Bicolanos public servants enjoined to join Honor Awards Programs of CSC
...now with higher cash rewards, incentives
By Marlon A. Loterte>

LEGAZPI CITY, April 1 (PIA) — The Civil Service Commission (CSC) regional office here has high hopes that the Bicol region will produce anew awardees of the Honor Wards Program (HAP) this year.

Human Resource Division chief Ray Atendido has confirmed Friday (April 1) at PIA radio program “Ugnayan sa Bicol” that a number of nominations from different government agencies and instrumentalities and local governments across Bicol were already submitted to the commission’s regional office for the government’s HAP.

Atendido has recalled that five Bicolanos in 2009 qualified to the national finals, wherein three of which were named winners, while no nominations for the same awards program were made last year.

He explained that HAP applies to all officials and employees in the career and non-career service of the government, including appointive barangay officials and employees recognized as government employees pursuant to CSC Resolution No. 01-1352 dated August 10, 2001.


However, employees, whose nature of employment fall either under job order or contract of services, as defined in Sections 1 and 2, Rule XI of the Revised Omnibus Rules on Appointments and Other Personnel Actions are excluded from the coverage of the program.

For outstanding work performance category, the Presidential or Lingkod Bayan Award is conferred on an individual or group of individuals for exceptional or extraordinary contributions resulting from an idea or performance that had nationwide impact on public interest, security and patrimony. Pagasa Award, on the other hand, is conferred on an individual or group of individuals for outstanding contribution/s resulting from an idea or performance that directly benefit more than one department of the government.

For exemplary conduct and ethical behavior category, the Outstanding Public Officials and Employees or Dangal ng Bayan Award is conferred on an individual for performance of extraordinary act or public service and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior on the basis of his/her observance of the eight norms of behavior provided under Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise known as the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees”: commitment to public interest, professionalism, justness and sincerity, political neutrality, responsiveness to the public, nationalism and patriotism, commitment to democracy, and simple living.

Meanwhile, the commission has recently announced that the cash rewards and incentives for this year’s awards program has been increased by 100 per cent per issuance of CSC Resolution No. 1100357, s. 2011 dated March 15.

The Presidential or Lingkod Bayan and the Outstanding Public Officials and Employees or Dangal ng Bayan Awardees will be receiving Php 200,000.00 from the original Php 100,000.00, while the Pagasa Awardee will be receiving a cash reward of Php 100,000.00 from the Php 50,000.00.

The increase is a fulfillment of the commitment made by His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III during the 2010 Malacañang Awards Rites last year where he promised to increase the cash reward to outstanding public service exemplars.

CSC in Bicol has enjoined anew participation of all government agencies and academes in the search with consideration on their winning qualifications to produce more civil service exemplars in the region.

Deadline for filing of nominations has been extended until April 15, 2011. (MAL, PIA V/Albay)

Land Bank now caters to GSIS pensioners

LEGAZPI CITY, April 1 (PIA) -- Thousands of government retirees may now withdraw their GSIS pensions at four Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) branches in Bicol, according to the latter’s top regional official here .

Renato Eje, LBP Assistant Vice President and regional branch manager, said that this is good news to pensioners of the GSIS as LBP branches in Masbate City, Virac, Catanduanes, and in the cities of Naga and Ligao will provide banking services to accommodate GSIS pensioners very soon.

At a media briefing here, Eje said the additional banking services is being offered by LBP to the areas without Union Bank branches citing the island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate where at least 2,500 GSIS e-card holders there will have to collect their monthly pensions in UB branches either in the cities of Legazpi and Naga.

He said LBP and GSIS has entered into an agreement last year where LBP banks would accommodate government retirees living in areas that are not serviced by Union Bank, the GSIS-accredited bank where pensioners currently collect their retirement benefits.

Under the LBP-GSIS pension service, government pensioners may avail of LBP banking services by enrolling with the bank’s ATM card services exclusively for this purpose.

Eje said government pensioners living in the island towns of Masbate may collect their benefits either in LBP branches in Naga and Ligao, while pensioners in Catanduanes may get their benefits at the LBP Virac branch.

