By Lizel S. Macatangay
NAGA CITY, Apr. 5 (PIA) -- The town of Camaligan was conferred with the Seal of Good Housekeeping Award in recognition of its exemplary performance in internal housekeeping having successfully performed its task in various areas of implementing its mandate.
Camaligan Mayor Emman Prado humbly accepted the recognition having passed, with flying colors in instigating the municipality’s various programs in the areas of Good Planning, Sound Fiscal Management, Transparency and Accountability, and Valuing Performance Management.
Camaligan town is the sole recipient of the award from the Bicol region, receiving a P1 million cash incentives, while joining 14 other municipalities from across the country.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the lead agency in the implementation of the program, has awarded a total of P15-million to fifteen (15) fourth and fifth class municipalities in the country in recognition of their “good housekeeping” or excellent performance in governance in their respective localities.
Prado cited that the new administration and leadership of President Benigno Aquino III is indeed encouraging a complacent, credible and reliable public servants who could be role models for good and transparent government
“Receiving this Seal of Good Housekeeping Award is not an easy one, first, we were included in the long lists of 100 LGU qualifiers, remained among those 20 listed to qualify for the 15 winners and finally, we were chosen number one among them all. This award is already one fruit of our political campaign promises and the realization of our Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), It wishes to capture all our efforts to realize our vision for a program of RIGHTEOUS GOVERNANCE (Prov. 14:34) under the IMUKLAT concept for the welfare and progress of our constituents,” Prado added.
The award is a piloted under the the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) for local government units (LGUs) carried out by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) that seeks to provide incentive to local governments to align project implementation with the national government’s strategic thrusts and goals.
The program is being granted to all 4th, 5th and 6th class municipalities that passed the test of good housekeeping.
The funds which will be used by the LGU to realize its programs and projects shall be consistent with the PNOY administration’s priority programs and projects supportive to the MDGs.The PCG grant on the other hand, shall not be used to finance tax payment, salaries and recurrent cost and micro credits and loans. (MAL/LSM, PIA Camarines Sur)
Solid waste management board reorganized
By Edna A Bagadiong
VIRAC, Catanduanes, April 5 (PIA) - The Provincial Solid Waste Management Board (PSWMB) here was reconstituted as provided for in the implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9003 and DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2001-19.
The reorganized PSWMB is composed of the following: Joseph C. Cua, Provincial Governor, Chairman; Jose J. Teves. Jr., Vice Governor, Vice-Chairman; Odilon F. Pascua, Bagamanoc Municipal Mayor; Chito S. Chi, Baras Municipal Mayor; Eulogio R. Rodriguez, Bato Municipal Mayor; Agnes B. Popa, Caramoran Municipal Mayor;
Edgar M. Tayam, Gigmoto Municipal Mayor; Restituto M. De Qurioz, Pandan Municipal Mayor; Roberto A. Fernandez, Panganiban Municipal Mayor; Antonio M. Romano, San Andres Municipal Mayor; Edna R. Bernal, San Miguel Municipal Mayor; Abelardo M. Abundo, Viga Municipal Mayor; Jose U. Alberto III, Virac Municipal Mayor; Wilfredo P. Santelices, SP Committee Chair on Health; Jose Romero R. Francisco, SP Committee Chair on Environment; Rudy M. Rojas, Congressional Representative and Dr. Estrella S. Placides, EcoDev Representative.
It has been noted the previously installed PSWMB had not been effective in providing the necessary institutional mechanism to generate a province wide multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder interests in accordance with the dictates of the law and addressing the problem of solid waste management among our communities.
There is also a need to provide institutional support to the various stakeholders groups in the efforts to address the increasing threat to public welfare and environmental hygiene as a result of unmanaged garbage collection, storage and disposal.
