Women’s month in Antique culminate with forum, awards
SAN JOSE, Antique, April 16 (PIA) — The giving of awards for the best Gender and Development implementing local government units, and a forum on gender and governance for aspiring legislators highlighted the closing ceremony of the observance of the Women’s Month in Antique.
Fr. Edione Febrero of the Church Military Advisory Group (CMAG-A) said that there is a need to strengthen the full and effective implementation of RA 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women.
According to Fr. Febrero the responsiveness of the various stakeholders which include the political leaders, is vital in translating into action and results the provisions of the said law.
The forum with the aspiring candidates which was organized by the GAD Inter-agency Committee and the CMAG-A has identified programs needed for improving the well-being of women, men and children in Antique.
Among the programs identified include the creation of more livelihood opportunities, and the establishment of an institution to cater to the needs of mentally challenged women, men and children.
Col. Arnold M. Quiapo, commanding officer of the 301st Infantry Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army who is also a CMAG-A Director noted during the forum the important role of the women who despite several challenges confronting them have remained strong and caring for their family.
Quiapo assured on the other hand, that the Philippine Army will help ensure peace and harmony to flourish in the province especially during the conduct of the mid-term elections on May 13.
The culmination program of the Women’s Month celebration was capped by the awarding of the Best GAD implementing Local Government Units.
The awardees are: the Municipality of Anini-y- first; second- Municipality of San Jose; and third- Municipality of Culasi. The winners received cash prizes of P100,000.00 for the first placer; P75,000.00- second; and P50,000.00- third place, intended to finance their respective GAD-related projects and programs.(JCM/VWV/PIA 6-Antique)
DOST urges LGUs to have flood early warning system
ILOILO CITY, April 16 (PIA) — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Pag-asa ((Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) are urging local government units (LGUs) to have their own community-based flood early warning system (CBFEWS).
Flores said the warning system is people-centered and empowers the community. It empowers the people of the community to protect, prepare themselves, and make them resilient against the disastrous effects of floods.
“The community-based flood early warning system protects people’s lives and properties through a non-structural method and the instruments to be used are also cheaper compared to automatic or telemetry system,” said Flores.
Flores also said that transmission of observed data is cheap. Community personnel or volunteers equipped with dedicated radio communication sets or cellular phones for data and information exchange and for transmitting warnings to the disaster groups will serve as hydrological observers.
He further said that a CBFEWS is needed in order to provide the community’s disaster response personnel of advance flood information that can be readily translated to community response actions.
The DOST official said that the CBFEWS will be implemented in the following phases: 1) consultation meeting with LGUs, 2) ocular survey of the proposed sites, 3) installation of hydrographic survey, 4) installation of flood signage, 5) training and dry run, and 6) memorandum of agreement signing and turn-over of facilities to local government units.
The DOST said that the main beneficiaries of a CBFEWS program are the flood-prone communities within relatively small watershed or sub-basin areas that are not generally covered by an automated Flood Forecasting and Warning System. (JCM/LTP-PIA 6, Iloilo).
DOLE lines up 4 Job fairs
ILOILO CITY, April 16 (PIA6) — Job seekers are invited to the job fairs that will be conducted in the city and province of Iloilo and Guimaras this month of April.
The job fairs will be held on the following dates and venues: April 16 at the Guimaras Provincial Gym in line with the province’s Manggahan Festival celebration; April 16 to 17 at Robinson’s Place Iloilo City; April 29 in front of the municipal hall of the municipality of Oton; and May 1 at Mary Mart Mall, Iloilo City.
Navarra said the job fair is a strategic facility for employment wherein job applicants and employers/recruitment agencies gather in one venue to lessen the cost and efforts especially among applicants.
She added that job fairs also help minimize illegal recruitment as companies participating are legitimate.
For this year 2013, the DOLE Iloilo and Guimaras Field Office has already listed 9 job fairs conducted mostly in schools. During these job fairs, some 1, 758 applicants were referred and qualified and around 10 % of them were hired-on-the spot or near hired.
