UNEP GRAD TOPS REGIONAL LET EXAMS, ENTERS NATIONAL LEVEL

LEGAZPI CITY — Adding another feather to UNEP's cap is Anthony Cuba Vista's feat of making it as Regional Topnotcher and garnering one of the top five posts at the recently concluded Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) held in 15 testing centers all over the Philippines on September 26, 2010.

Vista, garnering 84.40 percent, two (2) points short from the topnotcher's score, was among the successful examinees who made it on the top ten. Vista landed 5th place.

Other UNEP Education graduates who made it on the list as new elementary teachers include Dahlia R. Galvan, Rechel M. Gulpe, Melanie O. Mamano, Jovie R. Prades, Lilian C. Rosalinas and Anthony C. Vista while Jecel L. Jesoro and Amado L. Niebres Jr. were added to the list of new secondary teachers.

Vista, together with other UNEP LET Passers were among the 7, 737 elementary teachers out of 39, 508 examinees, barely 19.58%, of those who passed the recent LET Examinations. Their names were released by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) on November 16, 2010.

Twenty-five percent of secondary school teachers who went through the examinations made it too, representing 9, 493 passers out of 36, 714 examinees who tried their luck as new breeds of educator.
UNEP President Atty. Remelisa Alfelor-Moraleda congratulated the triumphant examinees, citing their sacrifice and perseverance to emerge as passers after the grilling examinations.

"UNEP takes pride in every passer that our university is producing and will continue to produce. We look forward for more victorious feat that would give our students their rightful place as global achievers."

The Board of Professional Teachers is composed of Dr. Faith M. Bachiller as Chairman and Reynaldo T. Peña and Dr. Jesus L. Nieves as members.

Tentative schedule for the oath taking of passers who took their examinations at Legaspi testing center is set on December 2, 1010. (LSMacatangay, PIA CamSur, with reports from UNEP/mal)

CAMARINES NORTE OBSERVES INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

DAET, Camarines Norte — An International Day Against Human Trafficking will be celebrated through different activities in this province on December 12, 2010.

The activities to be conducted include the hanging of streamers, advocacy parade, poster making contest, essay-writing contest, oratorical contest, symposium, slogan contest and awarding ceremony for the winners of the different contests.

Earlier Governor Edgardo Tallado has issued an Executive Order No. 2010-39 mandating the provincewide celebration through appropriate activities and enjoining all local government units, government agencies and instrumentalities, NGOs, academe, socio-civic and religious organizations and the citizens to extend their maximum support and cooperation to ensure the success of the celebration.

The celebration is pursuant to the Palermo Protocol, the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons especially in Women and Children which was adopted in Palermo, Italy where the Philippines is one of the countries that ratified.

This is against the selling of women and children for purpose of slavery under disgraceful conditions, prostitution, pornography and other worst forms of exploitation.

The US State Department placed the Philippines again in the Tier 2 Watch List in 2009 for the latter's failutre to meet the standards in making reports.

This year, in an effort to identify the barriers to the full and effective implementation of the law, a research on "Acess to Justice for Victims of Child Trafficking" has been going on to float up the difficulties and challenges encountered by service providers in the performance of their work despite the adoption of the Philippine Guidelines for the Protection of Traficked Children. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte/mal)

DA, MAO INVESTIGATES REPORTED SWINE FEVER IN HOGS

CALABANGA, Camarines Sur — A suspected hog cholera case in Calabanga, Camarines Sur has yet to be verified due to the inability of farmers to present proofs that would verify their claim.

This was disclosed by Calabanga Municipal Agriculturist Gabriel Bordado III who immediately dispatched a team of agriculture technicians to affected barangays after receiving reports that Barangays Sogod, Belen, Binanuanan Grande, Paolbo and Kilometro 17, all of the said town, recorded hog casualty in their respective areas.

Calabanga is a first class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur and is one of the biggest municipalities in terms of population and land area.

