Monday, September 17, 2007

Funds for October elections available, says COMELEC

Cebu, Philippines (17 September) — The Commission on Election (COMELEC) says funds are now available for the October 29 SK and barangay elections.

COMELEC commissioner Resurreccion Borra said, the COMELEC has already received an initial budget of P664-million for the October 29 elections and it will be used in printing the ballots, election returns and other materials that are needed in preparations for the actual elections.

Borra said that the COMELEC needs to print about 45 million ballots for the barangay and another 5 million ballots for the SK. He explains that the initial P664-million is part of the P2.6-billion budget the DBM allocated for the October barangay and SK elections.

He also clarified that the local government units are no longer obliged to counterpart allocations, specifically for the transportation allowances and honoraria of the members of the Board of Election Tellers (BET) because the COMELEC en banc had approved a resolution that allocate P300 per member for the transportation allowance and P500/member as honorarium if they serve at the SK polls.

In similar developments, Barangay Guadalupe, one of the largest barangays in Cebu City has appropriated about P350T for its election-related expenses during the October polls.

Guadalupe barangay captain, Eugenio Faelna said, “We support the elections, we will even spend for it.” The appropriations signified the barangays’ readiness and its objections to postpone the elections, as some congressmen proposed, he added.

The appropriation resolution still needs the approval of the Cebu City council that has tabled it for discussion on its September 19 session.

In Malacañang however, the President told women participants of the Women’s National Electoral Assembly 2007 at the PICC in Pasay City that they must campaign for the modernization of our electoral processes—voting, counting and canvassing, starting with the forthcoming barangay elections.

Addressing the 2-day national assembly, the president called on fellow women leaders to exercise the right to vote to achieve the right of women to have more economic choices, to determine the future of their lives and the lives of their families.

The assembly commemorates the signing by President Manuel L. Quezon on September 15, 1937 of the Philippine Suffrage Act which, gave women equal right to vote. (PIA-Cebu/MBCN)

RSC endorses qualifiers for Nat’l Search for Outstanding Volunteer

Cebu, Philippines (17 September)—The Regional Screening Committee (RSC) of the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) endorses today two qualifiers; Enrique Felisario from the individual category and Albert Schweitzer Familienwork Foundation Phils., Inc (ASFFPI), group category to the national level for the Search for Outstanding Volunteer (SOV) this year.

The Search for Outstanding Volunteer (SOV) is an annual search for individuals and groups that have provided voluntary service in the Philippines. It aims to highlight and recognize the exemplary performance and dedication to service of Filipino volunteers in building strong communities across the country through volunteerism.

The RSC and its validating team went on site validation, interviewed the nominees and rated them based on the PNVSCA-SOV guidelines and criteria that include qualities for 25 pts; performance 40 pts and impact of volunteer assistance, 35pts.

Nominees were pre-screened at the regional levels to shortlist a maximum of 3 nominees for the national level based on documents submitted and selection criteria.

The Regional Screening Committee shall then select one regional qualifier each for individual (Youth and adult) and group categories and these are submitted to the national screening committee. Each regional qualifier must have a rating of at least 85% to qualify for the national award.

Qualifiers’ profiles

Enrique “Erick” Felisario qualifier for the individual youth category is currently a volunteer worker for more than six (6) years now at the Youth Zone, a project of the Cebu Remedios Aids Foundation, Inc. that is situated at the Collonade mall in Colon, Cebu City.

Instead of playing, the young Erick has been a volunteer since he was 12 years old helping in any community activity thus, volunteerism comes naturally for him. He used all his free class hours daily and even weekends to assist in the various activities and advocacies of the Youth Zone that are focusing on youth programs on reproductive health, HIV/AIDS/STI, Gender Sensitivity and Sexuality.

As a volunteer, he has served in the depressed barangays of Cebu City and in schools through capacitating and empowering the youth, specifically the Out-of-School Youth (OSY) via training, briefing, seminars and IEC activities on reproductive health and family/population management; HIV/AIDS and STI as well as responsible parenthood.