LBP have a total of 14 branches across the region with 44 Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs), he said. (MAL, PIA V/Albay)

Sta Magdalena town mulls road map for community- based management system
By Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, April 1(PIA) -- Sta Magdalena Mayor Alejandro Gamos has confirmed the town's road map for Community Based Management System (CBMS) is now on the drawing board, crafted with with the help of the women sector who assisted conducting survey of barangays last month.

Gamos said the town has a very high potential for tourism given its very beautiful coastal shorelines.

Sta Magdalena town is strategically located at the southernmost tip of the province of Sorsogon bounded from the east of the San Bernardino Strait, from the north the town of Bulusan and from the west the Irosin town.

"Though our town is small, we have a very nice coastal area with long stretch of white beach fronts and we would like to really come up with our own roadmap for tourism focusing on community based management intervention", Gamos said.

In a survey last March 7-11, according to Gamos, several women helped out in surveying all barangays and were able to gather pertinent data for profiling which results will guide the local government in drawing out road map for development focusing on tourism and conserving our own community resources.

"We will be focusing on the Coastal Resource Managemant (CRM) and Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) initiatives that will involve our basic sectors in the municipality in planning, strategizing and implementing by engaging the basic communities living near our beaches and coastal areas." Gamos related.

"We have the Olango and Liang beaches and other still underdeveloped and undeveloped coastal areas that can be converted into fine beaches that can be managed by the communities themselves given the right capability enhancement training, resource assistance and letting them have a sense of ownesrship of these resources," Gamos added.

It can be noted that today the newest global trend for development of coastal resources is to involve the local communities. Government should let them feel a sense of ownership to these resources.

Gamos also explained that they be taught of their responsibility and accountability in managing what they have and provide them the knowledge by developing a roadmap that can guide them make a profitable sustainable source of livelihood through local tourism and agro-tourism.

Early this April, the local government will be using the data gathered in the interviews from the local residents of the 14 barangays dispersed geographically as the lowlands of poblacion with coastal areas comprising of 4 barangays and in the uplands of 10 barangays identified as areas more on agricultural produce and woodlands.

The coastal barangays will be be drafting their roadmap for ecotourism based on the areas for development and the rest with respect to their geographical location, resources products and produce.

Sta Magdalena is basically an agricultural land planted most to coconut trees and the rest to diverse crops like abaca, palay, root crops, vegetables and woodland.

Gamos said that the conduct of the CBMS has helped them now to get ahead with their roadmap for development in a more sustainable and visionary system of management by taking into great consideration the conservation of their natural resources and adapting to the global changes including climate change which he said is an utmost concern given the so many calamities happening almost all over the world.

They will also include the intensified disaster risk reduction programs in their raodmap plan given their location fronting the Pacific Ocean.(MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


Women’s welfare up in Kapihan

DAET, Camarines Norte, April 1 (PIA) -- A radio forum conducted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and aired over Radyo ng Bayan here Wedenesday, March 30, featured a discussion on the Magna Carta of Women in support of the MDGs “Sigaw ng Kababaihan! Itigil ang Karahasan!,

Guests included Mercedes M. Juan, provincial nutrition action officer of the Provincial Health Office (PHO), Dolores Tresmonte, early childhood care and development focal person and Cynthia de la Cruz, women focal person both of Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).

In the discussion, Juan said that a mother should breastfeed their newly born baby right after birth in order to get the colostrums that helps fight infections and continue breastfeeding until 6 months, 2 years or more. This is to reduce child mortality among children.

She also explained that for improving maternal health care she advised pregnant mothers to take 180 tablets of iron supplements to avoid anemia and bleeding during pregnancy and for the babies to become healthy.

On the other hand, ECCD Focal Person Tresmonte said that the PSWDO is focusing on encouraging mothers to enroll their children aged 3-5 years old in day care centers wherein they continue conducting mothers’ class for this. This is part of the MDGs in achieving universal primary education for all.

Women focal person de la Cruz explained that some women now were empowered but there were some victims of physical and emotional violence because of lack of economic power.

She added that their office helped women who are abused wherein they have Halfway Homes to house not only women but also children who are victims of violence.

