Isabela Comelec awaits COC filers
The election office, now headed by former Santiago City Election Officer Manuel Castillo, is open 24 hours to candidates who wish to file their COCs for the provincial posts from governorship to Sangguniang Panlalawigan members.
Llocal politicians are still busy finalizing their respective line-ups before deciding to file their Certificates of Candidacy especially for municipal positions anytime these coming days until December 1, 2009.
Earlier, election assistant Marites Salvador said that all municipal Comelec offices in the entire province are ready to receive COCs from aspiring candidates until the deadline of filing.
She said the Comelec COC forms for municipal candidates are available at the municipal election office and candidates may get a copy of the documents at the same time advised candidates to accomplish the COC and submit to the Comelec offices. (PIA Isabela)
PGMA directs agencies to prepare for El Niño
by PS Mabaquiao
The President ordered the Department of Agriculture to rush completion of farmland irrigation projects in anticipation of the looming effect of El Niño during the Joint National Economic Development Authority and National Anti-Poverty Commission meeting held in Malacañang.
NEDA Deputy Director General Margarita Songco, had earlier reported that, based on scientific studies, a long dry spell would most likely hit the country early next year. She said that data gathered in the past several months showed that the weather phenomenon, characterized by extreme temperature rise with little rainfall, has begun affecting various areas of the country.
She also said that the Visayas and Mindanao regions have been experiencing below-normal rainfall conditions despite the three typhoons hitting Luzon in the past month.
In Antique, the National Irrigation Administration under Engr. Jose Oredina is doubling its efforts in preparing not just irrigation facilities but also farmers to participate in mitigating the effects of long dry spell.
Julito Pamiroyan, Senior Irrigation Development Officer said that they have already outlined activities in anticipation of the dry phenomenon. Among which are the regular maintenance of irrigation facilities especially canals to maintain continuous flow of irrigation water to farmlands and water scheduling for the 3rd cropping season.
“Rice planting for the 3rd cropping is also discouraged especially in downstream areas to avoid damage in crops. Instead farmers are advised to plant other crops like monggo, peanuts and other nitrogen fixing plants not only for food production but also as means to bring back the fertility of the soil”, said Pamiroyan.
Rehabilitation of some irrigation facilities damage by typhoon frank last year was already completed and facilities are being used by the farmers, however, Pamiroyan said, there are areas which were severely damaged by typhoon whose funds were not yet released like in the case of Bugo and Banayan irrigation dams which serve wide farmlands in San Remigio.
Pamiroyan appealed to farmers to be cooperative and follow the water distribution schedule (on rotational scheme) especially those in the upstream to allow the irrigation water to flow downstream so that farmers in outlying areas can avail of it. They are also urged to participate in the maintenance of irrigation canals and repair if necessary. (PIA)
Albay sets “Gawad sa Edukasyon” next month
by MD Rama
The “Gawad sa Edukasyon” is a province-wide search for principals, teachers and students who exceed the average standards and soar high in the chosen field.
Categories for Gawad sa Edukasyon are:
- Students Excellence Award for Leadership (SEAL) to student achievers in academics and leadership in both public and private elementary and secondary schools in the province;
- Search for Outstanding Teachers of Albay (TOTAL) – a continuing search for outstanding teachers in elementary and secondary;
- Three Outstanding Principals in the Countryside of Albay (TROPICAL) – a similar search as the TOTAL to identify and reward three principals in the province whose leadership resulted to academic excellence, social relevance, organizational efficiency and recognition of their school; and,
- LGUs (local government units) Best practices in Education (Kadunong) – this category will encourage other LGUs to infuse education as the finest program that produces a lifetime return of investment in the locality.
The successful 10 outstanding teachers as well as three outstanding principals will receive plaque and P100,000 cash each. While an LGU with best practices in education will receive P200,000 and P20,000 each for 10 students with excellent leadership.
Governor Joel Salceda has allocated an amount of P5 million for the Gawad sa Edukasyon which was introduced in 2008 as an effective motivating factor to better performance.
