11 government and non-government bodies receive Gawad Kalasag Award in R-XI

DAVAO CITY, Dec 23 (PIA) The  Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Davao Region granted 11 disaster councils, schools and rescue groups the Gawad Kalasag award based on their readiness and response capabilities in a simply rites at the Pinnacle Hotel.

The Gawad Kalasag (Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan award) is given to individuals, non-government organizations, private sector and government organizations in recognition of their initiative in helping the Filipino government uplift the standard of disaster management in the country.

Retired Brig. General Loreto Rirao, director of the Office of Civil Defense 11 and chair of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council led the ceremony and cited the awardees this year.

He said the awardees perform well in the DRRM this year.

“They are worthy of emulation, the basis of which others may learn,” Rirao said.

Franz Irag, operations staff of the RDRRMC 11 said top awardees included Davao City as the outstanding disaster risk reduction and management council for highly urbanized areas; Tagum City disaster risk reduction and management council and the Island Garden City of Samal DRRMC for outstanding component cities with IGACOS to represent in the national level; Kapalong Municipal DRRMC as the most outstanding municipal DRRMC; Davao Oriental DRRMC as the most outstanding provincial DRRMC.

He said the RDRRMC 11 also acknowledged the private volunteer organizations like the Davao Fire and Rescue Services of Davao City and the Ranger Volunteer and Dream 166 all based in Mati City, Davao Oriental.

Irag said the disaster preparedness and readiness of the San Pedro College, Panabo National High School and Rocamora Rabat Elementary School in Mati City, Davao Oriental were also given due recognition. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

Davao Light assures no brownout during X’mas

DAVAO CITY- The Davao Light and Power Company have assured the public of ample power supply during the Christmas holidays.

Art Milan, vice-president of DLPC said that the power situation has normalized with increase water level in the Pulangi power plant which is  now producing 255 megawatts.

In a special press conference last week, Milan said that there is a power supply shortfall of 43 megawatt brought about the low supply coming from the Agus-Pulangi hydropower plant.

DLPC has contracted supply of 285 megawatts/day from the National Power Corporation.

Ross Luga, corporate communications officer of the DLPC said that demand for power has lessened as electricity-intensive factories and industries are not operating during the holidays. He says malls and restaurants which are on full blast during the season do not have intensive power requirements as those of the factories.

The average power demand during the holidays is only 320 megawatts. Average daily power demand is about 343 megawatts. (PIA/ RG Alama)

Christmas revelers urged to stay out of diversion road to avoid accidents

DAVAO CITY, Dec 23 (PIA) Barangay functionaries along the Bangkal-Panacan highway have been ordered to closely monitor and to reprimand those asking for Christmas gifts along the highway to avoid vehicular accidents.

City Social Services Assistant chief Liwayway Caligdong said the Bangkal-Panacan diversion is dangerous and prone to accident in the absence of traffic lights.

She said the barangay governments along the highway have to monitor closely the roadsides to prevent the people from asking alms from the motorists and consequently ensure road safety.

“We are aware of the hazards brought about by presence of many people along the road during this season.  It is the call of the barangay governments in the area to respond first to the situation,” Caligdong said.

She revealed that in the city alone, eight vehicular accidents already took toll on the lives of indigenous peoples resulting to four people killed and four others wounded.

The Traffic Management Center has controlled the speed limit on the Bangkal to Panacan highway at 60 kilometers per hour.

Caligdong also said that the number of indigenous peoples coming to the city has increased from 7,800 families in 2013 to 11,854 this year.

“The number 17,000 is more than the capacity of the eight designated areas of the city namely Toril, Mintal, Tugbok, Calinan, Matina-Aplaya, Barangay 5-A, Buhangin, and Bunawan,” Caligdong said.

She said 23 childbirths have been monitored among the indigenous peoples present in the city, 13 of which occurred in Buhangin.

Caligdong said the situation prompted Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to order the Traffic Management Center to watch closely the situation of the indigenous peoples particularly in Bunawan and Buhangin areas to keep the safe and away from the roads.  (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

PNP presses for gun-free Yuletide season

The Philippine National Police issued a stern warning on indiscriminate and illegal discharge of firearms by government and civilian gunholders as part of their support to a “gun-free” celebration of Christmas and New Year.

PNP Officer-In-Charge, PDDG Leonardo A Espina had already issued a Memorandum to all PNP personnel for an intensified campaign against illegal discharge of firearms and indiscriminate firing.

The said campaign includes the simultaneous gun muzzle taping, from the National Headqarters down to Police Regional Offices, Provicial Offices, City and Municipal Police Stations nationwide, which will be conducted on Monday (Dec 22) to assure the public that PNP personnel will not discharge their firearms this yuletide season.

“This traditional gun muzzle is a strong message to all gun owners, especially our policemen and soldiers who are the primary enforcers of the law, to refrain from firing their guns and help prevent casualties and injuries during the revelry of the yuletide,” Espina said.

Furthermore, Espina said that intensified intelligence efforts in coordination with AFP, other law enforcement agencies, and local government units will be conducted to identify probable violators.

Joint PNP and AFP teams will also be organized to conduct preventive patrols to arrest or apprehend uniformed personnel, members of law enforcement agencies and civilians involved in indiscriminate firing. (PNP)

CSC reports 19,344 new civil service eligibles

A total of 19,344 examinees passed the Career Service Examination-Paper and Pencil Test (CSE-PPT) administered on October 26, 2014 in various testing centers nationwide, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) reported. This figure represents 11.85% of the 163,240 examinees who took the test.

