VOLUME XXXV

Issue 10

Serving Los Baos and nearby communities

www.lbtimes.ph

Libre!

OCTOBER 2015

Highest number of registered voters, recorded

by Angelika Mari Martinez

Locals line at the COMELEC-LBs voter registration precinct located at the ground floor
of the new municipal office building to register for the 2016 elections.
(Photo by Ato Catipon)

Bagong pangulo ng samahan

ng PWDs sa San Antonio, hinirang

ni Jeanette Talag, Presidente ng Los Baos Federation of Persons with Disabilities (LBFPWD), Inc.

Noong ika-5 ng Oktubre, naganap

ang eleksyon para sa bagong pamunuan
ng Barangay Persons with Disabilities
(PWDs) Association ng Brgy. San
Antonio. Sa kabuuang 127 na naitalang
PWDs sa nasabing barangay, 35 ang
nakadalo sa halalan na ginanap sa
Mababang Paaralan ng San Antonio.
Ang mga sumusunod ang mga
nahalal upang buuin ang pamunuan ng
asosasyon: Jeanette Talag (Pangulo),
Federico Calica (Pangalawang
Pangulo), Yvonne Holongbayan
(Kalihim), Julieta Banasihan (Ingat
Yaman), at Thomas Nino Talag at
Reahlyn Bulanos (PRO).
Mayroong 13 Barangay PWDs
Association sa Los Baos: Anos,
Bambang, Batong Malake, Baybayin,

Bayog, Lalakay, Maahas, Malinta,

Mayondon, Putho-Tuntungin,
San Antonio, Tadlac, at Timugan.
Ang samahan ay pinamumunuan
ng Los Baos Federation of
PWDs (LFPWD), Inc. Ito rin ay
sinusuportahan ng Municipal
Social Welfare and Development
(MSWD) office.
Layon ng Barangay PWDs
Association at ng LBFPWD na
mas paigtingin ang partisipasyon
ng mga PWDs sa komunidad
at palawigin ang kanilang
oportunidad sa trabaho, edukasyon,
paglinang ng kakayahan, at iba
pang aspeto. Ito ay alinsunod sa
R.A. 10524 o ang Magna Carta for
Persons with Disability.

As of October 31, the Commission

on Elections (COMELEC) recorded the
highest number of registered voters, at
58,363, in the history of elections in
Los Baos.
However, as of October 9, there
were just 54,159 registered voters. This
means that around 4,000 more flocked
the registration precincts within three
weeks.
The registration of voters started
last May 6, 2014 and ended on October
31, 2015. The general elections will
happen on May 9, 2016 and will
include the election of new national,
provincial, and municipal leaders.
Based on Republic Act No.
10367 of the Philippine Constitution,
registered voters should have their
biometrics recorded in the COMELEC
database. Failure to do so will result
Continued on page 5

Pinakamatandang
senior citizens, kinilala

ni Baby Escobin ng Office for Senior Citizens

Affairs (OSCA) at Ma. Roxanne Fatima Rolle

Noong ika-30 ng Oktubre,

pinarangalan ng Office for Senior
Citizens Affairs (OSCA) at ng Office
of the Mayor ng Los Baos ang
pinakamatandang senior citizens ng
bawat isa sa 14 na barangay ng Los
Baos. Ito ay parte ng paggunita sa
Elderly Filipino Week tuwing unang
linggo ng Oktubre. Ang tema ngayong
taon ay Igalang ang Nakatatanda at ang
Kanilang Karapatan.
Kinilala si Albina C. Royo, 102,
bilang pinakamatandang senior citizen
sa buong bayan ng Los Baos. Si
Itutuloy sa pahina 4

NEWS

LOS BAOS TIMES

Hope Intervention Center turns 17

by Sharlaine Balagtas

Hope Intervention Center, the first and only

public school for children with autism in the
Philippines, celebrated its 17th anniversary with
a Halloween-themed costume party last October
23. Held at the Hope Intervention Center campus
in Brgy. Halang, Calamba City, the event was
attended by students together with their families.
Representatives from the local barangay and the city
government of Calamba also joined the celebration.
The program started with a prayer led by
Earnest Jovida, an alumnus of the center and
a graduate of a two-year course in Computer
Programming.
The event also showcased the schools entry
during the Autism Society Philippines friendship
games, a dance number to the tune of Thriller.
Solo song numbers were also performed by Andrei
Ramirez and Genesis Eleson, students who have
been invited to sing in the Festival of Arts at UPLB
on December. Several parents and relatives of the
students also shook the crowd in a Halloweenthemed dance battle.
School principal Minerva Obrince explained
that these events are important because they allow
children from the center to experience activities
practiced in other schools. Kahit anong event na
ginagawa ng mga normal na bata pwede po rin
naming ipagawa sa kanila, she said.

