MASBATE-PHILIPPINES

MANILA, Philippines - The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged the government Tuesday to stop the killings of farmers in Masbate and other parts of the country.

Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma issued the appeal following the killing of peasant leader Alberto Yusi last July 20.

"It is the landless, the exploited, the disadvantaged and the powerless who have the single most urgent claim on the conscience of the nation today. It is also the death of Ka Bito and the 45 others who were also killed in the name of agrarian reform, whose children, families and fellow farmers seek justice for the lost lives and the rightful claim to the lands they tilled and died for," Ledesma, executive chairman of the Second National Rural Congress, said in a
statement posted on the CBCP website.

Ledesma noted Yusi was the fourth victim in land-reform related killings in the province in less than seven months.

Yusi was president of the Ticao Farmers Federation and the Samahang Anak ng Magsasaka ng Famosa, Inc. (SAMFAI) and provincial chairman of Ugnayan ng Mga Nagsasariling Organisasyon sa Kanayunan (UNORKA) in Masbate.

His death occurred barely two weeks following the killing of peasant leaders Rene Llabres and Junrie Pagaspas, reportedly by armed men in military uniforms.

The CBCP also noted that in December 2007, New People's Army (NPA) guerillas allegedly killed peasant leader Mark Anthony Vale, a village captain.

Vangie Mendoza, national coordinator of UNORKA, said about 40 farmers have been killed nationwide since 2001.

"(The) government and (the) military are not doing enough to stop killings of farmers," she said.

Masbate Bishop Joel Baylon earlier reported that he, some priests and Catholics, have been receiving death threats allegedly from Muslim rebel groups, anti-social groups and landlords.

The CBCP demanded immediate action by government on the killers and perpetrators of violence in Masbate.

Ledesma said the Second National Rural Congress underlined an agreement that there should be wider and equitable distribution of land for the small farmers.

It also stressed that landlessness is a problem, that large landholdings should be broken up, that farmers should have secure tenure and assisted to produce more and raise household incomes, and that land-to-the tiller should continue to be the underlying principle of the country's agrarian reform, he added.

MANILA, Philippines - Suspected communist rebels on Tuesday morning fired at Army soldiers in Masbate ahead of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's visit in the province, a regional military spokesman said.

About 7:45 a.m., troops headed by one Lt. Bilog were on board a civilian vehicle when fired upon by an undetermined number of New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Bagacay village in Mobo town, said Army 9th Infantry Division spokesman Maj. Christopher Morales.

At the time of the incident, Morales said the troops were on their way to Cataingan town.

Incidentally, Mobo town is located about 90 kilometers away from Placer town, where President Arroyo was scheduled to convene a Cabinet meeting.

Morales said no casualties were reported on both sides, even as the troops immediately returned fire against the ambushers.

He added that pursuit operations are on going against the rebel attackers.

Earlier in the day, a landmine explosion occurred about 3 a.m. in Ban-ao village in Placer town. No one was injured in the explosion. - GMANews.TV

Manila (14 July) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is scheduled to visit the fourth class municipality of Placer in Masbate province Tuesday (July 15) to personally deliver enhanced social services to the poor.

She will also preside over the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC)-Cabinet meeting at the Floro V. Casas Hall of the Celera Inocencio Central School for an update on the rehabilitation efforts being undertaken by government agencies in the areas hit by Typhoon Frank.

The President will also receive a briefing on the latest developments on the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy.

She will also lead the delivery of enhanced social services including healthcare, snack packs and vitamin A gels for Grade 1 pupils, school chairs, certified rice seeds and hybrid corn seeds, among others.

The municipality of Placer is one of several areas devastated by Typhoon Frank. Local officials will brief the President on the extent of damage in the province, as well as the status of ongoing efforts to bring back to normal the lives of the people.

The Masbateños' main source of livelihood, farming and fishing, was severely affected by the typhoon.

