BIRDS STRIKES @ NAIA

BIRDS STRIKES AT NAIA!

(From left: Lt. Gen. William K. Hotchkiss, CAAP Director General with   

Capt. John Andrews, Deputy General for Operations, CAAP)

 Bird strike Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) does not only poses an imminent danger to the safety of airlines and its passengers at , but also a threat to our country’s economy as well. We may never earn an upgrade of our aviation safety classification from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to boost our tourism industry and increase commercial activities in the metropolis and parts of central Luzon, because of such issue, other than the modernization of our airports.
 

Lately, there was tremendous increase of bird strikes at NAIA.  There were  49  bird strike recorded by CAAP from January to September, compared to 30 bird strikes in 2011 and 25 in 2010, which makes the makes the danger more imminent.  Thus, NAIA was prompted to issue a warning to the pilots of the danger to land and take off at NAIA. 

It was reported that a Philippine Airlines (PAL) Flight PR 124 to Manila was canceled last September after birds got sucked into the plane’s engine in order to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. Cebu Pacific's Cotabato-Manila flight was delayed for more than four hours also in the same month.  Earlier in July, it was reported that  PAL flight PR 105 that just arrived in Manila from Guam in also suffered from the same incident and the aircraft’s entire set of fan blades had to be replaced due to irreparable damage. It was reported by TV 5 News that from January to July this year, 39 bird strikes have been reported at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), 50 percent more than the same period last year, data from the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) indicated.  These incidents involve aircraft of Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific, Zest Air, Cathay Pacific, Jet Star Asia, Air Philippines Express, and Qatar Airways.
 
The population of migratory birds nesting at the Las-Piñas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Eco Tourism area located about 15 kilometer away from NAIA . . .  DOUBLE CLICK HERE TO WITNESS BY YOURSELF

MARITINE INDUSTRY IN DANGER OF PERIL!

Indefinite suspension of licenses to operate manning agencies pending litigation of a case is endangering  the maritime industry to the detriment of the Philippine economy!

This is what happened to the 300 seafarers of Gyron Crew Incorporation and Manning Agency (GCIMA). A complaint was filed by three former recruits of GCIMA leading to the suspension of its license to operate. Consequently, the contract of 300 seafarers due to be deployed to Netherlands were put on hold, many of whom were about to leave the country. Meanwhile, the case remains pending for more than sixty (60) days, while it was reported that a new law was passed in Holland allegedly banning Filipino seafarers. 

Despite previous withdrawal of the complaint by two of the complainants, while the other one already left the country, the case still remains pending litigation for more than two months, alleged Bosun Jeric Bilbao, representing the seafarers. Atty. Jesus Gabriel "Jeriel" Domingo, OIC, Adjudication Office, POEA, replied: “our hands are tied by the law . . . we must observe the requirement of due process”, when confronted by the seafarers, during the Balitaan sa Aloha media forum on October 10, 2012. However, the case has not yet been resolved to date. On the other hand, millions of pesos due to the seafarers and the government were already lost.

This is a dangerous precedent! 

HEAR IT FROM THE PARTIES PERSONALLY.  DOUBLE CLICK HERE

SOLON's DAUGHTER IN CAGAYAN POLL!

SOLON's DAUGHTER IN CAGAYAN POLL CHARLIE C. LAGASCA/RAYMUND F. CATINDIG TUGUEGARAO CITY.

Its all over, Vice Mayor Baby Aline Vargas-Alfonso is now the duly elected Representative of the second Distict of this province dislodging the last of the stalwarts of President Noynoy Aquino’s Liberal Party ...in a one-on-one fight in the special elections held last Saturday. Former Governor Edgar Ramones Lara, conceded stating his call to unite for the progress of Cagayan. The new Congresswoman who is incumbent vice mayor of the Vargas scion hometown of Abulug, Cagayan has been proclaimed by the Commission on Elections by a wide margin shortly before midnight just as Lara issued a press statement conceding defeat to the daughter of late Rep. Florencio Vargas. The latter’s death in June last year had precipitated the conduct of said special election.

Alfonso’s candidacy was backed by the influential machinery of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Gov. Alvaro Antonio, both founding leaders of Team Cagayan, where the Vargases’ political party, Lakas-Kampi-CMD, is affiliated.

Lara, who, himself, served as the district’s congressman for three consecutive terms before being elected governor for two terms, ran under the banner of President Aquino’s Liberal Party, whose almost entire slate was wiped out by the Team Cagayan in last year’s polls.
Lawyer Catherine Allas, Cagayan election supervisor, said that they went on to proclaim Alfonso, considering her already insurmountable lead over Lara, even though the elections returns from the remote towns of Calayan and Rizal, which are around 19,000 votes, have yet to be officially canvassed.

“We no longer waited for the (Calayan and Rizal) results. This would no longer affect (Alfonso’s) lead. Of the (district’s) 10 canvassed towns, Lara only won in (his hometown of) Lasam,” said Allas, describing the conduct of the poll as generally peaceful.

The provincial board of canvassers proclaimed Alfonso after obtaining a commanding lead of 69,461 votes over Lara’s 26,587 or an overwhelming margin of 42,874.
“We can now look forward to resuming the plans and programs of my father which had been held in abeyance since his death. We also doff our hat to our opponent who had conducted a high-level campaign. He can still offer his services to the people even in a private capacity,” said Alfonso, also a former three-term Abulug town mayor.

Alfonso’s father, then third term-seeking 72-year-old Rep. Vargas had also bested Lara in their congressional fight in last year’s election only to succumb to an illness in June last year or a week before the opening of the present Congress.

Lara, whose camp blamed massive irregularities as the cause of his election defeat against then Alcala town mayor now Governor Antonio in their 2007 gubernatorial race, conceded defeat to Alfonso, even congratulating her for her victory.

