Sta. Catalina hosts Halad
sa Katawhan on Mar 12
National and local government agencies will converge in Sta. Catalina town on March 12 (Thursday) for the 22nd Halad sa Katawhan ni PGMA as part of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ‘s program of bringing government services closer to the people.
At least 30 national agencies are expected to join and provide free services such as medical dental mission, passport processing, distribution of kits for livelihood, seedlings and other agricultural services, etc.
Some of the sought-after agencies that regularly join the Halad include the Department of Foreign Affairs, National Statistics Office, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Coconut Authority, among others.
In a coordination meeting held in February, Presidential Assistant for Central Visayas Felix Guanzon has requested the municipal health offices here to do a pre-listing of patients in their respective areas to identify what medicines need to be purchased.
The Halad was created in May 2002 by the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Central Visayas headed by PA Guanzon with at least ten national agencies with the first Halad conducted in Brgy. Tinago, Cebu City
Seeing the positive results, Guanzon and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) decided to continue the program which now has around 30 participating agencies. (PIA)
/////////////////////
DPWH seeks workers
By: Rachelle M. Nessia
March 4, 2009
The Department of Public Works and Highways in Region 7 is opening its doors to the unemployed as it will hold a series of jobs fairs in Central Visayas provinces in March.
Applicants who are foremen, heavy equipment operators, steelmen, piyon, kaminero, masons o latero or other class of construction workers are qualified to register at the DPWH jobs fairs at the following venues and dates:
Negros Negros 2nd District Engineering Office March 9, 2009
Bohol Bohol 1st District Engineering Office March 17, 2009
New Capitol Site, Tagbilaran City
Siquijor Siquijor District Engineering Office March 19, 2009
Larena, Siquijor
According to Josefino N. Rigor, DPWH-7 Regional Director, applicants who will be registered will be included in the DPWH workers database for possible employment with the department’s contractors implementing the DPWH 2009 infrastructure program in Region 7.
The jobs fairs are held in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment in Region 7 and local contractors.
DPWH continues to call for applicants because the recent job fair in its offices netted only 2,000.
The department is in need of engineers, carpenters and plumbers who are on the lookout for temporary jobs for the 1,260 projects nationwide.
Police stations and military camps are likewise looking for warm bodies.
The Philippine National Police recruitment is part of the executive directive to recruit 15,000 police officers in five years which started in 2006.
These new bloods, totaling 7,000 will replace the retiring, dead an dismissed police officers in the last semester of 2008 and for the first semester of 2009.
On the other hand, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque is pushing for jobs interviews via the Internet as this will reduce the cost of job hunting for the unemployed.
Roque said Internet facilities, which can be set up in DOLE regional offices, will bridge the distance between applicants and their prospective employers who are based abroad.
TESDA reported Filipinos are preferred workers in Canada , Australia and in the Middle East in sectors of health care and construction. (Rachelle Nessia/PIA)
////////////////
PGMA's Super Regions project
By Rachelle M. Nessia
March 5, 2009
Local tourism industry in Negros Oriental is seen to get a boost from the infrastructure improvements undertaken at the Dumaguete Airport
Almost all rehabilitation and construction work under said project are already completed except for the rehabilitation of airfield lightings of which phase II costing more than P21M is still ongoing.
Target completion date is on May 15, 2008, according to the private construction company working on said project.
Local Air Transportation Office Manager Veronica Chuang said that phase I of the airfield lighting rehabilitation, worth more than P75M, was completed on Dec. 30, 2008.
The construction of access road and installation of a perimeter fence of the P299.63-million Dumaguete Airport
The airport's runway, by December 2008, was widened from 36 to 45 meters while phase I and II of the runway asphalt overlay has already been completed last year together with the rehabilitation of the runway lights and installation of taxiway lights.
Phase I of the the airport's departure building has also been completed.
Primary lines from the old electric posts inside the airport were likewise relocated to make way for said improvements.
The President earlier announced that the Central Philippines Super Regions Project will pour funds to upgrade the local airport to attract electronics and semi-conductor companies to locate in Valencia
Since the town of Valencia
The Central Philippines Super Region, composed of the entire Bicol Region, Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas, the provinces of Romblon, Palawan, and Camiguin, and the island of Siargao
The Super Region's tourism potentials were enhanced by increasing infrastructure investments that will make inter- and intra-regional travel faster and more comfortable.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has stressed that even in the midst of the global economic crisis, the tourism industry remains a key sector in generating jobs and various opportunities across the nation.
