A season of hope and aspirations

CHRISTMAS is a celebration for every one – rich or poor.

On the eve of Christmas, every one becomes hopeful of more blessings in store for one’s self,

family, and community.

It is the night when shepherds get on their knees upon hearing the song of angels; when

above the sky is a star so bright; when wise men bring gifts to a newborn boy they have not

seen in a land they did not know. But it is also a night when we are told to seek our king not

in a palace but a stable.

This is the scene that I wish we are reliving here in Naga, our fair city, where its doors are

open, its sky is bright with stars above and there are people who care to help anyone who is

in need.

We take pride in being part of a community that is so much blessed with good tidings but

humble enough to see our weaker points as we try to seek ways to do much better each

time, especially with the advent of the New Year where fresh challenges are sure to come.

For all these, we thank Jesus, the Son of God; whose love, grace and divine guidance have

always been there that make us more judicious and responsive in delivering our mandate to

our people.

I wish every one a bright and joyful Yuletide celebration, as this season of joy ushers in a

new chapter of hope and aspirations for a better life for every Nagueño.

JOHN G. BONGATCity Mayor

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINEPUBLISHED BY THE CITYGOVERNMENT OF NAGAVol. 1 No. 2 December 2010

City of Naga, Philippines

MAYOR JOHN G. BONGAT VICE MAYOR GABRIEL H. BORDADO

EDITOR IN CHIEF MANAGING EDITORS LAYOUT/GRAPHICS PHOTOGRAPHY CIRCULATION LIAISON

JOSE B. PEREZ JASON B. NEOLA ANSEL B. MAÑO JOSE V.COLLERA RUEL O. BARRIOS ALNOR ALCALA ALEC A. SANTOS RANDY VILLAFLOR

EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS | FLORENCIO T. MONGOSO , JR. | REUEL M. OLIVER

This issue would not been possible without the contributions submitted by all department heads

Our grateful appreciation to the following photographers: JERRY LIM LEE | ALEXIS TIOSECO+ | ROE EMPLEO | JONNEL HERNANDEZ | JOHANN NATIVIDAD | JUN TULAO

THIS MAGAZINE IS NOT FOR SALE

REY UBALDO

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1 on 1 for 2011

What are the City Government’s plans with the globaleconomy expected to recover in 2011?

A sound fiscal plan shielded our city’s economy from theworst effects of the global economic crisis. Proof of this isthe recently-concluded report done by Standard and Poor’scommending the City Government’s financial stability. Myadministration will continue to give priority to promisingbarangay-level economic enterprises through the BarangayGrow Negosyo as well as explore other economic venturesand promote Naga to more investors in line with PresidentAquino’s Public-Private Partnership policy. Of course, aswith previous years, the City Government will continue toimplement austerity measures to ensure its financial viabi-lity without sacrificing basic services. We also have plansto further promote Naga as a commercial and tourism hubto help boost local businesses, and in the process earn morebusiness tax revenues for Naga, which the City Govern-ment will eventually use to fund pressing anti-poverty programs.

An increasing awareness of the general public concern-ing the environment has led to citizens demanding moreof the government. What do you have in mind for theCity’s environment policies?

Even before the advent of Global Warming as a hot buttontopic, the City Government has always regarded the protec-tion of the environment as a priority. Naga’s Vision State-ment itself includes environmental conservation as one ofthe city’s key policies. The challenge now is how to sustainprior programs and how to enhance or if needed, createnew policies to counter the growing problem of flooding,pollution and environmental degradation in a rapidly

growing city like Naga. Thankfully, the city is receivingtechnical assistance from pollution experts as well as foreignspecialists like UNESCO, U.P. College of Engineering,World Bank and Asian Development Bank to name a few.Hopefully, their knowledge combined with the vast experience of our hardworking city officials and employeeswill help us formulate successful programs for the environ-ment, including the preservation of Mt. Isarog National parkand the Naga River revitalization as well as the developmentof a sound and sustainable solid waste management plan.

Health has always been one of your administration’s keyconcerns. What are your plans for health with Naga’ssteadily growing population?

As an increasingly urbanized city, Naga faces numeroushealth issues. The City Government understands this concernand has actively and continuously formulated programs tosafeguard the health of its constituents.

Combined with the full implementation of existing healthprograms under my administration like the upgrading of theNaga City Hospital from a mere primary hospital to a sec-ondary classification and the accreditation of BarangayHealth Centers, we hope to achieve and in fact exceed thesuccess indicators for health. The city is also set to strengthenits regular nutrition program for public elementary students LIVELIHOOD. As part of the City’s GROW Negosyo project, City Councilor

Babet Lavadia distributes equipment and tools to help start up a recipient’s smallbusiness enterprise. RANDY VILLAFLOR

FOR, BY, OF THE PEOPLE. Mayor Bongat poses forposterity with his constituents (Officers and members ofJunior Trainors Circle) during a break at the Rizal Daycelebration held at Plaza Rizal. JOSE V. COLLERA

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TOURISM. A flourishing hotel industry along the storied Naga River, route of the annual Peñafrancia fluvial pro-cession. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

with the infusion of additional funding for our Nutri-DunongFeeding Program in the 2011 budget, and the addition of locally-made healthy food products like soya milk and misua noodles,which the City Government is assisting through our newly-launched Barangay GROW Negosyo Project.

Naga’s education programs have been hailed as some of thecountry’s most successful. What’s in store for the city’sbright young minds?

My management style has always been to consider successes asnew springboards for further success. While it is true that our educational system, particularly our preschools, have exceeded

SMOOTH TRAFFIC. Better traffic management and enforcement are vital components in enhancing trade and commerce. JAN REV DAVILA

Last Dec. 16, I signed a MOA with the Ateneo School of Government making Naga a model LGU practicing transparencyinitiatives which can be replicated in other LGUs across thecountry. Hopefully, this will further solidify Naga’s image as apremiere destination for public servants.

Urbanization has brought about new problems that poserisks to Naga’s peace and order situation. What are the CityGovernment’s plans to make the city a safer place for citizensand tourists alike?

I have always said that the City Government is willing to expendall resources necessary to ensure the safety of its citizens. In away, Naga’s future as a vibrant community and a liveable citylies greatly in the peace and order situation. An upsurge incriminal activities deters potential investors, residents andtourists. Utilizing the latest in crime-prevention technology suchas newer and better CCTV cameras in strategic public places, theestablishment of the Barangay Information Network (BIN), thelinking of barangays to PCPs through radio networking and statusreporting, an intensified tanod patrol system in collaboration withthe BANKAT Brigades and the addition of more policemenpaving the way for the establishment of a third Police Commu-nity Precinct, I am confident that we can improve and maintainpeace and order. We have also implemented and intensified thepolice beat patrol and mobile checkpoint system to deter criminalelements. The personnel of the Naga City Police Office are alsoundergoing various seminars to improve their capabilities, parti-cularly in the area of crime prevention.

I believe the greater challenge lies with accomplishing muchmore than is expected of us and finding new ways to improvegovernance practices particularly in promoting more transparencyand accountability. There are also plans to further empower theNaga City Governance Institute and improve its capability tooffer courses on good governance practices in collaboration withrenowned academic institutions like the Lee Kuan Yew Instituteof Public Policy and Ateneo de Manila School of Government.

national standards, we can always buildup on this success and improve on it. Forinstance, this year we will be improvingthe structure of our Educare system tomake it even more effective. Right now,we are classifying existing Educare cen-ters according to completeness of facili-ties, preparedness, and competence ofteachers and their ability to sustain pupilattendance and performance.

Additional classrooms, facilities, qualityeducational materials, and teachers’ train-ing will ensure that our students maximizetheir potential before stepping into ele-mentary. Various foundations have alsoinked agreements with the City Govern-ment, offering modern educational techniques to enhance the learning experience which is most welcome as westep up efforts to strengthen public-privatepartnerships.

As the recognized model of Good Governance practices,Naga has much to be proud of. What are your plans tocontinue this distinction?

For several years now, Naga City has been the premiere destina-tion of LGUs from across the country with the objective of learn-ing and replicating its award-winning practices, courtesy of mypredecessor, DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo. The task of goodgovernance does not end with winning distinctions and awards.

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HISTORY AND CULTURE. The city mayor leads the citizens of Naga in the commemoration of the 114th year of martyrdom of Bicol’s Quince Martires whoshed their lives for our nation’s freedom. RANDY VILLAFLOR

Naga’s socialized housing program has been hailed as one ofthe country’s best, if not the best. What are the plannedimprovements for the City Government’s housing program?

Naga has seen a rise in urban dwellers in recent years. A booming economy has attracted thousands of rural residents resulting to congested communities. To address a potential housing backlog, the City Government will continue to establishurban housing sites for qualified residents. In order to ensure theviability and sustainability of the socialized housing program, weare set to empower and reorganize the Urban Poor Affairs Officeand transform it into what we now call the Housing and Settle-ments Development Office. More than just the implementationarm of the City Government regarding urban housing, the newoffice will formulate new policies in coordination with stake-holders to efficiently and effectively help deserving Nagueños secure affordable residential land where they can build their ownhomes.

Naga is often considered the center of commerce, education,religion and culture in the Bicol Region. Are there plans tomake use of Naga’s cultural treasures?

Once called Ciudad de Nueva Caceres, Naga is one of the origi-nal four Royal Cities established by the Spanish conquistadoresin the Philippines. I strongly believe that culture is the soul of acity. Just like the soul, it needs to be nourished. Culture gives acommunity its identity. Naga’s rich history has led to the birth ofa vibrant culture and a flourishing art scene.

It is home to many talented Bikolano writers and artists. In away, Naga is bursting at the seams with artistic talent and creativity. The City Government is set to tap this pool of creativeminds and even help develop the talents of budding youngNagueño writers and artists. A city in touch with its heritage regains and retains its identity and boosts civic pride. Presently,we are collaborating with stakeholders from the academe, thetourism industry players like travel agencies in promoting heritage tours to Naga, home of the devotion to Our Lady ofPeñafrancia, dubbed as the biggest Marian pilgrimage in Asia.

What does Naga have to offer in terms of tourism?

A lot of people, even Nagueños, are unaware of the huge poten-tial of Naga in terms of tourism. Naga’s rich history, as I havesaid, is a big draw to many tourists and visitors who are awe-struck by the presence of so many historic churches and Spanish-era buildings like the NHI-declared historical landmark HolyRosary Minor Seminary. Aside from these heritage features theupland barangay of Panicuason on Mt. Isarog boasts of hotsprings and offers scenic sunset views and spectacular nightscenes of the Metro Naga area. Of course, we have the numerousfalls that dot the slopes of Mt. Isarog as well as the diverse floraand fauna found on the national park. Its rugged terrain and allu-ring beauty often attract droves of adventurers and trekkers. Nagaoffers a variety of tourism activities including culinary tourismthat feature one-of-a-kind Nagueño dishes like kinalas and toastedsiopao. Naga is also the jump-off point to other attractions likethe CWC (Camarines Sur Watersports Complex) and theCaramoan Peninsula. I can fairly say that Naga has come of ageinsofar as tourism is concerned. After all, with our new slogan“Naga SMILES to the World” we welcome you with thewarmest smiles to Maogmang Naga!

BICOL CUISINE. Bicol authentic dishes, such as hot loglog/kinalas and toastedsiopao are among the favorites of tourists and local habitues alike. JAN REVDAVILA

About the MAOGMANG NAGA logo

EVOLVING from “AnMaogmang Lugar” (TheHappy Place), Maog-mang Naga aims to por-tray more than a happyplace but a happy peopleas well.

The first letter of the word “Maogmang”, an adjectivemeaning “Happy” (Maogma), is a dancing human charac-ter, signifying the dynamic nature of Naga. The sun denotesthe warm and cheerful personality of the Nagueños.

The name of the city itself is composed of the “Voyadores”,male devotees cheering Our Lady of Peñafrancia as theirbrethren carry the image of “Ina” on their shoulders.

Colorful “banderitas” or festive flags adorn the logo to showthe vibrancy of Maogmang Naga – the city of warm andfriendly people.

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Advancing Our People’s Vision

• Live in Naga –We want to market the city as an excellent placeto live in given our modern amenities, low cost of living, a broadrange of economic opportunities, under a climate of peace andorder, and accessibility to other urban centers and regional desti-nations. Still, we will retain our city’s provincial charm that makesurban life a little less hurried and leaves one less pressured and ha-rassed. We want to keep Naga abreast with the times but we willmake sure it remains connected with its past. Maintaining our con-nectedness with our colorful past, slowing down urban congestionand revitalizing our green areas are key features to the livability ofour city.

• Experience Naga – In national and international circles, our cityis synonymous with good governance. Experiencing the city isthus learning about transparency, accountability, and people par-ticipation; immersing in the city’s partnerships with civil societyand the individual Nagueño, experiencing excellence and innova-tions in various aspects of urban governance.

• Study in Naga – With its topnotch universities and other learninginstitutions that span the breadth of educational courses, Naga Citycan very well be the “University Town” of Bicol. This is importantto us because certain sectors of our populace depend on a large student population for their daily keep: the transport sector andother entrepreneurs catering to the needs of students and the youth.In addition, the youth is the harbinger of new ideas, innovation andchange, with whom the city government will be forging linkagefor its youth programs, among others.

B. Revenue Outlook

This year’s budget will be driven by a robust outlook for 2011.We are looking at a revenue increase of P83.3 million for 2011which makes our proposed budget higher by 16% compared to the2010 annual budget. This figure is still conservative given the factthat we are using as base the estimated income for 2010.

Internal revenue allotment will account for only 52% of the totalprojected income, the rest will be contributed by business taxes at17%, economic enterprises at 9%, real property taxes at 6%, andthe remaining 15% by various fees, charges and transfers.

We anticipate a continuation in the rise in business taxes. This willbe accounted for not only by new upscale establishments but even

2011 Executive Budget

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By Mayor John G. Bongat

NAGA has been the educational center of Bicol and South Luzon since theSpanish colonial times when the first school for girls in the Far East was established here. FLICKR PHOTO

THE proposed 2011 Annual Budget of the Naga City Governmenttotaling P609,027,078 reflects our resolve to propel our city to-wards our vision of a more livable community. Aside from fundingour usual programs, it seeks to strengthen our city government serv-ices with utmost impact on the life of the ordinary Nagueño, andlaying the groundwork for a more efficient bureaucracy.

This Executive Budget builds on the development thrust of the pre-vious administration thru the complementary program NagaSMILES. Naga SMILES focuses on six key areas that we believewill propel our city to its next stage of development. We havebeen pretty successful in the area of good governance and urbandevelopment. My duty is to make our city an even better place forNagueños and an even better place for others to See, and whereothers can Meet, Invest, Live, Experience and Study in as well.

A. Goals and Objectives:

Our goals and objectives are captured by the slogan: NagaSMILES:

• See Naga – We will encourage more domestic and foreign touriststo come to Naga to enjoy its many natural and historico-culturalattractions. More tourists results in more job and income opportu-nities for our people and the infusion of new development ideas aswe take pride in our culture that traces its roots to pre-colonial daysand enriched during the Spanish period.

