IBONG SAPA FISHERMAN Ramil Avila points to the black streak left by a clump of oil from the growing oil slick at the Pacific Ocean 34 miles east southeast of Nagngangang Buaya point where M/V Sun Spirits sank Jan. 22.

COAST GUARD PERSONNEL belonging to the agency’s Marine Pollution team load a rubber boat into the deck of M/V Fernando, which was commissioned to assist in the laying of oil spill booms (orange pile at the boat’s side) at the oil spill site. Also loaded last Friday morning were a speed boat of the provincial government, sacks of empty rice hulls.

AKO BICOL PARTYLIST Rep. Rodel Batocabe (left) turns over to Gov. Joseph Cua the dialysis machine it donated to the Eastern Bicol Medical Center last Saturday. Witnessing the turnover is EBMC hospital chief Dr. Greg Macero.

BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES Cong. Cesar V. Sarmiento, together with TESDA provincial director Jose Serrano, Jr., TESDA-CSHCI vocational school administrator Elpidio Tuboro, DOST provincial director Jimmy Cabrera, and PB Jose Manoguid of Calatagan Proper,, lead the groundbreaking for the two-stprey TESDA provincial office building. Looking on are TESDA students enrolled in Masonry, Carpentry, Tile-Setting and other construction-related courses who are having their much-needed exposure in this training-cum-production project funded by P2 million secured from the national government through the congressman’s efforts.

RISING FROM THE ASHES of its predecessor that was razed by fire, the newly-constructed Special Education (SPED) building at the Juan M. Alberto Memorial Elementary School in Virac is more modern and spacious, thanks to Cong. Cesar ‘CS’ Sarmiento who provided funds for its reconstruction.

M/V SUN SPIRITS’ LAST KNOWN LOCATION was radioed by its captain as 13 degrees, 25 minutes North latitude and 124 degrees, 47.7 minutes East longitude, or about 38 nautical miles (61 kilometres) east southeast of Virac.

SOCIAL COMMITMENT Dr. Minerva I. Morales, CSC president, sign the Memorandum of Agreement for the implementation of Bayan Muna and Gabriela Party-lists Scholarship Program at CSC, along with Mrs. Cecilia V. Mendoza, Alliance of Concerned Teachers Provincial Coordinator, representing Bayan Muna and Gabriela. Witnessing the signing are Dr. Susan T. Santelices, CSC VP for academic affairs, Dr. Lourdes V. Rodriguez, CSC director for student services, Eric Amarille, Kabataan Party-list provincial coordinator, Atty. Gregorio M. Sarmiento Jr., CSC legal officer, together with some of the student grantees.

INSIDE THE RADAR DOME, trainees from the three PAGASA Doppler radar sites familiarize themselves with the Japanese radar system installed at the Buenavista facility. The dome’s fibreglass panel “skin”, pieced together by stainless bolts, can withstand winds of up to 450 kph.

PAGASA WEATHER FORECASTER Rene Paciente looks at the image displayed on the monitor and generated by the Doppler radar system now undergoing tests at Buenavista, Bato. At the click of a mouse, the observer can find out wind speed and direction, as well as the volume and rate of rain fall from 400 kilometres away.

FUNDING FOR INLAND FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS in the amount of P1.5 million is turned over to the Catanduanes State Colleges by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), represented by division chief Melchor Deramas (12th from left) last Jan. 29. Cong. Cesar Sarmiento (in green shirt) facilitated the allocation in coordination with CSC Pres. Minerva Morales (121th from left).

Headline Stories:
Search finds no oil spill at sea
Fishermen from Virac and Bato who decided to stay on shore after signs of an oil spill were spotted near the area in the Pacific Ocean where M/V Sun Spirits sank Jan. 22 can now go back to sea.

Full Story

Jan 26

Murders here up by 291% in 2011

Jan 21

Classmates key to solving crime: 2 men involved in Margie rape-slay?

Past Headline Stories...

700 CNHS seniors troop to “pabaon” seminar at Dome
In a project they called a “pabalon” to the 707-strong 2012 graduating class of the Catanduanes National High School, members of the school’s l967 alumni group successfully sponsored a day-long seminar last January 21 at the Capitol Dome aimed at enhancing the students’ chances in college admission.

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2011 murders just 22; PNP blames `bad’ file
Red-faced personnel in the Catanduanes PNP headquarter’s operations section blamed a “corrupted” computer file for the erroneous 2011 murder statistics in last week’s Tribune headline, as they clarified that the actual was just 22, instead of 94 as reported.

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Cong. CS bares list of 2nd tranche PDAF projects
Reflecting his priority, Catanduanes Congressman Cesar Sarmiento has listed 111 barangays as recipients of water supply projects in the 2nd tranche of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for 2011 now set to for implementation.

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AKO BICOL partylist donates dialysis machine to EBMC
The AKO BICOL partylist group has donated a dialysis machine to the Eastern Bicol Medical Center after noting the considerable number of patients with kidney ailments from Catanduanes who are flocking to its offices in Albay where there are many dialysis centers.

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CIBAC allots P50-T medical aid for poor
The partylist group Citizens’ Battle Againts Corruption (CIBAC) has allocated P50,000.00 for medical assistance to indigents in Catanduanes, with the funds to be coursed through the provincial government and the Eastern Bicol Medical Center.

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Bayan Muna, Gabriela launch scholarship program at CSC
Two progressive partylist groups – Bayan Muna and Gabriela - have signed a memorandum of agreement with the Catanduanes State Colleges covering the implementation of separate scholarship programs for poor and deserving college students.

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Past Articles...