Residents warned to stay alert as Crising batters Davao Region

DAVAO CITY, Feb 19 (PIA) -- Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio ordered the suspension of classes from preschool to high school Tuesday due to bad weather brought about by tropical depression Crising.

She also placed all rescue units run by the Emergency Response Center Central 911 and the barangays rescue groups on heightened alert due to the possible swelling of Davao River and other tributaries in the city and landslide on the highland areas. 

“Per Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Heavy Rainfall Yellow Advisory No. 1 issued at 8:53 p.m. Monday, Davao City is expected to experience moderate to heavy rainfall due to the weather system, so classes will be suspended from preschool to highschool on February 19,” Duterte-Carpio said. 

She said the suspension of classes for college and post-graduate levels and work in private sector will be left to the discretion of school administrators and employers, respectively. 

Genelito Atillo, spokesperson of the Department of Education in Davao Region affirmed the suspension of classes in preschool and highschool in all areas placed under the tropical storm signal no. 1 in Davao Region namely, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley. 

Commander Jose Luspo, chief of the Sta. Ana Wharf Detachment of the Philippine Coast Guard ordered the suspension of sea travel from Davao City to Kaputian, Island Garden City of Samal and Talikud Island which are also placed under tropical storm signal no. 1. 

He said that traveling towards these destinations takes one-hour and will surely expose people to rough seas. 

Luspo said that the ferry service and the sea travel between Kilometer 11 Sasa, Davao City and Villa Rica, Island Garden City of Samal will continue in order not to totally isolate the access of residents to the main land. 

He explained it only takes 15 minutes to travel in these sea lanes. 

The operation center of the Office of Civil Defense-11 also warned the local risk reduction management councils to take precautionary measures and to observe red alert. 

The Pagasa reported as of 4 a.m. Tuesday, the center of tropical depression Crising was estimated based on available data at 310 kilometers east of General Santos City with maximum sustained winds at 45 kilometers per hour near the center and it estimated to move west northwest at 22 kilometers per hour. (JSGD-PIA 11) 

DSWD releases 53 chainsaws to ‘Pablo’ areas

DAVAO City – A total of 53 barangays affected by TS Pablo received one unit Power Saw each from the Department of Social Welfare and Development recently. Use of which is upto six months and the barangay recipients may request for extended use when necessary. This was bared by Rebecca A. Santamaria, DSWD TS Pablo focal person for Davao Oriental and DSWD Head of Protective Services Unit.

According to Santamaria all barangays in Baganga, Boston and Cateel availed of the power saw as well as 11 villages in Compostela Valley.

Santamaria said the STIHL Model 720 ‘36’-size saw costs P60,500.00 each, complete with spark plug wrench, allen wrench, locking screw, open wrench, two-stroke engine oil, and two oilmatic saw chains.

The Memorandum of Agreement stipulates that the saw must be used by the barangay’s authorized chainsaw operator for cutting of trees in the natural forests or fallen trees floating in the rivers. Said trees must be cleared by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or the Philippine Coconut Authority, in the case of coconut trees.

Further, the MOA provides that produced lumber shall be for the exclusive use of the concerned barangay’s shelter assistance projects relative to TS Pablo Early Recovery and Rehabilitation Program.DSWD

DOST launches Smarter Philippines program in Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Feb 20 (PIA) The Department of Science and Technology formally launched the Smarter Philippines program aimed at maximizing the use of information communication technology to spur inclusive growth and improve the quality of lives among Filipinos.

Speaking in the simple launching program at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City, Secretary Mario Montejo of the DOST said in Davao Region, Smarter Philippines can be best understood by local residents to their access to information on climate change adaptation given the with topographical maps that state geo-hazards like floods and landslide; which can help local governments to plan ahead given a base line data on possible disaster scenario.

 “Imagine how a local government acts given timely information on disaster scenarios like inundation flood maps which can be used for disaster mitigation in identifying flood and landslide prone areas and in responding more rapidly to  victims through networking with city and regional hospitals in emergency situations,” he said.

Montejo said that Smarter Philippines is a mindset of continually finding better ways of doing things for Filipinos.

He said at the DOST, Smarter Philippines pertains to coming up with new and better products and systems of improving the quality way of life.