The program was anchored by Rose Manlangit of PIA and Ivy Garcia of Radyo ng Bayan and participated in by media persons from Hello Bicol- STV6, Dateline Camarines Norte-STV6, DZMD-AM, DZAU-FM, Bay Radio and Power Radio and in coordination with the Philippine Commission on Women. (MAL/RBM, PIA Camarines Norte)

Skills training on mixed media production on
By Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, April 1 (PIA) -- A Skills Training on Mixed Media Production is on-going at the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Cabugao School of Handicraft and Cottage Industries (CSHCI), Cabugao, Bato, Catanduanes which started last March 28 until April 15, this year.

The activity is a joint effort by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Catanduanes Provincial Office, TESDA-CSHCI, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Provincial Office and the Chamber of Furniture Industries-Catanduanes (SHI-C) through a Memorandum of Agreement made and entered by the said agencies last March, 2011.

In the MOA, DTI has a mandate to promote the development of several industries in the province, including furniture industry by enhancing competitiveness of its players (Business Enterprise and Workers) and facilitating the convergence of assistance from government and private entities.

TESDA endeavors to introduce community reforms and assistance through training, sustainable livelihood, entrepreneurial skills, capability building and continuing education to its constituents pursuant to the Local Government Code of the Philippines.

DOLE has a mandate to develop the competencies and competitiveness of rural workers, to deliver employment facilitation services for full and decent employment and maintain linkages with NGOs and government agencies.

The CFI-C is a non-government organization who wants to avail the support of the government through trainings and other sustainable livelihood programs to develop and promote community development and people empowerment.

All the parties believe in the vision and mission of each other and agree to support each other for whatever worthy cause for the people of Catanduanes that they agree to cooperate, share and exchange technical and share available resources in the implementation of various plans, programs and projects.

The on-going skill training attended by was 25 trainees from the different firms of the province. (MAL/EAB, PIACatanduanes)

DTI conducts Negosyo on Wheels in Catanduanes towns

VIRAC, Catanduanes, April 1 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry conducted a series of livelihood trainings in six towns last month dubbed as Negosyo on Wheels (N.O.W.) under the Rural Microenterprise Promotions Program (RUMEPP) focusing on technology enhancement for bleaching and dyeing and upgrading of skills in weaving "karagumoy" and abaca twine.

The series of trainings was conducted in Barangays San Miguel in Panganiban, Rizal in Viga, Maysuram in Caramoran, Mintay in Bato, Tilod in Baras and Tibang/Lictin in San Andres.

A total of 89 potential weavers and entrepreneurs participated in these training activities.

Training on upgrading the skills of residents on in twine making was also conducted in Barangay Solong, San Miguel in support of the macramé-weaving project here.

With these trainings, DTI is hoping to multiply the number of micro entrepreneurs involved in Project Bayong, create employment and income opportunities for the local residents and eventually help improve the local economy.

Likewise, this also supports the development direction of making Bayong as the alternative OTOP of every municipality.

RUMEPP is a special program being implemented by the Department of Trade and Industry and funded by the IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development). The program aims to help poor entrepreneurs and rural families in the country thru micro-enterprise financing for rural development; and micro-enterprise promotion and development, which includes activities like N.O.W.

N.O.W. was held in partnership with the Agricultural and Rural Development for Catanduanes, Inc. or (ARDCI). It is also being supported by the different local government units and local chief executives. (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes)

FNRI-DOST spearheads pursues Siglang Pinoy Project
By Rose B. Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, April 1 (PIA) — The Food and Nutrition Research Institute-Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) sponsored a forum on Siglang Pinoy Project pursuing the six key messages on healthy living for infants, young and old.

Divorah V. Aguila, SRS I, FNRI-DOST, said the core messages pursued by the project included exclusive breastfeeding, appropriate complementary feeding, increase consumption of vegetables, increase level of physical activity, stop smoking and limit alcohol drinking.

Aguila explained that exclusive breastfeeding of infants for six months will ensure a complete and safe food for the newborn and provide the other benefits of breast-feeding, while following the first six months, breast milk must be complemented with appropriate foods to meet their nutrient requirements for optimal growth and development.

FNRI-DOST also promotes vegetables, fruits and rootcrops consumption, by increasing these will help correct micronutrient deficiences and will supply additional energy, vitamins and dietary fiber.

