Legazpi City - Preparations are in place for the holding of an RP-US Balikatan exercise next year in Bicol, a top military official said recently. From Mindanao, a war-torn region of Southern Philippines, the RP-US Balikatan exercises will be moving to the Bicol Peninsula early next year, the military official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) who requested not to be named said. He said the exercise will be held in Bicol by February next year, following an advance survey of the RP-US Balikatan working group that had visited the provinces of Albay and Sorsogon including the island province of Masbate over the weekend here to take a look at the Bicol terrain and territory. Bicol is an ideal site for the exercise because of its areas in terms of land, sea and air. Military reports said Bicol is one of the hotbeds of insurgency for the past three decades. The provinces of Albay and Sorsogon are considered hot spots as far as the insurgency problem is concerned. Undersecretary Edilberto Adan of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in-charge of the RP-US military exercise, in his visit here last year said there was a strong possibility for a joint RP-US Balikatan to be held in Bicol because the area is very suitable for a joint military exercise. He said the joint military exercise would be beneficial to the country specifically the AFP, who would learn new techniques in warfare including the latest weapons while the US soldiers would learn more from us new jungle warfare maneuvers with the terrain the region has. The site inspection was confirmed by Army Col. Ariel Bernardo, commanding officer of the Army's 901st Infantry Brigade based in Daraga, Albay. Bernardo's brigade covers the territories of Albay, Sorsogon and the two island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate. Bernardo said the advance party conducted initial location survey visits last October 8-12 for probable sites of the joint military exercises. Bernardo, said the exercise would include among others humanitarian missions such as construction of school building, water system facilities and farm to market road with medical and dental mission components. For instance, the US troops will also conduct a humanitarian mission in the municipality of Cabusao in Camarines Sur. In 2006, the US Navy Seabees partnered with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in aiding the typhoon-stricken communities in Bicol region especially typhoon-ravaged Albay after super typhoon Reming battered the region November that year, killing more than 1,000 people rendering 30,000 families homeless. The usual joint RP-US military exercises would last for six months under the Balikatan's Terms of Reference (TOR). US contingents are assigned to brigade-level units and allowed battalion-level operations as observers, trainors and advisers although they are prohibited from operating on their own.

Albay -- A United States Navy warship is expected to dock off the waters of the Albay Gulf this city on Tuesday to hold a five day humanitarian mission in selected villages in this premiere city of Bicol, a Philippine Navy spokesman said today. Navy Lt. Junior Grade German Acido, spokesman of the Philippine Navy Naval Forces of southern Luzon (NAVRASOL) that USS Reuben James (FFG-57) will hold a week-long community service. The US Navy ship is an Oliver Hazard Perry-Class guided missile warship based in Hawaii, it will stay drop anchor at the Albay Gulf from October 21 until 25, while its crews will hold civic and medical services to poor city residents at the Bagumbayan Central School here. The Navy crew will also hand over medical supplies to the Legazpi City health office and the Department of Social Welfare Development here. The USS Reuben James is the third US Navy Fleet to arrive in Albay to conduct another rounds of humanitarian mission in this typhoon path province of the Bicol peninsula. Last year, two US Navy warships such as USS Comstock and USS Peleliu arrived in this city and conducted humanitarian mission to assist the poor-stricken families by two super typhoons that hit Albay province. Sources said that the viist of the US Navy warship is an advance move in preparation for the holding of a RP-US Balikatan exercise set for nest year. The schedule Balikatan 2009 in Bicol will be the 25th joint military exercise to take place in the country. The RP and US have a long standing relationship or for about six decades, and the Balikatan exercise is part of bilateral RP-US agreement in promoting cooperation, security and stability between the two countries.

Sorsogon -- The Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council (PAFC) here has conferred the "Parangal ng Gobernadora" to outstanding partners and stakeholders of local Agriculture and Fishery Councils and High Value Commercial Crops in this province. PAFC chair Godofredo Ditan said the award program recognizes their exemplary contributions and achivements in pursuing agri-fishery development in Sorsogon. Chief executives Hon. Deogracias Ramos and Hon. Olivia Bermillo of Gubat and Castilla towns, respectively, were presented with the award for drawing out and implementing policies and programs, forging partnership with concerned national government agencies, to uplift local agriculture and fishery sector, furthermore, unsure promising future for the stakeholders. Gubat town's AFC also won the "Parangal ng Gobernadora" for being instrumental in the expansion and sustainability of the Freshwater Aquaculture Development Center, backyard tilapia raising and massive replanting of mangrooves in the towns coastlines and abaca propagations in different barangays. This AFC is also known for their initiative in organizing the 42 barangay AFCs and their overwhelming support in the implementation of agri-fishery programs and projects that notched them the 2004 National Outstanding MAFC honor. The AFC of Castilla town received the same award recognizing its feat in the implementation of livelihood programs and environment conservation and protection projects, including a yearly coastal clean-up, river clean-up under the "Salog Ta, Linigon Ta" program, and spearheading joint undertaking with the Sorsogon State College - Castilla Campus in the implementation of the "Oplan Kagianan" assisting local farmers and fisherfolks in their living and improve their quality of everyday life. Mr. Ramon Diño was feted with the "Parangal ng Gobernadora" for leading the Sorsogon PAFC capped the National Outstanding PAFC conferred by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2002. PAFC Sorsogon also honored Ms. Rosita Naje, who operates and manages the Naje Chicken Egg Layer Enterprise, at the same time venture into several more investments as a young entrepreneur. Naje was also named "Gawad Saka 2008 Outstanding Young Farmer of the Philippines." Other awardees were Mr. Francisco Aranda being cited for his contribution in the development of the local coffee industry in the province; the Gawad Kalinga Village vegetable growers in barangay Quidolog, Prieto Diaz town for developing the village's surrounding areas at least 2,000 sq. m. into HVCC farm utilizing "Protective Culture of Vegetables" technology yielding to abundant harvest.

