Friday, September 28, 2012

NCIP Legal: Correction sa birth certificate gamay na lang ug magasto


Compostela Valley Province – Tungod sa R.A. 10172 gamay na lang karon ang magasto sa mga katawhan nga dunay topographical kon clerical error sa ilang birth certificate. Kini matud pa ni Atty. Jazel Joves diha sa kapitolyo panahon sa iyang pagtambong sa Provincial Tribal Council Regular Meeting nga gitabangan pagdumala nila  ni Datu Felipe Masambo-Provincial Tribal Council  Chairman, ug ni IP Sectoral Representative Board Member Augusto Blanco Jr.

Usa sa mga mahinungdanong gihisgotan panahon sa mokabat usa ka adlawng panagtapok sa mga Tribal Leaders sa onse ka mga lungsod sa probinsiya mao ang paghatag kanila ni SP Blanco sa Update sa nagpadayong Birth Late Registration sa mga lumad nga gigahina’g dakong pundo ni Gov. Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy karong tuiga.

Base sa report ni SP Member Blanco nga segun sa ilang gihimong census sa mga lumad sa probinsiya, adunay 21% pa lang kanila nga  dunay Birth Certificate, mao nga kining problemaha gitutokan usab sa liderato sa probisiya aron nga sila matabangan sa ilang birth certificate pinaagi sa nagpadayong Birth Late Registration.

Katabang sa probinsiya paggahin ug dakong pundo alang sa nagpadayong Birth Late Registration mao ang UNFPA. Apan dako sad kaayog natabang niini ang NCIP diha sa aspetong legal nga kabahin sa nagpadayong proseso sa Birth late Registration sa mga lumad.

Matud ni Atty. Joves nga ang iyang lamesa diha sa NCIP Provincial Office mihatag sa serbisyong legal sa mga lumad nga libre, ug dako niyang kalipay tungod napasayon ang mga komplikadong buluhaton sa proseso sa pagkuha ug record tungod sa mga kausaban ilalom sa bag-ong balaod.

Ilalom matud pa sa R.A. 10172 nga puwede na ang civil registrar mousab dayon sa mga sipyat sa Date of Birth ug sa Gender, ug wala na gikinahanglan ang judicial order kon mando  gikan sa korte.

Kahibaloan nga ilalom sa daang balaod nga mao ang R.A. 9048 gimando nga mahimong usbon deretso sa Civil Registrar bisan walay court order kon ang sipyat diha sa Birth Certificate first name ug nickname. Apan ilalom sa R.A. 10172 nga gipirmahan ni Pang. Aquino niadtong Agusto 15,2012 kini gipalapdan pinaagi sa paghatag ug pagtugot sa Civil Registrar nga mahimo nilang usbon diha-diha ang sipyat sa Birth Date kon petsa sa pagkatawo ug sa sex kon iyang gender nga dili na gikinahanglan ang mando sa korte. (gilbert cabahug/ids comval)


Gov. Uy ug 11 Mun. Mayors sa Comval gihakot ang CY 2011 Good House Keeping Awards sa DILG


Ang probinsiya sa Compostela Valley padayon gihapong nagpakita sa iyang talagsaong hunat diha sa kaugdang ug kalig-on sa liderato ug sa pagkamaayo diha sa serbisyo publiko nga naila pinaagi sa nagtipun-og nga recognitions ug awards  nga nadawat, ug sama sa gihimong pagpakyaw sa probinsiya ug mga kalungsuran sa National Sandugo awards sa kada-tuig gihakot sad nila ni Gov. Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy ug sa 11 ka Municipal Mayors ang CY 2011 Good House Keeping Awards nga gitunol ni Presidente  Benigno S. Aquino III pinaagi sa Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Timaan niini mao ang “TAPAT NA PALAKAD, BAYANG MUNLAD” Seal of Good House Keeping CY 2011 Award nga malipayong gitunol ni DILG Provincial Director Lborio Diana ngadto kang Gov. Uy niadtong Sept. 24, 2012 sa kapitolyo. Pinaagi niini, subling gipahibalo karon sa Malacañang nga hugtanong giiila sa pangulo ang gihimong mga paningkamot sa liderato aron nga magmapadayonon ang talagsaong hunat sa paspas nga paglawig ug paglambo sa probinsiya ilalom prinsipyong “Accountability and Transparency in Local Governance.”

Kauban sa gihatag nga award sa Seal of Good House Keeping mao ang Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) nga mokabat sa P3 milyones pesos nga kantidad sa proyekto. Samtang ang onse ka mga lungsod gipremyohan sad  ug tag P1M nga kantidad sa proyekto nga PCF.

Sayo niini gipahibalo ni DILG Provincial Director Diana nga sa nakalabayng semana iyang gilibot ang onse ka mga lungsod alang sa ceremonial nga paghatag sa Municipal Mayors sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka Seal of Good Housekeeping Award.

