Customs Bicol overshoots 1st semester collection goal by 99.85 percent

By Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY, July 4 (PIA) --The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Bicol Collection District has collected a total of P113,312,511.80 during the first six months of the current year overshooting by P56, 612,511.80 or 99.85 percent its collection goal of P56.7 million for the period of January-June 2011.

Titus A. Sangil , BOC Bicol customs collection chief, said that the 2011 first semester collection is also 157.02 percent higher compared to the agency’s actual collection during the same period in 2010 of only P44.08 million,

Sangil said that the dramatic increase in January to June collection this year was due to the agency’s strict collection efforts from Bicol based importers and exporters.

He said that the booming mining industry in Bicol has contributed largely to the steady growth in the collections of taxes from its export of gold, copper, zinc and other minerals, and importation made by Sea oil of oil products.

Sangil said that during the period under review exports from the Bicol region reached $163,118,001.50 an increase of $76,259,304.80 from last year’s $86,858,696.72 or an 87.80 percent increment due to rise in mineral exports from three mining companies operating in Bicol.

Sangil said despite the lower vessel arrivals this year with only 57 vessels that docked in ports of Bicol and lower volume of tonnage of cargo the bureau was able to collect more customs duties due to the higher value of the commodities that arrived and the higher rates of duties and taxes assessed on the exported mineral products. (MAL/EDL, PIA V)

'Oplan Sikyu' launched by DOLE V to look into welfare of security services

LEGAZPI CITY, July 4 (PIA/DOLE) -- With reports of numerous complaints from security guards, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Bicol has launched the long planned Operation Security Guards dubbed "Oplan Sikyu”.

“Actually the implementation of the program has been put in abeyance since last year as guidelines remained to be reviewed and finalized. At the very least, we will have this program running in full blast by August” DOLE Bicol regional director Atty. Alvin M. Villamor said assuringly.

Oplan Sikyu is DOLE Bicol’s initiative in battling the high percentage of labor problems emanating mostly from security guards and services agencies which comprised 90 percent of the cases filed at DOLE and NLRC Bicol.

The move is said to increase compliance rate of security agencies when it comes to the giving of proper financial benefits like minimum wage, night shift differential and OT pay of guards as some sort of ‘voluntary compliance’. It is also perceived to be a tool in professionalizing the security services industry.

“What we want is to trim down, by at least 30 percent, the labor cases being filed by security guards at DOLE and NLRC through this effort” Villamor reiterated at least four (4) times during the meeting while security owners nodded distinctly in unison.

Some 32 owners and operators of local based security and services agencies, PADPAO officers, a representative from the PNP’s Security Agency Licensing Division (PSALD) were in attendance during the meeting last June 28.

Oplan Sikyu also intends to address the long-time issue of cut-throat competition among security agencies by giving the ‘lowest bid’ to a client which is being pin-pointed as the root cause of underpayment of wages and the commission other labor violations by the agency to the security guards.

“I myself wanted to give the proper benefit to my guards but how? Our clients wanted the lowest possible bid! If I’m going to give the benefits, then I will have a higher bid which will end up in me not having a client. It’s a dog eat dog competition out there! I hope DOLE understands…if you can fix this then much better,” an ex-military man and now a security agency operator who does not want to be named voiced out.

Through Oplan Sikyu, DOLE-Bicol will implement a ‘Standardized Wage Ceiling’ (SWC) and craft a ‘Suggested Minimum Bid Contract’ (SMBC) that must be adhered upon by security agencies and principal as well. It will be used as the baseline and lowest possible rate in any security services bidding be it a government or a non government client.

DOLE will also improve its ‘No pending Case Clearance Certificate” to include SSS and PAG-IBIG as signatories. Agency owners and operators were more than willing to follow the suggestion and have agreed unanimously adding that those who will not follow these ‘DOLE Supplied Rates” must be penalized. The penalties, they (agencies), suggested is dropping from PADPAO membership and revocation of the PNP license to operate.

“Now we have a common ground. To elevate this industry means that you must not look cheap in the eyes of the clients. Security Guard kame may presyo kame kase ROI and dala namin! Binabantayan namin ang milyones ninyo. That’s what you should tell your clients rather than cut down the bid and let the guards suffer.” Major Cagas of PNP Bicol’s SADC said.

Oplan Sikyu wil have its test run in Albay this June to July with DOLE-PFO Albay headed by Engr. Arturo Corbe as the lead province supported by TSSD Chief Jose “Pepe” Banda.

The program is expected to be in full swing region wide come August 2011.

“Looking at the records of filed labor cases here with us, I can see that 7 out of 10 complaints are coming from security guards. The ratio at the NLRC is not far from this figure also. By December I want to see this go really down or else…” Villamor said.

