Igorota beauty queen Roxanne Baeyens wins Gold in Covid-Craze Challenge of Miss Philippine Earth

Photo Courtesy || Roxie Baeyens

Cordillera - Miss Philippines Earth has kicked off with the competition despite the pandemic through live streaming on Miss Philippines Earth official Facebook page. 

Candidates including Igorota beauty queen Roxanne Baeyens were all in charm as they participated in the long gown competition, fitness, form and poised completion, beach wear competition, and sports wear competition, which are all done virtually.

The Igorota-Belgian beauty queen, a native from Besao, Mountain province has won a Gold Medal for the Covid-Craze Challenge. 

She also won a Bronze Medal for Resorts wear and Miss Hana Shampoo's Top ten, according to Cornerstone Entertainment Inc. 

Watch Miss Philippines Earth Virtual Pre-pageant activities in its official Facebook page 

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20 million veggie, fruit processing plant to rise in La Trinidad, Benguet - DA

Photo Courtesy || Ace 

Cordillera - Agriculture Secretary William Dar has approved the proposal for the establishment of a P20-million food processing facility to complement the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) in La Trinidad.

The facility aims to add value to the vegetables and fruits produced by thousands of farmers in Benguet and nearby provinces in the Cordilleras, and thus prevent wastage and losses during peak season.

Early this month, farmers from Tinoc, Ifugao were reportedly dumping tomatoes for lack of buyers and access to markets. Following this, the Department of Agriculture in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) enhanced its marketing channels particularly the Kadiwa Express to find buyers.

“We have also negotiated with other vegetable buyers to purchase tomatoes from farmers in Tinoc and adjoining areas,” said DA-CAR Director Cameron Odsey.

As of June 14, he said the Tinoc farmers were linked to eleven groups of new buyers, purchasing a total of 26 metric tons of tomatoes. This week, the farmers were able to sell 18.5MT of tomatoes, totalling P166,000. Moreover, seven other private buyer-entities committed to procure vegetables from other production areas in the region, Odsey said.

“There should be no reason for farmers to lose when harvest is abundant. Dumping will not happen again,” said Secretary Dar, during the regular quarterly meeting of the BAPTC project steering board, on June 19, at the DA-CAR office in Baguio City.

The agri chief said that the food processing center will not only serve as a processing hub, but also as a learning and training site for farmers interested to process their harvest into other high value products, thus providing them additional income, and more importantly transforming them into processors.

“We want our Filipino farmers to be more than growers. We want them to become entrepreneurs. This move will level-up their game, and give them more financial benefits,” he said.

The funding will be released by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) to the Benguet State University that oversees the management of the BAPTC.

The initiative is anchored on the DA’s vision of a food-secure and resilient Philippines with prosperous farmers and fishers.

Secretary Dar underscored that the government will continue to work hard to help food producers in the Cordilleras to bring their produce to the markets, including the further improvement and institutionalisation of the BAPTC logistics and distribution system, and in the near future into a full-fledged vegetable and fruit processing facility, which will be relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic and into the ‘new normal.’ ### (Adora Rodriguez, DA-AFID)

source || da.gov.ph

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Cong. Eric Yap submits House Bill No. 7011 to give free insurance to Cordilleran farmers

Cordillera- Farmers will no longer worry in the near future if they are at a big loss or if their  crops got destroyed due to natural calamities if the House Bill No. 7011 gets approved.

Congressman Eric Go Yap has seen the plight of Cordilleran farmers in times of calamities and have shown great concern by finding a better way to help all farmers including their farms. 

The Congressman  submitted the House Bill No. 7011 that aims to give free weather index-based agricultural insurance to all farmers. 

This House Bill, once approved, will insure all farmers to receive financial assistance from the government if their crops were destroyed by extreme changes in weather conditions or natural calamities.

As the Cordillera region is prone to such calamities, Yap has considered all farmers  through this bill he recently submitted.  

Through the said insurance, farmers will be able to easily recover from their financial losses brought by natural calamities like typhoons. This kind of insurance provided by the government will save farmers from big troubles or from developing anxiety due to their losses.

Farmers have been overlooked for a long time not realizing that they play a great role in keeping the country afloat because they feed the entire nation. Without these farmers, there will be food shortage and people will go hungry or worse starve to death.

Indeed, farming is not an easy job, yet farmers still choose to do the hard work for everyone's benefit.

It's about time  farmers' integrity be uplifted, their hardships and sacrifices acknowledged  and their source of income be fully supported  by the government in any way it can. After all,  these farmers are the ones who feed us all.

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Tabuk City, Kalinga has now Zero positive Covid-19 case after patient recovered

Photo Courtesy || Tabuk Life

Cordillera - The city of Tabuk in Kalinga is now Covid-19 free after a patient who was initially tested positive has recovered, according to Tabuk City post. 

The 30-year-old male who was confirmed positive on June 10 has reportedly tested negative after his repeat test. 

Tabuk Mayor Darwin Estrañero welcomed this positive news and hope the city will maintain a zero Covid-19 case status. 