Aron maila sa Malacañang ang mga lungsod, mga siyudad, ug mga probinsiya nga takos sa maong pasidungog ang DILG nagmugna ug grupo sa evaluator nga gilangkoban sa mga personahe sa DILG kauban ang usa ka representante sa Civil Society Organization (CSO) nga maoy molibot matag-karon ug unya aron masayran ug maila kadtong mga LGUs nga takos hatagan sa talagsaong pasidungog. (gilbert cabahug/ids comval)

Philippine workforce face global competition by 2015


DAVAO CITY Sept. 28 (PIA)- It’s fight or flight for the licensed Filipino workforce when global competition sets in by 2015 as a result of the full implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

This was the challenge made by Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC) Commissioner Jennifer Jardin-Manalili to the 46 PRC-regulated professions that will have to compete with the Asean workforce.  The 46 professions belong the four general areas including Business, Social and Management; Medical and Health; Engineering and Technology.

“The AEC will will be characterized not only free flow of capital and goods but also the free movement of services and skilled labor,” she said.  This is primarily the reason why PRC is holding the series of Basic Free Trade Areas Information Session in various parts of the country before the Convergence of Professional for National Building and Global Competitiveness Summit in October. The Davao leg, which is the fourth, was conducted last week.

Jardin-Manalili said the professions have to come up with their own roadmaps so that our workforce will be ready when we open up even our services sector to the Asean countries. She added this is no longer just free trade of goods but also free trade of services.

“We are doing everything to prepare our workforce for 2015 because while it means Asean workers can already enter the country to work, it can also mean that our professionals will also get the chance to work in other Asean countries,” she added.

The AEC will facilitate the movement of people in the Asean Region and our professionals better be ready to compete with other professionals from these countries, she said.

The country implemented two strategies to meet the liberalization of professional workers by 2015. “One is the rapid assessments of professions where they will come up with competitive roadmaps and the other strategy is the holding of the Professional Summit.(lovely a. carillo)

KALAHI-CIDSS PAMANA expands coverage


DAVAO City  -The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) project has added five more PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) municipalities in Davao Region.

The project has identified the municipalities of Maragusan, Pantukan, Monkayo in Compostela Valley; Talaingod in Davao del Norte; and Tarragona in Davao Oriental for the implementation of the modality.

Last year, the project pilot-tested the PAMANA in Compostela, Compostela Valley.

KALAHI-CIDSS PAMANA, which covers 71 conflict-affected barangays in the region with a grant of P21.3 million, aims to improve access of conflict-affected barangays to quality basic social services and responsive, transparent and accountable local governments.

Oliver M. Binancilan, area manager for Caraga and Compostela Valley Corridor of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), said Compostela Valley has become the focus of the agency because between 2003 and 2010, the province had the highest number of conflict incidences. OPAPP is the lead agency that oversees the implementation of PAMANA.

“Conflict is inevitable. Dili nato na ikalimod ug dili ta makalingkawas anang conflict. Even sa atong daily lives naa gyuy conflict. (We cannot deny and we cannot escape from conflict. Even in our daily lives there are conflicts). You can see conflicts in our organizations, in families, in institution,” Binancilan said.

He pointed out that the implementation of the modality in these areas “not only provides interventions on what is happening on the ground, but it also looks into the root causes of the conflict.”

He said the modality tries to address the needs of the communities for an institution that can address conflict. In some instances in the past, people had sought assistance from armed groups present in their areas. (DSWD/Leslie Lao-Francisco)

Hypertension, Diabetes services available at city's health districts


DAVAO CITY, Sept. 28 (PIA) – The Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Program, a joint undertaking of the Davao City government and Handicap International, has brought to the reduction of diabetes patients influx to the Mindanao Diabetes Center at the Southern Philippines Medical Center.

MDC Diabetes Nurse Educator Elena Zapanta bared that currently, the center has only been receiving diabetes patients who need tertiary care such as therapy and rehabilitation, following the implementation of the CVD program in the city since last year.

Unlike the previous years, patients needing primary or secondary care would no longer seek services at MDC because of the CVD program where health services are made available and accessible for diabetic persons, Zapanta said.

“We should be grateful of the program because of the big help and convenience it provides for the patients,” she told the media during the press conference at the opening of the Matters of the Heart photo-essay exhibit and CVD Program Caravan held today (Sept. 28) at Abreeza Mall, this city.

Dr. Ivy Nolasco, Handicap International project manager, said the CVD program has put in place various health services for the prevention and management of diabetes, hypertension and other risk factors at the 16 health districts covering 182 barangays in Davao City.

The services include medical consultations, regular monitoring, nutrition and diet counseling, foot care and laboratory testing with equipment such as machines to measure blood sugar and lipid profile.

Nolasco bared that more than 5,000 Davaoeños have already availed of the services at their respective health district centers since the start of the CVD program implementation. 

