ISSUE NO. 34, NOVEMBER 24, 2005

DOF evaluates Sibulan's market loan proposal
A brand new public market building will soon be completed in Sibulan town as a team of evaluators from the Department of Finance-LOGOFIND Project conducts an on-site inspection of the project starting the 8th of this month.

The said team will also evaluate the local government unit's borrowing capacity, says Connie Zamora-Rosales, Sibulan municipal information officer.

The DOF team is headed by team leader Engr. Lyn Collo together with Engr. Monalisa Cajigal, design engineer; Ace Neptuno, economist; and Arianne Galope, social development consultant.

Sibulan Mayor Antonio Renacia has earlier submitted letter of intent to DOF expressing the LGU's interest to apply, negotiate and participate in the LOGOFIND project as well as borrow funds from the said project's municipal development fund office to effectively implement the construction of the public market building.

The said letter, Rosales said, was backed by Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 05-268 as the municipal legislative body has authorized Renacia to borrow 70 percent of the total cost of project and to provide the 20 percent equity.

The said resolution also states that the project is an exceptional opportunity for the LGU to avail of considering that the fund provider will extend a ten percent gran out of the total project funding requirement.

To date, Rosales said the LGU has already spent a total of P6.6 million on the project.

In line with the evaluation, the LGU's local finance committee together with the DOF evaluation team conducted a public hearing on Nov. 10 which was attended by market vendors who mostly were in favor of improving the market, says Rosales.

Once completed, the two-storey new market will have stalls for dry goods, carenderias, snacks and sections for meat, fish and vegetables. Comfort rooms will be available for market goers and drainage will likewise be improved.

Corresponding to the mayor's program to uplift the Sibulanon's living conditions, the market is seen to spur economic growth in Sibulan.
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DTI intensifies campaign on Product Standards Law
The Department of Trade and Industry has intensified its provincewide campaign against substandard products to make sure that the Product Standards Law is strictly enforced in towns and cities here.

Mrs. Addie Balatayo of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here said that her office has been conducting random inspections in commercial areas in towns and municipalities, at times upon the request of the mayor. We sometimes conduct surprise visits upon the request of the mayor to catch businessmen off guard, says Balatayo.

Balatayo disclosed that during a recent surprise inspection at the Sibulan wet market, five weighing scales were found defective and turned over to the municipal treasurer's office which holds jurisdiction over the implementation of penalties.

The inspection team is composed of representatives from DTI and the treasurer's office of the local government unit.

Balatayo said that since last year, the Centers for Consumer Welfare in the local government units have been assisting DTI in the enforcement of the product standards law.

The point persons assigned in the center report to DTI any violations of the product standards law in their respective areas, says Balatayo.

Balatayo urged consumers to be wise and look for the Product Standards (PS) seal when buying locally manufactured products and the ICC mark for imported commodities.
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CSC sets BJMP lateral entry qualifying exam
The Civil Service Commission in Region 7 will conduct a lateral entry qualifying examination (LEQE) for Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) personnel on December 11, 2005 in Cebu City.

The examination is open to BJMP personnel who possess highly specialized and technical qualifications and hold appropriate second-level eligibilities. They must be with BJMP for at least 18 months on a permanent status upon the date of examination. Qualified personnel must also hold a Very Satisfactory rating for the last two consecutive performance evaluation system.

Application forms are available at the BJMP National Headquarters and at all BJMP Regional Offices. Initial processing of applications shall be done by the HRM division prior to submission to the CSC regional offices where the examinee wishes to take the LEQE.

Qualified applicants will be notified of their place of examination through a notice of admission or examination permit. In case the notice or permit is not recived a week before the date of examination, the applicants must personally verify the place of examination with the CSC regional office where they filed their application papers.

Examination fee is set at P350.00. Deadline of application will be on November 25, 2005.

Interested parties may call the CSC-Cebu South Field Office at tel. no. (032) 491-3331, Cebu North Field Office at (032) 253-8333, Negros Oriental Field Office at (035) 4205002, Bohol Field Office at (038) 501-7046 and Siquijor Field Office at (035) 3772037.
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Another call center eyes Dumaguete for its third site
Just days after the city government of Dumaguete signed a memorandum of agreement with Teletech Customer Care Management Philippine, Inc., another international call center firm has announced that it is eyeing Dumaguete as a possible host to its third site in the Philippines.

