27th METROBANK Foundation Search for Outstanding Teachers on
by Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – Metrobank Foundation has started accepting nomination for the 2011 Search for Outstanding Teachers, now on its 27th year of honoring teacher-heroes.

Bicolano mentors who wish to join the ranks of outstanding teachers like last year’s winner, Conchita A. Ibarondo of San Antonio Elementary School in Iriga City has three weeks to be nominated by his/her school as February 14 is set as the deadline for submission of nomination of entries.

The ten 2011 winners will each receive a cash prize of P350,000 higher than last year’s P300,000 plus a specially-designed trophy and medal to be awarded by President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III in Malacañang.

National finalists will receive P20,000 each while regional finalists will get P10,000 cash incentive and certificate of recognition.

This year’s search theme is “Sharing Knowledge, Inspiring Change” as the sponsoring foundation believes that teachers are everyday heroes in education that change the lives of their students.

As in past year, the search is open to teachers who are Filipino citizens teaching in the elementary, secondary or tertiary levels including those mentors of the alternative learning system.

The nominee must be actively teaching in the country for at least 10 years, actually teaching at the time of the nomination, possesses a PRC license, has a full-time appointment and with full load.

Winners of other searches for outstanding teachers conducted by reputable organizations like the Ten Outstanding Teachers of Albay (TOTAL) will automatically become provincial finalist. The nominees, however, are expected to meet the basic eligibility requirements of tenure, performance and teaching load and must undergo the usual nomination process.

The Search bestows recognition to teachers who manifest deep commitment to the development of the youth through exemplary competence, remarkable dedication to their work and effective educational leadership. Particularly, the quest seeks out for exceptional teachers who have made significant contribution to national development by raising the quality of education through effective, innovative and creative teaching strategies, materials and devices in addition to their commendable effort of brining the school closer to the community and vice-versa.

Elementary schools are entitled to nominate two nominees, one each from primary (kinder to grade III) and intermediate (Grade IV to Grade VII) while high schools and higher institutions are allowed to nominate only one per category.

Nomination forms are available in all Metrobank branches, Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education offices.

Bicol, one of top-producing regions outside NCR

In the 26-year history of the search, Bicol region has produced 18 winners with the National Capital Region garnering a total of 107, followed by Western Visayas 44, Northern Mindanao 23, and Bicol.

The 18 winners from Bicol were working in Camarines Sur, 10 (4 from Naga City, Iriga City 2, the towns of Nabua 3, Calabanga 1); Albay 3 (Legazpi City 1, Ligao City 1, Guinobatan 1); Camarines Norte, 2 (all from Daet); Sorsogon, 2 (from Sorsogon City); Catanduanes, 1 (from Virac).

The provinces of Masbate and Sorsogon and 39 others nationwide and the cities of Masbate and Tabaco along with 69 others have yet to win an award.

Until 2010, 296 teachers have been accorded honors since 1984 where 119 or 40 per cent were elementary grades teacher followed by secondary, 98 (33.11%); higher education 73, (24.66%); and technical/vocational educators, 3 (2.03%). Seven of every 10 winners were female teachers. (PIA V/Albay)

BIR Bicol overshoots 2010 collection goal by 5.55 percent
By Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY- The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Bicol regional office again overshoot its yearly collection goal, now on four consecutive years, when it was able to collect P254,,681,992.53 more than the 2010 goal of P4,588,274,000.00.

BIR Bicol Regional Director Diosdado Mendoza in his report to Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares said that the bureau was able to collect last year a total of P4,842,955,992.53 in various taxes or 5.55 percent more than the goal.

The 2010 collection was also P882,006,247.21 higher than the 2009 collection of only P3,960,949,745.32 or 22.27 percent more according to Mendoza.

Mendoza said that despite the slow down in government projects in the region, and the lack of personnel, the seven revenue district offices (RDOs) and the regional office were able to make good its collection performance because of several innovative approaches it implemented to increase collection from Income tax, Value added tax, Percentage Tax, Excise and other taxes.

He cited among them the intensified tax information campaign, collection of delinquent accounts, the regular tax compliance verification drive , the close monitoring of withholding agents of National and Local Government offices, Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) projects and the voluntary compliance of top tax payers in the region.

