NEWS BRIEFS

Inmates vote in Pangasinan

DAGUPAN CITY — Inmates were taken under heavy escort to the North Central Elementary School in  Barangay Bonuan Gueset, here, for them to exercise their right to suffrage Monday morning.

As early as 6:30 a.m., a convoy of vehicles from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) arrived with around 40 prisoners who are registered voters.

The inmates were allowed to vote and there were no untoward incidents or glitches reported during the electoral process. -- Liezle Basa Inigo

Search for best Cordi coop on

BAGUIO CITY -- The Cooperative Development Authority recently launched the Gawad Parangal 2016 in Cordillera at the Mother Child Multi-Purpose Cooperative multi-purpose hall.

Gawad Parangal is an annual search of CDA that aims to recognize cooperatives,  cooperative development offices, councils, unions and federations and coop leaders for their invaluable service to their members, affiliates and the community.

Categories of awards include Most Outstanding Cooperatives subcategorized  into  micro scale, small scale, medium scale, and large scale category; Most Outstanding Cooperative Leader; Best Performing Cooperative Leader; Best Performing Cooperative Federation; Best Performing Cooperative Union; Best Performing Local Government Units—Cooperative Development Offices; and Best Performing Cooperative Development Councils.

Special citations will also be given to Exemplary Environment Protection and Conservation Program; Outstanding Community Involvement and Development Program; Excellence in Membership Growth and Expansion Program; Remarkable Cooperative Solidarity and Partnership Program; Excellence in Providing Financial Products and Services to Members; and LGU Cooperative Development Champions.

CDA-Cordillera will accept nominations until April 29. Nominations will be shortlisted and those who will be chosen will be immediately notified for the submission of documentary requirements needed for the national search.

CDA regional director Atty. Franco Bawang calls on cooperatives and other stakeholders in the cooperative movement in the region to submit their nominations now.

For more information on Gawad Parangal, visit www.cda.gov.ph or contact (02)7256604 or email via cdacritdco@yahoo.com . -- D. Regalado and J. Panelo  

Kiangan MAC vows to extend full support to police

KIANGAN, Ifugao --  The municipal advisory council promised to extend full support to the police here for peaceful and tranquil environment.

Vice Mayor Roel Dulnuan, MAC chairman, made the commitment after chief of police Senior Insp. Ayson Tenenan presented accomplishment reports.

From January to March 17, the Kiangan Police initiated 58 community engagement activities, distributed 130 IEC materials, conducted 190 community awareness activities, accounted 18 unlicensed firearms, reduced by three total index crime and had 634 police operations. Local cops also arrested three other most wanted persons, trained three  investigators, received six  awards for investigators with no investigator penalized 100 percent implementation of standard investigative procedure.

The MAC serves as an advisory body of the police that significantly contributes in the implementation of the PNP PATROL (Peace and Order Agenda for Transformation and upholding of the Rule of Law) Plan 2030. -- Daniel B. Codamon

Cash prizes await winners of  ‘best child protection committee’  

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Cash prizes await winners of “functional school-based secondary child protection committee” in a search of the provincial council for the protection of children (PCPC).

 This activity aims to strengthen partnership of provincial and municipal local government units in collaboration with other partner agencies in promoting provincial functional school-based secondary child protection committee; promote and advocate the implementation of child protection and evaluate the implementation of child protection committee in all secondary schools in the province.  

 The search is open to all public and private secondary schools in the province.

Entry forms/self-assessment tool shall be distributed to the different secondary schools. All accomplished forms shall be submitted together with supporting documents to child protection district technical working groups in July.

The self-assessment tool is provided by the Mt. Province Division Office which was adapted from Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 44, s. 2015 designed to monitor and evaluate the compliance of schools in the implementation of DepEd Child Protect Policy and DepEd Order No.55, S. 2013 – Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10627 known as the Anti-Bullying Act. Of 2013.

All district TWGs were given time to validate/monitor submitted school entries to determine the winner of each district which will be submitted to the provincial TWG first week of September.

The provincial TWG shall convene on the second to last weeks of September to assess documents of   district level winners and to conduct on site validation in October to determine the provincial winners.

Winners shall be awarded in n November to coincide with the scheduled state of the Children Address.

According to Evelyn Capsoyen of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office here, first prize will be given a cash of P25, 000; second and third will be P15, 000 and P10, 000 respectively; and a plaque of recognition. -- Juliet B. Saley

  

Benguet SP implementing digitized legislative data bank

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet --The Sangguniang Panlalawigan is now implemening digitization and indexing of legislative measures which eases tracking, retrieval and accessing of records online and ultimately aids  better and improved service.

Newly installed SP secretary Brian Crispin, a lawyer, said the digitization of all ordinances and resolutions  is anchored on the office’s mandate to inform the public of its services.   

It was incumbent Vice Gov. Nelson Dangwa’s vision to come up with a digitized data bank of legislative measures but has come into realization just recently, Crispin said.

Dangwa ran for governor in Monday’s polls but lost to former Vice Gov. Crecencio Pacalso.    

The project dubbed, e-legislative Computer Research Data Bank, aims  to digitize all ordinances and resolutions from 1967 to 2013 including the creation and development of a computer program to manage such records. To date documents,  encoded were from 1997 to this year.

It has two features, tracking and the data base of resolutions and ordinances. The tracking system shows the progress of the measure until the completed staff work and reaches the end-user.  The data base system shows the archived measures, according to SP Administrative Officer I Gusvaliani Bolislis who manages the said records.

Now on its first phase which started last quarter last year,  it is now operational but accessible  only  within the SP, according to Crispin.

