ALBAY HONORS CNN HERO OF THE YEAR

LEGAZPI CITY — Albay province, known for Governor Joey Sarte Salceda administration’s thrust to have at least one college graduate in each Albayano family has lauded Efren Peñaflorida, the Cable News Network (CNN) hero of the year, for extending exemplary help to poor and eager students off the streets.

His reward though, does not end there as the province confers Peñaflorida the highest provincial honor possible and a cash gift of P250,000.

Salceda said that Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed a provincial resolution on Tuesday (November 24) giving the highest honor possible to Peñaflorida, including the cash gift and making him honorary son of Albay.

AS chair of the Regional Development Council (RDC), Salceda also said the council will make similar commendation and circulate the success stories so his person and his good work will be emulated.

The Education Quality for the Albayanos (EQUAL), a duly institutionalized educational department under the office of the governor was tasked to give the special award to Peñaflorida and hold testimonials and invite him to the annual teachers’ night to inspire teachers in Albay.

“His sense of civic duty should inspire citizens, reignite hope for our nation but remind public servants to bring services closer to the people and more importantly to employ political will and local leadership and to increase resource commitments to basic education system so that there would be no need for ‘Kariton Klasrums’ (classrooms on push carts),” Salceda said.

“Albay needs Peñaflorida especially among the teachers but his ‘Karitons’ do challenge the province to step up efforts to increase participation rate, cohort survival and achievement rates in elementary and high school with 14 local government units should rise up to Peñaflorida’s challenge that won’t need to take the street push carts just to provide education to the marginalized child sector,” Salceda added.

“Peñaflorida’s unique ingenuity has resounded the Filipino people’s need for practicality in providing basic education even without the need for buildings for as long as the heroism is there,” observed several school teachers here.

Experts in the academe said that the basic education is so important that it lays down foundations for learning and further development into useful citizens. (MALoterte, PIA V)



CSOs HOLDS PARTICIPATORY PLANNING WORKSHOP

SORSOGON CITY — 40 leaders and representatives from the Civil Society Organizations (CSO) here took part in the Participatory Orientation and Planning Workshop on the Joint Memorandum Circular #1, enjoining participatory planning system and guidelines on citizen’s participation in governance.

The activity was made possible through the initiative of the Provincial Alliance for NGOs and POs for Development (PANGOPOD), in partnership with The Asia Foundation and The British Embassy represented by Joseph Imperial, Angel Belaquel and Jing Lopez.

“The gathering provided an opportunity for the participants to understand the important features of the said memorandum and for CSOs to see opportunities for participation in local planning, budgeting, investment programming and implementation of the plan,” said Jayson Calamdag, PANGOPOD project coordinator.

The circular, signed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Finance (DOF) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM), has urged the civil society to participate in the local planning as part of the new governance system.

In the workshops, participants defined the ideal conditions in the areas that will maximize the objectives of the joint memorandum translated in terms of a minimum set of indicators and recognized the perceived gaps based on CSOs assessment of the situation in their areas of concern.

“They were also given the chance to exchange sharing on the exemplary practices on harmonized planning and effective budget advocacy in their respective localities,” said Calamdag.

As an over-all output, the participants have identified the critical steps to undertake and prepared a short-term action plan applicable in six months to one year implementation focusing on activities which the CSOs believed are necessary in creating a more enabling environment for their subsequent involvement in the special local body processes.

Calamdag said he is confident that the CSOs now have a clearer outlook regarding the importance of civil society groups’ participation in the planning and budget appropriations systems of local government units. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)



MEDIA RELATIONS SEMINAR FOR BFP SORSOGON CITY

SORSOGON CITY — Some 35 uniformed personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) office here, including firefighters from the central station and sub-stations in Bacon District and barangay Abuyog, participated in Monday last week the First Media Relations Seminar to understand and appreciate the rudiments and work of a media practitioner.

“As public servants as well as advocators of fire safety, it is incumbent upon us to develop good working relationship with the media practitioners,” Chief Inspector Renato Marcial, head of the city fire department, said.

Joseph John Perez, a professional lecturer of the Bicol University, Journalism Department, shared his time and ideas on journalism to include basic news writing, crisis management and becoming effective and responsible fire safety advocates.

