Environmentalism has been integrated in public curriculum, DepEd Secretary says
Secretary Lapus made the statement in a press conference moderated by the Philippine Information Agency on the occasion of the 34th Anniversary of the Department of Education Regional Office 8 on October 26 at the DepEd Regional Training Center Mess Hall.
“It’s just too unfortunate that we were not able to report to the Supreme Court what DepEd has been doing to help clean up Manila Bay,” Secretary Lapus said as he showed the report that will be submitted to the Supreme Court.
This is the reason why a two-page compliance report will be submitted to the High Court, one day after the reprimand, the good Secretary added.
Secretary Lapus said “environmental responsibility” had been included in the curriculum even before the case on Manila Bay’s cleanup was brought to the courts.
DepEd has also been very active in environmental campaigns, according to the education secretary. He said the Education Department supported the cause of environmental lawyer Antonio Oposa who filed a case in the tribunal to compel government agencies to clean up the polluted bay.
In the report to be submitted to the court, the DepEd said: “The study of environment has long been integrated in the curriculum and is basically taught in natural science.”
“In fact, the DepEd has distributed since 1999 an Environmental Education Guide for use of teachers in basic education at all levels,” the department added.
The report, which Secretary Lapus said, will be filed through the Office of the Solicitor General, also noted that the DepEd had also worked with the DENR in holding annual summer camps since 2000 for students interested and active in environmental awareness and protection.
It would be recalled that the Supreme Court, on August 25, ordered the heads of government agencies who failed to comply with the tribunal’s instructions for the cleanup of Manila Bay to explain why they should not be cited for contempt.
Atty. Jose Midas Marquez, Supreme Court spokesperson, said, at its en banc session, the tribunal came up with the directive that the agency heads were given 10 days to file their comment on Oposa’s urgent motion to cite the officials for contempt.
Atty. Oposa also asked the high court on Monday to throw in jail the officials who failed to submit a progress report on their roles in the cleanup after every 90 days.
The subjects of Oposa’s motion are Lapus, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane and Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya.
Other subjects of the motion are Jojo Allado of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and the heads of the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Ports Authority and PNP-Maritime Police.
In December 2008, the Supreme Court ordered Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Environment Natural Resources (DENR) and six other government agencies to clean up Manila Bay in accordance with their mandate under existing laws.
While both the MMDA and the DENR have complied with the Supreme Court ruling, the other agencies did not comply with the requirement more than 200 days after the tribunal ordered the cleanup when it ruled on the case of the Concerned Citizens of Manila Bay versus MMDA, et al.
In the report to be submitted to the court, the DepEd said: “The study of environment has long been integrated in the curriculum and is basically taught in natural science.”
“In fact, the DepEd has distributed since 1999 an Environmental Education Guide for use of teachers in basic education at all levels,” the department added.
The report, which will be filed through the Office of the Solicitor General, also noted that the DepEd had also worked with the DENR in holding annual summer camps since 2000 for students interested and active in environmental awareness and protection. (PIA 
PhilHealth prexy visits Capiz
This was conveyed by Dr. Aquino during his meeting with PhilHealth – Capiz Service Office staff and informal dinner meeting with Capiz Gov. Victor A. Tanco along with some key players in the successful implementation of the PhilHealth programs specifically the sponsored “Indigent” program in the province last Aug. 11.
Based on the SONA, PhilHealth has now covered 86% of the country’s 90 Million population or 77.4 million Filipinos. This is more than the 85% target of PhilHealth to universally cover the entire population by 2010.
“The stopover in Capiz chronicles the intent of Dr. Aquino to visit all PhilHealth Service Offices and Service Desks nationwide to personally meet and thank the government officials, stakeholders, partners and advocates behind the continued success of the implementation of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) in the local level,” said PhilHealth Capiz Service Office Social Insurance Officer Chief Joe Frederick T. Diaz.
Currently, the provincial government together with the local government units (LGU) have likewise universally covered 176% or more than the total poor population with PhilHealth Insurance.
“This is a clear manifestation that health is a priority agenda of our LGUs in the province,” Diaz stressed.
The province through Gov. Tanco has been awarded with a plaque of recognition by PhilHealth and League of the Provinces during the 6th General Assembly PhilHealth Governors Forum held in Manila for universally covering the poorest population in Capiz in 2008. (PhilHealth/PIA)
PNP drive nets 57 loose firearms in Capiz
by Jemin B. Guillermo
Information Officer Pablito Silvestre of the Capiz Police Provincial Office said that from January to July this year, the Capiz policemen were able to arrest 40 persons and filed in court some 35 cases after a massive drive against loose firearms.
