NegOr farmers reap positive effects of La Niña
In the midst of gloomy forecasts and dire warnings in connection with the onset of La Niña, farmers in Oriental Negros are instead reaping in on the favorable effects of the weather phenomenon on rice fields in the province.
According to Provincial Agriculturist Gregorio Paltinca, Oriental Negros is experiencing the “positive side” of La Niña as the rain brought about by the abnormal weather phenomenon has been beneficial to the farmers in view of the summer season from February to April.
With the onset of the dry season, there is not enough water in areas planted with rice especially during the second cropping. But this year, because of La Niña, farmers here are enjoying better farm yield, says Paltinca during the Kapihan forum held recently by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
In spite of the arid period due to the summer season, Paltinca said the rice fields are looking healthy compared to the same period in previous years when there was no La Niña.
The provincial agriculturist’s observations are echoed by the Department of Agriculture Region 7 Director Eduardo Lecciones who expects that La Niña will boost agricultural production in Central Visayas.
“Production of rice and corn, the top produce of the region is expected to increase with La Niña as planting season comes earlier this year, “ says Lecciones during the 2nd meeting on the Asean Standards for Horticulture Produce in Cebu City recently.
Lecciones disclosed that La Niña is saving farmers and the government a lot of money in bringing water to the farmlands.
However, Bohol, according to Lecciones, was tremendously affected with the hot season. In coordination with the Philippine Air Force, constant cloud seeding was conducted to produce rains.
Lecciones further said Central Visayas will benefit from La Niña compared to the other regions because its geographical nature does not pose any danger to the agricultural sector, specifically crops, rice and corn production.
He added that compared with the previous years, rice and corn production cycle, i.e. harvesting and planting is done in May where rains are expected to come just after the hot summer months. This year, because of the onset of La Niña, the country is experiencing rain as early as March; a day after the other planting cycle is done. “ The Panu-ig Crop, that is done in May can now be done this month,” Lecciones added.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture continuers to fast track the rehabilitation and repair of the country’s national and communal irrigation systems in time for the planting season.
In line with this the DA national office has allocated funds for the planting of rice using certified seeds in various areas across the country.
Paltinca said possible areas to be planted with rice in Oriental Negros are the following: Canlaon City (75 hectares); Vallehermoso (10 hectares); Guihulngan (20 hectares); Jimalalud (20 hectares); Tayasan (55 hectares); Ayungon (20 hectares); Mabinay (75 hectares); Zamboanguita (20 hectares); Siaton (75 hectares); Sta. Catalina (100 hectares); Bayawan City (130 hectares); Basay (20 hectares); and Dumaguete City (10 hectares).
Paltinca is urging farmers in the province to use certified seeds instead of good seeds. He explained that certified seeds will yield an average production of between 100 to 130 cavans per hectare, which is 15% more than good seeds. “If we use good seeds only, it’s only around 60 or 70 cavans,” he adds.
Fire incidents resulted to more than 23M worth of damage in ‘05
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in the province reported that the total damage caused by fire incidents in 2005 is pegged at P23.2 million.
There were a total of 288 fire incidents reported in Oriental Negros last year.
So far from January to March this year, 54 fire incidents have been recorded with the total damage placed at P2.7 million.
This was disclosed during the Kapihan forum held recently by the Philippine Information Agency at Bethel Guesthouse.
SFO2 Lorenco Trasmonte, speaking during the forum, the cause of the most number of fire incidents here are electrical in nature.
In line with the Fire Prevention Month celebration in March, the BFP here have conducted several activities geared towards boosting the fire control and prevention campaign in the province.
One of the activities done was the inspection of all dormitories in the city, particularly the back yards. “Dormitories pose a hazard for fire incidents as waste materials from students’ activities accumulate mostly at the back of dormitories,” says SFO4 Ramon Langcoyan in the same forum.
Langcoyan also disclosed that the BFO here is adopting the running card system as part of an effective fire response, suppression and control system. “Like in Tanjay City, when the market burned down, the fire truck in Tanjay at that time was responding to a fire incident in another area,” he said.
The fire officer explained that with the running card system, in the case of Tanjay City, if the fire truck there is responding to a fire incident in another area, the fire stations in San Jose and Bais City will be informed beforehand so that they will be the first to respond in case a fire breaks out in Tanjay City.
So far, towns in the province that do not have fire trucks are: Bacong, Zamboanguita, Dauin, Basay, Sibulan, Amlan, Manjuyod, Pamplona, Bindoy, Ayungon, Jimalalud, La Libertad and Vallehermoso.
Rural development frontliners complete training
Around 115 front liners from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and different local government units in Regions 7 and 9 have completed the three-week
Comprehensive Rural Entrepreneurial Academy (CREA) training conducted by the Belgian Integrated Agrarian Reform Support Programme (BIARSP) – Technical Support and Coordination Office.
CREA is a BIARSP-funded municipal-level intervention program aimed to capacitate municipal front liners with leadership, entrepreneurial and functional skills in rural and entrepreneurial know-how and leadership.
During the graduation program for the five batches of the CREA training course held at Bethel Guesthouse recently, a forum on rural development was conducted to expand the networks of the CREA.
The CREA graduates are currently implementing their respective individual and group projects.
GSIS members urged to join in the bigger, better GSIS scholarship raffle program
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is encouraging all active GSIS members who have no premium arrearages to join in the bigger and better GSIS scholarship raffle program.
According to local GSIS Department Manager Ma. Erlinda P. Roma, the awarding of scholarship slots is now determined by an electronic raffle.
GSIS members may nominate their children, spouses, nephews and nieces, brothers, sisters, grandchildren and even non-relatives, says Roma.
Scholars will enjoy up to P20,000 in tuition and miscellaneous fees per semester with a monthly stipend of P2,000.
Interested members need only secure and fill out an application form and submit to the GSIS office personally or thru an accredited liaison officer attached with a transmittal letter signed by the proper office authorities.
Roma said application forms should be accompanied with the member’s policy contract for validation purposes.
Deadline of submission of applications is on April 21, 2006 at 5:00 p.m.
Volunteer probation aide training set in April
The Oriental Negros Province Parole and Probation Office (ONPPO) is set to hold a basic volunteer probation aide (VPA) training seminar on April 20 and 21 at the Sibulan Session Hall.
The training is co-sponsored by the ONPPO under the leadership of Chief Probation and Parole Officer Atanacio Llena and the Sibulan municipal government under Mayor Antonio Renacia together with the Association of Barangay Captains of Sibulan.
The VPA training is one of the major thrusts of the ONPPO in the treatment and rehabilitation of its clients.
Participants of the training are barangay officials and other professionals who have signified their interest in the program.
To qualify, a volunteer must be of good standing in the community with good moral character and a sincere desire to serve others.
The volunteers are the human resources in the community who are directly involved in crime prevention per Sec. 28 of PD 968 which permits the utilization of the services of VPAs to assist the probation and parole officers in the supervision of probationers, parolees and pardonees.
U.S. Government Partners with Radyo ng Bayan to Create Weekly English-Language Radio Program in Mindanao
Thanks to development assistance from the American people, thousands of Mindanao residents will have the chance to learn English at home with their own weekly tutor: the radio. Through a program funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Radyo ng Bayan network launched Real World English, a weekly English-language instructional radio show, on its DXMR Zamboanga City station on March 25.
Radyo ng Bayan, a subsidiary of the Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS), will broadcast 52 episodes of Real World English every Saturday from 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. from its stations across Mindanao, reaching the provinces of Zamboanga City, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Marawi City. The 30-minute show will provide English-language high school teachers useful information to improve English instruction in the classroom, and expose the general listening public to native English speakers. Prizes will be given each week to selected listeners who provide the right answers to the weekly English lesson questions.
USAID’s Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQuALLS) project introduced the Real World English program through its Improving English Language Teaching and Learning in Mindanao (IELTLM) project. EQuALLS is a five-year initiative funded by the U.S. Government to promote improvements in elementary and secondary education in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other conflict-affected areas.
A launching ceremony marked the maiden broadcast of Real World English on March 25. Zamboanga City DXMR Radyo ng Bayan Station Manager Danilo Macansantos opened the inaugural broadcast with the remarks: “Through Real World English, we hope to contribute to the Department of Education’s effort to improve the English language proficiency of our teachers and learners. This is also an opportunity for all of us in Zamboanga City, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Marawi City, and other areas reached by this broadcast to discuss our own Mindanaoan culture even as we speak about the American way of life.”
PBS Director Rafael Dante A. Cruz highlighted the power of radio to deliver “practical knowledge and useful information” to the Filipino people. Dr. Thomas Kral, USAID Chief, Office of Education, recalled his time as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines and spoke of traveling throughout the Sulu Archipelago more than 35 years ago, forming friendships with local residents through English language. Dr. Kral also stressed the added importance of English language skills in today’s era of globalization.
IELTLM is a multi-stakeholder education initiative of Real World Productions, Radyo ng Bayan, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Notre Dame University – Cotabato City, and the Mindanao State University – Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography. USAID provides technical and financial assistance to IELTM through the EQuALLS Project.
Repeal mining act, says CBCP, environmentalists
Lately getting hid media mileage on political issues, the Catholc Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) was again put in limelight when it recently issued a pastoral statement urging for the scrapping of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
In Siquijor province, an environmental awareness forum was held recently in Larena to tackle the issue. With this was a signature campaign dubbed by the Catholic Church Hierarchy as “active non-violence” to mount a people’s initiative to fully scrap the mining act.
Fr. Susano Arbas of the Enrique Villanueva Parish Church on behalf of the CBCP branded the mining act as destructive to the lives of the people. “If this act won’t be repealed, the people will continue to suffer and go poor. Large scale mining has not eased poverty in our midst. It has not been the seen solution of our growing hardship, in fact, it is inherently dangerous with all its supposed evils,” he stressed.
Framework not beneficial
Environmentalists from militant groups are taking the same stand on the issue.
Speaker Glemar Bacusmo said the Philippine Act of 1995 is only benefit to a privilege few.
He, however, said the problem is not the mining itself but the framework or the provisions of the act. He stressed that the country is rich in mineral resources and that a mining industry is an essential part of any developing country like the Philippines. According to him an estimated worth of $840,000 billion is found in our mineral resources, which is 10 times bigger than our annual gross domestic product (GDP) and 15 times higher than our country’s external debt. If used properly, it would be a great help to all Filipinos, he said.
Under the law, however, foreign corporations are allowed 100% control of the mining operation through the so-called financial technical assistance agreement (FTAA), allows 100% repatriation of profit to these foreign corporations, permits 25 years of operation renewable for another 25 years, and gives priority access to timbers in the mining area, leaving almost nothing for the Filipino people who are the real owners of the land.
Citing statistics, Bacusmo also added that as of year 2000, large-scale mining had only contributed P10.6 billion in the GDP compared to that of agriculture, which was P189.1 billion. He added that as of today 15 million hectares or 48.3% of our total land area is already covered by mining.
Following the St. Bernard mudslide tragedy in Southern Leyte last month, other speakers spoke of the horrifying effects of mining. Vida Arcamo, Secretary General of Gabriela in Cebu City and President of the Siquijor Environment Advocates (SEA), Inc. and Paul Rodriguea of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said that this tragic event brought the urgent message of mining being a social, environmental and health threat to all. Their discussions could be summed up that our country had already experienced the negative impact of mining in many lives and properties, and if not taken with concrete steps will continue to recur.
A documentary of Wilkie Duran, a former employee of the Lazi Bay Resources Management Inc., an elleged victim who died from chemical contamination of this limestone mining here was shown to the participants in the forum. The short film won in the Brussels Film Festival by award-winning filmmaker Minnie Crouse, also an environment advocate.
The management of the company, however, denied the allegation and allayed fears saying that they are closely monitoring and it is unlikely at this point that the mining threatens Siquijor and its people.
Fr. Susano Arbas, on the other hand, didn’t discount the benefits mining can bring to the prosperity of the people. He, however, said that mining, to be benefited by all, must be done within the process of fairness and equity.
“We are for mining that doesn’t serve the personal interests of the few but one that improves the lives of all people especially the poor. A moral mining is one that doesn’t cut off the survival of the people,” he said.
Following the CBCP’s statement, Arbas said that the root of all crises is erosion of moral
values, especially people who run the affairs of the government. For confidence and trust to be restored in the political process, the government must have credible people with personal integrity, he said. To cure what is called the “social cancer,” Filipilno s should combine their efforts and come up with a “new breed of leaders in the country,” he added.
The country’s institutions would be strong if they were anchored on “morals, ethics, social responsibility and good governance,” he said.
Siquijor celebrates fire prevention month
The province of Siquijor celebrates this March the fire prevention month with the theme: “Pamayanan Sama-Sama Laban Sa Sunog”.
A program of activities is now lined up by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Provincial Office to carry out the celebration.
FO2 Jennifer Calubag of the BFP here said a Fire Olympics will be held at Pulangyuta grounds on March 31. This will be participated by all BFP personnel and volunteer fire brigades from Larena, Lazi, San Juan and Siquijor. The games include bucket relay, fire extinguishments, hose relay, busted hose and tug of war.
Another highlight of the occasion is the poster making contest depicting the theme which will be participated in by all interested high school students in the province.
Prior to this is the opening salvo consisting the motorcade and hanging of streamers. The BFP personnel is also conducting seminars and lectures on fire safety to all private and public high schools in Siquijor while a fire drill will be held at the Siquijor State College (SSC) in Larena.
Although fire incidents rarely happen here, Calubag underscored the importance of these activities as they will equip the students with information and fire safety tips this summer- the best time of the year when fire occurrence abound.
At present the BFP provincial office is manned by 22 personnel and is waiting for more who are undergoing training at Fire National Training Institute at Camp Vicente Lim, Calamba City, Laguna.
6 pass DOST scholarship
Six high school students in Siquijor province passed the 2006 DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarship Examination held last December 4, 2005.
The qualifiers as bared by Provincial S&T Officer Engr. Mario de la Peña of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Provincial Office.
Engr. de la Peña said this year's qualifiers were selected from among 76 examinees from various high schools in the province. The 6 students qualified for RA 7687 Science and Technology scholarships. The scholars must enroll in 4 or 5-year baccalaureate degrees in priority science and technology fields.
He said that the scholars will receive tuition fees, monthly stipends, book and transportation allowances . He added that the qualifiers will receive notice of schloarship award from DOST-SEI or the DOST Regional Offices stating the date of orientation and contract signing. Each qulaifier is required to report to the designated venue with a parent/guardian and to bring the following documents: accompanying parent/guardian's 2006 residence certificate, documentary stamp and notarization fee.
Undergraduate scholarship programs in science and technology are administered and implemented yearly by the DOST-SEI as its contribution to developing a pool of human resources who will take active participation and leadership roles in carrying out S&T activities in the country. Currently, there are 9, 333 beneficiaries of the RA 7687 Scholarship Program, while 789 are being supported under the Merit Scholarship Program, de la Peña said.
Women’s federation prexy talks of dignity, role and rights of women
“Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised” Proverbs 31:30
History is replete with accounts of inequality between men and women, with the scale tipped usually in favor of the masculine gender. Men have traditionally dominated women. There is so much discrimination, unequal pay for equal work and some wives are maltreated by their husbands. Today women are in all areas of society, but even from among themselves are some who are reluctant to follow the leadership of women, simply because they are women.
“I’m happy that women have learned to stand up for their rights,” Larena Women’s federation President Gladys Estrellada said to her women folks celebrating the National Women’s Month in March. She said women today are already protected by several laws recognizing the government’s commitment to the principle of “equality between men and women” and “women empowerment” as essential for nation building and development. But let us remember that “the law of God is the only perfect law,” she said exhorting women to take note of their responsibilities equal to their rights. “No matter how well-versed we are with our rights if we don’t know our responsibilities, we cannot claim our rights because equally important is our responsibility – as mothers who generously cooperated with God in giving life and guiding the steps of their children or as wives, who place themselves at the service of love and life; or as daughters and as sisters, she said.