Near hired applicants are those who just need either the final interview or the medical requirements.
Navarra advised applicants especially those who aim for work abroad to upgrade their skills to be more eligible for recruitment.
“We have our partner, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) which could provide skills training and enhancement,” said Navarra.
She further told jobseekers to keep in touch with other opportunities by visiting the DOLE websites www.phil-job.net and www.dole.gov.ph.
In the phil-job.net, applicants could also find the establishments with vacancies not only here in Iloilo but also in other areas of the country, Navarra said. (JCM/LAF/PIA)
Pag-IBIG to implement new procedures for faster services
CEBU CITY April 3 (PIA) — The Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) is set to implement procedural reforms on some transactions effective May 2013 to grant faster services to the public,
These include the use of their Membership Identification (MID) or Registration Tracking Number (RTN) to be indicated upon the submission of the following forms: Members’ Contribution Remittance Form (MCRF); Short Term Loan/Multi-Purpose Loan Applications; and Monthly Remittance Schedule for Multi-Purpose Loan.
Pag-IBIG Cebu South Information Officer Van Pepito said that employees without MID are advised to secure a Registration Tracking Number (RTN) at Pag-IBIG Branches or via internet through e-services found at www.pagibigfund.gov.ph.
Pepito also clarified that RTN can be used in place of the MID.
In order to ensure updated employee ledgers and timely posting of payments, Pag-IBIG implemented the Electronic Remittance Mode of Payment that allows all Members’ Collection Remittance Form (MCRF) be saved in soft copy stored in USB.
Also part of the procedural reforms is the payment schedule intended to get rid of the long waiting at the counter.
Pag-IBIG members then are advised to follow the set payment schedules. For employers with A to D as first letter of names, the due date of payment (following the period covered) is every 10th to the 14th of the month; first letter of names E to L is from the 15th to the 19th of the month; M to Q is every 20th to the 24th of the month; and R to Z ,Numeral is scheduled every 25th to the end of the month.
In a statement, Pag-IBIG Cebu South Department Manager III Rio Teves expects the full compliance of the set procedures.
“As our partner in our continuing efforts to build a better and stronger Pag-IBIG Fund by delivering faster and more efficient services to you, we shall be expecting your full compliance with the above procedures as doing otherwise may result to delays or non-processing of your transactions such as multi-purpose loan availment and posting of contributions,” Teves said. (rmn/AYS/PIA 7 with Pag-IBIG PR)
Army outreach mission benefits many
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, April 3 — Some 1,378 residents of Brgy. Malasibog in Escalante City, benefited from the outreach mission conducted by the 3rd Civil Military Operations Batallion of the Philippine Army in line with the 116th PA anniversary recently, a statement from the Army said.
The activity, with the theme “Serving the People, Securing the Land,” started with a healing service officiated by Pastor AG Baron of the Body of Christ Community Church, followed by the distribution of the Holy Bible.
A “Soccer for Peace”exhibition game was also conducted, as well as free dental checkup and services by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Dental Service.
Other activities included circumcision services, children’s games, magic show and photo static display, legal assistance, psychological counselling, and clay art demonstration and mural painting.
Dr. Rocel Cantila and Jevi Ganancial of the Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office provided free services to pet animals while the City Health Office of Escalante held medical checkup and gave medicines. Bantay Bata 163 Negros Foundation distributed used clothing and relief items.
A barangay forum followed in the afternoon with town and barangay officials, Ltc Patrick Cinco of the 3CMOBn and Ltc Raymundo Delgado, executive officer of the 62nd Infantry (Unifier) Battalion, and Philippine Army.
Issues and concerns over government programs, like the distribution of benefits and special privileges for senior citizens, and matters about the proper registration for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the government were also raised during the assembly.*(Phil.Army/CD/JCM/PIA6)
BIR reminds taxpaers: ITR filing deadline is on April 15
ROXAS CITY, Capiz, April 3 (PIA) — Taxpayers are reminded of their obligations to file their income tax returns and pay what is due to the government.
