CSC urges to make every civil servant a 'Lingkod Bayani'

LEGAZPI CITY, November 17 (PIA/CSC) -- Through the years, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) remains relentless and has initiated and pursued programs and policies towards building a competent, credible and motivated bureaucracy.

CSC V regional director Cecilia Nieto said that the commission envisions making a lingkod bayani out of every civil servant. Lingkod bayani is a play on the terms lingkod bayan (public servant) and bayani (hero).

She cited that CSC believes heroism is a powerful, positive and engaging theme, adding that the need to imbibe among state workers the proper work ethic and build their capacity to be heroes in their own right can effectively project a positive image of the Philippine bureaucracy.

Thus, according to the director, all government agencies and instrumentalities are enjoined to adopt the slogan “ Gawing Lingkod Bayani ang Bawat Kawani”.

“ It challenges all public servants to begin the transformation from being lingkod bayan to a lingkod bayani or servant-hero,” she said.

CSC V also encourages government offices to produce the lingkod bayani button pin as part of the employee uniform, wherein the commission also made the design that may be downloaded via the CSC’s website (www.csc.gov.ph).

The director suggests that for queries and concerns, government offices may coordinate with the Public Assistance and Liaison Division (PALD) of the CSC Region 5 at 482-0699 or visit the CSC regional and field office near you. (MAL, PIA/CSC V)

Red Cross Sorsogon campaigns support to the Million Volunteer Run

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, November 17 (PIA) -- The province of Sorsogon will lend support to the international statement vision of of the Philippine Red Cross in making the Philippines as the Red Cross Volunteer Capital of the World.

This was the agenda taken up by the members of the board of the PRC Sorsogon chapter here during their regular monthly meeting held last week to highlight the Red Cross 143 program in the campaign for support to the Million Volunteer Run scheduled this December 4.

The Philippines in 2009 was identified as the top ranking highly vulnerable disaster prone country and in 2010, it ranked third among countries frequently hit by disasters and natural calamities, thus, PRC to address this concern has engaged the mobilization of millions of RC volunteers through the RC 143 program here in the Philippines.

Atty. Arnulfo Perete, chair of PRC Sorsogon explained that the Philippine has a highly organized PRC 143 program where 44 volunteers (1 leader and 43 members) in each of the 42,000 barangays in the country who are now highly trained to cope with and reduce the risks of disasters, enabling them to respond accordingly to any catastrophic event in their respective communities.

With the declaration of the United Nations of the year 2011 as the International Year of Volunteers via Resolution 52/17, the PRC seeks to awaken the spirit of volunteerism in every Filipino through the Red Cross Million Volunteer Run.

This ground breaking event will be held in all key cities and 1,494 municipalities nationwide on December 4.

Here in Sorsogon, the approved plan is a 5km fun run around the city on the said date at 5:30 a.m., assembly will be at the Provincial Capitol Park and at exactly 6 a.m. the fun run starts.

A registration fee of P500.00 is required and funds derived from this activity will be given to countries as assistance specially those areas affected by natural calamities.

The Red Cross vision is to engage all first aiders, blood donors, health and welfare volunteers in every home school, business and community all over the Philippines to join in this event to make a statement of making the Philippines as the Volunteer Capital of the World through this activity.

In the meeting, the board committed to show solidarity in this PRC vision and will campaign here for various sectors to join and support this undertaking.

Dr. Alfred Adrian O. Lopez was designated as chair of the activity while Zita D. Hababag was chosen as chair of the Fund General Committee. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

Latest ‘Smoke Free Albay’ merit badge, backed by Girl Scouts, DepEd

by Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, November 17 (PIA) -- The introduction of a new merit badge for Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) was received agreeably by the Albay Council and the leadership of Department of Education (DepEd).

The Albay GSP Council, through its Executive Director Ma. Amy Oyardo, gave the green light for the Smoke Free Albay Network (SFAN) to launch said merit badge while DEpEd Albay Division superintendent Marilet Almayda endorsed the earning of the anti-smoking emblem.

The introduction of the merit badge, which took on the official name as Smoke-Free Albay Merit Badge, was one of the highlights of the weeklong GSP Albay Provincial Encampment held at Kawa Kawa, Legazpi City last October 24-29, 2011.

Said launching’s focal point was a symposium on smoke-free kids and the SFAN challenge.

The symposium which was held at the grand arena of the encampment was attended by some 1,200 participants and their adult leaders. Talks on ill-effects of smoking with Dr. Wins Samar of the LIgao City Health Office and the No Smoking Enforcement by P/Sr. Supt William S. Macavinta were important topics discussed.

The forum was capped by the signing of the commitment wall by the participants led by Ligao City Sangguniang Kabataan Federation Vice President Bryan David and Board Member Herbert Borja who also gave the overview of the SFAN.

Meantime, the SFAN challenge, an activity which demonstrated the girls readiness to take part in community work. The girls, whose ages ranged from 10 to 16 years old where divided into four groups. The S group posted stickers in public utility vehicles, the F group “find” ashtrays and encouraged owners to keep if not throw them. The A group appealed to smokers to stop smoking and persuaded them to enroll in the smoking cessation program while the N group posted no smoking signages in government offices.

Among the activities from which the girl scout participant in the encampment can select from are scrap book on no smoking; simple movie maker; self initiative activity of convincing home members to stop smoking; information dissemination at home, or neighborhood or community; distribution of leaflets or posting of stickers and signages; collecting ash trays from different government agencies; collecting cigarette butts using plastic gloves then placed in sealed container; taking photographs of smokers in prohibited areas.

This merit badge on smoking is the first for Albay GSP and the GSP as a whole.

The GSP is an association for girls and young women of the Philippines whose aim is to help girls and young women realize the ideals of womanhood and prepare themselves for their responsibilities in the home, the community, the nation, and the world community. (MAL/AAN, PIA V)

PNP files case vs. NPA men

VIRAC, Catanduanes, November 17 (PIA) -- Criminal charges have been filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) here against 10 members of the New People's Army in the province of Catanduanes regarding the incident of backhoe burning in Viga town last October 30, 2011.

The arson raps was filed with the Provincial Prosecution Office. Respondents were identified as Michael "Melwin" Martinez, Madona "Carla" Tapel, Jayson Lucero, Daniel "Tabs" Frias, Rudy "Dick" Turado, Ka Ace/ Ka Arman, Ka James/ Ka Gerald, Ka Rodel, Ka Roldan and Ka Doc.

The said backhoe is being used in the road concreting project in sitio Hinunuran in barangay Tinago causing JR Contractor a million pesos in damage.

It can be noted that in the past, NPA burned equipments of contractors who refuse to pay revolutionary tax to the rebels. MAL/EABagadiong, PIA Catanduanes)