Mendoza said that RDO district office in Masbate posted the best collection performance among the seven RDOs in the region when it exceeded its collection of P295,507,000.00 by P75,268,794.90 or 25.47 percent more, while the Daet, Camarines Norte RDO was second which posted a collection of more than P83,218,276.93 over the goal of P410,445,000.00 or 20.28 percent over.

This year Mendoza said that they have lined up several innovations to be able to again overshoot its collection goal for 2011 counting on the strong support and cooperation of Bicolano taxpayers. (PIA V/Albay/mal)

Bangko Sentral implements revised check clearing and settlement process

LEGAZPI CITY — The Bangko Sentral ng Pililpinas (BSP) has commenced Monday (Jan. 24) the implementation of Circular No. 68 or the Revised Check Clearing and Settlement Processes.

The circular mandates all banks to return checks drawn against uncollected deposits, insufficient funds, and checks with stop payment orders to the Philippine Clearing House Corp. by 7:30 in the morning of the following day after its presentation for clearing.

Thus, all unfunded checks shall automatically returned with service charge of P2,000 plus P200 per day for every P40,000 and fraction thereof.

This new process, according to the circular, means that checking account holders will not have the chance to fund incoming checks on the 2nd banking day after the check is presented for clearing.

The circular also provides that all checking account holders are advised to manage their account prudently and ensure that their checking account has already sufficient cleared balance on the day of issuance in order to prevent any inconvenience and penalty charges.

Also effective January 24, individual depositors enrolled at the Land Bank Phone Access or iAccess, or a corporate account holder enrolled in the weAccess, checks may be funded via ATM and electronic fund transfer until 10:00 o’clock in the evening on the day it was negotiated in Land Bank or in another bank.

ATM and Electronic banking transactions performed from 10:00 in the evening to 12:00 o’clock midnight will form part of the next banking day’s transactions.

Depositors may call on their respective banks for further clarifications. (MALoterte, PIA V/Albay)

UNDP to hold Intensive Community-based Disaster Mgt. training, pilots Barcelona town
By: Bennie A. Recebido

SORSOGON CITY, (PIA) — the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has chosen Barcelona town as pilot municipality in its forthcoming intensive community based disaster management training to be held here in March this year.

“We are grateful that Barcelona was chosen by the UNDP to be the pilot municipality,” said town Mayor Manuel Fortes.

“The town of Barcelona is currently in the process of reorganizing its Municipal Disasater Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC), and UNDP’s decision of choosing our town as the pilot municipality for their disaster management training is very timely,” he added.

The chief executive in turn, has also chosen San Ramon to be the pilot barangay in Barcelona where said UNDP activity will be conducted. “Barangay San Ramon is a multi-hazard area not only because its main road is constantly flooded, but since it is also within the danger zone being located at the foot of Mt. Bulusan. “The area is also prone to possible landslides during heavy rains,” said Fortes.

During the conference held recently at the Sorsogon Provincial Management Office (SPMO), stakeholders here principally discussed the capacity building procedures to be undertaken by the UNDP focusing on various calamities that hit Bicol region since the last quarter of 2010.

Former Sorsogon Governor Sally A. Lee said that Mayor Fortes has wide experience in terms of disaster management. “In fact, before he was elected as the chief executive of Barcelona, he was the action officer of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) in Sorsogon,” she also said.

“His active participation and support in the climate change program of the provincial government was also very evident during the time he was the provincial administrator,” said Lee.

Fortes is also the current president of the Provincial Mayor’s League of Sorsogon.

“Climate change adaptation and mitigation has been the priority thrust of the local government of Sorsogon. Our tie-up with the UNDP is also a response to President Aquino’s concept of the public-private partnerships in pushing public service not only in terms of economic development but also especially if it would mean public safety,” Lee added.

Lee also said that aside from Barcelona and those towns who have been provided with the same trainings when she was still the governor of Sorsogon, the provincial government also prioritizes the remaining towns that have not yet benefited similar trainings from private agencies.

The Philippines was included among the 166 countries assisted by the UNDP, particularly in its development projects with vulnerable groups as their main target.

