Naga City Council for Women leads Women’s Month celebration

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Mar. 19 (PIA) -- To highlight the Women Month Celebration this March, the Naga City Council for Women (NCCW), co-chaired by Naga City Councilor Cecilia “Nene” De Asis, has lined up its week-long activities under the theme, “Kababaihan: Gabay sa Pagtahak sa Tuwid na Daan.”

During the FORUM@PIA led by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Camarines Sur Provincial Office this morning, De Asis faced members of the tri-media and sought their support in raising the awareness of the community regarding the role of women in various endeavors and the challenges that the said sector is currently facing.

De Asis said government also acknowledged the great part women play in society, the reason why it is also implementing various programs to protect the rights of women and safeguard their interests as vital partners in nation-building.

“In as far as empowering the women is concerned, I can say that we have raised another notch higher in terms of provision of services and giving them opportunities. We are continuously raising the bar of acknowledging the significant contribution of women in various undertakings of the government and we’re on the right path," De Asis said in an interview.

On March 19, NCCW will officially start the celebration with a Thanksgiving Mass to be led by Rev. Fr. Marc Real. It will be followed by the ribbon cutting ceremony of the “Tiangge kan Maogmang Naguena Year 3.” Before the noon break, partakers, specifically mothers will have a chance to attend a candle-making seminar and demonstration as part of the livelihood project of the NCCW.

Comelec Camarines Sur Spokesman Alex Marpuri, together with Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) Officer Fr. Wilmer Tria will serve as discussants during the forum on Advocating Clean and Honest Elections. Venue will be at the Naga City People’s Hall at 3 p.m.

One of the culminating activities of the celebration is the Lakas ng Kababaihan Culminating activity with Atty. Leni Robredo as guest speaker.

To wrap up the week-long celebration, the organizers will honor tiangge participants and women volunteers. Bantay Familia (BF) volunteers sa Barangay will also be inducted and announcement of winners for the Search for Best VAW Desk sa Barangay.

Women’s month celebration is pursuant to Proclamation No. 227, which provides for the observance of March as Women’s role in History Month and Republic Act (RA) 6949 series of 1990, declaring March 8 of every year as National Women’s Month. (MAL/ASM-PIA 5)

Bayani Challenge 2013 targets to build 44 houses in San Lorenzo Ruiz, Camarines Norte

By Rosalita B. Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, March 19 (PIA) -- Some 44 houses are to be constructed in the Gawad Kalinga (GK) Friendship Village in barangay Laniton, San Lorenzo Ruiz town here for the nationwide Bayani Challenge 2013 on March 23-27 where 2,000 volunteers coming from the different places in the region and in the province are expected to participate.

Of the 44 target houses, 10 will be led by the local government unit of Daet, six of the provincial government of Camarines Norte and six of the local government unit of San Lorenzo Ruiz with the total of 22 while the other 22 houses will be the counterpart of the GK Foundation.

Daet Mayor Tito Sarion said the land for the GK Friendship Village in San Lorenzo Ruiz was previously donated by a private person to the local government unit of Daet as one of the GK site project.

The local government unit of Daet, the provincial government of Camarines Norte and the local government unit of San Lorenzo and the Gawad Kalinga Foundation are on its way in their preparations for the big event of volunteer movement in the country.

Earlier Mayor Tito Sarion has already called the attention of media groups here to help in the dissemination of activities for the Bayani Challenge 2013 in GK Friendship Village.

The provincial government through Governor Edgardo Tallado has already prepared the GK site and will conduct a Governor’s Night as well as their Multi-Services Caravan in Laniton, San Vicente and in Bibirao in Daet during the five days challenge.

The GK Friendship Village in San Lorenzo Ruiz town is the only site in the Bicol Region and one of the 37 sites in 34 provinces in the country for the 8th Bayani Challenge this year.

Bayani Challenge is a new kind of People Power as volunteers from across the nation will work together to ensure that no Filipino will be left behind in the national pursuit for progress and sustainable development.

The Bayani Challenge has started in 2006 and this year’s theme “Isang bayan, Isang Bayanihan”, where volunteers sign-up in teams of fifteen (15) for a 5-day test of courage, endurance and love for country as they engage in varied nation building activities. (RBM-PIA5, Camarines Norte)