Montejo said smart technologies can best help practically in all aspects in the Filipino way of life from agriculture, governance, economy, environment, human resources and people.

Undersecretary Louis Napoleon Casambre, executive director of the Information and Communications Technology Office of the DOST said underscored the use of the information highway in promoting the smarter Philippines mindset.

He reminded the people that though the internet is a powerful tool to bridge information, it  is also  a public domain and everything posted their can be seen by everyone.

Casambre said that even criminal elements lurk in the internet.

He also observed that people with less information technology education even unwittingly place their post publicly and have no way of knowing how to hide private information.

“The internet is a public place that is why it is dangerous.  Consciously knowing that it is a public place, you must protect yourself and let your government protect you,” he said.

Representatives of the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines, United Nations-Habitat Philippines, the European Union and the US government pledged support to the program. (PIA XI- Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

Sta. Cruz DavSur biz council to build homes for flood survivors

DAVAO CITY, Feb. 20 (PIA) – The Business Council of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, Inc. has accepted Gawad Kalinga’s challenge of a five-day volunteerism of building new homes for the flood survivors in Sta. Cruz town.

Through its president, Jose B. Villaflor, the Council expressed acceptance and commitment of support to GK’s 2013 Bayani Challenge which included the municipality of Sta. Cruz as among the 39 municipalities and cities in the country as sites for the heroic five-day event engaging volunteers to build houses in calamity-devastated areas.

“The challenge is acceptable and workable,” Villaflor said as the business sector’s response to the challenge presented by Sta. Cruz Mayor Joel Ray Lopez who urged the private companies based in his town to help the LGU to provide safer homes for his constituents who were left homeless by the flashflood incidents in 2011 and 2012.

He told the Philippine Information Agency that the Business Council initially planned to pour in financial aid to Bayani Challenge, adding that it is up to the company-members to decide on their individual contribution.

Villaflor, who represented Sta. Cruz-based Franklin Baker Company of the Philippines, said the firm is initially pledging technical workers and vehicles to transport volunteers.

“This is not a showcase of popularity. This is a challenge of generosity and work of heart, and a showcase of unity among the government, business sector and civil society organization,” he emphasized in his message during a Dinner for a Cause held Tuesday night at the Grand Regal Hotel, this city.

PIA Director General and GK Bayani Challenge Event head Jose Mari M. Oquiñena raised the relevance of strengthening partnership with private firms, saying “this is the best way to achieve industrial peace.”

“The Bayani Challenge is beyond building houses, and it has become a way of creating possibilities,” Oquiñena emphasized in his message also during the Dinner for a Cause where he was guest of honor.

He said he is hoping that involving in the Bayani Challenge will become a lifestyle for many Filipinos. 

For Mayor Lopez, considering Sta. Cruz as one of the sites of the 2013 Bayani Challenge which bears the theme “Isang Bayani, Isang Bayanihan” is an honor and a privilege for the municipality.

He said the partnership with GK through the Bayani Challenge is helping the LGU to efficiently achieve its program of removing the constituents out of the danger zone and flood-prone areas, and relocating them into a safer place.

Sta. Cruz Councilor Fernando Ugdoracion said the Bayani Challenge targets to build ten houses with lower cost at Luway in Barangay Zone 2 during summer from March 23 to March 27, 2013, which will also engage volunteers into tree planting and health mission.

Ugdoracion bared that the two-hectare area in Luway is one of the two areas acquired by the LGU as relocation sites intended for the residents affected by flood incidents and infrastructure projects, and those living in danger zone areas.

He said they would still undergo the process of screening and identifying qualified beneficiaries. (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)

RDR pushes DavNor tourism code

TAGUM CITY, DAVAO DEL NORTE - Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario has directed the revitalized Provincial Tourism Council (PTC) to work out the immediate passage of the Provincial Tourism Code to spur investments and sustainable growth in the province.

“The first job I gave them is the crafting of the Provincial Tourism Code, which is our tool in addressing the gaps in the tourism sector,” del Rosario said, after administering the oath of office of the new PTC set of officers.

The Governor stressed the measure is important in securing the province’s vantage point in supporting President Aquino’s goal of achieving 35 million domestic visitor arrivals and 10 million foreign tourist arrivals by 2016.

He added the speedy passage of the code will enable the province to make the most out of the multi-billion tourism projects available from the national government.