Silvestre said that the confiscation of 57 loose firearms during said period was the result of their 55 police operations.
The intensified conduct of warranted search, Oplan Sita and Oplan Bakal in Capiz is in part of the government’s effort to ensure proper registration of firearms as well as responsible gun ownership.
Meanwhile, Capiz PNP Provincial Director Josephus Angan has reminded the public to avail of the government’s Firearm Amnesty Program as embodied in Executive Order 817.
Angan revealed that they have sent 204 demand letters to delinquent firearms holders and 37 have already applied for renewal of license.
He added that 5 holders of unregistered or loose firearms have likewise applied for a license.
Angan disclosed that the Final General Firearms Amnesty will be implemented only from October 1 to 31 this year through the PNP.
On the other hand, Police Director General Jesus Verzosa vowed to account for at least 3 percent of loose firearms every month, particularly from the threat groups, criminal elements and general public who are in possession of said firearms.
Verzosa also called on public support and cooperation in the national campaign against loose firearms to establish an effective firearms control in the entire country.
He expressed confidence that they will achieve significant headway in said campaign in the months ahead with the vibrant support from the various sectors of the society. (PIA)
NFA closes Tindahan Natin outlets
By Alice Nicart
Borongan (26 August) — Some 59 Tindahan Natin outlets (TNOs) in the entire province were reportedly closed recently by the National Food Authority (NFA) for violation of Fair Trade Act.
This was gathered from NFA Provincial Office in a phone interview with Assistant Provincial Manager, Corazon Hipe.
Hipe said that the closure resulted from the findings of a Manila based internal audit team which discovered that the government rice was overpriced, in fact most of the TNOs committed this specific abuse.
NFA further stressed that a kilo of NFA rice should be sold at P18.25 only because other costs is subsidized by the government.
“It is unfortunate that several of the TNOs with whom we have entrusted this anti-hunger program of the government have forgotten their sworn social responsibility for personal and financial profit,” Ms. Hipe lamented. “Now, that the NFA auditors from Central Office executed the “One Strike Policy”, that would mean, the poor who cannot afford to buy the commercial rice will be deprived already of this government privilege because NFA will no longer replace a TNO in the locality,” she added.
The spot audit in the province was made last July, the report said, and the Team found out that NFA rice in many barangays were sold either at P20.00 per kilo, sometimes P32, P35 orP36.
Other TNOs did not have price tags, no sign boards; some even diverted the sacks of rice to non-registered buyers. (PIA-Eastern Samar)
RSCC 6 prepares for 20th Statistics Month
Iloilo City (26 August) — The Regional Statistical Coordination Committee (RSCC) in Region 6 recently met to discuss preparations for the 20th National Statistics Month in October.
Presidential Proclamation No. 647 declares the month of October of every year as the National Statistics Month nationwide.
The RSCC is designated as the coordination bodies for all NSM activities and programs to be undertaken in the region during the month-long celebration.
In region VI, it is composed of the representatives of the different government agencies, local government units, academic institutions and private sector chaired by Director Ro-Ann Bacal of the National Economic Development Authority 6.
Bacal said this year’s celebration will be hosted by the Office of the Civil Defense for the opening ceremonies and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Philippine Statistical Association Region 6 Chapter for the closing ceremonies.
Participants in the meeting shared and discussed their respective agencies’ activities which will be included into the Regional Calendar of Activities.
The 20th NSM has “Enhancing Security Sector Statistics for Good Governance, Peace and Sustainable Development” for its theme. (PIA)
Antique’s malnutrition rate down by .2 percent
San Jose, Antique (26 August) — The Antique Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported a decrease in the rate of malnutrition in the province by .2 percent from 14.49 percent in 2008 to 14.29 percent this year.
The statistics show that in 2008 there are 11,062 children aged 0-71 months with Below Normal Very Low (BNVL) and Below Normal Low (BNL) weight categories and it decreased to 10,940 with 122 children now in the normal weight category.
The Provincial Health Office covered 590 barangays in the province with a coverage of 82.9 percent or 76,576 children weighted out of 92,331 target.
Children with the normal weight also increased from 64,738 in 2008 to 65,122 this year.
Top 5 municipalities with high incidence of malnutrition are; Tobias Fornier with 22.93 %, Caluya with 21.88% then Tibiao – 19.36 %, Sibalom – 18.18% and Hamtic – 17.86 %.
