture department said a total of 84 pigs have died and 676 others are infected.
The reported nearly 300 mortalities included those that were slaughtered, said Leo Mira of the regional animal quarantine office. - Sarwell Q. Meniano, BusinessWorld
TACLOBAN CITY– The Department of Agriculture has called on local government units in Eastern Visayas to intensify security measures after cases of salmonella infection have spread to this city and the island municipality of Daram in Samar province.
Local officials believed that the incident in nearby areas was triggered with transport of animals from the town of Sta. Rita in Samar where 760 pigs were affected.
To avert the problem, the quick response team of the Agriculture department recommended the following: a ban on the movement of pigs from infected to non-infected areas; isolation, treatment and therapy for infected animals; ban on slaughtering of sick pigs; and setting up checkpoints in strategic places.
"We have to make sacrifice this time. It is very risky to transport hogs from infected areas even those that are healthy," said Agriculture Regional Executive Director Leo Cañeda in a meeting with town mayors in the second district of Samar.
In a report, Agriculture officials confirmed that "most of the sick pigs from Sta. Rita town were slaughtered and some were sold to Tacloban City while dead carcasses were buried, thrown to the sea, rivers and canals."
Suspected cases
City veterinary office chief Eunice Alcantara said there were sporadic cases of suspected salmonella infection in some Tacloban villages last week.
"We cannot confirm that it’s salmonella infection. We’re not able to get samples since people resorted to early slaughter after animals have shown some symptoms of the disease," she told BusinessWorld.
Most of the reports are from the northern villages of the city. Checkpoints were set up in Diit village and Marasbaras district to check shipments from neighboring Leyte towns.
Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez earlier issued a notice to residents to report any occurrence of salmonella infection.
In Daram, Samar, municipal agriculturist Dolores Mustacisa said at least seven villages in their island municipality have reported cases of salmonella infection among backyard-raised pigs. An estimated 70 pigs have been infected.
"It was reported to us after people slaughtered their animals. People are not aware. We have strengthened our monitoring to get samples before the death of hogs with active cases," Ms. Mustacisa said.
The Agriculture department has imposed a ban on slaughtering of sick pigs as this would trigger the further spread of the animal disease. Improper disposal of leftover meat is one of the major factors attributing to the rising case of salmonella.
San Sebastian (Samar) Mayor Arnold Abalos said he has asked for vigilance among village officials.
"We have already conducted information dissemination to prevent the disease from affecting the livelihood of our swine raisers," said Talalora Mayor Cornelio Bersales.
Sta. Rita Mayor Lisandro Kim Adolfo said they have been asking for additional policemen to man checkpoints.
The Agriculture department said a total of 84 pigs have died and 676 others are infected.
The reported nearly 300 mortalities included those that were slaughtered, said Leo Mira of the regional animal quarantine office. - Sarwell Q. Meniano, BusinessWorld
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Leyte provincial gov’t looking for MacArthur Beach investor
published January 29, 2009 in BusinessWorld
TACLOBAN CITY — The Leyte provincial government plans to award next month the 25-year contract to renovate and operate a government-owned hotel at the historic Red Beach in Palo town.
Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho L. Petilla, however, said they still have to find the right investor to sink in P300 million to renovate the 43-room MacArthur Beach Resort Hotel.
"My timetable is as soon as possible. By the end of September, the renovation would be done in time for the Oct. 20 Leyte Landing celebration," Mr. Petilla told BusinessWorld.
The governor declined to divulge the names of interested bidders. Applications are still being accepted, he added.
Management of the hotel has been transferred to the provincial government from the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) under Executive Order 756, which took effect this month.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued the directive last October.
Losing proposition
Mr. Petilla said the hotel has been losing, with the PTA subsidizing its operations at P400,000 a month.
The MacArthur Beach Resort and Hotel was built by First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos but was sequestered by the Aquino administration after the 1986 EDSA Revolution.
The property is at Red Beach, site of one of the greatest naval battles in history. The hotel is a few meters away from the MacArthur Landing Memorial in Palo, Leyte.
The hotel’s rooms are all decorated with native materials and MacArthur pictures. It has picnic grounds, swimming pools, picnic tents and tables, beach kiosks, volleyball ground, and indoor games facilities.
Mr. Petilla said the improvement of the hotel will pave the way for the development of the remaining vacant areas of the nearby government center.
A long-term plan is to turn the province-owned lot into an economic and leisure hub complete with a five-star hotel, a leisure park, an information technology facility, government offices, commercial areas and public transport terminal. – Sarwell Q. Meniano
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Samar province on alert over increasing cases of salmonella infection among hogs
published January 28, 2009 in Leyte Samar Daily Express and BusinessWorld
TACLOBAN CITY — Hog mortality from salmonella infection rose in nine villages of Sta. Rita, Samar province.
Abraham Ibañez, agricultural technologist of Sta. Rita town, said residents of Sta. Rita are alarmed by the outbreak that has killed 296 pigs.
The 237 infected hogs have been treated with antibiotics and vitamins. Some 180 healthy animals were vaccinated by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the local government unit.
"We’ve been strict in implementing measures to stop the disease from spreading such as no slaughter of sick animals and movements of pigs in and out of the town," Mr. Ibañez said in an interview.
The first case was noted in the first week of December 2008 in Tominamos village. By Jan. 12, the disease has spread to the nearby villages of San Pascual, Dampigan, Bagolibas, Old Manunca, San Eduardo, Union, Santa Elena and Cabacungan.
"Our information has been intensified even during weekends to make sure that the infection will be stopped. We have to make people aware because most of the backyard raisers want to slaughter infected animals," Mr. Ibañez said.