City Health Office Chief Josephine Villafuerte said the CVD program has 22 diabetes educators/trainors who were trained to provide necessary instructions and counseling to patients slated on Fridays at the health districts.

The Davao City government and the Handicap International-Philippines sealed a partnership in May last year aiming to develop and implement a four-year CVD Program to provide Davaoeños easy access to cardiovascular-related health services.

The CVD Program activities were brought closer to the people by mounting a CVD Program Caravan at Abreeza Ayala Mall which will offer free medical services starting September 28 to September 29 in celebration of the World Heart Day. 

These services are also concurrently being offered in the health centers, said Erolle Linus Miranda, CVD Project-Handicap International communication officer. 

This activity therefore increases the program’s visibility among the general public for their awareness, he said. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)

Davao Sur's top honchos benchmark Tagum's best govt practices


CITY OF TAGUM, DAVAO DEL NORTE - Stressing that this city's best government practices are indeed worth emulating, Davao del Sur Governor Douglas Ra. Cagas led a 37-man delegation in a one-day visit last September 25, 2012 anchored on the mission to take a glimpse of the programs and projects of the local government initiated by Mayor Rey T. Uy.

Uy personally shared his administration's achievements which Governor Cagas aptly described as the driving force that sets the bar of excellence in local governance.

Cagas, including some city councilors and barangay captains from Digos City, visited the Tagum City Engineering Services headquarters where the fabrication of the chairs are made at the Tagum City Motorpool, the renowned La Filipina Public Cemetery, the Tagum Public Market, the Energy Park, where the city nursery is located and ended at the City’s iconic New City Hall with no less than Mayor Uy playing as a tour guide.

Cagas said he was amazed and impressed by how far Tagum has achieved in its young age as a city.

In an interview with the Tagum City Information Office, the governor was very vocal in his intention to run as City Mayor of Digos in the 2013 election.

His one-day visit, he said, serves as a benchmarking activity to replicate Tagum's best practices once he will get the people's nod to lead his province's capital city.          

“Our vision is to make Digos at least equal to our pride Tagum City,” the governor concluded. (Louie Lapat of CIO Tagum)

DILG ups criteria for Silver Seal of Good Housekeeping


TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Sept. 27 (PIA):   Local government units (LGUs) would likely find it hard to get the higher level of good housekeeping award as the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has raised the standard requirements.

DILG Davao del Norte Provincial Director Alex Roldan in an interview revealed that DILG has “raised  the bar  higher” for the Silver Seal of Good Housekeeping due to  be awarded next year for deserving LGUs which would meet the standards.

Other than the basic requirements,  the DILG expects LGUs to have no questionable  financial transactions, no disallowances.

Roldan explained that Seal of Good Housekeeping  only ensures that LGUs have established the proper bidding process which  fosters transparency, and that the civil society sector is well represented in governance.

Along with the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA), the Seal of Good Housekeeping wins people’s appreciation of the government leading to gaining their trust.

But taking a close scrutiny on  the financial management of LGUs will ultimately bring in people’s trust to government.  “People would eventually trust if  they know how their money is being used,”  he said.

Roldan said ordinary Filipinos  may at first not be able to notice  and appreciate  good financial management but he was optimistic that they would eventually cooperate with the government if they see changes in the way it operates.

Meanwhile, Roldan cited the presence of a comprehensive development plan as important in picking the Silver Seal of Good Housekeeping as this provides the blueprint of LGUs’ development direction.

“Politicians come and go but the development direction of LGUs stays,”  he said.

To steer the development direction,  Roldan viewed as necessary to strengthen the ranks of career executives  of chief positions, as they stay behind running the government  when politicians leave their positions.

CDP is necessary but only a few LGUs are coming up with it, while those which have it, need to update the plan.

Roldan attributed  the constraint to  the financial capacity of LGUs as CDP processes demands creation of a number of working teams, committees and consultants.   (PIA-11/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan) 

Zero HR violations key in getting people support-Army


DAVAO CITY, September 28 (PIA)-Zero human rights violation has helped the soldiers in easily winning the confidence of residents in the countryside to work together in the peace and development outreach program of government, according to Lt. Colonel Lyndon Paniza, chief of the Public Affairs Office of the 10th Infantry Division.

Speaking in the “Arena Forum,”a public affairs program of the Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies aired at radio station DXRA, he cited the zero human rights record of the 10TH ID from September 2010 up to the present as one factor that gets residents to be friendly and helpful to the soldiers, especially in ventilating the issues and finding solutions to problems affecting the community.

Paniza said the reorientation of the soldiers from warriors to diplomats helps them interact effectively with the people.

“We maintain zero human rights violation record which is affirmed by the Commission on Human Rights 11, as moral ground to push the peace and development outreach program,” he said.

Paniza said that every unit of the 10th ID has a human rights desk ready to receive complaints of HR violations among soldiers just to ensure that due process rules in addressing redress of grievances among civilians as soldiers rub elbows with them.

