Mahinog to ask funds from national government to rebuild infrastructure damaged by flashfloods

THE Municipal Planning and Development Office here reported that the estimated cost for rehabilitation or total reconstruction of public infrastructure damaged by flashfloods amounted to P218,400,000.00

This was according to municipal planning and development coordinator Engr. Benito C. Paderanga who appeared at the Sangguniang Bayan session on Monday to present the DANA (Disaster Analysis and Needs Assessment) report to the legislative council.

Last July 26, 2012, parts of the municipality were flooded due to non stop rains and a total of 344 families or 1,209 persons have been displaced by the flashfloods.

Water distribution systems have been damaged by floods, resulting in about 90 percent of the population in the affected barangays to be waterless.

Parts of barangay San Roque and Poblacion were submerged in floodwater after river control dikes collapsed, causing immediate flooding in rice field areas and homes located near river banks.

Other affected barangays include Owakan, Pontod, Benoni, San Jose and Hubangon.

Municipal agriculturist Sospis Leo Tabuan said that the damage on irrigation facilities made it difficult for farmers to be able to plant this cropping season.

In a resolution passed by the Sanguniang Bayan, the municipal government has requested Congressman Pedro P. Romualdo and Governor Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo to make representation with the national government to extend financial assistance to rebuild infrastructure damaged by the recent flashfloods.

Among the projects include the rehabilitation of box culvert and reconstruction of Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP) in sitio Comon in barangay Pontod in the amount of four hundred thousand pesos (P400, 000.00).

Rehabilitation of box culvert and reconstruction of Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP) in sitios Langcangan and Jang in barangay Poblacion (Divine Mercy Chapel) in the amount of three hundred thousand pesos (P300, 000.00).

Construction of Reinforced Concrete Deck Girder (RCDG) in sitios Langcangan and Jang in barangay Poblacion (Divine Mercy Chapel) in the amount of P50 million.

Reconstruction/construction of river control dike at barangay San Roque in the amount of P10 million.

Construction of additional river control dike (both sides) at barangay San Roque in the amount of P150 million.

Reconstruction of damaged Irrigation System at barangays Poblacion and San Roque in the amount of P7 million.

Rehabilitation of damaged waterworks system in barangays Poblacion, Benoni, Hubangon, San Jose, San Roque, Pontod and Owakan in the amount seven hundred thousand pesos (P700,000.00). Homer R. Jajalla

Municipal Govt of Mahinog endorses EDC’s Camiguin wind farm project

Reinero Medrano, manager of EDC Corporate Social Responsibility, made presentation on the wind farm project in Camiguin at the municipal council session

Mahinog, Camiguin – The Municipal Council of Mahinog recently endorsed the Lopez-led Energy Development Corp. (EDC) application to put up a wind farm in Camiguin particularly in Lowan hills in barangay Owakan in the town of Mahinog.

In February last year, the Dept. of Energy (DOE) approved a Wind Energy Service Contract (WESC) to the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) for the Camiguin Wind Project.

EDC is Philippine’s leading geothermal energy provider, accounting for 62% of the country’s installed geothermal capacity.

It operates 5 geothermal sites in Leyte, Bicol, Cotabato, Northern Negros and Southern Negros, including the Pantabangan-Masiway hydro power complex in Nueva Ecija.

When completed the wind farm project in Camiguin is expected to generate more than 15 Megawatts of energy, Reinero Medrano, EDC Corporate Social Responsibility Program Officer, said on Monday during the SB session.

It will augment the supply of power in Camiguin, or even sell its power excess to the mainland, he added.

“This project will harness the power of the wind in Camiguin to generate clean and renewable electricity and will establish Camiguin as one of the wind energy sites in the Philippines,” Medrano said.

He added, however, that as of now, an additional wind data gathering must be conducted at the site to validate the wind potential at a height ranging from 60 –84 meters.

A wind mast to be installed is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2012 and is expected to be complete after at least 2 to 4 weeks, Medrano disclosed.

The data gathering phase will begin immediately after the masts are installed, he added.

The project has 3 phases which include: 1) Wind data gathering; 2) Development, construction & installation of wind farm, substation facilities and power transmission line and its associated interconnection facilities; 3) Operations and maintenance of wind farm, substation facilities and power transmission line and its associated interconnection facilities.

To date, the country's first wind project and the biggest wind farm in Southeast Asia is the 33-MW wind farm of NorthWind Power Development Corp. located in Bangui, Ilocos Norte.