“While their caretakers claimed that they allegedly found their hogs dead after experiencing fever, lesions and convulsions, said to be symptoms of the dreaded hog cholera also known as swine fever, we still cannot declare it as hog cholera unless we have a proof where we can base our findings,” Bordado said.

Bordado in an interview said that they need a piece of evidence which would be used to test whether the hogs died from swine fever. Yet since the farmers have already eaten and sold the pig’s meat after butchering them, there is no way that they can do the test and declare what actually caused their death.

Hog Cholera, also known as classical swine fever and pig plague is a highly contagious disease affecting pigs and wild boar.

Bordado further said that if indeed the hog’s death is caused by the virus, the community should also take caution in eating the meats coming from them.

“I would like to encourage our farmer, particularly our hog raisers to please report any untoward symptoms that your hogs are exhibiting. While we don’t have a municipal veterinary who could officially diagnose its causes, we can always look and seek for assistance from other agencies. “

Pending investigation of the case, Bordado said that they will work on validating the claim and will immediately inform the public of the result of their investigation.

“Meanwhile, let us all be vigilant, inform the proper authorities and suspend any premature speculation that might raise public alarm,” Bordado said in closing. (LSMacatangay, PIA CamSur/mal)

DSWD LAUNCHES ANOTHER KALAHI TOWN IN MASBATE

LEGAZPI CITY — Another Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) municipality was officially launched in Masbate on November 11, 2010 at Bituon Beach Resort.

After Cawayan, the municipality of Mobo was included to implement the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD’s) poverty reduction program, the KALAHI-CIDSS: KKB.

Considered for inclusion are towns that are currently covered by the DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) with no previous arrangement with KALAHI-CIDSS and those that have a poverty incidence of 50 percent and above.

After the assessment from the DSWD Regional Project Management Team and from the central office, the KALAHI-CIDSS project was launched in this 4th class municipality.

The launching and orientation was attended by more than 100 officials and representatives from 29 barangays, municipal officials and representatives from the provincial government and NGOs.

DSWD Assistant Regional Director Evelyn Lontok was joined by the Municipal Mayor, Atty. Percival D. Castillo; Vice Mayor Julios T. Aban; Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (PSWDO) Amy Danao and officials from the provincial government of Masbate.

Castillo expressed gratitude for selecting Mobo as one of the recipients of the KALAHI-CIDSS: KKB. Mobo will receive P14.5 million grant fund from KALAHI this year.

Castillo affirmed his commitment to support and implement the process of KALAHI. “I am confident that with the support of the barangay officials and commitment from the community, we will pursue the goals of KALAHI-CIDSS which are to reduce poverty, improve local governance and empower communities,” Castillo said.

Castillo also allocated seven staffs as counterpart of the Area Coordinating Team (ACT) that will help for the smooth implementation of KALAHI-CIDSS.

Highlight of the program was the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the DSWD, local government of Mobo and the provincial government of Masbate.

In another development, the DSWD conducted a 5-day capability building course for the KALAHI-CIDSS ACT and the MCT in Legazpi City. The training conducted on November 15-19 deals with an overview of the KALAHI-CIDSS project, covering a brief background, the project’s development framework, objectives and strategies, and the various implementation arrangements and roles of stakeholders. The training will further help the ACT and MCT field staff on their engagement in the municipality and in the community in which they are assigned.

KALAHI-CIDSS is the largest poverty alleviation portfolio of the World Bank in the Philippines and is being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development or the DSWD.
(CLMartinez, KCRSMO-DSWD V/PIA)

CSC SCORES 3 TOP PLACERS IN MIDWIFE LICENSURE EXAM
…PRC cites CSC as best school nationwide

VIRAC, Catanduanes — Three graduates from the Catanduanes State Colleges College of Health Sciences topped the November 13-14, 2010 Midwife Licensure Examination (MLE) given by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC).

