CSC ESSAY WRITING CONTEST FOR CIVIL SERVANTS

SORSOGON Province (March 6) — The Civil Service Commission (CSC) Bicol is sponsoring a Regional Essay Writing Competition highlighting the theme “The Role of the Bicolana Civil Servant of the Contemporary Time in Regional Development”, in time for the observance of Women’s Month this March.

CSC Sorsogon provincial director Tobias Roy Mata has encouraged not only Sorsogueño but also all Bicolano public servants to participate in the said competition which runs March 1-25, this year.

Mechanics are as follows:

The contest is open to all government employees in the entire Bicol region regardless of status.

Essay to be made must be original and never been published. The essay must be in English, not to exceed thirty (30) pages and must be computerized, double-space, using 14-point Times New Roman font.

A contestant is allowed to submit only one (1) entry in four (4) copies together with an electronic file in a diskette or CD, using an A4 (8.67” x 11.69”) size bond paper, with a margin of 1 ½” on both sides. The name and signature of the contestant must appear on the lower left portion (footer) 0f each page.

Entries must be submitted in a sealed brown envelop together with the Personal Data Sheet of the contestant.

Entries must be submitted either via e-mail to http://ph.mc766.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=cscrov@yahoo.com or to the Legal Services Division, Civil Service Commission, Regional Office V, Rawis, Legazpi City not later than 5:00 pm of March 25, 2009.

The e-mail should be accompanied by two attachments: an electronic copy of the essay which should be in MS Word format; and, an electronic copy of the Personal Data Sheet

Contestant sending through e-mail should confirm with the CSCRO5 whether or not their entries were received.

Criteria for judging are: 55% - content, 35% - style, 10% - structure organization.

Winning entries will be announced on March 31, 2009. The list of winners and details of the awarding ceremonies will be publicized through a press release and the winners will be personally notified via text message and e-mail.

The winners will receive the following prizes:

First prize – P3,000 and a certificate of commendation and the chance to be published in the April issue of the CSC RO5 News and Updates and will also be submitted to the CSC Reporter for publication; Second Prize – P2,000.00 and a certificate of commendation; and, Third Prize – P1,500.00 and a certificate of commendation.

Interested public servants may contact the CSCRO5 Legal Services Division or call 482-0695 or 482-0699 and look for Atty. Daisy P. Bragais for further details.(BARecebido PIA Sorsogon)


LGU-DAET HOLDS JOBS FAIR

DAET, Camarines Norte (March 6) – The municipal government here, under the auspices of Mayor Tito Sarion, sponsored the First Quarter 2009 Jobs Fair on March 4-5 in support to the desire of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to provide gainful employment to all Filipinos in the wake of the global financial crisis.

Sarion said at least 16 employment agencies in the country participated to the job generation program of the local government recruiting workers, new graduates and graduating students for job placement like civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers, construction workers (mason, electrician, carpenter, among others.

“Domestic helpers, caregivers, babysitters, nurses, and similar medical professions were also in demand for placement abroad,” he added.

Among the participating recruitment agencies for overseas employment were 3R International Manpower Services, EEI Corporation, First Asian Career Solutions, Inc., Friendship International Manpower Services, OTG International Placement Agency, Mori International Agency and Arjoy’s Entertainment.

The EEI Corporation, Revier Consultant and Staffing Resources, Inc., Honda Prestige, Motortrade Nationwide, Centro Department Store, Sto. Cristo Marketing, Asialink, TSPI and Houseware Plaza also accepted applications from hundreds of jobseeker for local employment.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), meanwhile, put up a help desk catering to the locals applying for certificate of clearance, a pertinent document in applying for a job.

The jobs fair was spearheaded by the Public Employment Services Offices of the local government, in cooperation with the Department of Labor and Employment Camarines Norte Field Office.(RCYu, LGU Daet/PIA)


ECO-PARK DEVELOPMENT PROJECT GETS ASSISTANCE FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT

NAGA CITY (March 6) — Isarog Garden Society’s wish to build a multi-purpose pavilion at the Eco-Park in barangay San Felipe, this city, would soon become a reality after the city government here has allotted some P1.3 million to augment the funds for the project.

The project costs some P1.8 million, which the city government will shell out P1.3 million while the society will raise the remaining P500,000 for its counterpart.

Mayor Jesse Robredo and officers of the aforementioned civic society presented Tuesday (March 3) during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panglungsod here the proposal requesting for the city government’s financial assistance to construct the facilities of the multi-purpose pavilion.