• Meet in Naga – We have recently completed the Naga City Col-iseum and we have the best hotels and venues in the region forconventions, meetings and other events. We will leverage theseassets to make Naga City the convention destination in SouthernLuzon. Again, we want more conventions, meetings and eventsfor the economic opportunities they bring to our people.

• Invest in Naga – We are targeting investments that generate jobs,utilize inputs that the city produces, complement our existing eco-nomic strengths, as we position the city in a market that has thepotential for growth. We can already point to results, by way offirm commitments, from the efforts of this office the past fivemonths and we intend to see it thru next year.

i. City Properties Management Office – which will handle theupkeep of center islands, parks and plazas, youth center andsimilar facilities. It will also take charge of completing the in-ventory and ownership documentation of city properties.

ii.Media Relations Office – this will manage the disseminationof accurate and timely information to the public in partnershipwith local media outlets and thru its own activities, at the sametime boosting transparency and promoting the right of the peopleto information about matters of public concern.

iii. City Publications and External Relations Office (formerlythe Naga City Visitors Center)– this will handle the publicationof the city’s official organ, official gazette, brochures, and otherpublications as well as handle visits by other LGUs, civil societyand other groups,

iv. i-Governance Program Office – this will oversee the im-plementation of transparency and accountability tools such asthe city website and the citizens charter.

v. i-Serve Information and Action Center – this will facilitatethe proper interfacing of frontline services with client needs,track and facilitate service delivery, and provide a one-stop as-sistance center on availment of city hall services on a year-roundbasis.

vi. Arts, Culture and Tourism Office – this will implementan effective tourism campaign that highlights the richness anddiversity of arts and culture in Naga City, in addition to the natural spots of Mt. Isarog.

2. Elevation of six offices into city departments that will expeditethe implementation of growth. These are:

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by smaller entrepreneurs who will capitalize on the opportunitiescreated by the big entrants. Of course, we will sustain our tax col-lection effort. One initiative is to contract out the sending of de-mand letters. Per experience of the City Treasurer’s Office,demand letters generate a surge in delinquent tax payments. Sometaxpayers just need to be reminded of their tax obligation. Theproblem is that our existing manpower and logistic complementcan only deliver a fraction of the letters or so that need to be sentout in a year. Contracting out part of the job will make up for ourlimitations at a very minimal cost.

Economic enterprises formerly account for 8% of total projectedincome. The percentage point increase is due to the anticipatednormalization of operation of the Naga City Coliseum. We are for-malizing the terms and conditions for the privatization of the facilityand we will submit the same to the Sangguniang Panlungsod forits review and approval. In the interim, we will request for the ap-proval of a provisional set of rates to support the rental fee collec-tion from Coliseum users.

The increase in real property taxes will be driven both by new prop-erty developments and by the relaxation of the cap to 50% nextyear from the current 25%. Property taxes will further be boostedby regional magnets in the city and forthcoming commercial de-velopments by local businessman in partnership with national con-glomerates, and new business entrants next year.

Still, sound fiscal management dictates that we be conservative inour expenditures. We will thus maintain a 150% reserve on allmaintenance and other operating expenses. This will be graduallylowered as actual collections approximate target. A firm controlon expenditures will be maintained to ensure that every peso spentmove us forward to the desired vision of our city.

C. Budget Highlights

The proposed budget is based on a streamlined bureaucracy whichis likewise submitted for the Sanggunian’s review and considera-tion. Reference has been made to the output of the Public ServiceExcellence Project initiated late last year during the time of thenMayor Jesse M. Robredo, before I and the management committeehave collectively decided to put in place the required support struc-ture for Naga SMILES. Among the proposed changes are:

1. Creation of the Office of the City Administrator (OCA) whichwill cover existing as well as new units which are not full-fledgeddepartments. Under the OCA will be:

i. City Properties Management Office – which will handle theupkeep of center islands, parks and plazas, youth center andsimilar facilities. It will also take charge of completing the in-ventory and ownership documentation of city properties.

ii.Media Relations Office – this will manage the disseminationof accurate and timely information to the public in partnershipwith local media outlets and thru its own activities, at the sametime boosting transparency and promoting the right of the peopleto information about matters of public concern.

iii. City Publications and External Relations Office (formerlythe Naga City Visitors Center)– this will handle the publicationof the city’s official organ, official gazette, brochures, and otherpublications as well as handle visits by other LGUs, civil societyand other groups,

iv. i-Governance Program Office – this will oversee the im-plementation of transparency and accountability tools such asthe city website and the citizens charter.

i. Solid Waste Management Office (SWMO) – Given the gar-gantuan responsibilities of the Environment and Natural Re-sources Office which span the length and breadth of ourecosystem, from air, water to land, the PSEP recommended thespin-off of ENRO’s solid waste management division leavingENRO with the enforcement of the Clean Air and Clean WaterActs as well as environmental permitting and regulatory func-tions. The implementation of the Solid Waste Management Act(RA 9003) will be handled by the proposed Solid Waste Man-agement Office, presently a unit of ENRO. Among SWMO’stasks are the institutionalization of the 3Rs of waste, street clean-ing, curbside garbage collection, waste transport, and final wastedisposal.

ii. Information Technology Office (ITO) – This will providehardware and network maintenance, software development andmaintenance, as well as contract management for outsourcedprogramming services for our varied offices. We have beenahead in the implementation of various IT initiatives in the pastbut because of the absence of an attractive career path withinour EDP unit, young IT talents leave us once they gain experi-ence. The ITO seeks to provide this career opportunity and thusmitigate the exodus of talent giving city hall a firm IT supportteam.

NNAAGGAA CCOOLLIISSEEUUMM.. TThhii ss nn eewwllyy --bbuuii ll tt ss tt rr uucc tt uu rree ii sss ootthhh ee rrwwii sssee kknnoowwwnnaass tt hhee ““BBiigg DDoommee oo ff tt hhee SSoouu tthh”” JJAANN RREEVV DDAAVVIILLAA

The end result of these new offices and realignments will be a flatterorganization which will make executive decisions and feedback di-rect to and from the people concerned without any intervening hi-erarchy, and making service delivery faster and accountability ofimplementing offices more defined. I believe this makes for a moreresponsive and efficient organization. Also, the proposed organi-zational structure aligns us with our commitment to our employeesto be motivated by elevating those that are crucial to departmentstatus.

3. Creation of new positions and rationalization of assignments.The proposed budget likewise includes several new plantilla posi-tions for a couple of departments which submitted proposed orga-nizational structures linked with their deliverables such as theInformation Technology Office (as submitted by EDP personnel)and the City Agriculture Office.

What we will do is further fine-tune our organizational structureby tightening its link with the results expected of the city govern-ment abolishing extraneous ones and aligning everything else withour deliverables. What positions are necessary and what aren’t todeliver the desired results of a department? Equally essential arepositions that offer career growth for high performing employees,we will fund them as well to motivate performance and rewardthose who excel. Funding the streamlined positions will be a multi-year undertaking given the PS ceiling. That is, we will fund themas our income increases until such time that no unfunded positionsremain. We are now formulating a criteria to guide us in deter-mining which positions should be filled up.

Corollary to the creation of new departments and offices is the rationalization of personnel deployment. Those who were assignedto other offices and have proven themselves useful will be perma-nently transferred to those offices—position and all—of course withleave from the head of their mother units. The movements and thecreations are all reflected in the attached plantilla.

4. Compliance with Salary Standardization III and the MagnaCarta for Public Health Workers. The proposed budget coversthe implementation of the second tranche of Salary StandardizationIII which will effect an increase in salaries and wages effective Jan-uary 1, 2011. The requirements of the Magna Carta for PublicHealth Workers have been complied with in keeping with the man-date of the law and the clamor of our health personnel.

5. Full budgetary support for the programs and projects ofour departments as contained in their budget proposal. Wehave been very tight in our previous years’ budgetary allocationsfor our departments and offices. To a certain extent, this has damp-ened innovation and creativity as department heads lack sufficientresources to fund their initiatives. More often than not, they justwaited for initiatives to come from the top as these will be backedby resources.

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iii. Education, Scholarship and Sports Office (ESSO) – Ourexisting educational facilities and services will be handled byESSO. The secretariat of the Naga City School Board, thescholarship desk of the Human Resources Management Office,and the integration of all educational and sports programs of thecity will be fashioned to complement each other thus strength-ening their positive impact on the education and sports develop-ment. ESSO will further be bolstered by competent individualswho will introduce a more rational sports development programfor the youth.

iv. Housing Settlements and Development Office– The city’surban poor program has been one of the cornerstones of our de-velopment program since the early years of the previous admin-istration and played a big part in the sustained growth of ourcity. Its importance has grown as reflected in the huge invest-ment we have poured into the program as well as its significantimpact on the lives of a lot of Nagauenos. Given its crucial rolein charting a sustainable course for our city, UPAO needs abeefed up and a more responsive structure which only a depart-ment can give. We will now call it Department of Housing inkeeping with its broader mandate.

v. Market Enterprise and Promotions Office– The MarketOffice has long been treated as a mere division of the City Trea-surer’s Office and thus is only measured by the amount of rev-enue it collects for the city. But the Naga City Public Markethas overgrown this narrow measure and now has to deliver notonly revenue but also quality service to both its tenants and itspatrons. Indeed, it goes beyond service, what it is expected todeliver to its clients is quality experience. Such cannot be per-formed within the confines of a revenue collections office; thusthe need to detach the Market Office from the City Treasurer’sOffice and transform it into a full department with the challengeto make the NCPM a competitive and self-reliant economic en-tity, transforming it into a commercial complex from its presentstatus as a “pamilihang bayan”. We will call this new depart-ment as the Market Enterprise and Promotions Office (MEPO).

vi. Naga City Abattoir - The Naga City Abattoir is in thesame boat as the Market Office, the same argument holds forits elevation into a full department.

vii. Early Childhood Care and Development Division andChildren-in-Conflict-with-the-Law Diversion and Interven-tion Division – These divisions will be created at the City SocialWelfare and Development Office. The Early Childhood Careand Development Division will spearhead the complementationof CSWDO’s childcare program with other children-related pro-grams of other city government departments and offices. TheCICL Division, on the other hand, will enable us to apply moremanpower and resources to minimize juvenile delinquencies inthe city as well as rehabilitate those already remiss with the law.While we do have personnel performing some of these tasks al-ready, the creation of these divisions will further improve sys-tems and procedures that will make our effort more effectiveand long lasting.

viii. Water Services Office – Formerly known as Task ForceTubig, this office will be under the Office of the City Mayor toexpedite our response to one of the basic needs of our people,particularly the urban poor segment of our population: water.The Water Services Office will anticipate the need for watersupply, prepare the plan to address them, and deploy the re-sources to resolve them.

CITY HALL employees are the City Government’s frontline service providers.RANDY VILLAFLOR

Fund for irrigation rehabilitation on top of the regular budget of theCity Agriculture Office. The proposed agricultural budget will alsofund more post harvest facilities, particularly for drying, as thesehave the greatest value-adding impact on farm produce, as well assustain other income-enhancing interventions at the farm level.Better farm income means more buying power which in turn meansa larger market for urban goods and services. It also means lesserincentive to convert agricultural land to other uses thus a betterchance of containing urban sprawl which is anathema to a livablecity. It also means less people dependent on government dole outsthus preserving our resources for more enduring development en-deavors.

But beyond all these, better income means better lives for our peo-ple and that is what we are all here for.

10. Substantial support for youth programs. The proposedbudget upped the allocation for scholarship to P10 million fromthis year’s P5 million, both in anticipation of the proposed ordi-nance on scholarships being crafted by this august body and of anincrease in availment by our students. On the other hand, fundingfor our youth summer programs (employment and city youthmonth), sports and government internship now stands at P2.4 mil-lion from P2.1 million.

11. Tourism and investment promotion. The allocation fortourism and investment promotion is proposed at a combined totalof P4.0 million. These proposed outlays will fund special projectssupportive of Naga SMILES. Not captured by the figures are ouron-going initiatives to attract new investments into the city. Forinstance, we have been successful in inviting Honda Cars Philip-pines to set up a sales and service outlet here.

We have opened the possibility for one of the biggest call centersin the country to set up a 1,000-seater call center in the city, avail-ability of manpower permitting. And we have also presented asound business case to the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce andIndustry to assist the city in providing avenues for more internaland external investments in the city, and complement our initiativesin facelifting CBD I, aggresive fortifying Naga’s position as thecommercial, financial and trading hub of Bicol. We are doing allthese and a lot more not for the investments per se but for the jobsand economic opportunities they will bring to our people.

While much time went into the crafting of this executive budget, itremains a living document, not one carved in stone, we standsquarely behind this executive budget but we are open to feedbackand inputs if these will enhance our effectiveness and make everytax money count.

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BUMPER HARVEST. Seasoned agricultural technologist Teodolfo Prestosachecks for corn borers. CAGO PHOTO

Under the proposed budget, majority of the funding request by de-partments have been granted except for a few whose submissionsdid not make it to the cut-off. The minor changes that were madeinvolved telephone and fuel allocations as these were based on auniform formula and items whose submitted budget were patentlyexcessive as to invite waste and inefficiencies.

Likewise, requests for additional equipment which will enhanceservice delivery were mostly granted so as not to sacrifice servicequality and among these are: a more reliable man-lift for the Gen-eral Services Offices, motorcycles for the collectors and tax map-pers of the City Treasurer’s Office (as of now, private motorcyclesaugment the few official ones that are available), equipment to caterto the comfort of out-patient clients of the Naga City Hospital (suchas aircon, paging/numbering system and television to be placed atthe waiting area), new service vehicles for pooled use by all de-partments, computer equipment for the Sangguniang Panlungsodsecretariat, server room for the IT Office to house the LAMPservers, library books for the Raul S. Roco Library, new exhibitsfor the Bicol Science and Technology Centrum (the preceding twooffices are proposed to be placed under the Education, Sports andScholarship Office), dog pound and motorcycle for the veterinaryoffice, and replacements of aging office equipments of most of-fices. Indeed, this budget proposal empowers our departments toserve our people better.

6. Robust support for health and welfare services. We haveraised the budget for medicines of the city hospital by half a millionpesos and its budget for medical, dental and laboratory supplies bythe same amount bringing them to P5 million and P3 million re-spectively, and we elevate the hospital to a secondary classificationfrom its present primary category. On the other hand, the proposedbudget for drugs and medicines of the City Health Office is higherby P5.1 million pesos at P1 million. The proposed budget for foodsupplies of the City Population and Nutrition Office is higher byP400,000 at P2.4 million while the proposed consolidated budgetfor direct welfare services of the City Social Welfare and Devel-opment Office including assistance to individuals in crisis situationsnow stands at over P11.3 million.