The provincial government of Albay awards cash certificates, trophies, plaques, medals to achievers and high performers.
These extrinsic rewards are reinforcing motivation that clearly recognizes outstanding achievements.
During the same occasion the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Albay is also set to give the highest provincial honor and P250,000 cash gift to Efren Penaflorida. He bested nine other nominees from different countries for the Hero of the Year award initiated by CNN.
The nominees were initially selected by a panel of 14 “Blue Panel” luminaries but the Hero of the Year award is given to the one with the most number of online votes in the CNN Heroes website.
For his innovative “Kariton Klasrum” (pushcart classroom) Filipino educator Peñaflorida has been awarded by CNN as “2009 Hero of the Year.”
Governor Salceda said Albay will make Penaflorida an honorary son of the province. “Regional Development Council chairman we will make similar commendation.”
“His sense of civic duty should inspire citizens, reignite hope for our nation but remind public servants to bring service closer to the people and more importantly employ political will and local leadership,” Salceda said. (PNA Bicol/PIA)
PGMA, Salceda to ink P977.3-M for 4Ps in Albay
by MA Loterte and NI Mediavillo
Legazpi City (24 November) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Governor Joey Salceda of Albay will sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) tomorrow (November 24) in Malacañang.
Salceda disclosed that President Arroyo has approved some P977.3 million to fund the implementation of 4Ps for Albay, which will be carried out through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Salceda said that from Libon town as the sole beneficiary since the inception of the program, 4ps will expand its coverage to other 11 municipalities including Polangui, Daraga, Libon, Jovellar, Pioduran, Rapu-rapu, Manito, Sto. Domingo, Malilipot, Bacacay, Malinao and three cities namely Tabaco, Legazpi and Ligao.
He added that every identified family-beneficiary will receive P1,400 monthly financial subsidy for five years.
The provincial government of Albay targets 180,370 households, however, some 69,803 of which have been identified and qualified based from the criteria set by DSWD.
4Ps is a poverty reduction strategy of the government providing cash grants to extremely poor households to improve health, nutrition, and education in the family, particularly of children aged 0-14 years old.
Salceda noted that a total of P977.3 million is the annual budgetary requirement of 4Ps in the province per year, adding that the amount is much higher than the annual budget of the provincial government.
Cash grants will only be released to the most responsible adult member of every household, usually the mother, through electronic card banking system of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).
Program beneficiaries will be identified based on a scoring system, utilizing the socio-economic characteristics of the household, such as non-ownership of assets/appliances, type of housing unit, level of educational attainment of household head and non-access to water and sanitation facilities.
Salceda stressed that parents or heads of the family must see to it that their children will go to school regularly, avail of the necessary health services and come up with a livelihood in order for them to receive regular cash grant.
“Failure to comply with these conditions means the grant will be automatically suspended,” he said.
4Ps aims to pursue the country’s commitment to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), such as eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, achievement of universal primary education, promotion of gender equality, reduction of child mortality and improvement of maternal health.
The program also intends to provide social assistance, providing cash grants to poorest families for their immediate needs (short term poverty alleviation); and pursues social development, breaking the intergenerational poverty cycle through investments in human capital.
4Ps has since been carried out in the provinces of Sorsogon, Masbate and in Libon town in Albay.
Salceda is optimistic that the expanded 4Ps will be implemented by June 2010. (PIA V/RnB)
Party Convention
MANILA (November 20, 2009) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo formally opens the Lakas-Kampi-CMD National Convention Thursday, November 19, at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City which was attended by an estimated 3,000 delegates from all over the country. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
PGMA
MANILA (November 20, 2009) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo addresses delegates during the Lakas-Kampi-CMD National Convention Thursday, November 19, at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City where she relinquished leadership of the party to former Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, who she said had what it took to steer it to become “the party of the future.” (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
President’s Exit
MANILA (November 20, 2009) – Supporters greet President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as she leaves the Lakas-Kampi-CMD National Convention Thursday, November 19, at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
PhilHealth increases claims for normal delivery package
by Juliet Saley
Bontoc, Mt. Province (21 November) — The Philippine Health Insurance Company (PhilHealth) has increased payment for claims for Normal Spontaneous Delivery (NSD) package and Maternity Care Package (MCP) to P6,500.00 from P4,500.00.