“A virtuous woman is one who nurtures for her family , one who nurtures her children with love because from it comes an upright society, she added quoting Proverbs 31:30: “Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”
Estrellada however, challenged the women to assert their rights without ignoring their responsibilities. “ We are our husband’s helpmates. Don’t allow them to abuse you and trample your rights,” she said.
PHE approach to impact food security, quality of life in Siquijor – IPOPCORM
The interconnected problems related to population, health and environment (PHE) are among the Philippines’ greatest challenges in achieving national development goals. Although the Philippines has abundant natural resources, these resources are compromised by a number of factors, including population pressures and poverty. The result: public health, well-being and sustainable development are at risk. This is where the Integrated Population and Coastal Resource Management Initiative (IPOPCORM) of the PATH Foundation Philippines came into the picture. This non-government organization whose central theme “food security” has been working towards three desired outcomes: improving reproductive health outcomes among people living in coastal communities; enhancing management of coastal and marine resources; and increasing awareness and support for linked integrated coastal management-reproductive health approaches among policymakers and the public.
Siquijor being one of the eight provinces in five regions of the country currently implemented by the IPOPCORM, a symposium on “Gains and Challenges in Linked population and Coastal Resources Management for Sustainable Development” was held recently to address these present issues and concerns. The activity was aimed to facilitate and create a province-wide model for mainstreaming PHE approach in Siquijor based on its actual/present situation.
“It is important to use an innovation to sustain development efforts in conserving our coastal resources especially in Siquijor where 2/3 of the people live in coastal barangays and where municipal waters are 5 times greater than its total land area”, says Roger Mark de Souza, Technical Director of the Population Reference Bureau.
“The integration of PHE is important for the island because fishing has been considered as the main livelihood of the people here. This approach will help promote economy of sale in the province, address social problems in a creative and critical way and improve coastal resource management”, he said.
Project Director of the PATH Foundation Philippines, Dr. Joan Castro said population pressure has been the cause of degradation of natural resources, income disparity, gender inequality and poor maternal and child health. She said family planning is a strategic intervention to reduce population in Siquijor stressing that family size lowers educational attainment for children in the household and that poor reproductive health lower capability of poor women to escape poverty.
“If current trends of population growth and coastal resource exploitation continues the availability and affordability of fish to provide crucial source of protein in the communities will be lost”, she said.
She said the IPOPCORM has been helping in scaling up integrated approach to all coastal barangays in Siquijor, tightening enforcement of laws of illegal fishing and expanding alternative and micro-credit programs to assist more fishers. “The overriding concern foremost in residents’ minds is the search for gainful employment and adequate income. Unless we help people and communities meet their basic needs and become self-sufficient, we cannot expect them to work with us in conservation”, she said.
NegOr farmers reap positive effects of La Niña
In the midst of gloomy forecasts and dire warnings in connection with the onset of La Niña, farmers in Oriental Negros are instead reaping in on the favorable effects of the weather phenomenon on rice fields in the province.
According to Provincial Agriculturist Gregorio Paltinca, Oriental Negros is experiencing the “positive side” of La Niña as the rain brought about by the abnormal weather phenomenon has been beneficial to the farmers in view of the summer season from February to April.
With the onset of the dry season, there is not enough water in areas planted with rice especially during the second cropping. But this year, because of La Niña, farmers here are enjoying better farm yield, says Paltinca during the Kapihan forum held recently by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
In spite of the arid period due to the summer season, Paltinca said the rice fields are looking healthy compared to the same period in previous years when there was no La Niña.
The provincial agriculturist’s observations are echoed by the Department of Agriculture Region 7 Director Eduardo Lecciones who expects that La Niña will boost agricultural production in Central Visayas.
“Production of rice and corn, the top produce of the region is expected to increase with La Niña as planting season comes earlier this year, “ says Lecciones during the 2nd meeting on the Asean Standards for Horticulture Produce in Cebu City recently.
Lecciones disclosed that La Niña is saving farmers and the government a lot of money in bringing water to the farmlands.
However, Bohol, according to Lecciones, was tremendously affected with the hot season. In coordination with the Philippine Air Force, constant cloud seeding was conducted to produce rains.
Lecciones further said Central Visayas will benefit from La Niña compared to the other regions because its geographical nature does not pose any danger to the agricultural sector, specifically crops, rice and corn production.
He added that compared with the previous years, rice and corn production cycle, i.e. harvesting and planting is done in May where rains are expected to come just after the hot summer months. This year, because of the onset of La Niña, the country is experiencing rain as early as March; a day after the other planting cycle is done. “ The Panu-ig Crop, that is done in May can now be done this month,” Lecciones added.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture continuers to fast track the rehabilitation and repair of the country’s national and communal irrigation systems in time for the planting season.
In line with this the DA national office has allocated funds for the planting of rice using certified seeds in various areas across the country.
Paltinca said possible areas to be planted with rice in Oriental Negros are the following: Canlaon City (75 hectares); Vallehermoso (10 hectares); Guihulngan (20 hectares); Jimalalud (20 hectares); Tayasan (55 hectares); Ayungon (20 hectares); Mabinay (75 hectares); Zamboanguita (20 hectares); Siaton (75 hectares); Sta. Catalina (100 hectares); Bayawan City (130 hectares); Basay (20 hectares); and Dumaguete City (10 hectares).
Paltinca is urging farmers in the province to use certified seeds instead of good seeds. He explained that certified seeds will yield an average production of between 100 to 130 cavans per hectare, which is 15% more than good seeds. “If we use good seeds only, it’s only around 60 or 70 cavans,” he adds.
Fire incidents resulted to more than 23M worth of damage in ‘05
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in the province reported that the total damage caused by fire incidents in 2005 is pegged at P23.2 million.
There were a total of 288 fire incidents reported in Oriental Negros last year.
So far from January to March this year, 54 fire incidents have been recorded with the total damage placed at P2.7 million.
This was disclosed during the Kapihan forum held recently by the Philippine Information Agency at Bethel Guesthouse.
SFO2 Lorenco Trasmonte, speaking during the forum, the cause of the most number of fire incidents here are electrical in nature.
In line with the Fire Prevention Month celebration in March, the BFP here have conducted several activities geared towards boosting the fire control and prevention campaign in the province.
One of the activities done was the inspection of all dormitories in the city, particularly the back yards. “Dormitories pose a hazard for fire incidents as waste materials from students’ activities accumulate mostly at the back of dormitories,” says SFO4 Ramon Langcoyan in the same forum.
Langcoyan also disclosed that the BFO here is adopting the running card system as part of an effective fire response, suppression and control system. “Like in Tanjay City, when the market burned down, the fire truck in Tanjay at that time was responding to a fire incident in another area,” he said.
The fire officer explained that with the running card system, in the case of Tanjay City, if the fire truck there is responding to a fire incident in another area, the fire stations in San Jose and Bais City will be informed beforehand so that they will be the first to respond in case a fire breaks out in Tanjay City.
So far, towns in the province that do not have fire trucks are: Bacong, Zamboanguita, Dauin, Basay, Sibulan, Amlan, Manjuyod, Pamplona, Bindoy, Ayungon, Jimalalud, La Libertad and Vallehermoso.
Rural development frontliners complete training
Around 115 front liners from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and different local government units in Regions 7 and 9 have completed the three-week
Comprehensive Rural Entrepreneurial Academy (CREA) training conducted by the Belgian Integrated Agrarian Reform Support Programme (BIARSP) – Technical Support and Coordination Office.
CREA is a BIARSP-funded municipal-level intervention program aimed to capacitate municipal front liners with leadership, entrepreneurial and functional skills in rural and entrepreneurial know-how and leadership.
During the graduation program for the five batches of the CREA training course held at Bethel Guesthouse recently, a forum on rural development was conducted to expand the networks of the CREA.
The CREA graduates are currently implementing their respective individual and group projects.
GSIS members urged to join in the bigger, better GSIS scholarship raffle program
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is encouraging all active GSIS members who have no premium arrearages to join in the bigger and better GSIS scholarship raffle program.
According to local GSIS Department Manager Ma. Erlinda P. Roma, the awarding of scholarship slots is now determined by an electronic raffle.
GSIS members may nominate their children, spouses, nephews and nieces, brothers, sisters, grandchildren and even non-relatives, says Roma.
Scholars will enjoy up to P20,000 in tuition and miscellaneous fees per semester with a monthly stipend of P2,000.
Interested members need only secure and fill out an application form and submit to the GSIS office personally or thru an accredited liaison officer attached with a transmittal letter signed by the proper office authorities.
Roma said application forms should be accompanied with the member’s policy contract for validation purposes.
Deadline of submission of applications is on April 21, 2006 at 5:00 p.m.
Volunteer probation aide training set in April
The Oriental Negros Province Parole and Probation Office (ONPPO) is set to hold a basic volunteer probation aide (VPA) training seminar on April 20 and 21 at the Sibulan Session Hall.
The training is co-sponsored by the ONPPO under the leadership of Chief Probation and Parole Officer Atanacio Llena and the Sibulan municipal government under Mayor Antonio Renacia together with the Association of Barangay Captains of Sibulan.
The VPA training is one of the major thrusts of the ONPPO in the treatment and rehabilitation of its clients.
Participants of the training are barangay officials and other professionals who have signified their interest in the program.
To qualify, a volunteer must be of good standing in the community with good moral character and a sincere desire to serve others.
The volunteers are the human resources in the community who are directly involved in crime prevention per Sec. 28 of PD 968 which permits the utilization of the services of VPAs to assist the probation and parole officers in the supervision of probationers, parolees and pardonees.
U.S. Government Partners with Radyo ng Bayan to Create Weekly English-Language Radio Program in Mindanao
Thanks to development assistance from the American people, thousands of Mindanao residents will have the chance to learn English at home with their own weekly tutor: the radio. Through a program funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Radyo ng Bayan network launched Real World English, a weekly English-language instructional radio show, on its DXMR Zamboanga City station on March 25.
Radyo ng Bayan, a subsidiary of the Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS), will broadcast 52 episodes of Real World English every Saturday from 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. from its stations across Mindanao, reaching the provinces of Zamboanga City, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Marawi City. The 30-minute show will provide English-language high school teachers useful information to improve English instruction in the classroom, and expose the general listening public to native English speakers. Prizes will be given each week to selected listeners who provide the right answers to the weekly English lesson questions.
USAID’s Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQuALLS) project introduced the Real World English program through its Improving English Language Teaching and Learning in Mindanao (IELTLM) project. EQuALLS is a five-year initiative funded by the U.S. Government to promote improvements in elementary and secondary education in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other conflict-affected areas.
A launching ceremony marked the maiden broadcast of Real World English on March 25. Zamboanga City DXMR Radyo ng Bayan Station Manager Danilo Macansantos opened the inaugural broadcast with the remarks: “Through Real World English, we hope to contribute to the Department of Education’s effort to improve the English language proficiency of our teachers and learners. This is also an opportunity for all of us in Zamboanga City, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Marawi City, and other areas reached by this broadcast to discuss our own Mindanaoan culture even as we speak about the American way of life.”
PBS Director Rafael Dante A. Cruz highlighted the power of radio to deliver “practical knowledge and useful information” to the Filipino people. Dr. Thomas Kral, USAID Chief, Office of Education, recalled his time as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines and spoke of traveling throughout the Sulu Archipelago more than 35 years ago, forming friendships with local residents through English language. Dr. Kral also stressed the added importance of English language skills in today’s era of globalization.
IELTLM is a multi-stakeholder education initiative of Real World Productions, Radyo ng Bayan, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Notre Dame University – Cotabato City, and the Mindanao State University – Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography. USAID provides technical and financial assistance to IELTM through the EQuALLS Project.
Repeal mining act, says CBCP, environmentalists
Lately getting hid media mileage on political issues, the Catholc Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) was again put in limelight when it recently issued a pastoral statement urging for the scrapping of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
In Siquijor province, an environmental awareness forum was held recently in Larena to tackle the issue. With this was a signature campaign dubbed by the Catholic Church Hierarchy as “active non-violence” to mount a people’s initiative to fully scrap the mining act.
Fr. Susano Arbas of the Enrique Villanueva Parish Church on behalf of the CBCP branded the mining act as destructive to the lives of the people. “If this act won’t be repealed, the people will continue to suffer and go poor. Large scale mining has not eased poverty in our midst. It has not been the seen solution of our growing hardship, in fact, it is inherently dangerous with all its supposed evils,” he stressed.
Framework not beneficial
Environmentalists from militant groups are taking the same stand on the issue.
Speaker Glemar Bacusmo said the Philippine Act of 1995 is only benefit to a privilege few.
He, however, said the problem is not the mining itself but the framework or the provisions of the act. He stressed that the country is rich in mineral resources and that a mining industry is an essential part of any developing country like the Philippines. According to him an estimated worth of $840,000 billion is found in our mineral resources, which is 10 times bigger than our annual gross domestic product (GDP) and 15 times higher than our country’s external debt. If used properly, it would be a great help to all Filipinos, he said.
Under the law, however, foreign corporations are allowed 100% control of the mining operation through the so-called financial technical assistance agreement (FTAA), allows 100% repatriation of profit to these foreign corporations, permits 25 years of operation renewable for another 25 years, and gives priority access to timbers in the mining area, leaving almost nothing for the Filipino people who are the real owners of the land.
Citing statistics, Bacusmo also added that as of year 2000, large-scale mining had only contributed P10.6 billion in the GDP compared to that of agriculture, which was P189.1 billion. He added that as of today 15 million hectares or 48.3% of our total land area is already covered by mining.
Following the St. Bernard mudslide tragedy in Southern Leyte last month, other speakers spoke of the horrifying effects of mining. Vida Arcamo, Secretary General of Gabriela in Cebu City and President of the Siquijor Environment Advocates (SEA), Inc. and Paul Rodriguea of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said that this tragic event brought the urgent message of mining being a social, environmental and health threat to all. Their discussions could be summed up that our country had already experienced the negative impact of mining in many lives and properties, and if not taken with concrete steps will continue to recur.
A documentary of Wilkie Duran, a former employee of the Lazi Bay Resources Management Inc., an elleged victim who died from chemical contamination of this limestone mining here was shown to the participants in the forum. The short film won in the Brussels Film Festival by award-winning filmmaker Minnie Crouse, also an environment advocate.
The management of the company, however, denied the allegation and allayed fears saying that they are closely monitoring and it is unlikely at this point that the mining threatens Siquijor and its people.
Fr. Susano Arbas, on the other hand, didn’t discount the benefits mining can bring to the prosperity of the people. He, however, said that mining, to be benefited by all, must be done within the process of fairness and equity.
“We are for mining that doesn’t serve the personal interests of the few but one that improves the lives of all people especially the poor. A moral mining is one that doesn’t cut off the survival of the people,” he said.
Following the CBCP’s statement, Arbas said that the root of all crises is erosion of moral
values, especially people who run the affairs of the government. For confidence and trust to be restored in the political process, the government must have credible people with personal integrity, he said. To cure what is called the “social cancer,” Filipilno s should combine their efforts and come up with a “new breed of leaders in the country,” he added.
The country’s institutions would be strong if they were anchored on “morals, ethics, social responsibility and good governance,” he said.
Siquijor celebrates fire prevention month
The province of Siquijor celebrates this March the fire prevention month with the theme: “Pamayanan Sama-Sama Laban Sa Sunog”.
A program of activities is now lined up by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Provincial Office to carry out the celebration.
FO2 Jennifer Calubag of the BFP here said a Fire Olympics will be held at Pulangyuta grounds on March 31. This will be participated by all BFP personnel and volunteer fire brigades from Larena, Lazi, San Juan and Siquijor. The games include bucket relay, fire extinguishments, hose relay, busted hose and tug of war.