The Catanduanes State Colleges was likewise declared by PRC as the top performing school in the said examination for posting the highest passing percentage at 91.84 percent.

The topnotchers from CSC are Kathleen Shiela Balbin Ramirez, second place, (87.60%); Roselyn Opre Abines, seventh place (86.65%), and Cheyserr Kate Reyes Villegas (86.35%).

The newest CSC MLE placers are all March 2010 graduates. Abines is from Panique, Caramoran, Catanduanes; Ramirez hails from Palta Big, Virac, Catanduanes, and Villegas is a native of Sta. Theresa, Bagamanoc, Catanduanes.

Dr. Asuncion V. Asetre, CSC president said the three topnotchers will each receive P15,000 monetary incentive and a plaque of recognition from CSC administration.

Forty-five out of 49 examinees from CSC passed the licensure examination, according to PRC report. However, the Office of the CHS Dean identified two more passers from CSC, thus increasing the number of passers to 47.

The complete list of passers are: Abines, Roselyn Opre; Banzuela, Melisa Sales; Benavidez, Nimfa; Bibon, Lane Aguilar; Clavano, Mary Grace Bas; Del Valle, Jonafil Dela Cruz; Delos Santos, Aileen Saliling; Delos Santos, Marvie Teaño; Dofredo, Maria Hazel Asuncion;

Evangelista, Jenny Cabrera; Faustino, Gretchen Tevac; Inciso, Maria Jezebel Campanero; Isip, Estela Gianan; Isidoro, Liza Benavides; Itallo, Jerlyn Lopez; Magno, Eva Canaria; Masagca, Donna Isidoro; Otilla, Maridel Bellen; Publico, Jenalyn Babon, Publico, Marilyn Babon;

Ramirez, Kathleen Shiela Balbin; Reforsado, Susie Joy Teves; Rodriguez, Haymie Joy Bernal; Sales, Vanessa De Quiroz; Santos, Maria Theresa Diaz; Sarmiento, Joyce Anne Samonte; Soliveres, Marites Lumabi; Soquerata, Ellaine Lumabi; Tablate, Mary Grace Rodriguez; Tanael, Mary Jane Morales; Tapel, Mary Cris Ralla;

Tapel, Shiela Rose Bonion; Tarnate, Janet Gonzales; Tejada, Jinky Tomagan; Tesorero, Rechiell Bernal; Torio, Aileen Garcia; Torregoza, Jessa Manlangit; Tresvalles, Arlyn Bernal; Trijo, Grace Taño;

Tubeo, Kristine Olanan; Tulay, Rebekah Obang; Tulay, Shiela Mae Taule; Vargas, Cristy Socito; Vega, Deby Jee Taperla; Villegas, Cheyserr Kate Reyes; Villegas, Jenalyn Caballero; Zafe, Jeniffer Benavidez.

The MLE examination national passing percentage is 39.99% or 1,605 passers out of 4,013 takers.

Prof. Jocelyn Ll. Jordan, dean of the CSC College of Health Sciences thanked CSC administration for its continued support and highly commended the performance of the topnotchers and passers as well as the faculty and staff of CHS.

Ramirez, Abines and Villegas and Quintal bring to 13 the number of Midwife Licensure Examination topnotchers produced by the CSC College of Health Sciences (formerly College of Nursing and School of Midwifery).

Previous topnotchers were Marilyn Idanan Lucero, 7th place (1979); Erlinda Frondozo Tabor, 4th (1990); Maria Rosario T. Rodriguez, 2nd (2006); Kristel Mae V. Cervantes, 4th; Chiquie S. Santos, 6th; Agnes F. Trinidad, 9th; Janessa M. Medrana, 10th (2006) Jacqueline Laroya, 8th place, (2008), Erica Bocala Obogne, 2nd place (2009) and Jonna Mae Aquino Quintal, 7th Place, (2009).

