NEWS BITS

 Dads to look into PUJ overloading complaints

BAGUIO CITY – The city council will look into claims of overloading by many public utility jeepneys (PUJs) in the city as reported by commuters.

The body summoned heads of PUJ associations and president of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of Baguio-Benguet-La Union (FEJODABBLU) to explain their side on the issue.

Councilor Fred Bagbagen initiated the invitation following complaints from the riding public that many PUJ drivers load their units with more than the number prescribed capacity.

“This practice causes discomfort and inconvenience and entails sacrificing the safety and protection of the passengers,” he said.

He said this practice violates Memorandum Circular No. 2011-004 which provides that no PUV (public utility vehicle) operator will carry passengers in excess of the capacity fixed by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.   – Aileen Refuerzo

Dagupan starts ‘drunken’ tests

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan — The Land Transportation Office started to strictly implement sobriety tests on the road starting Mar. 12. The “field sobriety tests” involve asking a motorist to stand on one foot without losing balance; walk on a straight line; and follow a moving object with one’s eyes. LTO Region 1 Director Teofilo E. Guadiz III said the campaign involving 25 deputized traffic marshals will be done between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., when drunken drivers are monitored. -- LiezleBasaIñigo

Brotherhood of Saint Andrews serves 92 folks in health mission

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Some 92 residents of barangay Balili of this capital-town were beneficiaries of dental and health services provided by the Brotherhood of Saint Andrews- All Saint Cathedral of the Episcopal Church.

Led by BSA chair Samson Cabfeng, the group  conducted dental services as well as blood typing, sugar blood count and blood pressure check-ups to Balili villagers including some residents of adjacent sitios of Bilig of barangay Alab, Bontoc and Payagyeo of Suyo, Sagada.

Cabfeng said their dental and other health missions in the various barangays is part of their group’s  discipline while a  great help to villagers who can hardly travel to the town centers or pay health services for their medical needs.

Participating in the health mission were BSBA members dentist  Norton Comafay  of the Department of Education, Bontoc General Hospital medical technologist Rey Bacwaden,  Bontoc municipal police personnel led chief of police Richard Soliven, All Saints Mission teachers and some volunteer nurses.

Junjun Sacgaca provided his vehicle for the group.

Cabfeng said their group’s health services is also made possible with the donations of medicines and other needed materials coming from various sources including that of HedCor based in Sabangan.

Expressing the residents’ gratitude to the group,  barangay captain Henry Atiwag said the health mission conducted in his barangay did not only address some basic health problem of his constituents but it also showed some basic health data and  situation of the barangay. --Andrew Doga-ong

 Ifugao youth assembly on Cordillera autonomy held

LAMUT, Ifugao -- Youth leaders and representatives from schools of the province held assembly here at the Ifugao State University to gather their sentiments  on Cordillera regional autonomy.

The activity was sponsored by the DEVMAX.Com, Inc., a non-government organization contracted by the National Economic Development Authority  to facilitate youth assemblies in the  region.

Resource speakers discussed  the historical basis of autonomy;  its legal basis and the three core messages by the Regional Development Council  on Roadmap to Autonomy.

Audience were students from the Saint Joseph School and Ifugao Academy of Kiangan, Don Bosco High School of Lagawe, IFSU and San Francisco High School of Lamut and from other municipalities of the province.

According to Fidel Dincog, DEVMAX executive director, they hope that this activity will arouse interest and mobilize the youth to meaningfully exercise their right as Cordillerans to freely determine their future within an autonomous region

The RDC-CAR which acts as the primary institution for setting direction of economic and social development in CAR believes an autonomous setup could hasten the region’s development.

It also believes that regional autonomy is the best strategy to accelerate development in the Cordillera as CAR’s economic growth has always been erratic, slow and un-sustained and it needs something to break this cycle of underdevelopment.  

The activity was part of the preparation for a Cordillera Autonomous Region -- a constitutional mandate. -- Daniel Codamon

Tadian local gov’t  awards best performing barangays

TADIAN, Mountain Province -- The municipal government here awarded its best performing barangays as one of the   highlights of  this year’s 7th Ayyoweng di LambakedTadian March 6 - 8.

EstefaniaLacob, chairman in search for best performing barangays, there were five awardees for best performing barangays.

Barangay Kayan West was adjudged best performing barangay with a cash prize of P30,000.00. 

Barangay Masla ranked second, while third was Poblacion; fourth,  Kayan East  and fifth  was Balaoa.

These received cash prize of P25,000; P20,000; P15,000 and P10,000 respectively.