Another highlight of the occasion is the poster making contest depicting the theme which will be participated in by all interested high school students in the province.
Prior to this is the opening salvo consisting the motorcade and hanging of streamers. The BFP personnel is also conducting seminars and lectures on fire safety to all private and public high schools in Siquijor while a fire drill will be held at the Siquijor State College (SSC) in Larena.
Although fire incidents rarely happen here, Calubag underscored the importance of these activities as they will equip the students with information and fire safety tips this summer- the best time of the year when fire occurrence abound.
At present the BFP provincial office is manned by 22 personnel and is waiting for more who are undergoing training at Fire National Training Institute at Camp Vicente Lim, Calamba City, Laguna.
6 pass DOST scholarship
Six high school students in Siquijor province passed the 2006 DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarship Examination held last December 4, 2005.
The qualifiers as bared by Provincial S&T Officer Engr. Mario de la Peña of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Provincial Office.
Engr. de la Peña said this year's qualifiers were selected from among 76 examinees from various high schools in the province. The 6 students qualified for RA 7687 Science and Technology scholarships. The scholars must enroll in 4 or 5-year baccalaureate degrees in priority science and technology fields.
He said that the scholars will receive tuition fees, monthly stipends, book and transportation allowances . He added that the qualifiers will receive notice of schloarship award from DOST-SEI or the DOST Regional Offices stating the date of orientation and contract signing. Each qulaifier is required to report to the designated venue with a parent/guardian and to bring the following documents: accompanying parent/guardian's 2006 residence certificate, documentary stamp and notarization fee.
Undergraduate scholarship programs in science and technology are administered and implemented yearly by the DOST-SEI as its contribution to developing a pool of human resources who will take active participation and leadership roles in carrying out S&T activities in the country. Currently, there are 9, 333 beneficiaries of the RA 7687 Scholarship Program, while 789 are being supported under the Merit Scholarship Program, de la Peña said.
Women’s federation prexy talks of dignity, role and rights of women
“Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised” Proverbs 31:30
History is replete with accounts of inequality between men and women, with the scale tipped usually in favor of the masculine gender. Men have traditionally dominated women. There is so much discrimination, unequal pay for equal work and some wives are maltreated by their husbands. Today women are in all areas of society, but even from among themselves are some who are reluctant to follow the leadership of women, simply because they are women.
“I’m happy that women have learned to stand up for their rights,” Larena Women’s federation President Gladys Estrellada said to her women folks celebrating the National Women’s Month in March. She said women today are already protected by several laws recognizing the government’s commitment to the principle of “equality between men and women” and “women empowerment” as essential for nation building and development. But let us remember that “the law of God is the only perfect law,” she said exhorting women to take note of their responsibilities equal to their rights. “No matter how well-versed we are with our rights if we don’t know our responsibilities, we cannot claim our rights because equally important is our responsibility – as mothers who generously cooperated with God in giving life and guiding the steps of their children or as wives, who place themselves at the service of love and life; or as daughters and as sisters, she said.
“A virtuous woman is one who nurtures for her family , one who nurtures her children with love because from it comes an upright society, she added quoting Proverbs 31:30: “Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”
Estrellada however, challenged the women to assert their rights without ignoring their responsibilities. “ We are our husband’s helpmates. Don’t allow them to abuse you and trample your rights,” she said.
PHE approach to impact food security, quality of life in Siquijor – IPOPCORM
The interconnected problems related to population, health and environment (PHE) are among the Philippines’ greatest challenges in achieving national development goals. Although the Philippines has abundant natural resources, these resources are compromised by a number of factors, including population pressures and poverty. The result: public health, well-being and sustainable development are at risk. This is where the Integrated Population and Coastal Resource Management Initiative (IPOPCORM) of the PATH Foundation Philippines came into the picture. This non-government organization whose central theme “food security” has been working towards three desired outcomes: improving reproductive health outcomes among people living in coastal communities; enhancing management of coastal and marine resources; and increasing awareness and support for linked integrated coastal management-reproductive health approaches among policymakers and the public.
Siquijor being one of the eight provinces in five regions of the country currently implemented by the IPOPCORM, a symposium on “Gains and Challenges in Linked population and Coastal Resources Management for Sustainable Development” was held recently to address these present issues and concerns. The activity was aimed to facilitate and create a province-wide model for mainstreaming PHE approach in Siquijor based on its actual/present situation.
“It is important to use an innovation to sustain development efforts in conserving our coastal resources especially in Siquijor where 2/3 of the people live in coastal barangays and where municipal waters are 5 times greater than its total land area”, says Roger Mark de Souza, Technical Director of the Population Reference Bureau.
“The integration of PHE is important for the island because fishing has been considered as the main livelihood of the people here. This approach will help promote economy of sale in the province, address social problems in a creative and critical way and improve coastal resource management”, he said.
Project Director of the PATH Foundation Philippines, Dr. Joan Castro said population pressure has been the cause of degradation of natural resources, income disparity, gender inequality and poor maternal and child health. She said family planning is a strategic intervention to reduce population in Siquijor stressing that family size lowers educational attainment for children in the household and that poor reproductive health lower capability of poor women to escape poverty.
“If current trends of population growth and coastal resource exploitation continues the availability and affordability of fish to provide crucial source of protein in the communities will be lost”, she said.
She said the IPOPCORM has been helping in scaling up integrated approach to all coastal barangays in Siquijor, tightening enforcement of laws of illegal fishing and expanding alternative and micro-credit programs to assist more fishers. “The overriding concern foremost in residents’ minds is the search for gainful employment and adequate income. Unless we help people and communities meet their basic needs and become self-sufficient, we cannot expect them to work with us in conservation”, she said.
In the midst of gloomy forecasts and dire warnings in connection with the onset of La Niña, farmers in Oriental Negros are instead reaping in on the favorable effects of the weather phenomenon on rice fields in the province.
According to Provincial Agriculturist Gregorio Paltinca, Oriental Negros is experiencing the “positive side” of La Niña as the rain brought about by the abnormal weather phenomenon has been beneficial to the farmers in view of the summer season from February to April.
With the onset of the dry season, there is not enough water in areas planted with rice especially during the second cropping. But this year, because of La Niña, farmers here are enjoying better farm yield, says Paltinca during the Kapihan forum held recently by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
In spite of the arid period due to the summer season, Paltinca said the rice fields are looking healthy compared to the same period in previous years when there was no La Niña.
The provincial agriculturist’s observations are echoed by the Department of Agriculture Region 7 Director Eduardo Lecciones who expects that La Niña will boost agricultural production in Central Visayas.
“Production of rice and corn, the top produce of the region is expected to increase with La Niña as planting season comes earlier this year, “ says Lecciones during the 2nd meeting on the Asean Standards for Horticulture Produce in Cebu City recently.
Lecciones disclosed that La Niña is saving farmers and the government a lot of money in bringing water to the farmlands.
However, Bohol, according to Lecciones, was tremendously affected with the hot season. In coordination with the Philippine Air Force, constant cloud seeding was conducted to produce rains.
Lecciones further said Central Visayas will benefit from La Niña compared to the other regions because its geographical nature does not pose any danger to the agricultural sector, specifically crops, rice and corn production.
He added that compared with the previous years, rice and corn production cycle, i.e. harvesting and planting is done in May where rains are expected to come just after the hot summer months. This year, because of the onset of La Niña, the country is experiencing rain as early as March; a day after the other planting cycle is done. “ The Panu-ig Crop, that is done in May can now be done this month,” Lecciones added.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture continuers to fast track the rehabilitation and repair of the country’s national and communal irrigation systems in time for the planting season.
In line with this the DA national office has allocated funds for the planting of rice using certified seeds in various areas across the country.
Paltinca said possible areas to be planted with rice in Oriental Negros are the following: Canlaon City (75 hectares); Vallehermoso (10 hectares); Guihulngan (20 hectares); Jimalalud (20 hectares); Tayasan (55 hectares); Ayungon (20 hectares); Mabinay (75 hectares); Zamboanguita (20 hectares); Siaton (75 hectares); Sta. Catalina (100 hectares); Bayawan City (130 hectares); Basay (20 hectares); and Dumaguete City (10 hectares).
Paltinca is urging farmers in the province to use certified seeds instead of good seeds. He explained that certified seeds will yield an average production of between 100 to 130 cavans per hectare, which is 15% more than good seeds. “If we use good seeds only, it’s only around 60 or 70 cavans,” he adds.
Fire incidents resulted to more than 23M worth of damage in ‘05
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in the province reported that the total damage caused by fire incidents in 2005 is pegged at P23.2 million.
There were a total of 288 fire incidents reported in Oriental Negros last year.
So far from January to March this year, 54 fire incidents have been recorded with the total damage placed at P2.7 million.
This was disclosed during the Kapihan forum held recently by the Philippine Information Agency at Bethel Guesthouse.
SFO2 Lorenco Trasmonte, speaking during the forum, the cause of the most number of fire incidents here are electrical in nature.
In line with the Fire Prevention Month celebration in March, the BFP here have conducted several activities geared towards boosting the fire control and prevention campaign in the province.
One of the activities done was the inspection of all dormitories in the city, particularly the back yards. “Dormitories pose a hazard for fire incidents as waste materials from students’ activities accumulate mostly at the back of dormitories,” says SFO4 Ramon Langcoyan in the same forum.
Langcoyan also disclosed that the BFO here is adopting the running card system as part of an effective fire response, suppression and control system. “Like in Tanjay City, when the market burned down, the fire truck in Tanjay at that time was responding to a fire incident in another area,” he said.
The fire officer explained that with the running card system, in the case of Tanjay City, if the fire truck there is responding to a fire incident in another area, the fire stations in San Jose and Bais City will be informed beforehand so that they will be the first to respond in case a fire breaks out in Tanjay City.
So far, towns in the province that do not have fire trucks are: Bacong, Zamboanguita, Dauin, Basay, Sibulan, Amlan, Manjuyod, Pamplona, Bindoy, Ayungon, Jimalalud, La Libertad and Vallehermoso.
Rural development frontliners complete training
Around 115 front liners from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and different local government units in Regions 7 and 9 have completed the three-week
Comprehensive Rural Entrepreneurial Academy (CREA) training conducted by the Belgian Integrated Agrarian Reform Support Programme (BIARSP) – Technical Support and Coordination Office.
CREA is a BIARSP-funded municipal-level intervention program aimed to capacitate municipal front liners with leadership, entrepreneurial and functional skills in rural and entrepreneurial know-how and leadership.
During the graduation program for the five batches of the CREA training course held at Bethel Guesthouse recently, a forum on rural development was conducted to expand the networks of the CREA.
The CREA graduates are currently implementing their respective individual and group projects.
GSIS members urged to join in the bigger, better GSIS scholarship raffle program
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is encouraging all active GSIS members who have no premium arrearages to join in the bigger and better GSIS scholarship raffle program.
According to local GSIS Department Manager Ma. Erlinda P. Roma, the awarding of scholarship slots is now determined by an electronic raffle.
GSIS members may nominate their children, spouses, nephews and nieces, brothers, sisters, grandchildren and even non-relatives, says Roma.
Scholars will enjoy up to P20,000 in tuition and miscellaneous fees per semester with a monthly stipend of P2,000.
Interested members need only secure and fill out an application form and submit to the GSIS office personally or thru an accredited liaison officer attached with a transmittal letter signed by the proper office authorities.
Roma said application forms should be accompanied with the member’s policy contract for validation purposes.
Deadline of submission of applications is on April 21, 2006 at 5:00 p.m.
Volunteer probation aide training set in April
The Oriental Negros Province Parole and Probation Office (ONPPO) is set to hold a basic volunteer probation aide (VPA) training seminar on April 20 and 21 at the Sibulan Session Hall.
The training is co-sponsored by the ONPPO under the leadership of Chief Probation and Parole Officer Atanacio Llena and the Sibulan municipal government under Mayor Antonio Renacia together with the Association of Barangay Captains of Sibulan.
The VPA training is one of the major thrusts of the ONPPO in the treatment and rehabilitation of its clients.
Participants of the training are barangay officials and other professionals who have signified their interest in the program.
To qualify, a volunteer must be of good standing in the community with good moral character and a sincere desire to serve others.
The volunteers are the human resources in the community who are directly involved in crime prevention per Sec. 28 of PD 968 which permits the utilization of the services of VPAs to assist the probation and parole officers in the supervision of probationers, parolees and pardonees.
U.S. Government Partners with Radyo ng Bayan to Create Weekly English-Language Radio Program in Mindanao
Thanks to development assistance from the American people, thousands of Mindanao residents will have the chance to learn English at home with their own weekly tutor: the radio. Through a program funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Radyo ng Bayan network launched Real World English, a weekly English-language instructional radio show, on its DXMR Zamboanga City station on March 25.
Radyo ng Bayan, a subsidiary of the Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS), will broadcast 52 episodes of Real World English every Saturday from 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. from its stations across Mindanao, reaching the provinces of Zamboanga City, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Marawi City. The 30-minute show will provide English-language high school teachers useful information to improve English instruction in the classroom, and expose the general listening public to native English speakers. Prizes will be given each week to selected listeners who provide the right answers to the weekly English lesson questions.
USAID’s Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQuALLS) project introduced the Real World English program through its Improving English Language Teaching and Learning in Mindanao (IELTLM) project. EQuALLS is a five-year initiative funded by the U.S. Government to promote improvements in elementary and secondary education in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other conflict-affected areas.
A launching ceremony marked the maiden broadcast of Real World English on March 25. Zamboanga City DXMR Radyo ng Bayan Station Manager Danilo Macansantos opened the inaugural broadcast with the remarks: “Through Real World English, we hope to contribute to the Department of Education’s effort to improve the English language proficiency of our teachers and learners. This is also an opportunity for all of us in Zamboanga City, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Marawi City, and other areas reached by this broadcast to discuss our own Mindanaoan culture even as we speak about the American way of life.”
PBS Director Rafael Dante A. Cruz highlighted the power of radio to deliver “practical knowledge and useful information” to the Filipino people. Dr. Thomas Kral, USAID Chief, Office of Education, recalled his time as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines and spoke of traveling throughout the Sulu Archipelago more than 35 years ago, forming friendships with local residents through English language. Dr. Kral also stressed the added importance of English language skills in today’s era of globalization.
IELTLM is a multi-stakeholder education initiative of Real World Productions, Radyo ng Bayan, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Notre Dame University – Cotabato City, and the Mindanao State University – Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography. USAID provides technical and financial assistance to IELTM through the EQuALLS Project.
Repeal mining act, says CBCP, environmentalists
Lately getting hid media mileage on political issues, the Catholc Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) was again put in limelight when it recently issued a pastoral statement urging for the scrapping of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
In Siquijor province, an environmental awareness forum was held recently in Larena to tackle the issue. With this was a signature campaign dubbed by the Catholic Church Hierarchy as “active non-violence” to mount a people’s initiative to fully scrap the mining act.
Fr. Susano Arbas of the Enrique Villanueva Parish Church on behalf of the CBCP branded the mining act as destructive to the lives of the people. “If this act won’t be repealed, the people will continue to suffer and go poor. Large scale mining has not eased poverty in our midst. It has not been the seen solution of our growing hardship, in fact, it is inherently dangerous with all its supposed evils,” he stressed.
Framework not beneficial
Environmentalists from militant groups are taking the same stand on the issue.
Speaker Glemar Bacusmo said the Philippine Act of 1995 is only benefit to a privilege few.
He, however, said the problem is not the mining itself but the framework or the provisions of the act. He stressed that the country is rich in mineral resources and that a mining industry is an essential part of any developing country like the Philippines. According to him an estimated worth of $840,000 billion is found in our mineral resources, which is 10 times bigger than our annual gross domestic product (GDP) and 15 times higher than our country’s external debt. If used properly, it would be a great help to all Filipinos, he said.