Through his active volunteerism, he has received 8 awards and recognitions one of which is the 2006 Outstanding Cebuano Youth Leader for various activities in line with his services and assistance to the OSY and students in Cebu City, working closely with government agencies, other NGOs and private sectors.

Albert Schweitzer Familienwerk Foundation Phils., Inc. (ASFFPI) for the group category on the other hand is a local chapter of Albert Schweitzer-Germany that focuses on helping children that are abandoned by providing shelter and other basic needs for survival, protection, development and participation.

It office is located at 710 Trinity Plaza, Escario St., Cebu City while its training center and half-way home for children are situated Cordova town.

The organization’s hopes to create a world that is free from violence, abuse and exploitation by building strong families with solid spiritual values and beliefs; to provide for a package of social interventions and other services to children, women, families, elderly and the differently-able persons.

The organization has consistently assisted abandoned children by providing the shelter at its Children’s Haven at Cordova; send them to school and assist in the adoption proceedings of children who have no families.

It has also devised module program advocacies on the rights of women, children, youth, PWDs and the elderly; training on family strengthening, child rearing and abuse prevention; prepared a training module on the cycle of criminality, domestic violence prevention, problem solving and decision-making and anger management.

Recently, ASFFPI has trained an inter-agency team network throughout the country on the cycle of domestic violence; counseling to victims of violence as well as the perpetrators of domestic violence.

The Regional Screening Committee in Cebu is composed if the regional directors of NEDA-7, PIA-7, CSC-7 and 2 private sector representatives (one from UPCollege-Cebu and one from the Mag-uugmad Foundation).

It can be recalled that the Search for Outstanding Volunteers that is open to all individuals of Filipino citizenship and Filipino volunteer organizations or local chapters of organizations of foreign volunteer organizations that are currently providing volunteer assistance in the country.

The national volunteer award is a recognition conferred on outstanding volunteer individuals and organizations that are chosen from among the regional qualifiers.

The regional qualifiers shall receive certificates of recognition while national awardees shall receive trophies and recipients of the Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award shall receive medals and certificates of recognition. Awarding of winners will be done sometime in December 2007. (PIA-Cebu/MBCN)

Rotary to plant one million mangroves for Cebu

Cebu, Philippines (12 September) – Rotary district 3860 hopes to plant one million Mangroves for Cebu within the Rotary year July 2007-June 2008 with a kick off planting of 5000 propagules and seedlings on September 15 at Cotcot, Liloan, Cebu to coincide with the celebration of Cleanup the World Weekend.

In a press release, District Governor Michael Joseph “Yumi” Espina said, “Rotarians recognize the importance of mangroves in our islands’ marine ecosystem. In Cebu where the rate of depletion and degradation is very high, Rotary will be working with DENR, and the local government units in the province to establish and sustain mangrove nurseries and their management.”

Each Rotary club in Cebu will have a designated “adopted area” in the province where they will plant mangrove seedlings and propagules. Rotary will help generate funds for propagule collection, nursery and seedling maintenance and protection activities of the various local government units and people’s organizations that will help the Rotarians in this project.

The project is in partnership with the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation (CCEF), Department of Environment and Natural Resources, municipality of Liloan, Clean Up the Philippines and the Office of the Provincial Governor.

A written commitment to support the Rotary district’s Mangrove Reforestation program was inked on August 17 between Rotary District 3860 and the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation Inc.

Plans are already afoot for another mangrove planting activities in the towns of San Remegio and Ronda. (PIA-Cebu/MBCN with Lilu Aliño)

Cebu City council goes hi-tech

Cebu City, Philippines (13 September)—The Cebu City Sanggunian Panglungsod (SP) wants to get the P4-million worth of a “state-of-the art” sound and video system for the newly renovated legislative (session) hall.

Cebu City Vice-Mayor and SP presiding officer Michael Rama said, “it’s about time for Cebu City to go high-tech by acquiring a ‘state-of-the-art’ equipment that is sophisticated, long lasting and is globally competitive that befits a highly urbanized city like Cebu!”

