Infobytes April 4, 2007

PNP implements Oplan Bantay
Lakbay Pito in NegOr
At the advent of the Lenten season, the Provincial Police Office here is advising the public to be alert and vigilant in keeping themselves safe and their belongings secure when they observe the Holy Week activities.

This after law enforcers across the country have assured that security measures are now in place to ensure public safety for the Semana Santa.

Police regional offices have been directed to field men and work closely with their partners in the barangays to prevent criminals, rebels and even terrorists to disrupt the Lenten holiday.

P/Insp. Rosalinda Abellon, Police Community Relations Chief of the Provincial Police Office here, said that the riding public, as well as the motorists, should follow the necessary precautionary measures not only during Holy Week but also during fiestas and other local celebrations.

Abellona advised the citizens to refrain from wearing expensive jewelries when they go to the church. “Secure your cash, bags and other valuables especially in places where there’s a big crowd of people. As much as possible, don’t bring large amounts of cash when you attend mass,” she said.

She likewise urged parents to keep a close eye on their kids inside churches. “The usual incident during the Lenten season are missing children,” Abellon said.

She disclosed that parents with a missing child can report the incident immediately to the Public Assistance Center which will be set up in major churches all over the province.

Two police personnel, who will respond to complaints and other incidents during the Holy Week observation, will man the Center.

“Likewise, if someone finds an unattended child, he or she can bring the child to the Center,” Abellon added.

The establishment of Public Assistance Centers is in line with Oplan Bantay Lakbay Pito, which the Provincial Police Office will implement across the province in line with the Lenten season.

Under the said program, Abellon said police personnel will be assigned to man strategic points in the province, especially in Churches where people are expected to converge. (PIA/RMN)

April 7 declared a special non-working day
Malacañang has declared April 7, 2007 (Saturday) as a special non-working day through Proclamation No. 1211 in view of the Holy Week celebration in the country.

April 7, which falls between Good Friday and Easter Sunday was declared a special non-working day to give the public the “full uninterrupted opportunity to ponder on the significance of the Holy Week and to probably observe its traditions with religious fervor,” stated Proclamation No. 1211.

The same proclamation likewise declared November 2 (Friday) and December 24 (Monday) as special (non-working) days in the country.

In line with the Independence Day celebration, Proc. No. 1211 also declared June 12 (Tuesday) as a working day while June 11 (Monday) will be a non-working holiday.

All activities and celebrations in observance of Independence Day shall remain to be observed on June 12, 2007.

Earlier, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo heeded the call of the Catholic Church for all candidates to spare the Lenten season from political noise.

"Let us all respect and preserve the solemnity of the Lenten season and use it as a time for moral rearmament, healing and solidarity," the President said. (PIA/RMN)

‘Be impartial’, Comelec urge brgy officials
The Provincial Elections Supervisor in Oriental Negros warned barangay captains here to avoid campaigning for any electoral candidate as he reminded them to remain impartial for an honest, clean and orderly election in May.

He discouraged the village chieftains from using their influence to sway the votes of their constituents in favor of their candidates of choice.

He told barangay captains and officials to avoid loitering around the polling precincts during the election day. “After you vote, leave the precinct immediately,” stressed Advincula.

He likewise reminded barangay officials of their responsibility to ensure that election campaign materials in their areas are posted in the designated common poster areas. “It is your responsibility to take down posters and other campaign materials that are posted on trees and electric posts,” he told the officials during a recent Kapihan forum held by the Philippine Information Agency.

The Comelec official stressed that electric and other communication posts should not be posted or hung with any kind of campaign materials. “It is strictly prohibited not only by Comelec but also by DENR for posters to be placed on or hung from trees…this can also become a nuisance to traffic,” he said.

Campaign materials displayed as buntings are also strictly prohibited by the Fair Election Act or RA 9006.

Advincula warned that although violation of the said law only carries with it a small penalty, there is, however, a catch. “Anyone caught violating will face perpetual absolute disqualification from holding public office,” he said.

RA 9006 also frowns on the putting up of campaign billboards and streamers in private properties, even if the owner has given consent. “Campaign streamers are only allowed during campaign rallies. Five days before the rally, pwede na ma-display. But after the rally, within 48 hours, the streamers should be removed,” said Advincula.

Billboards, he added, are only allowed in the headquarters of a candidate or political party.
The provincial election supervisor also urged barangay officials to discourage their constituents from selling their votes.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio Bunye earlier called for a higher level campaign based on the issues of economic security and political stability. (PIA/RMN)

PNP gears up for elections
with Task Force HOPE
The Philippine National Police (PNP) in the province have already set in motion its security and operational measures with the creation of Task Force H.O.P.E. or ‘Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections’ in the province.