He urged residents to report immediately any human rights violation incident to military authorities for prompt action.

“Every unit has a human rights desk that receives complaints against our soldiers.  You have to report to us so that military authorities can act accordingly,” Paniza said.

He said members of the peace and development teams are trained to wave, shake hands, smile and greet before being deployed to the field.

Paniza  said that on field, soldiers relay with the people avoiding  to be interfering  in their day to day affairs but close enough to listen to their concerns.

He lauded the soldiers for the show of discipline and the residents for their cooperation side by side with the local government units and other line government agencies.

Even then, Paniza underscored the need to spruce up the image of the soldiers tarnished especially during the martial law years.(PIA11/ Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)   

DA turns over P3.6M check, farm tractors to Davao del Norte


DAVAO CITY-Davao Region’s corn industry is expected to get a boost by the Department of Agriculture’s turn-over of a total of P3.6 million in checks and farm tractors to Davao del Norte during the closing ceremony of the three-day 8th National Corn Congress held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel last Friday (September 27).

“The turn-over of checks and farm equipment is in line with President Aquino’s Food Security Program,” Department of Agriculture secretary Proceso J. Alcala said.

Among those turned over by Alcala included a check amounting to P500 to the City Treasurer of Tagum City to support the city’s advocacy awareness on nutritious and alternative food program, another check amounting to P500,000 to the local government of Tagum City as the counterpart of the DA-High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) for the procurement of processing equipment in support of the Tagum Council of Women, Inc. and a check amounting to P200,000 for the procurement of rubber and pepper development

He also turned over two units of Four-Wheel-Drive farm tractors worth P4.8 million or P2.4 million each to the local government of the Island Garden City of Samal (actual turn-over) and the local government of New Corella (ceremonial turn-over), both in Davao del Norte.

“The cost of the farm tractors were shared by the DA and the local government unit concerned,” he said. DA’s counterpart for each farm tractor was pegged at P1.2 million. So in effect, the total cost of farm tractors turned over to Davao del Norte amounted to P4.8 million including the LGU counterpart.

A total of ten units of Four-Wheel-Drive farm tractors were actually turned over by Alcala during the said event amounting to P15-million counterpart for the DA. The other recipients included the local governments of Davao City (3 units), Digos in Davao del Sur (1 unit), PLGU of Davao Oriental (2 units), municipality of Manay in Davao Oriental (1 unit) and municipality of Caraga also in Davao Oriental (1 unit).

Ten units of postharvest equipment were raffled off during the closing program including 5 units of mobile cornsheller worth P112,000 per unit and 5 units of stationary mini corn mill amounting to P152,000 per unit. The winners have not yet been bared.(lovely a. carillo/PIA-XI)

Coastal barangay revitalized with projects, services


CARMEN, Davao del Norte, Sept. 28 (PIA):  The isolated coastal barangay of Barangay Taba in Carmen, Davao del Norte is expected to come alive economically and culturally as the provincial government has poured in various projects and services in the area.

Provincial Muslim Officer  Emilio Quirod feels the upbeat mode of  his fellow residents in Barangay Taba which he describes as laid-back with  roads  of potholes leading to dead-end areas that hinder  free flow of goods  to markets.

“Walay lami ang Taba sauna.  Karon nalipay kaayo  kami  sa mga proyekto nga gihatag sa amoa.  (Taba was no good before. We are now truly happy of the projects given to us),”  he said in an interview at the newly inaugurated multi-purpose cultural center.

Provincial Gov. Rodolfo P. del Rosario yesterday led the  formal opening of  the P2.5 million worth multi-purpose cultural center built at the heart of a Muslim community in Barangay Taba  with about 2,500 residents.

Made up of concrete  with tiled floors, the cultural center will serve as a meeting place, event venue, madrasah school and wedding place  of Muslim residents of Barangay Taba which has about 35 percent Muslim populace.

Hadji Amina Conde could still recall  that there used to be just a makeshift  of tarpaulin covering during community gatherings and events. 

“Karon maski mag-ulan ug mag-init, maayo na. (Now, we would be alright even under the sun or  the rain.),”  she said.

On the other hand, Del Rosario also formally opened a one kilometer road worth P2 million funded through the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) with counterpart funds from the provincial government, the municipal government of Carmen and from the Department Agriculture.

Aside from providing access to Barangay Taba through  the national higway,  the farm-to-market road pushes the flow of agricultural products and cuts short the travel time of bringing them to the market.

Barangay Taba resident Estela Villaraiz, 28 years of age, recalled that there used to be just a trail where the new road is constructed, making it hard for farmers to transport their harvests to  the barangay main road.

Because she would no longer be paying  for hauling services to  transport  her coconut and nipa harvests from her farm to the main road,  Villaraiz expects to save as much as P2,000.

Located at the coastal area  of Carmen Municipality, Barangay Taba is also producing  fish other than  banana,  coconuts and nipa.

