According to a list provided by Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Ramil Evangelista, the amount that the Department of Agriculture needs to indemnify backyard hog raisers and farmers in Catanduanes is only P2,924,000.00.
It may be recalled that last month, Provincial Board Member Joselito Alberto criticized the delay in the payment of the farmers’ compensation for hundreds of pigs culled during the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak last year.
He claimed that the requested funds amounting to P4,844,000 have already been downloaded to the DA Regional Field Office V for disbursement to qualified hog raisers in Catanduanes.
The list furnished by the PVet chief to the Tribune a total of 88 farmers from 29 barangays in six towns will receive payment for their pigs, sick or not, which were killed as local authorities sought to stamp out ASF in the island.
The breakdown of the indemnification is as follows: Baras – P556,000 for 25 farmers (67 heads); Bato – P776,000 for 17 farmers (106 heads); Virac – P372,000 for 8 farmers (44 heads); Viga – P364,000 for 9 farmers (45 heads); Panganiban – P260,000 for 7 farmers (39 heads); and Gigmoto – P596,000 for 22 farmers (70 heads).
As to when the money will be released, there remains no update from the DA regional office.
The local farmers have waited for their just compensation during the past one-and-a-half years.
Ironically, the province may soon be in a similar situation if the DA does not confine a new ASF outbreak in Camarines Sur.
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There are reports that the San Andres police have already located the place where a suspected small-scale gold miner died when he was buried alive by the collapsing wall of the hole he was digging.
It would be interesting to know where exactly the place is located since even the DENR refused to point out on a map where sitio Macacaw is.
Some of those wanting to know that location would be several members of the provincial board who earlier expressed skepticism on claims that the sitio was in barangay San Isidro, San Andres or within the territory of Obi, Caramoran.
This paper suggested that the area would be nearer the upstream reaches of Hitoma river which meanders along the boundary of San Andres and Virac,
Incidentally, a check on Google Earth Pro shows a cleared portion of a mountain some 1.6 kilometers south-southeast of Obi, with an obviously man-made structure rectangular in shape and about 10 meters long at the top end of the clearing.
There were also white squares believed to be roofs of some houses at the periphery of the clearing.
The coordinates of the clearing are 13-44-33 N and 124-08-23 E if anyone bothers to check.
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The signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on the establishment of a district office in Catanduanes by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) by Governor Patrick Alain T. Azanza and NBI Director Atty. Melvin A. Matibag is good news for islanders who routinely avail of services of the nearest NBI office at the mainland.
As to where the NBI office would be based, the press release from the Capitol information unit did not say.
When the governor and Congressman Eulogio R. Rodriguez were on better terms, the plan was to have the NBI satellite office provided a space at the People’s Center built for over P90 million by the DPWH along Real St. in Calatagan Proper in Virac and on CatSU property.
Until now, the People’s Center, despite being completed, has yet to be inaugurated.
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MAN IN TROUBLE. A guy goes out drinking every night of the week before roiling home drunk, at midnight, to a frosty welcome from his long-suffering wife. She tells a friend how unbearable the atmosphere is becoming between herself and her husband. The friend suggests she try a different tack – instead of haranguing him when he gets in, she should treat him with compassion.
That night, the husband staggers in late as usual, but this time he is greeted with a friendly kiss. His wife sits him in his favorite chair, brings him his slippers and makes him a nice cup of tea. He can hardly believe it. Where are the insults and the accusations?
After a while she says, “It’s getting late now, dear. I think we’d better go upstairs to bed.”
“We might as well,” slurs the husband. “I’ll be in trouble when I get home anyway.”