15 Former Rebels gihatagan ug financial assistance

COMPOSTELA VALLEY--- P5,000.00 nga financial assistance ang gihatag sa PLGU Comval ngadto sa 15 ka mga former rebels nga kanhi mga sakop sa Rebeldeng NPA nga misurender na sa gobyerno sa rason nga sila gusto na nga mopuyong malinawon kauban ang ilang tagsa-tagsa ka pamilya, ug matud ni Vice Gov. Manuel “Way KUrat” Zamora nga kini pasiuna lang sa probinsiya nga tabang kanila samtang sila ipailalom sa pipila ka adlawng proseso aron ilang madawat ang mas dakong tabang gikan sa National nga Gobyerno diin unang madawat sa kada usa kanila ang P15,000.00 nga pagasundan na sad sa laing P50,000.00 nga salaping cash.

Si Vice Gov. Zamora maoy nagrepresentar kang CLIP Committee Chair Gov. Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy pagdawat sa 15 ka mga Former Rebels nga misurender sa AFP aron sila atimanon sa probinsiya sulod sa pipila ka adlaw ilalom sa “Comprehensive Local Integration Program(CLIP)” diin sila ipailalom sa usa ka proseso nga magsangkap kanila sa kahibalo ug katakos sa panginabuhi pinaagi sa libreng skills trainings ug sa ihatag kanila sa gobyerno nga cash assistance.

Nahitabo ang Ceremonial Turnover sa 15 ka mga Former Rebels diha sa kapitolyo atol sa 119th Founding Anniversary sa AFP niadtong Marso 22,2016, ug sa ilang pagbalik sa sabakan sa balaod gisurender sad nila ang pipila ka mga high-powered firearms nga ilang dala nga adunay tugbang nga dakong kantidad nga ihatag og dugang kanila sa gobyerno sa ingon mapaneguro ang maayong kahimtang sa ilang pamuyo sa higayon nga sila andam na nga mobalik sa mainstream society.

Gisulti sad ni Vice Gov. Zamora nga panahon sa pipila ka adlawng proseso ipahimutang sila sa usa ka maayong puy-anan kauban ang ilang pamilya nga libre sa pagkaon ug uban pang inadlaw-adlaw nga mga panginahanglan ug maoy moabaga niini ang probinsiya ilalom sa Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).

Ang CLIP Committee gidumala ni Gov. Uy nga maoy Chairman ug iyang mga kauban ang mga miyembro sa Committee nga sila 1001st Brigade Commander Col. Macairog S. Alberto, PD PSSupt. Albert Ignatius D. Fierro sa Comval PPO, ug PSWDO Chief Josephine Frasco.(gilbert cabahug/ids com)

P760-B Infra Spending in 2016 Seen to Boost Economic Growth

Abad : Infra Spending Has Grown Significantly in the Past Five Years

The substantial increase in infrastructure spending this year will ensure that the country remains within investment-grade territory, as well as sustain strong growth performance, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The DBM reported today that spending for infrastructure has grown significantly over the past five years, jumping from P165 billion in 2010 to P760 billion in 2016. The infrastructure program for this year makes up 5 percent of the country’s GDP, a figure considered the international benchmark for infrastructure spending.

"Other ASEAN economies spend about 5.5 percent of their GDP on infrastructure, while we spent just a little over 2 percent from 1980 to 2009. This year, following six years of consecutive growth, we're making headway in tackling what has been a major weakness in our investment climate," said DBM Secretary Florencio B. Abad.

Abad said the administration’s efforts to increase the infrastructure budget to 5 percent of GDP should be lauded. The government’s increasing investment in infrastructure was cited as a factor in the Philippines’ latest credit ratings upgrade by South Korean rating agency NICE Investors Service.

“The criticism that the administration has been spending poorly on infrastructure rings hollow when you look at the facts. This year, the government set aside over 25 percent of the National Budget to spend on infrastructure, an increase of 29.1 percent from last year. By end of the year, we will have paved 100 percent of national roads and made all temporary bridges permanent. Next year, we will have more fiscal space to fund the building and rehabilitation of local roads,” he said.

“By implementing a sustained infrastructure program, we are slowly but surely connecting towns to growth centers and farms and products to markets, making tourism areas accessible and ensuring the safety of communities. Most of all, we are sustaining our economic growth,” he added.

According to Abad, the government’s increasing investment in public infrastructure since 2011 has accomplished the following: 98 percent of 364,693 lineal meters of bridges have been made permanent, 85.5 percent of 32,526.5 kilometers of road have been paved and 2,862 barangay health stations have been constructed as of 2014. In addition, 86,478 classrooms have been built as of February 2015.

He added that between 2011 and 2015, the National Government completed 41 projects in 32 airports and 78 projects in 78 ports nationwide.

“For 2016, P393.2 billion has been set aside to improve road transport. The projects that will be funded include the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit, Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit, and Integrated Transport Systems Projects. Also, P9.3 billion will go towards the improvement of various air transport facilities in Clark, Panglao, Naga, Tawi-Tawi, and regional airports nationwide,” the Budget chief said.

Abad also said a total of P10.2 billion has been allocated to extend and rehabilitate LRT 1 and 2, PNR North-South Projects and other repair and expansion projects. Moreover, P2.6 billion has been allocated to build and improve seaports across the country.

