San Jose town scores high on educational development

by Lizel S. Macatangay

SAN JOSE, Camarines Sur, October 10 (PIA) -- While education is a privilege for others, San Jose Mayor Tony Chavez looks at it as a bestowed right that should be enjoyed by everyone, especially the less fortunate kids in the community.

This is well within the bounds of Chavez’ Education in Good Governance Program (EGGP) as part of the ten point agenda under his administration.

In line with this, Chavez sees to it that the local government's program for education reached its target beneficiaries as stipulated in his priority list. During the past months, more and more school children are attending their classes, having received free school items from the Chief Executive’s Office.

On October 4, 244 public elementary school pupils of Danlog and Bagacay Community Schools received free uniforms from the local government unit of San Jose. This was particularly distributed to indigents who can hardly wear decent clothes during school days.

Edsel Salvo, San Jose municipal information officer, said that prior to this, Chavez also handed out numerous pairs of shoes, socks, bags, notebooks, papers and pencils to 1,400 public elementary pupils of San Jose Central School and and 35 elementary pupils of Catalotoan Community School.

School children from Dolo, Sabang and Salogon Elementary School are lined up to receive the said free items next week.

Last month, Chavez also spearheaded the distribution of computers to public elementary and High Schools in the said town, particularly in Barangay Camagong and Salogon Elementary School .

Also under his educational program, Chavez granted scholarship to more or less 290 and 758 college and high school students respectively. He also sent 7 scholars to undergo further education and earn their Masters Degree at Partido State University (PSU). Financially incapacitated but deserving students were also placed under the TESDA-PESFA scholarship.

Gasoline subsidies are also distributed to DepEd San Jose and allocated local funding to 57 teachers. Day care workers and elementary school teachers were also given a monthly allowance of P300.(MAL/LSM, PIA Camarines Sur)

First 'Oragon na Pulis Kan Sorsogon Awards’ honors 8 outstanding policemen

by Irma A.Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, October 10 (PIA) -- The Sorsoganon Kita Inc. (SKI), Rotary Club of Metro Sorsogon (RCMS) and the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP), in cooperation with the Kasanggayahan Foundation Inc (KFI) and the Provincial Government of Sorsogon, held the first awarding ceremony of the “Oragon Na Pulis Kan Sorsogon” (Outstanding Policemen of Sorsogon ) at Casa Dominga last October 6.

Representative Salvador H. Escudero III of the 1st congressional district of Sorsogon, in his keynote message, lauded the organizers the for coming up with the idea of honoring public servants who did well in their chosen field and underscored the importance of the founding anniversary of the province celebrated through the Kasanggayahan Festival yearly to be a venue for honoring outstanding Sorsoganons.

“The awarding of these policemen is a fitting gesture for us people here in Sorsogon to show to the whole nation and to the world that we can be real excellent and that be disciplined in our way of life and become role models to the next generation,” he said.

Eight outstanding policemen were selected out of the thirteen finalists who were recommended by the different police station from the province.

These eight policemen were honored, given plaque of recognition and cash incentives.

Awarded werePO1 Arlinnette J, Ocampo from Sorsogon City Police Station ; SPO2 Edgar A. Calupit of Bulan Municipal Police Station; PO2 Arnold E. Estrellado from the Sorsogon Provincial Public Safety Company ; PO2 Darwin V. Villanueva of the Sorsogon Police Station; PO1 Virgil B. Bibat, Sorsogon Police Station; SPO2 Restituto M. Lojero of Castilla Municipal Police Station; SPO1 Arnel D. Dolorais Sorsogon Police Provincial Station; and PO2 Jerson D. Giba of the Sorsogon Police Station.

Escudero stressed the need to really become best in what we intend to become as a nation and as a people.

He also lauded the president for really trying to make a difference in his governance by eradicating graft and corruption.

The outstanding policemen were joined by their families in a dinner tendered by the organizers attended by several guests to include PNP Provincial Director, PSSupt John CA Jambora, PSupt. Robert Morico II, OIC-CPS , Michael B. Sulit, SKI President, Msgr. Francisco P. Monje of KFI, Col Ireneo Manaois and members of the BCBP, SKI and RCMS.

Members of the Board of Judges in the selection of this year’s Kasanggayahan Festval 2011 outstanding policemen were Reynaldo Hababag of Bayan Muna; Dr Teresita M. Borromeo from the academe; Col. Ireneo Manaois, administrator of Sorsogon City; Mr. Hermes Diaz of BCBP and Dr. Humilde Baranda-Janaban, charter president RCMS.

The “Oragon na Pulis Kan Sorsogon” will now become an award giving body to honor outstanding policemen in the province and will be a yearly activity of the Kasanggayahan Festival according to Msgr. Monje.

“This will set the tone of inspiring people to become best here in the province and people will be our best pride to celebrate the Kasanggayahan Festival, he said. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

Flu, pneumonia top recorded illnesses in Camarines Norte

by: Rosalita Base-Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, October 10 (PIA) -- Influenza-like illness and pneumonia topped the types of illnesses that were recorded in Camarines Norte with 333 cases for the period February to October 5 this year with no cases in January, Department of Health (DOH)-Region 5 said.

