INFORMATION BLITZ: Paalala sa mga OFW-members ng PhilHealth: Ang PhilHealth membership and contribution ay MANDATORY ayon sa batas kaya magpamiyembro at magbayad ng kontribusyon bago umalis ng bansa. Seguraduhin ang proteksyon ng kalusugan ng iyong sarili at pamilya.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

“Kurambos” project planning workshop held in Dapitan

by Franklin P. Gumapon
DIPOLOG CITY, Sept. 29 (PIA) -- Sixty five (65) participants coming from the different offices of the local government of Zamboanga del Norte, municipal government of La Libertad and national government agencies (NGAs) based in the province turned up yesterday for the strategic planning workshop in Dapitan City on the “Kurambos” project.
“Kurambos” project, which is a community employment and livelihood program adopted by the municipality of La Libertad, has been supported by the provincial government and the 21 NGAs such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU), Dipolog School of Fisheries (DSF), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Health (DOH), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepED), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
Through the help of DOLE, the municipal leadership of La Libertad headed by Mayor Anjanette H. Sulit came up with the said project to provide employment opportunities to its people.
It was learned during the workshop that La Libertad has the potential to become one of the tourist destinations in the province as it has caves, waterfalls and most especially a big, rapid-flowing river suitable for white water rafting ventures.
Aside from its natural attractions, the municipality abounds with exotic fruits like lanzones, marang, rambutan and many others.
Canopy rides in between clefts and mountains can also be put up in the municipality, which is just a 30-minute ride from the shrine city of Dapitan, the tourism hub of Zamboanga del Norte. (ALT/FPG/PIA-Zambo. Norte)

Cebuano news: WB, Pilipinas mipirma sa $500M financing aron pagkunhod sa epekto sa kalamidad

By Alma L. Tingcang
MANILA , Sept. 29 (PIA) –- Ang World Bank ug ang kagamhanan sa Pilipinas mipirma ug bag-ong loan aron gastohon sa programa sa kagamhanan pagpauswag sa pagpangandam batok sa mga kalamidad ug katalagman ingon man pagkunhod sa kasakit nga maagoman sa mga Pilipino tungod sa epekto niining mga kalamidad.
Sa usa ka pamahayag, ang maong tigpahulam nga nakabase sa Washington miingon nga ang bag-ong kasabotan sa paghulam naghatag sa $500 milyon---gitawag kini ug Disaster Risk Management Development Policy Loan with Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (CAT-DDO), nga daling magamit sa kagamhanan alang sa emergency relief, recovery ug reconstruction tapos sa usa ka dakong kalamidad nga modangat.
Matod pa ni Secretary Cesar Purisima sa Department of Finance, nga isip usa ka dali nga kakuhaan sa pondo, ang CAT-DDO magahatag sa kagamhanan ug usa ka bridge financing samtang ang ubang pondo sama sa bilateral aid ug concessional funding giandam pa tapos sa usa ka dakong panghitabo nga kalamidad.
Kining maong pasilidad kritikal kayo tungod kay ang Pilipinas usa sa mga nasod sa tibuok kalibotan nga dali kaayong maapektohan sa kalamidad.
“Sa panahon sa kalamidad, nag-atubang kita sa dakong panginahanglan sa paghatag ug emergency assistance ngadto sa mga biktima ug aron pagtukod pag-usab sa mga kalsada, ospital, eskwelahan, irigasyon, linya sa kuryente ug tubig, ug uban pang importanteng imprastraktura,” si Purisima miingon.
“Ang CAT-DDO naghatag kanato ug pondo alang sa madaliang relief, recovery ug reconstruction, busa makunhoran ang social ug economic dislocation sa mga apektadong komunidad, labi na ang mga kabos nga maoy labing mahiagom sa mga kalamidad,” dugang ni Purisima.
Si Bert Hofman, World Bank Country Director for the Philippines miingon nga ang CAT-DDO nagsuporta sa integrated framework alang sa disaster risk reduction and management ubos sa Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act ug Strategic National Action Plan (SNAP) alang sa Disaster Risk Reduction nga gimugna niadtong tuig 2010.
“Ang Pilipinas naghimo ug usa ka proactive approach sa pagdumala sa mga kalamidad pinaagi sa paglakip sa risk reduction diha sa development planning, pagpauswag sa institutional capacity sa kagamhanan ug pagkunhod sa fiscal exposure sa mga kalamidad,” pahayag ni Hofman. (ALT-PIA9/Zambo Sur)

Conflict-affected barangays in KALAHI-CIDSS towns to get P300-T each for peace projects

