ISSUE NO. 15, APRIL 12, 2006

Stay alive, WW2 Filipino veterans told
“Just stay alive,” was the advice given by a local war veteran leader in Negros Oriental to his fellow Filipino veterans who fought alongside American soldiers in fending off Japanese invasion during the World War II.

Former Judge Venancio Aldecoa, who saw action in World War II as a 17-year old soldier, gave the advice in view of the long and drawn-out ordeal of Filipino war veterans for the passage of the Veterans’ Equity Bill in United States.

The bill seeks to amend the Rescission Act, now Section 107 of the United States Code, which stopped the pension of all Filipino World War II nonservice-connected veterans in 1946 and limited the disability compensation, health and burial benefits to those with service-connected or combat-related injury.

Should the Veterans’ Equity Bill be passed into law, monthly pension to all Filipino WWII veterans for their war services will be restored.

Aldecoa lamented that the passage of the bill is already long-delayed. “Time is very precious to us veterans,” he said.

At 81 years old, Aldecoa - who heads the second district federation of war veterans in the province- said he is one of the youngest of the group that has diminished over the years.

Current records from the local Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) here show there are a total of 2,041 veterans and surviving spouses in Negros Oriental (1,789) and Siquijor (252) provinces.

Figures released by Philippine Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Carlos D. Sorreta place the total number of surviving non-service veterans at 20,000 with 13,000 in the Philippines and around 7,000 in the US.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has earlier expressed hope that US lawmakers would support the possible passage of the bill that would grant Filipino war veterans equal benefits with their American counterparts.

“We hope that all the US officials will support this effort to pass legislation that would allow our Filipino veterans to obtain the benefits they have long sought and truly deserve,” the President said.

Aldecoa said the additional pension that veterans would get from the passage of the said bill is much needed by the veterans who most, if not all, are in want.

He said WWII veterans in the Philippines are receiving a monthly pension of P5,000. But with the high cost of prices and medicines today, this is not enough to cover our needs, stressed Aldecoa.

But in the meantime that the Filipino Equity Bill is going through the eye of the needle in the US, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the release of P1.8 billion to cover government arrears in the pension payments of Filipino war veterans.

The President issued the directive in her speech read by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita during the 65th Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) rites on Mt. Samat Shrine in Bataan.
Since 2006, the government has already released a total of P19.57 billion for the regular pension and P1.6 billion in pension arrears of the war veterans for the remaining months of this year.

The government expects to settle all pension arrears by next year. (PIA/RMN)

PGMA orders release of 1.8B for pension arrears of war veterans
War veteran pensioners in Negros Oriental have reason to celebrate after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release P1.8 billion to cover the government arrears in the pension payments of Filipino war veterans.

The President issued the directive in her speech read by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita during the 65th Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) rites on Mt. Samat Shrine, Pilar, Bataan.

Local war veteran pensioners welcome the President’s move as “we have been waiting for this a long time,” said Venancio Aldecoa, a former judge in the province who, at 17 years old, was one of the courageous men who took up arms during the World War 2.

The recent announcement of the President is akin to a breath of fresh air for war veteran pensioners who, Aldecoa said most, if not all, are in want.

The former judge currently sits as president of the federation of war veterans in the second district.

He said war veteran pensioners receive a monthly regular pension of P5,000. “But this is not enough to cover a pensioner’s needs,” said Aldeco, particularly when it comes to healthcare.

Records from the local Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) here show there are a total of 2,041 veterans and surviving spouses in Negros Oriental (1,789) and Siquijor (252) provinces.

Annabel Moga, head of the PVAO here, explained that the amount of arrears owed by the government varies with each pensioner depending on the date the pensioner filed his application with PVAO and the date of approval.

Moga said it usually takes around three months after the President’s formal announcement of fund release before the pensioners can receive their arrears.

Philippine Veterans Bank here said the PVAO Manila Office provides the central of Philippine Veterans Bank in Manila with the list of qualified pensioners to receive the arrears.

