PSCRC RAISES BAR IN PUBLIC SPEAKING AND DEBATE CULTURE

SORSOGON CITY (September 22) – The Public Speaking and Community Relations Club (PSCRC) and Public Relation and Information Services (PRIS) of the Sorsogon State College (SSC) campus here have recently established a debater’s organization in the city campus.

John Edward Evano, SSC campus debater, said the organization was established in response to the challenge of the University of the Philippines and De La Salle University to institutionalize the art of debating and public speaking in the college.

“PSCRC, on the other hand, aims to train and field students in order to represent the institution in local and international competitions,” he added.

Evano explained that trying-out for the club involves undergoing the probationary period of one semester in which the aspirants will have to undergo 30 debates with 15 minutes preparation for each bout.

“Their cumulative scores after the debates will be the determining factor whether or not they will be accepted as full-fledged members,” he also said.

It can be recalled that SSC gained recognition in the recently concluded Bicol wide British Parliamentary Debate Competition in Naga City .

This year, the SSC was also launched as the Provincial Center for British and Asians Parliamentary Debates.

SSC President Dr. Antonio Fuentes said that as the provincial debate center, it will beef up SSC’s role as the institutional leader in public fora and in developing a vibrant public speaking and debate culture in the province.

The PSCR Club now works on holding regional debates in SSC this year. (SSC/ BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)


CAMSUR HOSTS URBAN AND RURAL POOR LEADERS’ FORUM

Pili, Camarines Sur — Leaders of the urban and rural poor sectors from the 35 municipalities and 2 cities Camarines Sur province convened Wednesday (September 23) for the Sectoral Forum at the Eco Village in the provincial capitol compound here.

The forum provided the participants updates on the latest laws, jurisprudence, government directives and policies which will redound to the benefits and welfare of the marginalized sectors of the society.

The Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, under the auspices of Governor LRay Villafuerte, Alliance of National Urban Poor Organizations Assembly (ANUPA) Canaman Urban Poor Federation Inc., and the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor jointly sponsored the one day assembly.

Pantaleon C. Morallos, ANUPA national chairman, gave an overview of the interfacing underscoring the most current issues and concerns affecting the urban and rural poor sectors.

Morallos also disclosed plans to create a more centralized body for the urban and rural poor sector so that their rights and welfare will be properly addressed.

He said that the proposed group also intends to strengthen participation of people’s organizations in national and local governance.

ANUPA is an organization geared at developing more effective measures in line with the programs and policies of the government to advocate, coordinate, and boost pro-poor development plans and strategies in order for the less fortunate members of the society to have greater access to basic services of the government.

Ma. Elena M. Manila, project officer of Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PICUP) discussed various urban poor-related laws such as the E.O # 152 and 153, Presidential Proclamations and ELAVED.

Director Pablo S. Sayson, ANUPA vice president, meanwhile tackled laws on sectoral representation like NAPC, A.O. # 182 and R.A. No. 7160.

The event was highlighted by an open forum where participants aired some of their issues and concerns about the current economic situation. Deliberations were also conducted on matters pertaining to programs and projects which are yet to be launched in their localities. (ANDujar, MMEC/PIA)

GAWAD SA KAMPEON NG KABATAANG PILIPINO 2009 AWARDS

The National Youth Commission (NYC) will spearhead the search for Gawad sa Kampeon ng Kabataang Pilipino 2009 this September to December 2009.

This search aims to give recognition to Local Government Units (LGUs) and Local Legislators for their significant contribution and investment on youth development in line with the Philippine Medium Term Youth Development Plan (MTYDP); and to create a databank of outstanding LGU programs and legislators on youth development that may be replicated by others.

The awards program is comprised of two categories, namely: Local Government Units (LGU) category and Local Legislators category.

LGU category is open to all provincial, city and municipal local government units. Applicants should have the following youth development initiatives: a Local Youth Development Council (LYDC) or a similar structure and created and approved thru ordinance; an integrated and fully implemented Local Youth Development Plan (LYDP) that is anchored from the Philippine Medium Term Development Plan (MTYDP), and the local youth situationer; a permanent youth coordinator or youth affairs office; a local confederation of youth organizations recognized and duly registered by the NYC and LGU concerned; and related youth policies, programs and service in education, health, environment, employment, values, youth participation and other policies that enhance the development and empowerment of the youth sector.