PAGADIAN CITY, Sept. 29 (PIA) -- Conflict-affected barangays (CABs) in KALAHI-CIDSS municipalities in Western Mindanao will be receiving a P300,000 grant for infrastructure and other development projects promoting peace through the “Pamana” project.
Ms. Connie Acosta, KALAHI-CIDSS monitoring and technical assistance officer for the Mindanao cluster said that the P300,000 funds for CABs in the municipalities of Payao, Tungawan and Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay are an augmentation of funds for these communities to enable them to implement peace-promoting projects.
Pamana was tied up with DSWD’s community-driven KALAHI-CIDSS project since the two practically have the same objectives: to empower communities, enhance governance, and reduce poverty – this time with special emphasis on barangays affected by conflict and violence.
The KALAHI-CIDSS project, in dividing a municipal grant allocation (P500,000 x number of barangays in a municipality), uses participatory prioritization mechanism – it is basically a criteria-based vote-casting by community representatives to decide which communities receive funds for developmental projects. In this manner, some barangays may not be prioritized due to the limited funds. Pamana ensures that all conflict-affected barangays would have development projects, with or without prioritization in KALAHI-CIDSS.
“In Pamana, we are giving focus to conflict-affected barangays since development is slower in these areas. Through this program, we hope that the people will have more initiative to participate in KALAHI-CIDSS activities that promote peace and development,” said DSWD assistant regional director Zenaida Arevalo.
Community projects for Pamana may be infrastructure, livelihood trainings, and other peace-promoting activities such as dialogues. The program is jointly implemented by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace process (OPAPP) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It is being implemented nationwide. (DSWD-9/ALT/CAL/PIA9/Zambo Sur)

“Kurambos” project planning workshop held in Dapitan

by Franklin P. Gumapon
DIPOLOG CITY, Sept. 29 (PIA) -- Sixty five (65) participants coming from the different offices of the local government of Zamboanga del Norte, municipal government of La Libertad and national government agencies (NGAs) based in the province turned up yesterday for the strategic planning workshop in Dapitan City on the “Kurambos” project.
“Kurambos” project, which is a community employment and livelihood program adopted by the municipality of La Libertad, has been supported by the provincial government and the 21 NGAs such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU), Dipolog School of Fisheries (DSF), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Health (DOH), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepED), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
Through the help of DOLE, the municipal leadership of La Libertad headed by Mayor Anjanette H. Sulit came up with the said project to provide employment opportunities to its people.
It was learned during the workshop that La Libertad has the potential to become one of the tourist destinations in the province as it has caves, waterfalls and most especially a big, rapid-flowing river suitable for white water rafting ventures.
Aside from its natural attractions, the municipality abounds with exotic fruits like lanzones, marang, rambutan and many others.
Canopy rides in between clefts and mountains can also be put up in the municipality, which is just a 30-minute ride from the shrine city of Dapitan, the tourism hub of Zamboanga del Norte. (ALT/FPG/PIA-Zambo. Norte)

24 Pinay OFW Returnees received starter kits

by Mary Jane Reyes-Amarado
ZAMBOANGA CITY, September 29 (PIA) -- Twenty Four (24) Pinay Household Service Workers (HSWs) received Pangkabuhayan Starter Kits, skills training certificate, TESDA Certificate of Competency & cash allowance last Friday, September 23.
The beneficiaries underwent a 4-day Skills training on commercial cooking, baking & pastry making and 1-day Entrepreneurship Development Training held from September 19 to 23 at TESDA Training Center.
Dubbed as “BalikPinay!BalikHanapbuhay!” the project aims to aid displaced female OFWs through Training-cum-employment & provision of kabuhayan starter kits.
To carry out these objectives, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Region 9 partnered with Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) during the conduct of the training which was facilitated by Ms. Claire Alvarez and assisted by Ms. Judith Gonzales.
Aside from certificates of training completion, each beneficiary was provided with starter kit worth P10,000 which composed of 2-burner gas stove, electric oven, mixing bowl, baking pan, tube pan, roll pan, square pan, rolling pin, casserole, muffin plate, spatula set, mixing cup set, strainer & decorating tip.
TESDA Regional Director Lorenzo Macapili, in his message praised the participants’ enthusiasm to learn the skills TESDA offers. He was grateful to DOLE-IX and OWWA-IX for their serious commitment in implementing livelihood assistance for OFW women returnees. (Mary Jane Reyes-Amarado, OWWA9-LCO/PIA9-ALT/Zambo Sur)

