PNoy declares December 11 as Barangay Assembly Day
Tacloban City (November 29) — President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared Saturday, December 11, 2010, as Barangay Assembly Day across the country wherein the barangay constituents may dialogue with their barangay officials.
Proclamation No. 342 was issued in 2003 declaring the first Saturday of March and third Saturday of October as “Synchronized Barangay Assembly Days.”
The synchronized barangay assembly slated last month did not push through due to its proximity to the October 25 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, the proclamation read.
The Proclamation also noted that the institutionalization of barangay assembly day nationwide is one of the major component programs of the Biyaheng Pinoy: Tapat na Palakad, Bayang Maunlad launched last October 2010 by the Department of the Interior and Local Government in celebrating twenty (20) years official autonomy in the Philippines.
Further, to ensure the program’s continuity and to institutionalize the tenets of transparency, responsiveness, accountability and participation at the barangay level, and to afford the new set of elected barangay officials the opportunity to meet with their constituents to reaffirm their commitment to realize their plans and programs for the community, there is a need to conduct a Barangay Assembly Day nationwide.
President Aquino, through the Proclamation, directed all city and municipal mayors to ensure compliance of all barangays and to maximize participation in the synchronized barangay assembly early next month.
The President also directed the city and municipal mayors to make rounds of the barangay assemblies being conducted in their respective areas of jurisdiction. (PIA 8)
Capiz BIR exec urges tax drive support
by Jemin B. Guillermo
Roxas City (25 November) — The Bureau of Internal Revenue has urged the support of public information officers in Capiz to support the government’s taxation campaign.
“This is a rare opportunity for us to ask for your support in our tax effort, especially that your association is composed of information officers from the different local government units as well as national government agencies and government owned and controlled corporations,” he said.
Tabanda also stressed that information officers play a very important role in the government’s tax campaign program, particularly in explaining to the people their responsibility as tax payers.
In particular, he called on the support of the LGU information officers to help them in accessing the information on taxpayers, business registration, gross receipts, retired businesses and other information for tax collection purposes.
Among the tax drive that were given emphasis by Tabanda include the Instant Premyo sa Resibo program, Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) and Oplan Kandado.
He explained that the Instant Premyo sa Resibo project is an incentives and rewards program that encourages consumers to request for receipts of all purchases of goods and/or services.
“With the issuance of official receipts, we would ensure that the taxes paid will be remitted to the government coffers,” Tabanda said.
For the RATE program, he pointed out that it initiated by the BIR and the Department of Finance to investigate and prosecute individuals and or entities engaged in tax evasion and other criminal violations of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.
On the other hand, Tabanda explained that the Oplan Kandado is an initiative involving the strengthening of the BIR’s imposition of the prescribed administrative sanction with such essential requirements as issuance of receipts, filing of returns, declaration of taxable transactions, taxpayer registration and payment of correct taxes. (PIA)
GSP NegOr-Siq hosts national meeting of council presidents
Dumaguete City (23 November) — The Girl Scout of the Philippines (GSP) Negros Oriental-Siquijor Council will host 150 delegates to participate in the National Meeting of Council Presidents on December 5-8, 2010 at Bethel Guesthouse, this city.
Rosales said this business meeting banners the theme, “Responsible Council Governance.”
The host council has lined up different evening and social activities to make the participants from all over the country stay not only fruitful but memorable and enjoyable which include cultural and Christmas fellowship night, the council executive said. (PIA/JCT)
PDEA-7 partners with schools in Cebu for ‘Campus Drug Watch’
RP celebrates Drug Abuse Prevention Week from Nov. 14-20
Cebu City (17 November) — As victims of drug abuse are getting younger, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PEDA-7) goes into partnership with schools in Cebu in a project dubbed’Campus Drug Watch’ in a heightened advocacy against illegal drugs.
“The youngest drug user that I encountered is a 12-year old boy who got hooked with shabu because her mother and grandmother are users,” lamented Alvariño.
Alvariño was one of the guests in this morning’s Kapihan sa PIA that tackled the annual observance of the Drug Abuse Prevention Week every third week of November or from November 14-20 with this year’s theme ‘Think Health, Not Drugs!’
The ‘Campus Drug Watch’ sets up a Student Anti-Drug Abuse Council in the said school with a top adviser and crafts programs to steer schoolchildren away from drugs, Alvariño said.
Five high schools in Cebu served as the pilot areas for the program. These are the Abellana National High School, Cebu City Science National High School, University of San Carlos – North, Sacred Heart Girls High School and the University of the Philippines ? Cebu College.
In 2009, there are almost 7M drug users in the country which is already a reflection of how grave the incidence of drug abuse is nationwide with Metro Manila as the number one heavily affected being the country’s main center, according to Alvariño.