Hope Intervention Center campus located in

Villa Remedios Subdivision in Brgy. Halang, Calamba City.
(Photo by Sharlaine Balagtas)

Hope Intervention Center is the first and only public

school for children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
First named San Juan Day Care, it was founded in 1998
by a group of parents who wanted special education
(SPEd) for their children. The center has been adopted
by the Rotary Club of Calamba since 2003 and is
funded by the City Government of Calamba. Several
donations were made to the center such as their public
library that was donated by the Calamba Doctors
Hospital.
The center started out with no more than eight
students and now has 85 students enrolled along with
16 employees.

From page 4

Red Cross Cabuyao holds...

Philippine Red Cross Team-Laguna Chapter (Cabuyao Branch)

with Mr. Joey Fernandez (left most). (Photo by Ismael Hemedes)

Ricarda B. Villar

E D I T O R I A L S TA F F

Editor-in-Chief

Ma. Roxanne Fatima S. Rolle

Associate Editor

Ma. Roxanne Fatima S. Rolle

Layout Artist

Rosa Pilipinas F. Francisco

Adviser

Cabuyao City and is in need of blood for her daughter,

Maelyn Rosales, who underwent cesarean operation
on October 19. It is very important for them to avail
of the blood for free because they cannot afford to pay
PhP 1,500 for each unit of blood in private institutions.
Aling Merlyns family was able to avail of free blood by
just bringing the certificate from the hospital containing
the units of blood needed, a letter from their barangay
certifying their indigency, and her voters ID in the PRC
Cabuyao Branch located in Cabuyao City Hall.
The Los Baos Times is produced by the students and
staff of the Department of Development Journalism
at the UP Los Baos College of Development
Communication in collaboration with Los Baos local
government agencies, barangays, schools, and civil
society organizations. No part of this paper may be
reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means
stored in a database or retrieval system without
prior consent. All rights reserved.

AMMartinez JTalag BEscobin

MRFSRolle SBalagtas JMHormigos
MLJEnriquez JGerobin MImatong
PLZipagan
Writers

The Los Baos Times is located at Rm. 201B,

Department of Development Journalism,
College of Development Communication,
University of the Philippines Los Baos
College, Laguna
Tel. No.: (049) 536-2511 local 401 or 410
Email: lbtimes@devcom.edu.ph
Website: http://lbtimes.ph

NEWS

LOS BAOS TIMES

LGU, volunteers celebrate newborn screening week

by Joshua Mae Hormigos

In celebration of the National Newborn

Screening Week, the Volunteer Youth Leaders
for Health-UPLB (VYLH-UPLB) in partnership
with the Municipal Health Office (MHO) of Los
Baos, held a seminar for pregnant women at the
municipal health unit of Brgy. Batong Malake, Los
Baos on October 6.
Ten mothers from nearby barangays attended
the seminar which tackled topics on newborn
screening, folic acid awareness, and the importance
of breastfeeding.
What is newborn screening?
According to John Patrick Cuenca, coordinator
of VYLH-UPLB, newborn screening is a simple
procedure or assessment in detecting congenital
metabolic disorders. It is necessary to conduct
newborn screening at the first 24 to 48 hours of
childbirth because some symptoms do not appear
earlier than 24 hours after child birth.
This is done by heel prick method, a process
of collecting a drop of blood by pricking the heel
of the infant. The samples are passed on to the
Newborn Screening Reference Centers.
Newborn screening in the Philippines
There are five operational Newborn Screening
Reference Centers (NSRC) distributed nationwide.
These centers are found in UP Manila; Angeles
City, Pampanga; Tanauan City, Batangas;
West Visayas State University Medical Center;
and Southern Philippines Medical Center.
NSRCs are involved in detecting disorders by
processing test results from hospitals and health
centers nationwide. The said centers notify the
corresponding hospitals or wards about their
patients whose test results are positive on certain
disorders.
National newborn screening week
National Newborn Screening Week is
celebrated every first week of October. It aims to
spread awareness on the importance of newborn
screening procedures. This is in accordance with
Republic Act No. 9288 or the Newborn Screening
Act of 2004.
The act ensures that every baby born in the
Philippines is offered the opportunity to undergo
newborn screening. It develops awareness among