The town of Belison has the lowest incidence of malnutrition with 9.09 %, followed by San Jose with 9.37% then San Remigio with 10.11%.
The report of the (PHO) was based on Operation Timbang conducted for the first quarter of this year.
Health authorities encouraged local government units, parents, school officials and other stakeholders to converged program and services to eradicate malnutrition and keep up with the commitment stated in the Millennium Development Goals of eradicating poverty and malnutrition especially among children. (PSM/PIA)
LandBank releases P3.67-B loans to Western Visayas clients
Manila (26 August) — Land Bank of the Philippines’ total outstanding loans to its priority sectors in Region six reached 3.67 billion as of June 30, 2009, Manuel Jose Mari S. Infante, Vice President and the head of LandBank in the region, said.
LandBank’s priority sectors are small farmers and fisher folk (SFF) cooperatives, SME’s and micro enterprises, agri-infrastructure projects, agri-related projects, agri-business and environment-related projects, he said during a press conference here at Business Inn.
Of the P3.67 billion, about 31 percent or P1.124 billion went to SFF coops and other financial conduits such as rural banks, irrigators associations and NGOs benefiting close to 80,000 farmer beneficiaries in Region six.
The top five cooperative borrowers are Options MPC in Sagay City, Bacolod Government Employees MPC of Bacolod City Hall, Iloilo Provincial Employees MPC of Iloilo Provincial Capitol, Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) MPC in Bacolod and Dingle Government Workers Credit Cooperative in Dingle, Iloilo.
Meanwhile, the Bank’s total loans to SMEs reached P568 million during the first half of 2009. Loans to CFIs grew by 216 percent to P352 million from P163 million a year ago. Loans to LGUs in Region six reached P1.63 billion as of June 30, 2009.
LandBank also released P309 million for rice production from January to June 30, 2009 thru cooperatives, CFIs, farmers organization and rice millers. This benefited 8,224 farmers covering more than 8,000 hectares in the region. The bank expects to release an additional P160 million by the end of the year.
VP Infante said that the LandBank in the region is on track in its lending target of P5.36 billion to its priority sectors in the region for 2009.
“Our efforts to deliver credit assistance to our development partners particularly the small farmers and fisher folk cooperatives, micro enterprises and SME’s in Region six is in support to the overall commitment of Landbank to spur growth and progress in the countryside,” Infante said. (LandBank-PIA,LOL)
DepEd Region 8 pioneers Barangay Education Strategic Team project
Tacloban City (August 26) — With DepEd Secretary Jesli A. Lapus as the guest of honor, the Department of Education Region 8 in partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government Region 8, launched on August 26, 2009, the Barangay Education Strategic Team project.
Director Matugas said that the basic principle of BEST is to achieve the Millennium Development Goals for education by 2015 in line with the Education for All, by involving the local government units in terms of increasing the active participation of parents and the academic communities at large; building local level capacity and improving the quality of and access to basic education.
The objective of the BEST is improve access to primary school for all school age children; to ensure quality teaching, learning and training in both the elementary and secondary levels; and to mobilize all education stakeholders and beneficiaries from private and public sectors, Director Matugas added.
The guiding principle of the Best project is anchored on five guiding principles. The first principle is to utilize proper existing structure of the barangay communities such as the social capital and networks in the construction, management and supervision of schools.
The second principle is to foster high standard of responsibility, accountability, morality and integrity in responding to the needs of the schools, teachers, learners and other education stakeholders.
The third principle is the use of “systematic” view and perspective in dealing with schools, while the fourth, is the use of school-based working contracts to ensure commitment to, sustainability of and sense of ownership of the Project.
The fifth principle is the holistic approach to problem-solving and management based on experiential mode of learning.
Assisting DepEd 8 Director Sol Matugas and DILG Region 8 Director William Paler in the unfolding of the BEST tarp were Secretary Lapus, Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho L. Petilla, Calbayog City Mayor and RDC Chairman Mel Senen Sarmiento.
In attendance were mayors from Leyte headed by LMP Leyte President Mayor Roque Tiu of Tanauan; mayors from Southern Leyte led by Mayor Pete Fustanes of Southern Leyte; Samar mayors led by its President, Calbiga Mayor Melchor Nacario; and mayors from Northern Samar led by Lao-ang Mayor Madeleine Ong; DepEd family in the different schools divisions in Region 8, barangay chairmen, Director Karina Rosa Tiopes of DOT8 and Director Olive Tiu of PIA 8.
