Army adopts Mt Province school
Bontoc, Mt. Province (28 September) — The 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army has adopted the All Saints Mission Elementary School here in support to the Military Social Responsibility Program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the “Adopt a School” program of the Department of Education.
Capt. Adonis Banez, 501st Brigade Information Officer, said the program which was launched last September 22, aims to assist the pupils in terms of health integration and the school in making it conducive to learning. This is also aimed at bringing the government, the military in particular, closer to the people.
About 290 pupils from kindergarten to Grade 6 were provided with dental supplies like tooth brush and tooth paste as well as Vitamin C during the launching. The pupils were also shown proper way of caring for the teeth and other preventive dental health concerns.
Col Eliseo Posadas, 501 Brigade Commander School Principal, also impressed upon the pupils education is the key to realizing one’s dream and for having a brighter future as he urged them to obey and respect their parents and teachers, Banez said.
In his homily during the mass to launch the project, Bishop Brent Alawas of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines that runs the school, said the project is very timely as he stressed that this should go’beyond tangible, material things and ceremonies but more that both can be partners to do better and to do more for the service of God, country and people”.
Dr. Edmund Comaad and the faculty and staff thanked the soldiers for choosing their school for the said project.
According to Banez, the “adopting” of the All Saints Mission School is the first to be implemented by the 5ID in its area of responsibility. (PIA)
DOH to cluster Hospitals in Cagayan Valley
by Oliver T. Baccay
Tuguegarao City (28 September) — Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona has proposed for clustering of public hospitals in Cagayan Valley Region to involve local officials to address problems concerning medical services.
Ona, in his visit to the health facilities in the region, said if standards of the Department of Health on hospital facilities and services are concern, there are lots of lucking facilities in the public hospitals here but due to financial constraints these remains to be problem on health issues.
He said these issues and concerns may be addressed by involving the Local Government Units through clustering the public hospitals. The Local Chief Executives of the provinces, to where the patients catered by the public hospitals in the region are coming from, will seat as board of directors.
“In this way we could easily solve some problems arising in the hospitals and identify the serious diseases that are present in the area”, Ona stated.
In the general assessment of the Secretary, he said all hospitals in the region needs improvement especially on the facilities needed including the use of computer in filing and data banking.
He further stated that the Cagayan Valley Medical Center here remains to be the regional government hospital that caters to patients from nearby provinces such as Isabela, Quirino, Kalinga, Apayao and Cagayan.
“This provinces will help us address the needs of our patients considering that the bulk of our clients are their constituents”, Ona added.
On the other hand, Ona is also pushing on the health insurance program of the government for indigent families considering the number of poor families who need medical insurance from the region. (PIA 2)
BIR Cavite conducts seminar for schools, other educational institutions
Trece Martires City (27 September) — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue District Office No. 54-A helda one-day information seminar at the ground floor of the provincial capitol recently for schools in the province to better understand the taxability of the educational institutions
Real thoroughly explained the so called, “Taxability of Schools” and reminded that “paying correct taxes is an obligation not only for schools but for all other individuals, corporations and other businesses operating in the country.”
With regards to tax exemption of non-stock and nonprofit educational institution, Real explained that under the 1987 Constitution (Article XIV, Section 4), it states “that all revenues and assets of non-stock, nonprofit educational institutions that shall used, directly and exclusively for educational purposes shall be exempt from taxes and duties”.
This preferential treatment (tax benefits) according to Real is subject to various limitations provided by law which includes restrictions on dividends and provisions for reinvestment as in the case of propriety educational institutions or cooperatively owned.
Other topics discussed were focused on income and withholding taxes, documentary tax and VAT or percentages for those accredited with DepEd, CHED, TESDA and other government agencies and the enrollment in electronic DST system and electronic filing and Payment System (EFPS). (BIR RDO- 54A/PIA-Cavite)
Nueva Vizcaya smoke-free project gets P.4M fund
by Ben Moses Ebreo
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (September 27) — The Smoke-Free Nueva Vizcaya Project here is expected to roll out in 2011 with the allocation of at least P.4 million recently by the Provincial Development Council (PDC).
The Smoke-Free Nueva Vizcaya Project involves the full implementation of the provincial board ordinance on anti-smoking.