Residents claim that the small fishing industry suffered a big blow as some of the typhoon casualties were fishermen. The bodies of some of the victims were washed ashore after the calamity.

Masbate was among the provinces placed under a state of calamity in the aftermath of Typhoon Frank. Close to 8,000 families in the province, most of them living in the coastal areas, were evacuated to higher grounds at the height of the typhoon.

PLACER, Masbate – Take it from members of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Cabinet: fish caught in the waters off Masbate are safe to eat.

To show that the fish scare that had swept Masbate and nearby provinces following the MV Princess of the Stars sinking is overblown, the President’s men had sumptuous buffet of sea foods the other day (Tuesday).

The menu included crabs, shrimps and fish caught in the waters around this island province.

Heading the group was Vice President Noli de Castro and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

Also present were Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. Press Secretary Jesus Dureza, Health Secretary Francisco Duque and Albay Gov. Joey Salceda.

Duque said that fish and other delicacies of the deep, including fish caught near the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars, are safe to eat.

The fish scare has impacted the livelihood of fisherfolk, who derive 50 percent of their income from fishing.

The Cabinet members arrived here Tuesday for the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) meeting in Placer, a 4th class municipality of Masbate.

A Low Pressue Area (LPA) has been spotted off the coast of Masbate and is expected to bring dump rains over the province and areas nearby on Thursday, the weather bureau said.

Satellites of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration plotted the LPA northeast of the province at 2 a.m. Thursday.

PAGASA said the LPA is lying along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ICTZ) and may affect regions in Southern Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The weather bureau said there is no tropical cyclone affecting the country at the moment.

It, however, said areas affected by the LPA and the ITCZ should expect party cloudy to cloudy skies, except during the afternoon or evening with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms.

Provinces in Central Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao will have cloudy skies, with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms, which will become widespread rains over the western sections of Visayas and Mindanao. PAGASA warned areas near west of Visayas and Mindanao for possible landslides and flashfloods.

Light and moderate winds will prevail from east to southwest of Luzon and will vary over the rest of the country. PAGASA said coastal waters will be slight to moderate, except during thunderstorms.

Two former military volunteers were gunned down by gunmen inside their homes in Masbate province at dawn Sunday.

Police identified the fatalities as Rene Habres and Janrey Pagaspas, residents of Barangay Royroy in Batuan town.

Investigations showed that five gunmen stormed the houses of Habres and Pagaspas around 5:30 a.m. The two were shot at close range, police said.

The gunmen escaped after the murders. Police said the motive for the killing could have been related to the victims' former jobs. Gerard Lorbes, ABS-CBN Naga

LGU-Masbate City Celebrates Family Day




family day
On its 3rd year, the City Government of Masbate celebrates the Annual Family Day on December 20-21, 2007. The employees took on a different activity as they engaged in sports events which showed their athletic skills and apt through joining in various games like marathon, relay, soccer football, limbo rock, javelin throw, etc.

LAPAY BANTIGUE DANCE FESTIVAL STANDS-OUT IN BICOL FESTIVAL


Champion




It was an easy sweep for the City Government of Masbate as the Lapay Bantigue Festival Contingent was declared as the over-all champion during the Magayon Festival: Festival of Festivals in Legazpi City last April 26, 2008. The event was sponsored by the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 5 and the Provincial Government of Albay

The Lapay Bantigue Dance Festival emerged over ten other competing festivals representing the different cities and provinces of Region Five. The judges were amazed at the fast beat and movements of Lapay Bantigue Dance. A strong affirmation through a proud applause from the spectators to the judges to the LGU’s officials, DOT Officials as well as from other contingents were heard and felt.

The contingent composed of high school and college students from different schools in Masbate City showed their exemplary performance and untiring movements although the weather was very erratic that day. The heat penetrated at the beginning and along the way the rain was pouring.

Second to Lapay Bantigue Dance Festival is the Pulang Anggui Festival contingent from Polanggui, Albay and third is Naro Festival of Dimasalang, Masbate representing the Province of Masbate.