The seminar, conducted for the first time at the Sorsogon City Central Fire Station in Burgos Street, Talisay, Sorsogon City, was conceptualized by Marcial, who was once the PIO and spokesperson of the BFP’s national headquarters.

Marcial hopes that with the seminar his men will now be able to appreciate the rudiments of Journalism as well as understand the work of a media practitioner.
(LFuntanares, BFP Sorsogon City/PIA)


AAGAPAY BICOL SLATES TREE PLANTING

LEGAZPI CITY — The Alalay at Gabay sa Pag-unlad ng Pamayanan (AAGAPAY) in Bicol, a civic organization involved in various community developments and environmental conservation, has slated on December 12, 2009 a simultaneous tree planting in the different provinces across the region.

The activity will be held in pre designated sites, including fish sanctuaries, denuded forests/mountain or mangrove areas, namely:

• Barangays Banao and Bariw in Bacacay, Albay;
• Camarines Norte Bicol National Park in barangay Tuaca of Basud, Camarines Norte;
• Hill of So Pequaria, barangay. Banasi of Bula, Camarines Sur along the Maharlika Highway;
• Barangay Macabog, Sorsogon City;
• Barangay Hikming, Virac, Catanduanes;
• Barangay Buyo, Virac, Catanduanes;
• Barangay Balongbong, San Miguel, Catanduanes; and,
• Along national road of barangay Tawad of Milagros going to Mandaon, Masbate

This activity, which coincides with the formal launching of AAGAPAY Bicol, will be participated in by multi-sectoral groups: aligned NGOs, NGAs, POs; and other organizations associated to AAGAPAY under its principle of being Makadiyos, Makatao, Maka-kalikasan and Makabansa.

AAGAPAY Bicol, a non-government organization registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, focuses on community development and environmental improvement is a nationwide and broad alliance of organizations combining the efforts of individual members, NGAs, NGOs, cooperatives, business sector, religious sector, political groups, civil society and other possible entrants to the cause bounded by a shared vision and common understanding to commit itself in service to our country and people.

The organization strongly believes with the ideas, principles, pillars and advocacy of the group that would contribute much on our desire for strong economy through people’s empowerment addressed at community levels.

Some 5,000 participants are expected to participate in the said activity across the region to plant more or less 6,600 seedlings of narra, acasia, mahogany, gemelina, mangrove, propagules, and Manila palm. (AAGAPAY Bicol/PIA)


NO TO PARTISAN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES – CSC

LEGAZPI CITY — On the onset of the political season, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in Bicol has reminded anew all government officials and employees holding non-political offices or positions to refrain from directly or indirectly engaging in any partisan political activities.

Cecilia Nieto, CSC Bicol regional director, stressed that Administrative Code of 1987 provides that employees who engage in partisan political activities are liable and may be dismissed from the service.

“As the election is fast approaching, the Commission deems it necessary to remind all public servants not to engage in partisan political activities,” Nieto added.

“Not too often, public officials and employees have been found guilty of engaging in such, and penalized with dismissal from the service,” she said

As early as 1998, the CSC already issued a memorandum circular defining “partisan political activity” as “an act designed to promote the election or defeat of a particular candidate or candidates to a public office.”

These include specific activities done for or against any candidate, such as forming groups for the purpose of soliciting votes, holding political meetings or rallies, making speeches or holding interviews, publishing or distributing campaign materials, and directly or indirectly soliciting votes.

The circular adds that being a delegate to any political convention or member of political committees, clubs and organizations are also considered partisan political activity, as well as soliciting or receiving contributions for political purposes or becoming publicly identified with any candidate. (CSC V/PIA)



ALBAY KICKS OFF KASAMA PROGRAM IN PURSUIT OF MDG HEALTH AGENDA

LEGAZPI CITY— Pursuing an aggressive health service program that is in line with the country’s Millennium Development Goal (MDG), Albay had recently launched "Kalusugan para sa Albayanos" (KASAMA) an agendum that would improve the delivery of health services to poor communities in the province.

In KASAMA program, the provincial government, in cooperation with a multinational drug firm, would issue to thousands of poor families in the province with “Sulit Cards”, a medicine discounts coupons that would give lower rates ranging from 30 to 50 percent discounts on prescription drugs issued by doctors.