Meanwhile, the provincial government of Davao del Norte simultaneously hauled yesterday a caravan of services with the inauguration  of projects given to Barangay Taba.

Del Rosario led the Convergence for Peace and Development  which pooled together various services from  the provincial government of Davao del Norte, the 1003rd Infantry Brigade, and from the  Provincial Police Office.

Barangay Taba was the third site of Convergence for Peace and Development conducted in Carmen, Davao del Norte. The Convergence was also held, early this year, in Carmen barangays  of Mabuhay and Tibulao. (Jeanevive Duron-Abangan/PIA-11)

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

DavNor LGU observes “Famealy Day”


TAGUM CITY - The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) HAS conferred the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) to the Province of Davao del Norte for its efforts in promoting good local governance.

Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario received the SGH marker from DILG Provincial Director Alex Roldan, as provincial officials and executives huddled besides them in a simple rite at the Bulwagan ng Lalawigan during ceremonies held last September 17.

The SGH seal was signed by the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, who initiated the project two years ago to promote transparency, accountability, and efficiency in local governance.

Roldan said the province will receive P7 million from the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) for scoring high in planning, fiscal management, transparency and accountability, and, valuing of performance information.

He bared all the component cities and municipalities of the province earlier garnered the SGH seal for meeting the government’s standards of good governance last year.

The compliant LGUs have since received their financial aid of P3 million for the cities and P1 million for the towns coming from the PCF.

Del Rosario said the award shows that the province, under his leadership, is performing its best to serve the best interest of the people.

He assured the province shall continue to espouse the principles of accountability and transparency, particularly in pursuing its human-centered development agenda P.E.O.P.L.E.

“We value good governance as a tool to achieving our development goals. We value transparency and accountability as required by the DILG’s Seal of Good Housekeeping, which is a broader benchmark for LGUs,” he said in his State of the Province Address early this year.(Noel Baguio-PIO DavNor)
Legarda: Thousands of Filipino Seafarers to Benefit from Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 

In light of the celebration of Maritime Week, Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, today stressed on the importance of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 to the thousands of Filipinos seafarers who all seek for better protection and improved working conditions. 

“As we celebrate Maritime Week, we must all work to ensure that the rights of all seafarers are upheld, and that they are respected and recognized as vital components of the world economy. We must begin working towards full implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006,” Legarda said.

“Thirty percent (30%) of all the personnel manning ships worldwide are Filipino seafarers. In 2011 alone, the Philippines deployed 343,587 seafarers, making 1 out of every 5 seafarers in the world a Filipino. There is an urgent need for governments to effectively enforce its regulatory role in ensuring safer and secure shipping, in preventing marine pollution, and in ensuring decent work for seafarers,” she explained.

The Philippine Senate concurred in the ratification of MLC, 2006 on August 12, 2012. The Philippines became the pivotal 30th member state to do so, as MLC, 2006 will enter into force one year after it has been ratified by 30 countries with a minimum of 33% of world tonnage.

“The unfair conditions of seafarers including exploitation, excessive working hours, ill-treatment, contract substitution and underpayment of wages and other benefits will be abolished through this Convention. We must give them the just treatment that they deserve, underscoring their sacrifices and contributions to the global economy,” Legarda remarked.

MLC, 2006, dubbed as the seafarer’s Bill of Rights, establishes the right to a safe and secure workplace that complies with safety standards; right to fair terms of employment; right to decent working and living conditions on board ship; and right to health protection, medical care, welfare measures and other forms of social protection.

It also covers more basic rights such as freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor; the effective abolition of child labor; and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.


Davao del Norte receives seal of good housekeeping


TAGUM CITY - The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) HAS conferred the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) to the Province of Davao del Norte for its efforts in promoting good local governance.

Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario received the SGH marker from DILG Provincial Director Alex Roldan, as provincial officials and executives huddled besides them in a simple rite at the Bulwagan ng Lalawigan during ceremonies held last September 17.


The SGH seal was signed by the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, who initiated the project two years ago to promote transparency, accountability, and efficiency in local governance.

Roldan said the province will receive P7 million from the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) for scoring high in planning, fiscal management, transparency and accountability, and, valuing of performance information.

He bared all the component cities and municipalities of the province earlier garnered the SGH seal for meeting the government’s standards of good governance last year.

The compliant LGUs have since received their financial aid of P3 million for the cities and P1 million for the towns coming from the PCF.

Del Rosario said the award shows that the province, under his leadership, is performing its best to serve the best interest of the people.

He assured the province shall continue to espouse the principles of accountability and transparency, particularly in pursuing its human-centered development agenda P.E.O.P.L.E.

