ISSUE NO. 40, October 5, 2006

NGO launches project to stop trafficking in persons

To prevent women and children in the province from falling victim to trafficking of persons, the St. Ma. Goretti Foundation will launch the Step-UP project or Stop Trafficking and Exploitation of People Through Unlimited Potentials.

The launching is set on October 8, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at the Holy Family Formation Center, Bacong Parish, Bacong, Oriental Negros.

According to Msgr. Merlin Logronio, president of St. Ma. Goretti Foundation, the Step-UP project aims to ultimately prepare children and women who are likely victims of trafficking for the job market by providing them with skills in Information Technology.

Through Step-UP, Community Technology Learning Centers will be put up, providing access to technology, skills training and open doors to employment opportunities for underserved communities, he said.

“It is hoped that though this project a number from the vulnerable sectors of our society especially children and women will be equipped for jobs and will be protected from being trafficked,” said Msgr. Logronio.

The project is offering eight modules in its curriculum, namely: computer fundamentals, digital media fundamentals, internet and world wide web fundamentals, web design fundamentals, word processing fundamentals, presentation fundamentals, database fundamentals and spreadsheet fundamentals.

Priority beneficiaries of the program are marginalized children and women especially child domestic workers, the kasambahays and other likely victims of trafficking, other working children who are adept and interested to avail of the program, parish secretaries, bookkeepers and parish workers.

Students will attend three to four weeks of classes for each curriculum. Upon completion, students will receive a certificate from Microsoft with competency endorsement.

St. Ma. Goretti Foundation Inc. has linked with Visayan Forum and Microsoft Philippines in undertaking the project.

Being a recipient of the project, the Foundation will implement the program here in partnership with the Diocese of Dumaguete, local government units and other partners in the community.

VFFI has cinched the support of the prestigious international organization Microsoft Inc. through its grant that provides IT software and curriculum in an effort to prevent trafficking in persons in the country.

Oriental Negros has been earlier identified as a trafficking “hotspot” or a major recruitment ground for victims of trafficking.

Vic Abadesco, Visayas Coordinator of the Visayan Forum said in a Kapihan forum held earlier this year, that the province is a ‘fertile recruitment ground’ for traffickers being the center of development, commerce and transportation.

In view of this, the Provincial Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) here stepped up its efforts to combat trafficking in persons by putting up task forces in different ports in the province.

The council felt the need to put up task forces in the ports as some incidents of trafficking are prevalent in these routes.

Meanwhile, with the members of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Cabinet in full attendance, the government made the most comprehensive presentation yet of the strategic infrastructure projects in the five super regions to leaders of the business community and the private sector during a "Government Infrastructure Forum" at the Dusit Hotel Nikko in Makati City.

The forum, hosted and participated in by several major business organizations, was aimed at establishing possible avenues of collaboration between the government and private sector to fast-track the implementation of development initiatives outlined by President Arroyo in her State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July.


‘Milenyo’ death toll nears 200 in Philippines

Typhoon Milenyo rang up a tragic toll of nearly 200 deaths as rescue workers reached remote areas where last week’s massive storm sparked flashfloods and landslides.

The civil defense office and other government agencies put the official death toll as of Wednesday at 197 with at least 22 others still listed as missing after Milenyo – the strongest storm to hit Manila in a decade – razed through the Philippine area of responsibility.

Milenyo displaced 1.33 million people and blacked out the country’s main island of Luzon.

The storm wrecked 146,000 houses and tens of thousands of hectares of farmland.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is personally monitoring government agencies and instrumentalities in ensuring that the problems caused by Milenyo are addressed with immediately and effectively.

The administration continues to respond to the demands of rehabilitation, reconstruction, relief and medical operations, provision of financial assistance to families of the victims and those deprived of their livelihood.

According to Provincial Meteorological Chief Edsin Culi, four to seven more tropical cyclones are estimated to enter the Philippine area of responsibility in the last quarter of this year.

“For October, around two more tropical cyclones are seen to occur,” said Culi.

Culi said a total of 14 tropical cyclones have passed through the country since January 2006.

Of the total, Milenyo caused the most damage in the country, he said.

Milenyo was the 13th typhoon to enter the country and was closely followed by tropical storm Neneng.

