Tarlac City police office wins in Belenismo 2011
by Joelyn G. Baluyut
CONCEPCION, Tarlac, Dec 11 (PIA) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) of Tarlac City proved that they are not only meant for raids and encounters but that they could also be depended in showing their aesthelic side. Proof of this is that their entry won this year’s Grand Municipal category award during the 5th edition of the Belenismo sa Tarlac.
According to PCSUPT Arnel Ramos, the cap symbolizes the police’s readiness to maintain peace and order as it carries its motto “To Serve and Protect.” This only means that we do everything we can to provide all enforcement services for the people, he explained.
He added that, “the lining of the cap is colored pink rather than the usual blue, and this represents the female workforce of our police community. This is also to give recognition to women who are unmindful of their gender to better serve the Filipino people.”
“Men and women are equal when it comes to providing public safety and orderliness.”
The PNP’s Belen is under the police cap, symbolizing that the institution protects the security of everyone.
Materials used in mounting the Belen were pawid (nipa shingles), talahib (cogon grass), and metal which were all recycled. It took the PNP more than three months to finish the belen design which stands three meters in height.
This is the first time that PNP Tarlac City joined and won in the said category, receiving a cash prize of P70,000 and a trophy handed by President Benigno Aquino III who was guest speaker during the awarding ceremony.
Meanwhile, the Azaya Garden resort and the Gr8 Multi-purpose cooperative were adjudged second and third placers respectively. Both received trophies plus P60,000 and P50,000, respectively.
The “Belenismo sa Tarlac” is an annual tradition started in 2007, to promote both the art of Belen-making and the “bayanihan” spirit among the people here. It’s a voluntary effort to restore the religious and social significance of the Belen as a symbol of Christmas.
It aims to bring together the people of Tarlac, from different walks of life, and from different parts of the province in one peaceful competition and towards a common goal: to promote Tarlac as one of the country’s top tourist destinations and declare it as the “Belen Capital of the Philippines.”(WLB/JGB-PIA 3)
156 Ifugao runners join Red Cross fun run
by Mhars B. Lihgawon
LAGAWE, Ifugao, Dec. 11 (PIA) – - A total of 153 runners registered for the Philippine Red Cross Million Volunteer Run last week tripling the target number of participants.
“The target number of participants is actually 50, however, due to the information dissemination conducted and the support of the community, the number tripled,” PRC staff said.
The fun run raised P76,500 to fund activities of the PRC-Ifugao Chapter which was established recently.
Run organizers collected a registration fee of P500 from each participant for the million volunteer run race kit that includes red cross 143 ID card with disaster preparedness guide, t-shirt, whistle, race number, and membership with accident insurance benefits.
PRC-Ifugao Chapter organized the run in support to the nationwide Million Volunteer Run of the Red Cross in celebration of the 2011 International Year of Volunteers with the theme, ‘Promoting Health, Saving Lives.’
Furthermore, the run also aimed to enter a world record in people’s run event by breaking Australia’s record of 250,000 and heighten public awareness to reduce disaster risks and vulnerability of the community in the interest of saving lives.
Meanwhile, Governor Eugene Balitang reiterated that a “taeboo” activity will be conducted every Saturday at the provincial capitol, of which a minimal fee will be collected from each participant on the fourth Saturday to support to the activities of the PRC. *(MBL–PIA CAR/Ifugao)
Phl to host 2nd Abu Dhabi dialogu
by Susan G. de Leon
MANILA, Dec. 8 (PIA)– The Philippines will host the Ministerial Consultations on Overseas Employment and Contractual Labor for Countries of Origin and Destination in Asia or simply called the Abu Dhabi Dialogue.
Labor & Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz made the announcement after she met with H.E. Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, Minister of Labor of the United Arab Emirates, current chairman of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue during the 15th Asia and Pacific Regional Meeting of the International Labor Organization in Japan.
Baldoz said the 2nd Ministerial Consultation “intends to bring us together again after almost four years to continue our dialogue, and review our initiatives and partnerships under Abu Dhabi Dialogue I.
In a statement, Baldoz added that the timing of the 2nd Ministerial Consultation is “perfect” noting that ILO director general Juan Somavia, in his opening statement at the ILO’s 15th Asia Pacific Regional Meeting, reported that the Asian region has consistently shown dynamism amidst complex challenges, and that individual countries have initiated sweeping labor reforms to address issues such as youth unemployment, balancing growth with fundamental rights at work, promoting migrant workers’ rights, and public governance.
“It is based on our agreed principles of shared responsibility that we wish to take a fresh look at our best practices and recommendations for bilateral, unilateral, and multilateral government action on labor mobility to maximize the benefits of labor migration for our people during our next Ministerial Consultation,” the statement added.