Under the law, however, foreign corporations are allowed 100% control of the mining operation through the so-called financial technical assistance agreement (FTAA), allows 100% repatriation of profit to these foreign corporations, permits 25 years of operation renewable for another 25 years, and gives priority access to timbers in the mining area, leaving almost nothing for the Filipino people who are the real owners of the land.
Citing statistics, Bacusmo also added that as of year 2000, large-scale mining had only contributed P10.6 billion in the GDP compared to that of agriculture, which was P189.1 billion. He added that as of today 15 million hectares or 48.3% of our total land area is already covered by mining.
Following the St. Bernard mudslide tragedy in Southern Leyte last month, other speakers spoke of the horrifying effects of mining. Vida Arcamo, Secretary General of Gabriela in Cebu City and President of the Siquijor Environment Advocates (SEA), Inc. and Paul Rodriguea of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said that this tragic event brought the urgent message of mining being a social, environmental and health threat to all. Their discussions could be summed up that our country had already experienced the negative impact of mining in many lives and properties, and if not taken with concrete steps will continue to recur.
A documentary of Wilkie Duran, a former employee of the Lazi Bay Resources Management Inc., an elleged victim who died from chemical contamination of this limestone mining here was shown to the participants in the forum. The short film won in the Brussels Film Festival by award-winning filmmaker Minnie Crouse, also an environment advocate.
The management of the company, however, denied the allegation and allayed fears saying that they are closely monitoring and it is unlikely at this point that the mining threatens Siquijor and its people.
Fr. Susano Arbas, on the other hand, didn’t discount the benefits mining can bring to the prosperity of the people. He, however, said that mining, to be benefited by all, must be done within the process of fairness and equity.
“We are for mining that doesn’t serve the personal interests of the few but one that improves the lives of all people especially the poor. A moral mining is one that doesn’t cut off the survival of the people,” he said.
Following the CBCP’s statement, Arbas said that the root of all crises is erosion of moral
values, especially people who run the affairs of the government. For confidence and trust to be restored in the political process, the government must have credible people with personal integrity, he said. To cure what is called the “social cancer,” Filipilno s should combine their efforts and come up with a “new breed of leaders in the country,” he added.
The country’s institutions would be strong if they were anchored on “morals, ethics, social responsibility and good governance,” he said.
Siquijor celebrates fire prevention month
The province of Siquijor celebrates this March the fire prevention month with the theme: “Pamayanan Sama-Sama Laban Sa Sunog”.
A program of activities is now lined up by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Provincial Office to carry out the celebration.
FO2 Jennifer Calubag of the BFP here said a Fire Olympics will be held at Pulangyuta grounds on March 31. This will be participated by all BFP personnel and volunteer fire brigades from Larena, Lazi, San Juan and Siquijor. The games include bucket relay, fire extinguishments, hose relay, busted hose and tug of war.
Another highlight of the occasion is the poster making contest depicting the theme which will be participated in by all interested high school students in the province.
Prior to this is the opening salvo consisting the motorcade and hanging of streamers. The BFP personnel is also conducting seminars and lectures on fire safety to all private and public high schools in Siquijor while a fire drill will be held at the Siquijor State College (SSC) in Larena.
Although fire incidents rarely happen here, Calubag underscored the importance of these activities as they will equip the students with information and fire safety tips this summer- the best time of the year when fire occurrence abound.
At present the BFP provincial office is manned by 22 personnel and is waiting for more who are undergoing training at Fire National Training Institute at Camp Vicente Lim, Calamba City, Laguna.
6 pass DOST scholarship
Six high school students in Siquijor province passed the 2006 DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarship Examination held last December 4, 2005.
The qualifiers as bared by Provincial S&T Officer Engr. Mario de la Peña of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Provincial Office.
Engr. de la Peña said this year's qualifiers were selected from among 76 examinees from various high schools in the province. The 6 students qualified for RA 7687 Science and Technology scholarships. The scholars must enroll in 4 or 5-year baccalaureate degrees in priority science and technology fields.
He said that the scholars will receive tuition fees, monthly stipends, book and transportation allowances . He added that the qualifiers will receive notice of schloarship award from DOST-SEI or the DOST Regional Offices stating the date of orientation and contract signing. Each qulaifier is required to report to the designated venue with a parent/guardian and to bring the following documents: accompanying parent/guardian's 2006 residence certificate, documentary stamp and notarization fee.
Undergraduate scholarship programs in science and technology are administered and implemented yearly by the DOST-SEI as its contribution to developing a pool of human resources who will take active participation and leadership roles in carrying out S&T activities in the country. Currently, there are 9, 333 beneficiaries of the RA 7687 Scholarship Program, while 789 are being supported under the Merit Scholarship Program, de la Peña said.
Women’s federation prexy talks of dignity, role and rights of women
“Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised” Proverbs 31:30
History is replete with accounts of inequality between men and women, with the scale tipped usually in favor of the masculine gender. Men have traditionally dominated women. There is so much discrimination, unequal pay for equal work and some wives are maltreated by their husbands. Today women are in all areas of society, but even from among themselves are some who are reluctant to follow the leadership of women, simply because they are women.
“I’m happy that women have learned to stand up for their rights,” Larena Women’s federation President Gladys Estrellada said to her women folks celebrating the National Women’s Month in March. She said women today are already protected by several laws recognizing the government’s commitment to the principle of “equality between men and women” and “women empowerment” as essential for nation building and development. But let us remember that “the law of God is the only perfect law,” she said exhorting women to take note of their responsibilities equal to their rights. “No matter how well-versed we are with our rights if we don’t know our responsibilities, we cannot claim our rights because equally important is our responsibility – as mothers who generously cooperated with God in giving life and guiding the steps of their children or as wives, who place themselves at the service of love and life; or as daughters and as sisters, she said.
“A virtuous woman is one who nurtures for her family , one who nurtures her children with love because from it comes an upright society, she added quoting Proverbs 31:30: “Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”
Estrellada however, challenged the women to assert their rights without ignoring their responsibilities. “ We are our husband’s helpmates. Don’t allow them to abuse you and trample your rights,” she said.
PHE approach to impact food security, quality of life in Siquijor – IPOPCORM
The interconnected problems related to population, health and environment (PHE) are among the Philippines’ greatest challenges in achieving national development goals. Although the Philippines has abundant natural resources, these resources are compromised by a number of factors, including population pressures and poverty. The result: public health, well-being and sustainable development are at risk. This is where the Integrated Population and Coastal Resource Management Initiative (IPOPCORM) of the PATH Foundation Philippines came into the picture. This non-government organization whose central theme “food security” has been working towards three desired outcomes: improving reproductive health outcomes among people living in coastal communities; enhancing management of coastal and marine resources; and increasing awareness and support for linked integrated coastal management-reproductive health approaches among policymakers and the public.
Siquijor being one of the eight provinces in five regions of the country currently implemented by the IPOPCORM, a symposium on “Gains and Challenges in Linked population and Coastal Resources Management for Sustainable Development” was held recently to address these present issues and concerns. The activity was aimed to facilitate and create a province-wide model for mainstreaming PHE approach in Siquijor based on its actual/present situation.
“It is important to use an innovation to sustain development efforts in conserving our coastal resources especially in Siquijor where 2/3 of the people live in coastal barangays and where municipal waters are 5 times greater than its total land area”, says Roger Mark de Souza, Technical Director of the Population Reference Bureau.
“The integration of PHE is important for the island because fishing has been considered as the main livelihood of the people here. This approach will help promote economy of sale in the province, address social problems in a creative and critical way and improve coastal resource management”, he said.
Project Director of the PATH Foundation Philippines, Dr. Joan Castro said population pressure has been the cause of degradation of natural resources, income disparity, gender inequality and poor maternal and child health. She said family planning is a strategic intervention to reduce population in Siquijor stressing that family size lowers educational attainment for children in the household and that poor reproductive health lower capability of poor women to escape poverty.
“If current trends of population growth and coastal resource exploitation continues the availability and affordability of fish to provide crucial source of protein in the communities will be lost”, she said.
She said the IPOPCORM has been helping in scaling up integrated approach to all coastal barangays in Siquijor, tightening enforcement of laws of illegal fishing and expanding alternative and micro-credit programs to assist more fishers. “The overriding concern foremost in residents’ minds is the search for gainful employment and adequate income. Unless we help people and communities meet their basic needs and become self-sufficient, we cannot expect them to work with us in conservation”, she said.
3/23/2006
ISSUE NO. 12, MARCH 23, 2006
NegOr celebrates World Water Day
The province of Negros Oriental recently celebrated World Water Day 2006 with a series of activities that aims to put communal focus on the importance of understanding and managing water resources better.
Simultaneous activities conducted during the World Water Day celebration on March 22 were poster and slogan and essay writing contests, a demonstration on water purifying process and a tree planting at Lake Balinsasayao.
Winners of the Essay writing contest are the following:
Secondary Level - John Olivier Corciega (St. Paul University-Dumaguete) , 1st prize; Nessie Marie Honculada (Tanjay City Science High School), 2nd prize; and Kate Nemes C. Vidad (Negros Oriental High School), 3rd prize.
Elementary Level - Rhomaelyn Myra Dagoy (Valencia Central School), 1st prize; Ruth Mae Quiachon (Sibulan Central School), 2nd prize; and Lorelie Abello (Tinaogan Elementary School), 3rd prize.
For the poster and slogan contest, the winners are the following:
Secondary Level - Monette Torres (Tanjay City Science High School), 1st prize; Nick John Cervantes (NOHS), 2nd prize; and Horhe Adrian Abcede (SPUD), 3rd prize.
Elementary Level - Jinky Tablate (SPED, Amlan Central School), 1st prize; Severino Monofollo (Magsaysay Memorial Elementary School), 2nd prize; and Jaylay Patrimonio (Balugo Elementary School), 3rd prize.
The United Nations has earlier declared the period 2005 to 2015 as the Decade of Water to place greater international focus on water and water issues.
The decade also recommits countries to achieve the water-related targets of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, as well as the Millennium Development Goals set in 2000.
The 2006 World Water Day theme of "Water and Culture" draws attention to the fact that there are as many ways of viewing, using and celebrating water, as there are cultural traditions across the world. It also celebrates the importance of water in man's daily life.Aside from this, the UNESCO Division of Water Sciences stressed that world economies are built on the strength of water transportation as cities are planned near water. "Our daily lives are built on water, and shaped by it. Without the water that surrounds us...our lives would be impossible."
Timbayayong Awards Search for LGUs, NGOs/POs launchedLocal government units, and people's organizations (POs) or non-government organizations (NGOs) are invited to participate in the Timbayayong Awards Search for Outstanding LGUs and NGOs/POs.
Spearheaded by the Negros Oriental Network of NGOs together with the Oriental Negros provincial government, the search is open to all LGUs and NGOs/POs with functional partnership programs that generate development in the localities.
The partnership should be current and have been operating for at least 3 to 5 years. Organizations qualified to participate in the search should have been formally accredited by the local government unit pursuant to the new Local Government Code.
Consideration for the awards is based on the partnership work in the local development council, current projects and a project proposal on how to utilize the P200,000 worth of project as a prize.
Nominees will be evaluated on the effective working relationship in local development council and other local special bodies as well as the quality of the process of service deliver to its beneficiaries.
Judges will also look into the nominees' demonstration of efficient resource management and the profiles of LGU and NGO/PO.
Interested participants are required to fill out and submit the official nomination forms to the Office of the NEGORNET together with a certification from the city/municipal local government operations officer (DILG) authenticating that such partnership and project exist while for barangay-based partnership project, an endorsement of the Mayor is required.
Nomination forms must also be accompanied with a brief summary of the current project with some photos and a concept paper on how to utilize the P200,000 worth of project.
Deadline for submission is set on March 31, 2006.
Siquijor province buys 16,500 coco hybrid seednuts for farmers
The provincial government of Siquijor recently approved the procurement of 16,500 coco hybrid seednuts for the coco farmers provincewide.
This is one of the provincial government's latest initiatives to increase the farmers' income, Medel Panzo, officer-in-charge of the local office of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) said.
The development is also in line with the President's effort to push economic growth to create more jobs and bring essential services to the doorsteps of the people.
To note, Siquijor provincial Governor Orlando B. Fua cited agriculture as his priority project to augment the ordinary folks' income. Coming from Ubay, Bohol Coconut Seed Garden, the first delivery of 3,500 seednuts is now in seednut setting at the coco nursery in the province. Another 3,500 is set for delivery next week and the rest in the coming weeks. He said, coco hybrid is an early bearing fruit and will definitely increase meat production in copra terms compared to local coconuts. It will bear fruits in three to five years," he said.
It can also be noted that the country is expected to post a 5.4 percent in gross domestic product due to a rejuvenated agriculture sector and improving fiscal health, according to Philippine Institute for Development Studies president Josef Yap."With the country's increasing demand for virgin coconut oil, coco fiber and similar coco products, Siquijor Province is on the right track," Panzo also said.
DOLE to women: revitalize, register and avail of gov't services
Taking cognizance of Republic Act 7192, otherwise known as the "Women in Development and Nation Building Act," Provincial Extension Officer Ma. Teresa D. Tanquiamco of the local office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) urged women organizations in barangays to strengthen and/or revitalize their groups and register so they can avail of the government's direct services particularly from their department.
RA 7192 values the role of women in nation building by giving them access to government programs and services.
The law also provides that "all government departments shall ensure that women benefit equally and participate directly in the development programs and projects to ensure their full participation an dinvolvement in the development process."During the election of officers of the Larena Women's Federation, Tanquiamco said having a legal personality is one of the basic requirements to avail of the programs of the government.
She said some registered women's group of the province have already availed of the Women Employment Thru Entrepreneurship Development (WEED) program of their office. She also stressed that women, if given opportunities, can do more citing the women's group who runs the dairy project in San Juan, Siquijor.
WEED program is one of the DOLE's direct and affirmative action to alleviate the plight of the more disadvantaged or marginalized sectors of the Filipino women. It envisions the pursuance of women's livelihood projects in establishing enterprises that will be able to compete in the market as well as provide more employment to the residents in the community, and in the process, contribute to the economic growth of their municipality/province.
Under this program, the Women Organization Nurturing for Development and Economic Recovery (WONDER) and Catulayan Rural Organization of Women for Nation-Building (CROWN) of San Juan, Siquijor have availed of the milk processing and peanut processing trainings cum production, respectively, while the Mantinabangon Women's Association (MWA) of Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor, was awarded a Common Facility Grant for their catering and restaurant business.
Larena celebrates women's month
The municipality of Larena joins other communities worldwide in celebration of women's month with the theme: "CEDAW ng Bayan, Karapatan ng Kababaihan."
The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is an international treaty adopted in 1979 by United Nations General Assembly but entered in force in 1981 by 165 countries. It is an international bill of rights for women and girl children highlighting the right to good and quality education, sports and cultural activities, decide on the number of children and the number of years between pregnancies and share parenting responsibilities.
The Convention also stipulated the right of women to vote, run for election and hold public office, represent the country internationally and acquire change or retain nationality and citizenship.
Women has also the right to have equal access to jobs, benefits and social security, paid equally on the work they do, to be free from all forms of violence, physical, sexual, emotional, mental and economic, and to be free from all forms of slavery and prostitution.
This year's celebration of women's month give importance to the rights of women as stated in CEDAW where Philippines is one of the States that signed the Convention. CEDAW requires states to eliminate discrimination against women in the enjoyment of all civil, political, economic and cultural rights.
The celebration will start with a Holy Mass at the St. Vincent Parish followed by a short program at the Larena Queengate. Inductions of Larena Women's Federation (LWF) officers will also follow. LWF is an LGU-Larena-accredited federation of women from 22 barangays of the municipality with a total membership of 415.