KASAMA program is part of the commitment of the province to the MDG, an international agreement among members of the United Nations during a series of conferences in the 1990s, and represent commitments to reduce poverty and hunger, and to tackle ill-health, gender inequality, lack of education, lack of access to clean water and environmental degradation.

MDGs are framed as a compact program, recognizing the contribution that developed countries can make through trade, development assistance, debt relief, access to essential medicines and technology transfer.

Based on MDG records in the country, of the 79 provinces across the country only Albay has attained three MDG targets such as: 100 percent PhilHealth Coverage, the decrease in infant (0-six years) and maternal mortality rates last year, and malaria free province.

By the end of the year, "we are focusing on making Albay a rabies, leprosy, dengue and measles free province," Albay Governor Joey Salceda said

Salceda said by 2015 most of the MDG target would be accomplished making Albay a healthy place to live in.

Salceda had recently entered into an agreement with Pfizer Phils., a known multinational drug company in the country launching the KASAMA program a health program aimed to provide some 237,000 families with “Sulit Cards” medicine discount cards.

He said “the program will be of great help to poor families in terms of savings for their medicines especially those that are under drug maintenance course for illnesses, since the cards will give its holders with discounts on medicines purchased.”

“The discounts would only apply to prescription drugs manufactured by Pfizer,” Salceda said.

According to Salceda, this venture is first of its kind to be implemented in the country, and piloted in Albay.

The Sulit Cards will be distributed to the some 1,500 barangay health workers across the province who will then give these cards to poor families in their respective areas. (MSArguelles, PNA Bicol/PIA)

PGMA receives German, Austrian journalists

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo received this Friday morning (November 27) in the Palace 53 German and Austrian writers and editors who come from the lifestyle, travel, and opinion sections of various newspapers and television stations.

The president hoped they had a great time and had great memories of the Philippines to share with their readers and television viewers back home.

The journalists called on the president following two weeks of travel to the different islands of the country as part of their immersion program, a subject they are expected to write about when they return to their respective countries.

This is the second batch of tourism-related communication and travel specialists and agents invited by the Department of Tourism to see and experience first-hand tourist destinations in the country.

The first batch, consisting of 250 travel agents and travel writers, came last May and are now helping promote the Philippines to European travelers, said Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque.

The journalists were divided into six groups. Group 1 toured the Visayas Enchanted Islands of Dumaguete (Atmosphere Resort), Sipalay (Artistic Diving Resort) and Bacolod (Planta Centro Hotel); Group 2 for the Aktiv Island Tour in Coron and Busuanga, Palawan (at Club Paradise); Group 3 – Island Hopping in Bohol (Ananyana), Boracay
(Boracay Regency); Group 4—Culture and Nature of Vigan/Laoag, Ilocos (Sitio Remedios), El Nido (El Nido Resort-Lagen) ; Group 5—Spa and Traditional Wellness in Batangas (The Farm at San Benito), Cebu (Shangri-la Mactan) and Boracay (Mandala) and Group 6—South Sea Peals and Paradise Tour of Taytay, Palawan (Flower Island and Terramar Pearl Farms) and El Nido, Palawan (El Nido Resort-Lagen). (PIA V Release)


RP impresses German TV director

MANILA — “We are overwhelmed by the Philippines. There is such a variety of different impressions you can have here. We didn’t know that there are so many islands that you will find one (to love).”

Jurgen Drensek, director/author of AIXPRESS, travel-TV-Productions ARD/ZDF, made the remark after his stay in Coron and Busuanga in Palawan Nov. 22-27 at the invitation of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

He was among 11 German and one Austrian media men who took the Aktiv Island Tour that highlighted scuba diving, surfing and other active outdoor activities.

“I loved it so much. The diving is so enormous The Apo Reef is one of the best diving spots in the world,” he said.

He and 52 other travel writers and editors, lifestyle, and opinion writers called on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo prior to leaving for their respective countries tonight.

He regrets, however, that the “Philippines is so far away from Europe, and that’s a problem because you have a lot competitors on the way to the Philippines like Thailand which are very well known in Europe,” Drensek said.

He said the key to attracting European tourists is to have a very good connecting flight to the Philippines. . He is the president of the German Association of Travel Journalists.