“Meanwhile, the Public-Private Partnership program is in full swing. As of now, 12 PPP projects have been awarded, with 14 others undergoing procurement, 2 for roll-out, and another 9 for approval and study. It’s important to note that these projects are exempt from the election ban, allowing the program to continue at full throttle until June.”

Last year, disbursements for infrastructure and other capital outlays reached  P436 billion, contributing significantly to the 13-percent growth in total National Government disbursements—the highest figure since 2012.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, road and transport development helped public construction grow 20.6 percent in 2015, dwarfing the 5.4-percent growth in private sector construction. As a result, the construction industry still grew by 8.9 percent in 2015.

“While we have made great strides in infrastructure development over the past six years, we’re actively seeking out ways to spend more efficiently. The International Monetary Fund has recently recommended that we bridge the gap between project planning and budgeting, so we’re holding a forum in cooperation with NEDA and DOF with the goal of maximizing the country’s growth potential,” the Secretary said. pr/DBM)

SSS luggage tags offer easier recall of membership number

To facilitate social security transactions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) even when stationed abroad, the Social Security System (SSS) is offering them free personalized luggage tags that can be claimed at SSS foreign representative offices (FRO) or during outreach events spearheaded by SSS or local consular office

SSS Senior vice president and head of the International Operations Division Judy Frances A. See said that these “SS# Tags” feature information printed on the card such as the member’s name, Social Security (SS) number, OFW coverage status and date of card issuance. For added convenience, the contact information of the issuing SSS FRO and OFW Contact Services Unit (CSU) are printed at the back of the card.

“We have observed that many of our OFW-members have difficulty recalling their SS number which is important for all their SSS transactions such as contribution payments and availment of loans and benefits. It is fitting to provide luggage tags since it is a practical item for overseas travels. We also encased these in leather card holders as an added touch,” See said.

Initially offered in 2014 only at the SSS branch located at the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) in Mandaluyong City for departing OFWs, the SS# Tags are now available at SSS FROs in Hong Kong; Brunei; Taipei (Taiwan); Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia); Singapore; Riyadh, Jeddah and Al-Khobar (Saudi Arabia); Kuwait; Doha (Qatar); Abu Dhabi and Dubai (United Arab Emirates); Bahrain; Muscat (Oman); Rome and Milan (Italy); London (United Kingdom); Toronto (Canada); and San Francisco (United States of America).

 “The SS# Tag is not intended to replace the UMID card. Thus, OFW-members can still apply for their own UMID (Unified Multi-Purpose Identification System) card at no cost, provided that they have not been issued a biometric SSS ID or UMID card in the past,” she emphasized.

Over one million OFWs at present are registered in the pension fund as voluntary members. OFW-members with a monthly contribution of P1,760 -- which is based on the reported income per month of at least P16,000 -- are entitled to join the SSS Flexi-Fund Program to supplement their SSS savings. If an OFW is duly enrolled in the Flexi-Fund, this information would also be reflected at the front of the issued SS# Tag.

Choosing happiness, chasing dreams

SAN ISIDRO, Davao Del Norte -In my 26 years of existence, I have had enough adventures and misadventures to last me a lifetime. My name is Christy Marie Edaño. I am what others may deem as different – a non-conformist. They say that a person’s choices in life define one’s own character. I say, that this choice, however, is the deciding point that can either make or break you.

Living in the remote barangay of Kipalili, San isidro, Davao del Norte with my parents Saranie, 47; and Julito, 49; I thought that life would be plain and simple. I was mistaken.

Being the next to the eldest and one of the most responsible siblings, I had to work in a farm to help sustain the needs of my family and for me to afford going to high school. My parents were not able to finish elementary, thus, it does not matter to them if we finish or not.

After finishing high school, I had to stop schooling for three years so that my younger siblings can go to school. I took care of my other younger siblings. My mother had to take laundry services in our neighborhood and my father tended the farm so that we can put food on our table.

In 2010, I took up a two-year Computer Programming course at St. John Learning Center in Tagum City. To support my studies, I worked as a house help. I do other people’s laundry, I babysit and accepted tutorial services. I allotted my P 1,800 monthly salary for my school and family’s needs.

It was in November of 2012 when I got accepted as a Students’ Grant-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGP-PA) student grantee at Davao del Norte State College in Panabo City. I enrolled in Bachelor of Science in Fisheries majoring in Aquaculture.

I thought that being in college would change how other people view me. I was wrong. I struggled hard for acceptance and respect. I am scared being with people for fear of being judged.

I have always been different from as far as I can remember. I am a lesbian. I was used to being judged, discriminated and bullied. Even my own father once cannot accept the choice I have made. But it did not dampen my spirits. I worked hard. I want to prove them wrong. I want to show them that one’s personal choices can be his or her motivation to excel in life.

My hard work paid off when I was identified by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as one of the top five SGP-PA National Academic Awardees with the Highest General Point Average in 2014.

It is amazing how people’s opinion of you changes when you have achieved something commendable. It amazes me and saddens me all at the same time. I hope people would just respect each other regardless of their decisions in life.

I am now a graduating student. I am one of the 526 SGP-PA grantees in Region XI who will graduate this April. I am forever grateful to Pantawid Pamilya and to SGP-PA for these programs paved the way for me to gradually achieve my dreams for my family. Others may have judged me but these programs served as my strength to pursue and push through.

Few years from now I will be looking back to all the adventures and misadventures and I will have a warm smile in my heart for I know I made the right choice. (DSWD)