Legazpi City -- Determined to wage war against illegal drugs in this city, the City Anti Illegal Drug Council (CADAC) formed a special action group to intensify intelligence operations and raids on suspected illegal drug lairs. City Mayor Noel Rosal said on Friday, the increasing incidents of drug abuse here is quite alarming following reports that 15 people from this city have been committed to a drug rehabilitation center in Malinao, Albay, and 13 of whom have been found to be "psychotic" and need to be moved to a mental institution. Rosal said "the drug situation here is indeed serious and I am putting pressure on it by intensifying our intelligence operations." "The special action group, composed of narcotic agents from the police and other law enforcement agencies, will be holding intelligence operations and raids on suspected illegal drug syndicates, peddlers, safe houses including drug users", he pointed out. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency at the CADAC meeting held on Thursday reported that of the 70 villages of the city 10 are either considered drug infiltrated or drug influenced areas. Arlene Bonavente, PDEA Intelligence Officer said her agency is hot on trail against illegal drug peddlers operating in the high risk villages of Sabang, Victory Village, Barriada, Pigcale, Dap-Dap, Bigaa, Oro Site, Cruzada and two other villages in the southern part of this city. Bonavente said barangay Sabang, a coastal village in this city is considered as the drop point of illegal drugs. She reported that Shabu and Marijuana are the frequently bought illegal drugs by drug users. She also said that 36 drug-related cases are presently being tried in local courts here.

Camarines Norte – Pinahiwas pa ngonian kan mga awtoridad an paghanap sa mga suspetsado sa panggagadan sa chief of staff ni Compostela Valley Cong. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora. Ini makalihis na mapag-araman na taga-Camarines Norte an maysadiri kan van na ginamit kan tolong armado na buminadil sa staff kan kongresista na si Robert Delano. Magigirumdoman na nagadan an biktima kan nakalihis na petsa kan presenteng bulan mientras na paluwas sa saiyang harong sa Quezon City. Sa naging pahayag man man kan Camarines Norte Provincial Office, nakipag-koordinar na sa sainda an pamayo kan Task Force Delano na si Sr. Supt. Franklin Moises Mabanag nganing maaraman ang iniistaran kan maysadiri kan behikulo. Sinabi man ni Col. Noel Constantino, an Provincial Director kan Camarines Norte, nagpaluwas na siyang kasuguan sa saiyang mga kabuhan na magkondukta nin beripikasyon mapapadapit sa ipinaabot sa saindang impormasyon. Napag-araman na nakarehistro an sasakyan sa ciudad kan Pasig alagad an address kan maysadiri iyo digde sa Bicol. Nagsayuma man na ibulgar kan pulisya an eksaktong address alagad ini an nakaistar so boot sa sarong subdivision.

Naga City-- Nakatalaan na man na sangatan nin magkakanigong kaso an driver kan motorsiklo na ginamit sa panggagadan ki dating Market Supt. Paco Ojeda kan bulan na Agosto. Sosog ki Mayor Jesse Robredo, bistado na an nasabing suspetsado na so boot kaibahan kan saro pang iniimbuelto na si Michael Billodo. Mientras tanto, mayo pa man nin pangaran kan driver na pigpaluwas an opisyal siring man an mga otoridad. Kasumpay kani, ipinahayag ni robredo na an pagkaka-imbuelto ni Billodo sa nasabing krimen an nag-agui sa magkakanigong proseso. Bahala na man an husgado na magdesisyon kun talagang igwang pagkaisi an nasambitan na persona sa krimen. Mientras tanto, tinawan doon kan alkalde na igwang duwang testigo an nagbisto ki Billodo bilang iyo an gunman sa paggadan ki Ojeda. Sa katunayan igwa man daa sa saindang nagdolok na sarong persona na sinaksak so boot ni Billodo kun kaya nagtotobod siya na igwang kapasidad an nasabing akusado na makaginibo nin siring na krimen.

Pili, Cam. Sur – Todo pahimutik an ginibo kan suspetsado sa pagtanom nin sampolong poon nin marijuana sa barangay Curri sa banwaan kan Pili, Camarines Sur. Ini an naging pahayag kan nakakunkon na ngonian na si Noel Marabella, 43 anios kan Sitio Boncayao kan nasabing barangay makalihis na dacopon kan mga pulis. Ibinulgar man ni Marabella na an totoong kagsadiri kan nasabing tanom na marijuana iyo an nagngangaran na Jesse Almojano. Si Allmojano an nakatalaan man na imbitaran kan pulisya tanganing imbestigaran. Enot kani, nagpaabot man daa nin impormasyon an mga barangay officials sa PNP dapit sa tanom na mga marijuana dalan para magsakyada sa lugar an mga kabuhan kan pulisya. Mientras tanto, igwa pa man daang mga patanuman nin marijuana sa banwaan kan Pili an nakatalaan na sakyadahon kan PNP sa mga maabot na aldaw.