The winners were judged  based on  assessment on most functional barangay office, most peaceful and orderly barangay, health practices, cleanest and greenest barangay, best barangay agriculture and fishery committee, most functional barangay disaster risk and reduction management council, participation in municipal activities such as the Ayyoweng, Association of Barangay Chairmen meetings and local revenue generation.

Lacob said the barangays which got the first prize in were different categories are given cash prize of P5,000 each, certificate and a plaque. The other barangays that ranked second and third place were awarded with certificate and plaque.

Punong barangays want own trade fair

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Punong barangays here urged the city government to allow the Ligangmga Barangay Baguio City chapter to conduct a trade fair at Juan Luna Drive on March 15 to May 15 to raise funds for the honorarium of barangay tanods and streetsweepers assigned at the barangays.

The city council on Monday referred the league’s board resolution No. 09 series of 2015 to the committee on market, trade and commerce under Councilor Elaine Sembrano for study and recommendation.

The city has an ordinance totally disallowing the conduct of trade fairs in parks and government-owned facilities.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said that the only exception is the annual Baguio Blooms exhibition held at Burnham Park being an institutionalized activity of the Panagbenga, the city’s biggest official tourism event.

In their resolution, the league headed by Councilor Michael Lawana lamented the need to find other means of paying the honoraria of their barangay tanods and streetsweepers in view of the recent directive from the Commission of Audit (COA) mandating that remuneration for said workers be charged from the barangays’ personnel services instead of the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE).

“Owing to that COA directive, numerous if not all the 128 barangays in the city could no longer apportion an allocation for the honorarium of their respective appointees for they are tied with their limited and meager budget,” the liga noted.

They said this prompted a number of barangays to prod some councilors to work out the possibility of asking the city government to subsidize the honorarium of the said workers and similar requests are expected to flood the city government in the coming days.

Because of the predicament, the league thought of conducting the two-month trade fair as the “most convenient, reasonable and practicable readily available means… albeit provisionally and temporarily” that the city government can help the barangays raise the needed funding. 

“There is a need for a tripartite action from the city government, the 128 barangays and the Liga to work hand-in-hand to possibly end the said concern,” they said.

Kalinga agro-industrial trade fair  registers  P4.1M sales

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The 2015 KalingaUllalim agro-industrial trade fair sales performance soared by 20 percent compared to last year.  

Report from Trade and Industry provincial office, organizer of the event, showed exhibitors in this year’s Ullalim fair raked in P4.1 million, up from P3.4 million sales in 2014 or an increase of P700,000.

Benita Mangadap of DTI-Kalinga attributed the climb in sales performance this year to product innovation by local manufacturers, wider participation from exhibitors and good weather.

Organizers also counted as factor the site of the fair on one side of the newly completed six-lane highway, which  is more accessible to buyers.

The annual Ullalim agro-industrial trade fair has become part of the traditional celebration of the province’s founding anniversary and Ullalim Festival every February with more than 80 exhibitors, including guest traders from the provinces of Apayao, Ifugao, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino this year.    

Top performers of the fair included gifts and toys, house-wares and décor, furniture and furnishings, processed food and  wines, woven products, ornamentals and agri-products.

Organizers encouraged more exhibitors to participate in the event next year under DTI’s product marketing program to promote micro, small and medium enterprise in the province. -- Larry Lopez

First Tingguian InIaud version of Bible launched

SAN JUAN, Abra -- The first Tingguian Inlaud translation of the Bible particularly the Gospel according to Mark was recently launched here at the municipal gymnasium.

“Ta Nabalo nga  Damag nga Nisurat ni San Marcos” is a partnership of the Philippine Bible Society (PBS), Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Apostolate, the Biblical Apostolate and the Indigenous Peoples’ Apostolate of the Diocese of Bangued, Dept. of Education, Provincial Government of Abra, St. John Parish and San Juan town government which hosted the event

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Fr. Oscar Alunday, SVD, Mission Secretary of the SocietasVerboDivini (SVD)-Philippines, and member of the Gubang Tribe in Abra,  said the book launching was held in San Juan municipality (formerly Ganagan)  because this was where most of the tribes in Abra originated, particularly the Inlaud tribe whose language is the most-widely spoken among the AbraTingguians.

This first TingguianI Inlaud version of the Bible hopes to inspire more volunteer translators from the different tribes to come up with their own versions for better understanding as it is in the mother tongue.

Alunday initiated the said book project during his stint as Secretary of the Episcopal Commission for the Biblical Apostolate of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines in 2010 in close coordination with the directors of the Biblical Apostolate and the Indigenous Peoples of the Diocese of Bangued.

The book project was carried out though intensive seminars and trainings of volunteer translators of the Bible.

