The DENR-Land Management Services has
completed preliminary base maps under the
Computerization of Regional Base Map
Project. These were turned over to Albay,
Camarines Norte and Masbate during the
Regional Land Use Committee meeting on June
29 at the NEDA regional office.
The CRBM project was conceptualized by the
RLUC in coordination with the DENR-LMS and
was approved for implementation by the RDC
in December 2007. The project is the first
of its kind in the country, according to
Engr. Josie Columna of DENR-LMS Region 5.
The project aims to produce digital
regional, provincial, city and municipal
base maps for planning purposes using the
Philippine Reference System of 1992.
Printed municipal boundary and index maps
were turned over by DENR-LMS to Engr. Mac
Pavia (PPDC-Albay), Arch. Madonna Abular (PPDC-Camarines
Norte) and Ms. Cynthia Berces (NEDA Region
5) in behalf of Masbate. The preliminary
maps shall be validated by the provincial
and municipal governments, especially those
with conflict areas. After validation and
resolution of conflict areas by the
concerned local governments, the maps shall
be returned to DENR-LMS for finalization and
certification.
For the provinces of Camarines Sur and
Sorsogon, the memoranda of agreement with
DENR-LMS have just been signed and
counterpart funds have yet to be downloaded
by the provinces to DENR-LMS. The MOA
between DENR-LMS and Catanduanes has yet to
be signed.
The base maps generated by the CRBM project
will improve the planning processes of local
government units in the region. The base
maps are also expected to enhance disaster
risk assessment of the provinces under the
project Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction
and Climate Change Adaptation in Subnational
Development Planning.
The Bicol Regional Development Council in
its full council meeting on June 24 passed
Resolution No. 20 (S. 2011) recommending
amendments to the implementing rules and
regulations of the Philippine Charity
Sweepstake Office Loterya ng Bayan or PLB.
The proposed amendments will ensure that
LGUs can get a share from PLB operations.
These are: 1) The PLB operator should secure
a permit to operate from the local
government unit as one of the documentary
requirements for PCSO approval; 2) The
sharing scheme between the LGU and the
Philippine National Police from the charity
fund should be clearly delineated; and 3)
The PLB operator should pay all taxes to the
Bureau of Internal Revenue district office
in the area where the operator conducts the
PLB. The recommendations were transmitted to
PCSO Chairman Margarita Juico for
consideration.
The PLB replaced the small town lottery
operations and its implementing rules and
regulations were approved in February this
year. In a study conducted by the
Development Administration Committee of the
RDC, the committee noted
some gray areas in the IRR, specifically on
the rights and shares of LGUs from PLB
operations. Aside from the recommendations
above, the RDC also requested the PCSO to
consult and brief all LGUs on the new PLB
IRR to thresh out vague provisions.
