COMMUNITY BILLBOARD

P8 million set for Malcolm Park project

BAGUIO CITY -- Re-elected city councilor Elmer Datuin, chair of the committee on tourism, said the city will proceed with the construction of the People’s Park next month. Datuin said the P7.8-million project was among those not pursued when the election ban on infrastructure projects started last month.

Datuin said with the intended improvement of the stage, fence, bleachers and area for promenades, “the hundreds of people converging in that area will find the place a better area for their various intentions.”

The park was used to be known as the Malcolm Square since 1901. -- PNA

DOST to establish metal, engineering facility in BSU

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet-- The Department of Science and Technology, to boost metal and engineering industry of the region, is set to establish here a common service facility in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

DOST regional director Julius Caesar Sicat, in a recent media forum here, said the region has large potential in the metal industry especially in aircraft or airplane parts production which is in demand.

He added the DOST is pouring in funds and projects for such initiatives.

Sicat disclosed the DOST has two computer numerical controlled (CNC) machines now for testing at the DOST central office before it will be delivered  in  the region.

The common service facility for metals and engineering will be established at the Benguet State University compound,

Sicat said he will push for more funding to acquire the complete set of the equipment for the facility.

He added the DOST through its Metals Industry Research and Development Center, will also spearhead capacity building or a training program for the operation and programming of the CNC machine.

The training program entitled “Development and Implementation of Appropriate Training Curriculum Design for CNC Machine Tool Programming and Operation as Human Resource Intervention for the Sustainable Growth, Productivity, and Competitiveness of the Metals and Engineering Sector”,  aims to  help address the issues on lack of skilled workers in the metal and engineering industry as well as boosting the manpower in the Cordillera.

“It is a 52-day training program on CNC machine tool programming and operation which also includes a 10-day industry immersion in partnership with Moog Controls Corporation”, Sicat said. 

The training program, which will be implemented  in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and Metal Industry Association of the Philippines is open to everyone, though those with technical-vocational graduates (mechanical technology or related course) or college level (at least second year) and those who have basic knowledge and skills in conventional machine works and basic computer operation, are  given priority.

The training program is free for unemployed participants plus DOST-MIRDC will also provide a P300 daily allowance for them to defray their cost of living while undergoing the training.

For employed trainees, a minimal training fee of P10,000 will be charged.

For Cordillera, Sicat also disclosed that they target to have 80 participants for  four training batches  of 20 trainee each for this year.

“Final screening for the first batch is ongoing though interested individuals can still apply and what they need to do is to go to the DOST Regional office at Km. 6, La Trinidad, Benguet and look for Orlando Menzi – MIRDC Science Research specialist I”, said  Sicat. -- Carlito C. Dar and Erica Acuna

DENR sets forest program in 29 villages  in Kalinga

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is giving P100,000 each to identified barangays in the province to implement the Barangay Forest Program (BFP) of the Aquino administration.

Severino Dalutag, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, said 29 barangays in Kalinga  will be included this year under the program.

Fifteen barangays will be covered in the area of coverage of Tabuk Community Environment and Natural Resources Office with 14 for Pinukpuk CENRO area.

Dalutag said adding 10,000 seedlings per barangay this year will be propagated and planted in July on 20 hectares forest land.

He said partner barangays will enter into a contract with DENR with the punong barangay, PENRO, and CENRO Officer as signatories. “The barangays can raise any seedling species whether forest or fruit bearing trees at their own choice.”

Dalutag said like the NGP, the BFP will be yearly funded until 2016. -- Peter A. Balocnit