PIDS, education experts mulling on pursuing new online education mode

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 4 (PIA) -- Access to quality higher education is essential for young people to have a bright future.

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), stated in an email to the Bicol regional office of Philippine Information Agency (PIA) that the institute and education experts are mulling on pursuing a new mode of delivering education called Massive Open Online Courses or MOOCS, which capitalizes on modern communications particularly the Internet and interactive learning systems, looks promising in expanding educational opportunities and addressing cost, quality, and time considerations.

Education experts observed that quality and cost often go hand in hand, making opportunities more inequitable particularly for the less privileged, while working professionals also need to continuously acquire new knowledge relevant to their jobs and learn new skills to thrive in an increasingly competitive labor market.

Apart from quality and cost, time is a major constraint for workers as full-time schooling means a reduction in their income if they are not allowed to go on study leave with pay.

In a recent education experts’ forum last month, educators from major public and private education institutions in the country examined the potential benefits for the Philippines from MOOCs should they be adopted and scaled up.

The forum was organized by the education team of state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) headed by Senior Research Fellow Aniceto Orbeta and Senior Research Consultant Vicente Paqueo, as part of a joint project between the PIDS and the Commission on Higher Education.

A recent development in distance education, MOOCs differ from earlier forms such as correspondence courses, broadcast courses and e-learning with its creative course materials, interactive features, open access policy, and mass distribution scheme.            

MOOCs are designed in such a way that learners get direct feedback on their answers and can interact with other learners taking the same online course in other parts of the world.

Many MOOCs are offered for free by nonprofit providers such as Coursera which was founded by Stanford University professors. Coursera offers diverse courses in engineering, humanities, medicine, biology, social sciences, mathematics, business, and computer science. Another nonprofit provider is eDx established by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University.

Some universities in the Philippines have started to experiment on using MOOCs as an addition to classroom instruction. The “blended MOOCs” approach has been helpful in enhancing the learner’s understanding of lessons, said Dr. Alita Roxas of Mindanao State University.

Presenting from Washington, D.C. via video conferencing, Dr. Marito Garcia, former lead economist of the World Bank, noted that MOOCs can give someone an edge in the labor market by taking courses that belong to in-demand occupations. Universities and other education providers can develop customized MOOCs on sought-after jobs.

Garcia said MOOCs can therefore function not only as additional learning tools and content in the classroom setting but as an avenue to gain professional aptitude.

The forum participants felt the concept is a good one but a thorough study is needed to determine its feasibility in the local context. Dr. Emmanuel de Dios of the UP School of Economics noted the still prevailing issues of IT access and connectivity in the Philippines, which clearly is a major deterrent in adopting MOOCs.

Other participants noted that as the available MOOCs are designed overseas, they may not be suited to the local context. There is also a need to consider the different learning levels of students, they said. (MAL/PMGVineles-PIDS/PIA5)

BFP Sorsogon City conducts early inspection of establishment for 2014 One Stop-Shop Program

SORSOGON CITY, Nov. 4 (PIA) – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) headquarters in this city has since October commenced the inspection of business establishment in line with of the yearly One-Stop-Shop Program of the city government in January 2014

BFP Sorsogon City public information officer FO1 Maria Gracia E. Corral said that fire marshall S/Insp. Wally Marcial instructed the bureau personnel to start the inspection on October this year to avoid over-crowding, cramming and likewise facilitate a smooth-sailing flow of application and renewal of business permit comes 2014.

She said BFP is over and above concerned on the safety of the public, they would like to ensure that BFP clients securing permits, and certificates adhere to the provisions stated in the Fire Safety Code, “hence, the conduct of this advance inspection as part of the forthcoming one-stop shop program of the city government,” said Corral.

In an advisory sent to Philippine Information Agency (PIA) provincial office here, Marcial said that this has a total number of more or less 2,000 business establishments, thus we have to maximize our time to inspect all these establishments beforehand, considering that we have limited fire safety inspectors.

“Further, this will also allow the business owners to process their permits and licenses right away and for those who have deficiencies to comply,” he said.

“We call on the cooperation of all business owners to comply with the implementing rules and regulations of RA 9514 to avoid delays of issuance of fire safety inspection certification,” Marcial said.

He also said that for information and query regarding the requirements in processing Fire Safety Inspection Certificate, they can visit the BFP office here is located at Amberg Compound in Brgy. San Juan, (Roro) Sorsogon City  and can also contact cellular phone number 09072927215. (MAL/BAR-PIA5/Sorsogon City)

SSS Bicol branches now open on Saturdays

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov 4 (PIA) – All branches of the Social Security System (SSS) in the Bicol region and the entire country are now open on Saturdays since October 26 this year to serve its members as part of the agency’s thrust to make its services more accessible.

SSS officer-in-charge Edgar Solilapsi said the approved extended branch schedule of the SSS aims to accommodate members who cannot transact at SSS branch offices during regular business hours on weekdays.

 “Under the new schedule, SSS branches will be open to serve members from 8am to 5pm every Saturday, on top of their regular business hours on Mondays to Fridays.  We encourage members, as well as regular and household employers, to take advantage of this special SSS branch schedule,” Solilapsi said.

SSS service offices are also open on weekends in various malls nationwide.

“Apart from SSS branches, members who plan to transact during the weekend can also visit SSS service offices in various malls nationwide, which are open from Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 am – 6pm,” Solilapsi added.

The extended work schedule will also benefit Cebu and Bohol-based members affected by the recent earthquake covered by the SSS Calamity Relief Package.

The package includes the Salary Loan Early Renewal Program (SLERP) for members with existing salary loans; the waived one percent service fee for new salary loan borrowers; advance release of three-month pensions; and the fixed six percent annual interest rate and waived application fee under the special House Repair and Improvement Loan Program.