This is also the fourth time that the CSC has been awarded by PRC as the best performing school nationwide. It previously gained the recognition in the 2005, 2007 and 2008 midwife licensure examinations. (GSR/CSC/EABagadion, PIA Catanduanes/mal)

CHIZ SAYS OPEN TRIAL FOR MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE WILL TEST PH WHEEL OF JUSTICE

MANILA — Senator Chiz Escudero supported calls to open to live media coverage the Maguindanao massacre trial, stressing that this will test if justice is indeed working in this country.

“For me, this case, and all other hearings where public interests lie, should be fully covered and aired live so that our citizens can see proof that justice is working in our country and that we can see what direction it is leading to,” Escudero said.

Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, said he is backing President Noynoy Aquino’s appeal to the Supreme Court to allow the live coverage of the ongoing mass murder trial involving the powerful Ampatuan clan of Maguindanao.

He said the Chief Executive has all the right to ask the Supreme to reconsider its earlier decision disallowing live coverage of the trial, but added that “it is left solely to the sound discretion of the court to decide whether or not to grant it.”

He recalled that there were already precedents where the court had barred open coverage of trials especially in cases where privacy rights were involved. However, the senator said that decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis.

“We want a live coverage of the Maguindanao trial so that the public can witness how our justice system works,” Escudero explained. “Unlike in other countries where they have a jury system, we only have one entity to decide on the case on trial, and that is the judge hearing it. A full coverage will allow for a better public understanding of any decision that will be arrived at by the judge. He doesn’t have to justify his decision all the time, whether guilty or not.”

Escudero said that while it is the President’s wish for the high tribunal to reconsider its previous ruling on the issue, he should not be the one personally asking for it but his concerned officials.

“The President has been taking cudgels for most of his Cabinet members these past few months. I hope his officials will take the cue sometime in the future and hopefully be the ones to give the President deniability and not let him be the one to keep on talking about these things and in the process defending his Cabinet men to the public,” he said. (Office of Sen, Francis Escudero/mal)

NEW AQUINO DEFENSE POLICY TO PROVIDE DIRECTION FOR PH

MANILA — In line with President Benigno S. Aquino III’s efforts to ensure the country’s peace and stability, the Department of National Defense (DND) will sustain efforts to strengthen its institutional capacity to effectively carry out its role in addressing internal security, disaster management and response; humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping; international defense and security cooperation; and support to national development.

The DND recently came out with its defense policy paper entitled, “The Department of National Defense: Meeting the Challenges to Philippines Defense and Security,” which will provide the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the civilian bureaus of the DND the direction on which to anchor their programs.

At the same time, the policy paper aims to communicate to the public the various thrusts of the department; how the DND intends to engage in regional and global affairs, and utilize their resources in a judicious and accountable manner.

Under its major policy thrusts, the DND said it needs to further enhance the capability of the AFP; modernize the government arsenal; strengthen the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD); further develop the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP); utilize the reserve force to complement the AFP and OCD particularly in relief and rescue operation; ensure the welfare of veterans; and work closely with local government units (LGUs) and cultivate partnership with the private sector.

Aside from its policy thrusts, the DND will also actively engage with the regional and global defense establishments to further develop its capability, pursue greater cooperation with regional states and other strategic partners, contribute to the strengthening of regional and global institutions, and address terrorism and other transnational security challenges.

Defense budget proposals under the DND-issued Defense Planning Guidance will also provide a rational and coherent framework for defense spending through a judicious and optimal allocation of resources for priority areas such as maintenance, training and operations.

Last Oct. 12, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin presented the DND defense policy paper during the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Plus held in Hanoi, Vietnam where Defense Ministers shared their views on pressing regional security concerns and discussed the direction of future practical cooperation.

The ADMM-Plus summit was held to enhance cooperation between ASEAN and its eight dialogue partners -- Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States -- in the areas of maritime security, terrorism, peacekeeping operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and military medicine.