Leo Cañeda, DA executive director for Eastern Visayas, said they have traced the infection to contaminated feeds.
Other factors were the heavy rains, poor waste disposal system of slaughtered animals and constant contact of animals with human beings, who are known as carriers of the salmonella bacteria. — Sarwell Q. Meniano
TACLOBAN CITY — Hog mortality from salmonella infection rose in nine villages of Sta. Rita, Samar province.
Abraham Ibañez, agricultural technologist of Sta. Rita town, said residents of Sta. Rita are alarmed by the outbreak that has killed 296 pigs.
The 237 infected hogs have been treated with antibiotics and vitamins. Some 180 healthy animals were vaccinated by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the local government unit.
"We’ve been strict in implementing measures to stop the disease from spreading such as no slaughter of sick animals and movements of pigs in and out of the town," Mr. Ibañez said in an interview.
The first case was noted in the first week of December 2008 in Tominamos village. By Jan. 12, the disease has spread to the nearby villages of San Pascual, Dampigan, Bagolibas, Old Manunca, San Eduardo, Union, Santa Elena and Cabacungan.
"Our information has been intensified even during weekends to make sure that the infection will be stopped. We have to make people aware because most of the backyard raisers want to slaughter infected animals," Mr. Ibañez said.
Leo Cañeda, DA executive director for Eastern Visayas, said they have traced the infection to contaminated feeds.
Other factors were the heavy rains, poor waste disposal system of slaughtered animals and constant contact of animals with human beings, who are known as carriers of the salmonella bacteria. — Sarwell Q. Meniano
US call center to proceed with provincial opening
published January 28, 2009 in BusinessWorld and GMANews.tv
PALO, LEYTE — NASDAQ-listed business process outsourcing firm APAC Customer Services, Inc. is proceeding with the opening of its first provincial site despite the slowing global economy.
APAC kicked off this week its first round of training for 80 agents who will start taking calls when the office opens on March 2.
"It’s going to be a really big opening. We’ve invited President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and some local officials. Our president and Chief Executive Officer Michael Marrow will be here as well," said Doug Almond, APAC vice-president for international operations.
He said the production area was almost complete. APAC converted the 3,000-square meter gymnasium at the Leyte Information and Communication Technology Park into a P200-million call center site.
The facility houses a call area, conference room, training rooms, administrative office, board room, cafeteria and lobby.
Nizette Navia, APAC administrative service director, said the Leyte site has the same amenities as APAC offices in Alabang, Muntinlupa and Cubao, Quezon City.
It will take five weeks to complete two sets of training. Including the second and third batches, the site will be manned by 200 customer service representatives.
"Of the 200 agents we hired, around 100 came from Leyte. The rest came from a combination of Cebu and Samar areas," Ms. Navia said.
Training on basic skills and specific products were being undertaken by 17 members of the management team from Metro Manila and the US.
Mr. Almond said they planned to hire up to 1,000 workers by yearend.
"The expansion will go for the rest of the year. You’ll see incremental growth all the way through December. We are very excited," he added. Mr. Almond said he was confident that the Leyte operations would succeed.
After the opening, APAC will launch a near-hire program for students to establish a manpower pool for expansion.
"When we did the first job fair, we got almost 2,000 applicants and we’ve hired roughly 200 of those. After completing near-hire training, we will have around 400 to 600 agents," he said.
APAC provides customer care services and solutions to companies in health care, finance, publishing, communications, travel and entertainment.
It is headquartered in Deer-field, Illinois and has operations in Arizona, Florida, Iowa, New York, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and the Philippines. — Sarwell Q. Meniano
PALO, LEYTE — NASDAQ-listed business process outsourcing firm APAC Customer Services, Inc. is proceeding with the opening of its first provincial site despite the slowing global economy.
APAC kicked off this week its first round of training for 80 agents who will start taking calls when the office opens on March 2.
"It’s going to be a really big opening. We’ve invited President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and some local officials. Our president and Chief Executive Officer Michael Marrow will be here as well," said Doug Almond, APAC vice-president for international operations.
He said the production area was almost complete. APAC converted the 3,000-square meter gymnasium at the Leyte Information and Communication Technology Park into a P200-million call center site.
The facility houses a call area, conference room, training rooms, administrative office, board room, cafeteria and lobby.
Nizette Navia, APAC administrative service director, said the Leyte site has the same amenities as APAC offices in Alabang, Muntinlupa and Cubao, Quezon City.
It will take five weeks to complete two sets of training. Including the second and third batches, the site will be manned by 200 customer service representatives.
"Of the 200 agents we hired, around 100 came from Leyte. The rest came from a combination of Cebu and Samar areas," Ms. Navia said.
Training on basic skills and specific products were being undertaken by 17 members of the management team from Metro Manila and the US.
Mr. Almond said they planned to hire up to 1,000 workers by yearend.
"The expansion will go for the rest of the year. You’ll see incremental growth all the way through December. We are very excited," he added. Mr. Almond said he was confident that the Leyte operations would succeed.
After the opening, APAC will launch a near-hire program for students to establish a manpower pool for expansion.
"When we did the first job fair, we got almost 2,000 applicants and we’ve hired roughly 200 of those. After completing near-hire training, we will have around 400 to 600 agents," he said.
APAC provides customer care services and solutions to companies in health care, finance, publishing, communications, travel and entertainment.
It is headquartered in Deer-field, Illinois and has operations in Arizona, Florida, Iowa, New York, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and the Philippines. — Sarwell Q. Meniano
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