Public storm warning signal number 1 was raised over some provinces on Luzon’s eastern seaboard Tuesday as Typhoon Neneng (international codename ‘Bebinca’) maintained strength and continued moving in the general direction of Northern Luzon.

Neneng however has slightly weakened by 11:00 pm Wednesday as it continues to move farther away from the country.

Based on PAGASA’s weather bulletin, Neneng is expected to be at 1,210 kms. East northeast of Basco, Batanes or 740 kms southeast of Okinawa, Japan by Thursday evening.

The bulletin states that the disturbance will no longer affect any part of the country, however residents living in coastal and mountainous areas in Bicol Region and western sections of Visayas and Mindanao are alerted against flashfloods and landslides due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.

Culi urged people residing in low-lying areas in the province to move to higher ground to prevent disastrous results brought about by tropical cyclones.

Meanwhile, Pres. Arroyo has directed the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) to work closely with the Local Government Units (LGUs) in expanding appropriate disaster response drills and creating rescue teams in all the landslide and flashflood-prone barangays in the country.


Malacañang intent on dismantling ‘dangerous’ billboards

In view of the havoc left behind by typhoon Milenyo, Malacañang is intent on dismantling ‘dangerous’ billboards that pose clear hazards to life and property despite appeals and objections from billboard owners and advertisers.

Malacañang issued yesterday Administrative Order 160 directing the DPWH to inspect all billboards in Metro Manila to determine if they are a public hazard or illegally constructed

Local DPWH District Engineer Rodrigo Catapusan said that should his office receive the same order, his office will right away check on billboards erected in the province.

“Once we have the order, we will inspect the local billboards and see it it’s hazardous and if it is, we will then dismantle it,” said Catapusan.

The City Engineer’s Office is currently reviewing and inspecting the building permits of all commercial and industrial building in the city, including permits for billboards.

This is part of a regular yearly inspection of permits conducted by CEO, said Engr. Rainier Enario

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to dismantle hazardous billboards.

The President has also instructed DPWH and NDCC to coordinate with local government units in identifying safe places for setting up billboard.

The killer typhoon Milenyo have toppled around 40 giant billboards in Luzon last week killing at least one person, damaging property, causing a massive power outage and traffic jams along major highways.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said billboard owners and advertisers should have a sense of responsibility and ensure the structures are safe.

Pres. Arroyo wants hazardous billboards off the streets as the government has started dismantling those found in gross violation of public safety.

The President is expected to issue an executive order detailing the rules and regulations for putting up the structures.


PPAO strengthens volunteerism in Siquijor

The Parole and Probation Administration Office here is once again strengthening the Volunteer Probation Aid (VPA) Program in the province.

Rene Remollo, VPA Coordinator of the Negros Oriental-Siquijor Cluster during a conference-dialogue underscores the need for more VPAs to play active role in crime prevention and rehabilitation program through the spirit of volunteerism.

“This has been sort of being neglected in the past but we are here to revive the program with the end view of seeing a more peaceful, crime-free community in the future”, Remollo said.

Remollo who refers the work as “ministry” said these volunteers are those who will serve as guidance counselors to those who have once gone astray from the right path of life – which are the probationers, parolees or pardonees”.

He noted the government’s pressing need of more VPAS with the 800,000 parolees and probationers all over the Philippines against only 2,000 parole and probation officers”.

Believing Siquijor is an area offering the greater potential for the country’s peace because of its lowest criminality rate, Remollo is optimistic that the province is not far from becoming s a field training laboratory in the Philippines, which will be a model for adoption by other places of the country.

“We need you, however, to achieve this”, he said to the attending VPAs that include church ministers, and other government/private employees in Siquijor.

“The truth is that many people are so into their lavishly comfortable lives and consider self-fulfillment in a very literal sense – filling up the self with a lot of things, ideas, words or actions. Self-fulfillment is more than just sticking up things in one’s life. But there are those who prove their own experiences that having more does not make one more fulfilled; that possessions only provide temporary happiness” he said.

“We are changing lives here, he added saying that a paradoxical but more truthful understanding of self-fulfillment is seen through someone who selflessly empties himself of his own desires and pleasures and pours out his whole being for the lives of others “.

