Crime prevention focuses on the youth

by Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, September 19 (PIA) -- The recently concluded 17th National Crime Prevention Week (NCPW) in Bicol focused its activities on the youth.

National Police Commission Regional Director Rodolfo G. Santos Jr., said this year’s commemoration focused on the involvement of the youth in crime prevention in order to address the escalating problems of youth violence and school crimes.

A crime prevention seminar was conducted in four of the most populated public secondary schools in Albay on September 6 and 7. These educational fora were held in Pag-Asa National High School, Legazpi City; Daraga (Albay) National High School, Polangui (Albay) General Comprehensive High School and Marcial O. Rañola Memorial School in Guinobatan, Albay. Other than deterring the in-school youths from offense, misdeed, law-breaking activities, anti-drug use was discussed. Likewise, the attendees were coached on how not to be victims of crime and violence.

To reach out-of school youths, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conducted drug prevention dialogues in selected Barangay Peace and Order Councils in Legazpi City and Daraga town.

A pledge of commitment was solicited from the inmates of Legazpi city in Barangay Bogtong who promised to “become law-abiding citizens once we go out of the facility”. They further pledged to embrace the cause of promoting peace and order and will work towards a common goal in crime prevention.

The week-long celebration which started September 1 commenced via a series of opening day activity such as a kick-off parade from Peñaranda Park to the Divine Word College of Legazpi (DWCL) high school department gymnasium participated in by national government agencies, non-government organizations and the academe represented mostly by high school students of various academic institutions in Legazpi City and Albay.

P/Supt Renato Bataller of Police Regional Office 5 cited some 17 public and private educational institutions who participated in the foot parade. These were Aquinas University High School, Banquerohan High School, Cabangan High School, Computer Arts and Technology College, Dynamic Computer School, DWCL, Genecom Institute of Science and Technology, Legazpi City High School, Oro Site High School, Pag-asa National High School, Reyes Computer-Oriented School, St. Agnes Academy, St. Raphael Academy, Tanchuling High School, United Institute including the Mariners Polytechnic College and the Police Regional Training School.

A poster-making and slogan contests based on the 2011 National Crime Prevention Week theme, Pinoy Ako, Crime Prevention Misyon Ko! and the slogan Knock out Crime! were organized.

Winners of these twin activity were recognized as part of the opening activity. Adjudged winners on poster-making contest were Eric R. Besmonte, San Lorenzo National High School, Tabaco City, first place; Joshua Caleb P. Pacleta, Daraga National High School, Daraga, Albay, second place; and Rico O. Rodriguez Jr., DWCL and Mark Alaurin, Malabog National High School who both shared the third place honors, earning cash prizes of P1,000, P750 and P500, respectively.

The best slogan was won by Daraga National High School, first place and DWC second place with P1,000 and P750 cash prize, respectively.

A signing of the pledge of commitment to promote peace and order and public safety were made by the participants capped by the blowing of whistle, it being a warning that is expected to deter crimes.

Bataller also disclosed to PIA that PNP municipal, stations regionwide conducted pulong-pulong in the barangay on crime and tree-planting activities. PNP’s advise to the public is to cooperate when victimized and to report crime for easy resolution of case.

The Annual NCPW is commemorated each year every September 1 to 7 per Presidential Proclamation No, 461 dated August 31, 1994.

Gen. Oban, Palma to inaugurate 2-classroom building in Castilla

SORSOGON CITY, September 19 (PIA) -- General Eduardo SL Oban, Jr, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines together with Ms Tina Monzon-Palma, program director of the AFI Sagip Kapamilya of ABS-CBN will serve as guest of honor to inaugurate the 2-room school building at Barangay Pandan Castilla, Sorsogon here tomorrow, September 20.

According to Col. Felix Castro, commander of the 903rd Infantry Brigade, 9ID, Philippine Army, this 2-classroom building has been constructed though their initiative and had been made possible through the donation of construction materials provided by the ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. Sagip Kapamilya and the labor component provided by the people of Barangay Pandan instilling the Filipino value of the Bayanihan spirit.

The event will will also be attended by other key officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the local officials of the municipality of Castilla to be led by Mayor Olive Bermillo.

The event will commence with a medical treatment where several government and military doctors will be at hand to provide needed medical assistance to pre -identified patients in the barangay earlier pre-arranged by both the local government of Castilla and the 903rd Brigade, 9ID under Col. Castro.

Castro said that aside from the environmental conservation initiatives PA is extending to the barangays within Castilla, Pilar and Donsol , education , medical , health and disaster risk reduction efforts are also being undertaken by their unit to better the lives of people and make them aware also of their own empowerment by engaging them as pro-active members in any program and projects undertaken in the community.

