COMMUNITY BILLBOARD

Tabuk City schools division opens June

TABUK CITY, Kalinga--  Tabuk City will have its own schools division office starting School Year 2014-2015.

According  to  Schools Division Supervisor Alfredo Budaden,  the Kalinga Schools Division Office shall designate some of its key personnel to serve as skeletal staff of  Tabuk City Division Office for  opening of classes June 2.

Mayor Ferdinand B. Tubban has allowed the use of a space at the old city building as temporary office of the new city schools division office.

The city government has extended assistance for office equipment and supplies to the office, Tubban said.

Cities in the country are entitled to have their own separate schools division offices, among the number of mandated government agencies accorded to cities by law.

Budaden said  Department of Education  regional office is closely working with the city government for full establishment of the Tabuk City Schools Division Office. -- Larry Lopez

Ifugao town sets counterpart  for Philhealth beneficiarie

By Marcelo Lihgawon

AGUINALDO, Ifugao -- The Sangguniang Bayan here has approved a resolution requiring all PhilHealth beneficiaries here sponsored by the local government unit to pay counterpart before enrollment.

The SB said payment of counterpart shall be made first quarter of every year based on household earning and assets or basing on prescribed categories as members.

“Collection derived from counterparts of sponsored members shall be deposited as trust funds of the LGU to be used for additional members,” the SB said.

The legislative body said LGU- sponsored beneficiaries are  classified into four categories with counterparts.

For category 1 like barangay officials and employees, people engaged in business, employed/hired as job order or casual, the counterpart is P1,000 while P800 for category 2 includes members having three and below beneficiaries.

Barangay police and PhilHealth members having beneficiaries of four and above beneficiaries are under category 3 with P600 counterpart.

For category 4 that includes single parents, senior citizens not dependent to any Philhealth member, individual ongoing continuous medication, rape victim survivors and those that have mental disorder and differently abled persons, counterpart is P400.

Benguet-produced imported potatoes have good prospects  

By Susan Aro

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Imported potato varieties ideal for chips and fries which scored good results when it underwent testing in northern Benguet towns have good prospects.

Provincial Agriculturist head Lolita Bentres said the fiver-year experiment period of imported potato varieties from New Brunswick, Canada which took off 2008 showed good results particularly the  Calwhite, Cherokee, and Conestog varieties.

Gov. Nestor Fongwan said imported processing varieties have great potential even if this would only be the market of potato industry.

Through initiative of the provincial government, Bentres said four imported varieties were tested in different agro-climatic conditions and locations.

Sites of production were in Buguias Seed Farm and farms in Kibungan, Atok and Mankayan.   

Adopting package of technology and cultural management practices for potato production including soil sampling, bacterial and pest susceptibility,  three  varieties showed good performance.

As a result of the trials, Fongwan said Liwayway Marketing Corporation,  a maker of potato chips, is currently on  process of undertaking  evaluation of one of the varieties given to them through Sen. Cynthia Villar.

Another batch was provided the company for evaluation. In the event that trial with Liwayway Marketing Corporation and other prospective markets such as food chains prosper, Fongwan said they have to prepare farmers to be able to catch up with market demand.

Fongwan  added with the implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA), there would already be a sure market locally for the imported processing potato varieties as majority are coming from other countries.

Produced by farmers are table varieties while the big market demand are  processing varieties which could supply food chains and other manufacturing companies producing fries and chips,  according to Fongwan.

Ilocos Norte schools ready for opening

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – Public schools in Ilocos Norte have started preparing for the opening of classes today  (June 2) following successful conduct of the weeklong “Brigada Eskuwela” from May 19 to 24.

Dr. Joel Lopez, officer-in-charge of the division office of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Ilocos Norte, cited the cooperation among parents, volunteers, and private sponsors during the conduct of the “Brigada.”

Lopez said the Ilocos Norte volunteers brought to the various primary and secondary schools several construction materials, like galvanized irons, and cans of paint, among others, for the rehabilitation and repair of classrooms.

“Almost all classrooms in the province are now ready for the expected arrival of thousands school children who will be back to attend school on June 2,” Lopez said. -- Freddie Lazaro

DTI turns over equipment to 5 Ifugao organizations

By Daniel Codamon

LAMUT, Ifugao --  The provincial Department of Trade and Industry recently turned-over  equipment under Shared Service Facility (SSF) projects to five recipient nongovernment organizations who will operate and manage them.

