Businessmen in Sibulan town can expect less red tape when renewing business permits and licenses with the LGU's plan to implement a One-Stop Shop next year.
The One-Stop Shop, which will operate during the peak season of the annual renewal of business permits from January 2 to 31, 2006, aims to make things easier for Sibulan businessmen by reducing the number of signatories involved in the processing of Mayor's permit, says Connie Rosales, Sibulan Information Officer.
Mayor Renacia assured that within 24 hours, if all requirements are complied with, the Mayor's permit will be issued.
The mayor said this move will hopefully boost Sibulan's investment promotion efforts and its anti-red tape program.
"Too many signatories in the Mayor's permit sometimes discourage investors as it slackens the processing, resulting to non-completion of the requirements after paying their fees at the Municipal Treasurer's Office," says Mayor Renacia.
To effectively implement this, Rosales said Mayor Renacia has issued Executive Order No. 28 dated October 10, 2005 creating a Task Force that would inspect business establishments' compliance to requirements presented by law, particularly related to building safety and health zoning.
The Task Force is also tasked to inform the concerned businessmen and investors to comply with the requirements in time for the scheduled renewal of business permits in January 2006.
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OrNeg, Dumaguete hosts national debate championships
Over 300 college debaters from around the country will gather at Silliman University for the Dumaguete Sandurot Cup: 7th National Debate Championships (NDC) on October 22 to 27, 2005.
Close to P1.2million has been budgeted for this one-week tournament, with half a million pesos coming from the City Government of Dumaguete and the Provincial Government of Oriental Negros.
This is the first time that the annual national debate competition is hosted outside the National Capital Region and the first time to be co-hosted by local government units.
Around 28 schools from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao have confirmed their participation. A team from Malaysia Multimedia University (MMU), which will debate as non-breaking, will also participate to observe how the NDC will be conducted and experience debating with Filipino teams.
Last year's NDC champion is Ateneo Debate Society of the Ateneo de Manila University, one of Asia's most awarded debate organizations.
NDC will use the British Parliamentary format, a favorite format of international debates where motions are released only 20 minutes before the debate proper and where each speaker is given seven minutes to discuss and defend his case. In this format, two teams of two debaters per team comprise a side (government or opposition).
Four teams from different schools may debate in a round, and a team may go up against another team from the same school, depending on the ranking of the teams in the rounds.
Delegates to the competition will also have the chance to test their public speaking skills. The public speaking round is another competition in the NDC where delegates speak contemporaneously on a topic given them five minutes before they talk.
A separate finals round for the public speaking will also be held at the Luce Auditorium on the 26th, before the debate finals, to determine the Top 3 Public Speakers form among the ten finalists.
This year's NDC is spearheaded by the Dumaguete Debate Committee and the Silliman University Debate Society.
The Convenor and Chair of the Dumaguete Debate Committee is Mrs. Glynda Descuatan, regional head of the Ancillary Sky Cable-Visayas, with Dumaguete Counselors Myrish Cadapan-Antonio and Manuel Chiquiting Sagarbarria and SU Information Officer Mark Garcia as members, among others.
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Sibulan Philhealth beneficiaries soar to 4,790
The recipients of the Philippine Health Indigency Program or "Medicare Para sa Masa" in the municipality of Sibulan has increased to 4,790 as of this date, from just less than a thousand at the beginning of the year.
Sibulan Mayor Antonio "Tony" D. Renacia is pleased over the said increase in the number of enrollees this year (from January to December), as the scheme gave greater access to free hospitalization for his constituents, specially the families in the barangays, says Sibulan Information Officer Connie Zamora-Rosales.
Rosales said the evaluation of the families and persons who qualify for the said program is conducted by the Sibulan LGU in coordination with the Municipal Social Development Office and the Municipal Health Office.
Under the National Health Indigency Program, the LGU shoulders a portion of the medicare premium payable, which is P120.
"This Program gave an impetus for the LGUs to provide free health insurance coverage to their constituents, as well as greater access to Medicare program," says Rosales.
The Program has gained wide acceptance, which is benefiting mostly the people in the grassroot level.
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NFA OrNeg employee cited as Region 7 Best Employee 2004
The Registration and Licensing Officer of the National Food Authority in Oriental Negros was chosen as the 2004 Best NFA Employee in Region 7.
Mrs. Elizabeth Guirit Delfino was selected out of other nominees from NFA offices in Region 7 due to her 30 years of outstanding work performance and significant contributions.According to NFA Information Officer Rolando Lazalita, Delfino has been cited for her dedication and for her contribution to the food agency's continued good relationship with the grains businessmen and millers in the province by going out of her way to ensure that stakeholders are updated on the various programs of NFA.