ClientLogic Philippines is reportedly choosing among the cities of Cebu and Dumaguete for what would be its third facility in the country as the company looks forward to expanding its operations in the country.

This will be a facility with at least 300 seats to cater to foreign clients engaged in financial services, technology, telecommunication and travel, according to Danilo Sebastian L. Reyes, ClientLogic Philippines country manager.

Reyes said that the new facility will cost about $300,000.

The firms' roster of clients include Sony Corp., DIRECTV, TiVo, National Geographic Television and United Online.

"Our principals in the United States are very happy because we are meeting their expectations. As proof, we have now new clients. But the actual rollout of the next facility will really depend on the demand from our clients," says Reyes.

The firm is initially planning to start the rollout in the Visayas by next year.

Reyes said that in choosing the next location, ClientLogic is looking at factors such as big pool of qualified manpower, quality real estate and telecommunication infrastructure, amenities and peace and order.

As of 2004, there were about 11 call center locators in Cebu City in Central Visayas and three in Iloilo City in Western Visayas.

TeleTech is currently developing a facility in Dumaguete City following its MOA signing held Nov. 14 with Dumaguete City Mayor Agustin Perdices at the City Session Hall here.

After the signing, TeleTech Vice President for North Asia and the Philippines Craig Reines formally turned-over a check worth P1M to Mayor Perdices as 'performance bond.'
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Local GSP senior girl scouts to receive Chief Girl Scout Medal Scheme award
Three senior girl scouts of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) Negros Oriental-Siquijor Council will be awarded the Chief Girl Scout Medal Award on Nov. 25, 2005 at Malacañang Palace.

The Chief Girl Scout Medal Scheme Award is the highest award a senior or cadet scout can achieve by working on a one-year community project, says local GSP Executive Officer Rosario Rosales.

The awardees are Senior Scouts Daphne Suzette T. Abellon, Veronica P. Aragones and Claire Marie B. Partosa.

The three awardees were students of Dauin National High School at the time they worked on their community project from May 2004 to May 2005, says Rosales.

Abellon, now a Nursing student at Silliman University, implemented her zero-waste management project at Poblacion, Dauin, while Aragones, who is now pursuing a college degree at ACSAT, worked on her beautification of a neglected area project at Maayongtubig, Dauin.

Partosa who is now a fourth year high school student at Dauin National High School, chose the highway beautification along Maayongtubig as her community project.

Rosales said the awardees' troop leader Mrs. Myrn A. Acain and Dauin National High School Principal Mrs. Carmelita A. Alacala were both instrumental in the successful implementation of the winning community projects.

Over the years, the Negros Oriental-Siquijor council has consistently churned out awardees for the Chief Girl Scout Medal. "This is one of the factors that make our council one of the top councils nationwide," said Rosales.
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LGUs urged to provide "fly now, pay later" for OFWs
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is urging the local government units (LGUs) to provide a financing scheme to help their needy constituents seeking jobs abroad.

Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia A. Santo Tomas said local governments may implement a "fly now pay later" program for needy workers in their localities especially those who do not have financial means to pay for various requirements essential for their eventual deployment for employment aborad.

Sto.Tomas said the program would help address unemployment and protect vulnerable workers in rural areas from illegal recruiters and other unscrupulous individuals as the program would involve only legitimate recruitment agencies.

Sto. Tomas said the program provides a level playing field for those who want to work abroad but do not have means to pay for placement and processing fees prior to their deployment abroad.

The Dole chief cited the local government of Banaybanay, Davao Oriental whose "fly now pay" later program is enabling needy workers in this poor municipality to land better paying jobs overseas and pay the required placement and other fees after they have been deployed.

The local DOLE office here disclosed that so far, there are still no LGUs in Negros Oriental offering the said program.