Capiz Bureau of Internal Revenue District Officer Gil Tabanda called on those who have not yet filed their income tax returns or paid their taxes to the government to comply with said obligation on or before April 15.
Tabanda said that to intensify their advocacy campaign, they will be using the mobile public address system or “rikoreda” to reach more Capiceños aside from their municipal-based door-to-door information activities.
He said that tax collection agents in the different municipalities here will likewise conduct in their respective areas tax forum or briefing to further inform the public on the importance of the payment of exact taxes on time.
Tabanda also revealed that they will be establishing two Tax Tulungan Centers or Help Desks at the Gaisano City mall here and at the Development Bank of the Philippines to assist taxpayers.
He explained that the Tulungan center at the mall will assist taxpayers and receive the income tax returns of those who have no remaining tax payables already.
To avoid the rush hour, Tabanda encourages the public to file earlier their ITR and pay the necessary revenue due to the government.
Earlier, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares issued Bank Bulletin No. 2013-03 reminding all BIR Authorized Agent Banks to accept ITRs and tax payments on two Saturdays, April 6 and April 13,2013, and to extend banking hours up to 5:00 PM for the period April 1 to 15, 2013, for purposes of accepting tax payments. (JCM/JBG/PIA6)
DPWH SoLeyte prompts farmers national highways not palay solar dryers
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 1 (PIA) – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is urging farmers and rice traders not to use national highways as solar dryers to avoid road accidents.
“We have widened the national highways to facilitate smoother flow of traffic especially in major arterial roads and not to be used as solar dryers for palay of corn and copras, ” DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said in a statement.
As the infrastructure arm of the government widened and improved most of the national arterial roads in the country to include Southern Leyte road networks, it is observed that farmers take advantage of the good weather are drying up their palay or corn along the national highways and cordoning off road sections that are widened, Singson said.
“To add trouble, these farmers put stones and barriers along the national highways to protect their palay from being overrun by vehicles. The presence of big stones or boulders poses danger to motorists,” he said.
Singson also urged local government to help put order along the national roads, particularly in poblaciones or market areas as he noted that bicycles and motorcycles are using the center lanes of these widened national roads. This practice hampers smoother flow of traffic or poses danger to motorists, particularly at nighttime.
He added that farmers may use the outer lanes to prevent accidents in national roads.
“We are also urging the LGUs and the Philippine National Police to strictly enforce the NO PARKING regulation or encroachments on national roads especially at the widened portion, Singson added in the press release. (PIA8 SoLeyte)
CSC to enhance skills of supervisors
ILOILO CITY, April 1 (PIA6) — Supervisors in government service will have a chance to improve their management skills with the Training on Supervisory Development Course (SDC) offered by the Civil Service Commission(CSC).
The training aims to enhance the quality of supervisors to ensure sustainability efforts directed toward employee empowerment in the service.
This is in line with the CSC’s strategic objective of developing competent and credible civil servants, by conducting programs to enhance the capabilities of public servants in their areas of work.
The Supervisory Development Course consists of three tracks.
Track I of the SDC training will feature modules on Personnel Effectiveness, Supervision and Organization Communication.
The live-out four-day training will run from April 16-19, 2013, with a registration fee of P4,000 per participant.
SDC Track 2 includes modules on How to spark exceptional performance and making meetings productive, which is proposed to be held May 7-9, live-out, also in Iloilo City. Registration fee is PP3,100.
Track 3 covers modules on Making a Difference through leadership and Making Powerful Winning Presentations, slated June 5-7, live-out with a registration of P3,100, still in Iloilo City.
The CSC also offers other training programs that can be availed upon request for a maximum of 40 participants, like: Values orientation workshop; Public service ethics and accountability; Basic customer service skills; Seminar-workshop on Improvement of Frontline Transactions; Seminar on Public Accountability; Seminar on Personnel Mechanisms; Basic Effective Supervision Training; Anti-Sexual Harassment Training and Work Ethics in the Bureaucracy.