The Abu Dhabi Dialogue, is an important activity of 20 migrant destination and migrant origin countries in Asia that will conduct its 2nd Ministerial Consultation in Manila on April 19, 2012.
Established in 2008, the Abu Dhabi Dialogue was first held in Abu Dhabi where it launched a collaborative approach for temporary labor mobility in Asia and maximize worker migration benefits for development.
The Abu Dhabi Dialogue focuses on developing four key, action-oriented partnerships on worker migration, such as, knowledge sharing on market trends, skills profiles, workers and remittances policies and flows, and their relationship to development; building capacity for effective matching of labor supply and demand.
The dialogue also tackles the prevention of illegal recruitment and promotion of the welfare and protection measures for migrant workers.
Development of a framework for a comprehensive approach to managing the entire cycle of temporary contractual work that fosters the mutual interest of countries of origin and destination also tops its agenda.
The Abu Dhabi Dialogue consists of eleven Colombo Process countries of migrant worker origin, namely, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; and nine Asian destination countries, namely, Bahrain, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
During the first Abu Dhabi Dialogue, France, Germany, Japan, Mauritius, Poland, Republic of Korea, and the United States of America were admitted as partner and observer states. (DOLE/RJB/SDL-PIA NCR)
PNP 2 forms task force to combat illegal drugs in the region
by Thelma C. Bicarme
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Dec. 7 (PIA) — The Philippine National Police- Police Regional Office 2 (PNP-PRO 2) has formed an anti-illegal drugs task force to monitor drug cases filed in court by the PNP. PNP Region 2 targets to crack down all illegal drugs problems before Dec. 30.
According to de Gracia, some of the responsibilities of the task force are: monitoring of drug cases from the arrest of suspect/s, gathering of evidences, filing of cases in court, coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the media until such time that the court shall arrive at a decision.
“In this case, all drug cases filed in court will be closely monitored so that the efforts and sacrifices of the police will not be wasted,” de Gracia said.
PNP and PDEA investigators have been continuously attending trainings to be updated on how to avoid dismissal of cases in courts due to technicalities. Such technicalities include irregularity or illegality of arrest, non-appearance of witnesses, inconsistent testimonies of witnesses, mishandling of evidence, among others.
De Gracia said they are targeting an air-tight cases of illegal drugs to ensure that all drug pushers will be apprehended.
The PRO 2 director is hopeful that through the anti-illegal drug task force, they will be able to meet the deadline set for the resolution of all drug cases in the region. (TCB/PIA 2)
P-Noy graces ’5th Belenismo sa Tarlac’ awards night
by Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu
CONCEPCION, Tarlac, December 3 (PIA) — President Benigno Aquino III on Saturday graced the awarding ceremony of the “5th Belenismo sa Tarlac” at the Jesus R. Lapus Memorial Sports Complex in Concepcion town.
In his message, the Chief Executive said “the Belenismo showcases not only the creativity of Tarlaqueños but more significantly it depicts their deep faith in God.”
He lauded the Tarlac Heritage Foundation and the Provincial Government of Tarlac for unifying the whole province through such event.
The President expressed confidence that “with the relentless effort of the organizers coupled with the support of the local residents, Belenismo would flourish even more and can contribute to national development as it could generate business investments and livelihood.”
Belenismo was conceived in 2007 to restore the religious and social significance of the belen (nativity scene) as a symbol of Christmas. It also aims to promote the “bayanihan” spirit among Tarlaqueños, to increase tourist volume in the province during the holiday season, and intensify its claim as the “Belen Capital of the Philippines.”(WLB/CLJD-PIA 3)
PNoy inaugurates Climate Change Academy in Albay …first in the country, first in the world
by Marlon A. Loterte
LEGAZPI CITY, November 25 (PIA) — President Benigno C. Aquino III led today the inauguration of the Climate Change Academy of Albay for Local Government Units (CCA-LGUs) that will serve as a venue for development of competencies in climate change adaptation through research and training for local climate and disaster risk management policy development, integration, training and mainstreaming in the Philippines.
The country’s first CCA-LGUs came about following years of painstaking efforts of developing an institution as Albay’s, as well as the country’s, response and adaptation measure in a bid to ease the adverse impact of global warming resulting in climate change and extreme weather events.
President Aquino, along with Sec. Herminio “Sonny” Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Sec. Florencio “Butch” Abad of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Sec. Ramon Paje of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Albay Gov. Joey Salceda led the ribbon-cutting rites and later toured booths of exhibits of government and private institutions showcasing CCA initiatives and programs.
Salceda, also UN senior global champion on climate change adaptation and UN Green Climate Fund adviser, said the academy is just one of the many initiatives and programs of the Centre for Initiatives and Research on Climate Adaptation (CIRCA), under the provincial government of Albay, set up to gather scientific and actual experiences from several stakeholders had been consolidated into modules and manuals, particularly for the different local government units in the country.
