BICOL JOINS WOMEN’s MONTH CELEBRATION

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (March 8) — “Babae, Tagumpay Ka ng Bayan” has been aptly chosen as this year’s theme for the celebration of National Women’s Month highlighting women’s achievements in pursuit of the sector’s advancement amidst major challenges.

Regional Director Remia T. Tapispisan of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Bicol explained that the celebration also showcases the success of women’s commitment to pursue equality which resulted in the enactment of the Magna Carta for Women and the achievements in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA) including those related to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Tapispisan said that the observance of the women’s month likewise aims to inspire and increase understanding of micro entrepreneurs, partners from government agencies, non-government organizations, academe and the private sector on micro enterprise development, government programs and services that response to the issues and concerns of the Filipino women including but not limited to the rights, environment, family and work life balance.

DSWD Bicol regional office, in partnership with local government units (LGUs), government agencies, and women’s networks, spearheads the observance of the National Women’s Month.

Activities lined-up for this year’s celebration inlcude Symposium on Violence Against Women and Children, Oratorical Contest for Secondary and College Students. The month-long activity will be culminated with “An Evening to Remember for the Bikol Women”. (EEJerusalem, DSWD/PIA)

DEPED URGED TO IMPROVE SYSTEM ON SECONDARY EDUCATION

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (March 8) – Albay Governor Joey Salceda has urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to introduce innovative and effective medium of instructions and improve the system in secondary education following the poor performance of students in the National Achievement Test (NAT) last year.

Salceda observed that NAT results last year illustrates the low performance of secondary students, with not even one school passing 70 percent bar in Filipino.

The passing rate is retained at 70 percent, although it was originally designed to be up scaled to 75 percent.

Salceda also noted that below par performance can also be attributed to poor teaching methods and system of education in the secondary level.

He said that DepEd Albay should implement necessary measures to improve the teaching methods as well as to improve the performance of high schools, both in private and public, in the province.

“There is also a need to reevaluate the expertise of secondary teachers,” he stressed.

Alice Terrell, Albay DepEd division superintendent, meanwhile averred that the poor performance of secondary schools in NAT last year was due to over supply of Teaching on Livelihood Education (TLE).

Terrel bared, “we learned that most of them are not suppose to teach English, Mathematics and Science which are not their field of expertise.”

“Starting this week the department will introduce some measures to resolve the problem,” she said.

She added that the training for secondary school teachers be conducted by the Bicol University (BU) starting this week, focusing on specialize subjects and updates on teaching methods.

Terrell said that DepEd Albay was doing its best to improve not only the performance of secondary schools in NAT but also the competence of teachers.

DepEd is set to administer anew the NAT for Grades III and VI in elementary level and in second year high school on March 11, 2010.

The annual NAT determines the students’ knowledge and understanding and abilities at their level. The test for Grade III includes Grammar and Reading Comprehension in English and Filipino, Science and Mathematics; while Mathematics, English, Science, Filipino and HEKASI for Grade VI.

On the other hand, NAT for second year high school includes Mathematics, English, Science, Filipino and Araling Panlipunan.

“By measuring our students’ strengths, weaknesses and achievement levels, we can derive ways on how the present education system can be further improved,” Terrell said. (MALOterte, PIA V)

DENR STEPS UP CAMPAIGN ON PRS92 MOJON PRESERVATION

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (March 8) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is appealing anew for people support in the protection and preservation of geodetic control points (GCPs) or mojons established in different places in the Bicol region under the Philippine Reference System of 1992 (PRS92).

“PRS92 mojons are very important as these serve as basis in all surveying activities,” DENR Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada said.

PRS92 is a homogenous national network of geodetic control points, marked by survey monuments or mojons that have been established using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.

Fragada said that under Executive Order No. 321 issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the DENR is mandated to complete the adoption and integration of all surveys into the PRS92 until year 2010.

Fragada said a major part of PRS92 is the establishment of permanent reference points (mojons) nationwide to serve as control points of all survey activities of both the government and private surveyors for the benefit of landowners.

By virtue of EO 45, PRS92 became the standard reference system for all surveying and mapping activities in the Philippines. The same order also mandates that all new surveys and maps shall be referred to the new network and all old surveys shall be integrated into it.

In the regional level, PRS92 is carried out by the DENR Field Network Survey Party (FNSP).

This involves two major activities, namely, 1.) densification of PRS92 control points and the recovery of old Bureau of Land Location Monuments (BLLMs) and other old references connected to PRS92; and 2.) data integration which involves encoding of lots surveyed under the cadastral system and other isolated surveys for transformation to PRS92 and integration of other environment and natural resources (ENR) data sets to come up with a standard special reference called control map beneficial to all stakeholders for the country’s development.