The Local Legislators category is open to all incumbent vice-Governors, vice-mayors, board members, councilors, PCL presidents, ABC presidents and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation presidents.

Applications or nominations for the Local Legislator category will be based on legislation principally sponsored by the applicant or nominee during his present or previous terms for the position he is presently occupying. The legislator can apply or be nominated for different legislations, separately. It must have been passed and approved/enacted as ordinances through a process provided in the Local Government Code.

Guidelines and mechanics, and application forms for the two categories are downloadable at the NYC website: www.youth.net.ph. Said documents are also available at the NYC Naga Area Office, 3/F Monzon Bldg., Elias Angeles, Naga City.

For further information, please contact us at tel. nos. (054) 8115804 / 4370435; mobile no. 09175800538 or email address: nyc.nagacity@yahoo.com. Deadline for submission of entries is on October 16, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. (NYC release/PIA)

DA-RFU BICOL HOLDS POSTER-MAKING CONTEST FOR WORLD FOOD DAY

PILI, Camarines Sur –The Department of Agriculture (DA) Bicol regional field unit here has slated today (September 25) the regional On-the-Spot Poster Making for Grade Vl pupils with the theme: “Achieving Food Security in Times of Crisis” at the DA Library in barangay San Agustin here.

The contest is held annually among elementary pupils heightening their awareness on the importance of food, not only for human survival but also for its over-all impact in our lives.

Some 30 students are expected to participate in this year’s arts competition from public and other Department of Education (DepEd) accredited private elementary schools in the region.

As an innovation for this year, contestants will be allowed to use agriculture and fishery-based products such as seeds, weeds, leaves or grains to be pasted or mounted on their canvass as part of the design of the poster.

Only one winning entry will be selected from among the regional entries to be evaluated and selected by a board of judges based on the following criteria: Originality 20%; visual impact 20%; creative use of agriculture and fishery products 30%; and relevance to the theme 30%.

The regional winner will receive P3,000 from the FAO and will represent Bicol in the national competition on October 14, 2009 at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management in Diliman, Quezon City.

The five best posters will each receive a cash prize of P12,000, a trophy and a plaque for the school. In addition, the top five winners will be awarded with an all-expense educational tour courtesy of the National Agriculture and Fishery Council (NAFC), with each winner to be allowed one escort preferably a parent, sibling or guardian.

The non-winning regional posters will each receive P1,000, certificate of participation and a certificate of appreciation for the school.

The contest is In observance of the annual World Food Day celebration on October 16 which is also the foundation anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (DAbad, PIA Camarines Sur)

ASSESSMENT ON SEARCH FOR GAWAD PAGKAIN 2009 HELD IN CAMARINES NORTE

DAET, Camarines Norte – The Bicol Regional Anti-Hunger Task Force has conducted an evaluation in this province for the Search Gawad Pagkain Award for 2008, September 24-25, 2009.

Marilyn Valeza, National Nutrition Council (NNC) Bicol nutrition officer III, said that the awards program aims recognize the efforts of the local government units (LGUs) and the national government line agencies in the implementation of the Accelerating Hunger Mitigation Program of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

She said that the program was launched in the province in February 25, 2007 wherein LGUs and NGAs concerned were tasked to implement the program.

It also aims to fast tract the implementation of the program wherein Camarines Norte and Masbate provinces are the recipients in the region.

She said that included in the evaluation were the efforts in the hunger mitigation measures such as: the increase in food production in livestock, crops and marine regeneration; and the logistics and food delivery in barangay like the food terminal and tindahan natin, ports, farm to market roads, the food for school program and others.

Valeza also said that also included in the evaluation were the measures on putting more money in poor people’s pocket by improving productivity in coconut areas, more aggressive micro-financing, employment, and training; the promotion of good nutrition by social marketing and promotion of breastfeeding; and the management of the population. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)


50 PAWIKANS FREED ON MASBATE DAY

MASBATE CITY—Exactly 50 endangered marine turtles that were separately trapped in fish pens or nets in the waters off Masbate were released back to the open sea on Sunday.