Salceda cited the importance of institutionalizing adaptation strategies and policies through the academy to address the impacts and challenges of climate change as well as raising public awareness through the different forms of media.
“Ang Climate Change Academy is the first of its kind in the world. Wala pa pong ganyan sa buong mundo (There is nothing like that in the whole world). It’s essentially a knowledge management institution,” Salceda said.
The academy is the brainchild of the CIRCA of the provincial government of Albay and a concrete output of the MDG-F1656 Albay Demo site of the Joint Programme of the Government of the Philippines (GOP).
Manuel Rangasa, executive director of CIRCA, explained that from its rich history of coping and recent innovative endeavors at disaster risk-reduction and climate change adaptation, it is obvious that Albay is a role model for other LGUs in these areas. It is in the best position to function as a learning laboratory for the other LGUs to learn from.
Rangasa also disclosed that the provincial government of Albay has initially spent some P10 million for the renovation and modernization of the academy building and facilities located at the Bicol University in Old Albay District here.
He added that during the 1st National Media Conference on CCA held here Thursday (November 24), Secretary Paje of DENR has committed P5 million from his department’s fund to augment resources for the academy, while development partners such as the Spanish government’s Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarollo (AECID) has also vowed commitment of similar support.
CIRCA is now implementing the Millennium Development Goal Achievement Fund (MDG-F) 1656 Joint Programme (JP) on Strengthening the Philippine Institutional Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change involving nine Government of the Philippines (GOP) partners and six UN partners with the assistance of the Spanish government.
On November 4, 2010, the Climate Change Academy for LGUs in the Philippines was officially launched and an MOU Signing among the Office of the President-Climate Change Commission, the United Nations System and the Provincial Government of Albay during the Opening of the LGU SUMMIT+3i Luzon and the 4th General Assembly of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) witnessed by the Albay Provincial Board Council, representatives from the Spanish Government/AECID and NEDA Central Office.
Rangasa said local planners, decision and policy makers and even sectoral agencies, can now have a center of excellence where they can develop competencies on mainstreaming disaster risk reduction (DRR) and CCA.
He added that the academy will not only be able to provide the theoretical moorings for climate adaptive localities but it can also be a venue for sharing experiences and best practices on DRR and climate change impact management.
“As the pre-eminent institution in climate change adaptation in the Philippines, the academy’s primary purpose is to develop integrated competencies and provide information and technology for building the resilience of communities to climate change impacts,” Rangasa said.
Rangasa added that the academy is responsible for the development and strengthening of the theoretical knowledge and practical skills of major local stakeholders on climate and disaster risk assessment, focusing on characterization and evaluation of climate hazards, vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities; disaster and climate risk reduction and management; and climate change adaptation and disaster risk management, planning and programming.
The academy will employ the “Capacity Development for Better Governance” approach on four levels, including awareness on disaster risks and climate change issues; modular and progressive training on scenario building, climate and disaster risk assessment, and disaster risk management; Technical assistance for mainstreaming of disaster and climate risk management in local planning processes and outputs; and guided experiential learning in the implementation of “disaster or climate proofing” by local stakeholders. (MALoterte, PIA V/Albay)
TESDA scholarships available
by Julie Fianza
BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 30 (PIA)– More than a thousand local scholarships are available for qualified students in the city, allotted by the provincial office of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). This was verified by Benguet provincial director Angela Gabriel.
Interested individuals may apply at city hall.
Limited number of scholarships in animation and 2d animation are offered at the Cordillera School of Digital Arts; while a finishing course for call center agents at the Global Tech school along Magsaysay Avenue has been allotted 397 slots.
There are 100 slots available for a slaughtering course at MMS; 175 slots for housekeeping NC2, and 300 slots for a finishing course in medical transcription at CTEISI. For the medical transcription course, medically-trained students are preferred, due to medical terms used in the lessons.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and unemployed. His/her family should qualify under the Conditional Cash Transfer program and has not had under any Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), from 2006 up to 2010.
Placem application should be on a first come, first served basis.
The TWSP has been going on for the past years, with scholarships allotted through the local government unit.
Another program, according to Mayor Mauricio Domogan, is the forthcoming GM Advanced Technician Training Program for Automotive Mechanics/Technicians through a scholarship starting January next year.
Interested and qualified individuals are encouraged to apply through the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) at city hall starting next week.
Applicants should be between 24 to 40 years of age, with a minimum of 12 months Automotive Course, have more than 24 months experience as an all-around mechanic/technician and should pass an initial automotive theoretical test and interview. The applicant should also have a valid passport and in good medical and physical health.