The CSC which is the central personnel agency of the government is responsible for the recruitment, building, maintenance and retention of a competent, professional and highly motivated government workforce responsive to the needs of the public.(csc/jcm/pia6)
PDEA shifts gears in drive vs illegal drugs
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, March 19 (PIA) — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Bohol is covering all bases as the fight against drugs and its proliferation goes active and proactive here.
PDEA here has shifted to a two-pronged approach, focusing proactive information dissemination on the effects of drug use in addition to supply reduction.
This was revealed during the recent Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) Meeting.
PDEA is aggressively pursuing pro-active measures especially in education in addition to its surveillance, casing, and test buy operations against identified or reported illegal drug personalities, said Ma. Chona Egam of PDEA Bohol.
Instead of reporting mainly on the dangerous drugs supply reduction efforts, the new PDEA leadership has pushed for the pro-active education component to get curious teenagers off the drugs lure.
Since last month, PDEA completed six Dangerous Drugs Awareness lectures and Information Drives on the Salient points of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, according to PDEA reports.
And to hit their target sectors, the Bohol team went to local high schools here, said Egam.
PDEA also brought the agency’s Anti-Drugs Awareness Symposia to forums in a high school and local government unit of Trinidad town.
In her report, Egam said they conducted Dangerous Drugs Awareness Seminar and Information Dissemination of the salient points of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 to 270 students of Tabalong High School on February 6.
The same seminar was also conducted for 168 students of Infant King Academy in Cortes last February 11.
On February 12, PDEA tackled similar seminar to 43 students of Bohol International Learning Center in Cortes and then to Fatima High School of the same town for 153 students.
By February 20, PDEA again scored accomplishments by giving the same lecture to 37 Grade 7 students of Lourdes High School in Cortes.
Two days later, PDEA was again in Kinan-oan High School to serve the information needs of 113 junior and senior students, Egam said.
Last February 14 also, PDEA was in Trinidad attending its town Peace and Order Council Meeting and giving out its Dangerous Drugs Symposium to 37 council members.
At the end of the month, PDEA held a Drugs Symposium at Cabilao National High School, where 196 students participated in the activity.
PDEA has earlier admitted that it is too thinly spread out due to lack of manpower.
The agency has sought the support of other law enforcement agencies in the fight against illegal drugs, explained Bohol police provincial director Constantino Barot. (rmn/RAHC/PIA Bohol)
DOH cites 7 healthy places in Western Visayas
ILOILO CITY, March 14 (PIA) — The Department of Health (DOH-6) Center for Health Development has come out with a list of “healthy places” in Western Visayas.
This is in line with the Philippine Health Promotion Program Through Healthy Places of the DOH which is a national multi-sectoral health promotion strategy aiming to communicate health messages and build health supportive environment through advocacy, networking and community action.
In the Highly Urbanized City Category, the following are the regional winners: Healthy Bus Station is Tagbak Terminal of Iloilo City; Healthy Eating Place is Aboy’s Restaurant of Bacolod City; and Healthy Workplace is Philippine Foremost Milling Corporation of Iloilo City.
For the Provincial Category, the following are the regional winners: Healthy Hospital is Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital of Silay City; Negros Occidental; Healthy Market is Miag-ao Public Market of Miag-ao, Iloilo; and Healthy Workplace is Distileria Bago, Inc., of Bago City, Negros Occidental.
Sagay City Bus Station of Sagay City, Negros Occidental was also recognized as a provincial nominee as Healthy Bus Station.
The DOH used the following indicators to evaluate these healthy places: safe and adequate water supply complying with the national standards, adequate sanitation and toilet facilities, adequate and proper waste disposal, food safety, adequate safety and injury prevention, accessibility of basic health services, non-pollution of the environment, health and environment-friendly livelihood program, presence of insect and vermin control program, presence of trees, ornamental plants and gardens, personnel management, and sustainability of projects initiated.
DOH-6, under Regional Director Dr. Susana Madarieta, expressed its appreciation to partners and stakeholders for their support and commitment to DOH programs and projects. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)