“We value good governance as a tool to achieving our development goals. We value transparency and accountability as required by the DILG’s Seal of Good Housekeeping, which is a broader benchmark for LGUs,” he said in his State of the Province Address early this year.(Noel Baguio-PIO DavNor)


Friday, September 21, 2012

Go on sleep mode to save energy


Many of us love to use our recent vacation photos and happy faces as our screen savers. But, we do not know that these screen savers are causing us much energy.

The best way to cut the energy used by your computer is put it on sleep mode.

Hence, Davao Light and Power Company shares the advantages when one utilizes the sleep mode aside from saving energy.

Saves Time: computer will not have to re-boot when you return to your  daily tasks.     Environment friendly: saving energy uses less fossil fuels and is good for  the environment

Increases Security: reduced chance that valuable information will be displayed on your unattended PC.
Activate your sleep mode between 15 and 60 minutes of your inactivity.  The lower the setting, the more energy you'll save.

Consider also setting your monitor to hibernate. This will alert you that the computer is about to go to sleep.

Saving energy is very cool, indeed!
For more energy saving tips, visit www.davaolight.com and like facebook/davao light and power company (official). (DLPC/PR)

Going Beyond the Call of Duty


A teacher’s responsibility continues even after the bell stops ringing. This is particularly true for Mary Grace Juaban, the principal of Tuburan Village Elementary School, who found herself teaching not only her students, but also the residents of Baon, San Isidro in Davao Oriental, where the school is located.

An unlikely leader

Ma’am Grace originally had no intention of working as a principal. However, a throat problem made her unable to continue serving as a teacher. While other people might see this health problem as a detriment, it only made Ma’am Grace change track on how she can best serve in the academic community.

Hindi na ako puwede magturo kasi nagka-problema ako sa throat ko. Naisip ko tuloy na baka time ko na mag-handle ng school (I could not teach because I had problems with my throat. That is when I thought that maybe it was time for me to handle a school).”

While she was given the option to teach in a big school that comes with complete facilities, she instead chose to teach in a small school in San Isidro, because she could relate with the residents. She felt that she could identify with the barangay, which was predominantly Muslim, similar to the community in Cotabato where she grew up.

Eye opener

Ma’am Grace was assigned in Tuburan Village Elementary School.  Even though the school was established in 1997, there were no school buildings to speak of. Classes were held at the evacuation center for Grades 1 and 2 and at the local training center for Grades 3 and 4. Students had to conduct their classes under the trees if either facility needed to be used. Even Ma’am Grace had to hold her office under a tree.

The situation was aggravated with only two faculty members. Teachers were afraid of being assigned in the school because of the high crime rate in the area, caused in part by the lack of electricity in Baon. As Ma’am Grace noted, a lot of those who went home late got mugged.

Negative perceptions of teachers toward Muslims, who comprise the majority of the population in the area, only heightened their fear of working in the community. “Ang mga teachers dati takot dito ma-assign kasi halos 100% Muslims (Teachers
were scared of being assigned here because the population was almost 100% Muslim),” Ma’am Grace shared. “After one year, two years, nag-si-seek sila ng transfer (They would seek transfer after one or two years).”

Children would also skip school. As Mayor Edgar Flor Saulon shared, “Dati, ‘pag nagtuturo ang teacher at pag-talikod niya, wala na ang mga bata, tumutulong na sa paghila ng isda kasi makakakuha sila ng libre [na isda]. Pagbalik ng bata, wala ng damit, nakahubad na kasi basang-basa (In the past, as soon as the teacher turns her back, the children would immediately run to the shore to help the fishermen pull their nets, since they can get free fish in return. When they get back to their classes, they are already shirtless, because their clothes have become wet).”

Ma’am Grace later on learned that the students did not do this to escape from their classes, but because their families are poor. In her house-to-house visits, she was shocked to find some children eating paper and plastic because they had nothing else to eat.

It was not just in school that Ma’am Grace experienced problems. Parents opposed changes that she wanted to make, even the cutting of the grass in campus. There were even families who believed that schooling was unnecessary. “Ang belief nila, mas mabigat ang madrasa [Muslim schooling that teaches the Quran to students] kesa sa ‘English’ education (They believe that madrasa is better than English education),” Ma’am Grace said, explaining that they use the latter term to refer to regular schooling.

Pushing on

Despite these setbacks, Ma’am Grace refused to give up.

The first thing she did was to lobby for the construction of a school building. A congressman provided for the funds for the construction of a school building. Even so, it was not enough to accommodate the needs of her students. The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development helped resolve this problem. KALAHI-CIDSS involves the presentation of project proposals for the construction of community projects that the residents themselves identify as their priority needs.

Ma’am Grace spearheaded in proposing the construction of a two-classroom school building, going house-to-house to get the parents to support the project and presenting scenarios to the people who attended the Municipal Inter-Barangay Forum (MIBF) on the consequences of lack of education.

Her efforts were almost in vain, because the proposed project was not prioritized. Thankfully, one of the prioritized barangays had excess funds, and the community generously donated the money to fund the construction of the school building.