160,000 displaced, 2 dead in Maguindanao floods

SABELA CITY, Basilan, Sept 29 (PIA) -– Close to 35,000 families involving some 160,000 individuals fled homes and in 13 other adjacent towns of Maguindanao amid rising flood waters spawned by heavy rains and aggravated by huge chunks of water lilies clogging rivers crisscrossing this province, relief and disaster management officials reported Sunday.
ARMM Information Chief Ali Macabalang disclosed that two children identified as Mujahad Dalagan, 13, and Cecil Mebpandi, 8, were confirmed dead of drowning in two of inundated barangays in Pagalungan town as reported by Loreto Rirao, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Chunks of water hyacinths spanning more than 300 hectares in the 220,000-hectare Ligwasan Marsh drifted along tributary rivers amid continuous rains that began six days ago and spawned floods in 14 towns of this province and parts of North Cotabato.
The Army’s 6th Infantry Division sent in Saturday 100 more soldiers to complement troops and civilian volunteers converging since Wednesday to clear some 10-hectare size water lilies that clogged the passageway of Taviran Bridge along Butilen river and forced water to spill over to most of villages.
The four-day clearing works of dozens of volunteers had splintered a dismal portion of water lilies clogging the bridge, prompting ARMM Executive Secretary Naguib Sinarimbo to call on Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chairperson Luwalhati Antonino to lend giant water masters, which were due to arrive Sunday.
Brig. Gen. Rey Ardo, 6th Infantry Division commander, also on request of the ARMM executive, ordered the establishment of a command center on the clogged riverbank to harmonize anew the seemingly disorganized clearing operations.
“We need to clear the bridge of the water lilies before more rains come and push down larger chunks of hyacinths to the structure,” Sinarimbo told supervising military officials, even as he expressed fear of a possible collapse of the bridge under heavier pressure.
Guided by Kabuntalan-based military contingents, Sinarimbo, Director Rirao and ARMM relief officials witnessed the condition of the inundated town hall, police station and all schools in this town.
In an earlier report, ARMM’s Social Welfare head Pombaen Karon-Kader said several schools have also been submerged in the towns of Northern Kabuntalan, Pagalungan, Montawal, Buluan, S. K. Pendatun, Sultan-sa-Barongis, Paglat, Datu Salibo and Datu Piang.
Kader said her agency has been distributing relief goods to the 154,750 displaced villagers, even as she expressed fear their supply would not suffice for a longer period especially when more villagers flee homes amid signs of continuous rains. Assistance from the outside is needed, she said.
Sinarimbo said he had asked officials of some United Nations’ humanitarian agencies to send in relief assistance. (AGM/ALT/RVC-PIA9 BaSulTa)

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Cebuano news: ZNPPO/Roxas MPS mipahigayon ug lecture kabahin sa Crime Prevention

ni Alfonso T. Ruda
DIPOLOG CITY, Sept. 26 (PIA)-- Ang Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Police uban ang pagpakigtambayayong sa Roxas Municipal Police Station nagpahigayon di pa lang dugay ug lecture kabahin sa Crime Prevention didto sa lungsod sa Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte.
Lakip sa mga mitambong sa maong lecture ang mga probationers, parolees; pardonees ug mga Volunteer Probation Aides (VPAs) gikan sa mga munisipalidad sa Sergio Osmeña, Katipunan, Roxas, Manukan, ug Jose Dalman, Zamboanga del Norte.
Nag-unang katuyoan sa maong lecture, nga mapaabot ug mapasabot sa mga partisipantes, ilabi na sa mga parolees ug probationers ang “Anatomy of Crime” ug kon unsaon nga malikayan ug masanta ang usa ka krimen.
Ang hepe sa Roxas Municipal Police Station, Police Inspector Chammer Lacay, nga usa sa mga lecturer mihagit sa mga partisipantes nga dili imakuli ang paglugway ug tabang sa mga otoridad aron masanta ang usa ka krimen, uban ang pag-ingon nga ang pagsumpo sa krimen dili lamang responsibilidad sa kapulisan kundili hangtud na usab sa tanang membro sa komunidad.
Si Lacay nga usa ka Criminologist, migugol ug mas taas nga panahon uban sa mga probationers, parolees ug mga pardonees niadtong nag-intern pa siya sa Parole and Probation Office sa Zamboanga del Norte samtang nagtungha pa siya sa kolehiyo.
Gidasig ni Lacay ang mga partisipantes nga pamatud-an nga duna silay ikatabang ug dili mahimong problema sa komunidad. Sa samang higayon, gitambagan usab sa Chief of Police sa Roxas ang mga partisipantes nga likayan ang kahigayonan nga makahimo ug krimen alang sa pagpuyo sa usa ka malinawong pamilya ug komunidad. (JPA/ATR/PIA9-Zambo Norte)