Fragada said among other strategies in support to PRS92 is information campaign and Adopt-a-Mojon program.

The Adopt-a-Mojon program aims to enlist the participation of local government units, peoples’ organization, and the general public in the establishment and preservation of PRS92 mojons.

In Bicol, at least 70 LGUs and Barangay Chairmen have each signed a memorandum of agreement with DENR on adopting mojons in their respective area.

Earlier, Fragada directed all DENR provincial and community officers (PENROs and CENROs) to forge agreement not only with LGUs but also with heads of schools, barangay captains and church officials where the mojons are installed.

Last year 163 PRS92 control points were established bringing to 855 the total number of mojons put up in Bicol as of now.(ASAraya, DENR V/PIA)

EIGHT YOUNG BICOLANOS ARE OWWA’s SCHOLARS FOR 2010

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (March 8) – The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Bicol regional office here will award scholarship to eight young Bicolanos who passed the national qualifying exam for the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) for school year 2010-2011.

The new OWWA scholars will be presented in an awarding ceremony tomorrow, March 9, 2010 at OWWA Regional Office, Legazpi City. DOLE Regional Director Alvin Villamor, together with OWWA Regional Director Jocelyn O. Hapal will confer the scholarship.

The eight (8) young Bicolanos are: Kristine Antivola (Gubat, Sorsogon); Jerome Balanoyos (Bulusan, Sorsogon); Carina Capsa (Gubat, Sorsogon); Carlo Ditan (Sorsogon City, Sorsogon); Peter Paul Vicor Cañada ( Naga City, Camarines Sur); Loren Bolilan (Tabaco City, Albay); Elsie Delfin (Tabaco City, Albay); and Anna Trisha Olivera (Ligao City, Albay).

As OWWA EDSP scholars, they are privileged to enroll in a 4- to 5- year baccalaureate course in any CHED accredited college or university of their choice. A grant of P30, 000.00 per semester or a maximum of P60, 000.00 per school year shall be given covering their tuition fees and allowances.

EDSP is a scholarship grant offered to qualified graduating high school students who are dependents/beneficiaries of OWWA member-OFWs intending to enroll in a 4- to 5- year baccalaureate course. (KTRamirez, OWWA V/PIA)

DOST NOW ACCEPTS PROPOSALS ON TECHNOLOGY
INNOVATION FOR COMMERCIALIZATION PROGRAM

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (March 8) — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Bicol now accepts project proposals on commercially-viable technologies from local Research and Development institutes, duly-accredited public and private higher education institutions, and Filipino-owned enterprises in the country.

DOST’s efforts toward new innovations, increased commercialization and industry adoption have resulted to more products and technologies entering the market through the Technology Innovation for Commercialization Program (TECHNICOM).

TECHNICOM aids program candidates by providing funding to fast track the transfer and commercialization of research results for a) commercial prototype development; b) pilot plant production; and, c) intellectual property protection.

Projects are to be evaluated in three dimensions include, alignment with DOST priority programs (Biotechnology, Information & Communication Technology, Health/Pharmaceuticals, Food & Agriculture, Environment and Alternative Energy); Commercial importance; and, Technical soundness

Relevant proposals to be considered for TECHNICOM assistance this year must be submitted before March 30, 2010 to the office of Dr. Graciano P. Yumul, Jr., Undersecretary for R&D and Program Director, TECHNICOM, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Bicutan, Taguig City

Through TECHNICOM, full potential of many promising technologies can be pursued and realized. (POLucena, DOST V/PIA)

DA CITES SPECIFIC MEASURES TO COPE
WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, FREE TRADE

MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is investing in core infrastructure and exploring more markets for the country’s export winners, among other measures, to help Philippine agriculture adapt to the challenges posed by climate change and increasing global free trade.

DA Secretary Bernie Fondevilla said that infrastructure investments in, as well as domestic support services for, the agriculture sector are focused on five concerns.

These are the:
o rehabilitation of irrigation systems and municipal fish ports;
o construction of farm-to-market roads (FMRs);
o teaching and encouraging of sustainable methods of production;
o ensuring of funds for loans to farmers and fisherfolk; and
o increased budget allocations for extension services and research and development.