7. Funding for key infrastructure projects. We have four localfunding sources for our infrastructure projects. These are the cap-ital outlay component of the City Engineer’s Office which has aproposed allocation of P40 million for general civil work projects;the Local Development Fund at over P63.6 million for various cap-ital expenditures including the initial works for the Naga River Re-habilitation Project and environmental flagship projects; the capitaloutlay component of the Special Education Fund (the amount is forthe school board to decide) for school-related infrastructure; andthe Disaster Mitigation and Risk Reduction Fund provided they arein the nature of disaster risk reduction infrastructure. Altogether,we are anticipating over P100 million as funding for infrastructureand related capital expenditures, a substantial portion of which willbe earmarked for solving the perennial flooding problem in the city.

8. Increased assistance for barangays. The annual budgetary re-quirement for barangay volunteer workers, which includes tanods,barangay health workers and barangay nutrition scholars, has beenfully funded while assistance to barangays has been set aside as re-quired by law. The combined barangay assistance fund under theproposed budget stands at nearly P28 million compared to onlyP16.3 million under the 2010 annual budget.

9. Sustained support for agriculture. Our thrust to enhance thequality of life of our farmers is backed by a P2 million allocationfor SARIG Naga (Sustainable Agriculture for Rural Income Growthin Naga) and another P2 million out of the Local Development

The Official Seal of the City of NagaThe years 1575, 1900 and 1946 are recorded on the escutcheon because they mark important milestones

CITY OF NAGA COAT OF ARMS

THE Official Seal of the City of Naga as finally approved by thePhilippine Heraldry Committee is essentially designed by Dr.Domingo Abella. Modifications made by the Committee affected the details of form and shape in line with an officialstandard and uniform pattern laid out by the Committee for allOfficial Seals in the country. No armorial device, however, waschanged or eliminated.

The heraldic significance of the Coat of Arms of the City of Nagacovers a span of 375 years – from 1573, the beginning of its recorded history, to 1948, the year ofits inauguration as a regularlyChartered City by virtue of RepublicAct No. 305.

The years 1575, 1900 and 1946 are alsorecorded on the escutcheon becausethey mark important milestones, as itwere, in the city’s existence.

The armorial devices used indicate thecity’s most characteristic geographicallandmarks – Mt. Isarog, the Bicol River, and rice paddies. They likewise depict the cultural andreligious background of its people, together with the two greatWestern influences which have left an indelible imprint upon theinhabitants’ tradition and character.

By impalement, the two original settlements which now consti-tute the City of Naga are symbolized at the base of the field. Thenative settlement of Naga discovered by Captain Juan de Salcedoon the banks of a tributary to the Bicol River in 1573 takes prece-dence on the dexter side. It is represented by a Narra or Nagathree growing luxuriantly on the vast expanse of rice paddies.

The dexter side’s blue background together with the green of theNarra tree represents the flourishing Oriental culture and pagan-ism of the natives when Westerners first arrived.

The sinister side denotes the Spanish City of Caceres (laterNueva Caceres) founded by Captain Pedro de Chaves in 1575 notfar from the native settlement of Naga by order of GovernorSande (for whose birthplace the city was named). This was the seat, not only of military, and later, of civil gov-ernment (as shown by the Castle) but also of religious authority (the Cross on top of the Castle) over thewhole of South Luzon.

The red of the sinister background symbolizes the blood shed by Spaniards and natives alike in the numerous clashes between the colonizers and their unwieldy and unwilling subjects, from the campaigns of Captain Chaves to the revolt of Corporal Elias Angeles, in the course of three centuries.

At the same time, the red of the background and the gold colorof the Castle stand for the Gold and Red of monarchic Spain. Infess, the Isarog mountain, the Bicol River meandering from themountain down to San Miguel Bay, and the rice fields bathed bythe river along its course, all embrace both entities represented onthe dexter and sinister sides — a geographical reality.

In the course of centuries, the two separate entities — nativeNaga and Castilian Nueva Caceres — expanded; through free admixture, by the end of the 19th century, the inhabitants of one

and the other unit considered themselves residents ofone and a common town. Then followed an officialand religious recognition of the fusion of both unitsunder the name Nueva Caceres at first, during the sec-ond decade of the present century, was changed to thenative vocable Naga.

The upper of “chief” portion of the shield shows anequilateral triangle whose apex is at the “honor”point, representing the most common vehicle used bythe Katipunan for the society’s symbols and insignias.The now City of Naga was the focal point for rallying

the Bicol Region to the cause of the KKK against foreign domi-nation, and it was in the old Nueva Caceres where the martyrs of1897 were tortured prior to their shipment to Manila – never toreturn. It was also in the old Nueva Caceres where Elias Ange-les and his men caused, by force of arms, the surrender of thelast Spanish authority in Ambos Camarines.

Borne upon the triangle is the American eagle symbolizing UncleSam’s rule after the bloody events of the revolution. A scrollborne by the eagle carries the year 1900, when the first Americantroops established themselves locally, and the year 1946 when independence for the whole country was proclaimed.

The white color of the triangular field represents the enlightenedrule of America under whose aegis the community prepared itselffor its place of honor among the chartered cities of the country.On top of all the symbols and armorial devices,occupying the

uppermost center of the “chief” portion,is a scroll bearing the year 1948 – the

culmination, as it were, of thefused communities’ (Naga

and Nueva Caceres)recorded history of 375

years: the year of itsproclamation as the Chartered Cityof Naga.

DR. DOMINGO ABELLA. He designedNaga’s first official seal.

Reprinted from the book “Naga: The Birth and Rebirthof a City” by Danilo MadridGerona

9

The Sangguniang Panlungsod in retrospect:Power to the people

An unsung, less heralded but highly important contributor to this unique achievement by asmall provincial city is the Sangguniang Panlungsod, which has been working closely with theexecutive department in providing a productive, innovative and proactive leadership to Naga.

OVER THE last two decades, the City ofNaga has achieved international renown asa center of innovations in governance,anchored on its effort to promote inclusi-vity and people participation in develop-ment.

By the numbers

The 10th Sangguniang Panlungsod, led bythree-term Vice Mayor Gabriel H. BordadoJr., is living up to that billing in more waysthan one. For instance, from July 2010 upto November 2010, it adopted 205 resolu-tions and enacted 23 ordinances coveringsuch areas as urban development andsocialized housing; labor, livelihood andemployment; environment and land use;public utilities; women and family; youthand sports development; culture andheritage; public health and safety;agriculture, trade, business and industry;infrastructure; tourism and foreignrelations.

The vice mayor himself handles “LibroPara sa Futuro” (Books for the Future)aimed at promoting reading as a tool forself-improvement, and Nutri-dunong, asupplementary feeding program forelementary schoolchildren. CouncilorCecilia De Asis is at the helm of “BantayFamilia” now being replicated in otherlocal government units. Lawyer NelsonLegacion continues to manage the QualityUniversal Elementary and SecondaryEducation in Naga (QUEEN) while thevenerable Judge Esteban Abonal

champions the cause of senior citizens.

Councilor Nathan Sergio has been cited forhis innovative Sandugo program. CouncilorMaria Elizabeth Lavadia links up withother government agencies to protect consumers and to advance the cause ofwomen empowerment. Councilor Ray-anRentoy oversees projects for the youthsector.

On the other hand, Councilor JoseTuason is deeply involved in projectswhich seek to uphold the welfare ofchildren.

Drawing from his experience as a farmer,Councilor Salvador del Castillo, a certifiedpublic accountant and a lawyer, sees to itthat the city’s burgeoning agriculturalsector will be given ample support. Healso serves as the Secretary-General of thePhilippine Councilors’ League (BicolChapter).

Dr. Joaquin “Chito” Perez Jr., aneophyte in the council, is busyconducting medical missions in the city’s27 barangays. His guiding principle isencapsulated in his catchy slogan, “Gustoko, healthy ka!”

Another newcomer, Councilor RaoulRosales, has been very active in theimplementation of anti-drug abuseprojects.

As for the barangay concerns, Liga ng mgaBarangay President Alex Nero is always ontop of the situation, even going out of hisway to help barangay officials in distress.On the other hand, Sangguniang KabataanFederation chairman Michael Garcia had abrief but fruitful stint at the city council.

As former city information officer,acting city administrator and three-term citycouncilor, Vice Mayor Bordado knowsfully well how the Sanggunian as an insti-tution formulated policy and craftedlegislative measures that helped cementNaga’s innovative programs.

But beyond the numbers and otherperformance metrics, the SangguniangPanlungsod has crafted revolutionarypolicies that effectively led to meaningfulpeople empowerment – spawning apractical model of participative governancethat enabled civil society organizations andordinary citizens to have a voice, and agreater stake, in Naga’s growth anddevelopment.

Continued next page

And taking to heart the principleof “shared responsibility” asinitially espoused by then Mayor(now Interior and Local Govern-ment Secretary) Jesse Robredoand adopted by Mayor JohnBongat , the members of theSanggunian have actively takenpart in a number of developmentprograms and projects beingimplemented by the city government on top of their legislative work.

“

”

Vice Mayor Bordado presides over the regular session of the 10thSangguniang Panlungsod of Naga composed of Councilor Cecilia V. DeAsis, Councilor Nelson Legacion, Councilor Esteban Abonal, CouncilorDavid Casper Nathan Sergio, Councilor Maria Elizabeth Lavadia, Councilor Ray-an Cydrick Rentoy, Councilor Jose Tuason, Councilor Salvador Del Castillo, Councilor Joaquin Perez Jr., Councilor Raoul Rosales, former Councilor Jose Mari Mercado (representing the Liga ngmga Barangay) and Councilor Michael Vincent Garcia. The new LigaPresident is Councilor Alex Nero and the new SK Federation PresidentDan Paolo Morales both of Brgy. Liboton.

By Wilfredo B. Prilles Jr.

10

In fact, the institutional accomplishmentsof the Sanggunian should be viewed as onecontinuous thread that has tightly held theseinnovations together – the product of 20uninterrupted years of the same manage-ment team (from the city mayor down tothe last city councilor) that has beengoverning Naga.

The first major initiative that presaged theshape of things to come is innovativeKaantabay sa Kauswagan Program, whichthe Sanggunian institutionalized throughOrdinance No. 98-033, as amended.

Conceptually, the Kaantabay program is aform of social housing. Its core issecuring tenurial rights for urban poorbeneficiaries by acquiring occupiedlandholdings through various innovativeschemes, with the city government playinga critical facilitative andmediating role.

Under the Kaantabay program,innovative approaches to landacquisition, community development andproject financing enabled attainment ofnear universal coverage. It also overcameresource limitations that often handicapnational and local government authorities.

Productivity Improvement Program

If Kaantabay focused on a marginalizedexternal clientele, the ProductivityImprovement Program (PIP) trained itsguns on the internal bureaucracy of the citygovernment. Using private sector tech-niques and adapting it in a local govern-ment setting, the PIP sought to promotepositive changes both in systems andprocesses on the one hand, and the cultureand values of the local workforce on theother.

It was the nearest thing there is to the prac-tice of the New Public Management(NPM) philosophy in a Philippine LGU,exemplified by the development of a “Per-formance Pledge” – a performance metricdefining the response time and staffassigned for each frontline service – forevery department at Naga City Hall. In theprocess, the pledge operationalized trans-parency and predictability in servicedelivery, enabling customers to take to taskdepartments and employees who do notlive up to their service commitments.

This and more were institutionalized by theSanggunian through Ordinance No. 97-002, otherwise known as the PIP Ordi-nance of 1997, principally authored byVice Mayor Bordado (who was still acouncilor then).

People Empowerment Program

Building on Naga’s success inorganization and empowering its urbanpoor residents, the Sanggunian went a stepfurther to open up the entiregovernance processes of the city itself.This was a revolutionary step towards ge-nuine people power a veritable giant leap inthe annals of Philippine local governance –that drew inspiration from relevant provi-sions of the Local Government Code of1991, City Hall’s initial successes with theNGO-PO Council that affirmed the inherent advantages of inclusivity, and finallyeven going beyond what the Codeprovided to promote greater local auto-nomy through decentralization and peopleempowerment.

The net result was the PeopleEmpowerment program, which the Sang-gunian finally adopted – after an arduousjourney punctuated by oftentimes acrimo-nious sessions and deliberations – throughOrdinance No. 95-092, more popularlyknown as the Empowerment Ordinance ofNaga City.

This landmark legislation calls for a systemof partnership between the city governmentand the federation of accredited NGOs andPOs operating in the city, which becamewhat is now widely known as the NagaCity People’s Council (NCPC). It was awatershed in Philippine governance, mark-ing the first time ever that a sitting Sang-gunian opened the legislative process tocivil society organizations process to civilsociety organizations and effectively sharedlawmaking, oversight and powers associ-ated with them.

i-Governance Program

But the city government, and with theSanggunian as innovations vanguard, didnot rest on its laurels. Thus was born the i-Governance program, which broughtpeople empowerment to a higher level, andwhich the city council institutionalizedthrough Ordinance No. 2002-063.

Greater participation of individual citi-zens is the defining feature of i-Gover-nance. While functional partnerships havepowered most, if not all, of Naga’s out-standing innovations in the ‘90s, they areinherently biased towards organized groupsfor practical and operational reasons. Tocomplete the equation and address thislimitation, i-Governance seeks to openmultiple and wide participation of indivi-dual citizens and households in governingthe city.

These include the following:1. Analog or paper-based tools. This pri-marily takes the form of the Citizens Char-ter – a tool that recognizes the realityof a digital divide and is therefore intendedto address the need of around 67 % of thepopulation who do not have internetaccess. The Citizens Charter (now on its3rd edition) documents around 130 key citygovernment services, including procedure,response time, personnel responsible foreach service, requirements checklist tofacilitate service delivery, schedule of fees(if applicable), and location map to the office handling the service.

2. The naga.gov initiative. This compo-nent maximizes the potentials of web tech-nology that is within the reach of a localgovernment in the developing world.

EXECUTIVE - LEGISLATIVE COOPERATION. The Sangguniang Panlungsod in one of its executive sessionswith the City Mayor and his top department heads. JOSE V. COLLERA

11

Named after the city government website atwww.naga.gov.ph, it offers web-enabledindividuals (both local residents and thoseliving abroad), with the opportunity toaccess information on Naga, includingservices of the city government, and tocommunicate requests and complaints in acost- effective and efficient manner. Thewebsite contains a digital version of theCharter (called NetServe). It was recentlyenhanced by webcasting seven primetimeprograms of a local radio station, enablingthe city to respond to the need ofindividuals and communities living abroadto communicate and touch base with theirnative city. The webcast is now the fastestgrowing component of the naga.govforum.

For three years, this initiative wasrecognized as the best city governmentwebsite in the Philippines, elevating Nagato the e-LGU Hall of Fame contest of theNational Computer Center.

3. TxtServe Naga. The mobile governance component of the program.TxtServe allows citizens to convey com-plaints and other concerns to the citygovernment through text or SMSmessaging, using a locally developed sys-tem that can be accessed through a Globehotline – 0917-TXT NAGA or 0917-898-6242. It takes advantage of the higher pe-netration rate of cellular phones (at 67%)over dial-up and broadband internet (whichis only around 33%), and holds the biggestpotential for program expansion.