The training offers free uniform, lodging, study guides, and a monthly stipend. A graduation bonus awaits deserving trainees upon completion of the program. (PIA CAR/PIO Baguio City)
DILG to localize ‘Gawad Pamana ng Lahi’
by Oliver T. Baccay
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Nov. 29 (PIA) — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) region 2 is set to replicate the ‘Gawad Pamana ng Lahi’ in the provincial, city and municipal level to accord government recognition to exemplary performances of Local Government Units (LGUs).
The award system gives due recognition to the contributions of LGUs in the realization of a rooted development, and shares responsibilities with the national government in the advancement of economic prosperity, social well-being and environmental integrity.
LGUs that are to be awarded should showcase exemplary performance, are recipient of seal of good housekeeping, are innovative, and have been cited by other agencies and organizations for their best practices towards development and good governance.
DILG regional director Rolando Rafael said the system was already implemented by the national office and several LGUs were already recipients of P1 million cash incentives, which will be utilized for pro-poor and pro-development projects.
“This program serves as an instrument to scale-up the valuing of accountability, transparency and inclusivity in local administration and development,” Rafael said.
The department is targeting next year to start the implementation of the project. As to the levels and frequency of the award system, the regional level will be conducted annually while the national level will be term-based, meaning, the program will start next year and will end before the terms of the LGU officials end.
Rafael also informed that starting next year, incentives to the winners will be increased. The winners in the provincial level will be receiving P3 million, for the city will be P2 million and in the municipality will be P1 million, while the national winners for each category will be given P5 million and plaques of recognition.
The director is optimistic that the award for good governance champions would motivate local officials to exert excellent efforts in the delivery of essential public services that will bring about overall development. (OTB/PIA-2)
Media groups present declaration on climate change adaptation to PNoy
by Carlo P. Gonzaga
LEGAZPI, Albay, November 25 (PIA) — Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma, co-convenor of the First National Media Conference on Climate Change Adaption, presented to Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III today, the Philippine media declaration on climate change adaptation 2011.
President Aquino was the keynote speaker of the event.
The declaration, according to Sec. Coloma, is a commitment for concerted action of media practitioners to catalyze public awareness and nationwide advocacy for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Earlier, members of the different media organizations like the National Press Club (NPC), Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP), Publishers Association of the Philippines (PAPI), Alyansa ng Pilipinong Mamamahayag (APM), Liga ng Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (LBP), Philippine Network of Environment Journalist (PNEJ) crafted the declaration on the first day of the conference.
In the declaration, the media agreed on collaboration among them to share and disseminate climate change information incorporating all perspectives that would highlight the urgency of the issue.
They also recognized their sole commitment and called on government agencies, particularly the PCOO, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and all other media organizations to intensify efforts in informing the people about the challenges and all the opportunities in climate change adaptation.
It also urged the government to allocate funds for the immediate capacity assessment and training program on climate change and disaster risk reduction and management.
In response, Sec. Coloma enumerated the existing programs of PCOO and the Climate Change Commission (NCCC). “We will expand and intensify the programs of our agencies that are dedicated to capacity assessment and training on climate change and disaster risk reduction,” he said.
Coloma said, media participation was already incorporated in the roll out of the national climate change action plan signed by the President on Monday and “we will mobilize to the fullest extent our friends in the mass media in the roll out and optimum propagation of the program of the national climate change action plan.” (CPG, PIA-Calabarzon)
PNP 2 chief announces new slots for police recruits nationwide
by Oliver T. Baccay
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Nov. 26 (PIA) — Philippine National Police (PNP) region 2, Director Rodrigo P. De Gracia, has urged interested applicants from Cagayan valley to grab the opportunity for employment as he disclosed that the police department at the national level has opened 2,261 new slots for their recruitment program for 2011.
“Though there was no announced quota for region 2, applicants from region 2 may be accommodated in other units because Luzon-based recruits will be admitted at the National Capital Region headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig,” de Gracia assured.
He added that chief PNP, Director General Nicanor Bartolome, had approved the additional quota for police officer 1 (PO1) position which will be distributed to the Special Action Force (SAF)–400, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO)–931, Police Regional Office 07 (PRO7)–465 and Police Regional Office 10 (PRO 10)-465.
He also said that applicants for Visayas-based regions will be admitted at PRO7 headquarters, Camp Sergio Osmena, Cebu City; applicants from Mindanao will be admitted at PRO 10 Headquarters, Camp Alegar, Cagayan de Oro City; and applicants in other regional offices will be admitted in Special Action Force (SAF) headquarters, Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig.
The recruiting units will be accepting folders from November 21-25, 2011 and successful applicants will be taking their oath on January 5, 2012.
Director De Gracia said that the urgent recruitment for PO1 is part of the PNP’s program to strengthen manpower resources to improve the public safety services to the people. (TCB/OTB/PIA-2 with PNP-2 PIO)