PhilHealth Mt. Province Officer Jose Safawil announced during the recent Provincial Health meeting that this new benefit package is issued through Philhealth Circular No.39,s.2009.
The circular provides that under the Normal Spontaneous Delivery package, the P6,500.00 is applicable to normal deliveries of the first four births in all accredited hospitals.
The amount is divided into three, P2,500 is for facility fee component that covers hospital charges for room and board, drugs and medicines, laboratory, supplies and other ancillary procedures; labor room, delivery room and recovery room; and other medically necessary charges for delivery and postpartum care.
The other P2,500.00 is for physician component to cover payment of professional fee of accredited professionals for delivery services, immediate post-partum care and counseling for reproductive health, breastfeeding and newborn care.
The other P1,500.00 is for prenatal care component for reimbursement of members’ prenatal expenses prior to confinement which may cover any of the following prenatal expenses: drugs and medicines; laboratory tests and ancillary procedures; tetanus immunization; and prenatal consultations as supported by official receipts.
For normal spontaneous delivery accompanied by bilateral tubal ligation procedures in one confinement, both packages will be reimbursed and for normal spontaneous delivery beyond the first four births accompanied by bilateral, claim will be paid as BTL package only. (PIA Mt. Province)
Ifugao PLGU trains 415 youth on computer literacy
by Vency D. Bulayungan
Lamut, Ifugao (21 November) — The Provincial Government trained 415 youth from the different municipalities here on computer literacy.
Virginia Kimayong, Ifugao Computer Learning Center head and a staff of the Provincial Social Welfare Office here said that the enrollees in said training are out of school youth. The participants have ten weeks hands on training and four weeks on the Job Training (OJT).
Initiated in 2004, the activity seeks to divert the attention of the youth to a worthwhile activity and to inculcate into the minds of the young the importance of education. Because of the said trainings, 86% of the youth went back to school and were able to finish their studies, Kimayong said. 8% were employed and 5% got married, she added.
With only 17 computer units, the project is implemented through the initiative of the Engineers Without Borders, an organization of engineers in Canada who are soliciting computers abroad to be brought to Third World countries.
The said project was implemented through the DSWD which helped determine the beneficiaries.
Aside from the computer training, social workers share messages on values and different life skills. (PIA-Ifugao)
DPWH requests P25-M for road clearing
by Joseph B Zambrano
Bangued (21 November) — The Department Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Cordillera Region requested more than Php 25 million for the payment of removal and clearing of slides along the national roads caused by the recent typhoons.
DPWH Director Roy Manao said that they have forwarded the request for funding to their Central Office and awaiting allocation.
The Abra District Engineering Office (DEO) needs total amount of Php 928,800.00; Baguio City, Php 3,875,446.00; Benguet First DEO, Php 7,389,876,00; Benguet Second, DEO P6,325,343.80; Apayao First DEO, Php665,800.00; Apayao Second DEO, Php 2,208,320.00; Ifugao DEO, Php 3,892,910.00; Kalinga DEO, Php 532,644.85 and Mt. Province DEO, Php 3,684,662.00. The amount is computed as of October 2009.
The private contractors who work for the clearing of the roads so it will be passable are not yet paid up to this time, Manao added.
We are lobbying for the speedy release of funding so we can pay the private contractors. I would like to acknowledge them for working out of credit just to clear our roads and make it passable, Manao said.
It can be recalled during the typhoon Pepeng, Baguio City and other parts of the region were isolated for several days due to massive road cuts and landslide.
Our office and other government offices can not do it alone during the clearing operations and without the private sector as our partners, perhaps some of our roads are still closed. Manao said. (PIA)