Initial plan was the construction of an open pavilion to cost around P1M. The amount was also initially a 70-30 sharing between the city government and the IGS.

Mayor Robredo, however, presented a new proposal suggesting that the pavilion be upgraded, an enclosed and air-conditioned edifice for the convenience of visitors and tourists who frequent the park all year round.

Target date of completion of the pavilion, covering around 120 square meters, is set on May 17 this year, in time of the Eco-Park 30th foundation anniversary.

The Sangguniang Panglungsod is expected to approve an ordinance for the appropriation of the P1.3 counterpart from the infrastructure plan of the local government to fast track the project implementation.

Presiding officer Vice Mayor Gabriel Bordado meanwhile has also requested the IGS to submit a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) which will cover the guidelines in the utilization of financial assistance and implementation of the project.

IGS has todate collected some P365,000 from entrance fees from an estimated 22,000 guests visit the park every year.(DAAbad, PIA Cam. Sur)


CAMS. SUR SPORTS ACADEMY ATHLETES TO 5 EVENTS IN PALARONG PANLALAWIGAN

PILI, CAMARINES SUR (March 6) — Athletes of the Camarines Sur Sports Academy (CSSA), a school fully supported and subsidized by Governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte, capped their performance in the recent Palarong Panlalawigan with a remarkable feat notching 93 golds, 48 medals silvers and 7 bronzes in the five events.

Of the 74 athletes fielded by the CSSA, 65 of them qualified in the 2000 Palarong Bicol scheduled in the province of Catanduanes this year.

The CSSA located at the Freedom Spots Complex at San Jose, Pili is the only sports-oriented school in the country accredited by the Department of Education (DepEd) intended for elementary and high school students.

The CSSA athletes participated in only five sports events — archery, athletics, boxing, swimming and taekwondo in the Secondary Boys and Girls category, capturing the championship honors in all these events.

The CSSA athletes bagged 15 golds, 7 silvers and 1 bronze in secondary boys while the secondary girls collected 14 golds, and 13 silvers for a total of 29 golds, 20 silvers and 1 bronze in athletics.

In swimming, the secondary boys captured 14 golds and 10 silvers while the secondary girls also garnered 14 golds and 10 silvers.

In boxing, the secondary boys took 2 golds, 2 silvers and 1 bronze.

The performance of CSSA swimmers in the elementary division was also commendable, capturing 13 golds, 3 silvers and 3 bronzes in the boys’ category. In the elementary girl category, a lone swimmer entry snatched 5 golds in this event to capture the first place honors in favor of CSSA delegation.

The elementary boys captured 1 gold in taekwondo.(CAMSUR Multimedia Educ. Cen./PIA)


PHILHEALTH BENEFITS UP BY 35 PER CENT

LEGAZPI CITY (March 6) — Members of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will now enjoy as much as 35 per cent increase on benefits for hospitalization fees and professional charges of physicians starting May 1 this year.

This was announced by PhilHealth’s president, Dr. Rey B. Aquino, in a media briefing following the celebration of the 14th Anniversary of the National Health Insurance Program.

According to Aquino, “PhilHealth recognizes the fact that rapid inflation has somehow reduced the significance of our existing benefit levels. There is an urgent need therefore to adjust our subsidies to meet the rising cost of hospitalization among our members.”

The increase is the first in the last seven years since its last enhancement of benefits for hospitalization fees in 2002.

Members of PhilHealth in the different programs of the Corporation will enjoy increases in hospital and room board fees and even more than 100 per cent in other benefit items.

As in the case of drugs and medicines for Case Type B illnesses in primary hospitals, where an increase of about 260 per cent is demonstrated, a member or his dependent will now have a maximum allowable amount of P9,000 per single period of confinement compared to the previous amount of P2,500.

The increase in benefit ceilings does not come with any increase in PhilHealth contributions. PhilHealth members are relieved from any burdens that may have been brought by the present economic crunch, and yet they could still be assured of quality health care services as guaranteed by PhilHealth, your partner in health.(PhilHealth V/PIA)


DEADLINE FOR PHILHEALTH IPM’s CONTRIBUTION SET

LEGAZPI CITY (March 6) — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has reminded all its Individually Paying Members (IPM), who include Self-Employed and Voluntary members, that the deadline for the 1st quarter premium payments this year is set on Tuesday, March 31.

Philhealth Bicol regional director Orlando Iñigo announced members can pay their contributions to several Accredited Collecting Banks, post offices, or at any PhilHealth field office.