"This is a most welcome news! We thank everyone for their fervent prayers. Let's stay vigilant and compliant with health protocols so that hopefully we will be able to maintain our zero COVID-19 case status. God bless us all!," Estrañero said in a statement. 

Meanwhile, many netizens were elated hearing the news. 

One netizen wrote, "Wow, It's a great news.. Thank you Lord for the answered prayers... Stay home, keep safe and be blessed frontliners and health liners... Hope that all infected will turn negative."

"Thank you Lord for keeping Kalinga safe... Stay free from Covid Kakailian... to God be all the glory honor and praise." one netizens said. 

"Thank you Lord for hearing our prayers, continue to protect and keep us away from any danger. also to all the medical experts and frontliners for their kindness and compassion... Amen," another netizen commented. 

A localized Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) will be imposed on seven barangays of Tabuk while the rest of the city will remain under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) according to Mayor Estrañero.

source || Tabuk Life

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PSA-Benguet is hiring 1, 559 census field personnel

Cordillera - The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) - Benguet Provincial Statistics Office is now hiring 1, 559 Contract of Service Workers field personnel for the conduct of 2020 Census of Population and Housing (2020 CPH) enumeration that will start on September 1 to 29, 2020 (25 days).

The 2020 CPH will be conducted all over the country which aims to provide government executives, policy and decision makers, and planners with updated population and housing data, which shall be used as bases to their social and economic development plans, policies, and programs and in the allocation of resources at various geographic levels.

The census personnel to be hired and the minimum qualifications are as follows:

1. Enumerator (1,496)

a. preferably a college graduate, or has completed at least second year college;

b. preferably with experience and training in census/survey undertakings of the PSA;

c. with legible hand writing (preferably in printed capital letters);

d. able to speak the local dialect;

e. physically fit for field work (if female, must not be pregnant);

f. with good moral character;

g. with ability to deal with public tactfully;

h. preferably resident of the barangay;

i. willing to be assigned in any barangay or municipality;

j. willing to work on Saturdays or Sundays and holidays and beyond 5:00 p.m., if necessary; and

k. with no existing work contract with other offices/agencies.

2. Census Area Supervisor (49)

a. must be a college graduate;

b. resident of the assigned city/municipality;

c. with experience in census/survey undertaking;

d. able to speak the local dialect;

e. preferably with supervisory background in census, survey or similar operations;

f. with legible hand writing (preferably in printed capital letters);

g. physically fit and able  (if female, must not be pregnant);

h. with no existing work contract with other offices/agencies;

i. with good moral character; and

j. willing to work on Saturdays or Sundays and holidays and beyond 5:00 p.m., if necessary.

3. Headquarter Clerk (14)

a. preferably college graduate;

b. computer literate;

c.physically fit and able;

d.with experience in census/survey undertaking;

e. able to speak the local dialect in the city/municipality;

f. with no existing work contract with other offices/agencies;

g. with good moral character; and

j. willing to render overtime service, if necessary.

Interested applicants may submit the following at PSA-Benguet Provincial Statistical Office, 3rd floor Unique Printing Press, Legarda Road, Baguio City or email to psabenguet011@gmail.com on or before July 6, 2020.

 1. Application letter addressed to:

         CSS Imelda L. Buyuccan

         PSA-Benguet Provincial Statistical Office

         3rd floor Unique Printing Press

         Legarda Road, Baguio City 

2. Personal Data Sheet (CSC Form 212) with latest photo

3. Photocopy of Transcript of Records/Diploma/ Certification of Highest Grade Completed/Year Completed.

Qualified applicants will be texted/called for the schedule of examination and interview. For inquiries, please call (074) 620-5516 and look for Nalyn C. Esican/Marilyn M. Santiago.

source || PSA-Benguet

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Coca-cola's honesty cart - Are Baguio People Really Honest?

Photo Courtesy || Janeth Martin & Public Information - City of Baguio

Cordillera - The people of Baguio are known to be honest. There are countless scenarios when  Baguio residents  returned valuable items they found to the owner.

However, does honesty among the people of Baguio city still prevail despite life struggles and crisis brought  about by the covid-19 pandemic?

READ ALSO: Honest Passenger and Driver from Tublay return Php400,000 lost cash to a former OFW owner

Last month, the Coca-Cola company has launched the Wheels Project Honesty Cart which sells drinking water.

The carts were stationed in the Central Business District, at the Baguio City Hall and barangay Irisan.

The  aim of the project is to support marginalized individuals who lost their source of income due to the current pandemic as well as to promote honesty as a core value among the locals even in times of hardship.

READ ALSO:  Airport cleaner from Abra returns Php430,000 he found at Ninoy Aquino International Airport

No one was assigned to sell the item or collect payments so buyers can freely get the item and drop their payment in a separate box.

It was reported that there wasn't an under collection, rather the exact opposite from the items that were sold in the store carts, according to the Public Information Office - City of Baguio

The city Mayor, Benjamin Magalong was so proud of this report.