“Through this Defense Policy Paper, the DND hopes to contribute in building confidence and trust among countries in the region. Most importantly, it could contribute in cultivating partnership with other stakeholders in the Philippines. After all, the security and defense of the Philippines is not simply a concern of the Department of National Defense but of the entire Filipino nation,” Gazmin said. (PIA V)

WHY PCSO MUST BE WITH OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

MANILA — The urgency of reverting the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office back to the Office of the President, where it was meant to be under the charter creating it, is because of the nature and scope of the numerous health assistance and social services, charities and local governments that PCSO must fund from its revenue generating activities.

In an interview, PCSO Chairman Margarita Juico said for many years since the PCSO was created in 1954, it had always been under the Office of the President, until the Arroyo administration transferred it from the OP to the Department of Health then to the Department of Social Welfare and Development and then back to the DOH.

“For what reason the agency was being moved from one department to another, I could never understand,” Juico said on Thursday.

PCSO has two vital functions namely: a) to raise funds through the regular Sunday Sweepstakes draws and the daily lotteries such as 6/42, 6/45, 6/49 and 6/55 aside from the three digit daily lottos and b) to allocate resources for social services and charities of national character.

Juico said the PCSO’s resource allocation is covered by two sets of laws: 10 Republic Acts and four executive orders.

Recipients under the RAs are the Philippine Sports Commission Program (for six sweepstakes draws); Commission on Higher Education; documentary stamp tax (10% of gross sales); National Shelter Program (10% of charity fund); the Shared Government Information System on Migration under the Department of Foreign Affairs (P10 million) and P150 million of lotto draws from the Charity Fund for the Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Fund; crop insurance program (10% of net income); P100 million from lotto agents for the upgrading of the Quirino Memorial Medical Center; P50 million for the indigenous peoples for the ancestral domain fund; P250 million from annual net earnings from lotto for the Museum Endowment Fund and Dangerous Drugs Board (10% of forfeited or unclaimed prizes after one year).

Recipients under the EOs are: P1 billion standby fund for the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS); P250 million standby fund for avian influenza or bird flu and 5% lotto share of local government unit

Juico, meanwhile, said it would be unfair to put a cap to the prize winnings in lotteries as the money belong to the bettors and no one can just limit what they ought to get. She was reacting to a proposed measure by Rep. Ben Evardone of Samar.

Juico said the winners normally get a lump sum check of the Land Bank of the Philippines, which they must withdraw at the right branch. “It is up to the winner if she/he decides to keep part or most of the winnings with the bank or allow the bank to invest it in high yielding instruments and even trust funds,” Juico said. (PIA V)

PALACE CONFIDENT PEACE TALKS WITH REDS, MILF TO PUSH THRU

MANILA — Malacañang is confident that the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) will resume before the end of this year.

In a media briefing in Malacanang on Friday (November 26), Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Deles has bared “that there is a planned meeting this December with the MILF and NDF.”

A month ago, President Benigno S. Aquino III reconstituted the government panel led by human rights lawyer Alexander Padilla for the resumption of talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

To finally put an end to the 41-year-old insurgency, the President directed the panel to pursue time-bound and agenda-bound peace negotiations with the communist rebels anchored on the principles of peace, justice and human rights.

Lacierda said peace talks with the MILF will also resume once stakeholders settle on the Philippine request for a new facilitator on the talks.

“With respect to the peace process with the MILF, we are prepared to sit down with them. The only problem is the issue on facilitator. So that is the problem that we are trying to address right now between us, the MILF and Malaysia,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda said a World Bank study estimated that some $2 billion to $3 billion worth of investment opportunities were lost between 1979 and 2000 as a result of the conflict in some provinces of Mindanao. (PIA V)

AQUINO DEFENDS BUDGET CUT FOR STATE UNIVERSITIES

MANILA — The government is not taking education for granted. Nor it is neglecting the needs of students in state universities and colleges (SUCs).

