ISSUE NO. 19, MAY 11, 2006

NegOr to develop Watershed
To give Negrenses full capability to protect and rehabilitate the province’s water resources, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and GtZ (Duetsche Geselleschaft fur Technishe Zusammenarbeit) is holding a training workshop on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) at Bethel Guesthouse.

IWRM promotes the coordinated development and management of water with the involvement of all the sectors of society in maximizing water equitably while sustaining the ecosystem.

According to Bernardo Agawin, GtZ Local Technical Expert, the big difference of IWRM from traditional water projects is that it takes into consideration all sectors of society thus the project can be carried-out efficiently.

IWRM program has been proven effective since its implementation in Laguna De Bay, which was rehabilitated completely.

With this, the provincial government here is hoping this will likewise be a success in the province with the cooperation of the citizens.

Oriental Negros has two developed watersheds where the project can be implemented to its full potential.

On the other hand, Vice Governor Jose Baldado lauded the project, which he says puts the province at a big advantage.

President Arroyo has allocated 500 million each year for water projects.

The main purpose of this allocation are to: provide potable water for the entire country by 2015, clean water resources for the entire country, reverse loss of environmental by 2015 and by 2015 water can be accessed by everyone.

Education and motivation campaigns at all levels of the community will be made by the Provincial Water and Sanitation Development Council (PWSDC) to promote IWRM. (PIA/Mamigo)

GSP troop in NegOr to receive achievement award
One of the senior troops of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) Negros Oriental-Siquijor Council has been chosen as one of the awardees of the Pilar Hidalgo Lim Troop Achievement Award.

Senior Troop No. 1193 of Valencia National High School headed by Troop Leader Miss Flordeliza I. Banquerigo has been cited due to their award-winning banana livelihood project focusing on banana “lakatan” production.

According to Rosario B. Rosales, GSP Council Executive here, only two troops in the Visayas Region has been chosen as recipients of the coveted award following the final evaluation and screening conducted by the Executive Committee.

Iloilo GSP Council’s Senior Troop No. 156 was also awarded for its livelihood project on medicinal plants and vegetable gardening.

Rosales said the awards ceremony is scheduled on May 24, 2006 at the GSP National Headquarters in Manila.

PGMA training for work scholarship now open in Dgte
Job seekers in the province who have fallen short of the requirements set by business process outsourcing companies and other critical industries are now encouraged to apply for the PGMA Training for Work Scholarship program.

Qualified to avail of the program are the “near hires” or job seekers who were not able to fully meet the skills requirements of the BPO sector and other industries experiencing skills shortage, says Engr. Samuel Jordan of the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) here.

The call center company Teletech, which now employs more than 100 call center agents in Dumaguete City, is the identified BPO partner here.

Call center applicants who wish to avail of the scholarship program will be endorsed to Teletech which will determine if the applicant is qualified as a “near hire” and thus avail of the scholarship.

Qualified job seekers will then be given a scholarship certificate and endorsed to a TESDA-registered training institution where they will undergo a finishing course for free.

The scholarship certificates are valued at P5,000 each for call center and medical/legal transcription and P10,000 each for software development and animation.

The scholarship program is available to job applicants who wish to work in the following industries: business process outsourcing, aviation, agriculture, medical tourism, health and medical services, hotel and restaurant, metals and services.

The BPO industry covers call center, medical and legal transcription, animation and software development.

The said industries have been identified as priority sectors/subsectors experiencing a critical shortage of skills after the National Manpower Summit revealed that structural unemployment exists in the Philippines where available jobs could not be filled-up by existing manpower.

This prompted President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to initiate the scholarship program that aims to assist 100,000 target beneficiaries nationwide land jobs in the said sectors.

“Scholarship beneficiaries are 100% assured of employment upon completion of the finishing courses as long as they achieve a rating level of 3.5 to 4,” says Beth Tubog, TESDA administrative officer here.

So far, TESDA is eyeing Teletech as the training provider for call center applicants and ACSAT for medical/legal transcriptionist although the latter’s registration with TESDA is still under negotiation.

Other education and training institutions here are welcome to apply as one of the training providers under the program, adds Jordan.

Tubog encourages interested applicants are encouraged to visit TESDA or Teletech for more details.

Online registration is also possible thru the TESDA website www.tesda.gov.ph or PHIL-Jobnet www.phil-job.net.

Dumaguete City has earlier been chosen as one of the eleven areas nationwide due to its reputation as a University Town and hotspot for BPO companies, explains Jordan.

Some P500 million from the government’s pump priming fund has been allocated to finance the
scholarship program.

NIA poised to repair 15 irrigation projects in NegOr
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) here is eyeing to repair some 15 communal irrigation systems (CIS) in the provinces of Negros Oriental and Siquijor as part of the P1 billion allocation for repair and rehabilitation of irrigation projects nationwide.

The local NIA is proposing the repair and rehabilitation of CIS covering a total of 282 hectares in the following areas in Negros Oriental, namely: Sta. Catalina, Mabinay, Siaton, Zamboanguita, Tanjay City, Amlan and Bayawan City, while identified for repair in Siquijor province is Datag CIS covering 17 hectares in Larena town.