Solilapsi said a similar calamity relief package is also on-going for members and pensioners affected by Typhoon “Santi,” which left the town of San Miguel, Bulacan in a state of calamity as declared by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council or “NDRRMC.”

To further improve service delivery and enhance its accessibility to members and employers, especially with the continuing growth in membership, the agency also plans to create additional ten branches and increase the number of branch personnel.

Currently, it has 132 branch offices nationwide serving over 30 million members and about 871,000 registered employers. (MAL/SAA-PIA5/Albay)

DRRM authorities on alert for “Oplan Kaluluwa” 2013

SORSOGON CITY, Nov. 1 (PIA) – All concerned agencies have been alerted by Sorsogon Governor Raul R. Lee, chair of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils (PDRRMC),  in view of the observance of All Saints and All Souls Days on November 1 and 2, respectively.

In an unnumbered memorandum dated October 30, 2013, addressed to the provincial, city and municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils (DRRMCs), Gov. Lee directed all the council chairmen and members to implement the contingency plans and safety measures within their respective area of jurisdiction.

The directive is in order to pre-empt any public disturbance, chaos and incidents and maintain the solemnity and peaceful conduct of the celebration.

Since last week, additional force of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have already been deployed in different municipalities to augment the regular number of police due to barangay election and will continue until the observance of Nov. 1 and 2 activities is over. “

“Day after election, we already gave them their respective assignments in preparation for the traditional All Saints Day and All Souls Day. We also specifically deployed additional men in the three major ports of Sorsogon and in cemeteries located along the highway to maintain peace and order in the area,” said Sorsogon Police Provincial Office Public Information Officer PCInsp Nonito F. Marquez.

He added that there are also police assistance desks located in strategic areas most especially in Sorsogon City where big cemeteries are located to render assistance to the public.

Pursuant to Department Order No. 2012-01, the Coast Guard Station Sorsogon, meanwhile, will undertake proactive approach to ensure that sea travel during this period of time will be orderly, safe, convenient and secured.

Heightened alert status is observed and they have activated the Passenger Assistance Centers (PACs) in the ports of Matnog, Bulan and Pilar in anticipation of the heavy influx of passengers who will reunite with their families in commemorating the All Saints and All Souls Day and to pay homage to their departed loved ones.

The PAC is established as information, help, complaint and medical assistance help desks wherein the seafaring public could easily seek assistance on matters relative to sea travel. The PAC which is established since October 25 and will be demobilized on November 5, 2013 is strategically located in areas accessible to passengers.

“Coast Guard Station Sorsogon closely works with the local PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and shipping companies to emphasize integrated commitment to security and safety in water transport services and enforce safety standards and regulations such as inspection of baggage and implementation of security layer in ports and passenger terminals and at the same time ensure that there will be no overloading of passengers and cargoes,” said Station Commander Lieutenant Commander Philip Y. Soria

Sorsogon City Fire Marshal Senior Inspector Walter Badong Marcial said the Bureau of Fire Protection Sorsogon City will deploy three (3) fire trucks near the cemeteries of Bacon District and Sorsogon City on Nov. 1 and 2. “As part of our yearly activities, we deploy our fire trucks and personnel to render assistance in case the public needs our help”, SInsp Marcial said.

He also elaborated that considering the increasing number of people during this time, chances of any untoward incidents are foreseen. “In this time of year, it is anticipated that accidents are prone to happen in the cemetery as well as at home where some who cannot go to the cemetery prefer to light candles for their love ones, and so we once again remind the public to be more cautious and vigilant to avoid fire incidents and other related emergency cases due to negligence,” SInsp Marcial further said.

 Aside from deployment of fire truck, SInsp Marcial also ordered fireman visibility within the Sorsogon City cemeteries particularly at Sorsogon City Memorial Garden in Brgy. Bibincahan, Msgr. Barlin Street in Brgy. Sampaloc and at Bacon Catholic Cemetery in Bacon District.

“Along with this, BFP City personnel will also conduct information drive where leaflets with fire safety tips will be disseminated to the people in the area to prevent potential fire incidents to happen, thus, upholding fire safety among the public,” said SInsp Marcial.

He also added that one of the mandated functions of the BFP is to render immediate assistance to all persons who are in need of help in case of emergency. “Thus, the BFP persistently appeals for the cooperation of the public to ensure the safety of everyone,” he said.  (MAL/BAR-PIA5/Sorsogon)

1,400 tricycle drivers in Catanduanes undergo training on tourist handling

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Nov. 1 (PIA) -  Some 1, 400 tricycle drivers in Catanduanes province trained on proper handling or treatment of passengers, especially tourists, in line with efforts of the provincial government to tap the transport sector in promoting local tourism.

The training held recently, according to provincial tourism officer Carmel B. Garcia, primarily aims to provide a friendly atmosphere for foreign and local tourists during their visit in the province, whom mostly tricycles as well as jeepney drivers are usually the first that meet them once they arrive in the island province.

Garcia said the training formed part of the province's tourism development program, tapping all prospective sectors to promote and uplit the industry.

She said that the way of handling of tricycle drivers on its passengers particularly on tourists is a very important factor in promoting the tourism industry of the province since they form part of the impressions made by tourists to the places they are visiting.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Bicol consultant Danilo Intong and Land Transportation Office (LTO) representative Apolonio Grienzo tackled the need for basic courtesy, honesty, grooming and hygiene among tricycle drivers, providing the same optional uniforms and stickers for their vehicles indicating that they are “Tourist-Friendly” drivers. They were also given identification cards to ensure safety of commuters.

Meanwhile, Governor Araceli B. Wong encouraged the public to patronize only passenger vehicles with proper identification specifically those with registration adding that the training will help boost the tourism of the province. (MAL/EAB-PIA5/Catanduanes)