DSWD leads 2015 Elderly Filipino Week, urges public to report elderly abuse

As the lead agency in social protection, the Department of Social Welfare and Development continuously conducts advocacy activities to promote the rights and welfare of the disadvantaged and vulnerable sector, including older persons.

 One form of advocacy is the celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week on October 1-7 to be led by the DSWD in partnership with other government agencies, local government units (LGU), and non-government organizations (NGOs).

 This year’s theme, “Igalang ang Nakatatanda at ang Kanilang mga Karapatan”​,  emphasizes that older persons and their rights should be respected. This came to light in the wake of videos uploaded in social media which went viral showing a man hitting his elderly mother.

 According to DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, the Department continues to advocate for the strict implementation of Republic Act (RA) 9994, or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, which provides more benefits and privileges to older persons. They are entitled to 20% discount on the purchase of certain goods and services, special 5% discount on prime commodities and basic necessities, and 5% utility discount on electric and water consumption.

 “By implementing the law’s provisions, we are promoting and upholding their rights. The Department also encourages the public to report to the authorities  cases of elderly abuse to ensure their well-being and protection,” Sec. Soliman stated.

 Presidential Proclamation No. 470 mandates the annual celebration of Elderly Filipino Week or Linggo ng Nakatatandang Filipino every first week of October to emphasize the important role that older persons play in nation building, as well as raise and address issues concerning the older persons’ sector.

 To mark the week-long event, the National Steering Committee​,  chaired by DSWD, will conduct activities starting with the Walk for Life to be held at the Quezon City Memorial Circle on October 1 (Thursday),  Forum for Retirees, Talakayan on Social Insurance, “Dalaw Kalinga;” Visit to Visitorless, Indigent, Sick, Older Prisoners (VISO) and disaster preparedness for seniors.

 More than 2,000 participants from the different senior citizens’ organizations, other government agencies, and NGOs will join the ‘Walk for Life” at the Quezon City Memorial Circle starting at 6:00am.

 Walk for Life is held annually by the Department of Health (DOH)  to enhance awareness of the public on the health concerns and well-being of older persons.

 Social protection for older persons

To ensure the well-being of older persons, the DSWD implements the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens which is the provision of P500 monthly cash grants to indigent senior citizens, as stated in Republic Act No. 9994. The Department considers the following indigent senior citizens as its priority for inclusion in the program: (1) frail, sickly, or with disability; (2) without pension from GSIS, SSS,

AFPMBAI and other insurance companies; and (3) no permanent source of income or regular support from his/her relatives.

From 2011-2014, the Department prioritized senior citizens aged 77 years old and above. However, for 2015, age coverage of the program ​covers​ 65 years old and above.

For 2014,  a total of  403,284 social pension beneficiaries were paid with a budget amounting to P2.9 billion.

For 2015, some  692,256 beneficiaries were paid with a budget amounting to P3.4 billion.

The amount of P5.9 billion was allocated for the monthly stipend of P500 for 2015.

Meanwhile for 2016, a total of 1,182,941 indigent senior citizens are targeted for the Social Pension program with a budget of P7.5 billion.

“With the increased budget, the Department can now serve more older persons in need,​”  Sec. Soliman stated.

Aside from the Social Pension  program, DSWD manages four residential care services located in Quezon City, Rizal, Davao City​,  and Zamboanga City.  These residential homes take care of older persons who are abandoned and neglected by their families.

Moreover, there are group homes for older persons that provide community-based alternative living arrangement, and senior citizens centers which provide recreational, educational, health and social programs designed for the full enjoyment and benefit of senior citizens.  (DSWD)

LGU Tagum honors gov’t retirees, loyal employees

By: Tagum City Information Office

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte —17 employees from nine departments of the City Government of Tagum were collectively feted in a lavish and elaborate Testimonial Party last September 25, 2015 at the gymnasium of Arriesgado College Foundation, Inc.

The event which was spearheaded by the city’s Human Resource and Management Office, was conducted to honor the retirees whose years of dedicated and tireless service in the interest of the public, span decades.

The honorees for the 2015 Salamat-Paalam Testimonial Program include RemediosAbrasaldo (42 years in service), Elizabeth Abalos (39 years in service), Rogelio Lagrama (37 years in service), TeresitaCañete (36 years in service), NenitaPagapong (35 years in service), Maria Quirante (35 years in service), Esperanza Dahay (35 years in service),Victor Recosana (33 years in service), Engr. Elias Ragos (30 years in service), Pedro Gura (25 years in service), ZenaidaFrondoza (25 years in service), AsanBiay (24 years in service), Francisco Liba (17 years in service), DiomedesAbucot (16 years in service), DiosdadoNabong (10 years in service), LeoniloPaurco (9 years in service) and Eusebio Conte (8 years in service).

The night also saw the acknowledgement and recognition by the local government unit of the 28 permanent and 114 casual employees of the city who have spent between 10 to 30 years serving the government with undying efforts and commitment in ensuring that the different stakeholders in the city were given the utmost service.

This is the first time that the local government extended loyalty awards to casual employees.

The City of Tagum, headed by Mayor Allan L. Rellon and the members of the 6th City Council, presented each of the honorees with a plaque of recognition and a service ring while the loyalty awardees were given cash incentives and service pins.

The local government also posthumously awarded a Service Plaque to Mr. George Monton from the City Assessor’s Office for his diligence and expertise, as well as his outstanding and commendable contributions to his office and the City of Tagum.

Aside from the personnel, the local government through the Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) also handed out awards to LGU offices with exemplary performance for the past year.

Among those the PRAISE awardees this year are the Public Service Employment Office, the City Investment Promotion Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, City Business Permit and Licensing Office, City Treasurer’s Office, City Health Office, City Engineering Office, City Information Office, among others.