For those who opt to pay their premiums in collecting banks, he stressed, they should accomplish the MI-5 and indicate the correct applicable period of their payment.

Accredited banks include Allied Bank, Chinabank, Development Bank of the Philippines, LandBank, Metrobank, Philippine National Bank, RCBC, United Coconut Planters Bank, UnionBank, Asia United Bank, Bank of Commerce, and Philippine Veterans Bank.

“It is important to pay your contributions on time since retroactive payment for Individually Paying members is not allowed,” the director noted.

A grace period is permissible though which is only 60 days after the deadline of the missed quarter - a member is only allowed to use the grace period once in a year. Thus, on time payment is still the best option.

In case of hospitalization, the premiums paid on the latest quarter prior to the confinement shall be the basis of determining your eligibility in benefit availment.

However, for maternity cases, cataract extraction, and certain operations, the member has to have at least 3 quarterly payments within one year prior to the month of avialment in order to avail of benefits.

For more inquiries on your PhilHealth contributions please call 435-4375.(PhilHealth V/PIA)

'LAGO DEL REY' SHOWCASES NEW WATERSPORTS IN CWC

PILI, CAMARINES SUR (March 6) — Watersports experience will never be the same again as Governor LRay Villafuerte’s tourism program welcomes the advent of summer with the opening of the latest spectacle at the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (CWC), the Lago del Rey or “King’s Lake”.

The man-made lake right across the famous wakeboard park has since been open to the public February 26, this year.

A star-studded celebrity challenge “Aqua Fest”, held on February 26-28, marked the festive launching of King’s Lake with prominent names in entertainment and media, the likes of Anne Curtis, Marian Rivera, Joey Marquez, John Estrada, Priscilla Meirelles, Bobby Yan, Bubbles Paraiso, Michelle Madrigal, Raymund Gutierrez, Say Alonzo, Kapuso (GMA) and Kapamilya (ABS-CBN) stars, competing in several watersports and relishing the world class amenities of CWC.

Adding up to the wakeboard park extreme sports attractions, the new Lago del Rey—a sports facility seems fit for royalty as its name infers— however, offers very affordable wholesome family watersports entertainment including giant water slides, aqua wall climbing, water polo, water volleyball, kayaking, aqua obstacle course, paddle boarding, sailing, rowing, water tubing, boat-towed wakeboarding, kite boarding and skiing, swimming, among others.

The lake also features the Kids’ Activity Center providing suitable water-oriented sports and entertainment suitable for children.

“Lago del Rey is expected to rev up tourists arrival in the province by at least fifty percent, meaning more revenues for the provincial government, stakeholders and gainful employment for the locals,” Villafuerte said.

With already the world-renowned attractions of CWC and Gota Village Resort in Caramoan Peninsula, Lago del Rey is certain to boost Camarines Sur’s growing reputation as one of the best tourism destinations in the Philippines.

Villafuerte’s unique approach and innovative strategies in promoting local tourism programs, CWC visitors observe, will make Camarines Sur the watersports capital of Asia or even the world.(CAMSUR Multimedia Educ. Cen./PIA)


Lady justices, judges to lead campaigns against human rights violations

MANILA (March 6) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today enlisted the support of lady justices and judges in the speedy resolution of human rights cases and cited the central role women's groups play in the campaign for gender equality.

Addressing the delegates to the International Association of the WomenJudges Asia-Pacific Regional Conference held at the Rizal Hall in Malacanang yesterday, the President paid tribute to women's groups like the Philippine Women Judges Association for their support to the government's campaign for the protection of human rights.

"I ask the support of the Women Justices Association to make it our joint advocacy that the human rights cases move faster in the courts," she said.

"In the area of women's rights, we have made great strides, the Chief Executive said, as she expressed pride that in terms of gender parity, the Philippines is among the top six in the world and the top rated in Asia.

"We are number one in the world in gender equality in terms of literacy rate, and we share the number one spot with some other countries for female enrollment in primary, secondary and tertiary education," she said.

This success, she said, was achieved because of the work of women's groups like PWJA , and the support of majority of the Filipino people.

Although the country has for many years faced many challenges that impinge on human rights, the President said, she was pleased by the recognition given to the gains made by the government on human rights.