The participants were also briefed on the details of DO No. 18-02 Sub-contracting Law, the new minimum wage order, DOLE’s establishments registration, employment details and other necessary labor laws and forms.

Oplan Sikyu will hold its next activity by making a consultation meeting with the security agency’s principal clients – the local businessmen and government office’s directors. The meeting will revolve on SWC and SMBC. It is aimed at advocating the need to adhere in these DOLE-Bicol’s initiative to solve the long time burden of underpayment of security guards in Bicol. (MAL/RPE, DOLE V)

Public-Private Mix Initiative launches TB prevention and eradication drive

by Irma a. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, July 4 (PIA) -- "Our presence speaks of our personal, professional and organizational representation and statement for advocacy to be strong partners and ally in tuberculosis eradication drive," thus stated a regional official of the Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol.

Dr. Chito Avelino, DOH V assistant regional director, said the agency is very optimistic the program will gain grounds and expect positive result with province-wide Public-Private Mix Initiative (PPMI) launching and signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in the drive aginst tuberculosis.

Dr. Myrna Listanco, DOH V program coordinator for TB prevention and control, said that this activity has been significantly supported by the provincial government of Sorsogon with the full cooperation of almost all government line agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private sector.

"This is one of the global targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sorsogon has been piloted in the implementation of the program specially the assistance provided to the city government here," she said.

According to Listanco, PPMI has been successful in pursuing strong partnership to support the Aquino Health Agenda, especially in the universal implementation of the PhilHealth registration which focuses on providing proper public health priority as the main health agenda.

PPMI likewise according to Avelino is the best strategy to enjoin everyone to be a carer of one's health and in the same manner be aware of one's role to help others too.

PPMI focuses on engaging all stakeholders in basic communities to strategise, come up with both national and local means on the best possible means of early detection, reporting, validating and recommending patients for treatment found out to have TB.

"Tuberculosis if early detected can be cured easily. Government provides free medical treatment including medicines," Avelino explained.

"The intensified activity launched through the MOU signing will also open avenues for critical roles of agencies to support through their mandates," Avelino stated.

"Tuberculosis today is no longer a dreaded disease," Edgar Garcia, provincial health officer of the Sorsogon Provincial Hospital (PHO) explained in his message.

The PHO according to him through the intensified campaign of all health workers in the province down to the farthest barangays has made this program alive, well-organized and supported.

"With the PPMI, we are emerging as one global community .We engage everyone to join hands in supporting this program .Let us help in the information dissemination, provide right education, conduct fora and say that everyone is responsible to become a cure", Garcia said.

Sorsogon is the third province which also organized the Public-Private Mix Coordinating Council (PPMCC) , that plans the systematized way of implementing the TB eradication program.

"As key players, let us state a clear policy in the critical factors of identifying our significant roles as we signify each one's commitment and affixing one's signature in the MOU and individually saying , "You are the cure". Garcia expressed. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

PNoy’s Sis Pinky heads AGAPP team in Camarines Sur for classroom turn over

by Lizel S. Macatangay

BATO, Camarines Sur, July 4 (PIA) -- Setting the phase on the forefront of instilling the value of quality education in every community, President Benigno Aquino III has explicitly expressed his administration's intention to pursue education programs that in no time, every child will be provided with education.

Today, three schools became the recipients of school buildings cum library realized thru the effort of Aklat, Gabay, Aruga tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa or (AGAPP) Foundation, led by no less than the Presidential sister, Pinky Aquino – Abellada.

Bato North Central School located in the municipality of Bato ; Nabua East Central Pilot School in Nabua town and Romero Elementary School in Bula, Camarines Sur were the lucky recipients of AGAPP’s new pre-school buildings called “Silid-Pangarap”.

Comparable to other existing pre- school facilities, the buildings contain learning materials, educational toys and other learning paraphernalia that would suit the educational need of every pre-schooler.

As the foundations’ President, Abellada has been closely working with the Department of Education and other private organizations to solicit funding and assistance to help them build more pre-school classrooms to realize PNoy’s principle that no child will be left behind under his education program.

“We want to pursue this dream and we will start it here in every “silid-Pangarap” built through the effort of our partners, donors and volunteers. Every structure symbolically enshrines every child’s dream and every parent’s wish for a better future.”

Just 11 months since the inception of AGAPP, Ms. Aquino-Abellada and her group has already built 109 classrooms all over the Philippines . In Bicol, 12 Silid Pangarap, 6 in Camarines Sur and 6 in the province of Albay are now being used by pre schoolers in the region.