“This program will have several components to fully institutionalize the anti-smoking ordinance such as massive information dissemination activities, smoking cessation programs and activities and reward system for anti-smoking advocates among others,” said Dr. Edwin Galapon, provincial health officer.
The provincial ordinance was approved in March 10 this year, prohibiting smoking in public places, transportation terminals and schools among other places in the province.
The provincial ordinance which will be cascaded within the 15 local government units in the province penalizes violators with the following offenses and penalties: P1,500 fine for the first offense, P2,500 for 2nd offense and P5,000 for the third.
Galapon also appealed to the public to support the ordinance as this will contribute to the elimination of the one of the major causes of diseases and illnesses developed from the habit of smoking.
Statistics showed that smoking is prevalent mostly among males with ages ranging from 20 to 50 years old bracket.
The anti-smoking project in the province is funded by the Bloomberg Foundation under the Fourmula 1 agenda of the Department of Health (DOH). (PIA NVizcaya)
PNP appeals to drivers to observe traffic laws, impose self discipline
by Joseph B Zambarano
Baguio City (25 September) — Traffic violators in the city are averaging 230 a day translating to P30,000 collection in fines for the City Treasury, according to the Baguio City Police Office-Traffic Management Group.
P/Supt. Engelbert Soriano, Chief Traffic Officer, said the number one violation committed by motorist is illegal parking or obstruction, followed by non observance of traffic regulations and the number coding system.
Most drivers defy the traffic laws in the Central Business District (CBD) especially along Session Road, Harrison Road, Mabini, Gen. Luna, Calderon Street and Lake Drive, Soriano said.
He also disclosed that public transport drivers disobey the wearing of uniform and seatbelt or their jeepneys or taxis are smoke belchers. The private motorists, on the other hand usually disregard the no-parking signages.
Soriano appealed to all motorist to observe traffic laws and impose self discipline in order to have smooth traffic flow in the city.
The various jeepney and taxi association should police their own rank and impose sanctions to their members who are perennial violators, Soriano added.
Meanwhile, Soariano said traffic along Magsaysay Road greatly improved when Mayor Mauricio Domogan approved the use of Bokawkan Road for La Trinidad jeepneys.
The rerouting scheme is on experimental basis adopted by city officials towards improving the flow of traffic, he said. (PIA)
Army troopers unearth gravesites in Albay and Sorsogon
Legazpi City (23 September) — Army soldiers recently unearthed two gravesites of three civilians that were summarily executed by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) in Albay and Sorsogon, military reports said.
A former rebel, who is now helping the military in its campaign against the insurgents, pinpointed the exact location of the gravesite.
Oberio identified the victims as Manuel Harden, 46, and his brother Domingueto, 44, both members of the communist movement.
The victims were accused by the communist movement as military assets and were sentenced to death through the movement’s ‘kangaroo court’.
In Sorsogon Army soldiers also exhumed on September 9 the remains of Julius Escudero, a militiaman who was abducted and killed by the NPA sometime in 2006.
The remains of Escudero were exhumed in barangay Marinas, a remote village in Sorsogon City.
According to military intelligence the discovery of the various gravesites is an indication that the communist movement continues to purge its own ranks and resort of extra judicial killing against those members they believe are returning into the folds of the law.
Major General Ruperto Pabustan, commander of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division, has called on various human rights groups and local officials to denounce the dastardly acts by the NPA bandits.
“The continuous killing spree perpetrated by the NPA in 2010 is the indication that the bandit group remains as the main violators of the International Humanitarian Law. It is high time that local leaders and human rights groups take a stand to condemn these senseless killings,” said Pabustan.
Meanwhile, a notorious gang member was s shot to death by suspected NPA rebels on Wednesday (September 15) in Pamplona town in Camarines Sur, a military official said.
LtCol Ernesto Cruz, commander of the Army’s 42nd Infantry Battalion based in Camarines Sur, identified the victim as Sonny Nollasco, 27, a resident of Tambo village, Pamplona town.
Cruz said that five armed men approached the victim near his house and dragged him to a swamp where he was shot in close range with Cal.45 pistol at around 10:20am Wednesday.
“The victim was tagged as a member of the notorious hold-up gang in the area. He was shot to death in front of his relatives who witnessed the crime,” said Cruz.