Cebuano news: DENR nag-implementar pagpatitulo sa yuta uban sa kaabag sa LGUs

ni Claro A. Lanipa
PAGADIAN CITY, Sept. 26 (PIA) -– Ang buhatan sa Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) nakig-alayon sa mga kagamhanang (LGUs) sa pagpahigayon sa pagpatitulo sa yuta sa usa ka lakang aron mapasayon and pagproseso ug paghatag sa mga titulo sa yuta sa gitawag inalienable ug disposal nga yuta.
Matod pa ni DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje ang maong tinguha makahatag usab ug oportunidad sa mga LGUs aron mohimo sa aktibong papel sa mga programa sa ahensiya. “Ang kagamhanang lokal adunay importanteng papel diha sa implementasyon sa mga nasudnong programa ug proyekto nga gitanyag sa Local Government Code, ug usa niini mao ang pagpatitulo sa mga yuta diin ang ilang tabang gikinahanglan pag-ayo ilabi na diha sa pagsulbat sa mga kalibog sa mga utlanan,” miingon si Paje.
Si Paje miingon the LGU-DENR partnership nagkinahanglan sa pagmugna sa gitawag composite land adjudication team nga gilangkoban sa usa ka deputy public land inspector (DPLI) kinsa molihok ubos sa pagsuta sa DENR land management officer (LMO) nga modestino sa mga kagamhanang lokal. Ang maong team motabang sa DENR sa pagpatitulo sa mga alienable ug disposable nga yuta sa mga siyudad ug munisipyo, dugtong pa ni Paje.
Ubos sa DENR Administrative Order No. 2011-06 nga gititulohan “Prescribing the guidelines for the implementation of public land titling,” ang tanan regional executive directors (REDs) sa maong buhatan gitugotan sa pagtudlo sa usa ka permanenteng opisyal sa LGU nga mo-assign sa programang pagpatitulo isip Deputy Public Land Inspectors (DPLI).
Ang nasangpit mando nagtanyag usab sa mosunod nga mga palakat diha sa pagtudlo sa DPLIs: a) ang LGU mosubmitir ug listahan sa mga nominante ug ang ilang nahitakdo nga katakus ngadto sa RED pinaagi sa community environment and natural resources officer (CENRO) ug provincial environment and natural resources officer (PENRO); b) ang CENRO ug PENRO mohimo sa tagsa-tagsa pagsusi sa listahan sa mga nominante ug mosubmitir sa ilang rekomendasyon sulod sa 15 ka mga adlaw; ug c) sa pagsubmitir sa listahan ug rekomendasyon ngadto sa RED, ang RED usab mohatag ug katungod sa pagpahigayon sa mga gikinahanglan mga pagbansay nga may kalimbigitan sa mga tulumanon, mando, katungod, mga katungdanan ug responsibilidad sa DPLIs.
Dugtong ni Paje ang mga responsibilidad ug katungod sa DPLI mahimong gamiton lang sa ilang tagsa-tagsa nga mga siyudad ug lungsod ubos sa ilang minandoan. (JPA/CAL/PIA9/Zambo Sur)

Maltreated female OFWs get assistance from OWWA

by Michael Vincent D. Cajulao
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Sept. 26 (PIA) -– Female former Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), who were maltreated by their employers abroad, are the target beneficiaries of the Balik Pinay Balik Hanap-Buhay program of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration now being implemented all over the region.
OWWA IX Chief Fauzia Amilasan said the program aims to give alternative livelihood to victims of abuse by their employers. She said most of the OFW returnees have no fall back so they need to implement such program.
“We’ll teach them how to start their own business, depending on their interests”, Amilasan said.
Amilasan said they will offer various trainings that will suit the needs of the beneficiaries which include handicraft, décor and ornament-making, sewing, and cosmetology among others.
The program, according to Amilasan, is in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). She said they have already allocated P300, 000.00 for the implementation of the program.
Amilasan pointed that applicants should be female former OFWs who were maltreated, displaced, and are staying in the country for good. (JPA/MVC/PIA9-Zambo City)

