Mindanao Area Committee (NB RDCOM-MAC) tackled policy recommendations on Mindanao’s Energy and Health Issues during its 18th Conference

(Davao City, 15 March 2016). Representatives from the five (5) Regional Development Councils (RDCs) of Mindanao, as well as, the Regional Economic and Development Planning Board (REDPB) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), convened for the 18th Conference of the NB RDCOM-MAC on March 14, 2016 at the Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City.

The Committee tackled the major issues on the power situation and the distribution of specialized health facilities in Mindanao in line with its mandate to ensure that growth disparities among regions are reduced and that resources are allocated in a rational manner.

Director Irma C. Exconde of the Department of Energy-Electric Power Industry Management Bureau (DOE-EPIMB), Mr. Emmanuel D. Abellanosa of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) Mindanao Regional Office and Atty. Cynthia P. Alabanza of the NGCP Corporate Communications apprised the Committee on Mindanao’s power situation. Director Exconde informed that DOE created a task force that would ensure adequate and reliable electric power supply before, during, and after the May 9, 2016 national and local elections. 

She added that another task force was created to ensure uninterrupted electric power supply and to secure the transmission infrastructure and facilities during elections whose major accomplishments include the passage of Republic Act No. 10752, entitled “An Act Facilitating the Acquisition of Right-of-Way (ROW) Site or Location for National Government Infrastructure Projects” on March 7, 2016. RDC XI Vice-Chairperson and NEDA XI Regional Director Maria Lourdes D. Lim, CESO II enjoined the members to take these matters up in their respective RDCs as it was noted that 1/3 of the power transmission towers in Mindanao are vulnerable to bombings and ROW violations. The Committee recommended to DOE the “Adopt a Tower” Program where concerned Local Government Units (LGUs) and communities are engaged for more concerted protection efforts.

The Study on the Improvement of Health Services and Facilities, spearheaded by RDC X, was endorsed during the Conference. Dr. Leopoldo J. Vega of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and Dr. Bryan O. Dalid of the Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC), supported the recommendations of the paper as they believe it is high time for Mindanao to upgrade its health facilities since lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, stroke and heart attack are the emerging lead causes of death in the Philippines. The said policy paper shall be forwarded to the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), LGUs and the NB-RDCOM for support.

RDC XII Acting Chairperson and Presiding Officer Arturo G. Valero said that the improvement of the power situation and health facilities in Mindanao are aligned with the goal of making Mindanao the Philippines’ “Southern Gateway”. (Emil B. Clarito, Sr. EDS) ###

OWWA provides free IT training to OFWs and their dependents

Davao City – Part of the programs and services of OWWA is the Information Technology (IT) Training Program. It is a computer literacy program that provides OFWs and their families training and access to technology intended to bridge the communication gap between the OFW and his/her family and allow them to communicate with each other through the Internet.

The training is open to all active and inactive OWWA members and their families.

They are entitled to a ten-day IT training which is provided for free. IT Instructor, Delfa J. Valenzuela, provides Fundamentals on the basic Computer Operation, Word Processing (Microsoft Word), Spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel), Presentation (Microsoft PowerPoint), Desktop Publishing  (MS Publisher and Adobe Photoshop), Digital Media (Movie Maker) and Internet Fundamentals (Skype, making Facebook account, googlemail, downloading music & movies, uploading pictures). An examination after the discussion of every topic is given to the students to test their ability.

As of March 31, 2016, a total of 386 OFWs and families avail of the training program. Of this number, 212 are OFWs while 174 are dependents. Every year, the number of availees increased because most of the OFW families want to become computer literate to easily communicate with their loved ones abroad. From 2014 to 2015, the region was able to provide free IT training to 4,605 OFWs and dependents.

Classes are held daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Regional Welfare Office in Monteverde St., Davao City.

Recently, new batch of availees completed the training program.  Among them was OFW Ruben Juegos, 53 years old, Quality Control Inspector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He was on his vacation and due to return to his work on April 2016. “I am so thankful that I was able to avail of the IT training which really enhanced my skills. I took the advantage of availing the said training because I only have a little knowledge in computers”, he said. 

Ms. Zenobia L. Caro, Chief, Programs and Services Division, encouraged the graduates to make use of the computer lessons and applications they have learned. “We hope that what you have learned in this 10-day training will be applied in your respective works and business ventures”, said Ms. Caro in her inspirational message during the awarding of certificates last March 23, 2016.

Former OFW like Ronelyn Achacoso availed of the training in 2014 and able to use her computer learning in her handicraft business. Now, she is promoting her products through the internet.

Last year, IT community outreach program was held in some municipalities of Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley Province. It aims to provide computer literacy to OFWs and their families who cannot afford to go to the Regional Welfare Office to avail of the program. With this intervention, they were able to acquire knowledge on computers without spending much of their time and money.  (OWWA Press Release)

Home-based ICT sector needs reliable power

DAVAO CITY April 4 (PIA) The home-based online workers would need reliable power to sustain their booming businesses.

This according to Atty. Sam Matunog, president of ICT Davao (Information Communication Technology).

Matunog said a considerable percentage of the 35,000 ICT workers in Davao City are home-based.

Citing figures from freelancing online platforms oDesk and Elance, there were P124-million worth of freelance homebased projects done by Dabawenyos from 2010-2014.

Matunog said that in order to grow the industry must be spared from brownouts which had affected their work.

Davao City has been plagued by rotating brownouts due to below normal capacity of hydro-power plants and in some instances damaged plants which extended the hours of rotating brownouts.

Unlike major business process outsourcing companies like large call centers which has large generator sets, many home-based workers do not have gen-sets at their workplaces- their house.

Among the online home jobs include virtual assistants, graphic design, article writing, website development.

Matunog said that online homebased business is booming as the Davao City population is young, highly-educated, tech-savvy and multicultural.

There is potential in the industry citing Cebu which based on Elance and oDesk registered P700-million earned revenues from the same period (2010-2014). (PIA/RG Alama)