Records show that over 800,000 overseas Filipino workers have been deployed to more than 170 destinations worldwide in the first 10 months of 2005.
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Island Paradise Adventure Race, Visayas Leg (IPAR-2) to pass Oriental Negros

The Visayas Leg of the Island Paradise Adventure Race, or IPAR-2, will traverse Oriental Negros on Thursday, December 15, 2005.

Provincial Tourism Officer Myla Mae B. Abellana said the IPAR-2 which starts off from the Luneta in Manila on December 10, will run through until December 18, with stops at round 50 destinations throughout the country to cover a distance of over 2,000 kilometers.

In every stop, competing teams will perform challenges highlighting local attractions. Local government units along the route will organize trade, cultural and food fares to create a festive atmosphere. IPAR-2 enters Oriental Negros through Mabinay, with next stops at Silliman University and Rizal Boulevard in Dumaguete City.

Abellana said some ten teams have completed their entry requirements as of press time, and more are expected to apply before the November 30 registration deadline. Each team consists of a pair of any gender. IPRA-2 will admit only 30 teams. For more details, interested parties may inquire from the Provincial Tourism Office.

The IPAR is the biggest adventure race ever in the Philippines, with a P1-million top prize. It is patterned after the Amazing Race, except that there will be no eliminations along the route. IPAR-2 is a follow-up to IPAR-1 that covered Northern Luzon last May and was won by Team Iguana of Davao City, Abellana added.
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World AIDS Day celebration in Dumaguete kicks off on Dec. 1
The local celebration of World AIDS Day in Dumaguete City will kick-off with a street parade on December 1, 2005.

The parade will start at 3:00 p.m. from Freedom Park and will culminate at the Quezon Park, this city.

Spearheaded by the Negros Oriental HIV/AIDS Prevention Project of the Silliman University Extension Program-Marina Clinic, the parade will be participated in by the different schools, institutions, non-government organizations and government organizations in the city.

According to Dr. Fe Sycip-Wale, project manager of the HIV/AIDS Prevention Project, the local celebration aims to highlight the global campaign for children against AIDS with the theme: "Undangon ang AIDS, Pana-ad Tumanon, Maghiusa Alang Sa Kabataan, Maghiusa sa Pagsanta sa AIDS."

Other activities include a Kapihan forum on December 7 and Quiz Bowl competitions for youths in the city.

Dr. Wale urged the local residents and other interested parties to join in the celebration and express their commitment to the fight against AIDS.
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Gift of Life enters Karen's world
Hers could have been a normal childhood.

Karen May "Kakai" Maglangit Bongat was a pretty girl, promise-filled and full of life.

She was going 3, too young and frail to comprehend life, when her fisherman father, "Nong Jesus" accidentally exploded a "petromax" kerosene lamp used for fishing at night in their house at Barangay Lomangcapan, Enrique Villanueva (Talingting), province of Siquijor. It gave her third degree burns all over her body in which she bore the gruesome scars of her lifetime that transformed her happy disposition.

For a time, life lost all meaning to her. The cruelty of her physical deformity left her embittered, wretched and withdrawn. Why not? While children of her age enjoyed having the grandest time of their lives, she had to endure the rejection and shame of being laughed at and mocked by her fellow children both in school and play hours.

The very sight of her crushed her parents' souls. But belonging to a family of a very modest circumstance, poverty denied their daughter the chance to get appropriate medications in bigger hospitals. They had to be honest enough to admit that they dared question God and wondered bitterly what He thought He was playing at, what was the point of tormenting her. Life, though, was meant to be lived. The first frenzy of grief gave place to a dull resentment and then to numb acceptance.

Despite the nightmare ordeal of sustaining humiliation from the prying eyes of a discriminating society, Kakai went to study in schools. In books, she had no handicaps. Through them, she managed to find strength and faith to escape from the prison her own body had become. And though life dealt her those painful blows, there always remained inside her heart the hope and promise that someday, somehow she would be that woman who can normally write and wave happily.