Cebuano news: Gobyerno, naggahin ug P500 Milyon aron pagsumpo sa oil smuggling

by Alma L. Tingcang
MANILA , Sept 26 (PIA) –- Ang administrasyong Aquino naggahin ug P500 milyon alang sa Bureau of Customs (BOC) aron pagmugna ug high tech nga solusyon diha sa mapatuyangon nga smuggling sa mga petrolyo ug ubang high value imports.
Si LPG/MA party-list Rep. Arnel Ty miingon nga ang bag-ong pondo, nga nalakip sa proposed P1.816 trilyon nga General Appropriations Act of 2012 makatabang sa BOC aron pagtukod sa Petroleum Inventory System ug pag-angkon sa usa ka online X-ray machine imaging system.
Kung matapos kining Petroleum Inventory System Project, si Ty miingon nga makahimo na ang BOC ug makuting pagsubay sa mga oil imports diin ang bureau nagkuha sa 17 porsiyento sa ilang annual revenue collection.
Si Ty, kinsa miyembro usab sa House energy committee mipahayag niini isip tubag sa pagpasaka ug P1.05 bilyon nga oil smuggling case sa BOC batok sa Petronas Energy Philippines, Inc.
Ang maong kaso nagdala ngadto sa P44.33 bilyon ang kinatibuk-ang kantidad sa kaso nga gipasaka sa BOC batok sa pito (7) ka oil importers sa nakalabay nga 15 ka bulan.
Kasong smuggling gipasaka na niadto batok sa Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. (P24.48 bilyon); Cross Country Oil & Petroleum Corp. (P8.5 bilyon); Phoenix Corporation Philippines Inc. (P5.1 bilyon); Jetti Petroleum Inc. (P4.1 bilyon); Oilink International Corp. (P700 milyon); ug Filpride Resources Inc. (P400 miyon).
Giawhag usab ni Ty ang BOC sa paggama ug kaugalingong laboratoryo ug gikinahanglan nga staff aron pagbuntog sa technical smuggling sa petrolyo, nga nakapasakit ug dako sa gobyerno pinaagi sa buhis.
“Ang nasangpit nga buhatan kinahanglan dili magsalig sa ubang ahensiya paghimo sa initial chemical analysis sa mga samples sa imported oil products,” si Ty miingon.
Kalabot sa online x-ray imaging system project, si Ty nagkanayon nga tugotan niini ang mga customs officers nga pinaagi sa high tech electronics, macapture, ma-apud-apod ug mapasa ang mga litrato sa shipments ug impormasyon gikan sa duha ka pilot sites - - ang Port of Manila ug ang Manila International Container Port.
Ang BOC nagkolekta ug buhis ug value-added taxes sa mga imports.
(ALT-PIA9/Zambo Sur)

Dipolog, Dapitan, Zambo. Norte schools divisions ready for NCAE

by Franklin P. Gumapon
DIPOLOG CITY, Sept. 26 (PIA) -- The three schools divisions of the cities of Dipolog and Dapitan and the province of Zamboanga del Norte are now ready for the conduct of the National Career Assessment Examinations (NCAE) to all third year high schools in public and private schools on Sept. 28.
“NCAE test questionnaires are now with these schools divisions and are ready for distribution to all public and private secondary schools in the area,” said Education Supervisor Pergentino Yabres of the Dipolog City division in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) recently.
It was also learned that starting this school year the Department of Education (DepED) would be giving the NCAE to all third year high school students in both public and secondary schools nationwide. However, any graduating high school student who is applying for scholarship programs offered by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) can take the said examination provided that he/she belongs to the top 10 percent of the graduating class, has a general average grade of at least 80 percent in third year and comes from a family whose gross annual income is not more than P300.000. He/she is also required to submit a letter of intent signed by his/her parents signifying his/her interest in applying for CHED/TESDA scholarship.
NCAE is also open to other interested fourth year high school students, out-of-school-youth (OSY) and Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) passers.
The results of the NCAE will help determine the interest and career inclination of the student whether he/she would fit in technical-vocational programs, entrepreneurial or a college education course.
When asked why the NCAE is now given to third year high school students, DepED Secretary Armin Luistro said: “We deem it better to administer the NCAE to third year high school students to give them sufficient time for comprehensive career guidance before they enter the tertiary level.”
Luistro also explained that the result of the NCAE would serve as a guide to the parents and students “on what career track is best to take after high school graduation.” He, however, made it clear that “the NCAE is not mandatory but recommendatory.” (JPA/FPG/PIA-Zambo. Norte)

Monday, September 26, 2011


Angara wants incentives for coconut farmers
 
With many Filipinos still dependent on the coconut industry, Senator Edgardo Angara called on Monday on the government to provide economic incentives to coconut farmers, especially the small-scale tillers, to encourage them to plant more trees and boost coconut production in the country.   Angara issued the call following the announcement of President Benigno S. Aquino III that quite a few American companies have pledged multimillion-dollar investments to the country’s coconut industry. “We must encourage our coconut farmers, especially the small-scale tillers, to plant more coconut trees to replace the ones that have become unproductive. To do this, we must offer incentives to make up for the waiting period before the new seedlings grow,” said Angara , chair of the Congressional Commission on Science, Technology and Engineering (COMSTE).
 
 
Escudero urges DBM to itemize lump sum entry in education budget
 
Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Monday to itemize the lump sum entry in the 2012 budget for state universities and colleges (SUCs) to allay fears and doubts against the slash in funding. Last week, students and teachers across the country protested the cutback by P146 million in the proposed spending plan of SUCs for next year. DBM Secretary Florencio Abad Jr., however, said that contrary to the protesters’ claim, SUC funding had been increased to P26.1 billion from this year’s P23.7 billion. The proposed SUC budget for next year, Abad said, is broken down as follows: P23.6 billion for the automatic appropriation for SUCs; P2 billion to fill up vacancies lumped under the Miscellaneous and Personnel Benefit Funds (MPBF); and P500 million under the Commission on Higher Education for SUC Development. Escudero said the lump sum entry of MPBF should be disaggregated to show the real budget for each agency.
 