OIC-Provincial Administrator Norma Lumain revealed the Local Finance Committee is now wrapping up its review on the draft of the code before endorsing it to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for appropriate action.

She said the proposed ordinance seeks to ensure the promotion and development of the province’s rich tourism industry,while preserving the colorful culture, heritage, and identity of the Dabaonons.

The measure shall also be a great come-on for potential investors, as it encourages participation of the private sector in agro-eco-cultural-tourism for countryside development.

Del Rosario recently presided over the oath of office of the new PTC officers, with Ms. Araceli Ayuste as President, Dizon Namoag-Vice President, Carlo Domingo-Secretary and Edna Parcon-Treasurer.

Each of the cities and municipalities also has its own representative in the tourism body. (Noel Baguio DAVNOR PIO)

Mati City seeks Comelec exemption to 181 Projects

MATI CITY, DAVAO ORIENTAL – Mati City Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat is asking for the exemption to 181 infrastructure projects in the City, as she wants the projects to be expeditiously done for the benefit of the residents of Mati, amidst tight implementation of the Commission on Elections to the existing election laws.

Mayor Rabat explained that she just wanted all the 181 projects to be continued, so the people can benefit from it the soonest possible time.

The city is now at the verge of implementing various projects, government funded and funded by different funding agencies and institutions.

Topping the project is the biggest project implemented by the local government unit of Mati, the MACALULA Farm to Market Road, funded by the Philippine Rural Dev’t Program, PRDP.

Also, the local government unit plans to have a simultaneous inauguration and blessing to the projects in the three farthest barangays of the city, Baranay Luban, Lanc, and Cabuaya.  The LGU satellite office and the water system in Barangay Luban are scheduled for inauguration and blessing within the month of February this year. These projects will cater to the need an easy access of the residents to the services of the local government, and the basic need of water.

The City of Mati is also a beneficiary to the Davao Integrated Development Program (DIDP), which funded farm to market roads for 2011-2013.

In 2011, DIDP allocated fund for the Ligaran Farm to Market Road (FMR) in Brgy. Don Salvador Lopez, and for 2012, completed the Nagas-Libudon Farm to Market Road worth P6-million. For 2013, DIDP will fund the concreting a portion of Sitio Baso, Brgy. Badas, leading to the Mariculture Park, still worth P6-million.

Several projects were also implemented by the city government through the National Anti-Poverty Commission, NAP-C. These include the Danao FMR (P3-M), Mamali FMR (P3-M), 2-classrom school building in Brgy. Taguibo (P1.5-M).

For 2013, NAP-C allocated 30M for the City of Mati.

Other projects of the local government unit are the Sanitary Land fill in Tagbobolo, Brgy. Sainz, with an allocation of P68-milion, the City Hall Annex worth P65-million, the Visitors Information Center in Brgy. Dahican embedded in the Integrated Coastal Resource Management Program, funded by the Asian Development Bank.

City Planning and Development Officer Engr. Ariel Mosquera disclosed that they are now coping managing their time in attending to the implementation of the various programs, all geared towards the bettermentof the city.

Earlier, City of Mati Election Officer Sergio Manligoy explained that for requests of project exemption, the Local Chief Executives just have to write a formal letter of request to the Commission on Elections. (Ms. Neela G. Duallo)

Academy better than junkets for politicians-PCLLA

TAGUM CITY-Politicians would be better off going to the Philippine Councilors League Legislative Academy (PCLLA) and complete their degrees instead of joining junkets that only waste people’s money.

This was the message imparted by PCCLA Executive Director Hilario Caminero during the launching of the Davao del Norte Learning Institute (DNLI) at the Bulwagan Hall of the Provincial Capitol Monday.

“Let’s do away with massive spending of government money through junkets,” he said.

Caminero said “when I tried to evaluate the capability building process of our councilors I realized that up to P1.2 billion was spent every year in the guise of attending training, seminars and conferences.” By the time a councilor completes his term which is usually after nine years, he added, a councilor would have spent P1.2 million each for such trainings.

However, he said, this has not increased the chances of this councilor getting a government position once he applies for it no matter if “malakas sya sa mayor” because of the lack of a degree.

This was the reason why the Academy, which has produced more than 800 graduates nationwide, was established. He said up to 400 politicians have finished College because of the Academy.