Camiguin’s first zipline set to rise in Mahinog

Site development plan for the zipline project in Benoni Lagoon

in the town of Mahinog, Camiguin

Mahinog, Camiguin – J and A Fishpen and Restaurant announced it will open a three-lane zipline this coming December in Benoni Lagoon here.

This was learned from Apolinario B. Alambatin of J and A Fishpen and Restaurant during a project presentation at the Municipal Council Session presided over by Vice Mayor Rogerio C. Acle this morning Sept. 19, 2011.

Alambatin said this will be the first zipline in the island province of Camiguin and this can be found in municipality of Mahinog.

The zipline has a distance of more than 700 meters from station 1 to station 2 that will cross over a lagoon, the first zipline in the region across a body of water, which makes the ride even more exciting.

An additional 360-meter zipline is also being eyed in same area.

Meanwhile, the municipal council here passed a resolution endorsing this project seen to boost tourism industry in the island province of Camiguin especially in the town of Mahinog.

Mahinog eyes infra projects under MRDP

THE World Bank-funded Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) is considering the PHP 1.2 million worth of projects proposed by the Municipal Government of Mahinog.

The project includes level II water system for barangay San Roque. This will replace the old transmission pipelines with larger diameter pipes to meet the increasing water requirements of populace in the area.

The other project is the construction of two (2) units multi purpose drying pavement and a warehouse at Queobe in barangay San Miguel, which will dry and stock agricultural products during drying period and before the delivery to market outlet.

“We have already made preliminary presentations of the feasibility studies, detailed engineering design and environmental and social impacts of the proposed projects to the Regional Technical Working Group last Nov. 5 at Philtown Hotel,” said OIC-municipal agriculturist Sospis Leo U. Tabuan.

He added, however, that these project proposals were already “good as approved” as soon as municipal government can comply with "minor" requirements set by the regional technical working group.

Tabuan said that technical personnel from the municipal government is set to present the final proposal and requirements to the Regional Project Adjudication Board (RPAB) this coming November 25, 2010.

Mayor Alex R. Jajalla said that said projects are needed in the municipality to ensure water security for domestic and agricultural use in one hand, and help farmers increase productivity and income, in the other hand.

As this developed, the municipal council last Monday passed 3 resolutions to form part of the requirements set by MRDP.

First was a resolution expressing intent, willingness, and commitment of the municipal government of Mahinog to avail of MRDP and for the municipal government to shell out at least fifty percent of the total project cost. The total project cost is Php1,221,000.00.

The second resolution was for the municipal government to undertake the feasibility studies, detailed engineering design and the right- of- way negotiations and construction supervision as parts of LGU’s equity.

The other resolution was to allocate the site for the construction of two (2) units solar dryers and a warehouse at Queobe Eco-Park, also part of LGU's share.

The Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP ) is a Department of Agriculture’s World Bank-funded poverty reduction program, which aims to improve the incomes and food security of the rural poor and indigenous communities of Mindanao.

Lgu Mahinog, DENR sign MOA for P525 thousand mangrove boardwalk project

Mahinog, Camiguin - The Municipal Government of Mahinog and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 10 recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the construction of the P525 thousand mangrove boardwalk projects in Queobe, in barangay San Miguel here.

The MOA was signed by Mahinog Mayor Alex R. Jajalla (left) for the municipal government of Mahinog and DENR regional technical director for research Danilo Cacanindin (center) on behalf of the DENR. Vice Mayor Rogerio C. Acle (right) was on hand to witness the signing.

According to municipal planning and development coordinator Engr. Benito C. Paderanga, P400 thousand comes from the DENR, while P125 thousand is the counterpart of the LGU Mahinog.

The LGU Mahinog has partially developed the area which is now known as Queobe Eco-Park and Training Center with the construction and establishment of amenities including dormitories, training center, cottages, campsite, parking area, flower garden and nursery.

Queobe Eco Park and Training Center

Paderanga said the over-all project objective are to pursue a sustainable ecological tourism development with emphasis on safeguarding and conserving the bio-diversity in the mangrove area.

The project was also aimed to provide a learning environment on mangrove existence specifically on ecological protection and enhancement.

Moreover, the project is expected to create employment opportunities, boost the local economy and generate income for the LGU, as well.

This wooden boardwalk located near Benoni lagoon and port area will provide safe recreational places for people to walk while enjoying the natural ambience and learning the unique characteristics of the mangrove ecosystem.

Queobe eco park has an excellent vantage point overlooking the mangrove boarwalk, Benoni lagoon, Benoni port, including Mantigue island. These are all parts of a development plan vigorously pursued by the municipal government of Mahinog, with the ultimate goal of optimizing the potential of the area in order to provide employment opportunities and boost the local economy.