 
AFP: attack on Sulu patrol base a test mission
for 'Awliyah' recruits
 
A military official disclosed Monday that the attack on marine troops guarding a school building project in Sulu was a “test mission” for the attackers. This was disclosed by Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) spokesman Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, who said the attackers' are new recruit members of a newly-formed group known as “Awliyah.” Fifteen people, including two marines, died while six other soldiers were wounded when around 50 fully armed gunmen attacked around 4:45 a.m. Sunday the patrol base in Barangay Kabungkol, Talipao, Sulu. The troops have also recovered seven high-powered firearms when they repulsed the attackers. The attackers failed in their mission to overrun the patrol base though they used the cover of darkness when they staged the attack, Cabangbang said. The patrol base was established to guard the construction of a school building funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
 
 
GSIS tells old-age, survivorship pensioners:
No need to undergo the ARAS
 
Effective May 1, this year, all old-age and survivorship pensioners of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) residing in the Philippines are no longer required to comply with the Annual Renewal of Active Status (ARAS), on their birth month. This was clarified by Robert Vergara, GSIS President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) during the Stakeholders’ Dialogue held at Mallberry Suitres, here, recently. Vergara, however, said this provision does not include the following who will still be required to comply with ARAS for the last time: Pensioners who are on suspended status as of April 30, 2011 and pensioners whose birth month falls on any of the following months – February, March or April and have not complied with their ARAS. Likewise, old-age and survivorship pensioners residing abroad will still be required to comply with the ARAS on their birth month, every year, using Skype or GSIS Voice Activated Processing System ( G-VAPS), as there is no way for the GSIS to monitor the status of these pensioners.
 
 
 
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
 
As the whole country commemorates Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) urged the public to engage in early detection and prevention measures to fight breast cancer. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Cebuano women, based on the Cebu Population-based Cancer Registry of EJACC. From 1993 to 2007, EJACC recorded a total of 3,005 reported breast cancer cases in Metro Cebu. Breast cancer, which is characterized by an abnormal growth of breast cells, is most common in women ages 30 to 59. EJACC initiated its own efforts to raise public awareness on the importance of early cancer detection and prevention. One of these is Moonwalk: A Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness, a unique advocacy campaign of RAFI held every full moon of October, which aims to promote the importance of observing monthly breast self-examination for women aged 20 and beyond. Moonwalk also aims to popularize the importance of early detection practices, including breast self-examination, regular clinical breast examination, and annual mammography screening. This year, Moonwalk will be held on Oct. 12
 
 
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WEATHER:

Pagasa warns of heavy rains as "Pedring" intensifies, signal No. 3 up in some areas

 
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa) has placed several provinces under Signal No. 3, as Pedring (International name: NESA) slightly intensifies with a maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour, moving West NorthWest at 19kph.
Signal No. 3 is up in the following areas: Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Northern Quezon including Polillo Island , Aurora , Quirino and Isabela.
Signal No. 2: Albay including Burias Island , Sorsogon, Rest of Quezon, Rizal, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Benguet, Mt. Province , Kalinga, Cagayan and Metro Manila.
Signal No. 1: Ticao Island , Masbate, Marinduque, Batangas, Cavite , Bataan, Pampanga, Zambales, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Apayao and Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands; and Northern Samar .
Nathaniel Servando, Pagasa administrator said in a press conference 5:00 pm Monday that Pedring is expected to make landfall between Isabela and Aurora areas Tuesday dawn.

"Inaasahan na lalakas pa ito (We expecting it to intensify)," he told reporters, noting that Pedring might have "25-30 percent ng rainfall" of September 2009's devastating typhoon, Ondoy (Ketsana).
A Pagasa bulletin says Signal No. 3 may mean "heavy damage to agriculture, some large trees uprooted, majority of nipa and cogon houses unroofed or destroyed, considerable damage to structures of light to medium construction, moderate to heavy disruption of electrical power and communication services.
Travel by land, sea and air is dangerous, Pagasa added. Pagasa said classes up to high school level are automatically suspended in areas under Signal No. 2.