According to Col. Castro, Major General Carlos B. Holganza AFP Commander of Nadescom will share the "Bayanihan Experience" and will acknowledge the people in the barangay for the efforts they have contributed through collaborative endeavor, giving free labor services together with the PA Engineering Brigade and the support provided by ABS-CBN family.

Jay Andrew the Mesa, a student of Pandan High School (PHS) will deliver the message of gratitude for and in behalf of the students while Mrs. Lucila B. Villa, teacher -in-charge of (PHS) and Mr. Randy B. Bueno , barangay Captain of Pandan will also express words of gratitude.

Marjorie A del Ayre , a Bayanihan Scholar will also extend similar words of gratitude to the donors and to all the entities who have made the project a success.

Expected to grace the ocassion is Vice Governor Antonio H. Escudero Jr. MNSA, LTGen Roland M. Detabali, AFP Commander , Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM).

Highlights of the event after the blessing and inauguration of the building will be the messages of the two prominent personalities gracing the ocassion, Ms Tina Monzon -Palma, a well acclaimed television host of ABS-CBN and well known personality extending projects for the development of rural communities through the Sagip Kamilya and the very pride of the province of Sorsogon Gen. Eduardo SL Oban Jr AFP chief of Staff who hails from the municipality of Castilla.

"We share the dreams of our nation, a country at peace and a people with freedom from want", this are the words printed under Gen. Oban's invitation program.

The event will commence with a ceremonial pandan planting activity that will be done within the school premises of PHS.

Expected too, to be present and lend support to the occasion are the member-agencies of the Bayanihan Eco-Park Project at Barangay Sibago of Donsol town also, one of the assisted projects of the 903rd Infantry Brigade, 9ID PA. (IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

9,659 farmers, fisherfolks in Camarines Norte to benefit from rice subsidy program

by Rosalita Base-Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, September 19 (PIA) -- A total of 9,659 were identified as beneficiaries of the rice subsidy to small scale fisherfolks and farmers thru cash for work/cash for training program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in this province.

Marissa M. Paeste, Social Welfare Officer II of DSWD Region V, disclosed that the beneficiaries of the program will receive P900 cash for their participation in the 4-day training and P1,575 for seven days of work or P225 daily minimum wage in the province.

She said that the program is a temporary support for beneficiaries during the lean months and rainy season due to the increase of prices of commodities like oil.

The program started here last May where the beneficiaries of Talisay, Vinzons and San Lorenzo Ruiz towns have received the amount while the other 8 towns are scheduled starting this month of September.

She explained that the beneficiaries are included in the list of the National Household Targeting System (NHTS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) validated by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO).

The four days training included topics on the increase of food production or the new technology for palay, corn and vegetable production while the seven days work included cleaning of drainage, other projects and activities for disaster preparedness, mitigation, relief, rehabilitation and risk reduction.

The P2,475 cash to be received by the beneficiaries, 50% should alloted the purchase of rice while the remaining 50% for their other basic needs.

Of the 12,614 target beneficiaries, 9,659 were already validated by the local government units and these include: Basud-992; Capalonga-1,526; Jose Panganiban-923; Labo-1,131; Mercedes-2,395; Paracale-557; San Lorenzo Ruiz-311; San Vicente-205; Sta.Elena-2,139; Talisay-377 at Vinzons-1,476 while the town of Daet will have to submit their validated list in order to include their beneficiaries. (MAL/RBM, PIA Camarines Norte)

Government to continue selection process for ARMM OIC applicants

NAGA CITY, September 19 (PIA) -- Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said the government will continue with the selection process on the applicants for the various officers-in-charge positions in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao despite the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) by the Supreme Court.

Robredo said the second regional forum in Zamboanga City for the shortlisted OIC candidates will finally push through today, September 19, after it was temporarily shelved from its original schedule last September 15 following the issuance of the TRO.

The DILG Secretary was in Cotabato City Tuesday to attend the first regional dialogue for the seven shortlisted OIC candidates for governor and six vice governor bets in the Muslim autonomous region, who underwent tight scrutiny from a panel of multi-sectoral group leaders.

“The TRO did not bar us from continuing with the screening process; hence, we will resume the pre-selection activities,” he said.

Robredo, who heads the committee tasked to screen the OIC applicants, said that the screening panel will proceed with its pre-selection process and forward the short list to the Senate and the House of Representatives before submission to the President.

Last Tuesday, the High Court issued a TRO on the implementation of Republic Act 10153 or the law that deferred the 2011 ARMM elections to 2013 and allowed the President to appoint OICs in the region, which include regional governor, vice governor and 24 members of the Regional Legislative Assembly.

“I believe that this is just a temporary setback in our effort to carry out dramatic reforms in the region,” he said.

Robredo said the government will file a motion for reconsideration before the Supreme Court and expressed optimism that the TRO will be lifted. (MAL/LSM/DILG)