The Grains Retailers Confederation (GRECON) here, along with the Millers Association of Oriental Negros, awarded Delfino with certificates of appreciation.
Delfino received a cash award of P3,000, a plaque of recognition and a free travel to Vietnam.
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Exemplary individuals and institutions that make a difference
Ten exemplary individuals and outstanding institutions are this year's finalists for the 3rd Triennial Awards of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI)-Cebu.
Dominic Chua, RAFI's chief operations officer explained, "the Triennial Awards was established in 2001 to give meaningful recognition to individuals and institutions in the Visayas and Mindanao whose efforts in bringing hope and positive change to the lives of the less privileged, reflect the philantrophic, humanitarian and holistic ideals of Don Ramon and Eduardo Aboitiz."
Chua added, RAFI's Triennial Awards is very specific for those endeavors within the Visayas and Mindanao and it is given in two categories-the Ramon Aboitiz Award for Exemplary Individual and the Eduardo Aboitiz Award for Outstanding Institution.
"Most of the award giving bodies in the country are either Luzon or Manila based. Somehow, the Visayas and Mindanao endeavors are hardly recognized and they could not compete with the more advanced institutions in those areas hence, the Triennial awards," Chua said.
This year's Triennial Awards received and evaluated 91 nominees; 45 nominations for the Ramon Aboitiz Award for Exemplary Individual and 26 nominees for the Eduardo Aboitiz Award for an Outstanding Institution.
Ma. Theresa Rivera, chairperson of the 3rd Triennial Awards search committee in a media interview said, "through the awards, we discovered great Filipino lheroes, men and women of peace and outstanding volunteerism, living their lives in service and doing with little fanfare and with very limited resources."
Through the awards, RAFI hopes to gather values from the nominees, highlighting their achievements so that every other Filipino may be inspired to care and are given the spirit to be resilient, to outlive adversities and crises; and that, despite poverty and political conflict, they still have the courage to go on and inspire others along the way.
Finalists for the Ramon Aboitiz Award for Exemplary Individual are Domingo Tadena, deputy director of the Philippine Eagle Foundation-Conservation Breeding program; Margarita dela Cruz, marine biologist and a professor of UP-Visayas Tacloban College; Hadja Bainon Karon, a Muslim lady revolutionist who championed the cause of Muslim women through empowerment; Fr. Robert Layson who champions the rights of victims of war especially women, children and the elderly; and Mayor Ramon Piang, Sr., of Upi, Maguindanao, who instituted community empowerment through a series of training on capability building.
For the Eduardo Aboitiz Award for Outstanding Institution, the finalists are the Maharlika Charity Foundation, Inc., Brokenshire Integrated Health Ministries, Inc., Lihok Pilipina Foundation, Inc., Mahintana Foundation, Inc., and Save Mindanao Volunteers, Inc.,
A trophy and P300,000 cash await the winners of this year's Triennial Awards that will be announced and given in March 2006. Ma Theresa Rivera of Cagayan de Oro City chaired this year's search committee with Myrna Lim, Eileen Mangubat, Paul Flutty and Fr. Carmelo Diola as members.
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OWWA search for model family is on
In recognition of the significant contribution of OFW's to the nation's economy, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Region VII has initiated the Search for the Model OFW Family of the Year (with either a land-based or sea-based OFW head of the family - either father or mother.
The search aims to recognize OFW Family that meets the following criteria: 1) OFW has a minimum of four years of overseas employment (whether OFW is working abroad or has returned), 2) known as a solid/stable family in the locality, 3) has at least a child who graduated from college degree, has managed family finances well in savings, 4) and currently employing a comfortable life with sustained income from investments or any legitimate entrepreneurial activity.
Religious organizations/groups, NGO's and any other organizations may submit nominations that must be duly supported with the Nomination Form and documents.
Nominees shall be screened and pre-selected by the Regional Panel of Judges and only one Regional Awardee will be chosen to qualify for the National Finals. Decision of the Panel of Judges at the regional and national levels are final. No protests shall be entertained.
Nominations must include an Accomplished Nomination From with the OFW Family in (5R) picture, and supporting documents consisting of a) brief background on the OFW family, b) passport or seaman's book of the OFW, c) contracts of Employment (if available), d) marriage certificate/contract, e) certification/endorsement from either a DSWD Social Worker, Barangay Captain, Parish Priest of Religious Leader on the stability of the OFW family, f) school credentials of the OFW's child/children who graduated from college (e.g. diploma, transcript of records, etc.), g) business permit or DTI/SEC Certification, h) Bank Certification (if available), and , I) other relevant documents and pictures to support the nomination.