But the funds were still not enough to finance the project. Ma’am Grace found herself taking the lead once again in generating funds for the construction of the school building. She approached board members, the municipal mayor, and even the people in her own poblacion of Bato-Bato in order to get the resources to push through with the project.

This time, she did not work alone in the project. KALAHI-CIDSS emphasizes the importance of participation and cooperation, and this is what the people exhibited during the process. The land where the school now stands was provided by the local government unit. The parents of the students helped in the construction of the school building while members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), long seen as the enemy by many of the Muslims in the community, painted the building.

Values formation

Ma’am Grace knew that the construction of the school building was only the first step in educating the people. Knowing that an attitude change of the community was needed in order to maximize the potential of the school, she focused on teaching values formation, not just to the students but to their families as well.

She convinced the parents to realize the importance of traditional schooling. “Sinasabi ko na mas mabuti na equal iyong madrasa at iyong English education [I told them that madrasa and English education should be equal].” To emphasize this point, she told them, “The only way to escape from poverty is through education.” Their experience in working together through KALAHI-CIDSS made the parents more receptive to her ideas, and they became more willing to send their children to school.

She also focused on improving the health of the residents of Tuburan Village. As a fishing community, the people had a diet rich in seafood, but not a lot of vegetables. Ma’am Grace offered a reward system for students whose homes have vegetable patches. The more enterprising families even sold some of the vegetables they planted, and this supplemented their income.

When she noticed that a lot of families were not particular about cleanliness, she offered another reward system if students picked trash lying about. The children eventually brought this habit to their homes, resulting in the parents becoming more concerned about cleaning their homes and surroundings.

The entry of other programs and institutions also greatly helped the community in moving forward. The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), another anti-poverty program of DSWD, is now providing cash grants to families to meet their health and education needs. A non-government organization also provided slippers and bags for the students.

Moving forward

It might surprise a lot of people that the changes effected by Ma’am Grace happened in roughly two years, since she became the principal of Tuburan Village Elementary School in 2010.

Those are actually bright steps. The next item on her agenda is for the students of Tuburan Village Elementary School to excel academically. Her school ranking first in the area in the National Achievement Test and second in an interdivision contest in 2011 are ever brighter steps toward this end. (DSWD KC-NPMO/Melanie L. Sison)




Sarangani wages education revolution in villages


By Beverly C. Paoyon

ALABEL, Sarangani, Sept. 21— Sarangani’s KKK (Karunungan Kontra Kahirapan or Literacy Against Poverty) campaign to revolutionize education in the province has gone to the grassroots by focusing reforms at the barangay level.

In the campaign, Governor Migs Dominguez introduced the 3-in-1 strategy. The grassroots-level KKK enjoins the three groups (barangay leaders, parents and teachers) to collaborate towards addressing concerns and improving the delivery of quality basic education in the villages.

The governor said it is education that liberates people from the bondage of poverty and the key to produce better professionals in the future as he lamented “alam natin ang buhay ngayon, ang future is very, very tough.”

“The future of the children lies in quality education,” Dominguez said. He pointed out to teachers the importance of not just making students graduate but making them equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills as they graduate.

“Ito ang munting inspirasyon natin na sana pagdating ng araw lahat ng bata ay makapagbibigay ng tamang armas para humarap ng ano mang klaseng pagsubok,” Dominguez said.

He likewise advocated that all concerns on education should not just be left to the Department of Education to attend to but what is more significant is the combined effort of the parents and the community in raising the child.

Sarangani is anchored on Dominguez’ policy direction -- “it takes a village to raise a child” -- which explains his eagerness in urging local leaders and education stakeholders never to cease providing quality education as long as there is still a single child left not in  school.

Quality Education for Sarangani Today (QUEST) program manager Annalie Edday said institutionalizing KKK campaign down to the 140 barangays in Sarangani will address specific concerns as it provides a venue for a unified planning and counterparting scheme from major stakeholders like barangay officials, teachers and parents.

“Currently we are intensifying our education revolution up to the barangay level. We are glad that our barangay captains are delivering the state of education address in their barangay and the interventions the barangays have initiated and supported to help improve the quality of education,” Edday said. “Collectively, they also draw the education issues they will address together.”

KKK was launched in 2011 as a massive awareness campaign on the status of the basic education in Sarangani. This year, the launching at the barangay level is highlighted by the Barangay Education Address.

Jonalyn Mangatong, Baluntay barangay captain, reported an 84.40 percent achievement rate in Datu Abdullah Tondog Elementary School, the only elementary school in the barangay, for school year 2011-2012 which posted an almost six percent increase since the previous two school years.

The improved performance in education in Baluntay, she said, is an indication that they could hit their aim towards eliminating illiteracy.

“Ang ating mga kabataan ngayon ay nararapat lamang na hubugin natin ng magandang asal at patapusin sa kanilang pag-aaral ng sa gayon ay handa silang humarap sa karera ng buhay,” Mangatong said.