Lt. Col. Leoncio Cirunay, Commander of the 22nd Infantry Battalion also said that Nollasco was a former NPA rebel who asked for his help in going back to mainstream society.
“I was studying the possibility of letting him (Nollasco) join my CAFGU personnel. This is my own way of helping enlightened members of the bandit group to become peaceful citizens in our country,” said Cirunay.
Nollasco is the 35th victim of the bandit group’s policy of extra-judicial killing after the shooting of Rey Diolata, 24, in Gubat town in Sorsogon on September 10. Diolata was killed by NPA rebels in front of his wife and children. (PNA Bicol/PIA/mal)
PNoy names new GSIS president, 13 other new officials
Manila (21 September) — President Benigno Aquino III on September 20 appointed Hong Kong-based fund manager Robert Vergara as new president and general manager of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), including 13 other new officials in government corporations.
Before the GSIS appointment, Mr. Vergara served as a fund manager and director of Lionhart (Hong Kong) Ltd. specializing in equity arbitrage and relative value trading.
Mr. Vergara has vast experience in wealth management. He had previously worked in Morgan Stanley Asia and Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein Asia.
The President also named three new members of the GSIS board of trustees, namely George Yu, Roman Felipe Reyes, and Danilo Gozo.
Meanwhile, President Aquino has also appointed Domingo Diaz as new member of the board of the Land Bank of the Philippines representing agrarian reform beneficiaries, and Tomas de Leon Jr., on the other hand, represents the private sector as member of the board in Land Bank. Mr. De Leon takes the place of Cyril del Callar.
The President also appointed three commissioners in the Social Security System, namely, Jose Cuisia Jr. as representative of the employer’s group; Daniel Edralin as representative of the workers’ sector; and Marinita Mendoza as woman representative.
Furthermore, Grace Cenas was appointed administrator of the National Dairy Authority (NDA), replacing Orkhan Usman. Ms. Cenas had previously worked as NDA-Central Visayas manager.
Appointed government board members of the Philippine Coconut Authority were Ponciano Batugal, Cesar Villariba Jr., Rafael Sarucam, and Marcos Dumandan. (PIA 
Philhealth to launch nationwide registration
By Dave M. Suyao
Manila (20 September) — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation will launch a nationwide registration that will recognize the priority program of Pres. Benigno Aquino III to ensure that all Filipinos, especially the poor, shall have access to health care services through universal health care in three years or less.
In a one day orientation on the National Philhealth Registration Day on October 2, 2010 attended by some 60 participants and stakeholders, Dr. Cesar Cassion, OIC Asst. Regional Director of DOH-CHD Caraga presented the joint Memorandum of Agreement on the conduct of the National Registration Day signed by several Cabinet secretaries.
The signatories include DOH Secretary of Health Hon. Enrique Ona, DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman, DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo, Education Sec. Armin Luistro, Philhealth Pres. Rey Aquino, League of Provinces of the Philippines Pres. Gov. Alfonso Umali, League of Cities of the Philippines Pres. Oscar Rodriguez and League od Municipalities of the Philippines Pres. Ramon Guico stating for a unified effort among concerned government agencies to ensure that all Filipinos be enrolled in Philhealth under the leadership of the Department of Health and the urgent need to increase public awareness regarding the entitlements and responsibilities to Philhealth coverage.
According to Philhealth Social Insurance Chief Jocelyn Canete, the nationwide registration and advocacy will be the mirror of the duties and responsibilities of Philhealth on socialized health insurance so that people must know that on the socialized health insurance, the rich will help the poor, the young will help the aged and the healthy will help the sick.
“Although we did not sustain the enrolment of philhealth membership before, we believe that with the help of all the stakeholders and partner agencies specially the local government units, we will reach our people and educate them on the advantages and benefits that Philhealth could extend to them,” Ms Canete said.
Ms Canete added that the synchronized registration on October 2 will only be the start of the never ending registration of membership of Philhealth. Canete said that for the municipalities like San Luis, Sibagat, Esperanza Loreto, Prosperidad, Rosario, Bunawan, Sta. Josefa and Veruela who were not included in the list of municipalities in the conduct of synchronized registration where the five registration kiosk are located, can submit their proposed schedule and Philhealth will be always there to do their duties.