The holding of this event culminates the city’s observance of the 115th anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service. RichiGulle/ CIO-Tagum

Tagum’s outstanding ‘Gulayan’ recognized

By: Tagum City Information Office

TAGUM CIT, Davao del Norte - 12 public schools in the City of Tagum won big in the recently concluded 2015 Gulayan sa Paaralan and Pamayanan Program Excellence Award held on September 24, 2015 at Big 8 Hotel, Tagum City.

In the second installment of the search for the most outstanding vegetable garden in the city’s schools, the evaluators grouped the participating basic educational institutions into Field Category for

Elementary School and High School, and Container Category for Elementary and High Schools.

The winning elementary schools for the Field Category were Florentino Catalan Elementary School (1st Place), Col. Rosalio C. Saludares Elementary School (2nd Place) and San Agustin Elementary School (3^rd Place), while those that won in the Container Category were Don Ricardo Briz Central Elementary School and Bincungan Elementary School (tied at 1st Place), Union Elementary School (2nd Place) and Pagsabangan Elementary School (3rd Place).

On the other hand, the winners for High School were the Jose Tuazon Jr. Memorial High School (1st Place), Laureta National High School (2nd Place) and Pipisan Maug National High School (3rd Place) for the Field Category, and Tagum City National Comprehensive High School (1^st Place), Tagum City National High School (2nd Place) and La Filipina National High School (3rd Place) for the Container Category.

Meanwhile, the Search for Best Gulayan sa Pamayanan also had its initial run this year, with the evaluators judging the participants on the categories of Kapurokan Backyard Category, Kapurokan Container Category, Pamamahay Backyard Category and Pamamahay Container Category.

The 1st place winners of the Gulayan sa Pamayanan contest were Mario Buladaco of San Isidro  for the Kapurokan Backyard Category, Martha Suan of Magugpo North for the Kapurokan Container Category, Remar Lo of Nueva Fuerza for the Pamamahay Backyard Category and Zenaida Buera

of Magugpo North for the Pamamahay Container Category.

All 24 winners of the Gulayan sa Paaralan and Pamayanan Program Excellence Award were adjudged and selected based on sustainability,garden quality, nutritional outcome, educational relevance andgeneration of community participation. Richi Gulle/CIO Tagum

DTI DavNor kicks off Consumer Welfare celebration

DAVAO DEL NORTE, October 1 (PIA) - - The Department of Trade and Industry – Davao del Norte Provincial Office kicked off earlier today the Consumer Welfare Month celebration anchored on the theme, ‘Consumer Protection in the ASEAN Economic Community.’

Together with the consumers group in Tagum known as Konsumo Tagum and the Local Government Unit of same city, DTI led earlier today a motorcade along major thoroughfares in the city.

DTI Information Officer Judecia Ponio said that their department lined up activities with the whole month of October for the celebration.

Among the activities are Consumer Education on Air via Charm Radio on October 5-7, Consumer Education for High School students in Tagum City on October 9, 16 and 23.

In partnership with Konsumo Samal, DTI will also hold poster-making contest in the Island Garden City of Samal to be participated by the city’s high school students on October 21.

Ponio added that the celebration will be culminated with a quiz bee in Tagum City and awarding of new sets of Bagwis seals awardees.

Bagwis Seal, formerly DTI – Certified Establishment seal, is given to business establishments that promote consumer welfare and uphold fair trade practices. (PIA 11, Michael Uy)

Duterte calls on persons-with-authority establish rapport with soldiers

DAVAO CITY, Oct 1 (PIA) Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, chair of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in Davao Region urged mayors, barangay chairs and teachers and persons with authority to establish good rapport with the security sector to harmonize relationships in responding to the needs of the people, particularly safety and security.

 He made the statement during the RPOC 3rd Quarter meeting Wednesday, following an interview where leaders of the Island Garden City of Samal allegedly called for the soldiers to come amid the abduction in the Ocean View Resort where three foreign nationals and one Filipinas were taken away by eleven armed men and consequently claimed that no one responded.

 “It takes more than just knowing that the soldiers are there.  You have to go out also and talk to them and establish good rapport,” Duterte said.

 He underscored that under the administrative law, persons with authority like the mayors, barangay chairs and educators must connect with the soldiers not only when there is a need for action.

Duterte said persons in government must work as one with cohesion.

“If the soldiers do not want to go to your office, you go to their camp and talk,” he said citing that it is the protocol he follows where he no longer waits to be invited by the soldiers to talk about the problems affecting the community.

Duterte described the abduction in the Ocean View resort at the IGACOS as a case of Murphy’s Law.

The Wikipedia defines Murphy’s Law as a saying which says, “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.”

“If it happened in Dos Palmas in Palawan, it can also happen in Samal,” he said.

Duterte surmised that the Abu Sayyaf Group truly identifies its target.

He said when the abductors entered in the premises of the resort, they divided themselves into two groups and searched for their targets.

“There are speculations that it has something to do either with money or the extortion activities of the enemies of the state,” Duterte said.

He also believed that somewhere in the Davao Gulf, the abductors were fetched with speedboats using powerful engines since they were able to reach Sulu in just six hours.

“It is definite that they are in Jolo,” Duterte said.

The Police Regional Office 11 reported that the abduction in IGACOS was a major setback in the security set up of Davao Region even if it was considered as an isolated incident since it grossly affected the tourism industry.

Senior Superintendent Michael John Dubria, chief of the Regional Plans Division of the PRO 11 in his report said strong partnership and collaboration among stakeholders is a strong factor against any untoward incident.

 “Strengthened, proactive security measures lessen the vulnerability of the public from any and all criminal activities,” he said.  (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)