Heavens seemed to have been, all the while, listening to her. October 2004 was the turning point that changed her destiny forever. The Gift of Life miraculously entered Karen's world. That was the time when Gina Kay Obach, a resident of a neighboring town of Maria, went to her and brought her the news that this international organization is willing to sponsor her for a treatment in the US. Apprehensions and fears were perceptible in Karen's heart; nevertheless, she was filled with hope and determination to make it through.

Karen is a lucky beneficiary of the Gift of Life Program of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Rotary Clubs, in partnership with the Hilton Head Regional Medical Center in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA. As Dr. Edgar and wife Mary Jane Lerias of New York provided the bridge to the Northern Mindanao Association of America (Norminda) and with the endorsement of the Rotary Club of Siquijor, Karen's case reached the Gift of Life Program in the US.

Program director Florence Albaugh started the rigid documentation process to enable Karen to fly to America, courtesy of the PAL Foundation through its director Menchu Sarmiento. Childspring International of Atlanta, Georgia took care of domestic travel in the USA.

Karen was accompanied to the USA by Gina Kay Obach. Drs. Robert A. Laughlin and Bob Agustin, the Hilton Head Medical Center's nurses, therapists and other staff, the Gift of Life board members, the Filipino community and the host family of Mike and Debi Lynes showered Karen and Gina with a lot of care. She stayed there for almost six months undergoing plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Now 19, we see in Karen a totally different person - from an aloof, reserved little girl to a high-spirited, confident grown lady. With her eyes glowing, Karen bubbly shared her happy (with her very kind host family) and not so happy days (when she had to endure excruciating pains during operation) in America. She is thankful for all the people who have been with her every step of the way."God is really good to me! Wala ko ga-expect nga moabot nako ning higayuna. (I never expected this moment would come)". "Dili nako maulaw moatubang sa mga tawo (I'm no longer ashamed to face people)," Kakai said recounting those days when she had the chance to talk to groups of people in America with her life story.

"A real gift, the Gift of Life not only changed me physically, it also helped me build my self-esteem," she cheerfully said.

Kakai is presently pursuing a short-term course in Caregiving at Cebu Normal College as scholar of the Lynes family. Not only that. Her family has also received a small capital from her benefactor for them to have a start-up business with. Happiness was unmistakable in her Mama Loida's face. Misty eyed, it was hard to describe her emotions adequately into words. But who would want for words? Her happy tears said it all.

Karen's life is a miracle purely of God's grace all of us can access - it's just a matter of faith. But sometimes God delays His help to test our faith and energize our prayer. Our boat may be tossed by the waves while He sleeps, but He wakes up before it sinks. Sixteen years or so, it works for Kakai.
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BFAR marks 42nd fishcon week
With this year's youth-focused theme "Pinagyamang Pangisdaan, Pag-asa ng Kabataan", the Bureau of Fish and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Siquijor Provincial Fishery Office successfully held its 42nd Fish Conservation Week last October 16-22, 2005.

Series of activities were lined up in Lazi, this year's host municipality, to highlight the occasion.

Kick-off program was done with several contests held such as net mending, poster making, motorized banca racing, and hook and line fishing all prepared for the fisherfolk. Also part of the opening program was the giving out of plaques of appreciation and certificates to the distinguished visitors.

Giving his keynote speech was Mr. Andres M. Bojos, ACC III of the Regional Office which was well-listened to and attended by the province's local and government officials. To mention were Gov. Orlando B. Fua; Cong. Orlando A. Fua Jr.; Lazi Mayor Orville A. Fua; Dr. Ramon Taroc, Provincial Agriculturist Officer; Mr. Warren S. Inao of the Provincial Fishery Office, Municipal Agriculture Officers, MFARCs, NGOs, LGUs, fisherfolk organizations, and technicians.

Also giving more meaning and impact to the week-long celebration were the dispersa1 of 1,248 pcs of GET Excel tilapia for the techno demo project of the recipient Fructuso Caliso at Capalasanan, Lazi courtesy of the Provincial Fishery and Provincial Agriculture Offices, conduct of seaborne patrol operation by some deputized fish wardens which successfully apprehended illegal spear fishing and confiscated fishing paraphernalia and coastal clean-ups in all fish sanctuaries of the island.