According to Maritess Cabahug, accountant of the Philippine Veterans Bank here, there are 2,500 pensioner accountholders with their bank from Negros Oriental, Siquijor and some parts of Cebu.

Some pensioners are also holding accounts with other banks such as Land Bank, she said.
Since 2006, the government has already released a total of P19.57 billion for the regular pension and P1.6 billion in pension arrears of the war veterans for the remaining months of this year.

With the latest instruction, the government expects to settle all pension arrears by next year. “By 2008, we will be up-to-date in our pension payments,” the President said. (PIA/RMN)

Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities is now on
Calling all local government units in Negros Oriental: the Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children in Central Visayas (RSCWC-7) is now accepting entries for the 2007 Presidential Award for the Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities in line with the Child-Friendly Movement.

Teodulo Romo, Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Region 7, enjoined all cities and municipalities in the province and other areas in Central Visayas to submit their entries to the Search which aims to recognize the role of the local government units in the country in promoting and protecting children’s rights.

To qualify for the search, LGUs must have the following: (a) Local Development and Investment Plan for Children (separate or integrated in the Local development Plan); (b) Local Ordinances that promote and protect children’s rights (e.g. Provincial, City or Municipal Children’s Code); (c) Updated data or data bank on children.

These items form part of the supporting documents that will be submitted with the required documents that are enumerated in the entry form, said Romo, who also sits as chairman of the RSCWC.

Entry forms are available at the respective LGUs through the DILG and also at the local sub-committees for the welfare of children.

The entries are evaluated from the provincial to the regional levels using the following indicators or criteria: (a) Planning and Policy Formulation-15%; (b) Resource Allocation-15%; (c) Service Delivery on health & Nutrition-20%; Education-10%; Social Protection-10%; (d) Institution & Capability Building-10%; (e) Child Participation-10%; (f) Community Participation-10%.

Evaluation tools have been developed for both the municipality and barangay level. Regional Awards shall be given every year while the National Awards shall be given every three (3) years.

For this year, Romo said that the Search shall have four categories (4) based on the classification of municipalities and cities—1st-3rd class municipalities; 4th-6th class municipalities; highly-urbanized cities and component cities.

The RSCWC-7 has scheduled the timelines of the Search. April-June 30 is the submission of municipal entries to the province; July-August 15 will the provincial screening and submission of provincial nominees to the RSCWC; August 30 is the deadline of entries from the provincial level to the RSCWC.

By September-October, the RSCWC will conduct regional level screening, validation and declaration of winners and the awarding of winners will take place in November 2007.

The Search was launched in November 1998 in a bid to support the movement and also in recognition of the role of the local government units in the country in promoting and protecting the rights of the child to survival, development, protection and participation.

Candidates forum in Negor set
A series of candidates forum will be conducted in the three districts of Oriental Negros from April 18 to May 9, 2007 by the Diocesan Electoral Board (DEB). The forum aims to provide a non-partisan and free venue for candidates to present their qualifications/ platforms/ programs of government and give local candidates and residents a chance to discuss the various issues affecting their communities.

On April 18, Wednesday at 7 o’clock in the evening, the 2nd district candidates for congressman (3), governor (2), vice-governor (1), and provincial board members (4) will present themselves to the public/voters at Quezon Park, this city.

Dumaguete City mayoral (3) and vice-mayoral (3) candidates will be on the 20th of April to make themselves available and take the opportunity to speak on their programs.

DEB Convenor Rev. Fr. Julius Heruela said the candidates’ forum will also provide local residents ample opportunity to know their candidates better and raise the level of consciousness of voters towards a clean, honest, accurate, meaningful and peaceful elections (CHAMP).

For his part, Sec. Ignacio Bunye said the start of the local campaigns is a signal of Philippine democracy in full bloom, as all parties, persuasions and ideas come into play to crystallize a vibrant nation moving forward to a brighter future.

The Executive Department through the Philippine National Police will continue to stand beside the Commission on Elections to ensure that law and order will prevail before, during and after the electoral process.

