MORE JOBS UP FOR GRAB IN TESDA’s JOBS BRIDGING AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

LEGAZPI CITY — Thousands of jobseekers are expected to join the Jobs Bridging and Internship Program of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) today (June19) at the Albay Astrodome here.

Conrado Bares, TESDA Bicol regional director, told PIA Ugnayan sa Bikol the program hopes to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), displaced workers and the unemployed to find suitable jobs by bringing in government institutions, private companies, and recruitment agencies that offer job opportunities and could possible hire workers on the spot.

The activity will be open to jobseekers from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

He said TESDA's Jobs Bridging and Internship Program is the government's response to generate jobs to cushion the effects of the global economic crisis among the country's labor force.

He added that it is TESDA's response to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's economic resiliency program to address the present global economic crisis.

Tomorrow’s event will provide a venue for the displaced workers to find employment opportunities or a chance to undergo internship program under the Pangulong Gloria Scholarship program. It will also be a venue for new graduates to find employment without going through the rigors of applying for a job.

Bares explained that the jobs bridging and internship activity is a one of its kind jobs fair and greatly varies from the other jobs fairs that have been carried out by other national government agencies (NGAs) and local government units (LGUs).

"This program is a unique activity because it will be a technology-based job-matching encounter. Job applicants will be engaging with employers both local and overseas through the web," he elaborated.

Bares also averred another unique feature of the program is that all applicants to the job bridging and internship activity will go home with a gold card, which will enable the applicant to have a worldwide access to employers. Through the gold card, the applicants profile will be made available through the web.

Other services to be provided include PGMA skills retraining, Career Guidance Services under Youth Profiling for Starting Career (YP4SC), and manpower pooling for future job assistance.

For those who lack the competencies required for workers, TESDA will offer free training under the PGS program which is a platform to that links job training directly to job recruiters, displaced workers and overseas Filipino workers.

Other government agencies that will participate to the one-day event include DOLE, OWWA, POEA, DA, DENR, DOT and DPWH who are the front liners in the implementation of the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP); while the BIR, DFA, NBI, SSS and NSO will process and issue required documents for employment. (MALoterte, PIA V)


NAVFORSOL BEEFS UP DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

LEGAZPI CITY — The Naval Forces Southern Luzon based here is taking an active role in a bid to beef-up preparations to respond to any emergency and calamity that may affect the Bicol region.

In a command briefing, Commodore Joel E Babas, NAVFORSOL commander, said that “those with the capacity and wherewithal to help themselves must do so in advance, so that in the event of an emergency, responders can first assist those who are unable to tend to themselves.

“Typhoons, flashfloods, volcanic eruption and mudflows, landslides, and recent calamities remind us more than ever that we must prepare ourselves and our families for a disaster. This is the time, each year, when every Bicolanos should ask the question, Am I ready?,” he stressed.

Babas noted NAVFORSOL maintains that preparation on disaster response and mitigation should be year round.

“We encourage all individuals to take important preparedness steps that will improve their ability to survive and recover from all kinds of emergencies or disasters, may they bee natural or man-made. These steps include getting an emergency supply kit, making a family emergency plan, becoming informed about the different emergencies that may affect them, and getting involved in community preparedness and response efforts,” he said.

Meanwhile, NAVFORSOL has recently acquired additional equipments from navy headquarters that will augment the resources and capability of the navy’s disaster response and rescue team.

The naval command has also spearheaded regular trainings, seminars, and other disaster risk reduction and response forum for its DRRU personnel.

It can also be recalled the naval command, in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol, government line agencies, LGU’s, non-government institution, and the media, led a multi-sectoral Awareness Caravan on A(H1-N1) in preventing the spread and mitigating the effects of Influenza A(H1-N1) virus.

NAVFORSOL and other AFP units in the Bicol region have also forged partnership with the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) in combining efforts to encourage support and cooperation of the populace on disaster preparedness as the country observes National Disaster Preparedness Month this coming July. (DFNieva, NAVFORSOL/PIA)


FIRST BPO PRODUCTION FACILITY OPENS IN DAET

DAET, Camarines Norte — The first Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) production facility in the province of Camarines Norte opens here today (June 19), in time for celebration of the Pinyasan Festival.

Software Ventures, Inc. (SVI) has already established and committed to pursue the BPO project here, one of the pioneer municipalities to host such project in the country.

The production facility is expected to initially hire 150 personnel for the operation of the BPO project and targets to generate jobs at least 450 within the year.

SVI will start the training program today for the 330 pre-qualified personnel.

It can be recalled that Monchito Ibrahim, chief of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), expressed optimism towards the project and lauded the same for providing employment opportunities not only among Daet locals but also to the provincial residents.

Mayor Tito Sarion meanwhile said the impact of the SVI BPO production facility, operating in a 24-hour basis, may be ten folds in propelling economic progress in Daet.

The project has been realized through the support and assistance of Cong. Liwayway Vinzons-Chato of the province’s lone district.

With the project, Sarion is confident that Daet will be globally known as one of the most competitive LGUs in the country. (RCYu, LGU Daet/PIA)


MODERNIZATION OF PAGASA LEGAZPI STATION UNDERWAY

LEGAZPI CITY — Upgrading of the equipment and facilities of the weather station of Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is expected to be completed within the year for the establishment of the Southern Luzon PAGASA Regional Services Division here.