Rama explains, the system is called a Digital Congress Network Sound and Video System (DCNCVS) that has tele and video conferencing features.

To understand the system, the Cebu City Council (in one of its sessions) invited possible suppliers –Datavox, Microdata Systems & Management Inc., Yupangco and Cebu Appliance Center for product presentations.

The equipment is described as a state-of-the-art tele/video conferencing sound system that will be set up at the session hall where each councilor is provided with a portable or flush mount microphone that is equipped with voting, agenda handling and messaging features and the VM’s unit comes with an LCD monitor.

For those councilors who have difficulty in the English language, the system is also capable of translating 35 or more languages, thus convenient for everyone.

According to the presentations, some cables and accessories are hooked up to the telephones, internet and cable TV allowing the proceedings or sessions to be viewed by those who are not in the session hall thus councilors who are sick or out of town can still participate in the discussion and voting certain resolutions and or ordinances.

“They wouldn’t have any excuse of missing the deliberations and voting in regular sessions,” Rama commented.

The public too in their homes through cable TV, internet or telephones can already participate, ask questions or even watch their councilors in deep and serious discussions on ordinances, resolutions and their advocacies, the suppliers said.

With this SOA sound and video system, voting, recording, agenda preparation and even attending sessions become very convenient for the council and the secretariat as well. (PIA-Cebu/MBCN)

Where were you when Erap’s verdict was handed down?

Cebu, Philippines (12 September)—Today seems to be one of the most unforgettable days in our political lives, wrote a local columnist here in Cebu.

It looks like the nation’s fate hangs on the former President Joseph Estrada’s “HATOL” from the time he ran as president in 2001 to the time of his impeachment and now the verdict of guilty or not guilty of his plunder case.

Two of the local papers in Cebu had editorials on the ERAP verdict. The SUN STAR DAILY has “ERAP conviction or acquittal must rest solely on evidence” and The FREEMAN reads, “Country first before Estrada:”

“What is interesting though is that every time that a historical or a political event unfolds in the country, it seems a lot of ado comes from the national capital. The Freeman editorial hits the nail when it said …”What is ironic is that instead of being happy this sordid episode in our lives is about to come to an end, most people are instead seized by feelings of great trepidation.”

“That is because most of the 87 million Filipinos simply have no idea what is going to happen next. The country is once again back in a situation where the majority is being held hostage by a few. Guilty or not, the fate of the nation will once again be determined by what happens in Metro Manila.”

“Metro Manila is not the nation….true, the seat of power may be in Metro Manila. But it does not follow the fate of the nation has to be decided there every time. In case people have forgotten, it was Cebu that completed EDSA-1 in 1986. In other words, the rest of the Philippines must start asserting itself. It must not allow the fate of the nation to be dictated in the streets of Metro Manila alone.”

As the verdict was read this morning, acquittal of the perjury case and guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the plunder case, Cebu was quiet but not angry. There were no protest groups on the streets, business went as usual.

Teodor Locson, VP for external affairs of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI) said, “The local business community will not be affected by the promulgation. It will be business as usual in Cebu.”

In Bohol, two (2) local radio stations aired the Sandigan Bayan proceedings. Mixed reactions were gathered from the listening public including the media but majority was satisfied with the verdict of guilty in the plunder case.

According to the Bohol PNP director, there were no activities monitored that publicly showed sympathy and support to the former president.

In Negros Oriental, Provincial Board Member Melimore Saycon said, “we have to give it to the Sandigan Bayan that the decisions they have arrived at have been properly deliberated. Everybody is equal in the face of law. Let us respect and accept whatever the verdict on his case. Let us stay calm and follow the rule of law.”

Finally, Presidential spokesperson, Secretary Ignacio Bunye said, “We bow to the decision of the Sandigan Bayan. We hope and pray that the rule of law will prevail. Meantime, we have a country to run, an economy to grow and a peace to win. We hope that this sad episode in our history will not permanently distract us from our goals.”

As Sun Star columnist Bobby Nalzaro declared, “We don’t want to experience another political turmoil. Enough is enough!”