Through the years, the Sangguniang Pan-lungsod has introduced various innovativeapproaches geared towards more effectiveand efficient legislative services responsiveto the needs of its constituents and to thedevelopment growth of the city.

Conclusion

Jim Collins, a management guru whowrote the contemporary classic “FromGood to Great,” looked into the secretsbehind great, high-performance organizations in the private sector. Oneof the key factors behind institutionalgreatness, he wrote, is a leadership keenon “finding out who, then what.” Usingthe bus as a metaphor for the organization,the leadership puts primacy in getting theright people on the bus, and the wrongpeople off it, before even deciding whereto go on. In other words, it means havingthe right people or management team inplace.

The City of Naga, particularly its Sangguniang Panlungsod, typifies theinstitutional model that Collinsspoke about in his opus. If Naga hasemerged as the innovations leader it istoday, it is because of a unique brandof shared leadership and responsibilityfor local governance it grew and nur-tured over the last 22 years – stable,consistent, and continuing, and there-fore able to overcome the inherent

Nutri-Dunong gains more community-based support

MALNOURISHED public school children under the close watch of the citygovernment’s Nutri-Dunong project initiated by Vice Mayor Gabby Bordadoseveral years ago may soon acquire the necessary shape and vigor ahead of thetimetable set by the program for each batch of recipients.

This, after two groups of concerned individuals took part in the holding of thecity’s regular feeding project being conducted in different public schools in thecity.

Ernani B. Suron, School Board Administrator, said the groups that showedtheir “concern for the undernourished pupils to obtain the status of beinghealthy” are those of the Pasiglahin ang Estudyanteng Pinoy (PEP) and Gotobest’s. PEP donated nutritious powdered milk to the city’s 20 elementaryschools on November 11, this year. Mayor John Bongat lauded the PEP’s ges-ture as “an important help for the continuing feeding project of the city govern-ment under its Nutri-Dunong program.”

Mayor Bongat also commended PEP OIC-ASDS Loida Nidea and other indi-viduals behind the project for their sincere gesture to partner with the LGU inworthwhile projects. Immediately after the donation, the DepEd RegionalOffice’s Health and Nutrition Unit held an orientation briefing for the 20school-beneficiaries on proper milk mixture and feeding application. Eachschool will be allocated 90 kg of milk for 120 continuous feeding days.

Gotobest, an enterprise owned by Emmanuel Zamora and known for itsdelicious “goto,” manifested its support to Nutri-Dunong by offering free riceporridge to 100 pupils every Friday during their recess. The feeding will con-tinue until it has covered all grade levels of a particular school before shifting toanother school for a similar activity. Gotobest’s kick-off activity was held No-vember 19 at Balatas Elementary School. Ernani B. Suron

RANDY VILLAFLOR

limitations of the country’s electoralcycle. As the policy making entity andinnovations vanguard of the city go-vernment, the Sangguniang Panlungsodhas played an understated but very im-portant role in this institutional deve-lopment, thereby making it worthy ofrecognition as one of the outstandingcity councils in the entire country.

New NCSB Administrator Ernani Suron in action.

12

TThhee gglloorryy ooff NNaaggaa iinn tthhee SSppaanniisshh ccoolloonniiaall eerraa

EVERY morning on that portion north of the city’s old businessdistrict, the sunrise ignites the glory of a Spanish colonial era inthe heart of Bicolandia. On one block rises the imposing NagaMetropolitan Cathedral with a similarly ancient seminario knownfor its arcaded façade and French windows straddled on its side.Across the cathedral are two adjacent street blocks, one for theArchbishop’s residence, and the other is where the Universidadde Sta. Isabel proudly stands. The USI, then simply known asColegio, was the site of the signing of the formal recapitulationof the Spanish governor to the rebellious forces of CorporalsElias Angeles and Felix Plazo. It was during that moment thatthe 300 years of Spanish rule in Bicol finally ended.

Nueva Caceres, today’s downtown Naga, was a Spanish settle-ment originally known as “villa de los Españoles”. On May 27,1579 an instruction was received by Capt. Juan Arce de Sardonilfrom the superior government in Manila “to discuss with the reli-gious who are there as to where will be the most convenientplace to settle in that province of Bikol and Camarines and insuch site a villa should be raised and it should be given the namethat will be of your opinion and you shall order all encomenderosof that province that they should live and build their houses thereand not in other parts…”

Soon after, the ancient native settlement of Naga was graduallytransformed into a magnificent Spanish city on order ofGovernor General Francisco de Sande, in whose honor it wasnamed Ciudad de Caceres, the namesake of his birthplace inSpain.

Naga Metropolitan Cathedral

The first cathedral in Naga was constructed in 1595 on a siteclose to the bank of the Naga River where the present Naga pub-lic market stands. Since there was no quarry available then, the

structure was built of available local materials such as nipa,bamboo and wood. Years after, in the early decades of the 17thcentury, the structure was rebuilt using solid materials. But withfrequent tremors and its exposure to the elements, thecathedral deteriorated rapidly and was in a state of ruin in 1655.

The bishop then, Fr. Antonio de San Gregorio, attempted itsrestoration. He had asked support from the king. But the king’sresponse came late as the priest died without being able to carryout his plan.

His successor, Fr. Andres Gonzales, in 1700 gathered and pre-pared the materials necessary to renovate the cathedral, reinforc-ing the walls with buttresses of masonry.

The next prelate, Bishop Felipe de Molina, strengthened thewalls with massive pillars and elevated its walling to accommo-date the tile roofing that he introduced.

Holy Rosary Minor Seminary

Old Peñafrancia Church

By Jose B. Perez

13

The cathedral withstood various natural calamities for sometimebut suffered another major damage when an earthquake struckthe Bicol Region on March 10, 1750.

Bishop Molina’s successor, Bishop Isidro Arevalo, initiated theconstruction of a bell tower. The renovated church and its belltower were completed in 1791 but its existence was cut shortwhen a violent earthquake hit the city on October 5, 1811 andwrought severe damage.

When Fray Bernardo de la Concepcion took over, the cathedralwas in its worst condition. Its closeness to the river and thehumidity of the area were considered to have greatly affectedthe premature deterioration of the edifice.

It was therefore decided that the cathedral be transferred to amuch convenient place where it stands now. The plan was pre-sented to the Superior Government which was promptlyapproved and in 1825, the new Naga Cathedral was completed.

The latest addition to the refurbished Cathedral grounds in modern times under the watch of Monsignor Zosimo Sanado, theincumbent parish priest, is the Porta Mariae.

Celebrating the 300 years of theBicolanos’ devotion to Our Ladyof Penafrancia, a commemorativearch was built and formallyopened on September 9, 2010 atthe Naga Metropolitan grounds.The arch, 18 meters long, 4 me-ters wide and 11 meters high, is asymbolic gate which imbues thejourney of Marian devotion inBicol, built on testimonies ofmiracles witnessed by originalnative devotees called

cimarrones through generations, as the devotion spreads in otherparts of the country and the world.

Sacred doors, such as the Porta Mariae, are opened during jubilee years to signify the bestowal of indulgence and grace.The Porta is situated by the entrance to the Naga MetropolitanCathedral grounds, which it draw inspiration from its façade,replicating its column design.

The structure is classified as a triumphal arch, a structural designrarely done in the present time. In the ancient times, it is constructed to celebrate the victories and triumphs of kings andemperors. The Porta Mariae is one of only two of its kind in thecountry. The other is found in the campus of the University ofSto. Tomas in Manila.

The Porta Mariae is made of reinforced concrete, hollowed insideand its height is equivalent to a 3-storey building. Devotees canascend the staircases on the left and right wings to visit souvenirshops on the second floor, a gallery on the third floor that cutsacross the left and right wings, and a viewing deck on top of it.

Bas reliefs are installed on its façade to narrate the historicaljourney and milestones of the devotion.

Seminario Conciliar de Nueva Caceres

The seminary was founded on March 7, 1793 by Archbishop An-tonio Gallego of Manila who was then the apostolic administratorof the Diocese of Caceres. But some sources made reference to aseminary already in existence between 1645 to 1670 in a placewhich still bears its name, Padian (renamed Calle de Caceres),which means “a place where priests are made.”

The seminary that opened in 1793 was made of wood, bambooand nipa. Nine years after its opening, the seminary had 11 deacons, 24 subdeacons and 247 minor seminarians.

The term of Bernardo de la Concepcion, Bishop of Nueva Caceres from 1816 to 1829, marked a new beginning for the seminary. It was him who moved the seminary from its originalsite in Padian to its present site. His idea was to create a consoli-dated religious center within the Episcopal capital where one getsimmediate access to the cathedral, the bishop’s palace and theseminary.

On May 7, 1865, the Vincentians took charge of the seminary.They built an enlarged building and modernized its facilities andlaboratory equipment.

Fr. Miguel Perez, its rectorin 1891 obtained permissionto grant a bachelor’s degreeby annexing it to the Univer-sity of Sto. Tomas, at thattime one of the few acknow-ledged institutions of higherlearning.

The seminary prides itselfwith its list of illustriousalumni which include na-tional heroes Jose Ma. Pa-nganiban and Tomas Arejola; Jorge Barlin, the first Filipinobishop; and Bishop Teotimo Pacis, the first Filipino Vincentianto be rector of an educational institution.

In 1925, the seminary was renamed Seminario del SantisimoRosario, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary being its Patroness.

On January 29, 1988, the National Historical Institute declaredthe seminario as a National Historical Landmark.

Archbishop’s Residence

Originally known as the bishop’s stone palacio, this palatialhome was built to serve as the official residence of the arch-bishop, who was the Episcopal head of the Bicol diocese, untilits elevation in the modern times as an archdiocese. It was builtat the time of Bishop Francisco Gainza in the mid-19th centuryas part of a triangular religious district that comprised the NagaCathedral with its seminario and the then Colegio de Sta. Isabel.

The four structures gave the city a distinct outline where Spanishambience was perceptively visible until World War II broke out.The original palacio and Colegio (now a university) were burnedto the ground by bombs of the attacking American liberationforces.

NAGA CATHEDRAL

PORTA MARIAE

14

The burnt hulks of their stone masonry were the onlyones that remained. The stone walls of the palaciowere demolished and replaced by a new bishop’s resi-dence with its Spanish-American colonial architecture.

Universidad de Sta. Isabel

Hardly had Bishop Gainza finished the reorganization of the seminary when he thought ofestablishing a school for training of teachers in hisdiocese. Six nuns from the Daughters of Charityarrived on April 10, 1868 and took the parochial houseas their temporary school in answer to the bishop’sprayer.

On the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul on July 19,1868, the bishop, assisted by local officials, officiatedthe laying of a cornerstone for an edifice soon to rise.Four years later, on September 18, 1872, the newbuilding was completed which was to be known asEscuela Normal y Colegio de Sta. Isabel de NuevaCaceres. It was to become the first normal school forgirls in the Far East and probably in the whole ofAsia.

Other than the normal school, the sisters ran a collegesimilar to those found in Manila. It also had a charity

school supported by the ayun-tamiento of the city of Caceres forpoor girls.

Universidad de Sta. Isabel (top), Naga Metropolitan Cathedral (middle), Archbishop’sResidence (bottom) and a Philippine HistoricalCommittee marker for OldPeñafrancia Shrine.

JAN REV DAVILAJOSE V. COLLERA

Culled from various books authored by Jose V. Barrameda,Jose Calleja Reyes, Danilo M.Gerona and Juan Escandor Jr.

15

IN a bid to hasten the growth of thelocal animation industry, the AnimationCouncil of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI)last November 23 to 26 this yearbrought with success the 4th annualPhilippine Animation Festival calledAnimahenasyon to Naga City —one ofseveral emerging talent hotspots for thissunshine industry.

Animahenasyon is a flagship projectof ACPI that seek to build an audience base, increase their aware-ness, and showcase original Filipinoanimated works through a multi-cate-gory competition for both aspiring andprofessional animators in the country.

Ateneo de Naga University, co-presentor of the animation festival, is apremier 3D animation school that’samong the first institutions to offer anundergraduate major in digital illustration and animation.

“Holding Animahenasyon in Naga Cityrepresents a step forward in tapping thehuge potential of Filipino animators beyond Metro Manila,” said ACPI executive director Michael Kho Lim.“There is a lot of untapped and unre-cognized talent out there, and it’s timefor them to be given due recognitionand support.”

“It’s quite a challenge for us to holdthe festival in Naga because of the logistical requirements,” explainedGrace Dimaranan, Animahenasyon2010 festival director and ACPI boardmember. “But we still took on thechallenge since one of our thrusts is tostrengthen the regional animation of thecountry, and this is also part of ACPI’syear-long 10th anniversary celebra-tion.”

Aside from the screening of this year’scompeting animated entries, Animahenasyon 2010 also featured aspecial exhibition program from

City, Ateneo de Naga host Animahenasyon 2010 A total of 152 entries were submitted this year, 71 of which came from the provincesincluding entries from Pinoy animators in Switzerland, United Kingdom and Singapore.

Japan’s Media Arts Festival and thebest works from Gobelins L’ecole deL’image in Paris, one of the world’sbest animation schools.

As Naga City positions itself as a majoranimation hub in the country, the localgovernment and Naga City InvestmentBoard hosted free public night screen-ings of the winning works of Animahenasyon 2007-2009 at PlazaQuezon from November 23 to 25.

Also part of the festival was a conference exploring the areas of education, production, technology andentrepreneurship in animation. EricRiewer, chair of the animation department of Gobelins L’ecole deL’image opened the conference.Renowned Jess Española, the first Fi-lipino ever to win an Emmy for anepisode he did for one of the longest-running and best loved US animatedseries “The Simpsons,” hosted a webinar session (interactive conferencethrough the web) to impart to the participants the creative process theyfollow and the best practices in animation in the U.S.

For three hours, Española encouragedthe student animators to work hard andhone their creative skills and challenged them to create works withfocus on the story and the content produced and come up with a truly Filipino work, in style and character,for Philippine animation to be recognized worldwide.

Incidentally, this year’s lifetimeachievement recipient is cartoon and independent animation veteran andNaga City native, Roxlee, famed forhis long-running comic strip, “CesarAsar” in Manila Bulletin.

“This is indeed a surprise for me,”Roxlee said, “and I am deeply honoredto be this year’s lifetime achievementawardee.

I am also quite ecstatic that this year’sfestival is giving due attention to otheranimators from all around the country.I believe this is the key to a successfuland flourishing animation industry forthe years to come.”

Naga City has been steadily building itsreputation as one of the major animation hubs in the country. In partnership with local academic andtraining institutions and ACPI, the localgovernment, now under the leadershipof City Mayor John Bongat, continuesto support Animation as a priority investment area.

Through the Naga City Creative MediaCenter (NCCMC), the City offers support to potential investors in Animation through business incubation,continuing professional developmentand encouragement of original contentdevelopment.

Animahenasyon was made possiblethrough the support of the Commissionon Information and CommunicationsTechnology, Hewlett Packard Philip-pines, Ateneo de Naga University,Hero TV, the French Embassy, NagaCity Investment Board, and theprovince of Camarines Sur.

