CHED orders nursing program in 5 Davao schools to close

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has ordered the closure of the nursing program of five schools operating in Davao region.

Raul Alvarez Jr., regional director of CHED here, said that he had just received the order of the CHED en banc on Monday, citing the non-compliance of the said schools to meet the standards especially on hitting the 30 percent passing rate of the Nursing Board Licensure Examination.

However, Alvarez refused to divulge the names of the schools pending his formal letter to be submitted to school administrators informing them of the CHED order.

“In fairness to them, we should first inform them before we will publicize them,” he told reporters during the Club 888 Forum at the Marco Polo Hotel Wednesday.

Alvarez said there are around 30 schools in the region offering nursing courses, most of them are located in Davao City.

He confirmed that more than 10 nursing programs were already closed in the past years because of failing to meet the standards of CHED.

“Starting June, these five schools are no longer allowed to enroll nursing students. Those firsts to third year students are advised to enroll to other schools,” he said.

This came even as one of the nursing schools here, San Pedro College (SPC), has been consistent to be one of the schools nationwide to have the highest passing rate.

SPC, considered the best nursing school in Mindanao, was hailed as the Top 8 Best Performing Nursing School in the Philippines, with also eight takers, topping in the 2012 examination.

The school also has one of the most numbers of examinees: 500 first takers and 29 re-takers. Out of the said number 473 passed with the total percentage of 89.41 percent. Surprisingly, 93 percent of the first takers were able to make it. (PNA)

President Aquino visits major road projects in General Santos City

President Benigno S. Aquino III visited Wednesday the ongoing construction of the General Santos City Circumferential Road project aimed at making the tuna capital city a major hub of commerce in the region.

The P1.1-billion road project is located on the northern and western suburbs of the city with a total length of 27.6 kilometers including five bridges. Currently, 13.6 kilometers of roads were paved and two bridges were completed.

The project is expected to yield 54 percent economic internal rate of return (EIRR) for the city and could initially divert traffic at 4,739 vehicles daily. This figure could grow as much as 11,898 vehicles per day based on the projected traffic data.

According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the project will result to around 20 percent reduction in traffic volume along the Digos-Makar and Makar-Kiamba Roads.

This will also significantly reduce the travel time by about 42 percent from Makar-Marbel road to General Santos City Airport and Fishport in the city’s western section.

The travel distance along the northern section will be shortened by 25 percent compared to the Digos-Makar road, with about 44 percent reduction in travel time.

The DPWH has allotted a total of P747.02 million for the project from 1998 to 2013. The DPWH said it will fund the remaining P387.8 million from its 2014 budget or from any available funds of the department.

The circumferential road is one of the key projects in South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City (SOCCSKSARGEN) funded under the Philippine Assistance Program (PAP) in the 1990s that has greatly contributed to the development of Region 12.

The project was expected to support the city’s plan to establish a free port for industrial and export processing with General Santos City as the major trade hub of the SOCCSKSARGEN.

Over the span of 14 years, the region’s exports increased to 158 percent from P13.7 billion in 1998 to P35.3 billion in 2011 with an annual growth rate of 9 percent, according to the project briefer.

Among the SOCCSKSARGEN’s major agricultural and fishery products include coconut, tuna, pineapple, palm oil, banana and dried fruits. Its major markets are the US, Japan, Middle East and Europe. These export products are shipped through the General Santos City Makar Wharf, General Santos City Airport and other ports in Mindanao.

Joining the President during his visit here were Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas, General Santos City Mayor Darlene Antonino Custodio and the city’s local leaders.

Bam Aquino ug Sonny Angara midagan sa “Bayanihan Run 2 Rebuild Fun Run 2013” sa Comval

Lakip usab sila si Congressman Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara sa Lone District of Aurora ug Social Entrepreneur Paulo Benigno “Bam” Aquino-IV sa kapin kun kulang 12,000 Runners nga misalmot sa bag-o nahumang “Bayanihan Run 2 Rebuild Fun Run 2013” nga gipanguluhan nila ni Governor Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy ug Vice Governor Ramil L. Gentugaya sa Kapitolyo niadtong Marso 3, 2013.