(TOP) Members of the Volunteer Youth Leader for Health

conduct a seminar for pregnant women at the municipal
health unit of Brgy. Batong Malake, Los Baos to raise
awareness on Newborn Screening. (BOTTOM) Mothers listen as the volunteers discussed topics on newborn
screening, folic acid awareness, and the importance of
breastfeeding. (Photo by John Patrick Cuenca).

parents to promote the right of their children to good

health and full development.
Apart from the seminar, VYLH-UPLB also launched
activities in support of the National Newborn Screening
Week. The volunteers shared infographics, brochures, and
photos to UPLB constituents. T-shirts bearing the motto,
Better Health, Better Future were also given to students
interested in spreading the advocacy.
VYLH-UPLB is a network of organizations within
UPLB. The volunteers involved include members from
the UPLB Genetics Society, Philippine Association
of Nutrition Alpha Omega Chapter, UP Community
Broadcasters Society Inc., UP OIKOS, and the UPLB
Microbiological Society.

LOS BAOS TIMES

NEWS

Red Cross-Cabuyao holds blood drive

by Maecel Lesther Jed Enriquez

Donors lie on foldable beds during the Red Cross blood drive
in Cabuyao City, Laguna (Photo by Ismael Hemedes)

Isang Dugo, Isang Buhay - Sagip Dugtong Project,

a mass blood donation activity, was held last October
11 at Gulod National High School in Cabuyao City.
The bloodletting activity was led by the Philippine Red
Cross-Laguna Chapter (Cabuyao Branch) in cooperation
with the local government of Cabuyao. The project
gathered 44 bags, each containing 450cc of blood which
is equivalent to almost 20 liters.
The blood collected through the project was allocated
to indigent Cabuyeos who have undergone operations
and dialysis, met an accident, and others who might need
blood.
Who can donate?
According to Joey Boy Bernardo, Cabuyao City
Branch Coordinator of Philippine Red Cross-Laguna
Chapter, donors can be anyone from 16 to 65 years old
who pass the qualifications mandated by the Philippine
Red Cross (PRC). As stated by the PRC, for a person to
be qualified in donating blood, he or she must be in good
health and at least 16 or at most 65 years old.

However, blood donors who are 16-17 years old

must submit a form reflecting their parents consent
while donors who are 60-65 years old should
be a regular donor. A person must also weigh
at least 110 pounds, have the required range of
blood pressure (between: systolic: 90-160 mmHg,
diastolic: 60-100 mmHg); and pass the physical
and health history assessments. Steps before,
during, and after donating blood can be found at the
website of PRC.
Fifty-nine Cabuyeos participated in the mass
blood donation project. However, only 44 were
qualified to donate blood. The remaining 15 were
deferred due to being underweight as well as having
low hemoglobin count and low blood pressure.
Perks of giving
Oddie Mariquit, a 45 year-old blood donor, said
that he donates blood to help people in need and to
avail of free check-up which is conducted before
the actual blood donation. He also heard about the
different health benefits in donating blood.
Donating blood is beneficial to both blood
donor and blood beneficiary, as stated by the
Philippine Red Cross. Mr. Joey Bernardo said
that blood donation provides blood donors with
free check-up on weight, body temperature, blood
pressure, and hemoglobin count. Likewise the
process also helps the body produce new cells.
Ang katawan natin pag nagdo-donate ay parang
motor, nagche-change oil. Yung mga lumang dugo
niyo ay napapalitan ng panibago, Bernardo added.
Early Christmas present
Among the many beneficiaries of the blood
collected from the drive is Merlyn Rosales.
Fondly called as Aling Merlyn, she resides in
Continued on page 2

Mula sa pahina 1

Pinakamatandang senior citizens...