ACPI Press Release

16

More efficient streetlights to save cost on consumption

Chart (below) shows the energyusage for different types of lightbulbs operating at different lightoutputs. Points lower on the graphcorrespond to lower energy use.

fluorescent lights to help cutgreenhouse gas emissions andhousehold costs.

Such measure is now being fol-lowed in Canada and Australia,as well as in Ireland and Japan.

An Associated Press report saidcompact fluorescent bulbs needjust 20 percent of the electricitythat incandescent lamps use toproduce the same amount oflight. They also last six to tentimes longer than the average in-candescent bulb.

According to edie.net: “Expertsestimate the switch to CFLs willresult in household lighting costsin the Philippines falling by asmuch as 80%, and the country’sannual greenhouse gas emissionsfalling by 2 million metric tons.

National electricity demand isexpected to fall by 2,000megawatts – equivalent to theelectricity generated by sixpower plants.”

By Jason B. Neola

WITH economic progress marching inquick strides, especially in cities, the challenge for city administrators and policymakers is to balance such dynamism withsustainable development of the environ-ment which, among others, requires thereining of energy utilization.

It is estimated that public and commercialbuildings alone account for 60 percent ofelectricity consumption.

Experts said a switch to new energy efficient lighting technologies can help achieve energy saving by as much as 60 percent, thus helping the citybecome more sustainable, raise energy efficiency and save power costs.

Moving along this line, the Naga Sanggunian Panlungsod unanimouslypassed Ordinance No. 2010-053 which appropriates the amount of P983,000 tocover the purchase of some 4,000-pluscompact fluorescent lights (CFL) to replace the energy-guzzling old-fashionedMercury bulbs used in the city’s street-lights.

During the regular session last Nov. 2,2010, City Councilor Nelson S. Legaciondelivered a privilege speech urging for theimmediate replacement of the city’s 2,496pieces of 160-watt and 1,961 pieces of 80-watt Mercury bulbs with the more econom-ical and environment-friendly 24-wattcompact fluorescent lights.

Legacion said his urgent call came after ameeting with City General Services

Department Chief Arthur Abonal on howto solve the city’s increasing bill on powerconsumption. He said they came up with acomputation that showed how much savings the city would realize if it usescompact fluorescent lights instead of thetraditional Mercury bulbs that are currentlyused in the city’s streetlights.

The city councilor said that by doing so,the city stands to gain annual savings of asmuch as P31.9 million, which is equivalentto P2.3 million a month, or a daily savingsof P87,318.90 on streetlights. “The invest-ment cost [that the city council will appropriate] is recoverable in a matter ofonly ten (10) says,” Legacion said, addingthat “It is this same amount we will be los-ing in the event that we do not act immediately in favor of the course of action that I am proposing.”

He underscored that given the averagedaily savings of P87,318.90, “it will onlytake 9.69 days for us to be able to say thatwe have already recovered the said total in-vestment cost of P983,000.00.”

The amount appropriated by the Sanggunian will cover the purchase of2,496 pieces of 160-watt and 1,961 piecesof 80-watt Mercury bulbs, respectively,and the rest of the amount for the replacement of 800 more pieces of 100-watt incandescent lamps with the CFL that altogether would raise the total savings toP35 million per year.

Todate, the fieldmen of theGeneral Services Depart-ment have their hands full replacing the old bulbs.Abonal said they hope tocomplete their task beforethe end of January nextyear.

Indeed, more concernedstakeholders are moving tophase out incandescentand/or mercury bulbs by theend of 2010 in favor ofmore energy-efficient

Councilor Nelson S. Legacion

17

After the launching of the “Salog Kan Buhay: Contest for BestConceptual Design for the Revitalization of the Naga River,” theCity Hall has bared another contest this time for the design of anemblem that shall embody the historic significance of this city asthe heart of arts, culture and faith of Bicol.

In the same event that the 12 entrants to the Salog Kan Buhay Con-test presented their concepts last December 15 Wednesday, CityEngineer Leon Palmiano IV together with City Mayor ExecutiveAssistant Alec Santos formally presented the guidelines of the “Pil-grimage City Landmark of Naga Design Contest” a competitionopen for all individuals (students, professionals or private citizens),groups and organizations based in the Bicol Region with a visionfor a monument that will embody the historical and cultural im-portance of Naga City. The formal launch is set for January 31,2011 during the opening ceremonies of the National Arts Monthcelebration.

The City Government, however, is already accepting entries andis aggresively promoting the contest.

Organizers envision the winning design to show the religious sig-nificance of Naga in Bicol, being the home of Nuestra Señora dePeñafrancia, the Patroness of the region, and the newly-recognizedPilgrimage City of the South as pursuant to Presidential DecreeNumber 33 and Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution Number2010-280.

“The winning design will automatically be owned by the City Gov-ernment of Naga and may be subject to modifications in order tosuit our resources,” Palmiano explained. “It will be erected at theConcepcion-Panganiban intersection.”

Naga starts quest for city monumentBy Shiena M. Barrameda

According to guidelines, said monument must show the pre-colo-nial and Spanish heritage of Naga as well as the unity, diversityand images of Bicolano faith and devotion.

Such creation should have a base not exceeding nine meters in diameter with a height that must not be more than eight meters.

Participants must submit their entries both in compact disk (CD)format and scrapbook with illustrations and perspectives from thefour directions as seen from Maharlika Highway from Manila, Ma-harlika Highway from Legazpi City, Panganiban Drive andMagsaysay Avenue. The scrapbook must have the participant’scomplete name and contact details with a brief abstract of the design.

Such entries must also be detailed in a PowerPoint presentationcontained in the CD which will be used during the presentation onFebruary 18, 2011 to the Board of Judges which will be composedby representatives from the academe, private sector, media, andthe local government of Naga.

Entries will be judged according to historical and cultural relevance(40%), aesthetic impact (30%) and practicability of the design(30%).

The First Prize shall win P30,000 cash, a certificate and trophy.Second prize shall be given P20,000 plus certificate and trophywhile Third Placer shall have P10,000 plus certificate and trophy.

Interested parties must pass their entries on or before 5pm of Feb-ruary 11, 2011 to the Arts, Culture and Tourism Office at the CityHall and may contact (054) 4789579 for more details.

Winners will be announced on February 25, 2011.

18

1. To create awareness among

stallholders that the City is serious in

promoting the market as tourist

destination.

2. To highlight the Market as

microcosm of a vibrant society and as a

valuable community resource which

reflects Naga’s heritage and serves as a

source of civic pride for the past, present

and future generations.

1. This contest is open to all amateur and professional photographers.2. Use of minimal digital editing is allowed PROVIDED that both raw and

edited photos shall be submitted to the organizers.3. The contest shall cover the following themes:

a. Merkado Publiko: Lalawgon nin higos asin disiplina kan Nagueño(PEOPLE). Will feature faces and activities of vendors (act of sellingand maintaining cleanliness in their vicinity) and market employees (act

of maintaining order, cleanliness in the public market).b. Merkado: Orgulyo kan Nagueño, sa Kinaban Bistado (PLACES,

STALLS, WARES AND GOODS). Will feature places, stalls, goodsand wares in the Market (eg. photo dried fish arranged artistically)

4. All accomplished entry forms and photos shall be submitted by e-mail to allen.reondanga@naga.gov.ph

5. An exhibit of entries shall be arranged by the Board of Judges composed of apracticing photojournalist, a photography instructor and a City Government

representative. 6. All submitted photos must bear a title and a short caption.7. All winning photos shall be given preference in the design and layout of the

Naga City SMILES Magazine, the Naga City Gazette, Naga City Brochure, website and other city publications and collaterals.

8. All submitted entries shall be exclusively owned by the City Government of Naga.

9. There shall be four (4) weekly winners of limited edition City-commissioned quality t-shirts (design of shirt will be published in the Naga City website).

10. Timelines of the contest are as follows:• Formal Launch:

January 31, 2011• Pre-launch promotions campaign:

January 15 – 31, 2011• Contest period:

February and March 2011• Awarding of Grand Prizes:

April 4, 2011

11. Only weekly winners shall qualifyfor the Grand Prizes as follows:1st Place : 3,000.00 plus certificate2nd Place: 2,000.00 plus certificate3rd Place: 1,000.00 plus certificate

Entry forms are available at the following offices:

Office of the City Mayor2F City Hall, J. Miranda Ave. Naga City (054) 698.3871- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Market Enterprise and Promotions Office 2F Naga City Public MarketNaga City

Bicol Mail, Dec 31, 2010

19

I think maturity helps. I’mnot sure if the films I did before were all just goofs.They are comedies, satires,but with values maybe.

- Roxlee on the values of film “PhilippineNew Wave: This is not a Film Movement”

“

”

21

Roque Federizon Lee, better known as Roxlee, is an independent animator. He was born to Chit Lee and FortunaFederizon in Naga City, Camarines Sur on August 16, 1950.

He completed his elementary years at Naga Central School, finished high school at Ateneo De Naga, and earned his architecture degree from the National University in Manila. Hestarted out as a cartoonist--first contributing cartoons to Jingle Magazine, and then doing the comic strip Cesar Asar forManila Bulletin in collaboration with his brother Monlee since1981.

He is a pioneer of independent film animation in the Philip-pines. Working outside the "factory" system, usually with onlyone or two collaborators, he’s a magician who can instantlyconjure up an original piece working only with the barest ofmaterials, usually with just pen and paper and ink.

Spontaneity and irreverent situational ideas are paramount forhim over fanciful techniques and linear storytelling. His edgyapproach can be likened to the films of Bill Plympton, whosesurreal sense of humor he shares. What is incalculable is hisoriginality as an animator and filmmaker, which can be considered as an attempt to create a modern Filipino style andphilosophy of filmmaking.

His early works were done in super-8 film--divided betweenhand-drawn scratchy works like The Great Smoke, and pixilated live action pieces like Juan Gapang. Both are nowconsidered classics of the independent film movement of the1980s.

In the 2000s, he reinvented himself as a digital filmmaker. His"12 commandments of filmmaking" has turned him into somekind of guru, an inspiration to filmmakers young and old.

Although he never worked in the animation industry, Roxlee’s independent approach to filmmaking has influenced a whole generation of younger animators, many of whom first took upcourses at the Mowelfund Film Institute in the 80s and 90s.Some of these animators are now stalwarts in the industry.

Roxlee also has a modest but keen international following,mostly in Western Europe, Japan and Singapore. Maybe computers and 3D animation software may have made Roxlee’sanimation antiquated and old school, but he has proven thatanyone can be an animator, as long as he has pen, paper, ink,interesting ideas, and the will to get it done.

Thou shall not lose the passion of makingfilms, just work andwork up to the lastbreath.

- Roxlee’s 12th Commandment of Independent Filmmakers

“

”

The great animator Rox Lee isas crazy as he is genius. He hasbeen making films since the80s, and his animation worksare among my all time favouriteFilipino short films (to name buttwo: "The Great Smoke", "ABCD",though all are priceless). Hecombines the absurd and theconscious with a charm only hecan pull off.

- Alexis Tioseco, Film Critic1981-2009

“

”

22

TOURIST arrivals in Naga City and the Province ofCamarines Sur breached the 1.5 million mark as early as Sep-tember this year, the highest in the region, according to a re-port by the Department of Tourism.

The report on the regional distribution of travelers in Bicol,as attested to by DOT Regional Director Maria ‘Nini’ O. Ra-vanilla, shows that domestic and foreign tourist arrivals inCamarines Sur, with Naga City as major hub, reached1,879,192 for the period from January to September 2010alone, another remarkable improvement of 53% over thesame period of last year’s 1,229,029.

The combined 2010 figure for the province and the cityrepresents almost two-thirds of the regional total number oftourists, 2,440,910 for both domestic and foreign that visitedBicol during the period. All hotels in the city were reportedto be fully-booked during the first three weeks of Septemberbecause of this year’s celebration of the 300th year of the Bi-colanos’ devotion to Our Lady of Penafrancia, with someguests and devotees spilling over to accommodation housesin as far as the cites of Legazpi and Iriga.

PHOTO BY JERRY LIM LEE

Naga, CamSur get the lion’s share in Bicol tourism boomBy Jose B. Perez

23

Following CamSur and Naga City in the tourist arrivalranking are Albay and Legazpi which registered a combinedtotal of 235,562 domestic and foreign tourists during the sameperiod, an improvement of 65%, the highest growth rateamong the 6 provinces in Bicol, over last year’s 142,976 forthe same 9-month reporting period.

The final annual report, covering the January-December 2010period, will be out by January next year, according to theDOT regional office based in Legazpi City. It is possible thatby December this year, total arrivals in Bicol would reachthree million, or almost, the highest ever in the region’stourist arrival history.

Coming in third is the island province of Masbate with124,530 tourist arrivals, although this number is a negative4 growth rate compared to the 129,958 tourist arrivals theprovince posted during the same period last year. The slightdecrease may be attributed to the 2010 May elections whenMasbate was tagged as one of the election hot spots in thecountry.

In fourth place is Sorsogon with 87,937 tourist arrivals,trailed closely by Camarines Norte that chalked up a total of87,131 tourist arrivals during the same period. At the bottomof the ladder is the island province of Catanduanes whichposted 66,558 tourist arrivals, a decline of -24 growth ratecompared to the 87,219 tourist arrivals that it registered dur-ing the same period last year.

Tourist arrivals are based on the registry books ofaccommodation establishments in the respective provinces, according to the DOT.

Director Ravanilla identified Mayon Volcano, CWC,Caramoan and the Butanding as the prime tourism icons ofBicol; whereas, the annual Peñafrancia fiesta in Naga City isthe biggest religious and socio-cultural festival that drawsover a million devotees and guests who cannot be fullyaccommodated by the limited number of hotels, and thus findthe rest of the guests finding rooms in the homes and othernon-traditional shelters of friends and relatives during the season.

PHOTO BY JONNEL HERNANDEZ

Wakeboarding at CWC Islands of Caramoan Butanding interaction in Sorsogon

24

Goat farming beefs up barangay-based livelihood program

SEEING the “meaty” opportunities ingoat raising as additional source of income for poor families especiallythose living in the city’s rural commu-nities, Mayor John Bongat didn’t thinktwice to express his full support to therelatively nascent livestock industryhere which he hoped “will become an important player in our quest for economic growth.”

In his meeting with small-scale goat raisers last month, the city mayor assured the inclusion of the industry inthe GROW (acronym for Growing Opportunities for Wealth) Negosyo,one of the city government’s center-piece programs that provides assistanceto micro-enterprises in the form of loanpackages through its year-round fund-sourcing activities.

Rufo T. Llorin, M.D., a goat-raiserwho helps other goat farmers to organize their own network in order toupgrade goat stocks, said scientificstudy bared that goat milk and chevon(goat meat) have positive effects onhuman health and nutrition because oftheir nutritional and therapeutic properties.

The goal to strengthen the city’s goatindustry will be undertaken throughpartnership between the local govern-ment and goat farmers by institutingthe Metro PESO’s supervised goat-raising credit program.