The federation is undertaking several projects namely: poultry, piggery, vegetable gardening, cut flower propagation, cake baking, banana catsup making and squash noodles making.
La Niña could boost agri production in Central Viasyas
As the Department of Agriculture fast tracks its rehabilitation and repair of the country's national and communal irrigation systems in time for the planting season, Central Visayas braces for the beneficial effect of La Niña.
" Production of rice and corn, the top produce of the region is expected to increase with La Niña as planting season comes earlier this year, " said DA-7 regional director Eduardo Lecciones during the 2nd meeting on the Asean Standards for Horticulture Produce recently.
The DA-7 regional director happily said that La Niña is saving farmers and the government a lot of money in bringing water to the farmlands especially during hot and dry months from February to April. Bohol, according to Lecciones was tremendously affected with the hot season.
In coordination with the Philippine Air Force, constant cloud seeding was conducted to produce rains.Lecciones further said, Central Visayas will benefit from La Niña compared to the other regions because its geographical nature does not pose any danger to the agricultural sector, specifically crops, rice and corn production.
He added that compared with the previous years, rice and corn production cycle, i.e. harvesting and planting is done in May where rains are expected to come just after the hot summer months.
This year, because of the onset of La Niña, the country is experiencing rain as early as March; a day after the other planting cycle is done. " The Panu-ig Crop, that is done in May can now be done this month," Lecciones added.
OFW dollar remittances to increase 10% by yearend
largely due to the surging demand for health care providers abroad'
Remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are expected to grow by another 10 percent this year due to the increasing demand for health care professionals mainly nurses abroad, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said.
Last year, OFW remittances increased by 26.2 percent valued at US $10.85B, based on BSP record. Aside from the rising number of OFWs deployed to other countries, the quality and income of workers deployed also improved, the BSP added.
Every year, there are 3T doctors taking up nursing, which is double the figure of newly licensed practicing doctors, according to Dr. Marilou Viray, president of the Cebu Medical Society.
Viray said two of the major reasons why everyone is so hook into taking up nursing today even doctors are that the opportunities call for it and the financial security it offers.
Viray further added that OFWs have been a saving grace to the country's economy through the massive inflows of dollars remitted regularly.
Apart from the dollar remittances, OFWs particularly the health care providers can also apply and share the technology they learned in other countries as she has known of some medical professionals who came back after many years of working abroad to retire here.
National Economic and Development Authority Sec. Romulo Neri on the other hand said the continuous growth of dollar remittances has contributed to the peso's strength against the US Dollar.
Likewise, the implementation of fiscal reforms like the expanded value added tax is envisioned to reduce the country's debt to 50 percent of Gross Domestic Product while this favorable development may earn the country of a credit upgrade in the coming months and boost investors' confidence, Neri claimed.
Meanwhile, the Italian Government has allotted 3T slots for Filipino skilled workers and professionals to work in Italy, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) bared.
The job opportunities ranged from managers, skilled workers to domestic and seasonal categories.
Alicia Santos, Philippine Labor attache to Rome said the quota for 3T OFWs for Italy was confirmed in a meeting between the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and Italy's Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA-7) officer-in-charge Evelia Durato said the top four sectors of OFWs deployed abroad are skilled workers followed by professionals, domestic workers and seafarers respectively
The province of Negros Oriental recently celebrated World Water Day 2006 with a series of activities that aims to put communal focus on the importance of understanding and managing water resources better.
Simultaneous activities conducted during the World Water Day celebration on March 22 were poster and slogan and essay writing contests, a demonstration on water purifying process and a tree planting at Lake Balinsasayao.
Winners of the Essay writing contest are the following:
Secondary Level - John Olivier Corciega (St. Paul University-Dumaguete) , 1st prize; Nessie Marie Honculada (Tanjay City Science High School), 2nd prize; and Kate Nemes C. Vidad (Negros Oriental High School), 3rd prize.
Elementary Level - Rhomaelyn Myra Dagoy (Valencia Central School), 1st prize; Ruth Mae Quiachon (Sibulan Central School), 2nd prize; and Lorelie Abello (Tinaogan Elementary School), 3rd prize.
For the poster and slogan contest, the winners are the following:
Secondary Level - Monette Torres (Tanjay City Science High School), 1st prize; Nick John Cervantes (NOHS), 2nd prize; and Horhe Adrian Abcede (SPUD), 3rd prize.
Elementary Level - Jinky Tablate (SPED, Amlan Central School), 1st prize; Severino Monofollo (Magsaysay Memorial Elementary School), 2nd prize; and Jaylay Patrimonio (Balugo Elementary School), 3rd prize.
The United Nations has earlier declared the period 2005 to 2015 as the Decade of Water to place greater international focus on water and water issues.
The decade also recommits countries to achieve the water-related targets of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, as well as the Millennium Development Goals set in 2000.
The 2006 World Water Day theme of "Water and Culture" draws attention to the fact that there are as many ways of viewing, using and celebrating water, as there are cultural traditions across the world. It also celebrates the importance of water in man's daily life.Aside from this, the UNESCO Division of Water Sciences stressed that world economies are built on the strength of water transportation as cities are planned near water. "Our daily lives are built on water, and shaped by it. Without the water that surrounds us...our lives would be impossible."
Timbayayong Awards Search for LGUs, NGOs/POs launchedLocal government units, and people's organizations (POs) or non-government organizations (NGOs) are invited to participate in the Timbayayong Awards Search for Outstanding LGUs and NGOs/POs.
Spearheaded by the Negros Oriental Network of NGOs together with the Oriental Negros provincial government, the search is open to all LGUs and NGOs/POs with functional partnership programs that generate development in the localities.
The partnership should be current and have been operating for at least 3 to 5 years. Organizations qualified to participate in the search should have been formally accredited by the local government unit pursuant to the new Local Government Code.
Consideration for the awards is based on the partnership work in the local development council, current projects and a project proposal on how to utilize the P200,000 worth of project as a prize.
Nominees will be evaluated on the effective working relationship in local development council and other local special bodies as well as the quality of the process of service deliver to its beneficiaries.
Judges will also look into the nominees' demonstration of efficient resource management and the profiles of LGU and NGO/PO.
Interested participants are required to fill out and submit the official nomination forms to the Office of the NEGORNET together with a certification from the city/municipal local government operations officer (DILG) authenticating that such partnership and project exist while for barangay-based partnership project, an endorsement of the Mayor is required.
Nomination forms must also be accompanied with a brief summary of the current project with some photos and a concept paper on how to utilize the P200,000 worth of project.
Deadline for submission is set on March 31, 2006.
Siquijor province buys 16,500 coco hybrid seednuts for farmers
The provincial government of Siquijor recently approved the procurement of 16,500 coco hybrid seednuts for the coco farmers provincewide.
This is one of the provincial government's latest initiatives to increase the farmers' income, Medel Panzo, officer-in-charge of the local office of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) said.
The development is also in line with the President's effort to push economic growth to create more jobs and bring essential services to the doorsteps of the people.
To note, Siquijor provincial Governor Orlando B. Fua cited agriculture as his priority project to augment the ordinary folks' income. Coming from Ubay, Bohol Coconut Seed Garden, the first delivery of 3,500 seednuts is now in seednut setting at the coco nursery in the province. Another 3,500 is set for delivery next week and the rest in the coming weeks. He said, coco hybrid is an early bearing fruit and will definitely increase meat production in copra terms compared to local coconuts. It will bear fruits in three to five years," he said.
It can also be noted that the country is expected to post a 5.4 percent in gross domestic product due to a rejuvenated agriculture sector and improving fiscal health, according to Philippine Institute for Development Studies president Josef Yap."With the country's increasing demand for virgin coconut oil, coco fiber and similar coco products, Siquijor Province is on the right track," Panzo also said.
DOLE to women: revitalize, register and avail of gov't services
Taking cognizance of Republic Act 7192, otherwise known as the "Women in Development and Nation Building Act," Provincial Extension Officer Ma. Teresa D. Tanquiamco of the local office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) urged women organizations in barangays to strengthen and/or revitalize their groups and register so they can avail of the government's direct services particularly from their department.
RA 7192 values the role of women in nation building by giving them access to government programs and services.
The law also provides that "all government departments shall ensure that women benefit equally and participate directly in the development programs and projects to ensure their full participation an dinvolvement in the development process."During the election of officers of the Larena Women's Federation, Tanquiamco said having a legal personality is one of the basic requirements to avail of the programs of the government.
She said some registered women's group of the province have already availed of the Women Employment Thru Entrepreneurship Development (WEED) program of their office. She also stressed that women, if given opportunities, can do more citing the women's group who runs the dairy project in San Juan, Siquijor.
WEED program is one of the DOLE's direct and affirmative action to alleviate the plight of the more disadvantaged or marginalized sectors of the Filipino women. It envisions the pursuance of women's livelihood projects in establishing enterprises that will be able to compete in the market as well as provide more employment to the residents in the community, and in the process, contribute to the economic growth of their municipality/province.
Under this program, the Women Organization Nurturing for Development and Economic Recovery (WONDER) and Catulayan Rural Organization of Women for Nation-Building (CROWN) of San Juan, Siquijor have availed of the milk processing and peanut processing trainings cum production, respectively, while the Mantinabangon Women's Association (MWA) of Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor, was awarded a Common Facility Grant for their catering and restaurant business.
Larena celebrates women's month
The municipality of Larena joins other communities worldwide in celebration of women's month with the theme: "CEDAW ng Bayan, Karapatan ng Kababaihan."
The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is an international treaty adopted in 1979 by United Nations General Assembly but entered in force in 1981 by 165 countries. It is an international bill of rights for women and girl children highlighting the right to good and quality education, sports and cultural activities, decide on the number of children and the number of years between pregnancies and share parenting responsibilities.
The Convention also stipulated the right of women to vote, run for election and hold public office, represent the country internationally and acquire change or retain nationality and citizenship.
Women has also the right to have equal access to jobs, benefits and social security, paid equally on the work they do, to be free from all forms of violence, physical, sexual, emotional, mental and economic, and to be free from all forms of slavery and prostitution.
This year's celebration of women's month give importance to the rights of women as stated in CEDAW where Philippines is one of the States that signed the Convention. CEDAW requires states to eliminate discrimination against women in the enjoyment of all civil, political, economic and cultural rights.
The celebration will start with a Holy Mass at the St. Vincent Parish followed by a short program at the Larena Queengate. Inductions of Larena Women's Federation (LWF) officers will also follow. LWF is an LGU-Larena-accredited federation of women from 22 barangays of the municipality with a total membership of 415.
The federation is undertaking several projects namely: poultry, piggery, vegetable gardening, cut flower propagation, cake baking, banana catsup making and squash noodles making.
La Niña could boost agri production in Central Viasyas
As the Department of Agriculture fast tracks its rehabilitation and repair of the country's national and communal irrigation systems in time for the planting season, Central Visayas braces for the beneficial effect of La Niña.
" Production of rice and corn, the top produce of the region is expected to increase with La Niña as planting season comes earlier this year, " said DA-7 regional director Eduardo Lecciones during the 2nd meeting on the Asean Standards for Horticulture Produce recently.
The DA-7 regional director happily said that La Niña is saving farmers and the government a lot of money in bringing water to the farmlands especially during hot and dry months from February to April. Bohol, according to Lecciones was tremendously affected with the hot season.
In coordination with the Philippine Air Force, constant cloud seeding was conducted to produce rains.Lecciones further said, Central Visayas will benefit from La Niña compared to the other regions because its geographical nature does not pose any danger to the agricultural sector, specifically crops, rice and corn production.
He added that compared with the previous years, rice and corn production cycle, i.e. harvesting and planting is done in May where rains are expected to come just after the hot summer months.
This year, because of the onset of La Niña, the country is experiencing rain as early as March; a day after the other planting cycle is done. " The Panu-ig Crop, that is done in May can now be done this month," Lecciones added.
OFW dollar remittances to increase 10% by yearend
largely due to the surging demand for health care providers abroad'
Remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are expected to grow by another 10 percent this year due to the increasing demand for health care professionals mainly nurses abroad, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said.
Last year, OFW remittances increased by 26.2 percent valued at US $10.85B, based on BSP record. Aside from the rising number of OFWs deployed to other countries, the quality and income of workers deployed also improved, the BSP added.
Every year, there are 3T doctors taking up nursing, which is double the figure of newly licensed practicing doctors, according to Dr. Marilou Viray, president of the Cebu Medical Society.
Viray said two of the major reasons why everyone is so hook into taking up nursing today even doctors are that the opportunities call for it and the financial security it offers.
Viray further added that OFWs have been a saving grace to the country's economy through the massive inflows of dollars remitted regularly.
Apart from the dollar remittances, OFWs particularly the health care providers can also apply and share the technology they learned in other countries as she has known of some medical professionals who came back after many years of working abroad to retire here.
National Economic and Development Authority Sec. Romulo Neri on the other hand said the continuous growth of dollar remittances has contributed to the peso's strength against the US Dollar.
Likewise, the implementation of fiscal reforms like the expanded value added tax is envisioned to reduce the country's debt to 50 percent of Gross Domestic Product while this favorable development may earn the country of a credit upgrade in the coming months and boost investors' confidence, Neri claimed.
Meanwhile, the Italian Government has allotted 3T slots for Filipino skilled workers and professionals to work in Italy, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) bared.
The job opportunities ranged from managers, skilled workers to domestic and seasonal categories.
Alicia Santos, Philippine Labor attache to Rome said the quota for 3T OFWs for Italy was confirmed in a meeting between the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and Italy's Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA-7) officer-in-charge Evelia Durato said the top four sectors of OFWs deployed abroad are skilled workers followed by professionals, domestic workers and seafarers respectively
3/16/2006
ISSUE NO. 11, MARCH 16, 2006
Pag-IBIG posts record-high net income in 2005
Pag-IBIG Fund has posted new record-high figures as it topped its accomplishments in 2005.
The Fund registered a net income of P7.38 billion last year which is 14 percent more than their total income of 6.47 billion in 2004, making their 2005 accomplishment the highest income made by Pag-IBIG in its history, says Pag-IBIG President and CEO Atty. Romero F. S. Quimbo.
In Negros Oriental and Siquijor provinces, a total of P144,807,420.19 was collected in 2005, a 14% increase from its P127,447,736.60 total collection in 2004, says Julio Carmel Alfarero who heads the Pag-IBIG office in the province.
Alfarero said the collection came from housing loan amortization, contributions and multi-purpose loan amortizations.
There are 26,978 Pag-IBIG members in Negros Oriental and Siquijor based on 2004 data.
Alfarero said that to enhance its collection measures, letters or reminders are frequently sent to Pag-IBIG members with loan arrearages. "We also do positive billing to encourage updated accounts," he said.
The continuing uptrend in the Fund's performance is a result of synchronized institution-wide efforts. "With our intensive collection campaign, supported by an improved IT system, we recorded in 2005 the biggest collection level in the Fund's 25-year history," says Quimbo.
Collections for the year stood at P37.27 billion, 14 percent higher than the Fund's collection of P32.57 billion in 2004. Contributions from Pag-IBIG's 6.04 million members, amounted to P13.04 billion, while those from short-term loans are 20 percent higher than the 2004 level, totaling P11.89 billion. On the other hand, collections from end-user housing loans were recorded at P12.34 billion, and for institutional loans, P1.45 billion. "We expect to generate more revenues in 2006 with our tie-up with private and public banks for the use of their electronic payment facilities," Atty. Quimbo added.
As a result of the efficient administration of members' contributions, the Fund set two all-time record highs under its housing and short-term loan programs. Quimbo said, "we granted P14.40 billion worth of individual housing loans and lent out P18.51 billion in short-term loans." Nearly one third of Pag-IBIG members or more than 1.3 million individuals benefited from this short-term loan program.