“Tourism is one of the sectors we have to strengthen as our response to
the global meltdown. We have done it today. We should continue to push it
to provide jobs and vast opportunities to our people,” she said. (Rachelle Nessia/PIA)
////////////////////////////////
Random drug test for NegOr high
schools start in June 2009
By: Jennifer C. Tilos
March 5, 2009
The Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division in Negros Oriental will conduct its random drug testing in the 133 private and public high schools in the province starting this June 2009.
According to Ma Joy Catacutan, Coordinator of the National Drug Education Program (NDEP) in the province that some 10 students per school will be randomly selected for drug testing.
While some parents argue that random drug testing in schools bears certain ethical issue such as the child rights to privacy during the Federation of Parents-Teachers-Community Association (PTCA) meeting this week, Catacutan assured the parents that the results of the test will be strictly confidential and no school would publish or post results whether positive or negative.
The purpose for this is not to expose and punish students for drug use but to deter use and intervene early wit h those who have just begun to use and to provide counseling or professional help to those who become dependent, Catacutan said.
According to the DepEd order, “drug test results shall be treated with utmost confidentiality and shall not be used in any criminal proceedings” against those found positive for drug use.
All parents concerned will be informed through a notification letter on the conduct of random drug testing for students from a school principal. It is noted that the cost of the drug test is free of charged.
For Negros Oriental, the schools division official said that the test will run for seven days for 10 teams (4 persons each team) from Manila
Under RA 9165 states that students refuse to undergo random drug test will be dealt with in accordance with the rules and regulations of the school as provided for in Student Handbook so with the school is liable if refuse to implement.
As President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gathered all government drug enforcement agencies to review and institutionalize the components and details that form the enforcement pillar in the campaign for a drug-free Philippines
The conference on “Effective Prosecution of Drug Cases” held this morning at Malacanang’s Heroes Hall was attended by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Department of Justice (DOJ), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the military and police.
“The events of the past couple of months have highlighted the need for offices in the law enforcement pillar against illegal drugs to share vision and harmonize their operations so that the syndicates and peddlers of illegal drugs are brought to justice and penalized in accordance with law and the procedures of the law,” Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Chairman Vicente Sotto III said.
/////////////////////////
Disaster needs assess to mitigate
extensive damage - PDCC
by: Jennifer C. Tilos
March 5, 2009
The lack of functional disaster operation center created confusion among members of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) when a considerable worst flashfloods hit Negros Oriental on February 7, this year.
This was raised during the Provincial Disaster Risk Management Planning-Workshop held last week by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
Engr. Dexter Patrocinio of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) express dismayed that during the calamity there has no coordination among agencies concerned but was ‘to each his own.’ “The province needs to have a disaster operation center where members of the PDCC converge for coordination and do the reporting in times of calamities,” Patrocinio cited.
The OCD Region7 has facilitated the PDCC here in assessing its capabilities, knowledge and skills again to establish a clear line of defense against any disasters.
According to Minda Morante, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), there are problems as regards the process of acquiring aid for disaster areas. “This planning-workshop should establish a clear line of defense against disasters and disaster councils in the provincial and municipal level should be functional and operational when it comes to disaster response,” she said.
Based on early warning, PDCC is expected to prepare a comprehensive disaster management plan to react promptly in saving lives and prevent or minimize damage to properties and agriculture, the OCD official cited.
However, during the workshop the local council has observed that there is a need to review and strengthen its organizational structure to identify each government agencies’ delineation for prompt coordination and to effectively prioritize activities on disaster management.
It was also noted that there is a need for the Provincial Governor to issue an executive order on standing agreement for standard operation procedures (SASOP) so that the PDCC would effectively functional and operational on its respective task units during calamities.
As the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) called on schools and local government units (LGUs) to hold exercises to prepare for disasters
Schools and local governments should prepare for disasters by holding exercises such as earthquake drills.
Defense Secretary and National Disaster Coordinating Council Chair Gilbert Teodoro said earthquakes drills in schools are necessary because of the large concentration of people. “The potential for injuries is great,” he said.
Teodoro, along with Office of Civil Defense Administrator Glenn Rabonza, Director Renato Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and representatives from the Quezon City Government and Department of Education, led the kick off ceremony of the simultaneous earthquake drill in San Francisco National High School in Bago Bantay, Quezon City
Six schools here in Dumaguete City
Hundreds of students, teachers and school personnel performed the duck, cover and hold procedures during the drill.
Duck and cover means shielding body from debris and other falling objects or structures; hold simply refers to holding on to the available cover or shield until the shaking is over.
The earthquake is represented by sound of sirens; once the siren stops, it means the shaking is over and people will move on to safer grounds such as quadrangles or any open space that are free from falling structures.