It can be recalled that even years before, registration of the poor with Philhealth is one of the priority program of Gov. Eddiebong Plaza, and was continued by Gov. Tina Plaza with the 14 municipal mayors of Agusan del Sur. In fact, the provincial government have set aside funds in order to address the financial requirements of the most needy in order for them to enjoy the benefits that Philhealth could give. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)
President Aquino to meet Pinoys in US
Manila (20 September) — President Benigno Aquino III will meet the Filipino-American community during his seven day-working visit to the United States.
A Malacanang report said that a meeting with the Filipino-American community in New York and San Francisco is included in the President’s schedule during his U.S. visit.
President Aquino will personally thank the Filipino-American community for their support and enlist their involvement in the new government’s national and economic agenda, according to the report.
Data from the Commission on Filipino Overseas showed that there are an estimated 2.84 million Filipinos living in the U.S., accounting for 34 percent of the total Filipinos overseas. They contribute about 42 percent of the total remittances sent to the Philippines.
President Aquino’s U.S. visit will be highlighted by his speech before the UN General Assembly in New York on September 24 and a meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. He will also attend the 2nd ASEAN-US Leaders’ Meeting to discuss international and regional issues and cooperation between the regional group and the world’s leading economy prior to his UN address.
During the ASEAN-US Leaders’ Meeting, President Aquino will have an opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with President Barack Obama as well as his counterparts in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, among them Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Vietnamese Prime Minister Ngyuen Minh Triet and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The Malacanang report further said that the President will also attend the signing of the $434-million Millennium Challenge Compact Agreement between the Philippine government and the US Millennium Challenge Corporation while in New York. The funding assistance will be channeled to the Aquino Administration’s programs on poverty reduction, revenue generation and infrastructure development.
President Aquino will meet with World Bank president Robert Zoellick, select CEOs, top businessmen and potential investors during his visit. He will also address an economic conference organized by Citibank.
President Aquino is expected to bring economic development projects and job-generating investments and strengthen the country’s ties with other nations in his first overseas travel since he assumed the presidency last June. (LAFrench/PIA)
DOST Abra now accepting applications for undergraduate scholarship
by Maritess Beñas
Bangued, Abra (18 September) — The Department of Science and Technology is advising applicants to the 2011 Science and Technology Undergraduate Scholarships in the province to submit their application forms as soon as possible in order to beat the October 8 deadline of submission to DOST regional Office.
DOST Provincial Officer Menandro Buenafe said the scholarship program under Republic Act No. 7687 awards Bachelor of Science degree scholarships to students who wish to pursue priority fields of study in science, mathematics and engineering.
Awardees may seek admission and enroll at any of the state universities and colleges and other tertiary institutions that are identified as Centers of Excellence by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Applicants will have to pass the qualifying examination for admission by the university where they plan to enroll.
Buenafe urges all school heads to encourage their students to take the scholarship examination. The scholarship program of the DOST primarily aims to provide free education to poor but deserving students who are willing to stay in the country after their graduation and serve here.
Who are qualified to take the scholarship examination? Applicants must be natural-born Filipino citizens, poor but talented and deserving student, must belong to the upper 5% of the graduating class, or a member of the graduating class of a DOST-SEI-identified or DepEd-recognized science high school, a resident of the municipality for at least four years as attested by the barangay or school records, of good moral character and a qualifier of the 2011 S&T Scholarship Examination.
Buenafe emphasized the applicant must not have earned any units in any post-secondary or undergraduate course, and must not have taken any DOST-SEI Science and Technology Scholarship Examination. The applicant must not have applied for immigrant status in the USA or any other country since scholars who graduate under the said scholarship program are required to render service in the country after their graduation.
Application forms are now available at the DOST Provincial Offices at the Provincial Capitol Annex Building in Bangued and at the Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology (ASIST) Lagangilang, Abra. Forms are also available at the office of the Philippine Information Agency, also located at the Provincial Capitol Annex Building in Bangued.
The test permits will be mailed to the applicant or school principal. In case the test permits are not received before examination day, the examinees should check with the DOST regional or provincial offices a day before the examination and proceed to the designated test center.
Examination will be on November 21, 2010 at the Abra High School in Bangued, Abra. The first batch of examinees will take their exams at 7:00 AM to 12:00 NN, and the second batch is set at 1:00 PM to 6:00PM. (PIA-Abra)