Drilon cites need to implement urgent reforms in ARMM

Senator Franklin Drilon stressed on Monday the urgent need to implement reforms in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in view of the failure of the region’s current leadership to prosecute officials accused of graft and corruption involving billions of pesos from taxpayers’ money. ”I did not see from the statements today of the incumbent OIC (officer-in-charge) that he is capable of making the appropriate reforms in the area in order to prevent these abuses from happening again,” Drilon said after the Senate committee on finance submitted for plenary debates the ARMM’s proposed P12.4 billion budget for 2012. Asked by the senators what the present ARMM leadership has done to correct the rampant graft and corruption committed by the previous administration of the region, acting Governor Ansaruddin Adiong said the investigation has already been passed on to the national leadership of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Study on corruption shows 'Cory Model' may work

A framework for a national anti-corruption campaign based on the "Cory Model" just might work for the Philippines . Prof. Leonor Magtolis Briones, team leader of a research team looking into "Pinoy Solutions to Corruption," formulated the framework based on the strategy used by the late President Corazon "Cory" Aquino during her administration.
The two other members of the team are Profs. Danilo R. Reyes and Ma.Oliva Domingo.
Briones said the research recognized the need for a national anti-corruption program.
"After nearly five centuries of organized government, graft and corruption now threatens to be as Pinoy (Filipino) as lechon, adobo, sinigang and paksiw. It seems to be as endemic as dengue, tuberculosis and cholera. The solution to this national blight can only come from the Filipinos themselves," she said.

Palace welcomes latest poll indicating Aquino has regained 'very good' net satisfaction rating


The latest survey showing that President Benigno S. Aquino III has regained “very good" net satisfaction rating is an indication that majority of Filipinos are experiencing the positive changes in the country, a Palace official said on Monday. "In the most recent survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations from September 4 to 7, the President’s net satisfaction rating increased by ten points to +56 from +46 in June, enough for an upgrade in classification from “Good” to “Very Good,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday.
According to the survey, 70 percent of respondents are satisfied with the President’s performance as opposed to the 14 percent dissatisfied.

Filipino-Japanese children surprise Aquino with wish of good health and success

Filipino-Japanese children wish President Benigno S. Aquino III good health to enable him to fulfill his goal of achieving a better future for the Filipino citizenry and the entire country as a whole. The children’s wish for the President was just one of many contained in the Box of Tanzaku (meaning wishes and dreams) which they presented to the Chief executive during his attendance at a gathering with the Filipino community on Sunday at the main auditorium of the Japan Education Center here. The President, who arrived here at the start of his four-day official working visit, personally received the Box of Tanzaku from the Filipino-Japanese children represented by three boys and three girls which highlighted the event. Aside from their wish for the Chief Executive, the box also contained the children’s dreams for themselves and the future of the Filipino children.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Barangays should implement mitigation measures to prevent vulnerability to hazards: OCD9 chief urges

by Gideon C. Corgue
PAGADIAN CITY, Sept. 20 (PIA) -– The barangays should establish and implement appropriate strategies and effective measures to reduce or prevent from the impact of natural calamities.
Office of Civil Defense (OCD9) Regional Director Adriano Fuego told the different barangay chairmen of the province during the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Seminar sponsored by the Liga ng mga Barangay, Zambobaanga del Sur chapter, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) held recently at the Bulwagan ng Kabataan, Dao here.
“Gikinahanglan gayud nga ang mga barangay mohimo ug mga lakang pagpakunhod sa peligro nga gidulot sa natural nga mga kalamidad Mohimo kamo ug plano aron malikayan nga adunay makasinati sa sa kalamidad (It is very necessary that the barangays should implement mitigating measures to prevent hazards that are brought by natural disasters You have to make a plan to prevent from experiencing natural disasters, ” Fuego urged.
Fuego also encouraged the barangay chairmen to use 5% of their calamity fund as mandated under Republic Act 10121 otherwise known as the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010”, saying that it has been a traditional practice of local government executives to use the said funds only when calamity happens.
“Ang RA 10121 nga na-aprobahan sa 14th Congress maoy nakapadasig sa mga LGUs nga mohimo ug mga lakang. Dili sama kaniadto ang LGUs maghulat pa nga adunay kalamidad nga mahitabo ayha magamit ang nasangpit nga pundo ( RA 10121 which was approved by the 14th Congress has inspired LGUs to prepare mitigation measures. Unlike before, LGUs have to wait first that calamity will happen for them to use the said funds),” Fuego explained.
Fuego advised them to prepare a comprehensive and integrated LDRRM plan that would serve as basis for the LGUs to use the fund properly.
The plan, Fuego said shall be used to support disaster risk reduction especially in the implementation of disaster preparedness programs such as conduct of disaster risk reduction and management training, procurement of equipments, medicines, etc. (JPA/GCC/PIA9-Pagadian)
http://issuu.com/piamindanao/docs/one_mindanao_-_september_19__2011?mode=window