P/Insp. Rosalinda Abellon said Task Force HOPE will be created in all municipalities and cities in the province, as well as the putting up of election monitoring and assistance centers in the local levels.

The efforts of the local police force to ensure a fair and orderly elections is in line with the call of Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye who assured the public of the support of non-partisan law enforcement agencies.

Bunye has earlier said he believes the people themselves will guard the ballot and fight fraud to protect their votes.

The provincial police office is also set to conduct a peace covenant with local political parties during the election period.

Threat groups will also be identified, such as partisan armed groups and cessationist terrorist movements in the province that might disrupt the peace and order situation during the election period.

“We will also identify election areas of concern or areas where there are intense political rivalry and areas where there are internal security operations affectations,” said Abellon.

Checkpoints will likewise be set up in compliance with Comelec Resolution No 7707. “We are now organizing two teams for the Comelec and PNP checkpoint operations,” she said.

Abellon said the provincial police force is also set to strictly enforce the ban on firearms and deadly weapons in the province, as well as the use of unauthorized bodyguards in line with the election period.


Women voters to hold dialogue
with local political candidates
Women voters in Oriental Negros are now taking steps to make their voices heard in the elections as women representatives of different organizations in the province will hold a dialogue with political candidates here on April 12, Thursday, 2:00 pm. at Bethel Guesthouse, this city.

The dialogue will serve as a venue for women voters to discuss with the local candidates the various issues facing women in the province, said Cecilia Hoffman, executive director of the Gender Watch Against Violence and Exploitation.

Earlier, more than 100 women representing various organizations in Oriental Negros converged on February 16 during which women’s priority concerns, situation and their need for gender-responsive governance were identified.

The women participants in the said forum represented a range of sectors and groups from urban poor, peasants, students, women with disabilities, barangay health workers, academics and women from local government units and church organizations.

Hoffman said a shortlist of issues faced by women here were drawn up during the forum which the women will tackle in the dialogue with political candidates seeking public offices.

The dialogue will center on the six identified areas of concern for women, namely: women’s economic situation, violence against women, reproductive and women’s health and family planning services, councils for women, sexual exploitation especially of young girls, and environment and infrastructure. (PIA/RMN)

PNOC-AFC signs MOU
with DOST on alternative fuels
The PNOC Alternative Fuels Corporation (PNOC-AFC) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to be able to strengthen themselves as strategic partners in research and development activities on alternative fuels and support the advancement of biofuels in the country.

The mounting prices of imported oil wherein the Philippines is almost 100% dependent prompted the government to prepare measures that will help the country move away from utilizing imported oil towards greater use of indigenous energy resources, renewable energy and other alternative fuels, thus pursuing a strategy of energy dependence. With the increasing cost of energy, various countries are now exploring alternative sources, thus the need for research and development (R&D) to support the needs of emerging renewable alternative fuel industry in the Philippines is acknowledged.

PNOC-AFC and DOST, which has been in the forefront of R&D in renewable energy, have agreed to focus their cooperation on collaborative R&D activities on biofuels, technical assistance and capacity building. Based on the MOU, PNOC-AFC and DOST will coordinate in the assessment and identification of R&D requirements of alternative fuels, prepare a comprehensive R&D program for alternative fuels based on the assessment conducted by the parties and pursue a continuing capacity-building of technical staff to enhance knowledge and skills.

“We chose DOST as our partner in research and development on alternative fuels because of its expertise in providing central direction for scientific and technological activities. In line with PNOC-AFC’s mandate to explore, develop and accelerate the utilization and commercialization of existing and emerging alternative sources of energy, we are confident that we would be able to bring the country to the forefront of global alternative fuels industry,” said Peter Anthony A. Abaya, president and CEO of PNOC-AFC during the signing of the MOU with DOST, represented by Undersecretary for Research and Development Graciano P. Yumul, Jr.

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of state-owned Philippine National Oil Company, PNOC-AFC has the primary purpose to explore, develop and accelerate the utilization and commercialization of existing and emerging alternative sources of energy and technologies and carry on the business of alternative fuels and other related activities. PNOC-AFC has been directed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to have the primary responsibility over the Biofuel Project and to be the one to coordinate with the concerned agencies.

Reiterating her declaration in her first State-of-the-Nation Address in 2001 that "Technology is the foundation of the future economic development" of the Philippines, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed support to the proposal of seven universities in the country to develop capability in generating knowledge in science and technology.