Indeed! (PIA-Cebu/MBCN)

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

IRIGASYON OG KADALANAN DAGKO OG PAHAT SA 2008 BUDGET

Cebu City (September 5, 2007) – Mamahimo na unya nga mas malambuon og mas sayon ang agrikultura sa nasod kung maimplementar na ang dugang binilyon ka pesos nga proyekto sa irigasyon og kadalanan latas sa mga kabukiran .

Sa iyang pagbisita sa Nueva Ecija sa Central Luzon, gibutyag ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo nga ang kagamhanan nigahin og otso bilyones alang sa dugang irigasyon og singko bilyones ka pesos alang sa kadalanan nga giisip farm-to-market roads nga gilakip na sa budget sa nasod sunod tuig.

Kini gawas pa sa tres bilyones ka pesos kapin nga gigahin alang sa pagpaayo sa mga nangadaot nga irigasyon sa nasod.

Sa nasayran, ang Sugbo, Bohol og Negros Oriental dinhi sa tunga-tungang Kabisay-an adunay mga dagkong dam nga natukod.

Usa niini mao ang dako nga dam sa barangay Can-asuhan sa lungsod sa Carcar dinhi sa Sugbo. (Roberto M. Cabardo/PIA AMO 7 Cebu)

UNANG DOMIGGO SA BAR EXAMS MALINAWON

Cebu City (September 3, 2007) – Sa pagsugod sa upat ka Dominggo nga bar examinations kagahapon, ang Korte Suprema nidili sa pagsaba og siyagit siyagit sa mga mga estudyante og uban pang mga supporters sa mga nikuha sa maong bar exam.

Ang mga supporters, magtutudlo, mga fraternity og uban pang estudyante igo na lang sa pagpahigayon og hilom nga pagpadangat sa ilang suporta sa mga bar examinees nasagmuyo nga nagpundok sa gawas sa De La Salle University sa kauluhan.

Kung mahinumduman, ang Korte Suprema nimando sa tanan sa dili pagsaba-saba sa panahon sa bar exams aron mahimong hapsay og malikayan ang kaguliyang sa panahon sa bar exam.

Ang pipila ka libo ka mga bar examinees gilaumang motapos sa ilang pasulit sa ikaupat nga Dominggo, petsa biente tres ning bulan sa Septembre.

Ang bar examination maoy giisip nga pinakalisud nga eksaminasyon sa nasod. (Roberto M. Cabardo/PIA AMO 7 Cebu)

ERC MIMANDO PAG-OS-OS SA BAYRANAN SA KURYENTE SUGOD OKTUBRE

Cebu City (September 3, 2007) – Ang Energy Regulatory Commission gikatakda nga mopakanaog og bag-o nga direktiba alang sa pag-os-os sa bayranan sa elektrisidad nga magagikan sa Napocor sunod bulan.

Sa press statement nga gipagawas sa Malacañang sa niaging semana, nasayran nga ang resolusyon sa ERC momando sa kapin sa piso nga pag-os-os matag kilowatt hour base na usab sa Incremental Currency Exchange Rate Adjustment sa ginansya sa Napocor nga nikabat og setenta y otso bilyones ka pesos adtong tuig dos mil singko og saez cienta y singko bilyones sa tuig dos mil saez.(Roberto M. Cabardo/PIA AMO 7 Cebu)

Cebu guv angered over busted bridge cameras

Cebu, Philippines (05 September)—Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia lambasted a contractor over busted cameras that were put up on the two Mandaue-Mactan bridges in time for the 12th ASEAN Summit late last year and early this year.

In a regular meeting of the Mactan-Cebu Bridge Management Board (MCBMB) recently, the Regional Maritime Office-7 reported that out of 10 surveillance cameras on the two bridges, only two cameras are working.

RMO and the DPWH in the region also reported that workers from Gampik, the contractor of the controversial lampposts had accidentally cut or damaged the cables for the closed-circuit TV (CCTVs) and it was blamed for the mal-function of the traffic lights along the Mandaue side of the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

These issues had already surfaced in several meetings in the past five months. The governor, who chairs the MCBMB could not contain her anger this time and demanded that Gampik with California Electronics must coordinate with each other, with the supervision of the DPWH-7 to restore the traffic lights and the cameras and “set things right!”