Cebuano news: 41 mil ka lawak tunghaan ipabarog sa DepEd sunod tuig

ni Alfonso T. Ruda
DIPOLOG CITY, Sept. 20(PIA) -— Determinado ang administrasyong Aquino nga tubagon ang kakulangan sa mga lawak-tunghaan pinaagi sa pagpabarog ug 41.000 ka mga lawak-tunghaan sunod tuig.
Mao kini ang gipahayag ni Education Secretary Armin Luistro sa gipahigayong pagdungog sa senado sa gisugyot nga budget sa DepEd para sa 2012 nga 191 bilyones ka pesos.
Matod pa ni Luistro, 18.2 bilyones ka pesos sa ilang gipangayong pondo para sa tuig 2012 gamiton sa pagpabarog ug pagpaayo sa mga lawak tunghaan, diin 5 bilyones niini ang ipatuman pinaagi sa public-private partnership kon PPP Program.
Mahinumdoman, nga sa gipahigayong pagdungog sa budget sa DepEd niadtong miaging tuig, gitumbok sa DepEd ang lima ka nag-unang problema sa departamento sama sa kakulangan sa mga magtutudlo, libro, lingkuranan ug mga pasilidad sa tubig ug sanitasyon.
Matod pa ni Luistro, inanay nang gitubag sa DepEd ang maong mga problema. Dugang pa sa kalihim, sugdan na sa Deped ang paghatod ug dugang 12.5 milyones ka mga lingkuranan para sa tunghaan sa di pa matapos ang tuig 2011.
Gawas sa pagsulbad sa nag-unang lima ka problema sa DepEd, nga plano usab sa DepEd ang pagbutang ug internet connection ang 27,000 ka mga pampublikong tunghaan sa sekondarya sa tibuok nasod.
Sa pagkakaron, 68 porsiento sa mga tuinghaan sa sekondarya sa nasod ang duna nay internet connection.
Sunod niini, gilantaw usab sa DepEd ang kawalay-kuryente sa 9,000 ka mga pampublkong tunghaan sa tibuok nasod. (JPA/ATR/PIA9-Zambo Norte)

Cebuano news: DepEd naglaraw pagtukod ug 41,000 classrooms sa tuig 2012

by Alma L. Tingcang
MANILA , Sept. 20 (PIA) –- Si Education Secretary Armin Luistro miingon kagahapong adlawa nga ang administrasyon ni Presidente Benigno C. Aquino III misaad nga tubagon ang kakulangon sa classrooms pinaagi sa pagtukod ug 41,000 nga lawak klasehan sa tuig 2012.
“Atong tubagon ang nagdugang nga kakulangon sa matag tuig ug alang sa 2012 nga budget, magtukod kita ug 41,000 classrooms,” si Luistro miingon atol sa Senate hearing kalabot sa proposed P191 bilyon nga budget sa DepEd sunod tuig.
Matod pa nga sa P18.2 bilyon nga gitagana alang sa konstruksiyon ug pag-renovate sa school buildings sa 2012, ang P5 bilyon ipahigayon pinaagi sa public ug private partnership o kining gitawag nga PPP program.
Ang DepEd mipahayag nga ilang tubagon ang lima ka nag-unang kakulangon sama sa magtutudlo, textbooks, mga bangko, ingon man ang water ug sanitation facilities.
“Sa Disyembre 2012, kadaghanan sa mga kakulangon sa mga milabay’ng tuig masulbad na. Matag tuig, adunay pag-repair sa mga classrooms. Ang atong ginaapas mao kadtong mga tuig nga napasagdan,” si Luistro miingon.
Samtang sa laing bahin, nanawagan si Senator Franklin Drilon sa Commission on Audit nga susihon ang dakong kalainan tali sa cost-effective schoolbuilding program nga gipasiugdahan sa senador sa pakig-kumboya sa pribadong sector ug sa DepEd.
“Kinahanglan susihon kini sa COA…adunay basehan alang sa usa ka COA inquiry,” miingon si Drilon nga maoy chairman sa Finance Committee, sa usa ka interview.
Si Drilon nagkanayon nga adunay basehan alang sa usa ka state audit agency aron pagsusi sa costing sa school building program sa DepEd, ug matod pa nga ang konstruksiyon sa matag classroom pinaagi sa Drilon-Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) mas barato ug katunga sa presyo kung ikumpara sa mga classrooms nga gitukod sa gobyerno.
Sumala pa, pinaagi ning pagtambayayong sa pribadong sector, ang cost effective schoolbuildings magkantidad lamang ug P650,000 matag building nga adunay 2 ka classrooms, samtang ang maong kantidad magtukod lamang ug usa ka classroom ubos sa DepEd.
Ang DepEd naglaraw usab sa pagtubag sa kakulangon sa kuryente sa may 9,000 pampublikong tulonghaan sa tibuok nasod. (ALT-PIA9/Zambo Sur)