DSWD completes validation of poor seniors, families in Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 28 (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has completed the special validation of indigent senior citizens and families under the Social Pension and Modified Conditional Cash Transfer Program for Families in need of Special Protection (MCCT-FNSP) program.

“The purpose of the special validation is to verify the poverty status of the social pensioners who are not registered in the database. Likewise, MCCT beneficiaries will be upgraded to the regular Pantawid Pamilya,“ DSWD Bicol regional director Arnel Garcia said.    

Those who will be classified as poor under Social Pension will continue their monthly stipend while MCCT beneficiaries will be guaranteed advancement to the regular Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Garcia added that some 10,643 social pensioners and 472 MCCT beneficiaries all over the region were validated through house to house interviews.

The  DSWD uses the Proxy Means Test (PMT)  to classify whether the beneficiaries are poor or not.

Joy Belen III, DSWD Bicol field coordinator, disclosed that some areas would take one whole day for the staff to reach and that most of the target beneficiaries were scattered in different locations.

“The distance and weather concerns have caused delay to the enumeration,” Belen said.

The social pension program of the DSWD provides P500 monthly stipend to indigent senior citizens as mandated by RA 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

The priority beneficiaries of the Social Pension are senior citizens 77 years old and above who are frail, sickly and disabled, without a regular source of income and/or support from any member of the family, and not receiving other pension benefits from government and private agencies.

On the other hand, the MCCT-FNSP aims to increase the reach of the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program to help families that are in difficult situations and be able to mainstream them into the regular CCT program or 4Ps.

The target beneficiaries of this program are families in pockets of poverty not covered by the regular CCT such as those families who spend majority of their time on the street because it is where they earn their living.(AAN/SAA-PIA5/Albay)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2571409216234#sthash.uiqDjRcP.dpuf

Albay to craft 3-year work plan for adolescent health development

By Sally Atento-Altea

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 27 (PIA) –Members of the Albay inter-agency technical working group (TWG) on adolescent health and development of Albay met Tuesday to craft a three-year work plan for the Adolescent Youth Health Program (AYHP) of the province.

TWG co-chair and Albay provincial aids council focal person Mike dela Rama said the TWG is created to facilitate the formulation of local policy which will serve as the basis for comprehensive adolescent health master plan for the province.

The plan, according to de la Rama, will serve as the road map for agencies and institutions involved in adolescent-youth initiatives in the province.

“The primary purpose of the working group is to provide recommendation to the provincial government to establish a strong foundation to support the achievement of the adolescent council group; provide clear direction on specific activities, strategies, programs and policies for managing projects intended for the welfare and wellbeing of adolescent and the youth in the province,” he said.

 The AYHP work plan has three key strategies aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy which focus on governance or policy making, service delivery and strengthened communication with the adolescent youth.

“Strategies on governance include development of local government unit (LGU) – led, evidence-based, adolescent and youth inclusive, and participatory AYHP policy and plan development, implementation and monitoring and evaluation, “dela Rama said.

Service delivery refers to the adoption if holistic and integrated approach to prevent or delay early and second pregnancy among adolescent youth through post-partum family planning (FP) counseling and services and early referral and provision of maternal care and FP information and counseling among pregnant adolescents.

Strengthened communication on one hand involves dissemination and promotion of appropriate and culturally relevant information to promote healthy attitude and develop skills to enable them to respond to real life situations in positive and responsible ways.

“Adolescents receive contradictory messages on how to address the daily choices which have lifelong consequences for healthy development. Millions are denied the essential support they need to become knowledgeable, confident and skilled adults,” dela Rama stressed.

“Because of this reality there is an urgent need to come up with a framework designed to respond to the unmet needs of adolescents in the province. Thus the TWG was organized,” he added.

The inter-agency TWG on adolescent health and development of the province was organized through the executive order issued by Governor Joey Salceda dated January 10, 2014 in support to the policy of the Department of Health (DOH) to address major adolescent health problems due to an increasing health risky behavior among Filipino adolescent.