A lot of feedback and reviews of the translations were undertaken until they arrived at the final draft of the manuscript.

The first two translators, retired Abra Schools  Division Superintendent Rosita Brillantes, and  Reynaldo  Calinap, an Alternative Learning System teacher, shared that they found the task of translating the book of St. Mark very rewarding and a blessing. They expressed hope that the translation would facilitate the spread of the Word of God because the version is more easily understood by the faithful.  

Gov. Eustaquio P. Bersamin said he appreciated the endeavor, adding this “clearly brings us closer to God as we understand better the Word of God though our own language.”

Mayor Marco Bautista, said it was  an  honor  to host  said event  for  recognition of their municipality as the center point of all the tribes in Abra.

Meanwhile, PBS representatives assured Abrenios of support in trainings so tasks will be easier than the first version which took three years before the final copy was published. -- Josa Mai Ramirez

Registry of Deeds- Ifugao turns over 722 titles to land owners

 ALFONSO LISTA, Ifugao -- More than 700 landowners in this corn- producing municipality recently received  land titles from the provincial Registry of Deeds. Lawyer Marion Cojpag of RD-Ifugao  turned over  722 land titles to recipients in a ceremony witnessed by municipal officials led by  Mayor Glenn Prudenciano.

Processing and distribution of land titles is part of the public service program of the RD in the province for the promotion of real land ownership.

Meanwhile, Land Bank of the Philippines Santiago City Branch Manager Virginia Sevilla  urged local government unit employees and the public to  use properly  offsite  Automated Teller Machine (ATM)  they  installed at the   municipal hall  here. 

Local officials requested installation of the ATM to minimize the transfer of big sum of money from the bank for salaries of employees.

“We are happy to provide the online service as part of our commitment to better serve clients in the LGU through an automated payroll account and other bank clients including the 4Ps,” Sevilla  said.  -- Marcelo Lihgawon

 with report from Lorena Dulnuan    

 LTO Apayao gets CSCSeal of Excellence award

LUNA, Apayao -- The Land Transportation Office  Apayao  office  is among the few national awardees of the Citizen’s Satisfaction Center- Seal of Excellence Award  of Civil Service Commission.

CSC Commissioner Robert Martinez with CSC-Cordillera regional director Marilyn Taldo  handed the award  to Department of Transportation and Communication regional director Celina Claver and LTO Apayao personnel led by  OIC head Brando Failoga during  recent 20th founding anniversary of Apayao.

For its achievement, LTO-Apayao received a wall-mountable glass seal bearing the “Seal of Excellence” logo and  a cash reward of P100,000.00, to be utilized for improving  compliance with Anti-Red Tape Act.

“I salute and strongly commend the LTO-Apayao District Office awarded with the Seal of Excellence with a rating of 90.81 following their ARTA Report Card Survey conducted in 2014. To reiterate, the LTO-Apayao District Office is recognized not only for passing the Report Card Survey or RCS but for garnering excellent rating in the delivery of their services,” said Martinez in his message.

The RCS is a survey mechanism developed and administered by the CSC in compliance with Section 1

0 of Republic Act No. 9485, known as Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 or ARTA to rate agency performance and client satisfaction in terms of quality of service rendered, the time it took to complete the transaction, client-friendliness of physical setup, availability of basic facilities for clients with special needs and clean comfort rooms, waiting area, among others.

With the award, LTO-Apayao joined 150 service offices awarded with Seal of Excellence for their display of excellence in delivery of services to the public and for adherence to ARTA.

In the Cordillera,  it includes Department of Trade and Industry –  Kalinga, and egional offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development,  Commission on Higher Education and  Department of Labor and Employment.

Martinez challenged LTO-Apayao to sustain its excellence award by making sure to give the best service to the people.

“The sustainability or the consistency of your excellent public service will be the next challenge. And one good indicator of sustainability is when you accept that changes are a part of the journey towards service excellence.

Gov. Elias Bulut Jr.  promised to donate two motorcycle units to LTO-Apayao  for efficient service. -- RedjieCawis

Brotherhood of Saint Andrews serves 92 folks in health mission

By Andrew Doga-ong

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Some 92 residents of barangay Balili of this capital-town were beneficiaries of dental and health services provided by the Brotherhood of Saint Andrews- All Saint Cathedral of the Episcopal Church.

Led by BSA chair Samson Cabfeng, the group  conducted dental services as well as blood typing, sugar blood count and blood pressure check-ups to Balili villagers including some residents of adjacent sitios of Bilig of barangay Alab, Bontoc and Payagyeo of Suyo, Sagada.