He said it provides an opportunity for legislators to complete a Bachelors Degree in Public Administration and Public Governance. PCLLA also offers a Master in Public Administration Degree for government employees and politicians, he added.

Caminero said the PCLLA has legal basis particularly Executive order No. 330 issued by former President Fidel V. Ramos in 1996. EO 330 mandates the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to “expand and strengthen the tertiary education equivalency and accreditation program to benefit deserving individuals.”

He said this only shows that acquiring higher expertise and education can also take place in the workplace and not just in the classrooms. He added that the Order allows CHED to conduct a thorough evaluation and after certifying that a government employee’s work experiences have been acquired through non-formal training, award such employee with the appropriate academic degree.(RGA/LAC/PIA XI)

DavOr sees solution to clearing typhoon debris

DAVAO ORIENTAL, Feb. 20 (PIA):  The provincial government of Davao Oriental closing on its goals of keeping fallen coconut trees from rotting as Provincial Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon has made government agencies agree to partner in managing huge volume of  tree debris accumulated as a result of Typhoon Pablo.

Malanyaon led a coordination meeting held last Feb. 19 focusing on recovery and rehabilitation  of Typhoon Pablo-affected communities in Davao Oriental during which debris management and shelter came out as the  current major concern in the province.

She was particularly concerned on cleaning up wastes  and debris as she wanted  the province to fast-track  efforts of “building back even better” the three typhoon Pablo devastated towns of Baganga, Cateel and Boston.

In his presentation during the inter-agency meeting held at the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), Provincial Planning Officer Freddie Bendulo identified coconut trunks,  uprooted trees,  construction materials, non-biodegradable and bio-degradable materials as the major debris which, he said, could be hazardous to health and the environment.

Among them, coconut trunks contribute the major volume of wastes as there are about  six million of them which are either felled or uprooted due to strong winds of typhoon Pablo.

The provincial government had already made known earlier that it would only be using about 500,000 trunks for reconstruction and shelter assistance purposes.

Tuesday’s inter-agency meeting of Malanyaon with heads of regional line agencies  yielded the creation of clusters of government agencies to  handle  the collection, cutting and transport of coco trunks; warehousing; and processing, marketing and training.

Among those agencies tasked to handle the hauling of coconut trunks to a warehouse are the Provincial local government unit (PLGU) Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA),  the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development  through which cash for work program  can be utilized to run the task.

Assigned to carry out warehousing were PCA,  the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),  while those taking charge of processing and marketing were DOST,  DENR, DSWD, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Tourism and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

As coconut trunks would likely get rotten after six months, PCA will handle the treatment process, aside from taking part in cutting of coconut trunks using a cash for work  mode of directly employing people to operate 40 chainsaws that it had distributed in areas  with so much coconut debris.

Meanwhile,  Malanyaon found an  answer to concern on retrieval of coconut trunks in privately-owned lands as DSWD Davao Oriental coordinator Rebecca Sta. Maria, head of DSWD Protection services opened the idea  of buying them using the livelihood assistance grants of DSWD.

In a separate interview, Sta. Maria explained that beneficiaries can use the P10,000 livelihood assistance grants  as start-up capital  to roll out a community business of buying and selling coconut lumber.

DTI was also looking at mobilizing traders based in and outside of Davao Oriental to buy coconut lumber from  the province. 

On the other hand, optimism ran high on meeting shelter needs   as Sta. Maria revealed that the DSWD was set to build this year a total of 20,673 housing units for typhoon-affected residents in Davao Oriental.

In an earlier interview,  Malanyaon was sure that 15,000 housing units would be made available this year for  the typhoon-displaced families, aside from the on-going construction of some 2,000 housing units .

“We already had two ground-breaking ceremonies, in Baganga and in Cateel,” she said referring to the project of the Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) group of companies and the Gawad Kalinga  (GK) Village.

On  top of the national government housing projects,  Malanyaon disclosed interest of the private sector agencies, from the Filipino-Chinese community and from the Senators, among others, to answer housing needs. (PIA XI/Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)

Gov’t. eyes TV white space to broaden internet reach

DAVAO CITY Feb. 20 (PIA)- The national government is eyeing to harness unused television frequencies to further internet connectivity among remote communities in the country.