“Karunungan Kontra Kahirapan ay pinapa-igting at itinatanim sa ating puso ng sa gayon ang mga tao sa Sarangani ay magtutulungan para malabanan ang kahirapan,” she said. (Sarangani Information Office/Beverly C. Paoyon)

ComVal fish farmers gain more skills trainings


By Grace Almedilla

NABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley Province, Sept. 21 – Series of skills training on fish production have been conducted by the provincial government through the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office (PAGRO) in partnership with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), and the local government units.

Aiming to help provide income and livelihood to the Comvalenyos, aquaculture is another industry being focused.

On September 19-21, 2012, residents of ‘Ang Bag-ong Malambuong Mabini USWAG Gawad Kalinga Village’ enjoyed the training on Aquasilvi Mud Crabs Production at Sitio Subok, San Antonio, Mabini.

According to research, Aquasilvi is an environment-friendly mangrove aquaculture system that promotes harmonious co-existence between fishery species and mangrove trees. 

Semi-enclosed with mudcrub culture, this system aside for alternative livelihood provision, instills the value of coastal protection and maintenance of the ecosystem.

Another recent skills training conducted was the 3-day ‘Garungan’ Production Training in Pantukan in the month of August. 

Garungan refers to the 3-inches milkfish or ‘bangus’.  With the country as one of the top milkfish producers, bangus farming has been regarded by most fishery experts.  

Participated not only by the fisherfolks but stakeholders, school institutions, Cooperatives, and private sectors, other fish production trainings conducted earlier this year include Pangasius Target Market Taste Test Training in Monkayo, Seminar on Feed Formulation and Feeding Management in Mawab’ and Seminar on Pangasius Business Opportunity in Compostela.

Provincial Fishery Coordinator Ronald Sibayan shared that the government has an existing fish hatchery located at Sta. Ana, Libasan, Nabunturan. 

The project is a continuing program in order to produce quality fingerlings for dispersal to fish farmers and interested stakeholders, he added.

Different agri-fishery projects especially those funded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) are also monitored by the Provincial Agriculture & Fishery Council (PAFC) with the respective MAFCs of the province’s 11 municipalities as their partners.  (IDS-Comval/Grace Almedilla) 

Mothers of malnourished children go on beauty care


by Grace Almedilla 

NABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley Province, Sept. 21 – Some 23 mothers of malnourished children adopted by the provincial government employees under Governor Arturo T. Uy’s initiated “Adopt-A-Child” Nutrition Program, have undergone a three-day training on Beauty Care Services for their alternative livelihood.

Gathered at Nueva Visayas covered court in Mawab from September 19-21, the trainees were taught of beauty care services like pedicure, manicure, and nail care.

Through its Special Programs Unit (SPU), the provincial government joined effort with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) with such skills training leading to National Certificate Level II (NC II).

Now on its third wave, the Adopt-A-Child Program finds another 23 malnourished children to cater with nutrition and health services at Brgys. Nueva Visayas and Nuevo Iloco in Mawab starting July up to November 2012.

The program also serves as an entry point of the other interventions that the provincial government could extend to the family and the community as a whole, such as the skills training for mothers which is part of the package of services.

After the successful performances of the Adopt-A-Child’s first and second series, similar beauty care trainings under TESDA were given also to mothers like massage therapy, foot spa, and hand spa. (IDS-Comval/Grace Almedilla with reports from Bob Mirasol/ Prov’l CTEC)

RPOC human dev’t committee holds org’l meet


DAVAO CITY, Sept. 21– The Human Development Committee of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in Davao Region held an organizational meeting recently to set its goals.

“We want to organize and spell out our functions and responsibilities,” said Social Welfare and Development Assistant Regional Director and RPOC Human Development Committee Chair Priscilla N. Razon.

Razon said “we must coordinate and collaborate our efforts in delivering programs that can respond to conflict in the barangays.”

She added that the basis of the creation of the committee is to look into “how we can address poverty so that we can win back the sympathy of the communities.”

In its efforts to become more effective, the council has created two committees, namely, the security committee and the human development committee.

Dividing the council, said Brigadier General Ariel B. Bernardo, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, will allow it to expand its reach.

“We can also expand our services in promoting harmony in rural communities.”

The council is composed of the region's provincial governors, mayors of highly-urbanized cities, presidents of the Leagues of Municipalities, the regional counterparts of national departments, offices and agencies.

Created in 2008 through the Executive Order No. 739, the council is headed by the chairman and vice-chairman both appointed by the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government with the approval of the President.

In its second quarter meeting at Ritz Hotel on July 11, the council approved a resolution creating the two committees. 

The security committee “performs the core function of the RPOC under the victory/demobilization peace paradigm,” while the human development committee “helps address the millennium development goals with emphasis on health, education and income opportunities.” (DSWD-11/Leslie Lao-Francisco)