One of the expected major outputs ofthe partnership will be the establish-ment of a small-scale goat milk processing facility.

Other than milk production, the

goat raisers are also planning to engage in goat fattening as it was observed thatwhile the consumption of carabeef,pork and duck decreased, consumptionof chevon (goat meat) along withchicken and chicken eggs increased.

Goat milk, according to the National Association of Child Development, isrich in alkaline, naturally homoge-nized, and has colostrum which exactly replicates a mother’s milkcolostrum – the most important factorfor immunity and the immune system.

Other than being a livelihood activity,goat-raising also comes as an opportu-nity to advance gender equity by employing women who wish to increase their access and control overproductive resources.

Dr. Llorin also said that its lower investment cost makes goat-raising formilk and meat more suitable for small-holder/resource-poor farming families.Upgrading the existing stocks, how-ever, is necessary to boost productivityand quality of the product. Goat-raising therefore has the potential tocontribute to poverty reduction.

“It is expected to bring major impactsat the community level like higher employment rate, improved householdincome and the emergence of modelentrepreneurs,” Mayor Bongat said.Other barangay-based industries whichare being given assistance under MetroPESO’s lending program are: pili nut processing, tinapa, misua, and pickled vegetable processing, softbroom production, and production ofcharcoal briquettes out of water lilies.

Other priority micro-enterprises are:wax and candle-making, furniture-making, upholstery, recycling of tireparts, bamboo craft, slippers and bags,pinangat-making, paper craft, slippersand vegetable/cut flower production;cacao processing, floor wax,taho/tokwa, eateries, loglog kinalas,candies/wafer, meat processing, rice-cake and tin-craft, balut-making, andsiopao baking.

By Jason B. Neola

25

Edited by Jason B. Neola

outshone other chambers to be conferred as The Most Outstand-ing Chamber in the Philippines for 2010 and The Most Out-standing Chamber of Commerce in Southern Luzon.

A business chamber needs to win three times in five years to beincluded in the Hall of Fame.

“It’s recognition of the things we have accomplished. It’s goodthat we know we are doing the right thing and that we are doingbetter,” MNCCI President Alberto Bercasio said.

Bercasio said that they may have won the award because of thestrong public-private partnership they exhibited with the CityGovernment of Naga and other municipal governments thatcomprise Metro Naga.

“We tried to be a significant partner of the community. We arein the forefront of issues especially those affecting the businesssector,” Bercasio stated.

Bercasio also said that the MNCCI walked the extra mile fromthe usual functions of the chamber of commerce by painstak-ingly offering business management trainings and managementinstruction systems to medium and small entrepreneurs.

“The chamber is commonly perceived to be for big businessesonly. We made it a point to reach out. There are 11 consul-tants who offer their technical expertise for free to small andmedium entrepreneurs,” Bercasio disclosed.

“We made the market vendor’s association as an affiliate mem-ber. Presidents of municipal business clubs in Metro Naga arealso among our members,” Bercasio added.

As a result of the honor received by the Chamber, Bercasio re-vealed that there are already various chambers across the coun-try and other stakeholders who expressed their desire to visitNaga to see the Chamber’s practices that earned them theiraward.

“At least, we have a share in the pie [in Naga’s tourism],”quipped Bercasio.

Metro Naga biz chamber gets Hall of Fame

HALL OF FAME. Top officersof the Metro Naga Chamber ofCommerce led by PresidentAbet Bercasio (standing, second from left) and incomingPresident Philip Imperial(standing, third from right) rejoice as they receive theiraward during the 36th Philippine Business Conferenceat the Manila Hotel.

THE Metro Naga Chamber ofCommerce and Industry (MNCCI)bagged for the third time in a rowthe Most Outstanding Chamber inthe Philippines earning for it theprestigious Hall of Fame of thePhilippine Chamber of Commerceand Industry (PCCCI), the largestbusiness organization in the country.

During the 36th Philippine BusinessConference and Exposition (36thPBC&E) held October 13-15 at thehistoric Manila Hotel, MNCCI

Meanwhile, the AFOS Foundation for Enterpreneurial Develop-ment and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry,through the “Working for the Enhacement of the Chamber andAssociation Network in the Visayas and Caraga (WE CANVisayas & Caraga) partnership program and the MNCCI arecoming to visit Naga on January 19-20, 2011.

“The visit,” according to Dr. Stephan H. Kunz, country directorof AFOS Foundation, “aims to substantiate the learnings of ourpartner chambers during the first Chamber Exchange on 12 October 2010 where the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerceand Industry generously shared with our partner chambers itsinitiative to create the Naga City Business Registry Databank(NCBRD).

The field visit will also expose the Visayan businessmen to theactual onsite operations of the NCBRD which they could hope-fully apply in their respective area, Kuns said.

Paul John F. Barrosa Bicol Mail, Oct. 21, 2010

MNWD speeds up expansionprogram

FACED with the ever-increasing demand for potable water, theMetropolitan Naga Water District (MNWD) is vigorously pursu-ing a multi-million-peso project package to improve and modernize the water supply system in its coverage area.

Among the ongoing works is the replacement of old water distri-bution pipelines in Barangay Dayangdang and Blumentritt Streetin Barangay Tinago.

As part of the Water Source Development program package, thepumping stations in Barangays Cararayan and Pacol have earlierbeen completed. Each pumping station costs more or less P3M.

These lifeline facilities are meant to address the increasing demand for more water supply in the city’s urban areas includingthe municipalities of Canaman and Camaligan.

The Water Source Development program takes care of site identification and operation of sources of water, as well as construction of production wells or pumping stations.

Cesar Federizon, MNWD spokesman and head of the Operationsand Maintenance Division, said the project package is targeted toservice some 40,000 households for the first and second quarterof 2011.

Currently, the MNWD caters to over 35,000 households and isclassified under “Big Category” by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA). It has a collection efficiency of 95% and an average of 22% non-revenue water supply (systems loss).

Federizon said the percentage of the non-revenue water may decline as the MNWD board and management “are seriouslybent on doing their utmost to penalize or file appropriate chargesagainst water pilferers and thieves.” He said water leakages arealso being given appropriate attention. Continued next page

26

City Government inks education agreement

Using the latest in 3G technology, teachers can download lessonsfrom a regularly-updated selection prepared by SEAMEO-IN-NOTECH. As many as 40 students at a time can view shortaudio-visual presentations.

By Alec A. Santos

BARELY half a year into City Mayor John G. Bongat’s firstterm as chief executive, the City of Naga is well on its way inimproving its educational system.

After months of negotiations, the City Government was able toclose a deal with Smart Communications, Inc., the PhilippineBusiness for Social Progress (PBSP), the Ateneo de Naga University, and the Department of Education (DepEd) to gain assistance in the form of training of volunteer tutors and the development of learning modules.

Dubbed as CommuniTeach, the program aims to develop localteachers and volunteer instructors in helping academically-challenged public elementary school students in Naga throughmentoring.

The Memorandum of Agreement was signed in a simple cere-mony held last Dec. 13 at Triangulo Elementary School byMayor Bongat, Ramon Isberto, Public Affairs Group head ofSmart Communications, Inc., Klaas Oreel, Chief Executive Advisor of PBSP, Fr. Joel Tabora, President of Ateneo de NagaUniversity, Dr. Diosdado San Antonio of DepEd, and the principals of the participating elementary schools of Brgy. Triangulo and Brgy. Pacol.

Under the agreement, which will last for the next 3 years, Smart Communications will provide funding for the implementation ofthe CommuniTeach program through the PBSP-Motolite “BalikBaterya” program. The Naga City Government, for its part, willprovide for the annual operational funding that will benefit thetwo schools, with 40 students from each school gaining from thementoring program.

Student volunteers from Ateneo de Naga University will alsoserve as volunteers to help in the mentoring of participating stu-dents. The DepEd, as the primary agency for education, is expected to ensure the performance of the obligations and under-taking of the participating schools and help in the evaluation andassessment of program implementation.

“This is the dawn of a new era for basic elementary education inNaga. Through this agreement, the City Government of Naga isforging strong bonds as a sign that we value public-private part-nerships and its benefits, especially in ensuring a better andbrighter future for our young Nagueños,” says Mayor Bongat.

A new Memorandum of Agreement with the Ayala Foundationalso pertaining to education, is set to be signed by Mayor Bongatby the first week of January 2011. The Ayala Foundation willalso tap the technical expertise of the Southeast Asian Ministersof Education Organization Regional Center for Educational Inno-vation and Technology (SEAMEO-INNOTECH) and GlobeTelecom for the proposed project.

Under the Text2Teach project, the Ayala Foundation will provide3G-capable mobile phones for 12 beneficiary schools, educa-tional video and audio materials on English, Math and Sciencesubjects and teacher training. The Local School Board and theCity Government, for their part, will identify and recommendqualified schools as well as provide 29-inch colored televisionsets for each of the 12 schools.

GROW Negosyo to produce“green charcoal” By Jason B. Neola

Water lilies, anyone?

A KNOWN couturier was fuming mad when a popular restaura-teur claimed exclusive ownership of all the water-lilies teemingin the Naga River.

The scenario may be an exaggeration as of now but may not beimpossible in the future when everyone would be scampering forthe green plant which promises to be a high-end material for various crafts.

Once derided as “trash”, water lilies are fast becoming a sought-after material with the emergence of new technology that makesit a major source for useful products.

Otherwise known as water hyacinth, the plant may be processedto produce gowns and barongs, considered as couturier’s master-pieces, because of its distinct stiffness and durability as a textilesubstitute material. Continued next page

WATER SUPPLY. Workers of the Metro Naga Water District do thegroundworks in the installation of modern pipelines to ensure safe and cleanwater supply in the city’s households. MNWD PHOTO

Other than setting up of new major pipelines, a transmission lineis also being installed to address the water requirements ofBarangay Abella and the adjacent municipality of Camaligan.

Transmission line installations are also ongoing in Canaman andMagarao towns.

Federizon said ongoing studies on several projects aimed at im-proving the delivery of potable water services are being givenfull attention by the MNWD board and management, in close coordination with local government units concerned, especiallythe City Government of Naga whose residents compose the bulkof its water consumers. Cesar Federizon

MNWD speeds up construction (from page 26)

27

Educare: Showcase for childcare and education

HAVING won twice the Presidential award for being MostChild-Friendly City in 2007 (for highly urbanized cities) and in2009 (for independent cities), Naga, thru its Educare Service Pro-gram, has become a showcase of how we do things in takingcare of our children. More LGUs are coming to Naga City tolearn and replicate our salient innovations in child care and education.

The Educare Service Program itself is an integral component ofthe Naga Early Education Development (NEED) program whichwon the national “Galing Pook” Award as early as July 1996.

The program was conceived in the early 90s when the city go-vernment recognized the need for the provision of daily care forthe city’s children aged 3 to 6, especially of those whose parentsare working outside their homes. It was at that time that the func-tion of the local offices of the Department of Social Work andDevelopment (DSWD) were devolved to the LGU whichprompted the city government to exercise its innovative creativityby combining child care with early education.

City Social Work and Development Officer Jimmy Reblandosaid the program continues to update and upgrade its comprehensive child development scheme wherein children areprepared to get a better start in life using a more competitive andmodern teaching system and technology comparable with the bet-ter endowed private school system.

The Educare service program to this day has the followingachievements: increase in the number of centers, enrollees andteachers; continued training of Educare workers; heightened degree of parents’ involvement; commitment of barangays officials in the provision of budget for day care workers’ honoraria; maintenance of day care centers and facilities; expanded training for workers to include care for the handi-capped (for every class, a special child can be included to betaken care of by teachers with special training on the handi-capped); handbook to guide personnel and promote public awareness; and individual child record to monitor the child’shealth condition and progress.

According to Elsie Romano, Educare Supervisor, the children’simproved behavioral pattern are discernible by their self-esteemand confidence in the course of their stay with the Educare center. “The teachers, on the other hand, improve their skills bytheir continued trainings and immersion in the Montessori waysof teaching,” she added.

With its main Educare Center based in Bgy. Tinago, the Educareprogram has 85 Educare teachers in 72 centers situated in thecity’s 27 barangays. All the teachers are DSWD-accredited asprovided for by Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD)Act, the first in Bicol to be 100% accreditation compliant.

Jim Reblando

And yet, the usefulness of the water lily goes beyond the fashionworld with the latest innovation transforming the lowly amphibi-ous plant into “green charcoal,” an inexpensive and economicalalternative for fuel.

Appearing in compact briquettes, the green charcoal is not actu-ally green in color but black. It is a product of various “grassy”or cellulose materials and enzymes processed and compressedlike the conventional charcoal.

In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, theCity Government of Naga, thru Mayor John Bongat’s centerpieceprogram on livelihood and entrepreneurship, GROW Negosyo,has started with a series of training seminars to develop water lilyas a source of livelihood programs and pave the way for the establishment of a Green Charcoal Briquetting Facility in thecity.

GROW Negosyo has been providing its member-micro-entrepre-neurs with financial assistance by way of loan packages thru itsyear-round fund-sourcing scheme.

Provision for the purchase of materials and supplies for the con-duct of techno transfer training on production of green charcoalbriquettes will come from the DTI.

DTI’s assistance also covers the provision of the following equipment:

• Charcoal Briquetting Machine(Model KBM), screw-type withfeeding hopper, drawing die, andcutter mounted on base frame,and speed reducer powered by 1hp single phase electric motor.• Mixer (Model KM), capacityof .741 cu ft./batch; 24” dia x9” 2-10”x2- 2½ roller, completewith lows, rotating elements anddischarge port powered by 1 hpsingle phase electric motor.• Dewatering Machine, roller-type, complete with loading hopper, liquid spout, and speedreducer powered by 1.5 hp electric motor.

HYACINTH. Unwanted water liliesalong the Naga River will soon beput to good use. FLICKR PHOTO

Under the city’s initiative, processing of the water lily as a meansof livelihood may yet turn out to be a gold mine.

GROW Negosyo to produce (from page 27)

28

SENIOR citizens and persons with disabilities, will continue toenjoy free admission in SM cinemas here following the assuranceby Mayor John G. Bongat that “such privilege will be main-tained with the hope of giving them comfort and ease by way ofmovie entertainment.”

The free admission in movie houses for the elderly and PWDs isgranted thru the Memorandum of Agreement entered into by andbetween the city government of Naga and SM Prime Holdings,Inc.

Such privilege is mandated in the special free benefit clause ofCity Ordinance 2008-092, an ordinance institutionalizing the i-Serve program, a quality service assurance program that grantscertain privileges to qualified residents thru the Naga City Privi-lege Card.

i-Serve, which stands for Innovative Service and Value Entitle-ment, is a service quality assurance project of the city govern-ment that will put into work a unified information system thataddresses problems in service integration, convergence and delivery.

The Memo-Ag works to provide additional privileges to the twosectors in the form of 100 percent free admission to SM cinemaswho are already enjoying the benefit of 20 percent discount onsuch services stipulated under RA 7432 and RA 9257 for the sen-ior citizens and RA 7277 (otherwise known as the Magna Cartafor Disabled Persons), as amended by RA 9442.