UNDP’s significant campaigns dwell on poverty alleviation and improving the quality of life of the community by promoting good governance, environmental sustainability, taking action on the issue on climate change and peace agenda. (PIA Sorsogon)

CSC-CHS Holds 1st Grand Alumni Homecoming
By Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, (PIA) — The College of Health Sciences (CHS), formerly College of Nursing and School of Midwifery held its 1st Grand Alumni Homecoming (Batch 1975-201) last January 13- 15, 2011 at the campus grounds.

A thanksgiving mass officiate by Fr. Paul Isorena at the Virac, Cathedral, a parade at downtown Virac and book sale/signing at the CSC-CHS grounds highlighted the opening day celebration.

During the opening program held in the afternoon at the CSC gymnasium, Dean Jocelyn Ll. Jordan delivered the welcome address while former Dean Aida S. Bonafe and former principal, Prof. Lina Vargas of the School of Midwifery sent their respective messages and utmost felicitations as mentors.

After Ms. Rebecca-Gloria S. Alasko of Class 1979 gave an inspirational talk, former Dean Rebecca S. Sarmiento-Bala delivered her message as guest speaker. Ms. Melanie Mariano, president of the graduating class (2011) also gave her message. CSC President, Dr. Asuncion V. Asetre, also addressed the alumni who responded to the Alma Mater’s homecoming invitation.

An organizational meeting of the homecoming alumni and open house followed the opening program at the CSC-CHS grounds.

On the second day, Jan. 14, 2011, a symposium featuring series of lectures on ER nursing, precutaneous coronary intervention in MI, telemetry nursing, and diabetic nursing were given, respectively, by the homecoming US-based nurses.

After the open forum held in connection with said lectures-series, Prof. Marilou R. Lopez, chairman, Level IV (BSN), delivered the closing remarks, the alumni night was held later that evening.

An excursion was held at Twin Rock Beach Resort, Igang, Virac, Catanduanes on the third day, Jan. 15,2011 courtesy of the CSC-CHS administration, faculty and staff. (PIA Catanduanes)

8RD IB PA, awarded as best battalion for 2010
By Edna A. Bagadiong

Virac, Catanduanes- A Plaque of Recognition was presented to Col. Danilo P. Aquino, Commanding Officer of the 8rd Infantry Achiever Battalion of the Philippine Army based at Lictin, San Andres, Catanduanes for the laudable performance being adjudged as the number one Best Battalion of the Philippines for calendar year 2010.

Same award was also presented to Col. Aquino for being the Best Commanding Officer for the same year and significantly contributing in the overall mission and accomplishment of the 9th Infantry (SPEAR Division, PA which also made it as the best Division of the PA). The award was presented during the first command meeting last January 13, 2011 at Camp Elias Angeles, Pili, Camarines Sur.

Aquino thanked the local officials, other government agencies, non-government organizations, local media and the Catandunganons for the support to his battalion specially in maintaining internal security operation in the province.

The civil military and combat operation, intelligence gathering and other programs made his battalion number one in the country. (PIA Catanduanes)

Malacañang acts on woes of Masbate slum dwellers
By Ernie A. Delgado

MASBATE CITY—The Presidential Management Staff has asked the National Housing Authority to coordinate with officials here in coming up with an action plan to alleviate the plight of informal settlers in a coastal village here.

Albert Perfecto, NHA regional director for Bicol, told Mayor Socrates Tuason that he came over to draw inputs from Tuason and the chairman of Barangay Kinamaligan, which hosts a slum where people have complained about lack of potable water, among others.

Perfecto said the action plan should be ready by the end of January.

Perfecto said a reporter for ‘Biyaheng Totoo,’ which was aired by GMA Network shortly before the May 2010 presidential elections, acted as the sounding board for the woes of Kinamaligan slum dwellers. (PIA Masbate)

Aquino visits victims of EDSA bus blast, vows to bring perpetrators to justice

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III assured the victims of a bus bomb explosion at Edsa Buendia in Makati that authorities will get to the bottom of the incident and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Chief Executive made the assurance on Tuesday night (Jan. 25) when he visited the victims at the St. Luke’s Medical Center at The Fort in Taguig City and at the Ospital ng Makati.

The President also said the government will shoulder the medical expenses of all the victims and ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to conduct a stress debriefing of the victims before they are discharged from hospital.

