INFOBYTES, Issue No. 23, September 1, 2005

CSC clarifies government's rationalization plan
The Civil Service Commission yesterday dispelled apprehensions of government executives in the province on the government's rationalization plan during a Kapihan forum held by the Philippine Information Agency here in celebration of CSC's 105th anniversary.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has earlier signed Executive Order No. 366 which underlines the government's rationalization plan and calls for the elimination of duplication of government functions and excess people in the government.

CSC Commissioner Cesar Buenaflor, speaking in yesterday's forum attended by heads of national government agencies in the province, stressed the need to trim down bureaucracy so that the government can become "an effective instrument to attain a just and humane society."

Buenaflor said allegations of a bloated government abound in the face of statistics that show the entire bureaucracy has ballooned to 1.4 million. "Dumami ang tao sa gobyerno, kaakibat nito ang economic problems at ang bulging increase in the population, which is now around 87 to 90 million Filipinos," says Buenaflor.

With the government being the biggest employment agency in the country, Buenaflor lamented that almost 80% of its budget goes to personnel services, leaving only a small amount for development projects.

So we need to make the government lean and mean but without abandoning its services and giving incentives for those who have to leave, and this is what the rationalization plan is all about, says Buenaflor.

The CSC Commissioner explained that EO 366 affects only national government agencies, especially executive departments, and employees holding plantilla positions. "This provides an opportunity for the national departments and agencies to look into their organization, prioritize important functions and do away with redundant positions in the government," Buenaflor said.

He said that the savings generated from the rationalization plan could justify a salary increase for government workers "and also more money for development projects for the public."

Affected personnel will be offered a silver parachute or an incentive package on top of the regular retirement pay they will receive from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

Buenaflor revealed that a total of P30 billion have been allocated for the cash incentives offered by the government for affected employees. Half of the total amount is from the World Bank and the other half is the government's counterpart.

For affected employees who have been in government service for 31 years and up, they are entitled to an incentive bonus equivalent to 100 % of their basic salary, while those between 20 to 30 years of service will receive 75%. Employees with below 20 years but over 3 years service will be entitled to 50%.

Employees who avail of the EO 366 cannot return to government service for a period of five years, except those in the medical and educational services.

Buenaflor is in the province to attend an executive forum in Bayawan City with elected officials from Bayawan, Basay and Sta. Catalina in line with CSC's long-month anniversary celebration
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Bayawan City hosts 2005 Regional Skills Competition
Bayawan City will play host to this year's 2005 Regional Skills Competition on October 4 to 7, 2005 during which skilled workers aged 18 years and below from the different provinces in Central Visayas will pit their skills against each other on various trade areas.

According to Engr. Samuel A. Jordan, Officer-in-Charge of the Technical Skills Development Authority here, the Regional Skills Competition is a venue to recognize the skills excellence of young skilled workers in Central Visayas.

"This activity hopes to develop competitive Filipino workers who possess world-skills, work values and attitudes," said Jordan.

A total of 2.5 million will be turned over to the Skills Olympic Foundation Inc. for the conduct of the said competition, of which P1M is from the Bayawan City government as its counterpart fund and P1.5M is from the Technical Education and Sills Development Authority (TESDA) in Region 7.

Participants in the competition are winners of the provincial skills competitions from the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor and Oriental Negros.

The winners in the regional competition will represent Central Visayas in the National Skills Competition.

The trade areas of the regional skills competition are automotive mechanic, computer aided design and drafting, cookery, electrical technology, electronics technology, information technology, hotel and restaurant service, dressmaking and wielding.

Jordan said there will also be an open-category for 19 years old and above on the following trade areas: masonry, carpentry, bulldozer operation, plumbing (NC1), motor grader operation and wheel loader operation.
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Public info officers told to report national government's achievements 'to counter disinformation campaign by anti-Arroyo groups'
League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) president Bohol Gov. Erico B. Aumentado issued a challenge to government information officers in the region to report the more positive component of the administration's achievements and performance as purveyors of information.

Gov. Aumentado was speaking during the recent regional consultative conference of information officers in Region 7 in Panglao Island, Bohol.

Aumentado made the challenge amid the slanted reports of media particularly in Manila that caps political scandals like the jueteng issue, 'Garci' tape and the impeachment complaint as daily headline stories rather than focus on the policy direction of government to enhance the country's economy and well-being of the people.

In developed countries like the United States and Singapore, developmental journalism is given emphasis so their people will know what their government is doing, according to Aumentado.