Such initiative is among the reproductive health interventions and education-based programs implemented by the provincial government in partnership with other private and public agencies.

The Albay Provincial Population Office has reported that the teenage pregnancy rate in the province dropped by eight percent from 1,700 cases in 2011 to 1,571 in 2012 further noting that Albay has one of the lowest teenage pregnancies in the country at only 24 births per 1,000 women aged between 15 and 19 versus a national rate of 53 births per 1,000 wimen aged 15 and 19.(SAA-PIA5/Albay)
- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2571409293247#sthash.Uo0f8vB6.dpuf

DSWD lights up 2,661 streetlights in Bicol, brings safer streets to the public

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 27 (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has installed some 2,661 streetlights in 85 barangays of nine municipalities all over the Bicol region bringing home security to over 23,000 households and safer travel for the public.

DSWD Bicol regional director Arnel Gracia said the project was funded under Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program, another poverty reduction project of the government, with DSWD as one of the lead implementing agencies.

Garcia said PAMANA uses community-driven development (CDD) approach wherein beneficiaries from the communities take part in determining projects to be implemented to promote peace and development and build resilient communities.

“Just like in KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP, community-driven development (CDD) approach is employed in the PAMANA project which consults the people in the communities on how peace and development can be promoted and build resilient communities,” Garcia said.

PAMANA project is another modality of KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP providing an annual block grant of P300,000.00 per barangay wherein a village implements the said project for three consecutive years to deliver basic goods and services in conflict-affected communities.

Garcia added that installation of streetlights are one of the community-identified interventions along with basic social services, basic access infrastructures and common service facilities in PAMANA project.

"In this particular project, DSWD also pursued the use of 273 solar powered lights and the rest are conventional ones generating electricity from the power grid," he said.

However 247 streetlights are reportedly damaged due to typhoon Glenda which pounded the southern part of the Bicol region last July 15.

Garcia said affected communities are now lobbying with their respective local government units (LGUs) for the repair of said streetlights vowing to intensify the implementation of the approved operations and maintenance plan as part of their commitment for the project’s sustainability.

The municipality of Labo in Camarines Norte is one of the recipients of the project. The small agricultural village of Mabilo II is identified as one among those needing lighted streets to maintain peace and order.

“Our streets are lighted. We can safely stroll at night,” Joana Lagarteja, a locale of Mabilo II enthused about their newly installed streetlights.

In addition to 16 units of barangay local government unit (BLGU)-funded streetlights, 38 posts were completed last June lighting up more areas in the said village.

Mabilo II barangay captain Jonathan Fruto said the BLGU provided a cash counterpart of P90, 000.00 for their streetlights along with P2, 500 monthly budget for its operations and maintenance.

He noted that with the additional streetlights, barangay police officers were now able to quickly respond to residents who summon them for help.

Community investigation prior to the installation revealed that 26.9% of Mabilo’s 348 total households are victims of criminal activities wherein robbery is rampant. Goods, agricultural products and properties are stolen affecting the income of the people while bystanders who shroud themselves in the dark to drink or prowl also harm students and commuters. (SAA-PIA5/Albay)
- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2571409100384#sthash.aCY2LSdl.dpuf

Diocese of Virac’s Ruby Anniversary celebration kicks-off

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Aug. 21, (PIA) - Diocese of Virac’s celebration of its 40th Foundation Anniversary of Canonical Erection kicked-off  on August 17, 2014, via the arrival of the Batalay Holy Cross to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish and a Holy Mass.

The Novenary Days also started on Aug. 18 until Aug. 26. During these days, church bells are being rung every 5 o’clock in the morning followed by Holy Mass, daily confessions, Rosary and Novena Prayers every 5 p.m. and Novenary Mass at 5:30 p.m.

The image of "Ina" also visit Eastern Bicol Medical Center and Catanduanes National High School on Aug. 19 and 20, respectively.