“I offered myself to be in service of our people. They have made their choice. I must respect that. It has become clear to me that the brand of politics I offered no longer fit the temperament of our electorate. This is a glaring fact I must accept. My congratulations to Madam Alfonso. God bless our people,” said the vanquished Lara.

Besides Abulug, Calayan, Lasam and Rizal, Cagayan’s second district, which has 154,692 registered voters, also comprises the towns of Allacapan, Ballesteros, Claveria, Pamplona, Sanchez Mira, Santa Praxedes, Piat and Santo Niño.

Earlier, the Comelec noted a dismal turnout of voters, which it said could have been attributed to the tsunami scare that engulfed residents despite authorities’ already having lifted the tsunami alert throughout the country before the election date .

“Residents who were evacuated from their homes due to the tsunami alert were scared of returning to their homes and eventually to vote, which somehow resulted in the low turnout of voters,” Allas said.

Of the district’s 12 towns, eight - Abulug, Allacapan, Ballesteros, Claveria, Pamplona, Sanchez Mira, Santa Praxedes and Calayan - had been alerted for a possible tsunami attack.

As per the poll body’s earlier resolution, the election period, which started last Feb. 10, will end on March 22. CCL/RFC

CATINDIG JOINS ALIMOKON!

CATINDIG JOINS ALIMOKON!

Raymond Catindig, communication graduate of the Far Eastern University, a veteran news writer who has worked with the Philippine Daily Star among the major dailies in his arsenal of experience joins the Alimokon Cyber Advocay as its main news feature writer! Due to public clamor for Alimokon Cyber Advocacy, which was first envisioned only as a site to advocate for the recognition of General Mateo Noriel Luga (an Ybanag Tribal Leader) as among the greatest hero of this Republic, to bond the Luga Clan and the families of the Ybanag Tribal Warriors from Cagayan Valley who joined him in the Philippine Revolution, to expand its coverage and bring forth developmental, truthful, transparent and objective news in Isabela, RAYMOND CATINDIG decided to join the ALIMOKON CYBER ADVOCACY!

Soon our News Section shall be reformatted for Manong Raymond to deliver us up to date News from Isabela ON LINE! Along with MILA SAMONTE OPSETH of tumauini.com, and tumauini isbela @ Facebook, a group of Tumanuinians with members mostly residing in the United States and Canada and BONIFACIO BUANUAN, the tongue lashing old man in the cyber site of tumauini group in Facebook, and ALIMOKON, CATINDIG was warmly welcomed by well known cyber advocates WORLDWIDE whose combined viewers numbers to nearly a hundred of thousands views whose roots can be traced in Isabela!

To our followers, readers and viewers. WELCOME TO ISABELA NEWS by RAYMUND CATINDIG!

(Pictures: Upper inset box Raymond Catindig [by Raymond Catindig]; Roy R. Luga Mila Samonte Opseth with husband Barry at Valencia, California; Roy R. Luga with Bonifacio Bunuan at West Covina, California.]

RAYMUND CATINDIG

We shall soon be featuring Raymund Catindig as news contributor. Mr. Catintig is a news writer/contributor of the Philippine Star based in Isabela. Soon we shall be linking his news report direct from Isabela in this site in our new format.

[Upper photo Mr. Raymund Catindig with Nueva Vizcaya Bishop Ramon Villena during the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Cauayan City. The Bishop who is former RDC Chairman has joined Nueva Vizcaya Governor Luisa "Banty" Cuaresma in denouncing mining operations in their province during the conference.]

ELMER LUGA-SURRIGA

MEANWHILE! We were surprised to hear from a cousin whom we have not heard of for years. Almost 40 years ago. Most of us, who are TECHIE, like our cousin Mala Jean, were still crawling (not this writer, who might have not been born yet . . . LOL!) since we met him. He has this thick glasses, who used to stay away from the crowds to read his books . . . a nerd (pardon me for the term, but it pays! He is an Engineer and has that brains!). Indeed, the bloodline of the great Ibanag Revolutionary is already spreading across the Globe. Yes! We used to call him Manong Elmer, who might have been older than my late sister Realyn. Manong Elmer, married to Mary Paguntalan was the son of the late Captain Eugenio Luga Surriga whose mother is Nida Salud Rivera. His father is the offspring of Pilar Luga married to Justo Surriga. Pilar was the daugther of the late General Mateo Noriel Luga. I learned that Manong Elmer is presently doing a project on Geneology. One of the best GENEOLOGY PROJECT I ever encountered in the net was that of my cousin's project on my mother side, the RODRIGAZO's. It takes years of researching, but it pays. I don't even know how our cousin on my mother side did it. Maybe our cousin Mala Jean, on the father side, can start the ball rolling at ANCESTRY.COM. The Surrigas migrated in United States. They also holds regular clan reunions. Thank you Mala!

VOYAGERS OF THE SEA!

Like Trisha, who we met in You Tube, na malaking pagsisisi niya daw sana kung sakaling nagpalit siya ng apelyedo (she is in the Middle East - Eh . . . Lolo niya pala si Fr. Angel! We hope she'll meet Luel Luga De Jesus in Mid-East) - Nathan, a PMMA Grad (89') and Michael Paul (PMMA 2000') were the voyagers of the sea. Michael Paul Luga is from Nueva Vizcaya. Michael has this words to say while cruising somewhere at L.A. sailing to Ecuador: "My grandfathers name is Juan D. Luga and his fathers name is Francisco Luga...maybe someone from your side knew Francisco...they came from Tumauini too...as my grandfather relates it to me...well, i just wish i can write more but i wouldnt want to take much of your time...thanks for your message, i really appreciate it...Take care and Godbless!"