President Arroyo recently named Fondevilla to succeed Secretary Arthur Yap, who is running unopposed in this year’s elections for a seat in the House of Representatives for the 3rd district of Bohol. Fondevilla used to be DA undersecretary and Yap’s chief of staff,

To take advantage of increasing trade liberalization amid the global economic rebound, Fondevilla said the DA has been:

o actively participating in trade fairs to sell Philippine export winners;
o strengthening its support and regulatory programs to fight smuggling;
o building mariculture parks to boost fish farming and exports;
o developing the country’s natural ingredients industry; and
o extending support for biotechnology programs.

“The Department of Agriculture has put to good use the welcome significant increases in budgetary resources, from P15 billion in 2006 to P48 billion in 2009, to invest in core infrastructure and domestic support services to enable sector adaptation to climate change impacts,” Fondevilla said in a recent business forum.

He said irrigation rehabilitation work has so far accounted for some 300,000 hectares of additional fully irrigated palay fields to further boost cropping intensity and total productivity especially during the dry season.

“To date nearly 5,000 kilometers of FMRs have been completed, generating economy-wide impacts and immediately generating access of producers to domestic markets,” Fondevilla noted.

Municipal fishports are also undergoing rehabilitation, while a total of 25 mariculture parks have so far been established with more in the pipeline, boosting the deliberate shift from fish hunting to fish farming, he said.

To promote more sustainable methods of production, Fondevilla said the DA has been advocating the use of organic fertilizers and methods along with better soil and water management.

The DA’s postharvest program has also been expanded, distributing nearly 2,000 flatbed dryers to create more value for farm produce aside from reducing postproduction losses.

He said the DA has also re-instituted a guarantee fund for loans to small producers and is further expanding the agricultural insurance system coverage in order to improve risk management and the flow of capital and investments to the sector.

The DA’s extension and R&D system has already shifted to developing and promoting technologies that will help Philippine agriculture adapt to climate change, he said.

These include, he said, developing technologies, with the cooperation of global agencies like the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), that will make seeds and other genetic materials resistant to biophysical factors such as droughts and floods.

“Increased resource allocations for agriculture and fisheries R&D sustained over the long run shall be the country’s primary investment in developing the necessary and appropriate climate change adaptation technologies,” Fondevilla said.

Viewing trade liberalization as an opportunity rather than a liability, he said the DA is now marketing its export winners such as fresh tropical fruits and processed foods overseas, which will benefit from lower costs of inputs and raw materials.

“The Philippines will actively participate in trade fairs to highlight its products and services. The government will continue to provide support and regulatory programs, inclusive of intensified anti-smuggling in coordination with the Bureau of Customs,” Fondevilla said.

He likewise noted during the business forum that with the deliberate shift to fish farming through investments in mariculture parks together with incentives for locators, the country is poised to be a substantial exporter of high-value fish species in the region.

Moreover, the emergent natural ingredients industry is also expected to boost its presence in the international markets with increased technological support through the Department’s biotechnology program, which, Fondevilla said, will also improve productivity, value and competitiveness of the corn, coconut and abaca industries. (DA Press Office/PIA)

6 MILLION LAND JOBS IN SME LENDING PROGRAMS – PGMA

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said Monday (March 8) that her administration has loaned out some P340 billion through various lending schemes to micro, small, medium entrepreneurs and these helped generate some six million jobs.

In her message during the 2nd Go Negosyo Women Entrepreneurship Summit held today at the World Trade Center, the President said that of the total loans granted, 90 per cent were availed by women.

“Women, indeed, are successful entrepreneurs,” she said.

“In 2004, I said I will create three million enterprises during my administration but with Secretary Favila’s report, we have doubled our target,” the President said.

The President said that the Arroyo administration is very supportive of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through loans given by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and with the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) giving guidance to make beneficiaries good managers.

This, she said, she is doing because “we want to create a stronger middle class.”

To ensure the continued support of the SMEs, the President announced that Favila will move to the Monetary Board from the Trade Department. Education Secretary Jesli Lapus will take over Favila’s present post.

Recognizing the Summit as part of the celebration of the “International Women’s Day,” the President stressed that the Arroyo administration has always been guided by the principle that empowering women will pave the way to building a stronger nation.

The President said the Arroyo administration has identified three core concerns for development: human rights, economic empowerment, and gender responsive governance.

“Our achievement in gender imbalance is truly remarkable,” the President said, adding that for three years now, the Philippines remains the leading Asian country in the top rankings of the Global Gender Gap Report published by the World Economic Forum.

The President also led the launching of the fifth book of Go Negosyo—“Tagumpay,” a compilation of success stories of 100 entrepreneurs.