The Philippines
The last destructive earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.7, occurred in July 16, 1990 that killed more than 2,000 in Northern and Central Luzon . (Jennifer Tilos/PIA)
//////////////////////////
Four applicants qualify for PSHS scholars
By Rizalie a. Calibo
At least four applicants from this province qualifies in the PSHS search for scholars for 2009. This was revealed recently by Provincial Driector Mario E. de la Pena of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) here.
He said that out of 108 applicants who took the entrance examination last November 15, 2008 at Siquijor Sate College Lazi Central School , Chenee Clea E. Gumalo of Enrique Villanueva Central School and Axl A. Sister of Larena Central Elementary School Cebu , tel. no. (032) 367742 or (032) 5161543.
PSHS scholars will get a monthly stipend in addition to free tuition fee and free loan of textbooks. Uniform, transportation and living allowances are also given according to financial need. Scholars are expected to meet the highest standard of scholastic achievement and behavior.
DOST Secretary and Chair of the Philippine Science High School System Board of Trustees Estrella F. Allabastro announces the successful qualifiers to the PSHS Search for Scholars for 2009 recently.
She said that out of 21,303 applicants nationwide, 1,119 successfully hurdled the one-step screening administered on November 15, 2008.
The PSHS system has 11 campuses all over the country.
Qualifiers have to immediately contact the REgistrar or the campus director of the PSHS campus where they qualified, or visit the following websites: www.pshs.edu.ph or www.dost.gov.ph for more information on early enrolment.
For principal qualifiers of region 3 and CAR, contact the PSHS System Admission Office for the schedule and venue for distribtuion of enrolment forms. Last day for pre-enrolment of principal qualifiers is on March 31, 2009. Specific schedule of other enrolment activities shall be announced by the respective campuses.
Another eye surgical mission comes to Siquijor
By Rizalie A. Calibo
There will be an eye surgical mission on March 12-13 at the Siquijor Provincial Hospital
This was announced by Dr. Redempta A. Cortes, head of the Integrated Provincial Health Office here in her letter to the municipal mayors and municipal health offices in the province.
Eye specialists from Cebu and other parts of Region 7 will conduct this Surgical Mission
NSO holds refresher training for MCRs, clerks
By Rizalyn T. Gaviola
In line with the celebration of the Civil Registration Month in February each year, the National Statistics Office (NSO) Siquijor Provincial Office conducted a one-day Refreshers Training on Civil Registration and Briefing on the Use of the Civil Registration Information System (CRIS). The training was held at the SB Session Hall of the municipality of Siquijor
The training reorients Municipal Civil Registrars (MCRs) on the implementation of RA 9-048 or the Clerical Error Law and RA 9255 or the Act Authorizing Illegitimate Children to Use the Surname of their Father as well as the procedures on late and out of town registration and the registration of court orders and legal instruments (CDLI). It was participated by the MCRs of the six towns of the province with their clerks.
The attending civil registration officers were briefed again on the use of the Civil Registration Information System . CRIS is a database computer information system which was designed for the use of local civil registry (LCROs) in the storage, retrieval and reporting of information of civil registry documents. It was aimed at computerizing the services of LCROs nationwide.
In Siquijor province, only the towns of Siquijor, San Juan
NSO Siquijor Provincial Statistics Officer Ronie C. Taghap conducted and facilitated the training. Director Matilde L. Alejandro, the new REgional Director of NSO Region VII also graced the activity to provide additional input for MCRs.
Meanwhile, the local association of MCRs in the province has recently elected its new set of officers. Elected as the new president is MCR Nandy Pescante of the town of Siquijor San Juan
This year's Civil Registration Month celebration focuses on the theme "Civil Registration: Key to Global Opportunities" to higlight the importance of civil registry documents in the global community. (RTSGaviola/IO-NSO)
/////////////
Super region projects boost tourism in Siquijor
By Rizalie Calibo
Super regions projects in Siquijor province helped boost the island’s tourism industry.
Provincial Governor Orlando A. Fua Jr. said in one of his speeches that with the ports development in Siquijor a dramatic increase of tourist arrivals to the province in the past years has been noted.
“In 2006, we had 20,421 walk in tourists coming to Siquijor. In 2007, we had 74, 192 or a 363 per cent increase. For the past six months between January to June of this year (2008), we had 37,918 tourists coming over. Very easily our projections for this year will surpass the number of arrivals in the past year. These figures exclude the arrivals by boat that dock in the municipality of Larena, or the diving safaris that are packaged by tour operators in the region who make are trooping to the various diving spots of our seas", Fua once cited in his state of the Province last year.