TV white spaces (TVWS) are unutilized television frequencies in UHF and VHF bands which can be used for data communications.

“TVWS is an ideal wireless data delivery medium for the Philippines, with its long distance propagation characteristics and the ability of its signals to travel over water and through thick foliage, we are hopeful that this will be the technology to bring connectivity to rural areas and bridge the digital divide” says Usec Louis Napoleon Casambre, Executive Director Information and Communications Technology Office- Department of Science and Technology (ICTO-DOST).

Casambre said the national government is studying the proposal with a pilot project to be conducted in Bohol. He said TVWS can be used to deliver broadband connectivity to unserved areas of the country.

Apart from reaching to unconnected communities, the TVWS is a cost-effective way of broadband data delivery as its longer reach requires lesser base stations as compared to existing wireless technologies.

The TVWS technology is among the plans pushed by the ICTO-DOST as a way of boosting the Smarter Philippines program initiated by the DOST.

The Smarter Philippine Program formall launched today (Feb. 20) at Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City, the initiative is an umbrella program of smart technology based Research and Development projects which covers governance, health care, disaster mitigation, transportation and agriculture.

Among the projects under the Smarter Philippine Program include; Integrated Government Philippine (iGovPhil)  project, the Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards)and the DREAM-LiDAR (Disaster Risk Exposure and Assessment for Mitigation-Light Detection and Ranging) .(PIA/RG Alama)

Pablo Victims sa New Bataan nalingaw sa padula nga gidumala sa probinsiya

 COMPOSTELA VALLEY, February 15 -Nalingaw ang mga katawhan ug mga kabataang biktima sa bagyong Pablo sa lungsod sa New Bataan niadtong adlaw’ng Sabado, Pebrero 9, panahon sa unang serye sa pagpahigayon ug padula nga gidumala sa probinsya.

Kauban sa kalampusan sa tibook adlaw nga sports event si kanhi Provincial Sports Coordinator Tyron Uy kinsa nalingaw pag-ayo ug mibati sa tumang kalipay sa nasaksihang dakong kabag-uhan sa palibot pinaagi sa gisugdang sports theraphy sa Provincial Sports Development Council ug sa Local Government Unit sa New Bataan didto sa Don Lorenzo Sarmiento, Sr. Sports Complex.

Mga kabataan nga nagpangidaron ug kinse anyos paubos ang gipaapil, ug pipila sa mga games nga ilang gidula mao ang Basketball, Volleyball, ug Football.

Ang Sports Theraphy maoy usa sa mga pamaagi sa Stress Debriefing nga gihimo sa probinsiya aron makabawi gikan sa traumatic experience ang mga biktima sa milabay’ng bagyo ug sa  uban pang klase sa mga problemang psycho-social nga ilang nasinati.

Maoy nag-introduce niini sa probinsiya si Tyron Uy nga sa pagkakaron maoy Provincial Sports Consultant. Tungod naaprobahan  sa Provincial Development Council.

Matud ni Provincial Sports Development Coordinator Francis Secuya, nga sa pagsugod pa lang sa dula ila dayong nakita ang kadasig ug kamalipayon sa mga mitan-aw ug sa mga miapil.

Gi-grupo ang mga kabataan ingon nga team base sa ilang Barangay ug Purok, ug ang kada team gihatagan ni Tyron ug bola aron nga bisan human na ang unang hugna sa padula, sila sa gihapon padayong malingaw panahon sa ilang practice kun himoong mga pagbansay. Dugang sa gipanghatag nga bola, ang libreng arroz caldo nga gidalit usab kanila sa probinsiya. (Gilbert M. Cabahug, ids-comval)   

DSWD not filing charges against TS Pablo victims

DAVAO CITY, February 15, PIA XI– “It is simply a matter of submitting to DSWD the distribution list for the recipients of the 10,000 sacks of rice and we are not filing a case against anyone.”

This was the statement made by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) OIC Director Priscilla N. Razon following the picket staged by some 20 members of Barug Katawhan, Anak Pawis and Panalipdan Tuesday morning in front of the DSWD building.

The three groups were part of the larger group that demanded the release of the 10,000 sacks of rice from the Montevista human barricade on January 15.