The President also led the awarding of nine women who serve as inspiration to Filipinos. They are Leonarda Camacho of the Metro Manila Linis Ganda; Singer/Entrepreneur Pilita Corrales; Linda Legaspi of Marylindbert International; Regina Paz Lopez of ABS-CBN; Lecturer Solita Monsod of the UP School of Economics; Marixi Prieto of the Philippine Daily Inquirer,; Esther Vibal of Vibal Publishing House, and Rosalinda Wee of the Philippine Federation of Local Councils of Women. (PIA V Release)

PALACE ASSURES CONTINUITY AS PGMA SWEARS IN NEW CABINET MEMBERS

MANILA (March 8) — Malacanang said that the new team in President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s cabinet will be a working team that will ensure continuity in government services and operations until the end of her term in June.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Gary Olivar described the seven newly-appointed members of the Cabinet whom the President swore into office this morning in Malacanang as a team with impressive individual credentials.

“Most of the new Cabinet members are in fact deeply experienced public servants,” Olivar said. “So the agenda is in no way interrupted. In fact the policies and programs of the administration were set a long time ago and will continue to be carried out with vigor by the president’s men and women.”

Olivar said it is the President’s intention to work hard until the very last day as well as to bring out a smooth transition to a new government.

“This will be the case until the President leaves the office,” he said.

Sworn into office were Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza as new Executive Secretary replacing Eduardo Ermita, who has tendered his resignation to run for a congressional seat in his hometown of Batangas.

Also inducted were Office of the Government Corporate Counsel head Alberto G. Agra as Justice Secretary, replacing Agnes Devanadera; former Undersecretary Bernie G. Fondevilla vice Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap; former Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Ma. Elena H. Bautista replacing Presidential Management Staff (PMS) director general Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr.; TESDA deputy director general for fields operation Rogelio Peyuan vice TESDA director general Secretary Augusto Syjuco; deputy executive secretary Joaquin Lagonera replacing Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr.; and deputy executive secretary Natividad Dizon vice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, the President’s chief presidential legal counsel.

Devanadera is vying for a congressional seat in Quezon province while Esperon is running as a representative of a district in Pangasinan. Yap is seeking to be a Representative of Bohol.

Syjuco and Andaya are also vying for congressional seats in their respective provinces of Iloilo and Camarines Sur while Gonzalez is running for mayor in Iloilo City.

After the oath taking ceremony, the President also swore in Cabinet members who were appointed in the 4th quarter of 2009 and 1st quarter of 2010.

They are: Public Works Secretary Victor A. Domingo, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Celia C. Yangco, Health Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Horacio C. Ramos, Press Secretary Crispulo Icban, Jr., Politcal Adviser Prospero Pichay, Jr., Cabinet Secretary Ma. Corazon Imperial, National Security Council chairman Milo S. Ibrado, Special National Public-Private Reconstruction Commission Secretary Ricardo L. Saludo, Climate Change Commission Secretary Heherson Alvarez and Mindanao Development Authority chairman Jesus Dureza. (PIA V Release)

BANGIT IS NEW AFP CHIEF

MANILA (March 8) — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced Monday (March 8) the appointment of Philippine Army Chief Lt. General Delfin N. Bangit as incoming Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines , vice Gen. Victor Ibrado, who is retiring on Wednesday, his 56th birthday.

The President will preside over the turnover of the AFP command in Camp Aguinaldo on Wednesday.

Bangit is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1978 and has held many sensitive and significant postings before he became Army chief. He also held the posts of Group Commander of the Presidential Security Group and Commander of the unified Southern Luzon Command (Solcom).

Prior to his post as Solcom chief, he was the commanding general of the 2nd Infantry Division, Philippine Army from September 2007 to May 2008, and Chief, Intelligence Service, Armed Forces of the Philippines from August 2006 to September 2007.

He was the Chief of Staff, Intelligence and Security Group, Philippine Army from May 1997 to August 1998; Company Commander, Alpha Company, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division, Philippine Army; Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence (G2), 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army; Area Command Staff for Intelligence, SOLCOM, AFP; Battalion Commander, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division, Philippine Army.

Bangit is a graduate of the Command and Staff Course at the Australian Army Command and Staff College; Pre-Commander Course for Battalion Commander and Infantry Officer Advance Course, both taken at the Combat Arms School, Training Command, Philippine Army; Anti-Urban Terrorist Patrol Training at the Louisiana State Police Academy; and the Foreign Officer Tactical Intelligence Course at the School for Military Intel in Australia. He finished his Master of Defense Studies from the University of Canberra, Australia in 2000.

