Bicol youth leaders join 9th National Youth confab

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, April 18 (PIA) – Eleven young leaders will represent Bicol in this year’s National Youth Parliament (NYP) which will be held at the Tent of the Avenue Plaza, Magsaysay Avenue here from May 2 to 12.

This year's theme “Revolutionizing Youth Development” will discuss the current issues besetting the young generation and eventually come up with programs that would respond to these concerns.

In a press statement, the National Youth Commission (NYC) said 11 out 100 applicants who will represent the Bicol region in the 9th NYP include Aguilar, Jeross Romano; Competente, Ronnel Joseph Tracena; Corral, Jackie John Borbe; Falabi, Christine Carol Baloro, Legacion, Maria Vianney Librando, Legarde, Paul Francis Nacional, Marte, Carena Caldona; Mier, Ludel Maiello Facistol; Pura, Janelle Escanilla, Roquid, Danilo Jr. Cortes and Santos, Patrixia Sherly De Lumban.

They will be joining 170 young leaders coming from other provinces to craft policy proposals on education, health, employment and entrepreneurship, environment and climate change adaptation, and youth participation in civil society and governance.

Nydia P. Delfin, NYC area officer in Bicol, said that the convention will serve as a venue where the youth can gain valuable insights and could establish a network of experts and peers to revolutionize the youth development efforts of the Bicol Region.

The 3 day affair is in line with the provisions of Republic Act 8044, otherwise known as Youth in Nation Building Act of 1995 pursuant to Section 13 which aspires to bring to the fore the young generation’s ideas in pursuing development in the country.

The event will be attended not just by students or in-school-youths (IYS) but also out-of-school youths (OSY), working youth and stakeholders from various youth organization across the countryside. (MAL/LSM-PIA 5, Camarines Sur)

MOA for P1M medical aid for indigents in CamNorte signed

By Rosalita B. Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, April 17 (PIA) -- A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed for the P1 million medical assistance provided by Senator Bong Revilla Jr. for the Camarines Norte Provincial Hospital (CNPH) and Capalonga Medical Community Hospital (CMCH) yesterday.

The allocation is part of the senator's Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for the program “Kalusugan Ating Pangalagaan” (KAP).

The MOA was signed by the senator, Governor Edgardo Tallado, and Provincial Health Officer Dr.Arnulfo Salagoste at the Governor’s Office.

Of the P1 million allocation, it will be split in half for CNPH and the CMCH, intended for the indigent patients in the province.

Revilla was also the guest of honor during the culminating program of the 92nd foundation anniversary of the province and 8th Bantayog Festival.

In his message, he said that the celebration is an effective way for unity, an action to solve the country’s problem and that everyone has its own way to help in order to attain change, he said.

Revilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Service, said he wants to ensure that the public receives equal services from the transportation and communication companies.

He said that as head of the Senate Committee on Public Works, he also on track on the government funds used for infrastructures projects to ensure that it benefits the public. (MAL/RBM-PIA 5, Camarines Norte)

Naga City Dad enjoys 99% popularity rating

NAGA CITY, April 18 (PIA) – Garnering a 99.5 percentage as the most popular city official, Naga City Mayor John Bongat is undoubtedly fairing high when it comes to the recognition being given to him by his constituents.

This after the Ateneo Social Science Research Center, Ateneo Student Researchers Poll (ASSRC-ASRP) of the Ateneo de Naga University released their 2012 First Quarter Poverty and Governance Public Poll citing Bongat as the most widely admired city official of the City of Smiles.

The survey which was conducted from February 11 to March 1 used face to face interview among a representative sample of 400 respondents randomly selected from the voting age residents of Naga City . The poll also checked on the satisfaction of the city’s constituents on the delivery of the city’s services.

The result stated that 60.2 are satisfied while 8.1% are dissatisfied with the performance of Bongat in the past 6 months. Covered period is from August 2011 to January 2012. This is equivalent to a VERY GOOD Net satisfaction rating with a +52.1 percentage of the populace satisfied with how Bongat managed the city’s affairs.

City Vice Mayor Gabriel Bordado also received nearly the same mark, with a 52.5 percent satisfaction rating which garnered him a GOOD satisfaction mark.

Among the GOOD City Councilors, multi-awarded David Casper Nathan Sergio or simply Nathan to his friends and colleagues topped the list with the GOOD satisfaction rating of +452 points or a 57.6 per cent satisfied rating.

Aside from the city officials, the ASSRC-ASRP also took the people’s outlook on various government offices. The respondents gave the city government of Naga a +0.5 point, Naga City Public Safety Office (PSO)- +8.1 points; City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) with +29.8 points; City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) with 33.5 points and the City Health Office (CHO) with + 39.5 points- all receiving a GOOD rating.

With the poverty incidence staggering in most of the urban areas, 47.7 per cent of Nagueños also believed that they belong to the category of poor families while 35.0 per cent, considered themselves as “not poor.” Amid this findings, 28.5 percent of the city’s constituents still believe that their lives became better during the past three months.

The survey embodies the sentiments of the respondents towards the performance of their elected officials. It also endeavors to inspire real performers and give a wake up call to those who failed to get the nod of their constituents. (MAL/LSM/ASSRC-ASRP)