Luyo sa dili tiawng kadaot nga nahiaguman sa probinsiya gumikan sa milabay’ng bagyong Pablo, ang Compostela Valley nagsaulog gihapon sa 15th Founding Anniversary ug 6th Bulawan Festival niini.  Bisan duha lang ka adlaw ang himoong pagselebrar, maoy sentrong kalihokan ang pag source-out ug pundo pinaagi sa “Dinner for A Cause” ug “Fun Run”. Ang kita gikan niining duha ka mga dagkong kalihokan, gamiton sa gisugdang pag rebuild sa nadaot nga mga Daycare Centers, School Buildings, ug School Facilities sa 11 ka mga lungsod.

Ang dakong selebrasyon sa probinsya, giablihan sa “Bayanihan Run to Rebuild Fun Run 2013” giapilan sa mga runners nga kasagaran nagagikan sa Comval, sa Davao del Norte,  Davao City,  ug sa uban pang mga lugar sa kabisay-an, sa Luzon, ug dinhi sa Mindanao.

Adunay tulo ka mga kategorya niini:  3K kun lumba dagan sa 3 kilometrong gilay-on; ang 5K-on; ug ang 8K.  Unang nanagan ang runners sa 8K ug maoy mihatag sa senyales sa pagsugod (gunstart) niini si Tyron Uy.  Samtang si Governor Uy usab sa kategoryang 5K.

Sama sa nahaunang Fun Run sa ComVal, ang kategoryang 3K mao gihapon ang dunay pinakadaghang Runners ug maoy nimando alang sa pagsugod niini si Board Member Moran Takasan.

Nanguna sa linya sa mga Executive runners sila si Governor Uy, Social Entrepreneur Bam Aquino, Congressman Sonny Angara, Congresswoman Maricar Zamora, Vice Governor Ramil Gentugaya, kanhi Provincial Sports Coordinator Tyron Uy, Former Congressman Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora, SP Members, Municipal Mayors, Vice Mayors, SP ug SB Members, ug uban pa. (Gilbert M. Cabahug, ids-comval)

1st Provincial Dawn Prayer gihimo sa Kapitolyo

COMPOSTELA VALLEY PROVINCE-----Kabahin sa gipalapdang Provincial Spiritual Development and Moral Recovery Program (PSD-MRP) ni Governor Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy sa Compostela Valley ang gihimong 1stProvincial Dawn Prayer diha sa Kapitolyo niadtong Sabado nga gisalmotan sa kapin kun kulang 3,500 pastors, church leaders, ug miyembro gikan sa lain-laing mga simbahan sa 11 ka mga lungsod sa probinsiya aron paghalad sa hiniusang mga pag-ampo, mga pasalamat, ug mga pagdayeg sa Labaw’ng Makagagahum tungod sa Iyang kaayo ug pagkamaloloy-on.

Matud ni Philippine Dawn Watch Founder  Rev. Kim Kap Dong, nga daghang higayon diha sa Balaang Kasulatan nga ang Labaw’ng Makagagahom naghimog mga dagkong milagro panahon sa sayong kabuntagon (Ex. 14:27;Lk.24:1-3) mao nga angay nga kining taknaa hatagan ug dakong pagtagad sa mga katawhan pinaagi sa paghimog hinusang mga pag-ampo, mga pasalamat, ug mga pagdayeg.

Ang bag-o nahumang 1st Provincial Dawn Prayer gisugdan sa alas 4:00 sa kaadlawon ug maoy nangulo niini sila si Gov. Uy –PSD and Moral Recovery Council Chairman; ug si Board Member Paul Galicia. Kini gisugdan sa usa ka Opening Prayer ni Rev. Rufo Butt Jr., ug human sa iyang sa iyang pag-ampo ang mensahe sa Essence of Prayer gikan ni Rev. Kim Kap Dong sa Korea.  Sunod sa iyang mensahe ang Intercessory  Prayer gikan sa lain-laing mga lungsod, ug ang Thanksgiving Prayer ug mensahe ni Gov. Uy.

