Albay climate change guidebook launched

LEGAZPI CITY, May 25 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Albay in partnership with the Manila Observatory (MO) and Chevron Geothermal Philippines Holdings, Inc. (CGPHI) launched the Albay Sustainable Development Guidebook (ASDG) as a means to empower localities in addressing climate change and disaster risks through effective resource management.

The guidebook, said Albay Governor Joey Salceda, can be used as a primary tool in building the capacity of Albay in terms of managing natural disaster risks.

ASDG highlights the technical studies conducted by CGPHI and MO on climate change indicators specific to the province in particular the geological, climate, disaster risks, and socio economic factors particularly in critical areas likely affected by natural disasters.

Also featured are planning and development outputs from the assessed water resources and geo-hazard areas including Malinao watershed and Tiwi coast which aims to identify vital resources and provide effective recommendations to address disaster risk.

Antonia Loyzaga, MO executive director, added that the guidebook is open for use by other provinces and municipalities as a template for designing their planning tools.

“We designed the Albay guidebook as an innovative tool to meet the challenges of climate change and various disasters, she said.

The guidebook is funded by CGPHI as part of their corporate responsibility and community engagement program. (MAL/SAA-PIA V/Albay)


GSIS assures best service for its members

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, May 25 (PIA) -- Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) members are assured of highest quality service in return for their entrusted contributions to the institution.

Mario J. Aguja, a member of the GSIS Board of Trustees said this during the recently held Regional Consultative Meeting with Public Sector Unions here at Venezia Hotel.

The meeting, attended by representatives of government and non-government employees union, focused on the discussion of the initiatives conducted by the new members of the GSIS Board of Trustees in reaching their target for the next five years particularly in rebuilding GSIS as the premier pension fund institution.

Aguja and Karina Constantino-David, former chairperson of the Civil Service Commision and also currently a member of the GSIS Board of Trustees, keynoted the consultation citing the expansion of service in various areas by adding Landbank of the Philippines as added service bank, which currently has 900 ATMs nationwide, and deploying around 500 GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GW@PS) kiosks in addition to 250 units nationwide.

Part of the revisions particularly in pension policies is the cancellation of Annual Renewal of Active Status, which requires pensioners to appear personally at the GSIS office to determine their status.

“Realizing the difficulty faced by our pensioners given their age and fragile health, we instead partnered with the National Statistics Office and the Local Civil Registry to determine the status of our local pensioners,” David said.

The new policy, to be implemented retroactively, finally granted survivors of members the right to receive their monthly pension even if they are gainfully employed or receiving income.

Meanwhile, David disclosed the need to realign the database system particularly in posting and reconciliation of accounts, which has been a long-standing concern.

The rest of their target for this year include crafting of new insurance policy with bigger savings, 24/7 call center to open possibly this June, and one-stop shop set up in all field offices. (MAL/SAA-PIA V/Albay)


Poverty-reduction projects for Sorsogon, Masbate towns underway

LEGAZPI CITY CITY, May 25 (PIA) -- Juban town of Sorsogon and San Pascual of Masbate formally launched recently this month the "Poder y Prosperidad de la Comunidad-Phase 7," according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office here.

This, after the respective local governments of the two municipalities and DSWD signed the memorandum of agreement on the implementation of the project that will aid the former in providing basic social services to poor families or communities.

DSWD V regional director Remia T. Tapispisan explained that PODER 7 is a project of the agency and the Agencia Española Cooperacion Internacional para el Dessarrollo (AECID), in cooperation with the local governments.

PODER’s main goal, according to the regional director, is empowering local communities through improved participation in local governance and involvement in the design and implementation of poverty-reduction development interventions.

“PODER, including other projects of DSWD, do not only involve building infrastructures or providing facilities for basic social services but also capitalize on building up human capacity to promote progress even after the projects end,” Tapispisan said.

PODER 7 adopts the community-driven development strategies, similar to what is being used by Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS), where people from the communities identify, design, and implement the project based on their own needs.

The project promotes and institutionalizes community participation, as well as transparency, accountability and responsiveness of MLGUs.

Communities, usually the barangays will be required to submit proposals on their needed projects, while the local government will assess, consequently, decide which to prioritize among the projects will be implemented based on the exigent needs of the communities.

Showing strong local governments’ support and cooperation in carrying out DSWD’s flagship poverty alleviation program, Juban and San Pascual’s strong engagement in Kalahi-CIDSS has allowed these municipalities to become the recipients of grant fund of P21 million from AECID under PODER 7.

Juban will be allocated P11.25 million while San Pascual’s grant allocation is P9.9 million.

Juban and San Pascual have also respectively committed P3.3 million and P 2.9 million local counterparts as both municipalities are more than willing to continue participating in the PODER 7 project. (MAL-PIA V/Albay)