“Cebu is second to Metro Manila where illegal drugs are’highly-proliferated,’” Alvariño declared.
The PDEA-7 chief bared shabu is the top drug being peddled followed by marijuana and third, ecstasy pill.
In Central Visayas, there are over 3,000 personalities involved in illegal drugs either as pushers, protectors, users and financiers, this is learned.
“In Cebu, there are over 1,000 personalities in our Watch List that are under the category of protectors, financiers, pushers and users,” disclosed Alvariño.
Alvariño said they are continuing the monitoring against these personalities and gathering up evidences for case build-up before any apprehension can be done. (PIA-Cebu/FCR)
NFA assures enough rice for Aklan
by Venus G. Villanueva
Linabuan Sur, Banga, Aklan (17 November) — The National Food Authority (NFA) here has assured that Aklan has a stable supply of rice seen to last for 115 days.
NFA-Aklan Provincial Manager Marianito Bejemino said that presently, the province has 553,425 bags of rice found in commercial warehouses and traders, households and in the government warehouse.
Even as there is plenty of rice supply in the market owing to the on-going harvest season, Bejemino said that NFA-Aklan continues to sell NFA rice in major market outlets and coastal and far-flung barangays at P25.00/kg.
“We deploy 200 bags daily to our accredited outlets,” Bejemino revealed.
The NFA is also buying palay from farmers at P17.00 per kilogram, higher than the price offered by private traders.
Under the scheme, non-coop members get 20 centavos incentives and 20 centavos for delivery, for a total of P17.40. For members of cooperatives, there is an additional 30 centavos CDIF.
“The good news about this period’s procurement program is that farmers who have no bank books could sell to us their palay for a maximum of 50 bags,” Bejemino said.
All they need, according to Bejemino, is to secure certifications from their barangay captains, agricultural technicians and local chief executives, according to Bejemino.
“The palay you sell to us will remain in the province which will be milled here and be consumed during lean months,” was Bejemino’s appeal to farmers. (PIA)
PNP records minimal gunban violations in Eastern Visayas
Tacloban City (November 10) — As the Comelec gun ban in connection with the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections ends at midnight of November 10, the Philippine National Police in Eastern Visayas recorded minimal violation of Comelec gun ban during the period September 25 to November 10, 2010.
About 59 violations of Comelec Resulotion 8874 in relation to PD 1866 as amended by RA 8294, the official report from the PNP Regional Office stated.
Of the 59 violators, 50 were civilians, 1 was a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, 1 member of the Philippine National Police while 6 were government employees and officials. The other one belongs to the security guards sector.
The PNP8 report added that about 16 high powered fire arms were confiscated while 24 were low powered firearms. This makes the total number of firearms confiscated to 44.
At least 21 bladed weapons and gun replicas were also confiscated all over the Region, the PNP report added.
Appropriate criminal charges numbering to 23 have been filed in court while one case is still under the investigation stage.
Under Commission on Elections Resolution No. 8714, only bona fide police and military personnel clad in proper uniforms are exempted from the nationwide gun ban.
Violation of the gun ban is an election offense that entails a punishment of six months to one year imprisonment. A national television flash report, however, said the arrested violators would not be immediately jailed as they would still undergo proper investigation. (PIA 8)
PNoy leads ceremonial naming of biggest ship in RP built in Cebu
Cebu City (10 November) — President Benigno S. Aquino III led the naming ceremony of the biggest ship ever built in the country by the fourth largest ship builder in the world this morning in Balamban, 63 kilometers southwest of Cebu.
Over 2,000 crowd cheered as the bottle of champagne at the ship’s bow broke down in pieces after Pres. Aquino axed the cord which released the colorful confetti, a traditional ceremony.
“We have certainly come a long way. Now, we are formally naming the biggest ship ever to be made on a Philippine shipyard,” Pres. Aquino initially said in his speech.
M/V Tenshu Maru, a bulk carrier, is almost the size of the titanic with length of 286.90 meters, breadth of 45 meters, depth of 24.50 meters and draft of 18.04 meters. Its gross tonnage is 92,379 with net tonnage of 60,235 and deadweight of 180,630 metric tons.
Pres. Aquino expressed his gratitude to the Tsuneishi Heavy Industries Cebu Inc. (THICI) and the Aboitiz Group of Companies for the investments they have made and “for the jobs you have provided for our people; for the trust and confidence in our nation; and for expressing your solidarity with our agenda of hope.”
The President further thanked the company for their sense of corporate social responsibility to the community and their generous donation “that will be instrumental in constructing a hospital, a public market, and school buildings in Balamban and its neighboring municipalities.”
“Our people will remain forever grateful for this, and I remain positive that it is only the first step to a more fruitful partnership in the years to come,” Pres. Aquino said.