She said that in promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyle will reduce weight; maintain healthy bones, joints and muscles; maintain normal blood circulation, reduce risk of hearth disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Aguila added that the effects of smoking habits are diseases such as cancer, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, heart disease, hypertension and others and the effects of excessive alcoholic beverages will lead to different health problems.

The interfacing activity was held in cooperation with the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development, local government of Labo through the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist attended by the members of the local media and information officers.

Other topics discussed include: the Overview of the Project: Empowering Stakeholders of the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program (AHMP) through Nutrition Communication and Technology Transfer and the FNRI products and services. (MAL/RBM, PIA Camarines Norte)

Legarda calls for protection of indigenous peoples from woes of climate change

LEGAZPI CITY, April 1 (PIA) — Senator Loren Legarda has expressed concern over the consequences of climate change on every aspect of the lives of indigenous peoples, given their current marginalization in society.

In an email to PIA Bicol News Service, Legarda, chair of the Senate Committees on Climate Change and Cultural Communities, has pointed out that indigenous peoples are made even more vulnerable as their livelihood, health, food security, cultural integrity and lands are threatened by extreme weather events brought about by climate change.

“Despite the fact that indigenous peoples contribute the least with respect to carbon emissions due to their simple and sustainable lifestyles and practices, they are most affected by the consequences of climate change,” she added.

Legarda has affirmed the Indigenous Peoples’ International Center for Policy Research and Education (Tebtebba) Report which declared that the issue of climate change is not just an environmental issue but also has economic and cultural dimensions.

“As they struggle with each flood, landslide, drought or typhoon, they are displaced from their lands or are left to battle food and water scarcity as well as widespread outbreaks of vector-borne diseases. These occurrences radically change their way of life, threatening their sources of livelihood, traditional knowledge and practices, especially their sustainable practices in the management of their land, water and forest resources,” she explained.

It can be recalled that on September 2010, Legarda filed Senate Resolution No. 158 directing the Committee on Cultural Communities to conduct an inquiry on the implications of the implementation of the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) program to the indigenous peoples of the Philippines.

REDD is a mechanism to create an incentive for developing countries to protect, better manage and wisely use their forest resources by reducing deforestation and forest degradation in order to contribute to the global fight against climate change. As stewards of our forests, which are home to many indigenous cultural communities, they are the primary guardians and beneficiaries of this program.

“We must make sure that the REDD program is implemented properly in the Philippines. We must know the positive and negative effects of these reforestation programs on our indigenous peoples,” Legarda concluded. (MAL, PIA V/Albay)

Legarda Urges PNoy to Convene Climate Change Commission

LEGAZPI CITY, April 1 (PIA) -- Senator Loren Legarda today said that President Benigno Aquino III, who is the Chairman of the Climate Change Commission, must convene the agency to ensure that disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation is prioritized in the development agenda.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, reiterated her call following a report from an international company, Swiss Reinsurance Co., showed a significant increase in the economic cost of disasters. From $68-billion in 2009, it rocketed to $218-billion in 2010.

“The impacts of natural hazards have been a major constraint and an important development issue that many countries, including the Philippines, have to face time and again. With climate change, such hazards can be more frequent and intense. Thus, we need to strengthen our disaster prevention measures,” she said.

Legarda said that the lessons of Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in 2009 and the threat of a magnitude 7.2 earthquake should remind the government, the national and local leaders of the country, and the citizens that disaster prevention and mitigation is more cost-effective than focusing on enhancing our capacities in relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation.

She explained that essential to disaster prevention is the improvement ofearly warning system and strengthening of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). She added that the government must also invest in flood protection and earthquake mitigation in Metro Manila.

“Furthermore, our local government leaders should be actively involved in the fight against disaster and climate risks because they are in the frontline and most in need of capacity-building,” the Senator stressed.

“Without effective disaster prevention, hundreds of lives, thousands of homes, billions worth of properties and livelihoods, even government's growth and revenue targets, can be at the mercy of a single disaster. Disasters maim and kill. They devastate the environment and set back economic development. Yet disasters can be prevented if we have the political will to invest in disaster prevention,” Legarda concluded. (MAL/Office of Sen. Legarda)