“The President was able to talk to the survivors and they related what they have experienced. They are still in trauma and cannot remember everything that happened,” said Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman, who accompanied the President.

Soliman said the youngest victim is 19 while the oldest is 76.

From The Fort, the President proceeded to the Southern Police District (SPD) headquarters, also in Taguig, to personally check the damaged bus, where the bomb explosion took place.

He was with Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Raul Bacalzo, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, National Capital Region Police Director Nicanor Bartolome and Southern Police District Director, chief Supt. Jose Arne de los Santos.

The President, in a chance interview at the SPD, appealed to the public not to jump to conclusions yet as authorities are still investigating the incident.

He stressed that it is unfair to link the blast to the spate of car-jacking cases with murder and then paint them as reflections of a peace and order breakdown in the country.

The bus was moved to the SPD headquarters Tuesday evening to allow investigators from the crime laboratory to conduct further technical investigation. (PIA V Release)

Aquino cites business foundation’s role in uplifting lives of the poor

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III thanked all the officers and members of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) for their social commitment and active participation in creating a meaningful social change and embracing the idea of true corporate social responsibility in uplifting the lives of the marginalized sectors.

Addressing the 40th annual membership meeting and foundation day celebrations of the PBSP with the theme: “Celebrating 40 Years of the Great Philippine Merger for Social Development,” the President hailed its officers and members for their continued assistance to provide relief and seek solutions to reduce, if not eliminate, the long-decade problem of poverty.

“To the Philippine Business for Social Progress, thank you for proving me right. Thank you for your social commitment and for actively participating in uplifting the lives of the vulnerable sectors of our society,” the Chief Executive said in his speech at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City.

The President noted that the PBSP is very important for him because he worked in the organization after the assassination of his late father, Senator Benigno Aquino Jr.

“PBSP was not naive. PBSP took a realistic view of what needed to be done to accomplish its goal. It took the discipline that you need to run a corporation and to apply that discipline to the projects to various disadvantage communities,” he said.

The President pointed out that PBSP responded without hesitation when he called upon all Filipinos in his first State of the Nation Address in July last year to make a commitment and participate in the fight to reduce poverty in the country.

As a private sector, he said, PBSP plays a vital role on his call not just as an economic driver but also as catalyst for positive changes in the lives of the Filipinos.

In exchange for their continued partnership to the government, the President assured them that his administration “will continue to operate under the banner of transparency and accountability, under daylight, under the guidance of his parents that gave birth to the freedom and democracy that our people currently enjoy.”

Meanwhile, Manny Pangilinan, PLDT chair and PBSP chairman of the board of trustees, presented to the President the organization’s symbolic renewal of commitment and support to the administration’s development agenda.

Afterwards, the President presented the plaques of recognition to the pioneer members of PBSP, namely: Washington Sycip of the accounting firm SGV, Sixto Roxas III, Jose M. Soriano Jr. of Atlas Consolidated Mining, and Don Emilio Abello (posthumous) of Meralco.

The President also presented plaques of recognition for active service to Ambassador Bienvenido Tan Jr. of Philippine Tobacco and Modern Glass, and Ma. Luisa Perez-Rubio, respectively.

The recognition in creating impact to uplift the lives of the Filipinos was given to Angelo King Foundation for the 200th building they built.

PBSP, the country’s oldest and largest business group into social development, is a pioneer in Asia as a corporate-driven development foundation. Since its establishment in 1970, PBSP has been involved in corporate citizenship and social responsibility practices.

In the past 40 years of existence, PBSP has raised P5.2 billion, benefited 6.4 million Filipinos, and assisted over 6,500 social development projects such as in education, health, sustainable livelihood and micro, small and medium enterprise development, farmland area resource and coastal resource management, disaster coordination and risk reduction and caring for the rainforests and watersheds. (PIA V Release)

PNP intensifies intelligence, security operations nationwide

MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Raul Bacalzo has ordered intensified intelligence and security operations throughout the country with the declaration of full alert status nationwide following the Makati City bus bombing on Tuesday that killed five people while 13 others were wounded.

