P-Noy inaugurates expressway extension in Cavite
by Ruel B. Francisco
KAWIT, Cavite, April 29(PIA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III led the inauguration of the newly-completed R-1 expressway extension, segment 4 of the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (MCTE) Project on April 27, 2011. The expressway extension is expected to serve as a major connection between Metro Manila and this province and directly benefit commuters and businessmen.
The R-1 Expressway Extension, segment 4 is a dual two lane, north and south bound, seven kilometer expressway built over water, and a combination of reclamation and viaduct works traversing Bacoor and stretching to Kawit, constructed by Sargasso Construction Development Corporation in joint venture with Atom Development Corporation from January 2007 to April 2011.
President Aquino said, one of the priorities of his administration is the construction and upgrading of all existing highways in the country so that passengers and businessmen can travel faster thus, distribution of goods will be more efficient.
The President also mentioned two road rehabilitation projects will also be launched this year namely: Ternate-Nasugbu Road and the Molino –Bacoor Boulevard. He also cited the proposed Cavite-Laguna Road or CALA in which the feasibility study is nearing completion and hopefully, awarded as soon as possible to the winning bidders.
The crowd cheered when the President cited the proposed LRT south and the conversion of Sangley Point Naval Base in Cavite City as alternative airport because the NAIA terminal is partly congested and needs additional landing space. (CPG/PIA-Cavite)
Abra Electric Cooperative now a real cooperative
by Maritess B. Beñas
BANGUED, Abra, May 1(PIA) – - Member consumers of the Abra Electric Cooperative (ABRECO) during the special general assembly last April 30, ratified the coop’s Code of by-laws in a step closer to the completion of the requirements of the Cooperative Development Authority(CDA)for permanent registration of ABRECO as a real cooperative.
All the provisions of the code of by-laws were presented and discussed in detail for the appreciation of the quorum before it was moved and duly seconded for ratification.
Salient features of the new code of by-laws include among others, the details of the conduct of district elections and the respective scheduling per district since not all districts elect their directors at the same time in order not to create a vacuum of leadership in the board of directors. The first schedule of elections is on May 2011.
The conduct of the regular general assembly meeting is on the first quarter of every year.
The code of by-laws further establishes the Committee on Mediation and Conciliation in order for ABRECO to resolve intra-cooperative disputes.
ABRECO as a cooperative under the CDA rules and regulations, can enjoy the benefits of a cooperative such as its engagement in business ventures that would promote the benefit and welfare of the general membership and the cooperative as a whole particularly those that would lead to 100 percent electrification of the entire service area.
The Abreco board has followed the standards set by CDA to observe at least ten days prior to the scheduled special General Assembly meeting to post notices of meeting in conspicuous places for the member-consumers to be able to read so that they will attend.
During the meeting, there were raffle draws for prizes that included home appliances like television sets, rice cookers, and other electric-consuming appliances. (JDP/MBB-PIA CAR,Abra)
Red Cross conducts training on water search and rescue
by Suzette Adduru
TUGUEGARAO CITY, May 1 (PIA) — As part of capacity building for rescuers, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Cagayan Chapter recently conducted a weeklong training on water search and rescue at Sta. Ana, Cagayan to broaden the skills and knowledge of Red Cross volunteers to respond effectively during floods.
According to Elger R. Cordova, chapter service representative, the participants were chosen based on the following requirements: physically and mentally fit as certified by a physician; can commit to serve as a full time volunteer of the organization and he/she must have at least one standard first aid and basic life support training.
Cordova emphasized that the training mainly focused on structural collapsed rescue and water search and rescue wherein the trainees were taught with the different techniques and cribbing in search and rescue and they were also oriented on how to search and rescue using the different rescue equipment.
In water search and rescue, trainees were trained on water survival, boat handling and management, different search and rescue techniques, maneuver and navigation skills, navigation rules when in water, and communication rules in navigation.
Max Grande Ballad , chapter service representative said, specialized volunteers were trained to prepare to response well during calamities because during previous typhoons like typhoon Juan they were not able to reach areas like in riverbanks and Macapagal road of Tuguegarao City due to lack of equipment and trained manpower.
Ballad said through the years, the PRC has endeavored to improve its effectiveness by developing its own capabilities. #TCB/SRA-PIA 2
Anti-dengue drive stepped-up
CALOOCAN CITY, April 26 (PIA) – This city is intensifying its dengue-causing mosquitoes as the number dengue cases tend to rise during the summer season.
The Department of Health (DOH) explains that mosquito-carrying dengue, Aedes Aegypti, multiplies easily during this time in clearer waters – in fower vases, cans, rain barrels, old rubber tires, and the like – to lay eggs for hatching.
Because of this, Caloocan’s Environment Sanitation Services (ESS) was instructed to strictly observe the local government’s campaign dubbed “Caloocan Ko, Love Ko.” It is a campaign aiming to keep the surroundings clean.
In support of the move, all Caloocan barangay officials will enforce similar measures concerning the campaign, in their respective locales. Aside from this, the local government vowed to carry on with its “misting” campaign, a far-easier method to eliminate dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
With misting, workers from the City Health Department will place a certain type of liquid at identified breeding grounds of mosquitoes. Once the liquid dries, it becomes more effective in killing the particular insect.
Dengue patients manifests having high fever – which lasts between two and seven days, joint pain, skin rashes, nose bleeding, vomiting, and producing feces with somewhat dark tone.
Residents who may experience such symptoms are advised to seek immediate help at their nearest health centers and hospital. (Caloocan-PIO/RJB/DBNV-PIA NCR)
PNP 2 conducts random check to ensure zero casualty on Lenten season
by Merlito G. Edale Jr.
CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela, April 21 (PIA) – Police officials and personnel from the Police Regional Office 2 (PRO2) conducted an unannounced random check on some police stations in the province on their security readiness to ensure zero casualty during the observance of Holy Week.
Police Senior Supt Jovencio Carillo, inspected the security readiness of police personnel in the implementation the Police Integrated Patrol System (PIPS) as well as establishment of Police Assistance Center and Mobile Assistance Center to strategic areas in the province.
Carillo said his group will be visiting other police stations in Isabela to ensure peace and order during the Lenten season.
In Ilagan, the Isabela Police Provincial Office (IPPO) chief Jimmy U. Rivera has directed the chiefs of the municipal police stations to strictly implement the required security plans in their areas of jurisdiction to avert criminal activities or terroristic acts.
Since Monday, police personnel had been dispatched in bus terminals and airports to secure passengers in their travel to spend the holy week in their respective provinces. Well- known tourist spots in the province were also posted with police personnel
In Santiago City, rescue units were ordered to stand by even on Holy Thursday and Good Friday to respond to emergencies at a 24/7 basis.
Claro Comoda, head of the Santiago City’s Rescue 922 assured that their office will serve the Santiaguenos evenduring holidays to respond whenever there are emergencies in the city. # (PNP PRO 2 conducts random check on police readiness to ensure zero casualty on Lenten season
BIR exceeds March target collections
MANILA, April 22 (PIA)–The Bureau of Internal Revenue collected a total of P71.56 billion in taxes for the month of March 2011 exceeding its target by about 5.13 percent.
In March 2010, the BIR collected a total of P58.31 billion while this year’s actual collections expanded by P13.25 billion for a growth of 22.7 percent.
The last time March collections grew by more than 20 percent was five years ago in March `06 when actual performance expanded by 21 percent, a news release posted at the DOF website said.
The BIR first quarter tax collections have already reached P199.55 billion, marking a P2.51 billion excess over the first quarter goal of P197.04 billion.
The first quarter performance also marks an expansion over the actual collections for the same period of 2010 at P173.89 billion, by more than P25,65 billion for a growth of 14.75 percent. (DOF/RJB/SDL-PIA NCR)
Immigration to review I-Card documents
MANILA, April 19 (PIA)–THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) will review the documents currently submitted by I-Card applicants to weed out fake documents and ensure that only authentic ones are processed who can get the I-Cards.
Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr., in a statement posted at the BI website yesterday, said I-Card procedures “were being reviewed so they could be streamlined to address the concerns of visa applicants complaining about alleged delays in the issuance of their cards.”
The alien certificate of registration identity cards (ACR-I-Cards) serves as proof of a foreigner’s legal residence status in the country and that alien is duly registered with the BI.
The I-card is issued after a foreigner’s application for resident visa is approved by the BI board of commissioners and implemented on his or her passport by the bureau’s executive office.
David added that the bureau is also reviewing the rules and procedures for processing other visas and immigration documents as part of his thrust to cut red tape in the agency.
He said he had received reports that some foreigners managed to acquire I-Cards by submitting fake documents.
“The I-Cards are accountable government forms, thus, we cannot allow them to fall into the wrong hands,” David said. (BI/RJB/SDL-PIA NCR)
DILG to help control cholera outbreak in Palawan
MANILA, April 16 (PIA) — Secretary Jesse M. Robredo of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has directed the regional office of DILG in Region IV-B (MIMAROPA) to assist in controlling the cholera outbreak in the Municipality of Bataraza in Palawan.
Robredo issued the directive to DILG Regional Director Rolando Calabazaron.
At least 30 persons, mostly children, died in the southernmost town in the main island of Palawan after contracting cholera.
Reports obtained from the Department of Health (DOH), revealed that the main causes of the outbreak are drinking “contaminated or unclean” water as well as the “poor sanitation practices” of residents in the area.
Robredo ordered DILG-MIMAROPA to help the local government of Bataraza in ensuring adequate supply of potable water to the affected communities.
The DILG chief also urged the local officials of Bataraza to mobilize municipal health workers.
“Aside from attending to the needs of the victims of the cholera outbreak, their tasks include conducting cleanliness and sanitation campaign in their communities,” said Robredo.
He also directed the regional office to take steps in implementing the “Enhancing the Access to and Provision of Water Services to the Poor Program” of the DILG that should address the water sanitation problem of Bataraza town. (DILG/RJB/JCP/PIA-NCR)
Livelihood programs generate more income to farmers
by Miriam P. Aquino
SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union Apr 12 (PIA) – The Department of Labor and Employment-Regional Office 1 (DOLE-R1) recently awarded livelihood assistance to 55 marginalized farmers in the remote barangays of Fulgosino in Umingan, Pangasinan, as one of the strategies of the Aquino administration in creating community-based employment opportunities to address poverty.
According to DOLE1 Information Officer Arly S. Valdez, P247,870 was turned over to the Punong Barangay of Fulgosino, who acts as the accredited co-partner/conduit for the New Guardians for Freedom and Democracy – Fulgosino Chapter, the organization of the farmer-recipients.
DOLE 1 Director Henry John Jalbuena said the livelihood project, a commercial egg production and processing, will not only provide additional income for the direct beneficiaries, but will also have an economic benefit for other community members.
“Like any business venture, the project will not generate profits at first, but with proper management and hard work from the recipients, returns will soon be realized,” Jalbuena said, adding that chicken egg is one of the most marketable staple food for its wide variety of uses in food processing and beauty products.
“Gains can also be derived from the by-products, which also have beneficial uses,” Jalbuena added.
Valdez said Punong Barangay Ramil Partida expressed his gratitude to DOLE for funding the project, which he believes will create employment among his constituents. He also urged the members of the former organization to strongly cooperate in managing the project.
Partida ensured that for their counterpart, an amount of P112,400.00 for the construction of the poultry housing will be shouldered or derived from the barangay fund. (ANL/MPA-PIA 1 La Union with reports from DOLE-R1)
SSS set to increase contribution by 0.6%
by Danny O. Sagun
DAGUPAN CITY, April 12 (PIA) —The Social Security System is set to increase contribution by 0.6 percent, divided equally by the employer and employee, to gradually bring back its fund life to perpetuity and guarantee future benefits for members.
Dagupan Branch Manager Ceasar Saludo said the Social Security Commission, the SSS governing board, has approved in principle a proposed increase in the contribution rate from 10.4 percent to 11 percent of the monthly salary and the maximum monthly salary credit, the ceiling that serves as basis for contribution payments to P20,000.00 from P15,000.00
The proposed increase would lengthen the fund life until 2046 and result in higher sickness, maternity, disability, retirement and death benefits and bigger short-term loan amounts for members, he said.
From 1957 to September 2010, the benefit payments of P734 billion exceeded the contribution collections of P732 billion and were it not for the cumulated investment income of about P350 billion, the fund would have long been depleted.
In the last actuarial valuation in 2007, the SSS fund life was estimated to last until 2039, a big drop from the valuation in 1980, which was then valued to last to perpetuity, he said.
Pension benefits increased 21 times from 1980 to 2007 but the contribution rate was pegged at 8.4 percent for 23 years and was only increased to 9.4 percent in 2003 and to 10.4 percent in 2007.
“We are taking small steps towards our goal of having a perpetual fund or a fund life of at least 75 years,” said SSS president and chief executive officer Emilio de Quiros, Jr.
“We need to implement reforms, but we don’t want a drastic one-time increase in contribution. We prefer to do it gradually,” he said.
Contributions are savings, an investment for the future, and should not be considered as expense, De Quiros said, adding that the proposed increase should not be lumped with rising cost of commodities.
“We are still in the process of consulting our stakeholders. We will submit the results to the Social Security Commission and the proposed increases will be presented to Malacañang for approval,” he said.
If approved, the increase may take effect in July.
Saludo noted that compared with the 21 percent contribution in the Government Service Insurance System, the SSS contribution is still much lower. (ANL/DOS-SSS/PIA 1 Pangasinan)