Gipasabot ni SP Member Galicia nga ang maong kalihokan usa usab ka Wake-up Call sa mga katawhan aron maangkon ang saad sa Dios nga gisulti sa 2 Cronicas 7:14 nga nag-ingon; “Kon ang katawhan nga akong tinawag modangop kanako sa dakong pagpaubos ug mobiya sa ilang mga sala, patalinghogan ko gayod sila ug  pasayloon sa ilang mga sala ug ibalik ko ang kadagaya sa ilang nasud”.  (Gilbert M. Cabahug, ids-comval)

Rice ug Corn Farmers sa ComVal lipay sa nagpadayong libreng daro sa “Task Force Alayon”

COMPOSTELA VALLEY PROVINCE-----Dugang sa padayong pagpang apod-apod sa mga hinabang pagkaon ug uban pang relief goods, ang probinsiya padayon usab nga mitunol ngadto sa Pablo Victims sa lain-laing klase sa Agricultural Inteventions nga gipatuman ni Governor Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy  aron nga pinaagi niini mamahimong mas dali ang recovery sa mga katawhan gikan sa grabeng kawad-on nga nasinati tungod sa milabay’ng bagyo.

Usa sa mga Agricultural Interventions nga nakahatag ug dakong kalipay sa mga katawhan mao ang pagsuporta sa farm mechanization sa mga mangunguma, ug alang niadtong farmers nga walay kaugalingong makinarya kini gipalapdan sa probinsiya ngadto sa pagtunol kanila sa serbisyo nga libreng pagpangdaro sa ilang kaumahan pinaagi sa “Task Force Alayon” sa Department of Agriculture (DA).

Diha sa mga lungsod sa Compostela, sa Monkayo, ug sa New Bataan ang katabang kun kaalayon sa probinsiya sa pagtunol niini ang  D.A. Region 12 nga nagpadala ug walo ka farm tractors;  ang D.A. Region 10 nga nagpadala sad ug 2 ka Farm Tractors; ug ang D.A. Region XI nga mitabang usab sa probinsiya sa gikinahanglang oil, fuel, and lubricants.

Sa ilang pinakaulahing report, ang D.A. Region XII nagsulti atol sa gihimo nilang exit conference nga ang ilang walo ka farm tractors nga gipadala sa ComVal nakahuman pagdaro sa mokabat 607.785 ka ektaryang maisan ug humayan, ug nakabenepisyo niini ang 218 ka mga mangunguma diha sa mga lungsod sa Monkayo, sa New Bataan, ug sa Compostela. Kapin sad sa 49 ka ektaryang maisan ang nahuman pagdaro sa tractors nga gipadala sa D.A.Region 10.

Didto sa Laak maoy mitunol sa serbisyo nga libreng daro ang probinsiya, ug matud ni PAGRO Chief Dr. Rolando Simene nga ang tractor nga gipadala sa probinsiya nakahuman na pagdaro sa  50 ka ektaryang maisan.

Samtang libreng krudo ug gasolina usab maoy gi-provide sa probinsiya ug sa D.A. ngadto sa mga mangunguma nga dunay kaugalingong floating tiller ug farm tractor. Pinaagi nining klaseha sa tabang, nahuman sad pagdaro ang lain pang kapin 752 ka ektaryang maisan ug humayan diha sa  mga lungsod sa Compostela, sa Monkayo, sa New Bataan, ug sa Montevista. (Gilbert M. Cabahug, ids-comval)

Comval SP gitun-an ang bag-ong Computer Program alang sa Paperless Legislation

COMPOSTELA VALLEY PROVINCE-----Gitun-an na karon sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) sa probinsya ang bag-ong Computer Program aron hingpit nang makab-ot ang gitinguhang paperless legislation.  Ang hands-on niini ilang gisugdan panahon sa ilang 120th Regular Session.

Ug atol sa ilang 121st Regular Session gipadayon nila ang hands on gamit ang ilang tagsa-tagsa ka Laptop Computer. Samtang makita usab sa mga bisita ug sa mga katawhang mitambong diha sa wide screen ang mga butang nga ginahisgotan sa SP members panahon sa ilang Session.