Records from NIA Provincial Irrigation Officer Engr. Dexter Patrocinio show that the proposed restoration works include the repair and improvement of canal and intake structures, diversion works/protection dikes and construction of mini intake.

Total cost of the proposed rehabilitation projects is pegged at P20,000.

According to Engr. Helen Lactao of NIA here, the restoration works on the proposed CIS are expected to start next month as they are still waiting for the funds to arrive.

NIA has initially released in a record of one week some P499 million project funds to 115 field irrigation offices nationwide to fast track restoration works.

The amount is part of the P2 billion earmarked for CY 2006.

NIA’s version of Pump Priming Project is in line with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s goal of attaining rice self-sufficiency by 2009 as well as generating 151,600 jobs mostly in terms of contract works with Irrigators Associations.

The project hopes to restore the productiveness of some 12,475 hectares of presently unserved agricultural lands benefiting about 21, 500 farmers across the country.

With the completion of the rehabilitation works of national and communal irrigation systems, efficient delivery and distribution of irrigation water is expected, thus contributing to the high possibility of increased production in these areas.

Bayawan hosts the 16th Family Farm Congress
The Provincial Agricultural Office here and the city government of Bayawan is hosting the 16th Family Farm Congress to honor the farmfolks’ contribution to the agricultural productivity of Region 7 from May 10 to 12, 2006.

Registered members of rural-based organizations which includes farmers, fishermen, rural improvement clubs (4H) from Dumaguete, Bayawan and Toledo City are expected to be recognized during the event.

The theme of this year’s congress is “Strengthening Private/Public Partnership for Agri-Tourism Through Rural-Based Organizations.”

In line with this, AGRI-KALIKASAN was launched on the first day of the congress that was graced by DA Regional Executive Director Eduardo Lecciones.

Various activities have been slated to showcase the talents and skills of the participants, namely: project demo contest, poster-making, extemporaneous speech, quiz bee, balak, natural farming and organic contest, net-making and net-mending contest, handicraft skills, dance and minus-one singing contests.

A Farmer King and RIC Queen and Mr. and Miss 4H 2006 will also be chosen to put more color to the occasion.

Culmination and awarding of prizes will highlight the last night of the activity to be followed by a candle-lighting ceremony and ballroom and disco fantasy. (PIA/CMamigo)

Bishops shun anti-Cha-Cha moves
The head of the Nueva Vizcaya Roman Catholic diocese has reiterated that Catholic bishops will not pursue political activities against constitutional reforms because they are not against Charter Change per se.

Bishop Ramon B. Villena of the diocese of Bayombong echoed the call made by CBCP vice president Archbishop Antonio Ledesma that it is lay Christians, not the clergy, who should be at the forefront of good political activities.

"They must first discern what is moral in every situation, then move to do concrete action," Villena explained the bishops' expectations of lay participation in political affairs, like advocating or opposing changes in the 1987 Constitution.

The CBCP has rejected calls from Charter Change opponents to lead street demonstrations even as it encouraged the Catholic faithful to get involved.

Ledesma attended the Stop Cha-Cha launching last week at the Club Filipino in San Juan, Metro Manila. He, however, rejected a proposal for the Church to lead in the protests, saying that the Church could not be involved in a purely political exercise.

Villena said the process of Charter Change should be undertaken with "widespread participation, total transparency and relative serenity that allows for national discussion and debate."

The Charter Change Advocacy Commissioned welcomed the statement as it continued to call for sedate debates on the need for constitutional reforms, instead of insults and name-calling.

"We are hopeful that the intensifying efforts of both Cha-Cha advocates and opponents to bring their views across the nation will help our people make their decisions according to the dictates of their formed and informed consciences," Villena said.

He added that equally crucial for a truly democratic resolution to the issue are long-overdue electoral reforms, including the appointment to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) persons of integrity and competence.

In its pastoral statement last month, the CBCP clarified that it is not against Charter change per se but only the seemingly hasty manner. Thus, it called for a thorough information, discussion and education.

Siquijor braces for natural disaster
Natural calamities occurring unexpectedly worldwide is somewhat perpetual, leaving countless lives and damaging properties worth billions in monetary values.

Siquijor may not be a disaster-prone area but calamities just come unexpectedly. To prepare itself for any disaster, the provincial government of Siquijor through the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council is holding a seminar-workshop on Disaster Management and Contingency Planning from May 8 to 10, 2006 at the SP Session Hall, Provincial Capitol, Pulangyuta, Siquijor, Siquijor.

This is conducted by the officers of the Office of Civil Defense Regional Office 7 headed by its Regional Director Angel Gaviola.

Modules 1 to 4 will be tackled on the first day, which covers the topics on Philippine Disaster Management, Effective Governance and Disaster Management and PDCC Team Action Planning. During this phase, participative discussion on the contingency planning will also be conducted.

The workshop will include formulation workshops, funding disaster management/projects and sectoral planning, group discussions on coordination, activation, endorsement and presentation of contingency plans.