“You restore them or I will sue you! The governor said. “I will use whatever power I have as governor of this province to see to it that you set things right,” she said angrily.

Jock Parba, manager of California Electronics (the contractor of the CCTV/cameras) said, all 10 cameras were installed in late August and were working well in November 2006.

These cameras were installed last year to monitor traffic flow and address the safety and security concerns of the ASEAN Summit and the MCBMB had already paid California Electronics more than half a million pesos for those cameras.

To restore ease and comfort of the MCBMB meeting, both contractors (Gampik and California Electronics) promised to work together and repair all CCTV units by September 12 and the traffic lights at the UN Avenue by September 18.

“All’s well that ends well” but safety and security of the two bridges continue to occupy a good portion in the discussion.

Gen. Ronald Roderos, PRO-7 deputy director for administration proposed the hiring of private security guards (blue guards) to man the Marcelo Fernan Bridge on a 24-hour basis with a 12-hour shift and any losses on the bridge will be shouldered by the contracted security agency. This will cost the MCBMB some P620,000 annually.

Roderos said, the DCDO/Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) will be responsible in supervising and coordinating the security and protection of the bridges on a daily basis.

With the blue guards manning the new bridge, problems of vandalism, cable pilferages, suicides, car accidents, overloading and the like can now be prevented.

The MCBMB approved Roderos’ proposal and the board’s bids and award committee will be meeting soon to discuss the details of the bidding for publications. (PIA-Cebu/MBCN)

Monday, September 3, 2007

PGMA mimando sa SSS paglugway sa condonation program

Gimandu-an ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ang Social Security System (SSS) nga lugwayan pa ang housing loan condonation program niini sa laing unom pa ka buwan ug kusganong giduso ang pag-apil sa mga Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) sa iyang 27 ka milyon nga miyembro.
Ang pangulo mipalusad sa maong kamandu-an atol sa ika-50 nga anibersaryo sa nahisgutang ahensya kagahapon.
Isip kabahin sa social payback sa mga reporma nga gihimo sa gobyerno, ang presidente namahayag nga ang condonation sa penalidad ug pag-restructure sa housing loans naka-benepisyo na sa kapin 6,000 nga mga miyembro sa SSS.
Sa nanglabay nga pipila ka tuig, ang SSS, ug ang ubang ahensya nga gitugyanan pagpanukot ug buhis, nag-implementar ug nagkalain-lain nga mga reporma nga diin mi-resulta ug taas nga koleksyon.
Hinungdan niini, matud sa presidente, mitubo ang mga asset sa SSS ngadto sa P248 billion ug ang iyang investment income sa milabay nga unom ka buwan miabot na ug P15.58 billion.
Kabahin sa gasa ngadto sa mga Pilipino nga mga mamumu-o nunot sa anibersaryo, ang presidente miingon nga ang SSS mipausbaw sa pension sa iyang mga miyembro makaduha na sa naglabay nga 12 ka buwan, 10 porsyento sa milabay nga Septembre sa miagi nga tuig ug laing 10 porsyento sa milabay lang nga buwan.
Miaghat usab ang presidente ngadto sa SSS pagpalapad sa iyang membership lakip na ang mga OFWs, labi na kadtong mga manakayan ug barko, ingon man ang plano pag-amendar sa Charter sa ahensya ug ang pag-institutionalize sa actuarial standards ug mga formula.
Gipasalamatan sa presidente ang nahisgutang buhatan tungod sa paghatag niini ug P1 bilion isip special window alang sa micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) diin, matud niya, dunay daku nga natampo paghatag ug trabaho sa nasud.
Ang presidente mipahalipay kan SSS President Corazon de la Paz isip una nga babaye nga Asyano nga nangulo sa International Social Security Association (ISSA). (ECD/PIA 7)