"You should do your share in giving light to our people by being biased to developmental communication," Aumentado told the over 50 government information officers from regional line agencies and local government units during the 16th Consultative Conference of the Regional Association of Development Information Officers (RADIO-7) in Tagbilaran City, Bohol August 24-26, 2005.

Aumentado, who is also the president of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), admitted that the government is losing in the propaganda war of the opposition and leftists combined. These few people in Metro Manila of which majority are from the left and the opposition who demand for Pres. Arroyo's ouster because they want her to step down are inflicting more damage by worsening the divisiveness among the Filipino people, Aumentado added.

The Bohol Governor said it is time to harness the public information officers in the rural areas to combat the disinformation campaign by anti-Arroyo groups.
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Public asked to brace selves as oil crisis expected to worsen in few months
A Malacañang official asked the public to brace for harsher times ahead since the possibility for gasoline to hit the P50/liter and diesel at P45-47/liter in the next few months is not far from reach.

Sec. Renato S. Velasco, Director General of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), said world prices of fuel soaring to records high and currently pegged at US$70/barrel may increase by October or November due to the demand of countries like the US for their winter season needs. Countries enjoying four seasons use higher fuel consumption during the winter period for their heaters.

The Philippines on the other hand, is 90-95 percent dependent on imported oil so any increases in the prices of fuel in the global market will have adverse impact and domino effects to our national economy, Velasco told government information officers during its recent annual gathering in Bohol.

Velasco said the emerging oil crisis is far worse than the political crisis facing the nation. He then told the info officers from regional line agencies and local government units in Central Visayas to help the national government make the people understand that the oil crisis is not brought about by any government program or policy.

Velasco made the appeal amid fears that government may be blamed on the oil situation.

Velasco bared that President Arroyo's bold initiatives to address the oil crisis included AO 126 mandating all branches of government including LGUs to cut fuel consumption by 10 percent on top of the order to decrease fuel and power use by 10 percent under AO 103 or the austerity measures.

The austerity program has earned P300 M savings for the government in two months in April and May, this year during the implementation of the four-day workweek, Velasco stressed.

The long-term solution in addressing the aggravating oil problem is the development of alternative sources of energy.
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FEATURE STORY

Dream of a better life
It started with a dream to help his poor parishioners. For Fr. Susano Arbas, a sermon is not just enough. Words alone cannot satisfy empty stomachs nor raise the poor from their misery. He knew something has to be done and someone has to start. But where to begin?

Opportunity shopping
Fr. Arbas' hope of bringing help for the poor in his parish grew each day. Over the past years, since his assignment to Sta. Barbara Parish in Campalanas, Lazi, Siquijor up to his transfer to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Enrique Villanueva (Talingting), Fr. Arbas has been trying to raise the social level of the local populace through his Sunday and daily homilies. He is convinced that a community can emancipate itself given the right opportunity, motivation and training.

Haunted by that strong desire, Fr. Arbas in 1998, began to knock the doors of several government agencies and saw what they have to offer for the people. He called it "opportunity shopping."

With a prospect already in mind coupled with his background in Management, Fr. Arbas introduced his idea of forming a credit cooperative, first to his lay ministers, then to the Parish Pastoral Council. That way, he could, at least help free his poor 'brothers' from the bondage of loan sharks. He knew any knowledge he could offer would be valuable if the project he was considering was to succeed.

Birth of a coop
Undeniably, banks and lending agencies charge very high interest rates and the people who are already poor are not in a position to earn and save at the same time.

These conditions and the realization of Fr. Arbas and some parishioners that if they do not act to help themselves and their community, no one would, gave birth to a community-based, grassroots credit cooperative known as the Sta. Barbara Katilingbanong Credit Cooperative (SBKCC), the first parish-initiated coop in the province of Siquijor.

It started with the priest and his seven lay ministers grouping themselves, putting up a little of their money and eventually pulling together an amount of P2,000 as their capital build ups (CBU) and savings. The first borrower had availed P800 with a very minimal interest. After a few months, the group was able to recruit more members allowing them to form a cooperative. In 1999, the group, with its 25 members, was registered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA). In 2001, the cooperative was accredited by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as its co-partner to the different livelihood components of its Integrated Livelihood Program after which the office granted the cooperative some P100, 000 for the construction of its coop building in Campalana

"It was not easy to begin with," confesses Fr. Arbas, "but the commitment of a few parishioners and government agencies to support the project helped materialize the plan."