Some of the duties of the PSWMB are the following: Recommend legislative policies that promote and ensure protection of the environment, coordinate with public and private agencies in implementing related programs, develop comprehensive solid waste management practices, develop a Provincial SWM monitoring plan, review and integrate the different plans and ensure that they complement each other and have their requisite components and they shall recommend measures and safeguards against pollution and for the preservation of natural ecosystems. (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes)
Catanduanes disaster council convenes to discuss plans
VIRAC, Catanduanes April 5 (PIA) -- The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) of the Province will be holding its 2nd quarterly meeting on April 5, 2011 at the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Hall, EBMC Compound, San Isidro Village, Virac, Catanduanes at 9:00 a.m.
The purpose of the said meeting is to tackle the following agenda: Presentation of the Final Draft of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (PDRRMP) for 2011-2013, containing the salient features on the Programming of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund for the proposed Programs, Projects and Activities (PPAs) that will address the preparedness, mitigation, response and rehabilitation concerns of disaster risk reduction and management and the creation of four reviewing committees pursuant to Section 11.b.1;
To request for Mr. Rogelio L. Flores of SMART Communications, Inc. for the enhancement of signals vulnerable to tsunami, landslide and flooding hazards; To appoint additional auxiliary members; To have a briefing from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Region V and to present updates from the non-government organizations' DRRM partners to wit a Handicap International (HI) and Accion COntra La Faim (ACF).
The PDRRMC was formerly known as the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council and was changed thru the Executive Order No. 11 Series of 2010 (An order renaming and re-organizing the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes)
Geosciences bureau to produce bigger scale geohazard maps
LEGAZPI CITY, April 5 (PIA) — The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) will produce bigger scale geohazard maps for flood- and landslide-prone areas nationwide, according to the agency’s top regional official.
MGB Bicol Director Reynulfo A.Juan explained the production is called the densification of geohazard and climate change maps which is among the major projects to be implemented this year by the Bureau and aims to produce geohazard maps with scale of 1:10,000 covering critical areas to show more details of the area covered by the map.
“It is like zooming in on the 1:50,000 scale geohazard maps previously produced by the Bureau’s regional offices to see the details of the area which cannot be represented in the 1:50,000 scale geohazard maps” Juan said.
He added that among the details that can be found in a 1:10,000 scale geohazard maps include location of populations at risk, parameters or features in the area that may affect ground stability and the type of landslides that can possibly occur. “For example the relocation sites can be plotted, which cannot be done in the 1:50,000 scale maps” Juan said.
“Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon and Masbate in Bicol will be covered in the densification project” Juan pointed out.
“Once completed the 1:10,000 geohazard maps will then be distributed to concerned local government units with intensive information, education and communication support from us to train local officials, local leaders and member of affected communities to read, interpret and understand the maps” Juan said. (MAL/MGB V)
LBP releases P2.7B for agrarian reform beneficiaries in Bicol
LEGAZPI CITY, April 5 (PIA) -- The government program on agrarian reform is gaining headway after P2.7 billion had been release to pay both landowners and tillers covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), officials of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) said.
Renato Eje, LBP assistant vice president and Bicol regional manager, said that LBP under the Agrarian Operation Program has paid some P2.7 billion as of February this year covering 14,000 hectares of rice and corn lands under Presidential Decree 27 or the Marcos Agrarian Reform Program and 96,000 hectares under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
Eje said the bank had paid P180 million to thousands of beneficiaries under PD 27 and that they have already paid 40 percent of the lands covered by the decree.
He said P2.6 billion has been approved for release to 64 percent of the total beneficiaries under the CARP.
The remaining unpaid (36 percent) claims are still being processed for financing, Eje said.
Asked on the status of the move to condone the P42-billion agrarian liabilities and the lifting of LBP liens, Eje said the matter of condonation is a legislative concern that the House of Congress and Senate would have to address. (MAL, PIA V/Albay)
22 hired, 845 others qualified in LGU Legazpi City-sponsored Jobs Fair
By Manny P. Solis
LEGAZPI CITY, Apr. 5 (PIA) — Some 22 job seekers were hired and 845 are now awaiting for interview out of the 1,027 applicants during the Jobs Fair on March 30-31spearheaded by the Public Employment and Services Office (PESO) of the city government here.