Director Razon said, “We have met up with some members of these groups on January 18 and February 18 and we have discussed and underscored the government requirements in the provision of relief assistance. It was made clear to them that the necessary documents are SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) in all relief operations which our partner local government units have been complying with in every disaster relief operations we undertake.”

“We are aware that 10,000 sacks of rice is roughly worth P1,250,000.00 and the Department is accountable for this,” Razon stressed.

In their last meeting, Razon said the group was able to present partial documents such as the List of Municipalities and Selected Barangays, Areas for Repacking, and Target Date for Distribution. “What we require is part of auditing processes wherein public funds should be liquidated,” Razon said.

It was during the last meeting when the group expressed their fear in providing the distribution list as this might be used in filing charges against them for their part in the barricade in Montevista Highway last month. But DSWD has no intention of doing such.

The eight DSWD requirements cited in earlier reports are: distribution plan indicating place and time of distribution and how the goods are to be distributed; distribution list [name and address of recipients]; name of responsible person who shall guarantee the safe distribution; distribution will be witnessed by DSWD, PLGU and MLGU representatives;

release of rice will be done at the Typhoon Pablo Disaster Relief Operations Center, DPWH Depot, Panacan in Davao City; relief goods must be acknowledged as coming from the government; distribution report after the actual distribution; and storage of rice follows safety standards.

The picket lasted for almost two hours and the protesters did not approach nor seek an audience with any of the regional officials. Bottled water and biscuits were distributed by the Department to the protesters though.

DSWD assures all ‘Pablo’ victims that they will continue to recieve relief assistance from DSWD. The Department will give assistance to everyone who is in need and it continues to remind Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries that no one can delist them from the program even if they joined the barricade.

DSWD has already established disaster hubs in Nabunturan and Mati City where relief goods are stored enabling respective local governments to conduct frontline distribution, Razon said.

On the call of Barug Katawhan to ‘Oust Secretary Dinky Soliman’, Razon said, “Where can you find a very hardworking and very visible Secretary who is also very passionate in her job?”

On the issue on bunkhouse construction and padded payroll, Razon explained investigations are on-going and pertinent documents have already been submitted to the Commission on Audit which is currently conducting a Post-Audit.

Meanwhile, Razon reiterated the Department’s Appeal for Volunteers. “We call on kind-hearted residents as we need more volunteers to help in the repacking of relief goods. Most of our remaining volunteers are from the neighboring areas in Panacan. We hope more can come from other areas especially during weekdays when the number of volunteers is slack.”(DSWD)

10th ID to expand operation in North Cot by March 2013

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AFP find ways to make sure rebel returnees don’t go back to the mountains

DAVAO CITY, February 15, PIA XI-The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is tracking New People’s Army (NPA) surrenderees or rebel returnees to ensure they do not go back to the mountains.

“We track them person to person kung asan na sila to make sure they go back to mainstream life,” 10th Infantry Division Commanding General Major General Ariel Bernardo said during the Hermes Club press conference held at the Waterfront Hotel Friday.

“We had a total of 442 surrenderees and 220 regular surrenderees in 2012,” Bernardo said. He clarified that regular surrenderees are not armed but are involved with the movement.

He said the AFP was very successful in the implementation of its program to encourage rebels to surrender. However, he added “nililimas nga namin ang surrenderees eh marami naman ang bumabalik.”

The campaign was very centralized before so we are looking at this now to make sure that they do not only surrender but also remain with the government, he said.  We are confident that we will have more surrenderees who will really stay considering the involvement of the local chief executives in the program, he added.

Bernardo said they are working with other government agencies like Tesda to ensure that the rebel returnees are trained in livelihood programs.  “We teach them tilapia raising and we get them involved in agri-gulayan sa barangay,” he said.(lovely a. carillo)

May 2013 Reg’l Career Congress to address jobs mismatch

TAGUM CITY, Feb 15 (PIA)-The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) hopes to address the job mismatch problem in the Philippines through the conduct of the Regional Career Congress in Davao City on May 31, 2013.

“We are inviting guidance counselors to join us during the Career Congress because they are in the best position to help us correct the job mismatch,” DOLE XI Senior Labor and Employment Officer Lariele P. Arce said.

Arce said they are expecting up to 250 participants from Southern Mindanao, mostly secondary public guidance counselors and all officers of the Public Employment Service Office Program of the government in all municipalities in the region.

