Sun Life launches financial literacy journalism awards

DAVAO CITY- Sun Life, a financial services company is inviting journalists and writers to join its Sinag, financial literacy journalism awards.

The awards aims to recognize financial literacy journalism in the country. Its objective is that thru the media, every Filipino is encouraged to become more financially prepared and break-free from the bondages of ignorance, worry, debt and financial dependency.

Sinag, a part of Sun Life’s Financial Literacy advocacy  also hopes to enable media to become a catalyst of change that can bring about a future-ready Philippines. 

The contest is open to Filipino print journalists from both broadsheets and tabloids nationwide. Writers may enter the contest themselves or may get nominated by their editors.

To qualify for Sinag, a nominee must have written at least three articles that would address the following objectives:

Promote the importance of financial literacy.  Educate readers on different financial products and services. Share stories that readers may draw inspiration from their own financial journey.

Articles should be original, written in English, bylined and published between December 1, 2014 and October 30, 2015. Participants can submit up to five articles.

Entries should be submitted on or before November 6, 2015 and submitted to Sun Life PR and Communications via Lalie Novero thru email pnove@sunlife.com. The entries must contain the nomination form (provided by Sun Life), Microsoft Word files of the articles each clearly labeled with the date the story was published and the name of the publication and curriculum vitae.

The entries will be reviewed and screened by a panel of judges composed of the prominent personalities from the private and the public sectors.

The winning articles will be chosen on the following criteria: Relevance to the theme of financial literacy (50%), Overall impact (must be accurate, informative, educational and compelling (50%).

There will be only one Grand Champion each from Luzon (including National Capital Region), Visayas and Mindanao.

The Grand Champion will receive a cash prize of P35,000 plus a Sun Life Prosperity Fund starter fund of P5,000 plus a trophy. (PIA/RG Alama)

Davao City's Central 911 to be deployed in Palarong Pambansa 2015

DAVAO CITY, April 30 (PIA) Emergency Response Center Central 911 will deploy its ambulance and personnel at the venues of the Palarong Pambansa 2015 in Tagum City, Davao del Norte to look into the health of the athletes and to immediately respond to contingencies.

Cynthia Perez, spokesperson of the Central 911 said two small and one bus-type vehicles will be assigned in the playing venues while 12 medical personnel will tag along from May 1 up to the culmination of the Palaro on May 9.

“We will look into the welfare of the players, particularly their health needs,” she said.

On the other hand, Senior Superintendent Camilo Cascolan, chief of staff of the Police Regional Office 11 said the security sector composed of the police, military and the local government units in the area is already in placed with the arrival of the delegations from various parts of the country.

He said three hundred soldiers from the 10th Infantry Divisiion will be directly involved to secure the playing venues and billeting areas.

 “They will be responsible for the inner security and the border security checkpoints,” Cascolan said.

He said checkpoints will be set up on a regular basis composed of military and police personnel whose concern is not only the borders of Tagum City, but also outside of the city, in Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte and as far as Davao del Sur.

  “These checkpoints will be set up by the municipal police stations in coordination with the Philippine Army,” Cascolan.

He said days-off for policemen are cancelled for the meantime.

Cascolan said security will be provided to athletes who would visit the tourist destinations in the region.

“These people will be escorted at the same time infokits about the contact numbers of municipal police stations and Army patrol basis will be given to them, so that authorities can easily coordinate and secure properly all those who would be going out of the area, especially those visiting tourist spots,” he said.

Earlier, Lt. General Aurelio Baladad, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command said a military task force has been organized to support the security needs of the Palarong Pambansa 2015.

He clarified that the police will take the lead role in the implementation of security while the Army lends support.

Baladad assured that the military will provide the assistance of bomb experts as the need arises. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

Moderate labor groups to muster 5,000 workers for Labor Day

DAVAO CITY, April 30 (PIA) A total of 5,000 workers under the banner of Nagkaisa, a coalition of moderate labor groups will gather at the People’s Park at Roxas Avenue to dramatize their plea in time for the commemoration of the Labor Day on May 1.

Michael Ybanez, spokesperson of Nagkaisa said efforts of the government to address the issues of unemployment need improvement.

He said the issues like unemployment and underemployment remain unchanged because of the prevalence of cheap labor policy, regulations allowing rampant contractualization, labor repression through hiring and firing policy and the preference of government to foreign investments and public-private partnership.

Ybanez said that the cheap labor policy favors more the capitalists than the workers since the former rake more profit than the laborers who solely rely on their wages.

He stressed that the real value of the minimum wage in Davao Region at P317 is only P214.19, while a family of five needs more than a thousand peso-living wage a day to enjoy a decent life.

“It is sad that the government never addressed our plight effectively for the past five years,” Ybanez said.

He urged the government to certify as urgent the bills assuring the Security of Tenure, living wage, universal health system and the passage of a better Bangsamoro Basic Law. 

Ybanez said they will dramatize these concerns by marching from the Freedom Park towards the city thoroughfare and back to show that the workers are aware of the issues besetting their plight. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

Tagum activates incident command center for Palaro

DAVAO DEL NORTE, April 30 (PIA) - - The city government of Tagum activated on Wednesday (April 28) the Incident Command Center for the Palarong Pambansa 2015 on May 3-9.

Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon bared yesterday during a press conference that per recommendation of the Office of the Civil Defense, the city being the location of the majority of the billeting and playing venues of the national sporting event, activated its incident command center.

Mayor Rellon said that the base of the incident command center is located at the City Motorpool, Brgy. Magugpo East headed by action officer and city administrator, Giovanni Rellon.

He said that command center is now operating in Code BLUE Alert daily for 24 hours.

According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center, Code BLUE Alert means that the center is on standby mode.

Rellon said that the city government assigned medical teams, communication personnel and composite security forces in all the billeting stations in the city.

Being the capital of the province, the city accommodated 11 out of the 17 regions for the sporting events distributed in 16 schools.

“For the security in the billeting areas, a team of 10 is assigned with three shifts a day. The team compose of two police personnel, two security management officer, one traffic management officer and five force multipliers,” he said.

In addition, he also expressed his gratitude to the neighbouring local government units like Carmen and Panabo for deploying fire trucks deployed in the city. (PIA11, Michael Uy)