He said the recent Maguindanao massacre will not likely affect European travel to the Philippines as “it is very far but it will directly affect your local tourism.” (PIA V Release)


BIR Launches SanTAX Claus Project

MANILA — The Bureau of Internal Revenue on Thursday (November 26) launched its SanTAX Claus Project at the Center Mall Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan City, Metro Manila, with Department of Finance Secretary Margarito B. Teves gracing the event commencing the monitoring of small retail establishments r bazaars during the Christmas shopping season, to check on their compliance with the Tax Code requirements.

The launch was spearheaded byBIR Senior Deputy Commissioer Joel L. Tan-Torres ho also held a dialogue later on with invited tiangge or bazaar operators, commercial event organizers, and vendors where the project was discussed especially on tax compliance requirements.

Simultaneous SanTAX Claus launches were also held in Pasay, Taguig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Makati and Quezon City, where revenue officers wearing SanTAX Claus outfits were deployed to check on said privileged stores’ compliance with the requirements of BIR such as registration and issuance of receipts and invoices.

The SanTAX Claus teams distributed flyers to the participating vendors, posted tarpaulins and observed whether vendors are properly issuing receipts or invoices. They also collected certain information on the vendors to make sure they issue registered receipts/invoices.

In the event that the organizers and vendors are found to have committed any violations, the same team will hand out Application for Registration Forms with pre-generated TIN to assist said businesses in registering with BIR. They were also asked to pay the annual registration fee and submit the application form on-the-spot.

The SanTAX Claus Project according to Senior Deputy Commissioner Tan-Torres is not an enforcement activity of BIR, but rather to promote voluntary compliance for taxpayers that will result in the generation of taxes.

Tan-Torres stressed that the primary objective of this Project is to improve tax awareness by encouraging the general public to demand habitually invoices for goods purchased and official receipts for services procured.

He said that the BIR will not impose additional taxes on said bazaars as misunderstood by many.

He added that this Project intends to educate the public on the importance o asking for receipts and voluntary compliance of taxpayers, which records reveal, is the most efficient and effective approach to collecting revenues. (PIA V Release)


CNN Hero wants more volunteer teachers

MANILA — CNN Hero of the Year Efren Penaflorida proposed Friday morning (November 27) that colleges and universities urge their students to volunteer as tutors to out-of-school youths.

Fresh from Hollywood, Ca., where he received the CNN award, Penaflorida told President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the need to rescue vulnerable young people from a life of crime.

He related how his pushcart (kariton) classroom had grown from 20 to 200 volunteer teachers. Today, he added, the program teaches more than 2,500 students every Saturday.

“We are not governed by a curriculum. We are not an alternative teaching program. We teach primary children,ages 4 to teens, who have lost interest in school for one reason or another,” Penaflorida explained to the president.

He said that the success of the program depends on the number of student volunteers it can get. “The more volunteers the more young people we can reach. We need to impart to them good moral values,” he said.

The president was so excited that she ordered the replication of the kariton school, initially in Metro Manila and then all over the country.

The president congratulated Penaflorida’s parents, Lucila and Efren Sr., “for raising your child so well.”

It turned out that Penaflorida was a PGMA Leadership awardee from Cavite in the early part of her term. (PIA V Release)


PGMA orders MRFs set up

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo urged Friday ((November 27) barangay officials of San Miguel, Pandacan, and Sta. Mesa to find locations for the establishment of materials recovery facilities (MRFs) before the year ends.

Malacanang is located in barangay San Miguel.

The president said the establishment of MRFs in all local government units is in compliance with Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2001, and Republic Act 9729 or the Climate Change Act of 2009 which she signed into law last October.

At the climate change briefing this morning in Malacanang, the president told barangay officials from areas surrounding Malacanang that establishing MRFs will reduce the harmful methane emissions from rotting garbage. Methane is 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide, the leading contributor to climate change.

The president also said barangays with MRFs generate income from recyclables, composting, and making charcoal briquettes which the Department of Environment and Natural resources will help fund.

Meanwhile, Presidential Adviser on Global Warming and Climate Change Heherson Alvarez reported MRF compliance of Luzon at 12.61 percent; Visayas at 11.14 percent; and Mindanao at 16.37 percent.

Alvarez said these figures represent a national compliance rate of 13.2 percent, up by seven percent from the recorded 6.2 percent compliance rate last year. (PIA V Release)