All nominations must be placed in a long folder and shall be submitted not later than October 24, 2005 to OWWA Regional Welfare Office 7, Mezzanine Floor, LDM Bldg., cor. M.J. Cuenco Ave., and Legaspi St., Cebu City.
For more information, call T# 255-3197 or 254-0305 or cell no. 09189214925.
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KNN Dumaguete reporter off to China
The Kabataan News Network (KNN), Dumaguete Bureau is chosen to participate in the First International Forum on Children's Development in Beijing, China on October 25 - 30, 2005.
The Probe Media Foundation and United Nation Children's Fund (Unicef) chose Ms. Zapphire Zamudio, 16, a youth reporter from Dumaguete Bureau to represent KNN Philippines in the international conference. Ms Zamudio is selected among the youth reporters of KNN because of her ability to shoot, report interesting stories and write script. In the conference she will be using these skills.
The Soong Ching Ling Foundation in China is sponsoring this international forum on children's development, with the aim of promoting a high level exchange of experience on children's issues among Chinese and international researchers and policy practitioners.
This children's participation forum is designed to enable prominent young journalists to report on the forum to peer audiences around the world; to provide a venue for an international exchange of experience, information and ideas among the young participants; and among others.
A total of 20 children aged 13 to 17 from the different countries will participate in the forum.
Of the 20 stories on environment, festival, education, economic among others produced by Dumaguete Bureau, Ms. Zapphire Zamudio has written eight scripts, as reporter and cameraperson for four stories. Stories have been aired over ABC5 every Saturday at 3:00 in the afternoon and in National Broadcasting Network every Sunday at 9:00 in the morning.
KNN Dumaguete Bureau is under the supervision of the Philippine Information Agency.
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Help us, jail officials appeal community
Local government officials involved in the five pillars of justice are appealing to the community to assist them in their rehabilitation program.
The community is the fifth in the five pillars of justice, the others namely: law enforcement, prosecution, judiciary and rehabilitation and correction.
During yesterday's Kapihan forum held in observance of the 11th anniversary of the National Correctional Consciousness Week this year, local Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Chief Jail Inspector and Provincial Jail Administrator Waldemar Villanueva said the government still lacks the necessary resources to effectively implement its rehabilitation program.
"In our jails here, you seldom see government agencies spearheading rehabilitation programs. In fact, the rehabilitation commission here is led by volunteers," says Villanueva.
Inside the jail, inmates undergo skills trainings such as cooking, pot making, hollow block making and furniture making to facilitate their smooth their integration to the community once they have finished serving their time.
Despite this, Villanueva said the community still refuses to accept these people.
He said the negative attitude of the community towards people who have served time in jail makes the rehabilitation process difficult.
"The community will not accept ex-convicts. We look at the person's weakness, but we are not doing anything to help counter their weakness," laments Villanueva.
Aside from this, local jail officials admit that congestion remains to be the top problem in jails provincewide.
According to Atty. Jeffrey Araula, the Negros Oriental Detention and Rehabilitation Center Warden, the provincial jail remains congested even when inmates have reduced from more than 300 last year to between 240 to 270 this year.
Araula attributes the decrease to the travel funds allotted by the provincial government for transporting inmates to Muntinlupa.
"So now, whenever Philippine Airlines has a promo, we take advantage of it to bring our inmates to Muntinlupa," says Araula.
Also, Araula said the resolution of cases in the local courts have lately been prompt, so convictions and acquittals have been fast
Villanueva said jail congestion also makes rehabilitation of inmates difficult. "All jails nationwide are congested. So how can we rehabilitate our inmates?"
The provincial jail administrator pointed out the Guihulngan jail, which is supposed to hold only 20 to 30 inmates but is now accommodating 140 inmates. "Some inmates even sleep inside the comfort room for lack of space," Villanueva laments.
Guihulngan has constructed a new jail but Villanueva says this is seen to be congested already. "The new jail's design can accommodate 60 inmates only. But wa pa nahuman ang building, their inmates have already grown to 140."
The same is also true with the Dumaguete City Rehabilitation Center, which is designed for 90 inmates but more than 200 are already occupying it now.
Aside from this, youthful offenders stay in the same cells as the adult inmates. "Right now, our youths who are in conflict with the law, when they get inside the provincial jail, they have to be mingled with the other prisoners," said Araula.
He disclosed that his proposal to put up a separate holding cell for minor inmates at the backl was tackled by Gov. George P. Arnaiz in the recent Legislative Executive Agenda, and has earmarked funds for this project.
Villanueva is also proposing to create a separate holding cell for youthful offenders located at the space at the back of the DCRC.
Of the total 855 prisoners provincewide, around 29 are juveniles in conflict with the law.
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