Ms. Aquino-Abellada thanked the Camarinenses for the warm reception and vowed to come back to the region to give more classrooms to the Bicolanos.

She specially thanked Dr. Ofelia Samar-Sy, president of Pinoy Power Bicol Coalition of Volunteers Inc. (PPBCV) for facilitating the realization of this project, San Miguel Corporation for the school buildings and other donors who made “Silid-Pangarap” a reality.

This endeavour is also part of strengthening the public-private partnership which is one of the main agenda of the Aquino Administration. (MAL/LSM, PIA Camarines Sur)

DTI awards 5 outstanding entrepreneurs

by Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, July 4 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Provincial Micro-Small-and-Medium Enterprise Development Council (PMSMEDC) here recently awarded five winners of the search for Outstanding Catandungan EntrePinoy 2011.

The awardees in the five categories are: Processed Food - Evelyn Bonifacio of Belen’s Pinahamis na Pili, Atbp. based in Sto. Niño. Virac; Handicraft – Floro Teaño of Lucky F Abaca Trading & Handicraft in Sta. Isabel, Bato; Furniture – Amparo Teves of A. Teves Enterprise in Calatagan, Virac; Agri-Business – Billy James Apanti of Baras; and, Tourism –Rafael Rodulfo of Rakdell Inn in Salvacion, Virac. They received plaques and cash prizes donated by Congressman Cesar Sarmiento, Governor Joseph Cua, PBM Rafael Zuniega, PBM Nel Asanza and PBM Shirley Abundo.

An active member of the Savings and Loans System of the Agricultural and Rural Development for Catanduanes, Inc. (ARDCI), Bonifacio expanded her budding business in the past three years, more than doubling her investment, employment and sales as well as pursuing aggressive marketing strategies.

Teaño’s Lucky F gained the nod of the search committee for its management excellence as well as increases in employment and investment areas.

A recipient of a business loan from the Department of Science and Technology that she used in buying specialized equipment, Teves has consistent ranked in the top three in generating sales during trade fairs in Manila.

Only 22, BJ Apanti used what he learned in finishing a two-year course in technical agriculture at the Catanduanes State Colleges by using his half-hectare plot to pursue aqua-silvi culture, off-season vegetable raising, poultry and livestock raising, and fishery production. Rodulfo’s Rakdell Inn, where the awarding ceremony was held, was cited for its expansion in employment as well as management excellence.

Cash prizes were also given to the other nominees – Elpedes Pancit Factory (processed food), Fiber Art Handicraft Enterprises (handicraft), Domingo Moraleda (agri-business), Jaime de Leon (agri-business), ETBAL Enterprises (furniture), Mendoza Furniture Shop, and Marclo Furniture Shop.

Lauding the DTI and PMSMEDC for its efforts in encouraging investments in business opportunities, DTI regional director Jocelyn Blanco said there is no reason for anyone to be poor in Catanduanes as long as its bountiful natural resources are utilized by those who value attitude, integrity, responsibility, respect for law and order, hard work, the need for savings, punctuality and the will to act.

On the other hand, Congressman Sarmiento expressed his support for local entrepreneurship by vowing to build a building inside the Virac airport which will serve both as display area for locally-produced goods and as waiting area for passengers. He said his office has set aside a sizeable amount for the development of caragumoy weaving.

Echoing the solon’s statement, Tony Peña, who represented the governor, stressed that the triumvirate of the governor, the congressman and the local government units would ensure that Catandunganons would benefit from their efforts to spur trade on the island.

During the MSME Forum, established financing institutions released loan checks to qualified applicants from the island while newcomers presented their business loan windows.

The Development Bank of the Philippines, whose local branch will be opened sometime in August, released P3.7 million to a Virac couple for the construction of a three-storey, 46-bed dormitory in San Isidro Village. ARDCI released checks totaling P77,00.00 to six SLS members for sari-sari store operation, food vending and rattan trading while Visionbank gave P150,000.00 in loans to three Virac residents for various ventures.

The Pinoy Lingap-Damayan Credit Cooperative (PLDCC) released P95,000.00 in loans to two tricycle operators and a piggery owner while the Batong Paluway Producers Cooperative (BAPAPCO) released P118,000.00 in micro-finance and business loans to three recipients.

Meanwhile, the DTI and PMSMEDC expressed its gratitude to the search sponsors and committee members including SUWECO, Catanduanes Bankers Association, Abella Pawnshop, DPWH, DILG, PASO, FICELCO, RB Camalig, Legaspi Savings Bank, BAPAPCO, PLDC, BDO, Land Bank, and PNB, among others. (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes/with reports from DTI)

61% of surveyed parents of public school students gather for Philhealth Sabado 2

by Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, July 4 (PIA) -- Reports of the six provincial task forces on National Philhealth Registration Day (NPPRD) II revealed that majority or 61 percent of targeted parents appeared in the 14 sites for the Philhealth Sabado conducted last June 25 across the country.