SM Public Relations Officer Tina Sumayao said the agreementclearly states that senior citizens and persons with disabilities,upon presentation of proper identification, shall be entitled to100% free admission. Under the agreement, where ordinarilysenior citizens enjoy 20% discount, the cost of the remaining80% shall be underwritten equally between SM Cinemas and thecity government.

Last Monday, Dec. 13, Mayor Bongat presented to SM City acheck amounting to P71, 463.73 covering the period from July toOctober 2010. The Memo-Ag, which covers a three-year term,took effect last July 9, 2010.

Sumayao clarified that the free cinema admission for qualifiedbeneficiaries is applicable only for regular movie screenings; andwill not apply to digital theatre film showings, premiere nights,red carpet premieres, advance screenings, special screenings, andthe Metro Manila Film Festival.

Naga’s i-Serve, SM City’smovie treats for elderly, PWDs Naga, nutrition honor awardee

FOR the past 12 years, Naga City has maintained its NutritionHonor Award at the national level, a record unsurpassed by anylocal government unit.

Last Nov. 18, 2010 during the Regional Nutrition awardingceremonies held in Legazpi City, Naga, through its City Popula-tion and Nutrition Office, received anew a certificate of recogni-tion for sustaining the Nutrition Honor Award. According to theNational Nutrition Council Region V (Bicol), Naga City hasconsistently maintained its rating of 98% based on its accom-plishments vis-à-vis its programs and activities throughout thepast years.

The malnutrition rate, as shown by the Operation Timbang(OPT) of both preschool and school children, has beendecreasing for the last three years confirming the effectiveness ofthe feeding program and nutrition education that have been car-ried out in the city’s 27 barangays.

The city’s Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) program has alsobeen consistently cited for its excellent implementation at thebarangay level. Marilou Cañete, BNS of Brgy. ConcepcionGrande, is the latest to win the Regional Outstanding BNS. Shealso bagged the championship in the Regional Nutri-Quiz; andeventually was adjudged 4th place in the National Search forOutstanding BNS. Brgy. Concepcion Grande was also chosen as the 1st placer in the Regional Search for OutstandingBarangay Nutrition Council, followed by Brgys. Panicuason,Tinago and San Isidro, all of Naga City.

For the past 12 years

MAYOR John G. Bongat hands over to SM Assistant Mall ManagerChristian Wesley D. Villanueva the check representing the city govern-ment’s payment for the city’s senior citizens and PWD’s free admissionto SM City Cinemas. Also present is SM Cinema Manager MarjorieTeoxon. JOSE V. COLLERA

Nick Motos Jr.

Racquel Buere

RANDY VILLAFLOR

29

FIL-AM medical practitioners from Metropolitan Washington,D.C. are once again coming to Naga City for a surgical mission,in collaboration with the Bicol Medical Center and the City Government of Naga from January 24-28, next year.

The last time that the Washington D.C.-based association con-ducted its medical-surgical mission was in January 10-14, 2005where more than 4,000 indigents underwent medical consulta-tions, surgery and cataract operation.

Connie L. Relacion, head of the delegation and chair of themedical mission committee, in a letter, informed City Mayor John G. Bongat that the necessary surgical supplies will beshipped from the United States to Naga City earlier.

City Health Officer Dr. Vito ‘Butch’ Borja said that as agreed byparties involved, only indigent patients will be treated by the mission team. Aside from providing free medicines and IV fluids, it will also underwrite half of the cost of laboratory, pre-op x-rays and sonograms, in collaboration with the BMC and theCity Government.

The surgical cases to be treated are: thyroids, abdominal, breastand pelvic tumors, hernia repairs, cleft lip and palate repairs, aswell as lumps.

Leticia J. Alvarez, president of the Bicol Association, and LornaImperial Seidel, a registered nurse and a member of the Board ofDirectors of the Association, who are both from this city, arejoining the mission. As of this date, the team will include Dr.Alex P. Yadao (Chief of Mission); Maureen Y. Chua (Gynecolo-gist); Cristina Padilla (Anesthesiologist); Praxidio H. Tagala (Gynecologist); Vince B. Bogan (CRNA Nurse Anesthetist); Alfredo V. Casino (Plastic Surgeon); Yvonne R. Horneffer(CRNP, on-site Triage Nurse); Ranato M. Rafi (Adult NursePractitioner); Jane R. Ramos (RN); Connie L. Relacion (RN,Ret.); Armand Ogbac (SDO/Photographer); Corazon Ogbac(Supply Officer); Nicolas R. Relacion (Documentalist); and Cora Pellas (Courier).

Dr. Borja will be heading the local counterpart of themission. His office, the CHO, will mainly be in charge of pre-screening and post surgical follow-up of the beneficiary-patients.

Bicol Fil-Ams sked anewmedical mission in Naga

Jason B. Neola

RANDY VILLAFLOR

MEDICAL MISSION. File photo of one of the medical/surgical missions co-sponsored by the city government. OPERATION SMILE PHOTO

Naga SP allots P10M a yearfor college scholarshipprogramBy Paul John F. Barrosa

STRESSING that education is the key to free the city’s poorfrom the cycle of poverty, the Sanggunian Panlungsod herepassed an ordinance that sets aside an annual budget of P10M tofinance the higher education studies of poor but deserving stu-dents.

Dubbed as Naga’s Tertiary Scholarship Program, OrdinanceNo. 2010-036 provides that a P 10M fund will be allocatedevery year starting 2011 to provide scholarships to at least 500-700 college and vocational students per year.

Authored by SP Committee on Education Chairman NelsonLegacion with City Councilor Ray-An Rentoy as co-author, theordinance aims to ensure that at least one family member ineach family in the city is a college graduate in order to im-prove the family’ social and economic standing and boost thecity’s pool of skilled workers, as well.

According to Legacion, the program will provide a full scholar-ship of P18,000 and a partial scholarship of P 9,000 to studentswhose average grade is 2.0 (85 percent) and 2.5 (80 percent), respectively, provided that their family’s respective annual grossincome is lower than P 180,000.

Legacion said students enlistedin the city’s Sanggawadan Program and the National Gov-ernment’s “Pantawid PamilyangPilipino Program” who belongto the “poorest of the poor”will be given more priorityeven as they will also receiveadditional assistance of P 5,000.

Councilors Legacion and Rentoy

30

An additional incentive of P5,000 per semester will also be provided to bright students who maintain an average grade above 1.25.

“The maximum assistance is based on the recent tuition fees prevailing in the University of the Philippines. It is also meant to accommodate more grantees and prevent others from abusing theprogram by enrolling in expensive courses. They can enroll inthose courses though by proving their worth and trying hard toqualify for the additional incentive schemes,” Legacion said.

All 27 barangays of Naga are also mandated by the new ordi-nance to provide for their own Tertiary Scholarship Program.

Starting next year, each barangay will be required to allocate asum equivalent to not less than 25 percent of the SangguniangKabataan Fund, or an equivalent of P2M based on the current financial data. The additional sum is projected to benefit 200more scholars. A Scholarship Office has been created to facilitateand maintain the program. The office will be a division of a proposed Education, Scholarship and Sports Office, another new bureau the current administration is planning to instill followingthe institutionalization of the Arts, Culture and Tourism Office(ACTO). Continued next page

A Scholarship Board has also been organized to serve as a governing, policy-making, advisory and recommendatory bodyin the implementation of the program.

Aside from the scholarship, the same ordinance also mandatesthat graduate scholars will be given priority assistance by the CityGovernment in obtaining gainful employment either in the localgovernment itself or in any public or private establishments.

Graduates though who acquired gainful employment will beasked to repay the amount the City Government granted themwhile they were under the scholarship.

“At most two years after one graduate has obtained gainful employment, or his monthly net income is at least triple the prescribed minimum wage in Naga City, he will be asked to paythe amount he was granted. This is one of our means to sustainthe program and instill social responsibility to our scholars,”Legacion stated. “But there are exemptions though for those whoare the family’s only breadwinner and are extending substantialeducational assistance to his siblings.”

Participation in the City’s CommuniTeach or similar mentoringprograms intended for public school pupils will also earn thescholar a repayment discount of 10 percent per year of attendancethereto.

The Naga City Local Civil Registry Office holds mobile registration atbarangays Calauag, Bagumbayan Sur and Triangulo bringing government services closer to the people.

Closer to the people

Barangay Calauag — Oct. 20, 2010

Barangay Tinago — Oct. 21, 2010

RANDY VILLAFLOR

Naga SP allots P10M (from page 30)

31

Naga LCRO spearheadsarchiving seminar-workshop

FRESH from receiving recognition anew for its exemplary performance in service delivery, the city’s Local Registry Office has been tasked to spearhead a bigger activity aimed atbeefing up the archiving capability of all registry offices inthe province of Camarines Sur.

Named this year as Bicol’s top performer (Extra LargeLCRO Category) for its efficient delivery of civil registration services, the City LCRO has found itself in the forefront of a3-day seminar-workshop on record and management slatedon February 16 to 18, 2011 at the Naga Regent Hotel here.

The workshop is intended for personnel of all local civil registry offices in Camarines Sur under the sponsorship of theCamarines Sur Civil Registrars Association which is takingeffort to improve their lot in the field of records managementand archiving.

City Civil Registrar Alexander M. Cayetano said that beingrepositories of civil registry documents, it is only appropriatethat LCRO personnel possess satisfactory understanding andknowledge in records and file preservation.

The CSCRA admitted that civil registry personnel in differentmunicipalities in the province lack formal trainings on “handling, filing, and safekeeping of civil registry docu-ments” in accordance with the manner and procedure setforth by the National Archives of the Philippines.

Cayetano said the activity is also open to private entities andnon-government organizations wanting to learn the effectiveand efficient way of handling files and records.

Designated Program Director of the training seminar,Cayetano has recently been awarded by the Career Service Executive Board – Executive Leadership Program for his contributions and invaluable support to the successful conductof the Community-Organizational Attachment Module(COAM) of the Gabay ng Paglilingkod Course held in thiscity last August 19 this year.

By Jason B. Neola

THE Naga City Public Market (NCPM),fondly referred to by Nagueño marketgoersas “supermarket,” has been a symbol of thecity’s dynamic economy. It started big andwas vaunted as the largest single-roof publicmarket in Southeast Asia when it was erectedin 1964 and became operational in 1969, wayahead of the advent of today’s more trendysupermarts and malls. It was the prime land-mark in the heart of the city, popularly knownas the “centro”, or the city’s old business dis-trict (CBD I).

Over three decades later, a new central busi-ness district (now referred to as CBD II) wasestablished across the Naga River, anchoredon the city-owned Integrated Bus Terminal.This caused the public and the business sector-- notably the established businesses withinCBD I including the public market tenantsand stallholders -- to fear a slow down and,worse, the eventual decay of CBD I, includ-ing the public market itself. Further aggravat-ing this fear of instability were the successionof major fires that hit the public market, itsnecessary repairs and rehabilitation. Buttimely and aggressive LGU intervention suchas face- lifting, traffic re-routing and varioustechnical and livelihood assistance to old cen-tro establishments in time diffused the fear.In fact, to the public’s surprise, the growth ofCBD II made no disturbing impact on thebusiness climate obtaining in CBD I.

While the outgoing administration of thenCity Mayor Jesse M. Robredo laid the foundation for a revitalized CBD I in anticipa-tion of the aggressiveness of the fast growingCBD II, the new administration under CityMayor John G. Bongat pressed on with theconstruction of necessary structures, innova-tive systems and responsive policies to ensureand further boost continuous growth of theold centro. Again, the “supermarket” willprovide the jumpstart, bringing throbbing vi-brancy to CBD I in tune with the demands ofthe times.

Auspiciously, the year 2011 marks the evolu-tion of NCPM into MEPO, or the Market En-terprise and Promotions Office. The MarketOffice which has long been treated as a divi-sion of the City Treasurer’s Office has over-grown the narrow measure of the amount ofrevenue it collects for the city.

As an initial step, the Bongat administra-tion directed that MEPO focus on threemajor areas: cleanliness, security and busi-ness development.

The Naga City Public MarketBy Ramon J. Florendo, OIC MEPO

A new approach in crime prevention willhave to be devised, in coordination withthe Naga City Police Office.

The new name itself, Market Enterpriseand Promotions Office, indicates a newmandate of showcasing the true spirit ofNagueños’ entrepreneurial character andthe determined effort of the City Govern-ment to provide the elements that will bringfull customer satisfaction that involves particularly the entrepreneurs (market tenants and CBD I business enterprises)and the main clientele (the public). To dothis, the new MEPO is tasked to completethe cycle of business development neces-sary to ensure a harmonious experiencewith its customers. This expanded tasknecessarily recognizes the importance ofpartnering with the various organizedgroups that share the same objective. ForMEPO, the active members and leaders ofthe Naga Market Stallholders Federation,Inc. led by Mr Benito Tablante, its chair-man, and Mr. Claro Alfonso, the president,will play a vital and active role in ensuringsuccess in the new programs and activitiesgeared towards achieving the goals setforth by the city.

As a necessary step, Mayor Bongat hascalled for the erection of more access to the various areas (additional stairs and aisles)within the public market; ensure more security (installation of CCTV cameras)and provides mechanism that will enhance dynamic enterprising activity not only in themarket area but in the entire Centro.

The plight of the small entrepreneurs, too, areto be attended. The request of the Mindanaon Traders for a viable relocationarea was ably responded to by the city whenMayor Bongat offered the vacant spaces at the3rd floor of the market thru a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) scheme. These are but someof the few initial strides that the City Govern-ment and MEPO will push forward.

TOWARDS CLEANER AND ORDERLY MARKETOPERATIONS. This file photo of the wet section ofthe city public market will finally be a thing of thepast once new policies and strategies are introduced by the newly-established Market Enterprise and Promotions Office. FLICKR PHOTO

FROM TRADITIONAL TO TRENDY

MARKET PULSE. The public market serves as theyardstick of a community’s vibrant economic activities. FLICKR PHOTO

The MEPO, under MayorBongat’s clear instruction,has to deliver not only revenue but the expectedbusiness environment characterized by quality andefficient service both to itstenants and patrons, inspiredby the efficient operation ofprivate malls and supermar-kets. The MEPO is expectedto provide its clients and patrons that delightful experience way beyond theexpected quality service.

“

”

Maintaining cleanliness necessarily comesafter the completion of the major structuralrepairs as well as the re-establishment ofthe stalls razed down by the recent fires.Coupled with maintaining cleanliness willbe orderliness which means clearing pas-sageways of obstructions both within themarket and its immediate surrounding roadnetworks plus the major thoroughfares ofCBD I. A permanent relocation area hasbeen identified for sidewalk and transientvendors. This is for the purpose not onlyof putting order but of protecting the busi-ness interests of market tenants and stall-holders.

In the area of security, while it is para-mount to ensure that the market office’sand tenants’ properties and lives are se-cured, the safety of the public within themarket shall likewise be a priority. Thisresponsibility is a major cocern of theMEPO which shall supervise its own market guards.