Authorities placed tags on the turtles before releasing them. All the turtles that have been tagged and released have not returned since.

The turtles, some of which are Hawksbill that weighed up to 40 kilos each, were rescued by fishermen who turned them over to Mayor Socrates Tuason.

This was not the first time that turtles were handed over to Tuason, thanks to high public awareness of the city government’s effort to save the gentle species.

Dedicating itself to the conservation of marine turtles, known locally as pawikan, the city government has literally turned its municipal waters into a safe haven for the gentle creatures since 2001.

Each year, about the same number of turtles falls on the lap of the mayor. Tito Velza of the City Agriculture Office said the turtles were caught or got entangled with fishing nets or found along the shores.

One of the reasons that turtles keep coming, he said, is that the area is a pathway for migratory species.

According to the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, the presence of turtles indicates that the seawaters remain clean and are still rich in biodiversity, with available small fishes that serve as their food.

They were hatched along the seashores years ago and are coming back to copulate and lay eggs.

Marine turtles travel great distances to feed and grow. As hatchlings, they imprint the magnetic field of the area and always go back to where they were hatched after 25 to 30 years to copulate and lay eggs.

About three decades ago, however, these rare marine inhabitants were hunted in the seawaters of Masbate or slaughtered while laying eggs on the shores.

In some communities today, turtle meat and eggs are still collected as food.

The biggest threats come from dynamite fishing, indiscriminate harvesting of eggs, and conversion of the sandy areas where turtles nest to resorts and other commercial facilities. (EADelgado, PIA Masbate)


PGMA orders conversion of Palace into National Relief Operations
Center for typhoon Ondoy victims

MANILA—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today (September 28) the temporary convertion of the Malacanang Palace into a national relief operations center.

According to Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, President Arroyo instructed her to conduct a meeting with Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and Secretary to the Cabinet Silvestre Bello III today to convert Malacanang into a national relief operations center.

Remonde said the move was to augment the relief operations of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the victims of typhoon Ondoy who remained in flooded areas in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Remonde also said, even the members of the First Family were ordered by President Arroyo to evacuate the Palace to give way to convert the official residence of the President into a national relief operations center.

He said Mrs Arroyo also widened the scope of Oplan Sagip Bayan, wherein aside from the Cabinet members, all the government-owned and controlled corporations help in the relief operations of the government.

Remonde also told Malacanang reporters on Monday that he had already met with officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corp. (Pagcor) and discussed the necessary resources for the Oplan Sagip Bayan of President Arroyo to help typhoon Ondoy victims.

Remonde said that the Social Security System (SSS) had already allocated P100 million fund to augment the relief operations of the government.

The Palace also appealed to its critics to stop finger pointing but instead help typhoon Ondoy victims.

Mrs. Arroyo also visited barangays Poblacion and Abangun Sur in Marilao, Bulacan and lead the distribution of relief goods to the typhoon victims. (PIA V Release)


PGMA cancels Cabinet meeting

MANILA—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday canceled her scheduled Cabinet meeting in Bacacay, Albay to focus more on the relief operations for the victims of typhoon Ondoy in Metro Manila and adjoining provinces.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said that President Arroyo would hold her Cabinet meeting on Tuesday in Metro Manila, instead of holding it in Misibis Island resort in Bacacay, Albay.

Fajardo said the President also canceled her other activities in Guinobatan, Albay on Tuesday and her trip to Polangui, Albay on Wednesday for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Polangui Water system rehabilitation.

Mrs. Arroyo canceled her previous activities to give priority in the relief and rescue efforts for the victims of typhoon Ondoy, Fajardo said.

She also said PGMA also decided to temporarily convert Malacanang into a national relief operations center.

Mrs. Arroyo is also moving out from the Palace and will hold temporary office outside Malacanang to give way for the national relief operations center to move freely in Malacanang.

Earlier, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde also said that even the members of the First Family would move out from the Palace to use Malacanang as the central relief operations center.

Mrs. Arroyo also ordered a wider relief operations through the Oplan Sagip Bayan, wherein she directed all government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCC’s) to help in government effort to extend all the necessary assistance to the flood victims.