The vigorous performance of the Fund in the past year means greater benefits for its members nationwide. "We expect to declare at least P5.54 billion in dividends to our members, or an increase of 14.23 percent over the P4.85 billion we gave in 2004," Quimbo explained.
Under the law, the Pag-IBIG Fund is required to set aside an amount equivalent to no less than 70 percent of its annual net income and declare this as dividends, later credited proportionately to the members' total savings.
Dog population in Dumaguete declines in 2005- CVO
Dumaguete City is now nearer to reaching its target dog population as the dog populace here decreased in 2005 compared to previous years.
In a survey on livestock population, including dogs, cats and poultry done by the City Veterinary Office (CVO) on October 2005, there are now only 10,000 dogs in Dumaguete, a drop from the 12,000 dogs surveyed in the previous years.
The ideal dog population in Dumaguete is 5,000, says City Veterinarian Dr. Lourdes Socorro during the Kapihan forum held by the Philippine Information Agency recently.
To further boost the city's aim of reaching the ideal dog population, Dr. Socorro said her office will campaign massively in the barangays for dog castration from April to June this year. "So hopefully, in the next year, we will further decrease our dog population," she said.
Mardonio Nadela of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) in the same forum lamented that despite the rabies eradication program in the province, there are still human deaths here while dog bite incidents occur every month.
Nadela disclosed that based on records from PVO, seven people in Negros Oriental died from rabies in 2005, as well as in 2004.
A total of 787 dog bite cases have been recorded provincewide in 2005, of which 105 occurred in Dumaguete with one human rabies case.
Rabies is a highly fatal disease, which remains to be an endemic in the Philippines, causing approximately 300 to 600 deaths every year.
The local government units in the province have exerted efforts to reduce rabies incidence here, particularly human deaths.
Dr. Socorro is urging residents to think "many times" before raising a dog as it entails a lot of cost and responsibility. "Don't raise a dog if you don't have a purpose for it," she said.
She stressed that dogs need proper nutrition, shelter and grooming to protect them from diseases that can be transmitted to humans. "Rabies is not the only infection disease of dogs to humans. Dogs' ordinary skin diseases like scabies can also be transmitted to humans," Dr. Socorro adds.
She also warned dog owners that if they won't be responsible enough to submit their dogs for vaccination, the city government has the right to confiscate their dogs. "Because that dog will become a risk to public health," she said.
Dogs should also be leashed or caged to prevent to reduce the possibility of dog bite incidents.
City Health Officer Dr. Ava Vios said that medical expenses for treatment of each dog bite incident will cost from P25,000 to P30,000.
Dr. Vios appealed to dog bite victims not to panic right away as not all dog bite incidents are rabid.
The city health officer explained that dog bites as a result of provocation such as after the victim happened to step on the dogs' tail, rarely turn out to be rabid. But if it's a stray dog that bit the victim for no reason at all, that case is suspect for rabies, says Vios.
Sibulan conducts medical mission
The municipal government of Sibulan conducted a Medical Mission at Boloc-Boloc Elementary School on March 12 for patients from Barangays Bolocboloc, Magatas, Calabnugan, Tubtubon and Agan-an.
Medical services offered during the mission included free consultation, medicines, blood typing, ECG, dental services, etc.
The mission was conducted in coordination with the Office of the President through the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital, Rotary Club of Dumaguete-South, Local Council for Women, Philippine National Red Cross, Department of Education and Philippine Army.
GSIS emergency loan upped to 20,000 for members in calamity areas
Members of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) who are living or working in calamity-stricken areas can avail of a P20,000 emergency loan from GSIS.
GSIS has recently increased its emergency loan to P20,000 with an interest of eight percent payable in three years.
According to Ma. Erlinda P. Roma, department manager of GSIS here, active members who wish to avail of the emergency loan are required to submit, together with the duly accomplished application form, a certification from the barangay chairman that the applicant is a resident or working in an area which has been declared by the local government unit to be under a state of calamity.
Applicants must also be in active government service and not be on leave of absence without pay, not have any pending administrative or criminal c harges and have no arrearages in the payment of mandatory social insurance contributions.
Applicants must also have no salary loans or housing loans with GSIS that have been declared in default.
Meanwhile, GSIS has started releasing on March 15, 2006 the E-cards for GSIS members who are old-age (regular) pensioners who have applied earlier for an Ecard.
Roma said members/pensioners who will claim their Ecards at the GSIS Dumaguete Field Office must bring two valid ID's.
CSC to give award to government's best
Catch somebody...doing something good today! Thus called the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in its search for the bureaucracy's best this year.
In its ardent desire to strengthen the integrity of the civil service and restoring pride in working for the government, the CSC commences its 2006 Search for Outstanding Public Officials and Employees.
This was announced during the Siquijor Council of Administrative and Personnel Officers (SICAPO) meeting held recently at the Siquijor State College.
Former CSC-Siquijor Field Director Melinda F. Quillano and the new OIC Field Director Phoebe Tupaz urged all SICAPO members to participate in recognizing exemplars of public service - "women and men who quietly carry out their day-to-day tasks with fervor; they who have significantly made a difference in the lives of others and kept their integrity facing all forms of difficulties and discouragement in government service," they said.
Dir. Quillano said there has never been nomination from Siquijor province in the previous years. "This year, I expect you to send your nominations and get at least one of the awards," she said.
Nominations for the Presidential or Lingkod Bayan Award, the Outstanding Public Officials and Employees or Dangal ng Bayan and the CSC or Pagasa Award are now being accepted by the Commission through its central, regional and field offices nationwide which must be received by a CSC unit on or before March 31, 2006.
Lingkod ng Bayan Award is a performance award given to an individual or group of individuals for exceptional or extraordinary contributions resulting from an idea or performance that had nationwide impact on public interest, security and patrimony. The contribution may be a suggestion, innovation, invention or superior accomplishment.
Dangal ng Bayan is an award for exemplary conduct and ethical behavior conferred on an individual for performance of extraordinary act or public service and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior.
The CSC Pag-asa Award is also a performance award conferred on government officials and employees or government teams/groups for outstanding work performance that directly benefit more than one department of the government.
For more details, contact the CSC-Siquijor Field Office in Larena, Siquijor or visit the CSC website at www.csc.gov.ph.
DA GETS P 1B IN ADDITIONAL BUDGET FOR '06
The government will infuse additional P1 billion into the farm sector to increase rice production by at least 300,000 metric tons, the Department of Agriculture said.
The additional funds were deemed necessary by the country's economic managers to accelerate the growth of the economy this year, Agriculture Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban said recently.
Panganiban said this would form part of the pump-priming efforts that were intended to jack up the country's rice production to 14.9 million metric tons and cut down imports this year. The production target is higher than the 14.6 million metric tons of rice produced last year.
He said the additional budget would be used to repair irrigation dams and build additional catch basins in preparation for the excess rainfalls arising from the La Nina weather phenomenon.
The La Nina which may shorten the summer months this year, may also help improve rice production this year.
"However, this will entail more farm support access to credit, seeds and other inputs for about 3.5 million farmers in the countryside" Panganiban added.
The additional amount will increase the DA's budget to P4 billion.
The Inter-Agency Development Budget Coordinating Council earlier approved the release of some P3 billion for the repair of existing irrigation facilities and construction of new ones to cover 1.2 million hectares of farmlands nationwide. Some P500 million would be earmarked for the purchase and distribution of inputs such as seeds and fertilizers
ROVI fast craft now operates Sibulan-Liloan route
Sea travel is now made easier and less expensive with the advent of Rovi Navigation Lines, Inc., a fast craft plying the Poblacion, Sibulan Port-Liloan Santander route. The one unit fast craft travels to and from its approved destination in 15 minutes and a minimal fare of P35 per passenger.
Rovi Navigation Lines Management was given authority to operate for one-month period from March 14, 2006 to April 14, 2006 by the Maritime Industry Authority. This authority is renewable.
The Philippine Ports Authority Regional Office gave the go signal to put up the necessary construction at the docking area upon prior consultation with the local government unit of Sibulan and the pumpboat operators.
Rovi fast craft can accommodate 72 passengers per travel. Ceres buses (non-aircon and air-conditioned) wait for the passengers at Liloan docking area.
Temporary schedule is as follows: Monday to Thursday and Saturday - 5:00 am to 9:00 pm; Friday and Sunday - 7:30 am to 9:00 p.m.
Interval per travel is hourly.
PGMA ORDERS RELEASE OF P500 M FOR MORE CLASSROOMS
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) recently to release immediately P500 million for the construction of more classrooms.
In a roundtable discussion with the government's economic team aired over national television NBN 4, the President ordered the release of the allocation after she announced that the budget deficit for January was at P15.4 billion or lower than the P20.9 billion target due to increased revenue collection.
"This means we can have more funds for infrastructure and education. I have ordered Budget Secretary Nonoy Andaya to release P500 million to close the classroom gap," the President said.
The government plans to build 6,000 classrooms a year until 2010.
The President expressed hopes that the revenue collections would continue to increase so the government would have more funds for basic services such as education, health, infrastructure, housing and food for the poorest of the poor.
She noted that increased revenue collection was due to the economic reforms she introduced and the proper implementation of the reforms by the revenue collecting agencies-the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Bureau of Customs and with the proper handling of the National Treasury.
She said that with the support and cooperation of every Filipino, more investments would flow into the country, thus result in more jobs for Filipinos.
Bayawan mayor to deliver state of the city address
The Sangguniang Panlungsod this city has scheduled the State of the City address to be delivered by City Mayor German P. Saraña Jr. on Tuesday, March 21, 2:00 p.m. at the Bayawan City Sports Complex Annex.
The State of the City Address will be delivered during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod presided by the city Vice Mayor Rene Gaudiel.
Mayor Saraña is expected to report to the public the accomplishments of the local administration for the year 2005, as well as the plans of the city government for the current year.
Invited to attend are the employees and heads of the departments of the local government, barangay officials and representatives from Bayawan City's religious, business and education sectors.
The State of the City Address will be aired on the same day at 8:00 in the evening over Channel 6 of Fil Products Cable Television. Replays will be aired on Wednesday, March 22 at 6:00 p.m, March 25 at 8:00 p.m. and March 26 at 1:30 p.m.
The delivery of the state of the city address is a provision of the Local Government Code of the Philippines under Rule 24 of Article 189 stating that on or before March 31 of each year, every local chief executive shall submit an annual report to the Sanggunian concerned on the socioeconomic, political and peace and order conditions, and other matters concerning the local government unit.
Siquijor celebrates fire prevention month
The province of Siquijor celebrates this March the fire prevention month with the theme:"pamayanan sama-sama laban sa sunog".
A program of activities is now lined up by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) provincial Office to carry out the celebration.
FO2 Jennifer Calubag of the BFP here said a Fire Olympics will be at Pulangyuta grounds on March 31. This will be participated by all BFP personnel and volunteer fire brigades from Larena, Lazi San Juan and Siquijor. The games include bucket relay, fire extinguishment, hose relay, busted hose and tug of war.
Another highlight of the occasion is the poster making contest depicting the theme which will participated by all interested by all interested high school students in the province.
Although fire incidents rarely happen here, Calubag underscored the importance of these activities as they will equip the students with information and fire safety tips this summer- the best time of the year when fire occurrences abound.
At present the BFP provincial Office is manned by 22 personnel and is waiting for more who are undergoing training at Fire National Training Institute at Camp Vicente Lom, Calamba City, Laguna.
DILG head stresses women's role in nation building
The Department of Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Dominica K. Lacuesta calls women to actively participate and be men's equal partner in nation building.
Speaking before some 400 members-officers of the Larena Municipal Federation of women's organization at the Larena Queengate, Siquijor, Lacuesta said the government recognizes women and has been trying to provide them equal rights anda opportunities to that of men in the development process through the passage of laws such as Republic Act 7192, otherwise known as the "Women in Development and Nation Building Act" and RA 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act.
She said women are equal to men and deserve the same love, respect and privileges as she urged them to use their rights and privileges provided for in the Implementing rules and Regulations of RA 7192. The law provides, among others, that "a substantial pportion of the official development assistance (ODA) funds shall be set aside and utilized to support programs and activities for women", and that "all government departments shall ensure that women benefit equally and participate directly these programs to ensure full participation of women in the development process."
Facilitated by Larena Sangguniang Member Pacita Cuaresma as chair of the Committee on women and the Municipal Local Government Operation Officer, Kenneth S. Kilat, the general assembly also marked the celebration of National Women's month in March. Aaaalso highlighted the gathering was the federation's election of its new set of officers. Elected as President was Gladys F. Estrellado; vice-President - Edith V. Malanog; Secretary - Dinah Palacio; Assistant Secretary - Liliosa Coritico; Treasurer - Leticia W. Cuevas; Assistant Treasurer - Serafina Enriquez, Auditor I - Meldy Malolot; auditor II - Rosie Lagaunsad; auditor III - Erlinda Abilay; PRO I - Mejie Vergara; PRO II - Alile Paculba; PRO III - Blenda Malolot; Sgt.at Arms I - Merideth Pal-ing; Sgt. At Arms II - Bernadeth Erojo; Sgt. At Arms III - Loreta Yurong; and Bookeeper - Emy Bongbong.
The Board of directors are PO1 Alou S. Siangco, Roslinda A. Enrera, Rosalie Balongag, Araceli Larot, Lydith D. Tan, Rizalie A. Calibo, Rejane W. Abapo, and Hon. Pacita T. Cuaresma.
Induction of Officers will be held in time with the municipal celebration the 2006 National Women's Month on March 28, 2006 to observe the theme "CEDAW ng Bayan, Karapatan ng Kababaihan."
Pag-IBIG Fund has posted new record-high figures as it topped its accomplishments in 2005.
The Fund registered a net income of P7.38 billion last year which is 14 percent more than their total income of 6.47 billion in 2004, making their 2005 accomplishment the highest income made by Pag-IBIG in its history, says Pag-IBIG President and CEO Atty. Romero F. S. Quimbo.
In Negros Oriental and Siquijor provinces, a total of P144,807,420.19 was collected in 2005, a 14% increase from its P127,447,736.60 total collection in 2004, says Julio Carmel Alfarero who heads the Pag-IBIG office in the province.
Alfarero said the collection came from housing loan amortization, contributions and multi-purpose loan amortizations.
There are 26,978 Pag-IBIG members in Negros Oriental and Siquijor based on 2004 data.
Alfarero said that to enhance its collection measures, letters or reminders are frequently sent to Pag-IBIG members with loan arrearages. "We also do positive billing to encourage updated accounts," he said.
The continuing uptrend in the Fund's performance is a result of synchronized institution-wide efforts. "With our intensive collection campaign, supported by an improved IT system, we recorded in 2005 the biggest collection level in the Fund's 25-year history," says Quimbo.
Collections for the year stood at P37.27 billion, 14 percent higher than the Fund's collection of P32.57 billion in 2004. Contributions from Pag-IBIG's 6.04 million members, amounted to P13.04 billion, while those from short-term loans are 20 percent higher than the 2004 level, totaling P11.89 billion. On the other hand, collections from end-user housing loans were recorded at P12.34 billion, and for institutional loans, P1.45 billion. "We expect to generate more revenues in 2006 with our tie-up with private and public banks for the use of their electronic payment facilities," Atty. Quimbo added.
As a result of the efficient administration of members' contributions, the Fund set two all-time record highs under its housing and short-term loan programs. Quimbo said, "we granted P14.40 billion worth of individual housing loans and lent out P18.51 billion in short-term loans." Nearly one third of Pag-IBIG members or more than 1.3 million individuals benefited from this short-term loan program.
The vigorous performance of the Fund in the past year means greater benefits for its members nationwide. "We expect to declare at least P5.54 billion in dividends to our members, or an increase of 14.23 percent over the P4.85 billion we gave in 2004," Quimbo explained.