This, President Benigno S. Aquino III emphasized Friday (November 26) in answer to allegations by student protesters here that state colleges and universities are being left out due to cuts in next year’s budget.

Aquino, who is here as guest in the opening of the 700th store of local fast food chain Jollibee pointed out in an ambush interview that the proposed P23.4-billion budget for SUCs for 2011 is even higher than the P21 billion the previous administration proposed for the year 2010.

Some complain that the budget should have been higher. Some say we do not give value to education. My answer is this: do not forget that the tertiary level is not the only thing we should give attention to when it comes to education,” he said.

The Chief Executive said the proposed overall 2011 budget for education – including the budget for basic education that includes elementary and high school – rose by 12.92 percent, or to P271.67 billion from the P240.58 billion allotted for this year.

“We are merely focusing on who needs help the most. Basic education should be free for all, that is why we had a huge increase for the budget of the Department of Education. Through this, we can give children the opportunity to go to school,” he said.

The President said the budget for the University of the Philippines went down from P6.9 billion in 2010 to the proposed P5.5 billion for 2011 because it has other means to source funds such as from the UP-Ayala Technohub, students’ tuition fees and state subsidies.

In a related development, Malacanang on Friday advised students holding protest actions against the cut in government spending for state universities and colleges (SUCs) to talk to their respective university officials.

We have emphasized that in the past, the income of SUCs were reverted back to the national treasury. But it is not being done now. In fact, we allow SUCs to retain their own income,”

The President, in his budget message said: “We are gradually reducing the subsidy to SUCs to push them toward becoming self-sufficient and financially independent, given their ability to raise their income and to utilize it for their programs and projects.” (PIA V)

PH CONDEMNS NOKOR ATTACK ON SOUTH

MANILA — The Philippines has joined other nations in condemning North Korea’s artillery attack on South Korea’s Yeonpyeong island, urging the two nations to resolve their difficulties in a peaceful manner.

In a statement read by Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Abigail Valte during a media briefing this Friday afternoon (November 26), she stated that “the Philippine government is gravely concerned over the resulting rise in tensions in the Korean Peninsula and the recent attack by North Korea constitutes a clear and flagrant violation of international law.”

The statement came out two days after President Benigno S. Aquino III urged the two countries to end provocative actions and called for sobriety following their exchange of artillery attacks last Wednesday.

Valte said the assault would adversely affect peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Pacific region.

“The Philippines commends the Republic of Korea for having demonstrated extraordinary restraint in the wake of the attack on the corvette ROKS Cheonan on 26 March this year, and again in the wake of this unprovoked and overt attack. We call for the continued exercise of restraint,” the statement said.

“The Philippines strongly urges the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to abide by its obligations under international law and the UN Charter, and to adhere to the Armistice Agreement of 1953, the Inter-Korean Basic Agreement of 1991, and the Declaration on the Advancement of South-North Korean Relations, Peace and Prosperity of October 4, 2007,” it added.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda meantime reassured relatives and families of the overseas Filipino workers in South Korea that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Embassy in Seoul are closely monitoring the situation.

He said the President had already directed Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Philippine Ambassador to Seoul Luis Cruz to review the existing contingency plan to test its current validity.

“We have to prepare for any eventuality,” Lacierda said adding that the President also tapped Special Envoy retired general Roy Cimatu to facilitate the evacuation process of some 50,000 Filipino nationals in Korea in case the situation worsen.

Lacierda divulged that the President had ordered the Philippine Embassy in Seoul to start constant communication with the leaders of some 15,000 Filipinos residing in the northern part of Korea and coordinate with key agencies such as DFA, DND, DOLE, DSWD and DOTC to ensure the safety of Filipinos in South Korea and the DPRK.

“The Philippines calls for peace and seeks an end to the instability in the region,” Lacierda said. (PIA V)