Fua also stressed that ports development helps perk up economic activity of the island and is seen to open up windows for investment opportunities.
He attributed this development to the super region projects, particularly the ports development that with its complete facilities, are now ready to cater more tourists and investors.
Siquijor was a recipient of a P65 million package from the Philippine Ports Authority to rehabilitate the Siquijor port as part of the super region projects spelled out by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in her State of the Nation Address (SONA). The project had already been completed in 2007.
Siquijor town, as Mayor Richard Quezon reported in his State of the Town Address (SOTA), also successfully completed last year the partial construction of their Baywalk funded by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) in the amount of 5 million pesos and allocated P3,300,000 for the construction of the permanent bleacher in Siquijor port.
The mayor said the completion of these projects would augur well for the economy of the local communities in their municipality. With tourism as its highest potential, Quezon said the project would serve as a good foundation for a better and more revitalized tourism and travel program.
The Arroyo administration’s Medium Term Development Plan (2004-2010) stated that the tourism sector’s primary importance in poverty alleviation lies in its potential to generate millions of jobs for various groups of people.
/////////////////////////
/////////////////////////
Siquijor all set for One Visayas Expo
By Rizalie A. Calibo
The province of Siqujor is all set for the One Visayas exhibit in Cebu come March 1 to 8, 2009 at the Cebu International Convention Center
This was bared by no less than the provincial governor himself, Governor Orlando A. Fua Jr. who has been inviting offices to witness the first-ever tourism expo in Cebu and for those who cannot come to Cebu, at least witness the rehearsal of the Solili dance at the Provincial Capitol.
Guv. Fua will lead Siquijor delegation cocmposed of key provincial officials, tourism officers, artists and craftsmen, furniture makers, food entrepreneurs and some operators of tourism establishments.
The exposition will bring together the Visayas provinces in a week-long series of exhibits and exhibitions dubbed ONE VISAYAS, an event that hopes to foster ties that binds the three regions (6, 7 & 8).
Meanwhile, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called on the private sector to help the government insulate the Philippines
In her address before the gathering of top local and international investors during the “Philippine Economic Briefing” at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City, the President said that the economic and fiscal reforms instituted by her administration have shielded the country from the wave of challenges since last year, such as the huge spike in food, fuel and rice prices, and now, global financial crisis.
Because of these reforms, the President said the Philippines
With the country’s sound fiscal management and prudent monetary policies, the President said she remains hopeful that the continued partnership with the private sector and the resiliency of the Filipino people would help insulate the country from the continuing global financial crisis.
///////////////////////////////////////////
KBP project: A show window of government’s sincerity, says Sta. Catalina Mayor
By Rizalie A. Calibo
Most of us can wash our clothes, boil vegetables, clean ourselves or have a drink of fresh water just by turning on a tap…but many people across the country are not so fortunate.
Local folks of barangay Talalac of Sta. Catalina town in Negros Oriental are just few of them. A small village with more than 2,000 inhabitants, barangay Talalac has no direct access to water. Water had to be drawn from a nearby stream that was not reliable enough for drinking which can even cause the outbreak of diseases.
Poor people, poor road
The state of development of the barangay was in fact appalling – inadequate health and education services, sterile economic activities, long and treacherous roads, rendered worse by the village’s insurgency problem.
“These barangays (Talalac and the other town’s four rebel-infested barangays) was the center of the left movement before. Rebels were as near as a kilometer from the town proper,” says Sta. Catalina Mayor Ruben Melodia in an interview with the PIA here. “They have established factions but when the CAFGU’s were adopted, they were driven out slowly… but remnants of them remain,” he added.
Road to rehabilitation
Many of us may have asked what the government is doing to resolve the problems. Efforts have been made in the past but impacts must not be that real to be felt by many. A concrete step was needed -- an example which could give people hope.
Wanting to give that hope and sow progress to the community, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo brings the Kalayaan Barangay’s Project (KBP) right to Brgy. Talalac to reaffirm her administration’s strong commitment and resolve to put an end to social unrest.
The farthest and yet with biggest allocation of all four barangays in Sta. Catalina, Talalac is a recipient of a P3-M farm to market road project and another P979,200 for the construction of water system, totaling some P3,979,200, a good start enough to let people feel that the government is really doing something for them.
“I believe these projects will have a big impact, “ the Mayor said adding that the project is a show window of the government’s sincerity in recognizing the people up there in the mountains. “We hope these people will also adopt the system that the government is doing and will cooperate,” he said.
“If there is no peace, there will be no progress at all,” he stressed.
The projects, he said, will pave the way for the municipal government to easily reach those in the hinterlands. “It is easier for us to reach them if we bring projects,” he said.