 "Looking at the audit report, there was even an overcollection. We can say that people of Baguio are amazingly honest. I m so proud, " he said. 

This project has once again proven that honesty has been the core value among the locals all along. This value has been passed from generation to generation that it already became part of everyone's lifestyle.

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People of Baguio city and the Cordillera are "very disciplined" - Carlito Galvez

Cordillera - The chief implementer of the National Task Force against coronavirus, Mr. Carlito Galvez has attributed the discipline of the people of Baguio city and the Cordillera to the less spread of coronavirus in the region.

"For Baguio city and the Cordillera region, what we see here is the people are very disciplined unlike those from Manila which is the epicenter of the virus because it is hard to implement discipline to them," Galvez said in a statement.

Recently Galvez also praised  the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) for the good practice and effective method that was implemented to prevent the spread of the virus.

"For now I believe kayo and pinaka prepared or ever-prepared, nakikita ko ang CAR na model (For now, I believe you are the most prepared, I can see CAR as the model)," Galvez said during a meeting with the CDRRMC and several mayors in the region.

He also attributed the culture of unity and cooperation among the residents in the region as the uniting factor in preventing the virus.

Galvez said that he will inform the President of the Cordillera's good practices in managing the pandemic.

He also considered adopting the good practices in Baguio and the rest of  CAR as it has been evident that the region has recorded only few cases but with high clinical recovery rate of patients.

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Netizens wish Canadian 'Kulas' may visit this scenic hanging bridge in Mankayan, Benguet

Photo Courtesy || BecomingFilipino & Mankayan Tourism

Cordillera - Known for traveling around the Philippines, taking shots and drone videos of the countries' best scenic spots, as well as documenting the best of Filipino hospitality and culture, Canadian vlogger 'Kulas' may find this not so popular bridge located in Mankayan, Benguet to be interesting for his next adventure. 

According to the tourism office of Mankayan, the bridge is located at Sitio Tokgongan in Barangay Cabiten. 

READ ALSO: Igorots are one of the most civilized people' - Canadian Vlogger Kulas

The hanging bridge, which was made entirely of steel is about 200 meters long and about 200 meters high. 

Photo Courtesy || Mankayan Tourism

The bridge connects barangay Cabiten and sitio Camanpaguey, the source of the best sweet potato and pineapple in town.

For Kulas, who loves hiking mountains and crossing bridges, this is  a perfect spot for a hiking adventure and to fly his drone. 

A view of the beautiful town of Mankayan, Benguet and the nearby municipality of Cervantes, Ilocos Sur can be seen from the mountain. 

In 2019, Kulas had a short trip to the town of Mankayan particularly in barangay Bedbed where he had documented the life of a gong maker and visited the gong manufacturing facility in the said barangay. 

WATCH: Canadian Vlogger "Kulas" travels to the vegetable terraces in Atok, Benguet

Kulas will be warmly welcomed as netizens wish him to visit Mankayan for the second time. Well, of course after this pandemic.

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LOOK: Mountain Province is the only Covid-19 free province in the entire Cordillera region.

Cordillera - While Covid-19 cases in the Cordillera Administrative region continue to rise as new cases have emerged over the past few days, only Mountain Province has no reported Covid-19 cases as of this writing (June 11, 2020) according to the Mountain Province DRRM Office. 

Data from the Department of Health Cordillera Center for Health Development shows that only Mountain Province has recorded zero cases of the coronavirus. 

On Wednesday (June 10, 2020) Kalinga recorded its first coronavirus case, a 30-year old resident of Tabuk City. 

Tabuk City Mayor Darwin Estranero said the patient arrived from Manila on June 6 when the province organized the Oplan Padatong which aims to bring home stranded iKalingas in Manila. 

The patient, according to Estranero, remains to be asymptomatic and now confined at the Tabuk City Isolation Unit. 

The province of Ifugao has also recorded its first Covid-19 case on Wednesday from a returning OFW from Saudi Arabia.

The patient was brought to the Region II Trauma and Medical Center in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.

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Cordillera's 'Good Samaritan' grants a PWD child's wish to have a piglet

Photo Courtesy || DSWD CAR

Cordillera - In these trying times, our spirit is uplifted when we witness others not only do good deeds but show genuine empathy and charity towards other people. It also inspire us and encourage us to do the same.

SLP PDO Roma Joy Olivar and her family have chosen to become a blessing by granting  the  wish of Manang Marietta's PWD child of Brgy. Laco, Kabugao, Apayao.

Manang Marietta is one among those receiving the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) but wasn't able to buy her PWD child's wish for a piglet.

After knowing the family's current situation and the child's request, Roma and her family contributed some cash together to afford a piglet as a donation for Manang Marietta's family.

Dismay and sadness turned to happiness with such a timely surprise, and Manang Marrieta's family are more than grateful to Roma and her family's gift and selfless act.

Indeed, Olivar and her family have found joy and happiness when they decided to show their love and share their blessings to another less fortunate family, and in return,  the source of all blessings will favor them a thousand fold.

source || DSWD CAR

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