He is a recipient of five Distinguished Service Stars, three Bronze Cross Medals, Silver Wing Medal, 15 Military Merit Medals, Mindanao-Sulu, Visayas and Luzon Campaign Medals and Ribbons and a US Military Commendation Medal among others.

Lieutenant General Bangit is married to Daisy Magdangal – Bangit. They are blessed with three children, Harold, Diane, and Hector. (PIA V Release)

UNBEARABLE WEATHER SEEN AHEAD

MANILA (March 8) — The weather bureau said extremely high temperature poses threat of heatstroke, or worse, heatwave in the coming days as scorching season is just starting to gain momentum, and will further cause impact in the coming months.

Nathaniel Cruz, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) deputy director for operations and services, said that a weather as hot as this is normally experienced around April when summer is at its peak.

Cruz explained that the presence of high pressure area (HPA), aggravated by the prevailing El Nino, triggers the warm and humid weather.

These, and the early termination of northeast monsoon, will make climate unbearable in the next three to four months.

The Pagasa earlier announced that El Nino conditions could last up until months of June or July.

Heatwave is also possible, if sweltering heat continues for five consecutive days, hence the agency advises the public to prepare precautionary measures.

Cruz also advises the public to maintain proper ventilation in their homes, keeping sufficient drinking water and wearing summer clothes, to name a few.

He also alerted the health department of possible spread of summer illnesses and vector-borne diseases.

He said the months of April and May will even be hotter than what people are currently experiencing.

The Pagasa has warned of not just heat stroke to humans, because the increase in temperature could be detrimental to house pets and agricultural crops.

Already, over 25 provinces are experiencing drier than normal conditions due to absence of rains.

The Pagasa recorded the maximum temperature at 1:55 p.m. Monday at 35.6 degrees Celsius, slightly lower than the 35.8 degrees Celsius recorded last Saturday, which was the hottest for the year so far.

The warmest temperature in record in Metro Manila was at 38.5 degrees Celsius, which hit the metropolis on May 14, 1987. (PIA V Release)

JOBS GENERATION, PGMA'S LEGACY TO FILIPINOS

MANILA (March 8) — Six years ago, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo bared her 10-point agenda towards economic recovery, which includes generation of at least 10 million jobs.

Towards the end of 2009, the last year of her term, a total of 14.2 million jobs were put in place, surpassing miles and bounds beyond expectations and utter disbelief by her political foes. More people are now employed, more families have improved lives. The magnitude of the ripple effect to the common Juan was simply inconceivable.

President Arroyo banked on nothing but available resources: Filipino's innate ingenuity, flair for the English language, desire to innovate and hard work.

The Arroyo administration made Business Process Outsourcing a sunshine industry, wherein only 2,400 call center employees were employed in 2000 to a whopping 500,000 BPO-ICT employees, including 280,000 call center employees in 2009.

The success of BPO industry is not possible without the investors' confidence in the country's talent and, of,course, its leader.

Sharing a chunk of the pie dominated by India and China, the Philippine rose to be the world's 2nd top BPO destination where not only customer support reigns supreme, but software development and animation as well.

Many country destinations also opened doors to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as a result of good diplomatic relations. Back then, Saudi Arabia, Hongkong, the US and a handful of European countries are the only destinations for OFWs, where most of the job opportunities are limited to blue collar jobs.

Now, countries like Korea and Japan, and many others are fast rising to be new country destinations for Filipino professionals despite the global economic crisis, mainly medical workers who have longed to help improve their family's lives.

These countries, Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito Roque stressed, have strong preference for Filipino workers because of their work ethics, world-class skills and sunny disposition at the workplace.

A total of 1.28 million OFWs were deployed during the period of January-November 2009, up from the 841,628 OFWs finding jobs in 2000.

Recognizing the role of small-scale and medium enterprises in local economy -- the employer of 98 to 99 percent of local laborforce -- President Arroyo poured in P179.70 billion in loans, benefitting 159,711 SMEs from 2004-Oct. 2009.

The chief executive also allocated funds to help Filipinos set up livelihood through credit and other microfinance services. A total of P157.41 billion in loans were released from 2001-Oct 2009 with 6.91 million borrowers.

Arroyo also led in bridging the gap between workers and employers through holding regular jobfairs.

At least one job fair is being held in various places in the country to attract both employers, workers, as well as new labor force entrants to look for employment opportunities, while big job fairs are being held during such occasions as Labor Day, Valentine's Day and other national holidays. (PIA V Release)