Among these achievements are:

a) The huge drop in the number of cases of unexplained killings in the last two years as a result of the many deterrents that the government has instituted against human rights violations;
b) The continuing human rights education and information campaigns in the police and military organizations, usually in partnership with the independent Commission on Human Rights;
c) The identification of non-state actors such as the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People's Army, lawless groups within the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Abu Sayyaf Group -- as among the major perpetrators of human rights violations in the Philippines.
d) Improvement in jails and detention centers managed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology as a result of decongestion efforts.
e) Recognition of freedom of speech and of the press; internet freedom and academic freedom; freedom of assembly and association; freedom of movement and protection of internally displaced persons, refugees and stateless persons, electoral rights of citizens, protection and respect of women's rights and the work of international non-government organizations investigating violations of human rights.

The President said, however, that the core issue of human rights is "alleviating poverty, which is my number one issue."

She said her administration' s main focus is to uplift the poor, provide opportunity in good times and protect the most vulnerable in bad.

The President said that over the years her administration pursued programs intended to bring the fiscal house in order and raised revenues to invest in people.

The government's fiscal stimulus program, which will fast-track government spending in infrastructure and agriculture development, is also designed to create new job opportunities for those who have been impacted by the global economic crisis.

At the same time, she said, the government is increasing investments in social services to expand safety nets for the poor, the most vulnerable members of society.

Despite the challenges that the country is facing in the midst of the global economic downturn, the President assured that her administration will not falter in its campaign to protect human rights, women’s rights and the alleviate poverty.(PIA V Release)


‘RP NO LONGER SICK MAN OF ASIA’

MANILA (March 6) — The Philippines is no longer the “sick man of Asia,” Philippine Cabinet Secretary Edgardo D. Pamintuan declared in a series of dialogues with Filipino-American community leaders in the United States.

“It used to be that when America sneezes, the Philippines is already suffering from pneumonia. But as the US, Japan and many other countries slide deeper into recession, the Philippines has still been registering respectable economic growth,” Pamintuan said.

Pamintuan, chair of the Subic-Clark-Alliance for Development, is head of a four-man delegation from the Philippines on a “good news” road show about the economic performance of the country in the face of the global crisis; the developments of key infrastructure projects; as well the progress of the conversion of Clark and Subic from military to economic bases.

With Pamintuan, who is also development champion for the Luzon Urban Beltway super region and presidential adviser for external affairs, are Alexander Cauiguiran, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Clark International Airport Corporation, Undersecretary Danilo de Austria Consumido and Director Leonardo Kirk Galanza of the Office of External Affairs of the Office of the President.

Pamintuan and his team met with leaders of the Filipino-American community in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. They will meet with Filipino-American leaders in San Francisco this weekend.

Noting that infrastructure development is key to mitigating the impact of the global crisis, Pamintuan enumerated several key infrastructure projects being implemented in the Luzon Urban Beltway super region, which covers Central Luzon, Metro Manila and the Southern Luzon provinces.

He said these projects are mainly road and highway networks, rail systems, airports and seaports that are aimed to interconnect the production and industrial enclaves of Southern Luzon to the commercial and consumption centers of Metro Manila, and to the rest of the world through the freeports of Clark and Subic.

“We are trying to create a seamless network of multi-modal transport-oriented infrastructures that would promote greater efficiency in the movement of goods, services, people and information,” Pamintuan said, adding that these projects would greatly reduce the cost of doing business.

“Because of the global crisis, companies would now be locating to areas where there are efficient facilities and where the cost of doing business is lower. Add to this the availability of highly-skilled Filipino labor, I believe we can even take advantage of the opportunities offered by the global economic situation,” he explained.(PIA V Release)

COMELEC ensures safeguards in ACM

MANILA (March 6) — The automated counting machines (ACMs) are not fool proof, but they will deliver what was expected of them, a ranking official from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) said.

In an interview over Radyo ng Bayan, COMELEC Spokesperson James Jimenez said questions about the security of the ACMs are understandable considering the technology to be used is new.

In any case, Jimenez said there are plenty of safeguards in the design of the ACMs.

One example is the precinct result which has several back-up copies; another is the speed of the ACM process that leaves no opportunity for manipulation of elections results while being transmitted from precincts to the board canvassers in the local, provincial and national level.

Jimenez said even codes to be used in the machines will be subjected to code review before deployment.

And finally, the COMELEC will be holding a dry run in the presence of all political parties.

Earlier, Malacanang palace thanked both houses of Congress for passing the Php11.3- Billion Supplemental Budget to automate the 2010 elections.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will surely sign the law as poll automation is one of her major programs.(PIA V Release)