Dra. Jocelyn Iraola of the DOH said that suspected cholera ranked second with 97 cases, typhoid with 52 cases and measles with nine cases.

She said that two deaths were recorded in influenza, four in rabies, three in neo-natal tetanus and two in non-neo natal tetanus.

She said majority of cases in influenza were in the town of Daet with 101 cases, followed by Mercedes with 49, Labo with 39 and 5-29 cases in the remaining nine towns.

Most cases of influenza were recorded in the month of September with 64 cases, 44 in March, 42 in July, 28-41 cases in other months and 12 cases on the first 5 day of October.

For the suspected cholera, the highest cases were in Daet with 45, followed by Basud with 13, Vinzons with 10 cases and 1-8 cases in the other towns.

Typhoid recorded 16 in Daet, eight in Jose Panganiban, five each in Basud, Vinzons and Merceds and 1-4 cases in other towns.

The measles cases recorded four in Capalonga, three in Mercedes and two in Daet with no case in other towns.

Iraola said that they will continue their campaign to avoid spread of the said illnesses in the province.(RBM/PIA Camarines Norte)


Public school teachers to receive discounts from business establishments – AKB bill

LEGAZPI CITY, October 10 (PIA) -- AKO Bicol Party List (AKB) has filed House Bill no. 5375, which seeks to grant public school teachers a 20% discount privilege in public transport facilities, health services, medicines, hotels, lodging houses, restaurants and eateries, recreational facilities and physical fitness facilities.

Rep. Christopher Co of AKB said that the discount privileges are but a small token of appreciation to public school teachers. “They have been given little attention in terms of their protection, security, and upliftment of their physical and social well-being,” he said. “Of course, it is also in accord with keeping with the social justice provision of the Constitution.”

The bill covers public school teachers, whether permanent, temporary, casual or contractual, with an income of not more than Php 60,000 per annum, and does not own real property valued at more than Php 20,000. Aside from the above benefits, they shall also be entitled to priority in the grant of loans Php 20,000 and below from government lending institutions. Such loans must be intended to provide capital for or to finance a livelihood and other income-generating projects.

“Many of our public school teachers are adversely affected by the present economic situation,” Rep. Alfredo Garbin, Jr. of AKB added. “Hopefully, this bill will help them cope up with the crisis so they can have a decent and dignified living.” (MAL/AKB)

2011 Philippine Statistics Quiz Elimination set

VIRAC, Catanduanes, October 10 (PIA) -- The elimination for the 2011 Philippine Statistics Quiz (PSQ) will be held on October 10, 2011 at NSO Provincial Office, NRC Building, San Isidro Village here at 9:00 in the morning.

PSQ is an annual contest designed to test first-year college students’ knowledge of statistics. The 20th PSQ (2011) will be conducted on a nationwide basis involving students enrolled in colleges and universities in the National Capital Region and in other 15 regions.

The Philippine Statistical Association (PSA) organized the PSQ with the following objectives: Assess the competency and skills of students in statistics as acquired from the secondary education curriculum; Promote, enhance, and instill awareness and appreciation of the importance and value of science, statistics in particular, among studentry, and Generate public awareness on the important uses of statistics and win overall support for all government statistical activities.

To officials of organizing agencies, PSQ is a laudable effort that strongly contributes to the building of scientific and technological manpower by helping identify and

nurture talents especially in the field of statistics. Results of the contest may be an indication of the effectiveness of the statistics component of mathematics as a subject of the secondary curriculum.

The PSQ is open to all students who are enrolled in or just completed their first semester in any recognized academic institution. Each participant is entitled to one coach from the same school where the student is enrolled.

The NSO Catanduanes Branch invites public and private colleges in the province to join in this contest.

The top three winners in the provincial quiz will represent the province in the regional finals to be conducted in Legazpi City on November 23, 2011. (MAL/EAB/NSO Catanduanes)

Solon supports feeding program in Catanduanes

by Edna A Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, October 10 (PIA) -- The supplemental feeding program, covering 15 public schools in six districts in the province and sponsored by the Jollibee Foundation in partnership with the Department of Education is also being supported by Congressman Cesar V. Sarmiento, Lone District of Catanduanes, who is providing two sacks of iron-fortified rice every month until the completion of the program in March 2012.

The said program started last July 18 and caters malnourished children from Grades 1 to 3 in the districts of Bato, San Andres and Virac which have been selected as beneficiaries under the ‘Busog, Lusog, Talino’ (BLT) program.

Recepient schools are the following: Bato Central Elementary School, San Roque Elementary School, Cabugao Integrated School, Marinawa Elementary School, Guinobatan Elementary School from East and West districts of Bato; San Andres Central Elementary School, Batong Plaoway Elementary School, Cabcab Central Elementary School, Codon Elementary School, Mayngaway Elementary Schol from the East and West districts of San Andres; and Virac Pilot Elementary School, Calatagan Elementary School, JMAMES, Palnab Elementary School and San Isidro Village Elementary School from the East and West districts of Virac.

The BLT campaign has already reached 13,000 pupils from 232 schools in 38 towns nationwide. 80 % of the children who have completed the said program attained normal weight-age status and improved attendance and academic performances.

Likewise, DepEd Catanduanes and the Congressional District Office is expecting the same result. (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes)