Sorsogon has 3,056 Pangulong Gloria scholars for CY 2009
by BA Recebido
Rodolfo Benemerito, TESDA Sorsogon provincial director, stated the scholarship program is on the right track having assisted more than 3,000 local scholars with a total funding of P25,088,420.
Benemerito said the amount covers 100 percent tuition fees of the scholars, including training allowances at P60.00/day while on training, and the assessment fee of P500 per graduate.
He added the PGSP covers the following beneficiaries by Strategic Packages (SP) as follows:
- SP IIa with 734 scholars and a total financial requirement of P6,630,160. This refers to qualifications implemented from January to April 2009. Still on-going is the Health Care Services NC II at the Lewis College, Sorsogon City, with 23 scholars.
- SP IIb with 1,918 scholars and budgetary requirement of P16,848,440. This refers to qualifications which started February and for implementation until December 2009, with still on-going training courses in private tekbok schools and in TESDA schools.
- SP IIb (Special Commitment Package) with 110 scholars, of which 10 are scholars of Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC II c/o TESDA Central Office thru OCSA amounting to P125,400. This also includes four (4) on-going programs involving 100 scholars in selected hotel and restaurant or tourism-related courses amounting to P697,000 for Sorsogon City as incentive for hosting the “2009 Hairecord” (Haircutting Competition) in April, 2009.
- SP III which includes qualifications implemented autonomously by two TESDA schools, the Bulan Vocational Technological School with 394 scholars and Sorsogon National Agricultural School with 341 scholars.
- SP V with 206 scholars of “Sa TEKBOK, May Trabaho Ka” (STMTK) Program amounting to P347,580. It covers 40 hairdressing NC II and Beauty Care NC II scholars from the 2008 STMTK balance and 40 Galing Masahista, 40 Galing Mekaniko and 46 Motorcycle/Small Engine repair scholars for SMTK 2009 with a budgetary requirement of P267,580.
- SP V (NTTAQP) with 88 scholars including the National TVET Trainers and Assessors Qualification Program with financial requirement of P440,000 and the 40-hr Trainers Methodology (TM1) and 40-hr Assessors Methodology (AM1) courses designed to qualify TVET Trainers and Assessors as TQ1AQ1 Level.
“Corollary with the Economic Resiliency Program (ERP) of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, TESDA remains steadfast to its mandate of ensuring a sustainable supply of skilled workers and technicians to all local industries within internationally and globally accepted standards,” the provincial director stressed. (PIA Sorsogon)
Educational reforms improve National Aptitude Test results
Manila (28 July) — Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said various reforms introduced in the country’s educational system by the Arroyo administration paved the way for the improvement in the results of the National Aptitude Test (NAT) from 43 percent in 2003 to 65 percent.
Secretary Lapus said that education got the biggest allotment in the National Appropriations Act every year during the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Believing that education is the great equalizer that gives every Filipino the chance to achieve his dream, President Arroyo has placed education among her administration’s top priorities and pursued aggressively various reforms while providing them increasingly large funding.
Among these reforms, according to Secretary Lapus, are curriculum restructuring that was implemented from pre-school to higher education through the harmonization of pre-school and daycare curriculum; adoption of the Basic Education Curriculum which focused the learning areas into five: Filipino, English, Science, Math, and Makabayan; and, establishment of the Ladderized Education Program (LEP), which provided equivalency pathways from technical-vocational education to higher education.
Secretary Lapus further said that the Arroyo Administration likewise invested heavily in critical learning resources since 2001, such as the construction of more than 95,000 classrooms as of June 2009, procurement of over 135.6 million textbooks, installation of computer laboratories in 4,019 public high schools, improvement of welfare arrangements for teachers that included salary increases, reduction to only six teaching hours a day, training of school managers, and provision of scholarships and educational assistance to over 5.8 million grantees at the high school, technical-vocational and higher education levels.
Noting that teachers are the backbone of education, he stressed that the Arroyo administration allotted some P1.5 billion for teacher training and 60,000 teacher items were filled up from 2001 to 2008 to address the problem of lack of teachers.
All these helped draw significant results, among them, the doubling of enrolment in pre-school to more than 1.1 million students in school year 2008-09; the one million increase in enrollees in public elementary and secondary schools, from SY 2001-2002 to SY 2008-2009; the growing number of students who stayed in school, as cohort survival started to pick up from SY 2005-06; and, the improvements in achievement levels, as evidenced by the results of the National Achievement Tests in elementary and high school levels starting in SY 2005-06.
The President has created the Philippine Main Education Highway which is tasked to ensure that every Filipino child will have the opportunity to get high quality education through reforms in the continuum or a “seamless education”; tighter linkage of tertiary education with industry; and provision of lifelong-learning mechanisms and interventions. (PIA)
Grade 5 pupil represents RP in international Math olympiad
By Freddie G. Lazaro
Adrein Nalupta, a pupil of Immaculate Concepcion Academy in Batac, Ilocos Norte, was the only student from Region 1 that attended a month-long training in preparation for the math Olympiad.
Nalupta will join the other 23 students from the different parts of the country to represent the nation in the said competition.The child math wizard is a son of Batac town Vice Mayor Ronald Allan Nalupta and is a nephew of National Youth Commission Chairman Richard Alvin Nalupta. (PIA Ilocos Sur)
DepEd, NCCT and MTRCB to launch child-friendly TV campaign
Pasig City (28 July) — Excessive exposure to television is a leading cause of physical weakness, stress, poor appetite, aggression or violent behavior among children. These are some of the findings of a 2008 study conducted by the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT) supported by the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF).
“Excessive violence, sex, and foul language on television are threats to our children’s well-being,” said Department of Education Secretary Jesli Lapus.
To address the growing problem of “TV Overdose”, the DepEd, NCCT, Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), and Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) will launch “Bantay TV Campaign” during the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement on July 29 at 9:30 a.m. at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan, DepEd Central Office in Pasig City.
According to Lapus, the MOA between the education department, NCCT, MTRCB and SMART will mark the start of closer monitoring of television programs especially those that are shown between 6:00 to 10:00 a.m., the time period when majority of Filipino children watch TV shows.
He added that the MOA is part of the ongoing “Bantay TV” campaign which aims to “reduce 20 percent incidence of vulgarity, discrimination, sex, and violence on television.”
Lapus said that DepEd through the NCCT will intensify its campaign to use television as an alternative tool for educating children. Protecting the rights of our children includes shielding them from negative effects of excessive TV watching,” Lapus said.
DepEd Assistant Secretary and NCCT officer-in-charge Jonathan Malaya said that the Bantay TV campaign will involve monitoring of complaints from parents and other citizens who have concerns about TV shows watched by children.
“With Bantay TV, we hope to promote more child-friendly television programming in the Philippines. Our goal is to use television as a tool for shaping positive culture, values, and behavior among Filipino children,” Malaya said.
Malaya said that people can send reports or file complaints to NCCT via text messaging, calling telephone hotlines, or through the internet. He said that NCCT will closely coordinate with the MTRCB in addressing complaints against TV shows that are harmful to children.
According to Malaya, parents and concerned citizens can report “non-child friendly TV shows” via text by typing:
BANTAYTV (space) NAME/AGE/ADDRESS/MESSAGE to 700-6228(NCCT) or
BANTAYTV (space)TV PROGRAM (space) DATE OF AIRING then send to 700-6228.
He said that complaints may also be filed by calling the NCCT hotline numbers 637-2306 from Mondays to Fridays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or by sending an e-mail to bantaytv@ncctph.org. (DepEd)
Deadline for applications for DOST scholarship exams is Sept. 30
by Maritess Beñas
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has announced the deadline for the submission of applications to their scholarship programs on September 30, 2009. The date of examination is set on November 15, 2009 in designated examination centers throughout the country.
Menandro Buenafe of the DOST-Abra Provincial Office however, is asking the applicants from the province to please submit their applications earlier than the last day of filing the applications to give them time to submit the same to the DOST-CAR Regional Office in La Trinidad, Benguet considering the travel time and the difficulty of transportation in the province especially that is the rainy season now.
There are two scholarship programs administered by the DOST: the Republic Act 7687 of the Science and Technology Scholarship and the DOST-Science Education Institute Merit Scholarship.
These two scholarship programs are open to all graduating students in the secondary level who belong to the upper 5% of the regular high school graduating class or a graduating student of a DOST-SEI identified DepEd-recognized science high school.
Scholarship privileges are fabulous that include free tuition and other school fees; monthly living allowances; book allowance; one economy roundtrip transportation allowance; group health and accident insurance; Military science and Physical education Uniform allowance; and post-graduation clothing allowance.
Placement of scholars in schools are in any CHED centers of Excellence or Centers of Development; state universities and colleges; DOST-SEI identified institutions; and TESDA registered schools.
Graduates who sustain their DOST scholarships have an edge over the ordinary graduates because of their chosen courses which are in line with science and technology. Courses on sciences and technology are the most in demand in the labor market especially now that the country needs to really sustain its economic growth though science and technology and allied fields. (PIA-Abra)
PSU marks 30th year; confers doctorate degree to COA chief
By Danny O Sagun
Dagupan City (22 July) — The Pangasinan State University marked today its 15th Biennial Celebration with the theme “PSU at 30: Sustaining a Culture of Responsibility, Integrity and Excelence.”
Several activities were held including the conferment of Doctor of Humanities (honoris causa) to Commission on Audit chair Reynaldo A. Villar who delivered the keynote address as guest of honor and speaker during a program at the PSU Convention Hall at the university’s main campus in Lingayen town.
Dr. Victoriano C. Estira, PSU president, assisted by Dr. Lauro B Tacbas, who is president of PASUC and UNP, and Dr. Caridad O. Abuan, OIC-Director of the Commission on Higher Education, conferred the honorary degree to the proud son of Sto. Tomas town. Villar is the elder brother of Undersecretary Antonio “Bebot” Villar, who is chair of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG).
Another highlight of the celebration was the turn-over of funding check for the operationalization of the Pangasinan Institute of Environmental Governance by engineer Federico E. Puno, president and chief executive officer of Team Energy Foundation Inc., which operates the Sual Coal-Fired Power Plant.
The 30th founding anniversary celebration started Tuesday with campus level activities in Bayambang, San Carlos City, Asingan, Infanta, Urdaneta City, Sta. Maria, Binmaley, Lingayen and Alaminos City.
Other events for the four-day celebration include exhibit and trade fair, street dancing and cultural presentation, search for Mr. and Miss PSU Biennial 2009, sportsfest, medical mission, talent showdown and grand fellowship and awards night on the fourth day.
Estira, who last week guested at the weekly KBP Forum at the Philippine Information Agency office, proudly announced that the state university is number one in Region 1 and number seven on passing percentage in the nursing board, while its engineering department based in Urdaneta is number one in the region and number six in the country among state colleges and universities.
The university also saw increase in the number of enrollees from 9,000 to 12,000 when it adopted the open admission system, he bared. He quickly clarified that the government-run educational facility maintains its level of excellence in spite of the open system.
On the proliferation of local government-operated universities which is being protested by private schools, Estira explained that the law allows the establishment of such institutions if the city or the first class town can support them. “Kung kaya ng kanilang budget, puede silang mag-operate ng university,” he said. But the Commission on Higher Education, he stressed, should see to it that said learning institutions conform to standards.
The Urdaneta City University and the Eastern Pangasinan University in Binalonan are two examples of LGU-run universities.
Private school owners have complained that their schools undergo several years of efficient operation for them to attain college or university status. Yet LGUs, they pointed out, can just put up their colleges or universities without going thru tedious processes.
Estira noted however that government-run institutions charge “pang-masa” tuition fees like PSU. (PIA Pangasinan)
4 die of chemical intake in Nueva Vizcaya
by Ben Moses Ebreo
Villaverde, Nueva Vizcaya (21 July) — Four male students of the Bintawan National High School here died after drinking chemical-laced softdrink at 2 p.m. Wednesday(July 8).
Dr. Edwin Galapon, chief of the provincial health office who conducted initial investigation said that based on their interview from the classmates of the victims, the seven students, all in third year level went inside the school’s comfort room to do the ‘experiment’.
“We suspected that perhaps they wanted to experiment the effect of the chemical when mixed with a softdrink,” Galapon said.
The victims were Severino Quiyot, 16 of barangay Kabuluan, Joanie Molina, 18 of barangay Ibung, Jefferson Retorio, 16 of barangay Kabuluan and Rommelson Dacusin, 20 of barangay Nagbitin.
The other students who tasted the softdrink were Sunnyrex Beria, Kelvin Olaga and Louie Bueno.
Galapon said the victims mixed the suspected Urea fertilizer on a 250 ML 7-Up softdrink contained on a plastic before drinking them. “The fatalities consumed all of their softdrink while the other three spit it out due to its unsavory taste,” Galapon said.
He said that 10 minutes after taking the softdrink, the four fatalities started to suffer seizures and were brought to the nearest hospital. “They died before arriving in the hospital, ” Galapon said.
He said they have already taken samples of body fluids from the victims’ body for confirmation if the powder which was mixed with the softdrink was a type of fertilizer that caused the death of the four students. (PIA NVizcaya)
Solon donates P.5-M to CDC prosthesis lab, training center
Clark Freeport (22 July) — Pampanga 1st District Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin has donated P500,000 to the Clark Development Corporation’s (CDC) prosthesis laboratory and training center based inside the Clark Polytechnic here, the state-owned CDC announced.
CDC President Benigno N. Ricafort said Lazatin on Thursday, July 16, awarded to the CDC a check worth P500,000 which was derived from the solon’s Priority Development Assistance Fund.
Ricafort said the CDC established the prosthesis laboratory and training center last February 15, 2009 which aims to provide more prosthetic legs to hundreds of amputees in Pampanga and other nearby provinces.
According to Ricafort, the prosthesis center is part of CDC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. He added that the CDC has forged ties with the Physicians for Peace (PFP) in close collaboration with Pampanga congressional representatives, mayors, Kapampangan Development Foundation, and various civic groups.
Ricafort added that the partnership between the CDC and the PFP begun more than a year ago with the official launching of the Walking Free Pampanga, a program supported by Lazatin that aims to provide free prostheses and wheelchairs for the indigent amputees.
“The goal is to enable them and their caregivers to go back to productive life. The project has provided 124 prosthetic legs to more than 100 patients and 172 wheelchairs to date,” Ricafort said. (PIA)
photo credit: mela sogono
