NFA BODEGA TO RISE IN SABTANG

NFA Assistant Administrator Vicente Racho committed for NFA bodega in Sabtang this year, like that in Itbayat, to store rice to avoid shortage of stocks in the winter months and during the inclement weather. In a way, food security is a basic need.

Racho with Congressman Abad visited Itbayat and Sabtang last September 23, 2000 and had first hand information of the economic situation in the Islands.


ISOLATION HINDERS PROJECT COMPLETION IN ITBAYAT

Itbayat has not implemented some of the projects due to the difficulty of transporting construction materials and the delays of bidding.

The difficulty of transporting materials there is caused by the combination of natural barrier as in isolation from mainland Batan Island and the security of sea vessel.

As soon as the weather condition calms, these materials shall be ferried there. But Itbayat has a building to report. The X-ray building is through and X-ray equipment is surely to follow.


EACH CRISIS BRINGS EFFORT FOR SURVIVAL


Ivatans generally look at crisis as challenge. Being poor settling in a remote place we can provide leadership in survival in the country.

The effects of crisis such as natural calamities and natural barriers like our geographical isolation, build in us preparedness and conditions efforts to improve and manage survival.

Congressman Abad said that the Ivatans take advantage of these to challenge us to improve life unlike other who never experienced crisis become helpless.

Dr. Florentino H. Hornedo cited in one interview with him that Ivatans make stronger and stronger construction after every calamity.

This is different from what he saw in other regions that people rebuild their houses with the same materials no matter how often they have to replenish after each calamity. This is the Ivatan culture of coping with crisis. Ivatans themselves do the work first before asking assistance.


STATEGIC PLANNING CONFERENCE NEEDED


Strategic Planning Conference is needed in Batanes to direct students to courses by which job opportunities shall have to meet half way. It is foreseen that unless the provincial government in cooperation with DECS, connect the schools to needs of the people; the result is continuous out migration. They have to leave for Manila. It is their fortune to settle there and find fine jobs.

The availability of fishery school in Sabtang, agricultural high school in Itbayat, a science high school and a technology high school in Basco, general high schools in Mahatao, Ivana and Uyugan orient the students and direct them to courses by which they will find better jobs according to their inclinations. Observations show that the better and skilled corps of Ivatans leaves Batanes for more promising jobs abroad.

With strategic planning, we can help reduce out migration.


NEW CHAPEL RISE FROM CHARITY FUNDS


The most recently inaugurated chapel is in Chanarian among five new chapels of which some are still under construction in Batanes. The inauguration coincided with the barrio fiesta of Chanarian-Tukon in honor of Virgin Mary on October 7, 2000. The first mass at the chapel was officiated by Fr. Jerome Pelagio.

Other chapels underway are in Nakanmuan, Sabtang, San Joaquin (Valugan) Basco, Diura in Mahatao and San Vicente, Ivana. San Vicente chapel is nearing completion.

These chapels are funded from the private sources, donations from generous Ivatans and adopted Ivatans including civic-minded Ipulas and organizations.

We find charitable Ivatans who donated lot, materials and labour to augment sourced out funds.


MAY 2000 CENSUS BARES 1,476 POP INCREASE


May census 2000 shows increase of almost 1500 in population, to 1995 population of 14,180. For some ten years there had been consistent Batanes population of around 15,000.

The increase indicates advances in medical science, good nutrition, environmental awareness and progress in the province. The increase is also Good News to DILG.

After all, population control in Batanes should not be too intensive. There would be no enough pupils for one class if we strictly control population.


BATANES DREAMS OF SUBMARINE CABLE

A submarine cable is conceived by Cong. Abad and proposed to connect electricity grid from Batanes mainland to Sabtang. The proposal is to solve the difficulty of land lines reaching out to island municipalities. Itbayat is quite a distance but if feasible, why not. .