Slowly, membership along with the savings deposit and CBUs grew. The priest's transfer to Talingting in 2002 paved way to a branching out the coop in the same town.

From a mere 25 members in 1999, the present membership bloated to 505 full-fledged members coming from different barangays and towns in the province. Currently, it has generated a total CBU of 4,269,166.92 both from the main coop (2,760,770.30) and branch (1,508,396). "First time in the history of the province of Siquijor that the people were able to pool together this much of their resources as CBUs," the priest beams with joy.

Savings and time deposits reached 2,919,703.51 as of this date, 1,528,114.39 of which come from Talingting branch and 1,391,559.51 from Campalanas. The coop released some 6.4 million in loan (productive and providential) to 521 borrowers in 2004. In July this year alone, total loan released was P1,111,200.

Economic, social benefits
Today the coop is providing diversified credit facilities and allied services accessible and affordable to its members. It also provides trainings for self-help group where they are taught to earn and save. Money is loaned to the members at only 3% interest, half of which will be automatically added to the borrower's CBU. After a brief training, the members are able to set up a business which allow them to earn their living and save money so as to improve their social and economic position. They take part in project such as rearing of pigs, 'buy and sell', etc. This encourages personal initiative and offers the poor the means to uplift their lives.

Julien Torres, with the credit she received, was able to put up a small business. She smiles enthusiastically and shows us the ready-to-wear items she displays in her store. Her husband has no regular income. Before being a member, her family was barely able to make ends meet. Their wages were just enough to buy food, substantial for three meals a day. Now, with her business, she is able to contribute towards maintaining her family. The loan has changed her life forever.

Another hope has also been fulfilled to a mother of two. Emma Boncales started her small business with a capital of 5,000 she loaned from the coop. "I have to work to augment my husband's (a security guard) meager income," says Emma. After a year or two, Emma was able to acquire a Honda motorcycle which she now use in delivering goods to her costumers.

All this aside from the many testimonies we hear from members who have availed of the loan packages such as emergency loan, special loan, etc. that they use especially for their children's education.

Government development aid
The seeming success in SBCC went well beyond expectations simply because at the helm of the project there was the 'right person at the right time'.

Zero based management, that was it. There was no coop office. Financial transaction has to be done in the parochial office with the assistance of Celia Sonlit, then Parish Secretary, now the manager of its branch coop in Talingting.

The staff and regular volunteers made enormous efforts, but alone they could not cover all necessary functions. Fr. Arbas therefore decided to ask help from government offices in the province. Getting it was tedious. It took months, sometimes years, before it was granted. In the meantime he never became discouraged. He went on motivating the staff and Board of Directors to work hard.

Finally in 2004, the government through the DOLE granted P100,000 financial assistance for the construction of a coop building in Campalanas. In the same year, the coop has availed of a P600 thousand loan from the Coconut Industry Investment Fund (CIIF) under the Magniniyog Tungo sa Tunay na Pag-unlad (MATUTUPAD) program of the government for relending to coco farmers/coop members for livelihood activities.

The coop since then have been making great stride. This year, coop buildings can already be seen in both main and branch office.

True therefore, the coop envisions an empowered, improved community. By providing community services it aspires to help bring about a better quality of life not only for the members and their families but also for other people of the community. And this condition is not only for the present, but for all time. Of course, these are big ideals and aspirations. And the Sta. Barbara Katilingbanong Credit Cooperative can only be one of the forces of growth. But it is prepared to do its part to the best of its capabilities.
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PMHA awards F. Tayko Memorial School in Siaton as outstanding performance in mental health practice
The Philippine Mental Health Office (PMHA) has awarded the Felipe Tayko Memorial School in Siaton in recognition of its outstanding performance in mental health practice this week during a gathering of Department of Education supervisors at Plaza Ma. Luisa, this city.

School Principal Erlinda Cleope of the Felipe Tayko Memorial received the check worth P20,000 and a plaque as prizes from Dr. Betsy Joy Tan, board chair of PMHA, as winner in the "Search for the Best Mental Health Practice in Workplace."

In her message to the education manager, Joy Tan said that to earn the merits of recognition, the schools should have varied mental health programs on sports, psychological, social for the school children, community, parents as well as the faculty and staff as practiced and documented by the winner.

Mental health practice promotes the well-being of all personnel of the school, effective stress management and balance between work and play.

Felipe Tayko Memorial School, as provincial winner, will view for the national search in October, this year.