Royo ay mula sa Brgy. Bambang.
Tumanggap siya ng cash prize at
ng plaque.
Samantala, ang mga
sumusunod naman ay ang mga
kinilala mula sa kani-kanilang
barangay: Ildefonsa Manzanilla
at Teodoro Cleto (Brgy. Anos);
Miguela Castillo at Pantaleon
Condino (Brgy. Bagong Silang);
Iluminada Teruel at Fausto
Mercado (Brgy. Batong Malake);

Esperanza Biscante at Juanito

Khan (Brgy. Baybayin); Adelaida
Eugenio at Maximino Dequito
(Brgy. Bayog); Emilia Maningas
at Reynaldo Ortiz (Brgy. Lalakay);
Segunda Malaborbor at Festo
Ravago (Brgy. Maahas); Dorotea
Alforja at Antonio Vallejos (Brgy.
Malinta); Eugenia Reyes at Lino
Escobin (Brgy. Mayondon);
Nemensia Tamis (Brgy. San
Antonio); Sulpicio del Rosario

at Sevilla Decena (Brgy. Tadlac);

Ester de Mesa at Jaime Montano
(Brgy. Timugan); at Petra Suiza
at Fidel Banasihan (Brgy. PuthoTuntungin).
Ang paggunita sa Elderly
Filipino Week ay alinsunod sa
Proclamation No. 470 noong 1994
na nilagdaan ni dating Pangulong
Fidel V. Ramos.

NEWS

LOS BAOS TIMES

From page 1

COMELEC-LB talks on...

COMELEC-LBs election officer, Randy Banzuela (right most), records the finger prints of a Los Baos resident as part of the
voter registration process for the upcoming 2016 elections. (Photo by Ato Catipon)

to deactivation of the voters

registration and being omitted from
the masterlist of voters.
Compared to the voters
registration last 2013, the number
of people who registered this
election increased due to the
presidential elections. According
to Randy Banzuela, Los Baos
election officer, the peoples desire
to elect a president and the constant
information drive and promotions
of the Los Baos COMELEC office
contributed to the high number of
registered voters.

Hindi siya nakaka-hassle,

said Alex Tamis, an 18-year-old
resident of Brgy. San Antonio and a
newly registered voter.
COMELEC-Los Baos held
satellite registrations in every
barangay for four Saturdays and
Sundays prior to October 2015.
Voter registration precincts were
established in the towns 14
barangays. A precinct was also set
up at the Robinsons Mall along
Lopez Avenue on August 22, 23,
29, and 30. Satellite registrations

ended on the last Saturday and

Sunday of September.
Information dissemination
on voter registration was also
strengthened through posters,
social media, and talks. On October
20, a Voters Education Seminar
was held in NCAS Auditorium
of UP Los Baos. Banzuela took
part as a speaker. He gave a talk
on responsible voting for the
upcoming 2016 elections. Be
involved and participate was his
message.

From page 8

The indelible...

before automation happened in the Philippines, it took

months to proclaim winners because of the manual
elections.Banzuela added that automation would lessen
the manipulation of election results. The process is
now more technical and the results are stored in the
microchip of Precinct Count Optical Sanner (PCOS)
machines. These machines automatically count the
votes. In effect, the results are now released earlier.
Unstable political party system
Another factor that may affect the turnout is the
unstable political parties in the country. Politicians
would transfer to the political party of the president
who won. The president has the authority and capacity
to generate funds for the political party. Ayson said
that in the country, the political parties are not treated

or dealt seriously. Political parties come and go during the

presidential elections as an effect of patronage politics, said
Ayson. He further stressed that there is a need to strengthen our
political party system. Indeed, there is a bill pushing for reform
in the political parties of the country. However, the proposed
Political Party Development Act still needs more attention from
the legislators for it to be passed as a law.
The right to suffrage entails the right to vote and have
a stand on who gets to lead the country. There may be
compelling reasons for not exercising that right. However,
it should also be remembered that voting is an obligation.
Section 4 of the General Provisions of the Omnibus Election
Code of the Philippines states that it shall be the obligation of
every citizen qualified to vote to register and cast his vote.
There are reasons, obligations, and duties to the country.
One would just need to pick which of the three weighs more.

LOS BAOS TIMES

FEATURE

Accessible and safe water for all

by: Jimilyn O. Gerobin

The 2014 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS)