A basic training seminar for the new recruits of VPAs is scheduled on the second week of November.


DOST-SEI announces 2007 scholarships programs

The Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) shall award scholarships in baccalaureate degree programs to those who wish to pursue fields of study in any of the following priority areas: Basic sciences, engineering and other applied sciences and science teaching.

Scholarship programs offered are 1) R.A. 7687 science and technology scholarship - for applicants who belong to families with low socio-economic status, and 2) DOST-SEI merit scholarship – for applicants regardless of their family’s socio-economic status and shall pay a non-refundable test fee of P200.00.

The criteria for eligibility interested applicants are – must be a members of the top five percent (5%) of the regular high school graduating class, or a members of the graduating class of DOST-SEI identified/DEPED recognized science high school, must be of good moral character and in good health, a natural born Filipino citizen, a resident of the municipality for the last four years, and a qualifier for the 2007 S & T scholarship examination.

The scholarship privileges are: tuition and other school fees, monthly living allowance, book allowance, one economy roundtrip transportation allowance, outright grant for military science/physical education uniform, and group health and accident insurance.

The applicant must enroll in any of the CHED centers of excellence/centers of development schools, DOST-SEI identified institutions and State Universities and Colleges.

Application forms are now available at DOST-Siquijor Provincial Science and Technology Center, Siquijor, Siquijor.

Deadline for submission of application forms is on November 10, 2006. The examination date will be on December 3, 2006 at Siquijor State College, Larena, Siquijor.


Lumber shipper rounded up for misdeclaration of shipment

In line with its efforts to curb illegal logging/cutting of trees in the province, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) here in a joint operation with the DENR Task Force apprehended recently a certain Lani Abong Macalisang of Cang-agong, Siquijor Siquijor for misdeclaration/misrepresentation of lumber shipment.

Paul V. Tomogsoc of the DENR here said, the lumbers supposedly ready for loading via on board Don Martin 8 bound for Cebu City covered a volume of 8, 214.19 bd, ft. or 19.37 cu. m. with a total value of P294, 127.30.

According to Tomogsoc, said shipment was issued by the DENR with a Self Monitoring Form or Transport Permit covering a volume of 4, 623.6 bd. Ft. or 10.9 cu. m. , but when carefully verified and inspected, exceeded about one hundred percent, thereby causing for the outright confiscation for misdeclaration/misrepresentation.

He said the lumbers need to have a Special Private Land Timber of which only the DENR Secretary is authorized to issue/grant such.

Confiscated forest products were teak and molave lumbers, now in custody of the office while further investigation on the matter and possible filing of Criminal Complaint against the accused or culprit are meanwhile pending.

Tomogsoc said their office is continuously strengthening efforts on their campaign to crack down on illegal loggers and lawless criminals. In a related development, Task Force Guimaras continues to assess and review the measures being undertaken to contain the oil slick off Guimaras island. The Government will ensure that measures undertaken are both environment-friendly and economically sustainable, Malacanang said.

It said that the Administration is confident that the task force would be able to discern its options well and work closely with the private sector in the technical aspects of containment and rehabilitation.

"In time, devastation will be transformed to renewed prosperity, as the Government commits to the restoration of the beauty and productivity of Guimaras to its rightful potential." Malacanang officials said.


Local PNP conducts lectures on basic law and order to schools

The Larena Police is presently conducting lectures on basic principles of law and order to some elementary and high schools within their area of responsibility (AOR).

Police Inspector Enrique Belcina, Chief of Police, said, the program aims to mold students to become law-abiding citizens of this country. Its objectives are to teach students to respect authority and give them an idea of their fundamental rights, duties and obligations under the law.

Belcina further said that the program is in reference of the Sangguniang Bayan Resolution Number 46 of the municipality of Larena requesting the agency to conduct lectures to elementary pupils and secondary students of the elementary and high schools (public and private).

Subjects to be discussed are: Fundamental Rights of the Child, Basic Principles of Law and Order, and Basic Tips During Emergencies and Crisis.

Meanwhile, the government continues to pursue all means to keep the prospects of peace up, on the back of principled negotiations and affirmative action to resolve conflict.

The government negotiating panel is quietly working on a position that will hopefully break the impasse and move the talks forward.