Other recipients are barangays San Jose
“We are very happy and thankful to the President we became recipients of these projects,” Talalac Brgy. Captain Glicerio T. Bigay said. “Naa na gyud ta’y ikapakita nga sincero gyud ang gobyerno sa pagtabang kanamo.” (We have something to show that the government is really sincere in helping us), he said.
“Once the project is finished, life will become easier for our people,” he said referring to the more than 800 households who will turn to benefit from the water system and the easy transport of the folks’ produce with the farm to market road to be constructed from Sitio Tamlang to Avocado of his barangay.
“Mahayahay na unya ang mag-uuma,” (Our farmers will soon have smoother lives) he mused.
Rightly so for indeed, it is the overarching goal of the KBP project: to ease what would be an otherwise dramatic situation of poverty.
///////////////////
PGMA asks government agencies,
private sectors to preserve jobs, industries
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo urged government and private labor sectors to work together to preserve employment and aid industries to survive the global recession.
During the Jobs Forum on Overseas Employment at the Malacanang, the President said both sectors must join hands to prevent global crisis become a Philippine Crisis.
She also underscored the role of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in job matching by helping displaced workers learn new trades and skills that land them with new jobs or gain alternate livelihood.
The President also took note of the 500,000 jobs abroad as reported by the Department of Labor and Employment.
Meanwhile, the Board of Investments is looking into incentives for distressed companies in selected industries in exchange for keeping laborers in payroll or avoiding reduced working hours.
All they have to do is to prove that they are losing money because of bad market conditions.
That is the gist of the first classification of the new section in the drafted 2009 Investment Priority Plan that will be submitted to the President.
Industries that could be eligible in the proposed tax incentive would include Business Process Outsourcing, logistics and tourism.
The rest of the classifications are as follows: (1) those that will retain investment and increase jobs; (2) those that will increase investments and retain jobs; and (3) those that will increase investment and increase jobs. (PIA)
//////////////////////////////
Government emergency
program produce jobs, livelihood
Investments in irrigation and farm-to-market road programs generate employment in the countryside.
The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) reported that more than 43,000 workers and 580 households found jobs and livelihood opportunities last January through Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP).
CLEEP, NAPC Secretary Domingo Panganiban explained, aimed at securing food supply while improving irrigation, farm-to-market roads and other agricultural infrastructures.
Funding for the projects comes from savings in the 2008 national budget and local government resources.
With the success of the CLEEP, government is encouraged to sink in Php 9 – billion into the program that will not only triplicate the employment generation but to encourage private investments come in as well.
NAPC estimated that more than 220,000 workers nationwide would benefit from the new investment. (PIA)
////////////////////////////
Filipino vets in the US
by them in “long quest for justice and equity”
Filipino World War II (WWII) veterans all over the United States
The WWII veterans in the Washington DC area in the eastern seaboard were seconded in their expression of gratitude to President Arroyo by those in the Los Angeles
“Speaking on behalf of the veterans, Celestino Almeda conveyed his deep appreciation to President Arroyo at a reception hosted by the Philippine Embassy to honor Filipino World War II veterans and to celebrate the signing into law of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA),” the DFA said.
The DFA said the 92-year-old Almeda “is one of the most active lobbyists in Congress,” adding that the latter “also thanked all those who helped make this victory possible namely, members of the Filipino community, officials in the Philippine government, and the advocates and supporters of the bill in both Houses of the U.S. Congress.”
“One cannot truly appreciate the light if one has not been subjected to the darkness,” the DFA quoted Almeda as saying when the WWII veteran rejoiced at the signing of the ARRA which contains provisions that finally recognize the military service of Filipino World War II veterans and provides them with lump-sum benefits.
Recounting the suffering and ordeal that he and his fellow veterans experienced and witnessed during the war, Mr. Almeda expressed the joy that he felt on this momentous occasion and stated that he was happy with the outcome, the DFA added.
Almeda’s sentiments were echoed by WWII veterans in the West. “Mr. Franco Arcebal of the American Coalition of Filipino American Veterans, in a celebration held in Lake Street Park in Los Angeles , California
To celebrate the victory of Filipino WWII veterans in their fight for recognition and benefits, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy C. Gaa recently hosted at the Philippine Embassy a reception that also served as “an occasion to render thanks and appreciation to all those who have supported the cause of the veterans.”
“The reception was attended by Filipino veterans, leaders and members of the Filipino American community in the Metro D.C. area, the media, and staffers of key supporters of the bill in the U.S. Congress such as Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Representative Bob Filner,” the DFA said
0 comments:
Post a Comment