Cabfeng said their dental and other health missions in the various barangays is part of their group’s  discipline while a  great help to villagers who can hardly travel to the town centers or pay health services for their medical needs.

Participating in the health mission were BSBA members dentist  Norton Comafay  of the Department of Education, Bontoc General Hospital medical technologist Rey Bacwaden,  Bontoc municipal police personnel led chief of police Richard Soliven, All Saints Mission teachers and some volunteer nurses.

JunjunSacgaca provided his vehicle for the group.

Cabfeng said their group’s health services is also made possible with the donations of medicines and other needed materials coming from various sources including that of HedCor based in Sabangan.

Expressing the residents’ gratitude to the group,  barangay captain Henry Atiwag said the health mission conducted in his barangay did not only address some basic health problem of his constituents but it also showed some basic health data and  situation of the barangay. 

 5 Cordillera local governments vie for PopCom development award

BAGUIO CITY -- The Commission on Population officially launched the Rafael M. Salas Population and Development Award to give recognition to local government units, chief executives and institutions or individuals for outstanding contributions in population and development.

Rafael M. Salas was first executive director of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) from the time it became operational in 1969 until 1987.

He was a pioneer in the field of population who advocated importance of understanding the links between population and development and need to take population factors into account in development planning.

POPCOM Cordillera regional director Rosa Fortaleza, said the award aims to recognize local government units, local chief executives, institutions and individuals who take part and have big contributions in implementation of  population management programs.

For the awards, top three cities and top three municipalities will be chosen based on the criteria of governance on health and health financing; Access to programs, services and facilities and performance monitoring.

The six awardees will receive special glass plaques and cash prizes for the awarding ceremony which is initially set in August.

For Cordillera, Fortaleza bared the cities of Baguio and Tabuk, and municipalities of La Trinidad in   Benguet, Daguioman of Abra and Sta. Marcela in  Apayao were included as nominees for first screening last Feb. 18. -- Kim Tiqui

JICA execs monitor project at Ifugao State University 

LAMUT, Ifugao -- Officials of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are  monitoring status  of  IfugaoSatoyama  Meister training program at Ifugao State University here.

The ISMTP is a program that aims to empower village people in heritage sites of Ifugao to improve their quality of lives by harmonizing heritage conservation, environmental preservation and economic activities.

This is aligned with the Human Resource Development Program of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System in Philippines which is Ifugao Rice Terrraces.

The methods of the program were patterned after Noto Satoyama Satoumi Meister Training Project by Kanazawa University of Japan.

At least 17 trainees from heritage sites of the province attended lectures  under the program such as natural farming system, land utilization, management of heirloom rice production, ecological concepts and practices and others.

The trainees, who are expected to graduate this March, also attended trainings on food production, native delicacy preparation and were given educational tour to some successful small scale enterprises in Ifugao like the taro production and traditional and modern rice wine facilities.

They also visited Japan where they interacted with their counterpart trainees.

JICA senior representative AzukizawaEigo who expressed hope trainees under the ISMTP would be involved in economic activities in their communities.

IFSU president Serafin Ngohayon said collaboration between IFSU, provincial and municipal local government of Ifugao, Japan’s Kanazawa University and the University of the Philippines will help in productivity of trainees even after program is finished. -- Daniel Codamon

Rotary Club of Bangued reaches out to poor folks

BANGUED, Abra -- Guided by its motto, “Service above self,” the Rotary Club  of Bangued is reaching  out to  poor communities in  the province.

Frank Asia, incumbent president of RC of Bangued said medical missions were held by the club with polio eradication as special project.

These with support of Rotary International which provided free vaccination to children.

For  gift-giving activities, Asia said, the RC of Bangued distributed slippers and raincoats to students in schools. 

Asia said there are other projects like helping calamity victims such as relief goods and services.

Livelihood trainings are also provided to help others help themselves. They are also  active in campaign to save the environment by planting trees.

The RC of Bangued also engages in high-impact projects which included water system in Tuquib, Villaviciosa funded in part by RC-Ampang Chapter of Malaysia. The water system costs P4 million.  .

Asia said in instances where RC-Bangued could not provide all funds required for high-impact projects, they seek other sources to complement whatever funds are generated from among their members. 

In the case of Villavisiosa waterworks, they sought support of Gov. EstaquioBersamin. -- Josa Mai Ramirez

10 carabaos given to Ifugao farmers

LAMUT, Ifugao -- Ten female native carabaos were  recently turned over to farmer-beneficiaries  in the province as part of the government’s livelihood program.