Mayor Carmen Geraldine Rosal of this city said that one of the foremost agenda of her Administration is to create more job opportunities for the local here, especially this time of the year wherein thousands added anew to the number of unemployed with the end of the school year yielding more graduates.
“We always intend to give these people opportunities to live a decent way of living, with decent jobs and fro the threshold of poverty.
The lady chief executive furthered cited the role of the partners in carrying out the two-day event not only to generate jobs but also to the thrust of the local government in improving the economic situation and quality of living of the people.
Participating organizations and employers included Computer Systems Institute, Embarcadero de Legazpi, Manila-based call center Convergys.
On the other hand, CSI Office of Student Affair head Arlene Arao-Narvasa said that one of the targets of partner-schools is to meet the standards and abide by the regulations of the Technical Education and Skills Development Administration (TESDA) that 60 per cent of the graduates should be ready for employment.
The job generation undertaking evolved on the theme: Empowering Albayanos through Better Employment Opportunities. (MAL/MPS, LGU Legazpi City)
Break the cycle of bloodshed and poverty, DILG chief advises graduates
By Ernie A. Delgado
MANDAON, MASBATE, April 5 (PIA)—Their sights set on working in Metro Manila industries or in greener overseas pastures, fresh graduates of Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa, Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology are ecstatic to live their dreams of being gainfully employed, with Interior Secretary Jesse M. Robredo issuing perhaps the most important reminder for them.
In a speech at the state college’s graduation rites, Robredo said the graduates were needed in their province to unshackle it from decades of political violence and poverty and they could begin the task by working in their hometowns or serving as a volunteer to cater their town mates’ needs.
“Sometimes, we don’t need to do very big things to effect positive changes. In fact, there are times when what we initially see as small is actually what we really need. Let lose your potentials and be the kind of leaders that your province calls for,” Robredo said on Tuesday during the ceremonies held at the college’s campus in Barangay Cabitan, Mandaon.
Robredo said that despite its rich natural resources, Masbate remains listed as among the country’s poorest provinces.
Citing the 2009 Official Poverty Statistics of the National Statistical Coordination Board, Robredo said the province has a poverty incidence of 42.5 percent.
This ranked Masbate the eighth poorest in the country, beating Maguindanao to the bottom list of provinces by mere 2.1 percent, he said.
“Prosperity has eluded Masbate over the years. In lieu of it has been the vicious cycle of violence and bloodshed that has placed the province on the Commission on Elections’ list of electoral hotspots for decades. Mayors, congressmen, councilors, barangay chairs, traders, teachers, and police officers have been murdered in cold blood in broad daylight,” said Robredo.
Quoting a report from the French Press Agency, Robredo mentioned that Masbate has been dominated by powerful families “for as long as anyone can remember” and “patronage and murder have become accepted facts of political life.”
However, he said that recent events here were providing light to the violent and impoverished province.
“There are many good programs that are now being implemented in the province,” he said.
One was the marine sanctuary in Barangay Recodo, Cawayan, which he said has reportedly improved the catch of fishermen in the area.
For another, the electronic management program called Genyo which provided computer units to seven far-flung schools in the towns of Cawayan, Milagros, Mobo and Esperanza.
He said that through this program, students were able to learn Science, Math, English, Filipino and Araling Panlipunan lessons through interactive multimedia systems.
Robredo also cited the Masbate Advocates for Peace, a church-led, multi-sectoral group that seeks to end the culture of violence and impunity in the province.
He acknowledged the group’s important role in the decrease of casualties of election-related violence in the province during the election period in 2010.
With these developments, Robredo urged the new graduates to find employment in their respective municipal governments or private institutions in the province.
“Or you can work as a volunteer to cater the needs of the people in your places,” he added. (MAL/EAD, PIA Masbate)
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