shows that almost 86% of the 22 million families in the
Philippines have access to safe water. The remaining 14%
use unsafe water from unreliable water sources like shallow
wells. The national average of families with access to safe
water ranges from 85 to 99%.
In Region IV-A, almost 91% of families have access to
safe water. While this is a promising number, this also means
that there still are a few more communities with no access to
potable water.
Brgy. Kabulusan is no stranger to this. Situated in the
western part of Pakil, Laguna, the said barangay has a
population of 3,683 based on the 2014 Department of Health
(DOH) projected population. Out of 832 households, only
730 have access to safe water. The remaining 102 households are either getting unsafe water from their own shallow
well or sharing water source with other households.
The Barangay Council of Kabulusan built shallow wells
(poso) in some areas within the barangay. Community members who do not have access to reliable water sources use
these shallow wells. However, they are not sure if the water
source is potable.
Water and hygiene concerns
Access to safe water is not the only challenge in Brgy.
Kabulusan. Access to toilets is also one concern.
Improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene help
boost overall health. Access to clean water will prevent waterborne diseases. Also, access to basic sanitation like toilets
will prevent the spread of infection and water contamination
from human waste.
Pakil Water District (Pakwad) serves almost 300
households in the barangay. According to Roderick Golpe,
administrative services aide of Pakwad (Kabulusan Extension), about 36% or 300 out of 832 households in Kabulusan
already have water connection. However, the remaining 64%
or 532 households still do not have water connection and are
probably relying on shallow wells as source of drinking water. According to some consumers, water consumption costs
them 200 to 300 pesos monthly depending on the volume.
Aside from fishing, paper mache is also a source of
income for many families in Brgy. Kabulusan. However,
income from both sources is still not enough to provide for
every familys needs. Securing water connection from the
water district or improving sanitation facility like toilets
is not their priority. Many families in Kabulusan rely on
microfinance agencies like Tulay sa Pag-unlad, Inc. (TSPI)
for additional business capital, educational expenses of their
children, housing, health and insurance, and other development loans.
Tapping microfinance
Anafe Rey has been a member of TSPI for seven years.
TSPI is a Christian microfinance non-government organization that aims to help individuals by lending additional
capital to small business entrepreneurs. Last November,
TSPI launched another program that promotes sanitation
among its members. Under the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program, TSPI members can borrow money
to build their own toilet and have a source of potable water
through the water district. WASH promotes the develop-

ment of communities through improved access to water,

sanitation and hygiene.
Barriers to Safe Water
Potable water is accessible in Kabulusan through
Pakwad. Although several households already have water connection, there are still more who do not. Among
those are some TSPI members like Anafe. For her, having water connection in the household is a big help when
doing household chores. However, she cannot apply for
water connection due to inadequate financial means.
Anafe has four kids. Her husband works in a metal
crafts business. Sometimes, she sells fruits that are available in their area. According to her, their only source of
water is a shared shallow well.
Many residents of Brgy. Kabulusan seldom buy
mineral water since it also adds to their expenses. Aside
from that, they think that their source of water is safe
since they have been using it ever since. However, they
are also aware that unsafe water sources can cause waterborne diseases such as diarrhea and amoebiasis.
Another reason is loan prioritization of TSPI members. Since most of them have shallow wells and toilets,
they said that they would choose to avail general or
multi-purpose loan than the WASH loan. Some members
use these loans to cover their familys daily expenses,
businesses, and school expenses.
Also, members who still have existing loans want to
finish paying it first before getting another. According to
Anafe, given their income, it will be difficult on her part
if she will avail the WASH loan while still paying for
her previous loan. Since Anafes general loan will not be
paid until January, she decided not to avail of the WASH
loan right away.
Aside from financial concerns and loan prioritization, another reason is the community members opposing views about the safety of water distributed by the
water district. Sabi din kasi nila hindi daw pwedeng
inumin, marumi, masyadong machlorine. Yung may
inihahalo sa tubig, said Amelita Gonzales, a TSPI
member.
In addition, Eulalia Duran, another TSPI member
said, Siguro yung dahilan kaya hindi okey yung tubig,
yung pwesto na pinagkukunan nila hindi maganda.
Local Sanitation Initiatives
Sanitation initiatives are implemented in Brgy.
Kabulusan. Livestock raising is prohibited in the community.
Wastes from farms, if not properly disposed causes
foul odor and may pollute the water. Julieta Botin, Sanitation Inspector 1, from the Office of Health Services,
Pakil, Laguna said that in the past, the Municipal Local
Government distributed water pumps to community
members. However, the local governments fund is not
enough to sustain the project.
As of 2014, according to the Philippine Statistics
Authority (PSA), 9% of families in Region IV-A have no
access to safe water. Most families comprising this number are from rural areas like Brgy. Kabulusan. Although
91% is at par with the national average of 85-99%, the
remaining 9% cannot be disregarded.

