TESDA, UNDP conduct TechVoc courses to disaster-hit communities

by Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, June 8 (PIA) -- Some 255 locales from the different towns and cities of Albay province have benefited from the technological and vocational training program and courses offered by the Technological Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) under the Bicol Recovery Project.

In an interview at the radio program of Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Tuesday (June 7), Leonor Diaz, OIC chief ng Operations Division of TESDA Bicol, said the program has since been carried out in different localities identified by UNDP to provide training to residents of disaster hit areas, especially in relocation sites.

The project is funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) intended for victims or displaced families during the recent calamities that hit Albay areas two years ago.

Diaz added the project provides free short term courses on Motorcycle Small Engine Servicing NC II, Electrical Installation & Maintenance, Wellness Massage NC II, Carpentry NC II, Dressmaking NC II, Food Processing, and Tile Setting NC II at Plumbing NC II.

The courses cover at least 11 up to 51 days depending on the training program design, like Tile Setting that only lasts the least number of days while 51 days for Electrical Installation and Maintenance.

To date, according to Diaz, TESDA Bicol holds the training program in Barangays Tuburan (Ligao City), Pinagbobong (Tabaco City), Burabod sa (Libon), Sugcad (Malinao), Joroan (Tiwi,), San Andres (Santo Domingo), Taysan (Legazpi City), San Isidro (Libon) and Guinobatan.

In addition to that, the agency has similar programs in Barangays Gimagaan (Donsol, Sorsosogon), Mapanique (San Pascual, Masbate), San Vicente (Camarines Norte).

Diaz furthered that project (BRP) also provides trainees with starter kits after finishing the training courses wherein they can ini\tially set up a small enterprise providing services based on their expertise. (MAL, PIA V)

93 new school buildings ready for school opening

by Lucy V. Castañeda

LEGAZPI CITY, June 8 (PIA/DPWH) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bicol Region has completed 93 school buildings in time for the opening of SY 2011-12.

“We still have to finish 38 more units from the 131 buildings allocated for CY 2010 Regular School buildings Program for this Region”, said DPWH Bicol Regional Director Danilo Dequito during a radio interview today.

“Of the 38 projects, 21 are ongoing but are now on its 80.68% completion as of May 31, 2011, and the construction of the remaining 17 projects will be started as soon as appropriations are received from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)”, Dequito said.

Aside from accomplishments made on its school building projects, DPWH Bicol also actively participated in the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) program by ensuring the safety of pedestrian and motorists.

“We are now on the completion phase of our regular maintenance work which involved the repair of potholes and repainting of pavement markings along national roads near school sites”, DPWH Bicol Assistant Regional Director Jesus Salmo said.

“Matibay man talaga su DPWH. Idtong tinampo hale sa Camarines Sur hanggang Albay, pinturado na. Naihabol sa school opening,” said Mr. Nelson Bulalacao, Radio Commentator of Bombo Radyo Legazpi during his morning air-time program yesterday, June 5, 2011. (DPWH is really good. The road from Camarines Sur to Albay is now repainted, so timely for the school opening.)

DPWH 5 also conducted line canal de-clogging and cleaning operations to avoid occurrence of flood and had dismantled unsafe billboards particularly those within school zones. (MAL/LVC, DPWH V)

Training for 2nd Batch of 22 call center agents ends

by Edna A Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, June 08, (VIRAC)-- The training for the 2nd batch of call center agent aspirants composed of three males and 19 females which started last May 2, 2011 ended on May 20, 2011.

The training for the youths interested to work in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry was sponsored by the provincial government and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The graduates like those of the first batch will be endorsed by Governor Joseph C. Cua to Camarines Sur Governor LRay Villafuerte for possible employment in Cam Sur's Information and Communication Technology (ICT)Zone.

Governor Cua Said that with these efforts, Catanduanes will become a significant supplier of manpower to the call center industry.