Camiguin faces blackout, prompting Camelco to prepare contingency measures

Romualdo A MAJOR power outage can happen anytime in Camiguin once the island's submarine cable is damaged. "This is a serious cause for concern for all Camiguingnons," Camiguin Governor Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo said since about a month ago, raising concern over the deteriorating condition of the island's submarine cable. He said the island's undersea cable that linked power from the mainland Mindanao has only a lifetime of 25 years. The submarine cable was laid in 1987. This prompted the Camiguin Electric Cooperative (Camelco) to conduct a series of public hearings in the five municipalities to appraise the people about the power situation in this island province and find solution to the problem. Romualdo warned that unless remedies are taken now, Camiguin will be like Siargao island, which has just experienced prolonged blackout after its underwater power line was reportedly cut off due to wear and tear. "We are not sure when it (blackout) will happen to us, it may be tonight, tomorrow or next year," the governor said at the public hearing conducted in Mahinog gym recently. "But we are working as fast as we can to prepare for it," he added, aware that the situation could have serious repercussion in the island's economy. Recently, the provincial government had purchased power generating sets to ensure uninterrupted power supply in Camiguin General Hospital. "I want to ensure that if this happens, business would go on as usual in our hospital because life is important to me," the governor said in the local dialect. For his part, Camelco manager Adrian A. Ebcas presented several options to solve the capacity requirement problem and probable blackouts. One option, he said, is the immediate replacement of aging submarine cable with the installation of 13.2kv submarine cable including acquisition of 69 kv line, among others, to reduce systems loss. He added this is also to save consumers from constant payment of Residual Connection Charges to National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). This, he said, will cost the electric cooperative over 400 million pesos in loans to finance the project and for the consumers to pay two pesos per kwhr more on its bill from the present ten pesos per kwhr to recover the investment cost. Another option, he said, is that instead of buying power from the mainland, Camelco will just invite independent power producer (IPP) to build 8Mw Diesel Plant in Camiguin. For this option, he said, electric consumers will bear the burden of paying additional six pesos per kwhr on top of the current rate. On the other hand, Ebcas disclosed that Camiguin, according to the Department of Energy, has resource potential for wind energy sources that can be developed. These sources are situated in Lowan in the town of Mahinog. This, if developed, could provide substantial power supply for Camiguin with a generation capacity from 15mw to 25 mw and could even export its excess power to the mainland. Camiguin, as of now, has a power demand of 2.8Mw and is expected to reach by 7Mw in 15 years, it was learned. Among the options, Ebcas said the best way to cope with the situation is to install a new submarine cable to replace the old ones, adding submarine cable is also necessary once Camiguin will finally have its own source of wind energy and export power to the mainland. "This will yield additional revenues not only to Camelco, but also to local government units concerned" the Camelco manager said. (Homer R. Jajalla)  

Ebcas

Mahinog: Moving towards becoming ICT-enabled

The Municipality of Mahinog is now moving towards becoming an ICT-enabled local government unit (LGU), Mayor Alex R. Jajalla disclosed.

He said that as one of this year's beneficiaries of the Philippine Community eCenter (CeC) Program of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), Mahinog will now have the opportunity to provide ICT-enabled services, training and relevant content not just to its constituents, but to the many tourists and visitors of the island as well.

Mr. Rienard Tadlas, Regional IT Coordinator (RITC) for Region 10 recently conducted an orientation at the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) session hall before the Mahinog’s CeC Core group and members of the SB.

Tadlas said the CeC Program in Mahinog will pave the way for ICT-enabled services to be available in this locality. Students, farmers, fisherfolks and businessmen are foreseen as the main groups who will benefit from the program.

The strategic location of the LGU will further broaden the user base of its planned CeC to include the tourists and visitors who frequent the island of Camiguin.

The LGU is planning to improve its frontline services with an official and interactive website in the municipality to promote Mahinog to the world.

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT EYES OPENING OF ALTERNATE ROADS FROM BARANGAY SAN ROQUE TO POBLACION

by Homer R. Jajalla

THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL of Mahinog in the province of Camiguin had proposed that in order to provide traffic congestion relief along Poblacion national highway, an alternate road from Barangay San Roque to Letican in Poblacion must be opened.

In a resolution filed by Vice Mayor Rogerio C. Acle, the Council approved, April 13, 2009, a resolution requesting the Department of Public and Highways to conduct a survey study at the proposed site. Another resolution was passed asking Congressman Pedro P. Romualdo to authorize and fund this road opening project and include in his list of priority projects for this year.