COLUMN

M A K I N I G

LOS BAOS TIMES

S A

KALIKASAN

Tatalakayin ni Martin Imatong, ang Municipal Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Program consultant, ang ibat ibang
isyung may kinalaman sa pangangalaga sa kalikasan at kapaligiran.

Tayo ay magbalik-alaala sa mga

araling pangkalikasan.
Ang pag-ikot ng mundo ay
pakanan. Ang bilis ng pag-ikot ng
mundo ay isang ikot sa kada 24
oras.
Kapag hinati natin sa dalawa
ang 24 oras, ang 12 oras ay
maliwanag. Ito ang bahagi ng mundo
na nakaharap sa haring araw. Ang
natitirang kalahating 12 oras ay
madilim. Ito ang bahagi na nakakubli
sa haring araw. Ang mga oras na
maliwanag ay masasabing araw. Ang
mga oras na madilim ay masasabing
gabi.
Sa pinakamahabang araw ng
taon, Hunyo 21, ang liwanag ay
pinakamahaba o pinakamatagal.
Nangangahulugan din na ito ang
pinakamainit na araw.
Ano ang epekto nito sa tao?
Mas maiksing panahon sa
paggamit ng ilaw;
mas mahabang oras ng trabaho
gamit ang liwanag ng araw;
at
mas maraming tubig na
pangangailangan sa pagpawi ng
uhaw at paliligo.
Ano ang epekto nito sa
halaman?
Mas maraming tubig ang
kailangan para sa photosynthesis
o ang proseso ng paggawa ng
pagkain ng halaman mula sa
liwanag ng araw. Kailangan rin
ng tubig upang hindi matuyo ang
mga halaman.
Hindi maiiwasang matuyot ang

mga halaman sa kagubatan.

Ito ay maaaring magdulot ng
malakihang sunog sa kagubatan
o forest fire.
Ano ang epekto nito sa hayop?
Mas maraming tubig ang
kailangan ng mga hayop; at
maaaring magdulot ng heat
stress ang init o ang pagkabalisa
ng mga hayop dahil sa init. Ito
ay isang dahilan sa pagbaba ng
produksiyon ng gatas, itlog, at
iba pang mga produktong mula
sa mga hayop.
Ano ang epekto nito sa isda at mga
lamang dagat?
Mas gusto ng lamang dagat ang
lamig kaysa init ng tubig dagat.
Dahil dito, pumapalaot ang mga
isda kung saan mas malamig
ang tubig dagat at mas may
makakain.
Bilang epekto, mas malayo
ang paghuhulihan ng mga
mangingisda at mas uunti ang
huli nila.
Bababa rin ang dami ng mga
alagang isda sa mga palaisdaan.
Bilang epekto, maaaring
magmahal ang presyo ng isda sa
merkado at ng mga produktong
mula sa lamang dagat.
Papaano nakakaapekto ang
Climate Change sa haba ng init at
pag-init ng araw at gabi?
Ang mga nilalang - tao, halaman
at kahayupan - ay nangangailangan
ng tamang init o lamig at tamang

dami at kalidad ng tubig upang

maging ganap ang kaayusan ng
takbo ng buhay.
Kung ang Climate Change ay
magpapalala sa tagal ng init at sa
init ng temperatura sa araw at gabi,
magiging malubha ang kalagayan ng
mga nilalang sa mundo tulad ng mga
tao, halaman, at hayop na umaasa sa
tubig.
Bakit mahalagang pagtuunan ng
pansin ang tubig?
Ang ating mundo ay nababalot
ng 30 porsiyentong kalupaan at 70
porsiyentong tubig.
Sa 70 porsiyentong tubig, 3
porsiyento lamang ang hindi maalat
(fresh water), at sa 3 porsiyentong
tubig tabang, 1 porsiyento lamang
ang ating napapakinabangan.
Ang 1 porsiyentong ito na ating
napapakinabangan ay atin pang hindi
pinangangalagaan.
Ang tao ay mabubuhay ng 43
araw ng walang kinakain, subalit
hindi mabubuhay kung walang tubig
na mainom sa loob ng 7 araw.
Napakahalagang seryosohin
ang mahalagang paggamit ng tubig,
pagbawas sa pagtatapon at sa hindi
tamang paggamit nito. Mahalaga
ring simulan ang pangongolekta ng
tubig-ulan.
Makakatulong rin ang
mga proyektong ukol sa
pagpapanumbalik ng buhay sa
water sheds. Mahalaga rin ang na
manumbalik ang dami at kalidad
ng naiimbak na tubig sa ilalim ng
lupa.
Source: Local Climate Change Action Plan 20152020 prepared by Martin Imatong