Seven of the graduates of the previous batch have already been hired in a call center company in Batangas while the rest are still in the process of having a job. (MAL/EAB, PIACatanduanes)

Aquino welcomes U.S. congressmen in Malacañang

MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III welcomed to Malacanang Palace the members of the United States House of Representatives who called on him as part of the lawmakers’ overseas trip to keep its close cooperation in many areas including the Philippines and its neighboring nations in South East Asia.

The President, who was joined by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, received the US Representatives led by Dana Tyron Rohrabacher on Tuesday at the President’s Hall of the Presidential Guest House in Malacanang.

In a statement, the six lawmakers from the United States lower house visited the Philippines as part of their routine overseas trip in order to maintain its close relationship with their counterparts.

“U.S. House of Representatives Members Dana Tyron Rohrabacher and James Manuel “Jim” Costa from California; Lloyd “Ted” Poe and Louis Boller Gohmert, Jr. from Texas; John Russel “Russ” Carnahan from Missouri; and Jeffrey Duncan from South Carolina are visiting the Philippines this week as part of a routine overseas trip,” the statement said.

“In light of our close cooperation in many areas, the U.S. Congressmen will meet with Philippine government officials, Embassy officers, and others to learn about important bilateral and regional issues," the statement added.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas accompanied the six congressmen during their visit and meeting with the President.

Palace says national and local gov’t units must work together to prevent fish kill

MANILA -- Communities must learn to protect the environment and the national and local government units (LGUs) must work together to prevent incidence of fish kills in the future, a Palace official said on Wednesday.

In a press briefing at the Palace on Wednesday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said one of the lessons that the government has learned from the recent fish kills in Batangas and Pangasinan is that the environment could get back at the people who abuse it.

The second lesson, Valte said, is that the national government needs to work closely with the local government units. She said there must be regulation to prevent overstocking by fish cage owners.

Valte said the government has assisted affected areas by giving fingerlings to fisherfolks.

Agriculture and fishery officials said overstocking led to the massive fish kill in Batangas province, affecting nine towns around Taal Lake.

The ideal size for fish cages is 10 by 10 meters with a depth of six meters, but some cages are 15 meters deep. Fingerlings should be from 30,000 to 50,000 per cage, but some cages have 100,000, they said.

In Pangasinan, experts said there are more cages than what is allowed and this resulted to fish kill incidents in 2002 and 2004. In Bolinao, Pangasinan, fishery officials estimated the damage to be around 39 metric tons of bangus and tilapia.

Aquino declares June 11, 2011 as a special non-working day in Sagay, Negros Occidental in celebration of its 15th Charter Day

MANILA -- President Aquino has declared June 11, 2011 as a special non-working day in the city of Sagay in Negros Occidental in celebration of the city's 15th Charter Day.

By virtue of Proclamation Order No. 180 signed on May 31, 2011 by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., the President declared June 11, 2011 which falls on Saturday as a special non-working day to give the people of Sagay the full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.

Representative Alfredo G. Marañon authored House Bill No. 6543, “An Act Converting the Municipality of Sagay into a component city of Negros Occidental.”

On May 3, 1996, then Senator Raul Roco sponsored the Senate version of the Sagay cityhood called Bill No. 1191.

On June 11, 1996, then President Fidel V. Ramos signed into law Republic Act 8192, which gave birth to the City of Sagay.

Sagay is found in the Northern tip of Negros Island, Philippines. It is bounded in the North by Asuncion Pass and Visayan sea; West by Cities of Cadiz and Silay; East by the City of Escalante and Municipality of Toboso; South by the City of Talisay and Municipality of Calatrava.

It is approximately 84 kms. from Bacolod City which is the Provincial Capital.

One of the city’s main attractions is its natural prestine beauty and rich marine resources.

The city is also known for its Sagay Marine Reserve, a 32,000-hectare marine reserve composed of Carbin Reef, Maca Reef, the Molocaboc Islands, Panal Reef and other fringing reefs is an ideal place to experience nature in its natural beauty.
Snorkeling & Sea Ranching are ideal activities on the Reserve.