Of the said number, 16,807 out of 140,906 examinees or 11.93% passed the Professional level, while 2,537 out of 22,334 examinees or 11.36% hurdled the Sub-Professional level of the examination. See list of passers here.

The passers shall be conferred Career Service Eligibility, which is one of the basic requirements for permanent appointment to government positions.

CSC Chairperson Francisco T. Duque III welcomed the new eligibles as the future public servants of the country. “When you do decide to enter government service, I hope that you carry with you utmost commitment to public interest, the highest standards of excellence and integrity, and the passion for creating positive change.”

Successful examinees are advised to coordinate with the CSC Regional Office concerned on the requirements and procedure in claiming their Certificate of Eligibility. The complete list of passers can be accessed through the CSC website at www.csc.gov.ph.

The CSE is a general ability test designed to measure an individual's preparedness to enter government service. Passing rate for both levels of examination is 80.00.

Meanwhile, the CSC reminds the public that the next nationwide CSE-PPT for both Professional and Sub-Professional levels is scheduled on May 3, 2015. Application period is ongoing.

Applications may be filed at any CSC Regional or Field Office until March 12, 2015. However, the application period may be closed any time before the said deadline once the CSC Regional/Field Office has reached the target number of applicants.

The second schedule of CSE-PPT for next year will be on October 18, 2015 for which the application period will run from May 25 to September 3, 2015. (CSC)

Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III’s Christmas Message 2014

Tuwing sasapit ang Pasko, ginugunita natin ang araw na isinilang si Hesukristong ating tagapagligtas at ang wagas Niyang pagmamahal sa sanlibutan.

Mula sa kanyang kapanganakan, itinuro na ng Panginoon ang halaga ng kababaang-loob. Imbes na sa isang mansyon o sa marangyang lugar, pinili niyang dumating sa atin sa payak na sabsaban. Bilang Mesiyas, binigyan Niya ng pag-asa ang naliligaw ng landas; pinangunahan ang Kanyang mga disipulo sa matibay na pananampalataya; at nagsilbing bukal ng malasakit at paglilingkod sa kapwa.

Ang mga dakilang aral na ito ang ating gabay sa mabuting pamamahala sa bansa. Narito ang inyong gobyerno, hindi para unahin ang sarili, hindi para maghari-harian, kundi upang magsilbi sa kanyang mga Boss, ang sambayanan.

Patuloy nating itinatama ang mali sa sistema; Itinutuon natin ang pansin sa paghahatid ng agarang benepisyo sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa mas nangangailangan. Malinaw natin itong ipinapamalas sa nagdaang mahigit apat na taon: Mula sa pagpapanagot ng tiwali, sa pagresolba sa minana nating mga hamon at problema ng mga institusyong pampamahalaan, sa pagtugon sa pangangailangan ng mga kababayan nating naiipit sa kaguluhan at biktima ng kalamidad, hanggang sa pagpapalawak ng oportunidad upang iangat ang antas ng pamumuhay sa ating bayan.

Lalo namang nagiging makahulugan ang Pasko, kung sasamantalahin natin and pagkakataon upang higit na mapalapit sa ating mga kapamilya. Alam naman po natin, ang pagmamahalan ng pamilyang Pilipino ay walang kinikilalang hangganan o teritoryo. Hindi ba’t isa ito sa ipinagmamalaki nating katangian ng ating lahi. Magkalapit man o magkalayo, talagang hindi tayo nagkukulang sa pagpapadama ng pagmamahal sa ating pamilya.

Magandang pagkakataon din ang okasyong ito upang balikan ang lumipas na taon, at magpasalamat sa biyayang patuloy na pinagpapala ng Maykapal. Lahat po tayo ay nangamba dahil sa pagpasok ng Bagyong Ruby. Ngunit dahil sa Kanya, nabigyang-lakas po tayo upang mailayo sa panganib ang napakarami nating kababayan. Huwag sana nating malimutang isama sa ating panalangin ang mga kapwa nating napilitang lumikas; at huwag rin sana nating malimutang magpasalamat sa Panginoon dahil, bagaman nagdulot ng pinsala si Ruby, di-hamak na mas marami ang nailigtas at ngayon ay makapagdiriwang ng Pasko kasama ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay.

Sa nalalapit naman pong pagbisita ng Santo Papa sa bansa, tiyak na lalong aalab ang pag-asa, at lalalim ang pananalig, hindi lamang ng mga nangangailangan nating kababayan, kung hindi maging ng lahat ng kapatid nating Kristiyano.

Bilang mga tagasunod ni Hesus, tungkulin ng bawat isa sa atin ang tumulad sa Kanyang halimbawa. Sa araw-araw nating pagharap sa sangandaan, nawa’y piliin natin ang mabuti, ang tapat at ang makatarungan. Pumanig tayo sa mga taong tumototoo sa kanilang salita, at inuuna ang makabubuti sa kapakanan ng kapwa.

Sama-sama nating ipanalangin na bigyan tayo ng lakas upang ipagpatuloy ang ating mga nasimulan. Maging bukal tayo ng lakas, malasakit at pagmamahal sa kapwa, habang ginagawa nating permanente ang tinatamasang makabuluhang pagbabago. Ito ang magiging handog natin sa susunod na henerasyon: Isang Pilipinas na malaya sa katiwalian, pangmatagalan ang kapayapaan at bawat Pilipino ay may kakayahang itaguyod ang buhay na tunay na marangal at masagana.

Isang maligayang Pasko po sa ating lahat. (PCOO News Release)