The animals weighing  more than 200 kg  came from the ED Ranch of Masbate City made available under the Barangay Livestock Breeding Loan Program of the government through Department of Agriculture.

During recent turnover, Gov. Denis Habawel explained to beneficiaries loan contract agreement so they would be responsible beneficiaries.

The LCA provides recipients shall take good care of the animals which will be subjected to periodic inspection by the DA, Provincial Veterinary Office and Municipal Agriculture Office.

Ownership of the animal shall also remain with the MAO and it shall not be removed or transferred without any written permission from the MAO or PVET or their authorized representatives.

He said the endeavor is a  national program of the government for livelihood assistance to farmers.

He said this is  a loan to be repaid after two years from acquisition and that the offspring, whether male or female, will be re-dispersed to the next qualified and interested farmers to raise either for breeding or draft animal.

The ten beneficiaries of this animal dispersal program were MoisesHangdaan, John Philip Vegara, Jaime Tultog, Arthur Bando and George Belingon from the municipality of Lamut and Ramon Lim-ang, RoldanAllaga, Leonardo Tayaban, JorimPunbawi and Christopher Bacali from Lagawe. -- Daniel Codamon

DepEd-Kalinga reminds schools to hold modest graduation exercises

By Larry Lopez

TABUK CITY, Kalinga- - With commencement of school year 2014-2015 by end of this month, Kalinga Schools Division called on schools in the province to hold “modest but meaningful” graduation exercises.

Kalinga Schools Division Superintendent Caroline Verano said Memorandum Order No. 3 from Department of Education Sec. Armin Luistro urged schools to hold simple commencement ceremonies without cost to students and parents.

Since graduations and similar commencement exercises are occasions to recognize students’ achievements, these should not cause financial burdens to parents, Verano said.

The move is part of the reforms we now see in the country’s education system to change the mindset of parents that graduations are times of thanksgiving and recognition, not times of cash-outs.

Verano said “meaningful graduation” is measured from the achievements of the graduates not by what they wear and how fashionable they are.  

To promote socialized and no-cost intensive graduation practices, the order suggested wearing of school uniforms for graduation, instead of buying expensive gowns and attires.
In line with no-cost graduation policy, DepEd also discourages schools from collecting fees or require graduating students to give financial contributions as requirement to graduation.

Verano also reminded school authorities about the DepEd order on the required 180 days in a school  year.  

Ifugao  group gets livelihood fund assistance

By Marcelo Lihgawon

HINGYON, Ifugao -- An organization in this municipality received recently  funding assistance for livelihood  project on concrete hollow blocks production.

The Department of Labor and Employment awarded to Adimayko Cultural Ensemble Association of Hingyon town  P225,000 for purchase of hollow blocks-making equipment and facilities.

Dr. Avelina Manganip, DOLE – Ifugao head, said the amount is the counterpart of their agency of the proposed project through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Emergency Employment Program.

The ACEA which has 60 members proposed a P426,560 worth concrete hollow blocks production  in which  the municipal government, the accredited co-partner (ACP) will provide a 20% counterpart  and the rest of the  amount will be shouldered by the proponent.

The DOLE – Regional Livelihood Technical Working Group found the project feasible  as there is no   existing competitor in the area. 

 CSC urges nominations of outstanding public servants

BAGUIO CITY -- Do you know a person or group in government  who have  shown  outstanding work performance or exemplary conduct and ethical behavior? Nominate them now to the Civil Service Honors Awards Program (HAP).

Civil Service Commission-Cordillera chief human resource specialist Annette Paredes, in a  radio interview, called for nominations for  HAP which can be submitted to any CSC office in the region on or before March 31.

The HAP has three categories,  Presidential Lingkod Bayan and the Pagasa awards  for Outstanding Performance, and Dangalng Bayan award for Exemplary Conduct and Ethical Behavior.

Presidential Lingkod Bayan award is given to an individual or group of individuals for exceptional or extraordinary contributions resulting from an idea or performance that had nationwide impact on public interest, security and patrimony.

Pagasa Award is granted to an individual or group for outstanding contributions that directly benefited more than one department of government on a certain degree of standards.

The Dangal ng  Bayan award is given to an individual for performance of extraordinary act or public service and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior on the basis of observance of the norms of conduct provided under Republic Act 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Paredes said for CSC HAP, the Cordillera Administrative Region comes second to the National Capital Region in terms of number of national awardees.

For last year’s CSC HAP, Cordillera had two national winners- DPWH – Mt. Province heavy equipment operator I, Roldan Colas who received the Dangalng Bayan Award and the City Agriculturist’s Office of Tabuk City, Kalinga who received the Pag-asa Award. -- Hannah Costales