“There is only one major road passing through the town of Mahinog Poblacion and that is the national highway connecting Mambajao and Benoni and when there is a parade or major event happening in the town, motorists have no choice but to slog through the traffic and crowded streets along the Poblacion creating bottlenecks and security problems in the area,” the resolution states.

The proposed road will run by turning right between Villamil house and Mahinog Central School to the residential areas along the rice field, then climb left to get to thenational highway at the junction of Burgos St. and national highway in Letican going to Mambajao.

Vice Mayor Acle enumerated the benefits of this new road 1) to provide alternate route and congestion relief at Poblacion Highway for commuters and pedestrian; 2) pave the way to urban development of the town; 3) spur economic opportunities among residents in these areas traversed by this road; 4) open up future construction of more tributary roads connecting to the major thoroughfares 4) serve as farm to market roads which will assure the immediate delivery of agricultural products in market areas, which in turn maximizes the harvest potential of the farmers as well as speed up travel time. - (Municipal Information Office)

JICA study team arrives in Camiguin to check on Sabo Dam proposal

A TECHNICAL team of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is in Camiguin to appraise and evaluate the technical and economic viability of constructing two flood control dams in the Sabo River along Sitio Pontod, Barangay Hubangon in Mahinog town and restoring Hubangon Bridge.

The technical team arrived last August 7, headed by Satoru Mimura, director of JICA's Disaster Management Division II, Global Environment Department, according to Engr. Ronnie Almazor, project coordinator of the Provincial Planning and Development Office.

Mimura is accompanied by Fuyuki Sagara, JICA project coordinator and a technical group from CT Engineering International Co., Ltd., a Japanese consulting firm hired by JICA to help conduct the Basic Design Study.

The study team will stay until September 15 to conduct site surveys and collect necessary data and information on the condition of Sabo River and the bridge both located in Hubangon.

The Basic Design study will provide necessary document for the appraisal of the project by the Government of Japan if it is suitable for the Grant Aid Scheme.

Last June 2006 the Philippine Government has requested for a Grant Aid Flood Disaster Mitigation from the Government of Japan for the province of Camiguin.

The Grant Aid scheme provides the recipient country with non-reimbursable funds to procure the facilities, equipment and services for its economic and social development.

Before its approval, the proposal has to undergo several stages from field surveys, which includes meteorological survey, ground and river topographic surveys, geotechnical investigation, hydrological condition survey of the project site.

The findings will then be analyzed in Japan and submitted to the Cabinet for approval.

The institutional capability of the recipient agency to maintain and operate the facilities and equipment will also affect the decision of the Japan Government for the Grant Aid. (PIA-MisOrOccCam)

Construction of Letican Multi purpose pavement sought

THE Municipal Council presided over by Vice Mayor Rogerio C. Acle passed a resolution requesting Congressman Pedro P. Romualdo to allocate funds for the acquisition of site and initial establishment of Letican multi purpose pavement, that will serve as basketball court, community terrace and post harvest facility.

Coun. Liber Babanto, resolution’s principal author, said it has been a long clamor of sitio residents to have their own multi purpose pavement. “As has been observed, sitio residents use the highway to hold their annual fiesta activities which is deplorable because their safety are in danger,” he said. (Mahinog Information Office)

Queobe Training Center to rise soon

PREPARATIONS are now gaining headway for the construction of a 1.06 million training center at Queobe Eco Park, at barangay San Miguel, Municipal Agriculturist and Queobe Caretaker Willy P. Lobido announced recently.

The project, he said, was made possible through funding assistance from National Agriculture and Fishery Council (NAFC) that allocated P810,000 and municipal government of Mahinog that counterparted P250,000 for this training center that will accommodate 100 persons.

Mayor Alex Jajalla announced the project will be started anytime next month and expected to be completed in time of the celebration of Camiguin Lanzones Festival by October this year.

Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Benito C. Paderanga said this project is part of the Queobe Eco Park Medium Term Development Plan covering mini zoo, campsite, children’s park, cottages, dormitory, view deck and picnic sheds.

In his request for financial assistance addresssed to Department of Tourism Regional Director Butch Chan, the mayor wrote, “While we are elated on this development, things are still need to be done like the construction of swimming pool, park entrance, gateway, view deck and picnic grove. We firmly believe that these components can pool people to visit the area once constructed. I hope you can assist us in sourcing funds for this purpose,” reads portion of Mayor Jajalla’s letter request.

Queobe Eco Park is located at the 10 hectare government property at the top of Benoni Lagoon overlooking Benoni Port. The site was used as venue of two past BSP and GSP jamborees. (Homer R. Jajalla- Municipal Information Office)