As this year’s registration was public school-focused, teachers distributed survey forms to pupils and students of public elementary and secondary schools. Of the 30,256 forms distributed, a total number of 18,541 parents trooped to the schools to avail of the special registration day.

The registration teams were able to determine fifty-seven per cent or 10,615 of the attendees to be non Philhealth members. The rest or 7,926 individuals were already members.

Some of the new registrants paid their membership fees outright totaling to P33,100. Others promised to visit the nearest Philhealth offices located in the six provinces of the region.

All participating parents be they new registrants or existing members attended the health insurance advocacy campaign and were oriented on the benefits, rights and responsibilities as Philhealth members.

The Department of Education NPRDP II regional task force member Dr. Romulo Retuerma M.D. reported that Bicol had the second highest number of pilot sites for the registration. In the region each of the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon had two registration sites, 1 each for elementary and secondary schools. Camarines Sur being the biggest in land area and population had 4 registration sites with 2 each for elementary and secondary schools.

Since June 2 was the NPRD II launching in 14 selected schools only, the Department of Health Bicol and Philhealth announced that similar advocacy campaigns will be conducted in as many schools the promotion will reach until December this year.

As a start up, a massive advocacy in various general parent-teachers association (GPTA) assemblies will be conducted this July. This was one of the strategies agreed upon during the June 30 NRDP II launching evaluation and planning presided by Dr. Gil Ludovice, head health operations division DOH Bicol held at the health regional office.

Meantime, Philhealth Bicol Officer Dave Escandor reported that a total of 350,000 cards for indigents named in the National Household Targeting System by the Department of Social Welfare and Development have been sent to the different municipalities for distribution to beneficiaries.

Owners of these identification cards were ascertained during the October 2 National Philhealth Registration (NPRD) I held October 2 last year.

Said IDs were turned over to the different Municipal Social Welfare Offices in the region who have been distributing the cards since last month.

Philhealth said the validity of these cards is from April 1 to December 31, 2011. All indigent cardholders are entitled to Philhealth benefits. (MAL/AAN, PIAV)

Filipino Ford Fellows represent PH in media forum in Moscow

by Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, July 4 (PIA) -- Two former scholars of the Ford Foundation’s International Fellowships Program (IFP), one of whom is a Bicolano, represented the Philippines in a recently-concluded international forum of media practitioners and academics in Moscow, Russia.

Gremil Alessandro A. Naz and Charmy G. Sabigan attended the Future Media International Forum organized by RIA Novosti, the Russian state news agency, on June 24. The gathering was the main event of the agency’s 70th anniversary celebration.

One of the partners in the said event was the IFP, which invited all former scholars from around the world to attend. The IFP paid for all travel expenses.

Topics discussed in the forum included the effects of new technology on traditional media, the role of the Internet in information dissemination, and the future of the media.

The speakers were among the most respected journalists in the world, representing the globe’s top media establishments. Among them were Alan Rusbridger, editor-in-chief of the Guardian News & Media; Thomas Kent, deputy editor-in-chief of the Associated Press; and Svetlana Mironyuk, editor-in-chief of RIA Novosti.

A day before the June 24 forum, a special event was hosted by RIA Novosti to provide a platform for former IFP scholars from around the world to talk about the state of the media in their own countries.

Naz and Sabigan provided the audience with an overview of the Philippine media. Other countries represented were Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, and Peru. IFP scholars from the host country also shared their experiences as journalists in Russia.

Naz said, “It was interesting to note that the provincial media in the Philippines share similar challenges with Russian journalists working away from the capital Moscow.”

The IFP is a program of the Ford Foundation that funds graduate studies of individuals who have demonstrated social commitment, leadership, and academic achievement from different parts of the globe. In the Philippines, the IFP is administered by the Philippine Social Science Council.

Through the said scholarship program, Naz and Sabigan were able tofinish master’s degrees in communication from the United States.

Naz finished his Masters in Media, Culture and Communication in New York University in 2008 while Sabigan graduated from University of Florida in 2007 with a master degree in mass communication.

Sabigan is currently the Luzon Area Manager of Bombo Radyo Philippines. Before that she was the station manager of Bombo Radyo Cebu.

Naz on the other hand was the chairman of the journalism department of Bicol University College of Arts and Letters, Legazpi City before he joined the Educational Testing Preparation Services, Inc. based in Makati City as a writer. (MAL/AAN, PIA V)