The guidance counselors can help advise the students when it comes to careers that will be in demand not just today but in the years to come, she said. When the counselors are knowledgeable about job demands here and abroad, she added, then they will be more able to provide a logical and practical advice to the students who are still undecided on which courses to take in College.

She said the Congress will be a very good venue for the participants to discuss issues on hard-to-find jobs in the industries. We will also have speakers who will discuss the emerging industries including renewable energy, diversified farming, agribusiness and cyber services, she added.

“The guidance counselors will also get firsthand information on the prevailing situation on labor supply and demand and the existing jobs and skill mismatch problem,” she said.  The counselors are instrumental in helping us get these messages to the students, she added.

President Benigno Aquino III earlier said DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz confirmed that the jobs available in the market do not match the skills possessed by the country’s labor force. From now on, he said, “we will make sure that the generated skills match with the work requirements.”

Instead of the “bahala na system”, he said, we now want to look at certain job prospects for the next two to three years and advice our students about that.(lovely a. carillo)

DOH promotes four o'clock habit amid climate change

Davao City, Feb 15 (PIA) An officer of the Tropical Disease Unit of the City Health Office urged households to be more serious in destroying breeding grounds of dengue-carrying-mosquitoes by cleaning their home and surroundings regularly amid changing weather condition.

Elizabeth Banzon, public health nurse and head of the Tropical Disease Unit said the residents still need to do better the four o’clock habit which calls for regular cleaning inside and outside the houses particularly the possible breeding areas of mosquitoes.

She said that based on their random surveillance, there are houses which are clean in both inside and outside, but disc racks and water dispenser are left unattended.

Banzon said dengue-carrying-mosquitoes breed on clean water. She said in some hotspot-areas, mosquitoes dwell in open plastic containers.

“We detected an increase of dengue-incidence in the city’s third district that is why we are intensifying our information campaign,” Banzon said.

She said that there was one mortality out of the 343 dengue-fever cases monitored in January 2013, compared to nine deaths monitored during the same period in 2012. The conditions, she said, was attributed to the continuous rainfall in December 2012 to January this year.

Banzon said there was only one death, out of the six dengue cases reported in February 2013, which is far lower than the five deaths incurred in the same period on 2012.

She stressed that the dengue fever can be addressed through prompt consultation with the doctor and proper fluid management on the patient.

Banzon said parents must not take for granted even the slight fever of their children.

She also urged residents to avail of the chemical treatment of curtains and mosquito nets being given free by the CHO to ward off mosquitoes. “Chemically treated curtains and mosquito nets will last for six months, a good protection for households from mosquitoes,” Banzon said.

She also identified the dengue-fever hotspots in the city such as

Talomo North, Talomo South, Calinan, Tugbok, Baguio, Bunawan, Agdao, Barangay 5-A and 8-A.. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines/LAC)

SM tops job posting at Philjobnet with 450,000 jobs for 2012

TAGUM CITY, Feb 15 (PIA) -Southern Mindanao has topped the number of jobs posted at Philjobnet with 450,000 jobs posted online from January to December 2012 even as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) XI urged establishments to register their companies with the jobs portal.

Philjobnet, the official jobs portal of the government of the Philippines, was specifically mentioned by President Benigno Aquino III when he visited Davao City February 5, because of its role in matching job supply and demand in the country.

From 40,000 jobs published when it started, it is now hosting 230,000 jobs and 117,000 applicants.

“We have accredited 1,200 companies from Southern Mindanao as of last year and around 165 companies as of January this year,” DOLE Senior Labor and Employment Officer Lariele P. Arce said.

She said registration with the job portal can be done easily but DOLE has to verify the companies applying for registration. We just want to make sure that these are legitimate companies and job hirings, she added.

Arce said companies have to show proof of their business permit as well as other documents that may be required from the for the approval of their registration.

“Companies that are already our partners in job fairs are automatically registered with the job portal since we already have pertinent data on them,” she said.

It is important that we screen the companies first before their job openings are posted online considering there are many unscrupulous companies with fake job offers today, she said. This is one of the best ways to protect our job seekers, she added.

She said registration with Philjobnet is advantageous both for the applicants and the companies because their requirements and qualifications can be matched by the portal.(lovely carillo)