Why voters don't vote

the indelible
question

by Paolo Luis Zipagan with reports from Roxanne Rolle

from
Illustration
tions
STEP Coalima
s
campaign terial

with the most number of

voters without biometrics.
Davao City tops the list with
73,258 unregistered voters.
The registration period
started on May 6, 2014
and ended on October 31,
2015. More than one year
was allocated. What could
have been Juan and Juanas
reasons for not being able
to register, choosing not to
register, or deciding not to
vote at all?

eing late in parties

may be fashionable
but not in voters
registration.

Stats as of deadline
Last October 31,
the Commision on
Elections (COMELEC)
officially ended the voters
registration nationwide.
Based on their data, over
54 million Filipinos
have registered. Region
IV-A or CALABARZON
composed of Cavite,
Laguna, Batangas,
Rizal, and Quezon had a
turnout of over 7 million
registered voters, the
highest in the whole
country.
For the past elections,
according to COMELECs
official website,
CALABARZON still
holds the highest number
of voters turnout with over
6 million last 2010 and
more than 5 million last
2013 elections.
All time high in
Los Baos
According to Randy
Banzuela, election officer
of the municipality of

Los Baos, there are 58,361

registrants as of October
31, the highest number in
the history of elections in
the town. According to
COMELEC-LBs data,
more than 56,000 voted last
2013 elections. Meanwhile,
there were 52,000 registered
voters last 2010 according
to the Philippines Statistics
Authority.
However, the catch
is that bulk of the voters
only started flocking the
registration precincts a few
weeks before the deadline.
This is true not just for Los
Baos but in other towns as
well.
Thousands still
unregistered
Based on the data from
the Samahan para sa Tunay
na Eleksyon sa Pilipinas
(STEP Coalition), as of
September 14, there still are
thousands of unregistered
voters in towns near Los
Baos: Bacoor (47,685),
Dasmarias (17,642), and
Imus (18,138) in Cavite
as well as Batangas City
(43,070). The data is part of
STEP Coalitions list of top
20 cities and municipalities

No time, undecided, slow

process
Janine, 18 years old, is
a resident of Los Baos and
is a first-time voter. She is
one of the thousands who
were not able to register.
According to her, her
inhibitions in registering
stem from the slow process
of registration. She is also
undecided on who to vote
and who she thinks is
worthy to lead the country.
Mabagal ang proseso ng
pagrehistro. Mahirap din
isipin kung sino ang iboboto
kasi hindi tayo sigurado
kung anong pwede nila
gawin sa bansa natin, said
Janine.
According to Miguel
Enrico Ayson, instructor
of the UPLB Department
of Social Sciences (DSS),
Filipinos have their own
reasons on why they failed
to meet the October 31
deadline. Ayson put forth
that Filipinos may say that
they were unable to register
because they got caught up
with their daily tasks. The
problem with that excuse,
Ayson furthered, is that the
registration period has been
long enough.
Credibility of elections
Apart from not being
able to register, there are

other reasons why Filipinos

do not vote or are not
too motivated to endure
long lines of biometric
registration.
One of which are the
events that happen in the
country at the time when
elections are conducted,
shared Ayson. For instance,
Ayson shared that the highest
turnout of voters was the first
election in 1987 because of
the eagerness of the Filipinos
to vote without fearing the
manipulation of a dictator.
The turnout rose again in
2001 when former President
Joseph Estrada was ousted
during EDSA II. The turnout
then dropped in 2007 when
the Hello Garci scandal
involving Arroyo was
exposed to the public and
the election was still not
automated.
Yung credibility ng
election, pagdating sa tao,
posibleng naapektuhan
pagdating ng 2007, said
Ayson. This is supported by
the data presented by the
International Institute for
Democracy and Electoral
Assistance (IDEA). During
the 1987 elections or the first
elections after the first EDSA
revolution, 90% or more
than 23 million out of the 30
million voting population of
the Philippines participated.
In 2001, the turnout rose
again from 1998s 78.75% to
81.08%. In 2007, the voter
turnout dropped to 63.65%,
the lowest since 1992s
70.56%.
In 2010, through
Republic Act 9369 or
An Act Authorizing the
Commission on Elections to
Use an Automated Election
System, the Philippine
National Elections became
automated. Ayson said that
Continued on page 5