32

Newly-electedBarangay, SK officialssworn in

432 newly-elected Barangay and SK officials from the city’s27 barangays.

INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary JesseRobredo has called on all the newly-elected Barangay andSangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials of Naga City to bringto life their commitments and promises and be responsive to the real needs of the people once they assumed their respective offices.

Robredo, former Naga City Mayor before he took thehighest post that involves local governance and publicorder and security, stressed that the barangays, as well asthe youth, are in the forefront of governance and commu-nity involvement and development in their respectivebarangays, which are the backbone of nation-building.

Organized by the city’s Lingkod Barangay Office, theoccasion was the mass oathtaking of all the electedbarangay and youth officials of the city’s 27 barangaysheld Nov. 27 at the Naga City Coliseum here.

Present during the occasion were the 432 newly-electedBarangay and SK officials of the city with the following asguests: DILG Regional Director Blandino Maceda, City DILGDirector Fatima Penino, Judge RTC Rolando Bobis, RTCJudge Marvel Clavecilla; and the Naga City Councilors.

Meanwhile, the Lingkod Barangay Office vowed to continuesustaining its gains in maximizing effective people’sparticipation in local governance through close coordinationwith all the barangay officials and SK officials and members.

DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo with BarangayLiboton SK Officials

City Mayor John G. Bongat with newly elected barangay officials of Concepcion Pequeña.

Naga City Mayor John G. Bongat as the inductingofficer congratulated the triumphant local and SKofficials even as he exhorted them to deliver their taskswith utmost competence and efficiency in theirrespective areas of jurisdiction which, after all, willredound to the general welfare of the city. He reiteratedthat leadership is not defined by position but by action.

LBO Chief Ruel Barrios stressed that it has been their task toprovide assistance to the barangays and SK offices in terms ofcapability-building and manpower development and theinitiation of activities that will make life more productive in thecommunities.

By Ruel O. Barrios

RANDY VILLAFLOR

33

SOONER than later, students of theNaga City Science High School will bestudying the Spanish language as a regular subject while their proficiencyin mass communication, particularlyjournalism, will further be enhanced.

This is because the public school, established by the Naga City Govern-ment in 1994, is a beneficiary of twomajor programs by the Department ofEducation (DepEd) making it a pilotschool in the Bicol Region for the twocourses.

The school was chosen to lead the implementation of the new courses dueto its high academic performance andthe availability of facilities, even asteachers concerned are undergoing special trainings on the two subjects.

The Special Program in Journalism(SPJ) and the Special Program in Foreign Language (SPFL) will providethe students with appropriate exposureson top-to-bottom details of the subjectmatter in each field.

Foreign language program

NCSHS Principal Sulpicio C. AlferezIII said the school has been designatedas the region’s “special foreign language school” by the DepEd because of its impressive performancein Mean Percentage Score in English inthe 2008 National Achievement Test(NAT).

DepEd also envisions offering languagecourses for Mandarin, French, andNipponggo at the secondary level to increase the multilingual options of students.

The foreign language program forSpanish is being undertaken based onthe Memorandum of Agreement signedbetween the DepEd and the Universityof Alcala in Spain.

Jaimito de Leon, NCSHS’s focal person for the special program in

Naga City Science High chosen pilot schoolfor journalism, Spanish courses

DepEd envisions Spanish will open door for multilingual options in high school subjects including Mandarin, Frenchand Niponggo.

By Jason B. Neola with reports from Naguenian

foreign language, underwent a two-month pilot teacher training program,and the Professional DevelopmentCourse on teaching Spanish as a foreign language under the supervisionof Instituto de Cervantes in Manila andthe Universidad de Salamanca inSpain.

Spain’s long term commitment includesthe designation of a permanent educa-tion attaché in the Spanish embassy inManila and to establish learning centersin Spanish-teaching educational institutions like the Philippine NormalUniversity and DepEd training centers.

The language program, which startedlast year, is offered on voluntary basis.Basic course is taught to junior students, as part of the curriculum, and the Advanced Spanish to senior students, as an elective during Saturdays.

Journalism

The Special Program in Journalism is afour-year advancement course the mainfocus of which is on writing as aprocess and as an art. It covers subjects, such as: basics of journalism,scriptwriting for radio broadcasting,

radio/TV news script production andbroadcasting, and hands-on productionof the school’s in-house publication.

The course is open to incoming firstyear high school students who have88% grade average in English and Filipino and a general average of 85%.They should have exhibited talents andinterest in journalism; and passed thequalifying written and oral examina-tions given by the school.

Baby Ruby Laurente, SPJ coordinator,said journalism students are also recipients of follow-on lectures on advanced English subjects like: language proficiency, speech develop-ment and public speaking, technicalwriting and research, and complete exposure or hands-on experience in theactual workplace.

The SPJ course in NCSHS was introduced in 2009 with 36 students.Kristi Maria Dominique Aguilar andCharlene Manalang won the 1st Place(Copy Reading/Headline Writing) and3rd Place (Editorial Writing), respectively, during the NationalSchools Press Conference’s SPJ category held last February 22-26, thisyear, in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo and Mayor John G. Bongat lead the ceremonial ribbon-cutting during the inauguration of the Naga City Science High School’s Viva Building. The8-classroom edifice houses the viewing room for freshmen students, computer labs for allyear levels, and classrooms for science curriculum. JOSE V. COLLERA

34

Stronger Metro Naga to propel a more vibrant city

A COHESIVE and well-structured development partnership oflocal government units aimed to propel an area-wide economicdevelopment will be seen in the coming days as its new leader-ship vows “to revitalize the Metro Naga Development Counciland fully tap the potentials of the alliance.”

The plan was clearly articulated by Mayor John G. Bongat to thelocal chief executives of the local government units within MetroNaga during the MNDC executive meeting held last Dec. 9,2010 at the Naga Regent Hotel wherein the city mayor waselected chairperson.

MNDC was composed of Naga City and twelve municipalitieswhen it was formed in 1993. Today, its membership has ex-panded to15 LGUs.

In his brief statement as newly elected chairman, Mayor Bongatassured his fellow mayors that MNDC will remain apolitical andthat it will work to address major concerns of its member-munic-ipalities.

Non-political

Bongat was unanimously elected as MNDC chair by municipalmayors belonging to different political affiliations. A townmayor confided that with Bongat’s election, the mayors could ex-pect a better and effective alliance that will bring about positivedevelopments for the general welfare of the Metro Naga con-stituents.

“[The MNDC] will remain a non-political group and will focuson the economic development and the common beneficial issuesfor all the members of the MNDC,” Bongat stressed.

Bongat also assured the council that discussions about politicswill not be allowed during deliberations, saying that “the econ-omy, environment and capability development for economic pur-poses will be the priority concerns of the alliance.”

He encouraged the Metro Naga mayors to map out their ownspecific roles and direction in bringing about development inMetro Naga area as he cited the examples of Pili where majorityof warehouses are situated and Pasacao with its port facilities.

Resource-sharing

One of MNDC’s thrusts is resource-sharing which the local chiefexecutives have agreed to make even more dynamic and results-oriented.

By now, the Metro Naga mayors are trying to draw up strategiesto address the economic targets and requirements of the localitythru the Local Governance Support Program for Local EconomicDevelopment (LGSP-LED).

The LGSP-LED is a bilateral partnership between the Philippineand Canadian governments in collaboration with the Departmentof Interior and Local Government and the Canadian InternationalDevelopment Agency (CIDA).

Newly-elected MNDC Chairperson and Naga City Mayor John G. Bongatexpounds on a proposed project as he presides the first ExecutiveCommittee meeting of the recently reorganized Metro Naga DevelopmentCouncil. (Seated from left: Pili Mayor Tomas Bongalonta, outgoingMNDC Executive Director Reuel M. Oliver, Naga City Mayor John G.Bongat, San Fernando Mayor Eugenio E. Lagasca, Jr., Pamplona MayorGemino A. Imperial.

MNDC Mayors agree on initial steps towards revitalizing the 17-year oldMetro Naga Development Council. (Seated from left: Magarao MayorSalvador M. Señar, Jr., Milaor Mayor Rogelio A. Flores, Bula MayorBenjamin S. Decena. Also in photo are: Ocampo Mayor Fidel C.Carido, Canaman Executive Assistant Fernando S. Inopia, PasacaoAssistant Municipal Administrator Firmo O. Clemente and incomingMNDC Executive Director Melissa Sieglende B. Bulaong.

The program’s objective is to create an enabling environment bystrengthening the competitiveness in the community thru harmonized linkages with national government agencies likeDILG, DTI and DOST, and the private sector.

The mayors, their respective technical working groups and thestaff of MNDC headed by Reuel Oliver are pushing for tourismindustry development as their LGSP-LED project.

Strong tourism industry

Bongat said the Council has incentives for private investors forthe renewable energy development such as the geothermal sourcing in Mt. Isarog. “There are already existing initiativesfrom our side and the national government with private investors,” he said.

By Jason B. Neola

35

LGU Sanggunian Bayan members and GAD focal persons deliberate the detailsof their annual Gender and Development Plan to mainstream gender respon-siveness in their municipality’s programs and services. This, and the preparationof customized GAD Code, are done in partnership with Sentro ng AlternatibongLingap Panligal (SALIGAN-Bicol) and the MNDC.

DTI Provincial Director Edna S. Tejada gives the “buena mano” to a womanmicroentrepreneur of Metro Naga in a recent trade fair participated in by theMNDC-GREAT Women Project. Women micro-entrepreneurs join tradefairs for exposure and better market access. The DTI initiates and implementsprograms and projects addressing specific MSME needs in technology devel-opment and transfer, financing, marketing and training, and market promotionthrough trade fairs.

LGU employees and workers in microenterprises in Metro Naga learnthe basics of keeping themselves safe and healthy at work and in theirhomes through trainings conducted by the Occupational Safety andHealth Center (OSHC) - an attached agency of the Department of Laborand Employment. OSHC is an active partner of the GREAT WomenProject.

Bongat also observed that tourism is in disarray and there is nocollaborative effort among the member LGUs. Each LGU, hesaid, has its own tourism plan and that what the Metro Nagamayors want is a strong signal to all investors that Metro Naga ismoving as one. He said coordination will be strengthenedamong the LGU members to fully develop tourism within theMNDC coverage area.

MNDC Outgoing Executive Director Reuel Oliver said theychose tourism because of the obvious current situation. He said Camarines Sur is a strong tourism attraction which the mayorswould like to strengthen so that other LGUs can benefit from theopportunity.

MNDC info center

Pamplona Mayor Gemino Imperial said he is very much willingto maintain a tourism information center in his municipality con-sidering its geographic location being the first Metro Naga townfor tourists coming in from Manila.

Supporting Imperial’s suggestion, Pili Mayor Tomas Bongalontavolunteered the services of his Municipal Planning and Development Officer for additional technical knowledge on the establishment of the center.

San Fernando Mayor Eugenio Lagasca said their MPDOs couldbe the technical working group in that specific project includingthe MNDC staff, a suggestion backed by Bula Mayor BenjaminDecena who said that the MPDOs have been in such partnershipespecially with the GREAT Women Project (GWP).

Among the fruits of the partnership by LGUs on GWP is the establishment of six Common Service Facilities (CSFs).

GWP, whose objective is to establish an enabling environmentfor women micro-entrepreneurs, involves eight LGU partners:Bula, Camaligan, Gainza, Magarao, Milaor, Naga City, Pili andSan Fernando. Expansion of project has now started with thebinamban producers of Bombon and the dried fish processors ofCalabanga.

Incoming MNDC Executive Director Sieglinde Bulaong saidnon-GWP LGUs who wish to build their own CSFs can submittheir proposals to DOST.

The MNDC executive committee meeting and the LGSP-LEDvalidation meeting last December 9 was also attended by DTI Director Edn Tejada, Ernesto Reyes Jr. of DOST and LGSP-LED representatives Francis Gentoral and Madel Go.

Newly elected officers

Following are the newly-elected officers of MNDC:

CHAIRMAN : Naga City Mayor John G. BongatVICE CHAIRMAN : Magarao Mayor Salvador A. Señar, Jr.SECRETARY : San Fernando Mayor Eugenio E. Lagasca TREASURER : Bula Mayor Benjamin S. DecenaAUDITOR : Pamplona Mayor Gemino A. Imperial BOARD OF DIRECTORS:Bombon Ma. Luisa DC. AngelesCalabanga Evelyn S. YuCamaligan Emmanuel T. PradoCanaman Emmanuel S. RequejoGainza William A. AbilayMilaor Rogelio A. FloresMinalabac Leovigildo D. Basmayor, Jr.Ocampo Fidel C. CaridoPasacao Asuncion V. ArceñoPili Tomas P. Bongalonta

MNDC coverage area

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PEÑAFRANCIA 2010Celebrating 300 years of Bicol devotion

JUST as Our Lady of Penafrancia’s odyssey into Bicol was so full of providential meaning, the story of her Bicol origin waseven providentially fascinating, according to the late Bicol historian Jose Calleja Reyes.

In his book, “Bikol Maharlika,” Reyes wrote that a golden necklace enclosed in a letter datelined Nueva Caceres 1 May 1710started the first recorded chapter of the story of her Bicol origin – a story, he said, which surpassed the best of fairy tales.

The letter’s contents and the golden necklace accompanying it was mentioned for the first time in an extant chronicle accountpublished in the year 1728, entitled “Historia de la Admirable Invencion y Milagros de la Thaumaturga Imagen y Milagros deNuestra Senora de la Pena de Francia”.

This letter, according to the historian’s book, has been preserved in the archives of the Sanctuary of Pena de Francia in Spainwhich serves as a life testimony of an ardent devotee of the Lady of Pena de Francia whose name was recorded as Fray MiguelRobles de Cobarrubias, a Spanish creole, born in the port of Cavite of Spanish peninsular parents.

Miguel was a sickly student of Theology in the University of Sto. Tomas. To sooth the pain caused by his infirmities, he wouldpress against the aching part of his body a portrait of the Lady of Penafrancia. Because of the heavenly favors bestowed on him,Miguel vowed to construct a small chapel by the Pasig River and there propagate the devotion to the Virgin. But before he wasordained to be a priest, the young man would be summoned to do pastoral work in a small parish nearby Nueva Caceres here inBicol. Sensing that his stay in Nueva Caceres would be long preventing him to fulfill his vow to construct a shrine by the PasigRiver, Miguel commuted his vow to build the chapel within the confines of his pastoral jursidction in Nueva Caceres. Where ex-actly to construct the shrine bugged him for long until one day a group of cimarrones, or mountain people from Isarog gave himthe cue. They asked Miguel, who was now a priest to build a “visita” or chapel near their haunts in the outskirts of the city wherethey can practice their new Christian faith unperturbed by the lowlanders. The chapel was finally built on where the present oldPeñafrancia church now stands, near the Naga River. Since then and for the last 300 years, the Bicolnons have carried a long,continuing and enduring romance with the Virgin.

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Photos by : Jun Tulao (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhun111jhun/) and Sir Mervs (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sir_mervs/)

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