CFO to conduct info campaign on international migration and intermarriages

To protect those who are planning to migrate abroad from becoming prey to human traffickers and illegal recruiters, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) will conduct its annual Community Education Program (CEP) in Bohol and Siquijor on September 9-16.
CFO Acting Executive Director Jennifer O. Gonzales said this education and information campaign aims to inform those who are contemplating either to work abroad or to marry foreign nationals on various issues concerning migration and intermarriages to raise their level of awareness on these issues.
Gonzales further informed this information campaign will also orient prospective migrants on government policies and programs directed against illegal recruitment, documentation fraud and human trafficking.
In an effort to reach wider audience, CFO, together with the representatives of some government agencies, is set to conduct symposia in schools, hold dialogues with non-government organizations, religious leaders and local government and community leaders in these provinces.
CFO also set to conduct press briefings and interviews with the different media outfits in these areas, Gonzales said.
Among the areas CFO will visit are Tagbilaran City and Panglao town in Bohol and Larena and Siquijor in the island province of Siquijor.
These provinces were reported to have large number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) among the provinces in Central Visayas. (PIA 7/ECD)

NAVFORCEN on Community Outreach

Cebu City (September 02, 2007)---The Naval Forces Central (NAVFORCEN) has been conducting a series of Community Outreach Programs since June of this year in Brgy Gilutongan, Cordova, Cebu in commemoration of its 30th Foundation Anniversary on October 19, 2007.

A total of three hundred (300) adults and children availed of the free medical and dental services rendered by the medical and dental teams of NAVFORCEN, Central Command, and 7th Regional Community Defense Group, Philippine Army on August 25, 2007 under the leadership of COMMODORE ROBERTO Q ESTIOKO AFP.

The activity was in cooperation with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) that donated the medicines during the said activity that benefited mostly the many of our less fortunate residents in the area especially those at the grass roots level who cannot afford to avail of basic health services.

Michel Lhuillier provided sports equipment and financial assistance while the Kiwanis Club of Cebu – Mandaue North donated various school supplies to Gilutongan Elementary School.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Civil Military Operations Group Command (CMOGC) on the other hand, initiated other Community Relations activities in the barangay such as Feeding Program which was sponsored by Kiwanis Club Cebu-Mandaue North, Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation, and the VIMCONTU Broadcasting Corporation.

Moreover, the First Aid and Basic Life Support Seminar was also conducted with the assistance of personnel from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation.

Twenty (20) garbage bins were also donated after the joint coastal clean-up activity last June 23 with the Association of Government Information Officers in Region 7. (PIA-7/HFG)

CV is still bird flu and FMD free

Cebu, Philippines (04 September)—The Department of Agriculture in region 7 (DA) had declared once again that Central Visayas is still bird flu and FMD free.

“There is nothing to fear that bird flu and hog cholera might spread in the region as it hit the hog farms in Bulacan recently. We have been closely monitoring the various animal farms in Central Visayas,” Eduardo Lecciones, DA-7 regional director said in a media interview yesterday.

Lecciones added that the DA-7 is constantly on the look-out and are not letting off its guard in continuously monitoring these diseases among the various animal farms in the region. “We continue to immunize and vaccinate farm animals and we are coordinating with the various LGUs specifically those with livestock and poultry farms.”

The DA regional director also revealed that a bird flu diagnostic laboratory costing more than a million pesos is now under construction and is expected to open anytime within the month of September.

The Avian Influenza Diagnostic Laboratory in Cebu City, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga were among the recommendations made by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to be constructed to facilitate the detection of the AI-virus as well as for the immediate testing of specimens, he said.

According to Davino Catbagan, the regional head of the BAI-Central Visayas, presently, specimens and samples of poultry products are shipped for testing to the Regional AI-Diagnostic Lab in Pampanga, the very first diagnostic facility in the country to detect the bird flu virus.

These new diagnostic labs in Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga were funded from a grant from the Japanese Trust Fund and when completed shall comply with international standards for a bio-safety laboratory that are capable of conducting various test to immediately detect the presence of the bird flue virus in both live and dead samples, Catbagan explained. (PIA-7/MBCN)