The project launching which was held at the DepEd 8 Gym started with a press conference with Secretary Jesli Lapus, SEAMEO-Innotech chairperson and former DepEd Secretary Erlinda Pefianco, and Director Sol Matugas as resource persons and PIA 8 Director Olive P. Tiu as moderator.
The ribbon cutting and unveiling of the STRIVE T&D and LRMD Center Markers followed by the opening of the gallery of Best Practices, were done by the honored guests.
This was followed by the launching and signing of the Book “At Our Best” which Director Matugas said is a compilation of the Best Practices of the Education sector in Region 8. (PIA
Community involvement leads to decreased crime volume in Cebu – PNP
Cebu City (26 August) — Citizen involvement in crime reporting has led to the reduction of crime volume in Cebu province for the past seven months this year compared to the same period last year.
Cebu Provincial Police Chief S/Supt. Jesus Gaquing in this morning’s ‘Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis’ (TSIP) Forum on National Crime Prevention Week bared that from 1,654 crime cases from January to August last year, this went down to 1,322 cases for the past seven months in 2009 or a reduction of 20 percent.
Most crimes committed are index crimes such as crimes against persons and properties such as physical injuries comprising 46 percent this year or 370 cases and theft and robbery, Gaquing said.
Gaquing said he plans to deploy two personnel at the center of the town transverse by motorists in the northwest, northeast, southwest and southeast sections of the province and to conduct checkpoint operations near these areas in order to further reduce crime rate.
Cebu City Police Office Deputy Police Director for Operations P/Supt. Paul Labra in the same forum also said crime occurrence in the city has gone down from January up to present compared to the same period last year.
Labra however, did not have the data to support his statement but that based on his assessment, crime volume has decreased which he attributed to active community involvement on reporting a commission of a crime to the police.
Labra said they are strengthening the foot patrol beat system especially in crime prone areas as most crimes committed include snatching, theft and robbery.
But in Mandaue City, total crime volume went up although the increase is attributed more on physical injuries due to vehicular accidents, according to Mandaue City Police Chief S/Supt. Orlando Ualat.
Ualat said apart from the vehicular accidents, theft also rose but he added that for the first two weeks this month, the trend on crime rate seems to decrease but the city police chief however, did not mention figures.
In Lapulapu City, crime incidence is fluctuating, disclosed Lapulapu Citi Police Chief S/Supt. Mariano Natuel but that they are strengthening anti-criminality measures such as police visibility as part of their crime prevention actions.
All police officials believed that community participation is critical in crime prevention as they urged for the public to be more pro-active in the fight against criminal elements by immediately reporting to the police any illegal or suspicious actions.
This year’s National Crime Prevention Week celebrated every first week of September or from September 1 to 7 carries the theme “Labanan ang Krimen, Pamilya Patatagin!” as parents are called to always check on the welfare of their children so they would not stray into drug use or alcohol abuse. (PIA-Cebu/FCR)
Capiz achieves 100% energization
by Jemin B. Guillermo
Roxas City (25 August) — The 473 barangays in Capiz are already energized, according to the Capiz Electric Cooperative (CAPELCO).
According to CAPELCO General Manager Edgar Diaz, 100 percent of all the barangays in the province have already been provided with complete electrification in March 2005 yet.
Diaz said that the rural electrification program in the province was realized with the support of the congressmen from the first and second districts of Capiz by providing subsidy fund to finance the labor and materials.
He added that as of this month, about 44 million Filipinos are benefiting from the said program.
Diaz said that they are now expanding their services to far-flung areas, particularly in the sitios.
Last week, Capiz 1st District Congressman Antonio del Rosario led in the switch-on of 14 sitios in the 13 barangays of Panitan and Pilar towns.
The project, which costs P4.456 million, was funded through the Priority Development Assistance Fund of del Rosario.
Meanwhile, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the complete electrification of the remaining 743 rural barangays nationwide before the year ends.
The President has ordered the Department of Energy and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to fast track the program.
She said that her administration has extended P5.2 billion in financial assistance, the biggest in the country’s history, to electric cooperatives to enable them to accomplish their goal of bringing the benefit of electricity to all barangays.
In a continuing effort to bring down power rates in the country, the President said, the national government is accelerating power and energy development programs to establish more sources of indigenous power.
She noted that the full implementation of the EPIRA law will also start next year after the expiration of the power purchase agreement. (PIA)