Pres. Aquino also said in his message that he will be leaving for Yokohama, Japan for the APEC Summit as he expressed optimism to bring home more jobs to the Filipinos and more revenue to the national coffers.
“God willing, we will be brining home more good news from the private companies of one of our longest-standing partners, Japan and the rest of our allies around the world,” the President declared.
The President said the ceremony signifies the country’s readiness to sail as hope lives in the Philippines. “We have achieved much in such a short time, and we stand to achieve so much more. Join us in this journey toward progress,” Pres. Aquino stressed.
Before leaving Balamban, Pres. Aquino had group photos with top executives of THICI and the Aboitiz Group of Companies and also inspected the scale models of the different types of ships that the company built over the years.
But what will forever be imprinted in the hearts of the shipyard workers was when the President approached and casually interacted with them and personally handed them caps with the text’P-NOY.’
The President stayed slightly over half an hour before flying to Cebu City to attend the grand opening of the Radisson Blu Hotel. (PIA-Cebu/FCR)
PhilHealth sets forum for voluntary, OFWs, senior citizens
Iloilo (8 November) — All existing and potential members and dependents from the informal and employed sectors, as well as OFWs and senior citizens are enjoined to participate in a forum set by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
PhilHealth Regional Manager Marilyn Geduspan said the forum set on November 26, is intended to inform the above of the reforms and innovations instituted by the agency to ensure universal coverage and to improve services as stated by President Benigno Aquino III in his first SONA.
Geduspan said PhilHealth had increased its benefits up to 35 percent in 2009.
She said that there were also certain adjustments made to the premium rates of self-employed and practicing professionals with family income of more than P25,000, who enrolled under the individually paying program.
PhilHealth Information Officer Larry Tabsing said the agency is also imposing the 20 percent discount privilege of every senior citizen patient deducted from the charges of billed items, as well as from health services of health care providers prior to the application of PhilHealth benefits.
Tabsing said PhilHealth will implement the pre-requisite contribution requirements of nine months premium payments within 12 months prior to availment of both in and out patients procedures.
He said the forum is also important for OFWs and their dependents of the requirements to keep their eligibility active even when they are out of contract work abroad.
This PhilHealth Members’ forum, furthermore, is also intended to orient new enrollees of registration requirements, members’ eights and responsibilities and procedures for claiming benefits.
Those who are intending to participate may pre-register through the Membership section, at 5087300 to 04.
Geduspan, added that the PhilHealth Regional Office-6 had already conducted round table discussions with its partners ? health care providers, employers and liaison officers, so it is now focused on members’ forum. (PhilHealth/PIA6/ESS)
PNP bolsters campaign against terrorism
San Jose, Antique (8 November) — The Antique Police Provincial Office (APPO) has organized Special Weapon And Tactics Team (SWAT) to bolster its campaign on anti- terrorism and other crime prevention strategies.
The Antique’s SWAT according to PO2 Ria May dela Cruz, PNP’s Information Officer/PNCO will take the lead in addressing crisis situation and recommend for the approval of provincial security plan to be implemented by various agencies when crisis situation occurs.
The APPO has also put in place the anti-/counter terrorism measure to ensure protection and safety of Antiqueños.
Among the strategies are intensified intelligence monitoring of terroristic activities not only in the province but also of neighboring provinces and other parts of the country and increase police visibility in strategic places.
PNP has intensified monitoring of vital installations and lifelines such as water and electricity sources, government buildings, seaport, airport, cellcites among others.
Dela Cruz further said that the APPO is also strengthening its community relations activities by conducting Barangay Pulong-Pulong and other community mobilization activities.
The PNP echoes its call on the public to be vigilant of what’s happening in their communities at the same time support the efforts of the PNP in maintaining peace and order. Dela Cruz assured the public that the PNP is on alert and ready to protect and serve the Antiqueños. (PIA/psm)
Capiz PNP nabs 5 gun ban violators so far
by A. Lumaque
Roxas City (4 November) — Five violators of the Commission on Elections’ (COMELEC) gun ban and illegal possession of firearms have been apprehended by police authorities in Capiz since the prohibition of carrying firearms was implemented on Sept. 25 in view of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls last month.
Based on Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO) records as of Nov. 4, the violators were arrested with either low caliber guns or deadly weapons in the municipalities of Pontevedra, Ivisan, Pilar, Tapaz and city of Roxas.
The poll gun ban will end on November 10 as stipulated in COMELEC Resolution No. 9028.
The COMELEC has decided to re-implement the total gun ban because security forces have found it efficient in preventing crime and violence during the historic automated elections in May 2010.
CPPO has also apprehended 27 violators during the five-month poll gun ban in line with the May 10 local and national elections. (PIA)