Gi-install diha sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka Laptop ang usa ka bag-ong Computer Program nga gi-develop ni Jomar Palma ug sa uban pang inhouse Programmers sa Information Technology and Communication Development Division (ITCDD) ilalom sa opisina ni Gov. Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy. Kining opisinaha ubos sa pagdumala ni ITCDD Chief Joyzel Odi.

Matud ni Library Archieves Division Chief Rene Dianito nga gi-develop sa opisina ni Gov. Uy ang usa ka Programa nga nagpalapad sa gamit sa Legislative Tracking System (LTS) nga gi-install sa Lexsys Technologies Incorporated.

Kun hingpit nang maimplementar ang gitinguhang paperless legislation gibana-bana ang kapin 300 ka papel nga madaginot sa kada opisina matag-semana - diha sa opisina ni Vice Governor Ramil L. Gentugaya, sa kada Board Member, ug sa SP Secretariat.

Giklaro usab ni Dianito nga tungod ang maong programa gi-install diha sa taga-tagsa ka laptop sa SP Member, mas mosaka gyod  ang level sa ilang performance ability tungod pwede nilang himuon ang ilang trabaho bisan diha ra sila sa ilang balay, ug sa bisan asang dapit ug oras nga ilang gusto. Kay halos tanang impormasyon nga gusto nilang masayran labot sa ilang legislative function dali ra nilang makita pinaagi lang sa pag-browse niini diha sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka laptop computer.  (Gilbert M. Cabahug, ids-comval)

DavOr to choose best regional peacemaker for nat'l award

MATI CITY - The Davao Oriental Provincial Committee Peacemaker Awards Committee is set to convene on this week to evaluate the Board of  Peacemakers in the ten municipalities of the province.

The committee will also choose the regional contenders who will vie for the 2013 Search for Outstanding Board Peacemaker, an annual program of the Department of Intereior and Local Government, DILG.

The said program is designed to recognize the significant contributions of the Lupon Tagapamayapa (board of peacemakers) in the upholding and strengthening of the Justice Pambarangay implementation, as embodied in the Local Government Code of 1991 of the Phillippines.

One of the criteria in selecting the winner is the Peacemaker ability of the Board members to resolve cases in their respective barangays, Their strategic ways in resolving the cases, and the documentation of the cases in the barangays.

For the City of Mati, the Peacemaker of Barangay Central Committee was consistent in bagging the award for many years, particularly in its time as a municipality. As such, Barangay Central became a elevated into the hall of fame after its consistency in making it up in the competition.

Last year, the Committee Peacemaker of Barangay Sainz was judged as the winner for the City of Mati, The city represented to the regional level of the said competition.

For the Category 1 of the competition covering 1st to 3rd class municipalities, the Board of Cateel Peacemaker was the provincial winner, and the regional 1st Runner-Up in thier category.

Before the change of LGU classification, the municipality of Boston was under the 2nd category, composed of 4th to 6th class municipalities, the town was named as the provincial winner, and was the top winner in the regional level.

When the change of classification was implemented, Boston started to vie under the 1st Category, as the municipalities of Boston and Tarragona were elevated as 3rd class municipalities. Thus, the second category is no longer applicable for Davao Oriental.

The Department of Budget and Management is responsible in classifying local government units, based on their income or revenue.   

For this year, there are only four entries from the province of Davao Oriental , competing in the first Category.

The entries are composed of the Board Tagapamayapa of Banaybanay, Governor Generoso, Manay, and Boston.

The municipalities of Baganga and Cateel can not join the competition after being devastated by typhoon Pablo. But for Boston, They were able to save Their documents, a must to join in the competition.

As there is only one component city in the province, Mati automatically vies iagain n the city category.

Sectoral representations compose the Provincial Awards Committee, including representation from the province based non-government organizations, pursuant to memerandum Circular 2008-102 of the DILG. .

Provincial Governor Cora Malanyaon has commended the efforts of the Board Peacemaker in the different parts of the province in Their enormous contribution to the prevalence of peace and order in their respective barangays.  (Neela G. Duallo, DXHM, Mati City)