"Ina" will also visit the Provincial Capitol and Catanduanes State University on Aug. 22, Camp Francisco Camacho on Aug. 23, Antipolo District Church on Aug.25, and Local Government Unit of Virac on Aug. 26 plus a dinner concert dubbed as “Boses Catandungan” for the church’s renovation at the ARDCI Function Hall.

The main celebration of the foundation anniversary will be held on August 27 which will be highlighted by “Diana” around Poblacion Virac, Holy Mass, ringing of Church bells in all barangays chapels, Liturgical Reception and Pontifical Concelebrated Mass.

By Virtue of the Papal Bull "Divino Christi Mandato", on May 27,1974, the Diocese of Virac, suffragan of the Archdiocese of Nueva Caceres and formerly part of the Diocese of Legazpi in the province of Albay, was created a separate diocese by Pope Paul VI and canonically erected on August 27,1974 with the Most Rev.Jose C. Sorra,DD as its first Bishop.

Twenty years after,on August 12,1994,the Most Rev.Manolo A. de los Santos,D.D., was appointed as the second bishop of Virac and ordained as bishop on September 12,1994 by Jose Tomas Cardinal Sanchez and on October 10,1994 he was installed as the second bishop of Virac.

This year, the Diocese is on its celebratory phase on the occasion of the Ruby Foundation Anniversary with the theme: “Bagong Ebanghelisasyon: Pagpabunga kan Pagtubod.”

According to Rev. Fr. Eric John T. Rojas, Steering Committee Secretary of the event, they are expecting thousands of devotees during the main day of celebration on Aug. 27 where 15 bishops from the various Dioces in the Philippines are expected to grace the events particularly at the Holy Mass.

Relative to the celebration, Police Senior Superintendent Adelio Benjamin G. Castillo, PNP Catanduanes provincial director said that they will deploy police elements during the duration of the festivity to ensure the safety of the devotees and the peaceful celebration of the Ruby Foundation Anniversary of the Diocese.

He added that they have already started conducting checkpoints in various strategic areas in preparation for the event.(AAN/EAB/ PIA Catanduanes)
- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=841408633005#sthash.6eCAyXln.dpuf

DOST holds South Luzon cluster science and technology fair in Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 19 (PIA) – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Bicol hosts this year’s Southern Luzon Cluster Science and Technology Fair held in this city on August 18-20.

DOST Bicol director Tomas Briñas said the cluster composed of Regions III, IVA, IVB, V and National Capital Region (NCR)  chose the theme “Building Smarter MSMEs’ and Communities through Science, Technology and Innovation” to re-affirm DOST system’s deeper commitment to leverage smarter technologies, innovations and in effect, create a positive change to the lives of the people.

“Taking a closer look into the Southern Luzon, this geographic cluster has so much to offer with its bountiful natural resources and its pool of talented students, researchers and experts,” Briñas said.

“The right time has come to capitalize and harness these immense potentials in accelerating countryside development and providing solutions to pressing problems on food security, environmental sustainability, livelihood generation and climate change, among others,” he added.

The three-day event features scientific developments and technological solutions showcased through interactive exhibits, infographic, story wall, fora, training and other activities intended to make science and technology accessible particularly to micro-small and medium (MSMEs) entrepreneurs and communities at the grassroots level.

It also aims to serve as an avenue to inspire and entice the public’s awareness and appreciation for science and technology.

“Let us work closely together as we continue to take strides in building smarter MSMEs and empowered and safer communities,” Briñas noted.

For the Bicol region, Briñas highlights the five critical strategies implemented in building smarter MSMEs and communities.

These include the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), technical assistance and consultancy services, packaging innovations, laboratory and testing services and community empowerment through science and technology.

“The SETUP remains the banner program that encourages entrepeneurs’ adoption of smarter technologies resulting to better products, processes and systems,” he added.

Despite the small industry-base in the region since 2002, Briñas said over a hundred of MSMEs have availed of these interventions in the form of acquisition of smart technologies, capacity building and training activities, and consultancy services.(AAN/SAA-PIA5/Albay)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2571408498761#sthash.8zQPWgau.dpuf