Among the key thrusts in science and technology contained in the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) are to: make S&T policies supportive of national development goals and policies; enhance competitiveness of the human capability; speed up knowledge creation and dissemination for greater productivity and jobs creation especially in rural areas; and, improve mechanisms and programs to promote and encourage technology-based entrepreneurship.

On the other hand, DOST is mandated to provide central direction for scientific and technological activities. The Biofuels Act of 2006 which was signed into law in January 2007 mandated DOST to identify and develop viable feedstock for the production of biofuels and implement a research and development program supporting a sustainable improvement in biofuel production and utilization technology.

The current status of alternative fuels, particularly biofuels, requires a comprehensive research and development program, therefore PNOC-AFC and DOST pledged to cooperate and contribute their respective resources and know-how for this.

Gov’t SPES to help 281 students
in Siquijor as it vows to cut hunger
At least 281 indigent students in Siquijor province will benefit from the government’s Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) this summer vacation.

This was learned from Provincial Extension Officer Ma. Theresa Tanquiamco who said that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has approved the budget of P450 thousand to cover the 40% wages of the 150 beneficiaries from the provincial government and 100% wages of another 131 students not covered by the local government units here.

Municipal local government units (LGUs) that committed to support SPES are Siquijor town having allotted P100T for 48 beneficiaries: Larena, P70T for 35 students; and Maria, P30 T for 20 students. These hiring LGUs will shoulder 60 percent of the students’ wages.

The 60 percent will be paid by the employers which will be computed based on the income classification of the municipality.

SPES is a regular annual job creation program of the national government for poor but deserving students to augment their school fees for the coming school year 2007-2008 by providing them work during summer vacation.

SPES program is open to all qualified high school, college, technology or vocational students and drop-outs who intend to continue their education. The applicants should be 15-25 years old and the parents' combined annual income including his own, if any, does not exceed P36,000. They should also have passing grades.

Also, in line with the administration’s bid to fight poverty, the P1 billion allocated for anti-hunger program will continue to be beefed up to make sure children are up on their feet and fit for school every morning.

Skills training and other micro-enterprise campaigns would also be implemented alongside the government’s Hunger Mitigation Program (HMP) to ensure its sustainability, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said today.

“The drive to cut hunger is a centerpiece of the social payback on economic growth, and will be implemented side by side with a strong skills training and micro-enterprise campaign to get at the root of poverty in a comprehensive manner,” he pointed out in a statement.

President Gloria Macpagal-Arroyo has also called on various sectors to help with the government’s hunger mitigation program. She said the local churches, religious organizations and other religious groups are in the forefront of the first line of offense against hunger, particularly during the summer vacation.

“The fight against hunger should be a vehicle for national unity and platform of good citizenship for all Filipinos here and abroad,” the President said. (RACalibo/PIA)

Province supports FITS
as key to fight poverty
The Provincial Government of Siquijor shows support to the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Consortium in Siquijor province with the approval of a P200 thousand budget for the consortium’s operation and activities for this year. This was revealed by Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Gladys Estrellada in a FITS meeting held earlier at the local office of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Siquijor,
Siquijor.

The proposed 2007 FITS activities are FITS center Enhancement Program that includes production of IEC materials for the farmers in a form of brochures and flyers; Technology Upgrading on Banana and Peanut Production; Search for Farmer Scientist; and Technology Assistance on the Establishment of Agro-Forestry Related Project in Manan-ao, Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor..

FITS services include among others, provision of technology and information to agricultural workers, farmers, entrepreneurs, and other clients; technical assistance through technology training programs, scientists' visits and lectures on specific concerns requested by the clientele; clinic for networking clients and technical experts for the solution of production and post-production problems.

FITS, also dubbed as Techno Pinoy program of the Department of Science and Technology, was found effective to improve the lives of farmers by increasing their productivity.

Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Romulo L. Neri is recalled saying that the successful implementation of the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) has greatly improved the lives of the farmers through their high yielding crops' net
profit.

With farmers' increased productivity, the Techno Pinoy program is seen as one of the key farm strategies of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration in addressing the problem on poverty.

Likewise, in its’ effort to sustain the fight against hunger, President Arroyo has ordered recently the release of an additional P4B for Food-for-school program.

Under the program, rice and basic food items are given daily to schoolchildren. This will be modified to a weekly trek by the schoolchildren to their nearest churches or church organizations who will distribute a week’s supply of the basic food items, thereby feeding not only the children but their parents as well. Also included in the hunger mitigation program is the Food-for-Work scheme where the poor and unemployed are given community-centered jobs.

President Arroyo has given instructions to ensure transparency in the use of funds against hunger. (rac/pia)