According to DTI provincial director Valentin Baguidudol, SSF projects are envisioned to increase productivity and efficiency of clients whose businesses will utilize equipment.

Awarded were equipment for fruit processing given to the Lamut Grassroots Savings and Development Cooperative (LAGSADECO) represented by Julio Pugong Jr., and another for packaging to Ifugao Federation of Development Cooperatives (IFEDECO) received by John Bolla.

Stewart Baccay received facility for Lagawe Multi-Purpose Development Cooperative (LMDC) while   Joel Binwag received equipment for rice wine brewing for 4 Corner Association.

The facility for agro-product processing  was given to the TOPMPC received by John Hidalgo.

DTI Cordillera Administrative Region director Myrna Pablo  and Baguidodol explained and presented the memorandum of agreement with the NGO beneficiaries before the turn over of the SSF facilities.

Gov creates 2014 “Gotad ad Ifugao” working committees

LAGAWE, Ifugao – Gov. Denis Habawel has issued an executive order  designating coordinators  and committees for this year’s “Gotad ad Ifugao” festival.

This is  ensure  success of the commemoration of the province’s 48th anniversary dubbed as “Gotad ad Ifugao” on June 16-20.

Habawel said  event will be a time for Ifugaos to celebrate years of being an independent province and this event will be a showcase of Ifugao culture, tradition and practice.

This year, 26 employees of the provincial government were identified as event coordinators while 19 were designated to chair working committees.

Designated persons were tasked to prepare activity and budget proposals, prepare guidelines and  attend meetings . -- Marcelo Lihgawon

JHMC joins schools in BrigadaEskwela

BAGUIO CITY -- John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) personnel heeded the requests of several schools within the John Hay reservation area for support in this year’s Brigada Eskwela, a project of the Department of Education.

Brigada Eskwela brings together teachers, parents, LGUs, community members and stakeholders in the yearly activity to prepare a conducive learning environment for students and teachers before the classes start.

JHMC, implementing arm of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority in  cleaning and repair of schools within its jurisdiction.

The John Hay reservation area comprises 13 barangays, where public schools are found surrounding the forest watershed

As a part of its community relations program, JHMC will continue to partner with agencies in promoting programs and activities for the community.

Bauang gets Red Orchid award

Bauang, La Union – This coastal town has been dubbed “Model Town” in the north after being bestowed with the Red Orchid Award for two consecutive years for successfully implementing the “smoke-free” town initiative.

As this developed, this town is now vying to win the prestigious Red Orchid “Hall of Fame” award. This was disclosed by Vice Mayor Bonifacio G. Malinao Sr., who said that a team from the national office had already conducted a research to validate this town’s “smoke-free” campaign that has been successful for years. Malinao expressed optimism that they can win the prestigious award due to the full support and cooperation of their constituents for the program that has been implemented – making this town as one of the cleanest towns in the region. -- Mar Supnad

Benguet Corp.  conducts series of circumcisions

ITOGON, Benguet -- Benguet Corporation has once again added to the number of boys who benefitted from its free circumcision program with a running total of 220 after the recent conduct of a series of outreaches of this kind in some of its host barangays within this mining operation.

The latest was on May 19 at the Itogon Municipal Gym, where the beneficiaries accounted are 76 boys from Barangay Poblacion.

Also spared of their expenses for their circumcision are 62 boys in Barangay Virac, which was conducted last May 6.

The first surgical circumcision this year was held last April 25 at the Irisan National High School in Baguio City, which was availed by 82 boys in the area. Said barangay is host to the Irisan Lime Project, another business venture of Benguet Corp.

For barangays Virac and Poblacion, alongside with the conduct of the circumcision was the free optical service where a total of 122 residents were accommodated, mostly those aged 50 years up. 80 among them were given free corrective eyeglasses after their consultation by Optometrist Shirley Anongos.

The free circumcision program, dubbed  “Operation Tuli,” is now a fixture among the health services being implemented by the mining company for its host communities, through its Social Development and Management Program. Part of the package is the provision of pain relievers and other medicines to each of the beneficiaries after their circumcision for fast recovery. Timed during the summer break, the number of boys who benefitted from it has now reached 1,041 since 2008.

For the Poblacion series this year, apart from Benguet Laboratories who usually takes care of the medical staff needed, personnel from the Itogon Municipal Health Office also provided assistance.

The optical mission has since been added and conducted side by side with the free circumcision program for three years in a row now.

Benguet Corp’s medical outreach programs are being implemented in partnership with the Barangay Councils concerned.