On the 27th and 25th of April, this year, the 3rd and 1st districts candidates are expected to show up in Bayawan City and Guihulngan, respectively. The fora will be highlighted by the covenant signing of the candidates’ manifesto, which will be witnessed by the public.

The Diocesan Electoral Board (DEB) is composed of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

The candidates are expected to deliver a five-minute speech about their qualifications/ platform/ program of government after which an open forum will immediately follow through a multi-sectoral panel of reactors. The forum will be covered live over radio station DYWC-AM.

Moreover, Press Sec. Bunye urge all candidates to keep the issues at a high level and focus on the interest of the people in a platform-led campaign—and employ the media as a means of enlightenment rather than insidious attack.

This country is on the verge of an economic takeoff that can be accelerated by a collective show of force for Philippine democracy in all its positive aspects, untainted by guns, goons and gold. We urge political leaders from all sides at all levels to adhere to the democratic process and follow the road of sobriety, prudence and restraint. (PIA/JCTilos)

Int’l leadership camp set in Dumaguete
With the theme “Reuniting the World’s Youth of Today for a Safer and Better Tomorrow,” the Saceda Youth Lead together with the National Youth Commission under the Office of the President will hold the 3rd International Leadership Camp on April 18-28 at Mt. Carmel, Avila Kiosk, Balugo, Dumaguete City.

Participating student leaders will come from different schools in Southeast Asia. After the training, 25 student leaders from the Philippines will represent the country as youth ambassadors of goodwill to the 2007 World Leadership Congress in the United States of American and the 2007 Saceda Youth Lead International in Asia.

Dave Saceda, chair and founder of the Saceda Youth Lead, hopes to gather the youth in the region in an event which will hone their leadership skills, strengthen their values and make new friends- all for a stronger nation with a responsible citizenry.

Invited speakers of the said event include the following: Hon. Johannes Adrianus Vander Zane, First Secretary of the Embassy of Netherlands to Israel; Negros Oriental Governor George P. Arnaiz; Negros Oriental State University President Dr. Henry A. Sojor; and Atty. Mikhail Maxino, director of Jovito Salonga Center for Law and Development.

The event is made possible with the help of the provincial government of Negros Oriental, City Government of Dumaguete, Department of Educat6ion, Commission on Higher Education, World Association of NGOs, Foundation University and Silliman University.

For inquiries, interested participants may contact Rechanel Gallano, managing officer of the Saceda Youth Lead at tel. no. (035) 225-9756, mobile no. 0917-314-2890, email at sacedaleadership@yahoo.com or visit www.sacedaleaders.org.

Media bureaus are invited to join the opening ceremony at 2:30 p.m. on April 18 at Mt. Carmel, Avila Kiosk in Balugo, after which a press conference will be held.

Belgian envoy visits Siquijor
Belgian Ambassador to the Philippines His Excellency Gregoire Vardakis visited the province of Siquijor recently and toured various Belgian Integrated Agrarian Reform Program (BIARSP)-funded projects of the Department of Agriarian Reform (DAR).

Now on its third and last phase, BIARSP has provided the province with development assistance of more than P14 million since 1998 that has funded infrastructure projects, basic social and health services and various skills enhancement training to Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) here, Information Officer Richard Leduna reported.

Over and above costs of development assistance BIARSP has also provided direct interventions like vehicles and office equipment to the DAR office and selected cooperatives to ensure that development programs and projects are effectively and efficiently delivered to the beneficiaries, Leduna also said.

DAR is a member of the Anti-Hunger Task Force that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has created to work closely with faith-based organizations to widen the reach of the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program (AHMP) among the poor in the identified provinces in the country.

Under Executive Order 616 she signed last Tuesday, Apr. 3, the President ordered the National Nutrition Council of the Department of Health to lead the Task Force which will also be composed of national government agencies implementing the component programs of the AHMP.

Ambassador Vardakis was accompanied by BIARSP Programme Coordinator Peter D’huys with representatives from BIARSP Technical Support and Coordination Office (TSCO) in Dumaguete City .

The party first visited the 2.9-kilometer Pili-Canghunoghunog farm-to-market road, then the construction of two-classroom building in Cang-asa Elementary School where the party was met by Provincial Governor Orlando B. Fua. The Ambassador took time to visit the classrooms in Cang-asa Day Care Center and one primary grade school class.

The convoy proceeded to Tagmanocan Elementary School in Lazi for the turnover of the newly rehabilitated three-classroom building which is also BIARSP-funded with counterparts from the LGU and PTCA.

The turn-over ceremony was attended by Governor Orlando Fua, Mayor Orville Fua of Lazi, Dr. Antonio Del Socorro of DAR Regional Office, PARO Teresita E. Depeñoso, Mrs. Carmencita Omictin of DepEd, Brgy. Captain Romeo Lumingkit of Tagmanocan and Tagmanocan PTCA President Charles Malhin.

The Belgian ambassador was warmly received by the local officials, teachers and school children in every recipient school and by beneficiaries of infrastructure projects, with children waving the Belgian and Philippine flags.

He was also met by Mayor Edwin Quimno of San Juan at Catulayan Elementary School where the construction of a two-classroom school building is still on-going. Another BIARSP project in San Juan visited by the envoy was the potable water supply system in Timbaon, San Juan .

Ambassador Vardakis’s first trip to Siquijor was in 2005, visiting BIARSP funded projects and for the turn-over of the rehabilitated three-classroom building in Bogo Elementary School in Maria. (DAR-T. Richard T. Leduna/RACalibo - PIA)

ECCD improves Day Care Centers’ operation
Since the implementation of the government’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) Project in 2000 [now Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD)], the Day Care Centers’ operation, as well as the performance and skills of the teachers in Larena town, province of Siquijor have greatly improved.

Result of the evaluation conducted by the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recently showed 20 barangays in the municipality having earned stars for proper maintenance and upkeep of their Day Care Centers.

Accredited with a high four-star rating (the highest being, five star) were barangays Basac, Bintangan, Canlambo, Cangmalalag, Helen, North Poblacion , and Sabang. Thirteen others earned the three-star accreditation according to the DSWD rating.

These are the mountain barangays of Balolang, Cabulihan, Canlasog, Calunasan, Cang-apa, Cang-allas, Catamboan, and Ponong and the coastal barangays of Cangbagsa, Bontod, Sandugan, South Poblacion and Taculing.

Only barangays Nonoc, Candigum and Bagacay remain for accreditation but their Day Care Centers have already been accredited, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Rosalie D. Balongag said.

It can be recalled, the all centers showed a poor rating during the 1997 evaluation and assessment of Day Center in the municipality. “The result is really a big leap for the barangays,” Balongag also said.

In October last year, a total of P5,0367,770.40 was released by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children October last year for the expansion of existing ECCD program and establishment of ECCD system in Siquijor province based on the 2006 work and financial plan.

The initial release was part of the P20,625,000 budget for the province’s ECCD program that calls for 80-20 percent sharing from the council and the local government.

Larena LGU has put up a counterpart of P120 thousand.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye earlier stated that the decline in the country’s debt brings the administration a wider elbow room for more resources which will provide the people with basic social services and infrastructure programs aimed at lifting them from poverty like that of ECCD.

And the marked improvement in the economy the country is experiencing right now is due to the radical fiscal reforms implemented by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the first six years of her administration, he said.

"The President’s fiscal reforms have resulted in a stronger peso, reduced budget deficit and public debt and increased foreign investments," Bunye also said in his weekly column "The View From the Palace".

These fiscal reforms include the Expanded Value Added Tax (EVAT) Law which increases the rate of VAT imposed on goods and services from 10 to 12 percent and the National Attrition Law which pushes revenue generating agencies to meet their collection targets or face stiff penalties. (RDB-Larena LGU/RACalilbo-PIA)