Under the law, the Pag-IBIG Fund is required to set aside an amount equivalent to no less than 70 percent of its annual net income and declare this as dividends, later credited proportionately to the members' total savings.
Dog population in Dumaguete declines in 2005- CVO
Dumaguete City is now nearer to reaching its target dog population as the dog populace here decreased in 2005 compared to previous years.
In a survey on livestock population, including dogs, cats and poultry done by the City Veterinary Office (CVO) on October 2005, there are now only 10,000 dogs in Dumaguete, a drop from the 12,000 dogs surveyed in the previous years.
The ideal dog population in Dumaguete is 5,000, says City Veterinarian Dr. Lourdes Socorro during the Kapihan forum held by the Philippine Information Agency recently.
To further boost the city's aim of reaching the ideal dog population, Dr. Socorro said her office will campaign massively in the barangays for dog castration from April to June this year. "So hopefully, in the next year, we will further decrease our dog population," she said.
Mardonio Nadela of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) in the same forum lamented that despite the rabies eradication program in the province, there are still human deaths here while dog bite incidents occur every month.
Nadela disclosed that based on records from PVO, seven people in Negros Oriental died from rabies in 2005, as well as in 2004.
A total of 787 dog bite cases have been recorded provincewide in 2005, of which 105 occurred in Dumaguete with one human rabies case.
Rabies is a highly fatal disease, which remains to be an endemic in the Philippines, causing approximately 300 to 600 deaths every year.
The local government units in the province have exerted efforts to reduce rabies incidence here, particularly human deaths.
Dr. Socorro is urging residents to think "many times" before raising a dog as it entails a lot of cost and responsibility. "Don't raise a dog if you don't have a purpose for it," she said.
She stressed that dogs need proper nutrition, shelter and grooming to protect them from diseases that can be transmitted to humans. "Rabies is not the only infection disease of dogs to humans. Dogs' ordinary skin diseases like scabies can also be transmitted to humans," Dr. Socorro adds.
She also warned dog owners that if they won't be responsible enough to submit their dogs for vaccination, the city government has the right to confiscate their dogs. "Because that dog will become a risk to public health," she said.
Dogs should also be leashed or caged to prevent to reduce the possibility of dog bite incidents.
City Health Officer Dr. Ava Vios said that medical expenses for treatment of each dog bite incident will cost from P25,000 to P30,000.
Dr. Vios appealed to dog bite victims not to panic right away as not all dog bite incidents are rabid.
The city health officer explained that dog bites as a result of provocation such as after the victim happened to step on the dogs' tail, rarely turn out to be rabid. But if it's a stray dog that bit the victim for no reason at all, that case is suspect for rabies, says Vios.
Sibulan conducts medical mission
The municipal government of Sibulan conducted a Medical Mission at Boloc-Boloc Elementary School on March 12 for patients from Barangays Bolocboloc, Magatas, Calabnugan, Tubtubon and Agan-an.
Medical services offered during the mission included free consultation, medicines, blood typing, ECG, dental services, etc.
The mission was conducted in coordination with the Office of the President through the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital, Rotary Club of Dumaguete-South, Local Council for Women, Philippine National Red Cross, Department of Education and Philippine Army.
GSIS emergency loan upped to 20,000 for members in calamity areas
Members of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) who are living or working in calamity-stricken areas can avail of a P20,000 emergency loan from GSIS.
GSIS has recently increased its emergency loan to P20,000 with an interest of eight percent payable in three years.
According to Ma. Erlinda P. Roma, department manager of GSIS here, active members who wish to avail of the emergency loan are required to submit, together with the duly accomplished application form, a certification from the barangay chairman that the applicant is a resident or working in an area which has been declared by the local government unit to be under a state of calamity.
Applicants must also be in active government service and not be on leave of absence without pay, not have any pending administrative or criminal c harges and have no arrearages in the payment of mandatory social insurance contributions.
Applicants must also have no salary loans or housing loans with GSIS that have been declared in default.
Meanwhile, GSIS has started releasing on March 15, 2006 the E-cards for GSIS members who are old-age (regular) pensioners who have applied earlier for an Ecard.
Roma said members/pensioners who will claim their Ecards at the GSIS Dumaguete Field Office must bring two valid ID's.
CSC to give award to government's best
Catch somebody...doing something good today! Thus called the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in its search for the bureaucracy's best this year.
In its ardent desire to strengthen the integrity of the civil service and restoring pride in working for the government, the CSC commences its 2006 Search for Outstanding Public Officials and Employees.
This was announced during the Siquijor Council of Administrative and Personnel Officers (SICAPO) meeting held recently at the Siquijor State College.
Former CSC-Siquijor Field Director Melinda F. Quillano and the new OIC Field Director Phoebe Tupaz urged all SICAPO members to participate in recognizing exemplars of public service - "women and men who quietly carry out their day-to-day tasks with fervor; they who have significantly made a difference in the lives of others and kept their integrity facing all forms of difficulties and discouragement in government service," they said.
Dir. Quillano said there has never been nomination from Siquijor province in the previous years. "This year, I expect you to send your nominations and get at least one of the awards," she said.
Nominations for the Presidential or Lingkod Bayan Award, the Outstanding Public Officials and Employees or Dangal ng Bayan and the CSC or Pagasa Award are now being accepted by the Commission through its central, regional and field offices nationwide which must be received by a CSC unit on or before March 31, 2006.
Lingkod ng Bayan Award is a performance award given to an individual or group of individuals for exceptional or extraordinary contributions resulting from an idea or performance that had nationwide impact on public interest, security and patrimony. The contribution may be a suggestion, innovation, invention or superior accomplishment.
Dangal ng Bayan is an award for exemplary conduct and ethical behavior conferred on an individual for performance of extraordinary act or public service and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior.
The CSC Pag-asa Award is also a performance award conferred on government officials and employees or government teams/groups for outstanding work performance that directly benefit more than one department of the government.
For more details, contact the CSC-Siquijor Field Office in Larena, Siquijor or visit the CSC website at www.csc.gov.ph.
DA GETS P 1B IN ADDITIONAL BUDGET FOR '06
The government will infuse additional P1 billion into the farm sector to increase rice production by at least 300,000 metric tons, the Department of Agriculture said.
The additional funds were deemed necessary by the country's economic managers to accelerate the growth of the economy this year, Agriculture Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban said recently.
Panganiban said this would form part of the pump-priming efforts that were intended to jack up the country's rice production to 14.9 million metric tons and cut down imports this year. The production target is higher than the 14.6 million metric tons of rice produced last year.
He said the additional budget would be used to repair irrigation dams and build additional catch basins in preparation for the excess rainfalls arising from the La Nina weather phenomenon.
The La Nina which may shorten the summer months this year, may also help improve rice production this year.
"However, this will entail more farm support access to credit, seeds and other inputs for about 3.5 million farmers in the countryside" Panganiban added.
The additional amount will increase the DA's budget to P4 billion.
The Inter-Agency Development Budget Coordinating Council earlier approved the release of some P3 billion for the repair of existing irrigation facilities and construction of new ones to cover 1.2 million hectares of farmlands nationwide. Some P500 million would be earmarked for the purchase and distribution of inputs such as seeds and fertilizers
ROVI fast craft now operates Sibulan-Liloan route
Sea travel is now made easier and less expensive with the advent of Rovi Navigation Lines, Inc., a fast craft plying the Poblacion, Sibulan Port-Liloan Santander route. The one unit fast craft travels to and from its approved destination in 15 minutes and a minimal fare of P35 per passenger.
Rovi Navigation Lines Management was given authority to operate for one-month period from March 14, 2006 to April 14, 2006 by the Maritime Industry Authority. This authority is renewable.
The Philippine Ports Authority Regional Office gave the go signal to put up the necessary construction at the docking area upon prior consultation with the local government unit of Sibulan and the pumpboat operators.
Rovi fast craft can accommodate 72 passengers per travel. Ceres buses (non-aircon and air-conditioned) wait for the passengers at Liloan docking area.
Temporary schedule is as follows: Monday to Thursday and Saturday - 5:00 am to 9:00 pm; Friday and Sunday - 7:30 am to 9:00 p.m.
Interval per travel is hourly.
PGMA ORDERS RELEASE OF P500 M FOR MORE CLASSROOMS
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) recently to release immediately P500 million for the construction of more classrooms.
In a roundtable discussion with the government's economic team aired over national television NBN 4, the President ordered the release of the allocation after she announced that the budget deficit for January was at P15.4 billion or lower than the P20.9 billion target due to increased revenue collection.
"This means we can have more funds for infrastructure and education. I have ordered Budget Secretary Nonoy Andaya to release P500 million to close the classroom gap," the President said.
The government plans to build 6,000 classrooms a year until 2010.
The President expressed hopes that the revenue collections would continue to increase so the government would have more funds for basic services such as education, health, infrastructure, housing and food for the poorest of the poor.
She noted that increased revenue collection was due to the economic reforms she introduced and the proper implementation of the reforms by the revenue collecting agencies-the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Bureau of Customs and with the proper handling of the National Treasury.
She said that with the support and cooperation of every Filipino, more investments would flow into the country, thus result in more jobs for Filipinos.
Bayawan mayor to deliver state of the city address
The Sangguniang Panlungsod this city has scheduled the State of the City address to be delivered by City Mayor German P. Saraña Jr. on Tuesday, March 21, 2:00 p.m. at the Bayawan City Sports Complex Annex.
The State of the City Address will be delivered during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod presided by the city Vice Mayor Rene Gaudiel.
Mayor Saraña is expected to report to the public the accomplishments of the local administration for the year 2005, as well as the plans of the city government for the current year.
Invited to attend are the employees and heads of the departments of the local government, barangay officials and representatives from Bayawan City's religious, business and education sectors.
The State of the City Address will be aired on the same day at 8:00 in the evening over Channel 6 of Fil Products Cable Television. Replays will be aired on Wednesday, March 22 at 6:00 p.m, March 25 at 8:00 p.m. and March 26 at 1:30 p.m.
The delivery of the state of the city address is a provision of the Local Government Code of the Philippines under Rule 24 of Article 189 stating that on or before March 31 of each year, every local chief executive shall submit an annual report to the Sanggunian concerned on the socioeconomic, political and peace and order conditions, and other matters concerning the local government unit.
Siquijor celebrates fire prevention month
The province of Siquijor celebrates this March the fire prevention month with the theme:"pamayanan sama-sama laban sa sunog".
A program of activities is now lined up by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) provincial Office to carry out the celebration.
FO2 Jennifer Calubag of the BFP here said a Fire Olympics will be at Pulangyuta grounds on March 31. This will be participated by all BFP personnel and volunteer fire brigades from Larena, Lazi San Juan and Siquijor. The games include bucket relay, fire extinguishment, hose relay, busted hose and tug of war.
Another highlight of the occasion is the poster making contest depicting the theme which will participated by all interested by all interested high school students in the province.
Although fire incidents rarely happen here, Calubag underscored the importance of these activities as they will equip the students with information and fire safety tips this summer- the best time of the year when fire occurrences abound.
At present the BFP provincial Office is manned by 22 personnel and is waiting for more who are undergoing training at Fire National Training Institute at Camp Vicente Lom, Calamba City, Laguna.
DILG head stresses women's role in nation building
The Department of Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Dominica K. Lacuesta calls women to actively participate and be men's equal partner in nation building.
Speaking before some 400 members-officers of the Larena Municipal Federation of women's organization at the Larena Queengate, Siquijor, Lacuesta said the government recognizes women and has been trying to provide them equal rights anda opportunities to that of men in the development process through the passage of laws such as Republic Act 7192, otherwise known as the "Women in Development and Nation Building Act" and RA 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act.
She said women are equal to men and deserve the same love, respect and privileges as she urged them to use their rights and privileges provided for in the Implementing rules and Regulations of RA 7192. The law provides, among others, that "a substantial pportion of the official development assistance (ODA) funds shall be set aside and utilized to support programs and activities for women", and that "all government departments shall ensure that women benefit equally and participate directly these programs to ensure full participation of women in the development process."
Facilitated by Larena Sangguniang Member Pacita Cuaresma as chair of the Committee on women and the Municipal Local Government Operation Officer, Kenneth S. Kilat, the general assembly also marked the celebration of National Women's month in March. Aaaalso highlighted the gathering was the federation's election of its new set of officers. Elected as President was Gladys F. Estrellado; vice-President - Edith V. Malanog; Secretary - Dinah Palacio; Assistant Secretary - Liliosa Coritico; Treasurer - Leticia W. Cuevas; Assistant Treasurer - Serafina Enriquez, Auditor I - Meldy Malolot; auditor II - Rosie Lagaunsad; auditor III - Erlinda Abilay; PRO I - Mejie Vergara; PRO II - Alile Paculba; PRO III - Blenda Malolot; Sgt.at Arms I - Merideth Pal-ing; Sgt. At Arms II - Bernadeth Erojo; Sgt. At Arms III - Loreta Yurong; and Bookeeper - Emy Bongbong.
The Board of directors are PO1 Alou S. Siangco, Roslinda A. Enrera, Rosalie Balongag, Araceli Larot, Lydith D. Tan, Rizalie A. Calibo, Rejane W. Abapo, and Hon. Pacita T. Cuaresma.
Induction of Officers will be held in time with the municipal celebration the 2006 National Women's Month on March 28, 2006 to observe the theme "CEDAW ng Bayan, Karapatan ng Kababaihan."
3/09/2006
ISSUE NO. 10, MARCH 9, 2006
(above) City Health Officer Dr. Ava Vios disclosing statistics on the leading
causes of mortality and morbidity in Dumaguete City. She said that lifestyle diseases
are on the rise, replacing infectious diseases as the leading causes of morbidity
in the city.
(above) The panel of discussants during the forum held at Bethel Guesthouse.
(above, L-R) Dr. Fidencio Aurelia, Sta. Catalina-Bayawan-Basay health district officer,
and Bayawan City Vice Mayor Rene Gaudiel.
(above) Barangay health workers in the city turned up to attend theKapihan forum held by PIA on lifestyle diseases.
(below) Johnny Khong Hun, president of the Salinas Group Inc.
discussing the benefits of a diet rich in iodine.
(below) Dr. Fidencio Aurelia, Health District Officer of the
STA-BAYAWAN-BASAY health district explaining the healthy lifestyle
program adopted in his district through a community-based health
maintenance system.
(below) PIA Infocen Manager (extreme right) Jennifer Catan-Tilos
moderating the Kapihan forum. At far left is Bayawan City Vice
Mayor Rene Gaudiel together with Alejandro Montenegro, DOH
Representative of Bayawan.
Tsunami panic caused by false alarm- PAGASA
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is calling on the public to confirm first with concerned government agencies regarding unverified reports of alleged tsunami incidents to hit areas in the country.
PAGASA has recently issued a disclaimer to media reports circulating from a yet unknown source that a tsunami will allegedly strike the coast of Surigao on March 6, 2005.
PAGASA said there are no scientific basis for this report as there has been no strong earthquake monitored from either the PhiVolcs or from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center of any tsunami that could possibly affect the region at this time.
Rampant rumors of a tsunami has raised panic and caused some communities to evacuate their homes out of fear.
PAGASA noted that there is a need to coordinate and confirm critical disaster warnings with the concerned government science agencies such as PhilVolcs and PAGASA.
Historically, the Moro Gulf earthquake in 1976 triggered a tsunami that killed 8,000 people in the region. A strong magnitude 7 earthquake is needed to cause a tsunami.
Lifestyle diseases on the rise
Diseases caused by an unhealthy lifestyle are now the leading causes of mortality in Dumaguete City.
This was disclosed by City Health Officer Dr. Ava Vios who said that lifestyle diseases are now on the rise in the city.
Records from the City Health Office show that the ten leading causes of mortality in the city are the following: M.I or heart attack, sepsis or infections, cancer, pneumonia, kidney diseases, congestive heart failure, cerebral vascular disease or stroke, tuberculosis, liver cirrhosis and still birth.
Heart attack accounted for 336 deaths last year, making it the topmost killer disease in Dumaguete with a mortality rate of more than 100%.
Cancer is now the 3rd leading killer disease in the city with a total of 24 fatalities, of which lung cancer had the highest death rate followed by liver cancer, colon cancer and ovarian cancer.
Vios said that infectious diseases like bronchopneumonia are no longer the killer diseases in the city. "Now it's cancer, heart disease or heart attack, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, liver cirrhosis which are lifestyle diseases," says Vios during the Kapihan forum held recently by the Philippine Information Agency.
On the other hand, infectious diseases are still the reason why most people in the city were hospitalized last year.
Based on records presented by Dr. Vios, the top ten morbidity diseases are acute respiratory infection, pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, tuberculosis, acute gastro-enteritis, angina, hypertension, goiter and toxic goiter.
The city health officer lauded the efforts of the community-based health maintenance management adopted by Bayawan City, which has been able to eradicate tuberculosis as one of its five leading causes of deaths.
Bayawan City, together with Sta. Catalina and Basay, have earlier adopted the healthy lifestyle program in response to the national government's challenge on health promotion programs in the grassroots level.
Since then, the Bayawan City government has intensified its health promotion program, of which one of the results is the reduction of deaths caused by TB, says Alejandro Montenegro, Department of Health representative in Bayawan City.
Montenegro said that areas within the city premises in Bayawan has been established as no smoking areas while a 30-minute healthy lifestyle exercise is also conducted by the Bayawan City Health Office every Friday.
In the same forum, Sta. Catalina-Bayawan-Basay district health officer Dr. Fidencio Aurelia said that the healthy lifestyle program has also resulted to the family heath workers system in which a family member in each household is put in charge of the family's health.
Bayawan has a population of 202, 194 with 47,000 households and in each of the household, there is one family health worker. "This is a more effective health care delivery system," says Dr. Aurelia.
Vios also said that the VALEDALAN SA DAKONG BULAN health district composed of Valencia, Dumaguete, Dauin, Sibulan, San Jose, Bacong and Amlan is still currently being re-organized.
BIR-Dgte boosts tax collection efforts to meet PM985 goal
With a tax collection goal of almost P1 billion this year, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Dumaguete is stepping up collection efforts to keep up its record of exceeding its goals for five years now.
BIR here has a goal of P985 million worth of tax collection to meet by the end of this year, a mean feat to achieve for the revenue office, as this is the highest goal that has been set for them yet.
In fact, our goal this year is 30% more than the total tax we collected last year, says Jose Senador, chief of the taxpayers' service section of BIR here, during a recent forum held by the Philippine Information Agency.
The revenue district office in Dumaguete City has been consistently exceeding their tax collection goal since 2000 up to last year.
Senador disclosed that BIR here has started adopting new measures to generate revenues for government as well as meet its collection goal.
"Later part last year, we tried collecting taxes by telephone brigade which we found very effective," he said.
Some of the big taxpayers in Dumaguete City paid substantial amounts by way of appeal and not by threat or garnishment.
BIR had to issue warrants of garnishment to two big taxpayers in the city who were delinquent in their tax payment last year.
"We hope that we will not always be resorting to this kind of collection," said Senador.
To check on the accuracy of tax information filed, BIR is also gathering data from other sources or third party information to cross check data and cross match figures indicated in the individual income tax or corporate income tax returns. "For example in the case of petroleum dealers, we gather data from suppliers of these dealers," he said.
The likelihood that BIR here can meet its goal this year is high judging from the opinion of a well-known businessman in the city who foresees the local business sector's cooperation to the revenue district's efforts.
Businessman Tyrone Uypitching in the same forum said he believes that BIR will not encounter any problems when it comes to the business sector. "Personally, I don't think BIR here will have so much problem collecting from the businessmen because we can see there is so much development happening here made by the local government," says Uypitching.
Under RA 9337 or the Reformed Value Added Tax Law, local governments will receive a 50% share from the revenues for the construction of public elementary and secondary school buildings, energy, environmental conservation and agricultural modernization.
Meanwhile, aside from scheduled provincewide information drives in Negros Oriental and Siquijor, a tax mapping activity or routine check up of all establishments is also being done by BIR in the province. "We check on their administrative requirements like registration receipt and book of accounts as mandated by the tax code," he explained.
BIR is also set to conduct a tax mapping for lending institutions which Senador said has been sprouting in the city.
He disclosed that to date, his office has received 21 complaints from borrowers of lending institutions here. "The scenario is like this: lending investors are lending money to middle-class or below middle-class borrowers. Panahon kolektahan sila, magipit sila, they fail to pay so the lending company will file a collection case against them in court. The borrowers then come to us and file a counter case against these lending companies for not issuing receipts," Senador said.
As long as the complaint is properly documented, Senador said BIR can immediately impose a sanction of penalty for non-issuance of receipt.
Penalties range from P10,000 to P20,000 and 4 to 6 years imprisonment.
PhilPost boosts Sibulan delivery force
The Philippines Postal Corporation has moved one letter carrier from the municipality of San Jose to Sibulan to augment the latter's delivery force.
Postal District Manager Benito P. Quiros' move is in line with EO No.366 or the Rationalization Program of the government, which prohibits filling up of vacant positions.
"However, should we be authorized to fill up vacant positions, the Sibulan Post Office will be given priority," says PhilPost Region 7 Director Estrera.
Earlier, Sibulan Mayor Tony Renacia has requested PhilPost to fill up the vacant positions at the local Post Office created by the retirement of some of its previous staff.
However, the mayor's request was denied in view of EO 366, says Concepcion Rosales, Sibulan Information Officer.
Rosales said the municipal government had to provide job orders at the post office to assist the postmaster for the meantime.
Literary Contest extended until March 31
All Filipino writers, students and professionals have until March 31, 2006 to submit their entries to the 100 Years of Filipino Migration to Hawaii Literary Contest.
The Commission on Filipino Overseas and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts are extending the contest's deadline to ensure a nationwide participation and in response to the request of interested Filipino writers from the provinces as well as abroad.
With the theme: "100 years: The Filipino Legacy in Hawaii," the literary contest is divided into three categories: poetry, essay and one-act play. Winners of the contest have the chance to win P15,000, P10,000 and P7,500 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes respectively for each category.
For the poetry writing competition, entries must be a collection of 5 to 10 poems an may be rhymed or in free verse. Essay writing entries must be 2,000 to 3,000 words in length. Entries to the one one-act play category should translate to 30 to 45 minutes in actual performance and must be accompanied by a one-page symopsis and a list of the cast of characters. All entries must be original.
The literary contest forms parts of the series of activities from December 2005 to December 2006 in celebration of the 100 years of friendship with the island-state of Hawaii. For more information on the 100 Years of Filipino Migration to Hawaii Literary Contest, please contact Atty. Golda Myra Roma or Mr. Frencel Louie Tingga at 561-8329 or 561-8321 locals 600 to 604 or browse through www.cfo.gov.ph and www.ncca.gov.ph.
Amidst rumors of coup, fashion TV model school conquers Cebu
While Manila seems to project the country as one that goes through a crisis in politics and economy, Fashion TV (FTV), the world's channel on the latest of fashion and style still sees the good side of the country as it launched the first reality-based school for aspiring models in this part of the Philippines.
FTV in cooperation with the Bigfoot Entertainment Incorporated and the International Academy of Film and Television launched the first reality-school in the country. The school aims not only to produce models that will have a greater chance of breaking into the international arena.
"In 7-20 years, we will try to build Cebu as the next fashion capital in the Philippines," said Jackie Aquino, one of the mentors of the said school and considered to be one of the top fashion directors in the country.
When asked why FTV chose Cebu, Rebecca Picket, an international model and producer replied, "FTV is very proud to be here in Cebu because we want to make the Philippines to be one of the up and coming fashion capitals, we also want to work with the local designers and the talents especially the young people here in Cebu who want to be international models. We believe we have a lot of talents here, this is my third time here and we want to have a lot more events here. We also have Bigfoot Entertainment here and the facilities and we believe this is beautiful island and has some great locations, a lot of good designers and great people and photographers."
Larry Mercado, school's general director, said that they aim to elevate the standards of the modeling in the country to make Filipino models get international exposure. Mercado also narrated that FTV founder and owner, Michel Adams, came to Cebu last week and expressed his excitement about the project. In his stay in the city, Adams joined other officials of the school in conducting a walk through of Ayala Center where most of the 10 reality sessions will be made. Kick-off session will be on March 25.
Among the mentors are a mixed of local and international fashion artists that include multi-talented ramp and commercial model Tweetie de Leon-Gonzales, coordinator for schools Lilo Aliño, fashion guru Jackie Aquino, ace photographer Eisen Alquiza, and art and stage director Daisy Baad.
Meanwhile, Philip Rodriguez, former president of Cebu Designers Guild, welcomed the FTV-Bigfoot-IAFT initiative of creating a school that will expose students to the demands of modeling abroad. The said Cebu-based top designer of the country also revealed that to his knowledge only three Cebuano models made it big in the international arena, namely, Verna Buckley, Vince Cañizares, and Margie Ramirez.
Should the school's program succeed here, FTV aims to use it as a benchmark in establishing other reality schools. The program covers personality development, hair and make up, etiquette, posing for the video and photo shoots, runway modeling, and the what and the who they need to know about the modeling internationally. It also hopes to help increase employment in the country by providing the needed world class skills and knowledge of those aspiring to conquer the runway not only here but also outside the Philippines. As these Filipinos model abroad, they will hopefully be promoters of goodwill who know how to maintaining grace under pressure.
LGU-Lazi bags 2005 best municipal police station
The local government unit of Lazi grabbed the national award as the "Best Municipal Police Station of the Year 2005." A plaque of merit was presented to Police Inspector Ronald Laggui, chief of police of Lazi-PNP during the awarding held recently at Camp Crame, Quezon City during 15th PNP anniversary.
The PNP Lazi station was chosen in view of its outstanding performance in police administration, particularly in the areas of crime prevention and control law enforcement and community relations. These contributed to the attainment of the overall mission and objectives of the PNP. Basing on the criteria for judgment, the Lazi PNP bested other nominees from the police stations of Trinidad, Benguet and Jolo, Sulu.
It may be recalled that the station had also won in the search for the "Best Municipal Police Station of the Year 2004" in the regional level.
Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Chester Gumalo said the outstanding achievement is a great honor for the constituents of Lazie. This will hopefully serve as a big boost to the local officials under the leadership of Mayor Orville Fua in their earnest efforts to get rid of all forms of criminality in the municipality.
SIRMAP spells out anew Siquijor's development
In an effort to help bring Siquijor into the mainstream of development, the Siquijor Integrated Resource Management (SIRMAP) has gathered this week all local government agencies to discuss and spell out programs for this year 2006.
The forum was aimed to consolidate recommendations and ideas that will make Siquijor an attractive area for development.
The major elements of SIRMAP include development strategies, public administration and local governance components. It is in this context that the project was created in order to efficiently mazimize the use of its resources by enhancing capacities of the local government unit (LGU) officials and representatives of the civil society as a basis for social and economic development. This is done through an integrated and intersectoral development approach.
Particularly focused on Siquijor province will be the initiation of projects or activities in local governance, economic and environ development and physical infrastructure orientation phase, SIRMAP is providing a support system to instigate socio-economic growth in Siquijor province through the funding assistance of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ).
Israel-Based group seen investing $300M In RP
Africa Israel investments Ltd., an Israel based conglomerate, will invest between $250 million and $300 million in the Philippines, particularly in real state, infrastructure, energy and water sectors.
Africa Israel Asia-Pacific vice president for development Jacob Ben Moshe said the amount would only be the company's initial investment here and it was keen on infusing more cash into various industries in the country later.
He said the conglomerate, which was 80-percent owned by diamond magnate Lev Leviev and 20 percent owned by the public via the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, was very "comfortable" in the Philippines. Its Philippine investment is its first in the Asia-Pacific region.
The conglomerate has forged a partnership with Filinvest Development Corp. through the acquisition of 40 percent of Cyberzone properties Inc., a Filipino subsidiary involved in information technology park development.
Ben-Moshe said Africa Israel also had other projects with Filinvest including the construction of residential buildings in Alabang.
The conglomerate also has a venture with the Century Properties Group of Jose Antonio, which involved construction of residential developments in Metro Manila, he said.
He said the group was also looking at teaming up with Metro-Pacific Corp. for a $200-million white oil pipeline project for Philippine National Oil Co.
The pipeline will run from Bataan to Pulilan in Bulacan, and will transport white oil, which is used by the textile, chemical and plastics manufacturing industries.
Ben- Moshe said the group was also interested in water projects and some of National power Corp.'s power generation assets.
Japanese lured to infrastructure
The Philippine government is inviting Japanese companies to invest in major infrastructure projects.
In a meeting with major Japanese firms like Marubeni Corp. during a recent "no-deal" road show in Tokyo, Trade Sec. Peter B. Favila said, he asked them to consider investing in infrastructure projects like road construction.
"I enjoined them to invest in major infrastructure projects like the construction of C-6, the North Luzon Expressway extension and the construction of a toll road linking Sto. Tomas (Batangas) to Quezon province," Mr. Favila said.
Circumferential road 6 or C6 is a 48-km. 4-lane, toll way that will link South Luzon Expressway in Alabang and the North Luzon Expressway via Taguig, Taytay, Antipolo, Marikina, San Mateo, Rodriguez and San Jose, del Monte.
PGMA visits "Go Negosyo" Summit Expo
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited recently the exposition of the first "Go Negosyo Entrepreneurship Summit which showcased the entrepreneurial skills of the Filipinos at the Market! Market! at the Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
Presidential Adviser on Jobs Generation Arthur Yap said the visit of the President to the expo site only shows her support on a "revolution of entrepreneurship".
The Chief Executive went around the more than 300 stalls showcasing the creativity and innovativeness of the Filipino entrepreneurs.
Recently, the President was the keynote speaker at the opening of the summit at the Plenary Hall of the Global City, where she hailed the Filipino entrepreneurs as "patriots" for their support in creating jobs and feeding families.
In her 10-point pro-poor agenda, the President has vowed to support entrepreneurship as one means to help her create 10 million jobs by 2010.
SOUNDBYTES:
Villar endorses gov't pay hike bill
Senator Manuel Villar, chairman of the Senate committee on finance sponsored a bill calling for the appropriation of P13.1 billion to finance the grant of the P1,000 a month extra allowance for government employees.
Napolcom promotes 294 licensed line officers
The National Police Commission recently signed three resolutions approving the appointment of 194 licensed criminologists to strengthen the Philippine National Police.
Gov't workers to get P1,000 allowance hike this month
The country's more than one million government employees will finally receive their much-awaited P1,000 additional monthly allowance starting this month, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. said.
Public schools to teach concept of IP rights
Starting next school year, all fourth year high school students will be taught the concept and value of intellectual property rights in all public schools in the country.
Expensive medicines distributed free to poor
The Muntinlupa City Health Office in cooperation with a leading pharmaceutical firm, held a medical mission as part of the activities lined up to mark the 11th year of its cityhood.
Tourist traffic up 22.1%
Tourist arrivals in January rose 22.1% from a year earlier to 268,818, the Department of Tourism said.
SSS releases P140-M loans
The Social Security System has released more than P140 million in social and business loans last year to fund 10 development projects as part of efforts to spur economic development in the country.
Price of LPG rolled back
The price of liquefied petroleum gas was rolled back by P0.50 per kilogram by the LPG Marketers Association; in view of the per barrel drop in international contract prices.
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