Mr. Nathaniel Cruz, OIC of the Office of the Deputy Administrator for Operation and Services, averred the modernization of the weather station here entails that SL-PRSD will be equipped with similar equipment and facilities of PAGASA Central Office that will certainly improve weather forecasting in times of typhoons and other weather disturbances.

Cruz, along with other officials of PAGASA central office, was in this city for the Typhoon and Flood Awareness two-day road show holding dialogue with the local media and local disaster coordinating councils on June14-15.

He said PAGASA synoptic station here will be equipped with the necessary instruments for accurate severe weather forecasting, adding that communications equipment will also be enhanced to facilitate timely dissemination of severe weather bulletins.

He also disclosed one Doppler radar, acquired through Japan International Cooperation Agency grant-aid, will also be installed in Virac, Catanduanes to serve the Bicol region, on the other hand, the present installation in Virac will be transferred to Daet station in Camarines Norte.

He explained unlike the conventional radar used presently by PAGASA, the US and Japan-made Doppler radar is very capable of detecting incoming thunderstorm, rainfall intensity and wind speed.

Bicol will now have 10 weather stations and will be reporting to the SL-PRSD once the project is completed.

Earlier in a media conference, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, who also chairs the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Bicol, said that the establishment of a regional forecasting center is a very welcome development for Bicol region that will provide the public accurate, relevant, and time information concerning weather disturbances. (MALoterte, PIA V)


“DISKUWENTO PARA SA MAMAMAYANG FILIPINO” ON FREEDOM DAY

VIRAC, Catanduanes — Four business establishments here join the “Diskuwento para sa Mamamayang Filipino” project of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) offering varying discounts on selected consumer items that locals can avail.

The project was carried out to provide some relief, though temporarily, to consumers in time for the celebration of the country’s 111th Independence Day (June 12).

Among the participating business establishments her were Antares Commercial, Catanduanes Bazaar, Catanduanes Shoppers Center and Century Family Mall.

Consumers were able to avail of up to 20% discount on school uniform and supplies, bags, slippers, t-shirts, and other consumer items.

While establishments in other Bicol provinces offer discounts for only four days, participating stores in Catanduanes opted to run the project for the whole month of June 2009 to give their consumers more time to avail of the discounts. (DTI Catanduanes/PIA)

































AMMOS RECOVERED; GOVT. TROOPS,
REBELS CLASH IN SORSOGON CITY

STA. MAGDALENA, Sorsogon — Assorted ammunitions were recovered Monday (June 15) in a remote barangay of this municipality following an Internal Security Operations (ISO) conducted by the operatives of Municipal Police Station here.

PSInsp. Romeo Gallinera, deputy chief of police here, said MPS operatives were conducting operations in sitio San Lorenzo of barangay San Rafael when they chanced upon a sack of assorted ammunitions and other materials.

Recovered materials include 1 rifle grenade, 316 rounds of ammunitions for M-16, 60 rounds of ammunition for M-14, 21 rounds of ammunitions for carbine rifle, 2 magazines for carbine rifle, 2 bandoliers, 1 steel box, 1 wooden box, 1 set of cleaner for M-16 rifle and assorted notebooks.

”The items are now in the custody of MPS here for proper disposition and exploitations,” said Gallinera.

Meanwhile, elements of Scout Ranger of the 3rd Infantry Batallion based in Juban, Sorsogon clashed with at least 10 suspected NPA rebels Tuesday (June 16), around 8:30 in the morning in barangay Marinas in Sorsogon City.

No injury or fatality was reported on the part of the government troop, while undetermined number of casualties on the rebel side was noted as evidenced by blood stains along the route of rebel’s withdrawal.

”The encounter resulted to the recovery of 1 M-16 rifle with serial number 167424, 1 military backpack, 1 civilian backpack, an NPA flag, 10 flashlights, telescope, personal belongings and subversive documents,” said Vince Mercado, PIO of the 3rd Infantry Batallion.

However, in a follow-up message, a certain Ramil Estorninof y Escolano, resident of the said barangay, was reported wounded as a result of said encounter.

Follow-up investigation of Escolano’s presence in the encounter site is still in progress. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)

















CSC CELEBRATES 38TH CHARTER DAY

VIRAC, Catanduanes- An array of academic-literary competitions and trade-techno fair marked the 38th foundation anniversary of the Catanduanes Sate Colleges starting June 18 until today.

The celebration commenced with a parade around downtown, followed by the Techno Fair showcasing the agricultural and knowledge-based products of CSC, including researches presented in international events and other programs of the extension services department.

Academic and literally competitions as well as skills highlighted the opening day, while the Search for Mr. and Miss CSC was held in the evning.

The CSC also conferred awards of recognition to the Dean’s listers, government and private scholarship benefactors, partners in extension linkages, as well as retirees and outstanding employees and alumni.

The late congressman of the province, Jose M. Alberto, is the founder of the CSC. He authored and sponsored RA 6341 which converted the former Virac National Agricultural and Trade School into the state college now.

Today, the CSC is enjoying the prestige of being the only public institution of higher learning in Catanduanes with its graduates topping various national licensure examinations.

The CSC, s now categorized as Level III SUC (State University and College), is now comprehensive higher education institution offering complete academic degree programs.

The accreditation of academic programs by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities of the Philippines, Inc. of its almost curricular programs were achieved in 2008 and this has concretized the goal of the CSC administration under the stewardship of President Asuncion V. Asetre, to ensure that the entire programs of the institution are fully accredited. (EABagadiong, PIA Catanduanes)