Bacalzo placed the entire 137,000-strong police organization under full alert status effective 5 p.m. Tuesday, hours after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded inside a Newman Goldliner air-conditioned bus (TXJ-710) while traversing along the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue.

”All Police Regional Offices have been placed under full alert and all PNP units were ordered to intensify checkpoints and security operations specifically in soft targets such as vital installations, commercial centers, economic key points, mass transportation systems such as bus stations, railways and seaports and airports using special units such as K-9 and EOD (Explosive and Ordnance Division)Teams,” said Bacalzo.

Four passengers of the ill-fated bus died on the spot while another expired while being treated at a nearby hospital. Thirteen others were injured.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Nicanor Bartolome said initial investigation by the EOD showed that the IED used in the attack was composed of an 81mm mortar shell triggered by a cellphone device.

”We mobilized all available investigative and intelligence units to assist in the investigation of this bus explosion,” said Bacalzo.

Bacalzo also ordered the creation of a special investigation task group (SITG), headed by Southern Police District (SPD) director Chief Supt. Arnie delos Santos, to conduct thorough probe of the explosion.

A Crisis Management Committee, headed by Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay, was also created.
Bacalzo ordered the SITG to coordinate closely with the committee.

”The SITG is composed of investigators from the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group), Intelligence Group, Crime Laboratory and Philippine Bomb Data Center supported by the AFP-NCRCOM, NBI and MMDA,” said Bacalzo. (PIA V Release)

CA confirms appointments of Almendras, Domingo

MANILA – The powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) finally confirmed on Wednesday (Jan. 26) the ad interim appointment of Secretaries Jose Rene Almendras of the Department of Energy and Gregory Domingo of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Almendras and Domingo easily hurdled the powerful commission after nobody opposed for the confirmation of their appointment as recommended by the committees on energy and trade and industry at the plenary session.

CA committee on trade and industry chairman Rep. Ferjenel Biron of Iloilo said in his report that he is “unanimously convinced of the unquestionable qualifications” of Domingo, a graduate of Ateneo de Manila University with a master degree in business administration.

It was Domingo’s second tour of duty in government service as he also served as DTI undersecretary and vice chairman of the Board of Investments from 2001 to 2004 during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

According to Biron’s report, Domingo was instrumental in initiating the promotion of business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, leading to the creation of more than 38,000 jobs in the country.

Despite the sworn opposition filed by some individuals, Almendras survived three committee hearings with committee on energy chairman Senator Serge Osmena III calling the official as ‘highly-qualified’ for the top post of the energy department.

”In seven months of his tour of duty at the energy department, the committee was impressed with the deep and wide understanding of the complex issues besetting the energy sector,” Osmena said in his committee report.

With the confirmation of Almendras and Domingo, the CA-confirmed Cabinet members of President Benigno Aquino III now increased to six with the early approval of the appointments of Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim and Education Secretary Armin Luistro.

Meanwhile, the CA committee on national defense failed to decide on the ad interim appointment of Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin after Senator Alan Peter Cayetano requested for another hearing to clarify some issues. (PIA V Release)

China backs int'l cooperation on prosecution and imprisonment of Somali pirates

UNITED NATIONS — China backed the international community to enhance their cooperation on prosecution and imprisonment of Somali pirates and called for more assistance to address the humanitarian needs in the eastern African country, a senior Chinese diplomat said here on Tuesday (Jan. 25).

Addressing an open meeting of the UN Security Council on piracy in Somalia, Wang Min, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, said effective prosecution of the criminal act of piracy and imprisonment of perpetrators of pirate act is an important link in combating piracy in Somalia.

"Based on the current international legal framework and the relevant Security Council resolutions, China supported the international community to enhance cooperation on prosecution and imprisonment of Somali pirates, " Wang said.

To tackle the piracy in Somali needs to address both the symptoms and root causes of the problem, he noted.

A comprehensive strategy should be adopted in order to promote such issues as politics, economics, security and humanity in balance, Wang added.

Wang stressed that the international community should positively respond to the appeal of Somalia and provide more assistance to the country.

Somalia has been in crisis for some 20 years and is currently threatened by acute drought conditions. The eastern African country has some of the worst humanitarian conditions that exist and has the world's largest displaced population. (PNA/Xinhua/(PIA V Release)