President Arroyo also appealed to public to help one another in this time of calamity and practice the Filipino tradition of “bayanihan”.

Mrs. Arroyo visited the flooded areas of Marikina and Quezon City after she personally lead the distribution of relief goods to Lubao, Pampanga and Marilao, Bulacan. (PIA V Release)


PGMA condoles with families of Mt. Arayat landslide victims

ARAYAT, Pampanga -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo condoled last night with the families of those killed after tons of mud and rock cascaded down Mt. Arayat and buried their homes at the height of tropical storm Ondoy on September 26.

The President, fresh from Cainta and Malabon, two of the worst hit-cities in the National Capital Region, arrived at the St. John Chapel here to commiserate with the Dela Cruz, Portacio and Galang families, who lost loved ones in the landslide.

Appropriately clad in a black raincoat over a black dress, the President told Sammy Portacio she felt sorry that he had lost his wife Riza, 28, and their three children Sonny Boy, 8, LynLyn, 5 and Raiza, 4.

From the chapel, the President then went to see Manuel dela Cruz, who suffered the loss of his entire family.

Dela Cruz recounted to the President how he watched in horror as his mother Catalina, 86, his wife Sherly, 31, who was pregnant with their fifth child and their four children Manilyn, 12, Marlon, 11, Maryan, 10, and Mcgyver, 6, were swallowed up by the rampaging mud, rocks and debris.

Last to be visited by the President were Mario and Leonora Galang, parents of Mark, 15, and Marko, 10, who also perished in the tragedy.

In a separate interview, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelie Fajardo said the President was devastated upon hearing the misfortune that befell her cabalen.

She said the President instructed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippine National Police and the local government units to investigate the cause of the landslide and to present their findings to her immediately.

The President gave each family two checks amounting to P15,000 for each loved one lost: P10,000 from the National Disaster Coordinating Council and P5,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Pampanga Rep. Dong Gonzales also donated P5,000 for each victim.

After viewing each casket, the President left for the nearby barangays of Sto. Niño, San Miguel and San Agustin, all in the municipality of San Simon, Pampanga, to distribute food bags to residents.

Each bag, contained P250, worth of canned goods, rice, noodles, coffee and sugar. (PIA V Release)


RP gets immediate assistance from international community

MANILA—The Philippine government has received assistance from the international community in its efforts to provide assistance to people affected by typhoon Ondoy that wreaked havoc in Metro Manila and other provinces.

In a meeting at the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in Camp Aguinaldo today, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro briefed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Vice President Noli De Castro, and members of the Cabinet that the United States Government has donated $50,000 and provided one helicopter and rubber boats for the rescue mission.

“Our US allies assured us that they will coordinate with us in our efforts,” Teodoro said.

The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) has also donated food and non-food items worth to P15.3 million.

The President thanked the international allies for their immediate support to the rescue mission of the Philippine government at the aftermath of typhoon Ondoy.

At the briefing Teodoro stressed that NDCC has already centralized the donation point for the victims of the typhoon. He identified three centers of the Department of Social Welfare and Development where people can make their donations : the National Relief Operations Center, which is located between the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) 1 and 2 near the Air Transport Office in Pasay City; the Central Office of DSWD right across the Batasan road; and the National Capital Region (NCRF) Crisis Intervention Unit in Legarda, Manila.

No donations will be accepted in Camp Aguinaldo, which has already run out storage space.

At the same briefing, Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza said the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) have been put on a 24 hour operations and are implementing a flat rate P10 fare.

Teodoro also informed President Arroyo that he has declared the suspension of classes at all levels at the NCR and Rizal province today(September 28).

He, however, leaves it to the local government units (LGUs) and superintendents of schools in other disaster areas covered by the state of calamity to declare suspension of classes in their respective communities and schools.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) likewise apprised the President that Quezon City received the highest rainfall of 455 millimeters in 24 hours due to typhoon Ondoy.

PAGASA said typhoon Ondoy has already left the Philippine area of responsibility, but warned that a cloud clusters in the Pacific could develop into a low pressure area under the potential of becoming another storm.

The Chief Executive ordered her Cabinet to prepare and monitor the situation. (PIA V Release)