The future plan of this  continuing endeavor is to make it online and accessible not only within the capitol premises but to  clientele such as the municipal local governments, provincial offices and provincial departments.  

 It will eventually be open to the public for easy access as they plan to put up a desk once they transfer to the Provincial Capitol Building II, according to Crispin.

There are also  plans of archiving data as early as 1945 while Benguet was still  part  of the old Mountain Provinces. -- Susan Aro

BIR urges Kalinga, Apayao folks: Pay taxes promptly

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Revenue District Office 11 covering the provinces of Kalinga and Apayao urged income tax payers to pay their correct taxes on time.

Regional director Eduardo B. Gayas said taxes are basic obligation of citizens in the country and every income-earning citizen is duty-bound to pay the right tax to the government.

In line with this, he reminded tax payers to visit their office for tax assessment assistance before they remit their tax dues at the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Gayas said BIR’s Electronic Filing and Payment System (EFPS) where filing and payment of tax is done on-line. The system, he said, makes transaction more convenient to individual tax payers provided they are properly registered with BIR’s EFPS structure.

Under the system, individual tax payers remit their payments using their bank accounts through on-line fund transfer. -- Larry T. Lopez              

PCSO provides Kalinga digital X-ray machine

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The provincial hospital will soon have a digital X-ray machine with a positioning and archiving control system, donated by Philippine  Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Provincial Health Officer Romulo Gaerlan said the PCSO has downloaded to the Provincial Treasury P8.8 million for purchase of the equipment.  He said a memorandum of agreement will be signed between PCSO, the Department of Health and the local government unit upon the purchase of the modern machine.

The digital X- ray machine produces optimal quality of X-ray images that would help medical doctors in their diagnosis of the conditions of patients.  

Gaerlan said Japan for International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is extending financial assistance to local health development in terms of medical facilities and equipment and upgrading/training of health service providers. – Peter A. Balocnit

DTI sets ‘negosyo Center’ in Ifugao

ALFONSO LISTA, Ifugao --  The Department of Trade and Industry has established a  “negosyo center” here to propel trade and commerce in this  “corn bowl” of the province.

The facility was opened after a memorandum of agreement was signed by DTI-Ifugao and Alfonso Lista government.

 The municipality was chosen because of its strategic venue for central and local enterprise catering the towns of Aguinaldo and Mayoyao.

Negosyo Center is a one-stop-shop for facilitating the processing and documentation of paper requirements necessary for the establishment of micro, small medium enterprise (MSME), providing MSMEs advisory services like product development, trade promotion, financing facilitation, investment matching and other related activities.

 “We are very optimistic about the growth of trade and industry in Alfonso Lista, and we are here to help in the local business,” said DTI provincial director Valentin Baguidudol.

The LGU’s counterpart in the project is provision of office and furniture, while DTI provides for the office supplies, computers and internet service for clients to do research for business purposes.

DTI –Ifugao also hired a business counselor for the center while the LGU designated a focal person for the effective delivery of services to its clients in the area and nearby municipalities. -- Marcelo B. Lihgawon with report from Lorena Dulnuan

La Trinidad dads set rules for disaster volunteers

LA TRINIDAD -- Officials here crafted a measure which sets guidelines in the accreditation, mobilization and protection of community disaster volunteers who play a vital role in disaster operations.

Under “La Trinidad Accredited Community Disaster Volunteer Ordinance,” 

an accredited volunteer will be issued an identification card by the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.

In case of disaster, the local chief executive will call on accredited volunteers to be mobilized and provide the necessary services and assistance in any given particular area or situation.

While the services of volunteers will be tapped, the local government will also look into their protection by appropriating funds for the payment of individual personal accident insurance coverage on a yearly basis.

This also includes other government organizations and civil society whose members are included in the rosters of accredited community disaster volunteers of the town to take charge of providing them with insurance and necessary benefits.

Volunteers will also be accorded with training.

The measure is with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for their review and approval. -- Susan Aro

Upper Kalinga District Engineering  in operation

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The Kalinga District Engineering Office now has two districts  with  newly created Upper Kalinga District Engineering Office (UKDEO)   now  operational.

Domingo Enciso was named District Engineer (DE) of UKDEO and Teodoro Owek, assistant DE. Personnel assumed office on March 22.

The UKDEO which   covers Lubuagan, Pasil, Balbalan and Tinglayan, is temporarily holding office at the Equipment Area beside the old district office in this city.

Owek bared that they are negotiating a lot between Cagaluan and Tanglag (boundary barangays of Pasil and Lubuagan respectively) as site of the UKDEO where they plan to build a 3-storey building.

The reconstitution of the Kalinga District Engineering Office into two regular  districts offices  is  by virtue of  Republic Act 10369 authored by Kalinga  Representative Manuel Agyao.

The mother district office, now called the Lower Kalinga District Engineering Office comprises the municipalities of Tabuk, Rizal, Tanudan and Pinukpuk. Engr. Ireneo Gallato is still DE while Engr. Ruby Uyam is the assistant DE. -- Peter A. Balocnit

DOH health partners in Cordillera awarded

BAGUIO CITY -- The Department of Health recently feted more than 180 health partners in Cordillera  in  a Gawad Kalusugan Harmonized Regional Awarding here at Crown Legacy Hotel here.

DOH officials headed by Undersecretary Nemesio Gako, Cordillera Regional Director Lakshmi Legaspi and Assistant Regional Director Amelita Pangilinan conferred plaque of recognition, tokens and other prizes to awardees from government and private sectors.

Given recognition were 22 government hospitals; eight private hospitals; 4 provincial LGUs; 51 municipal local government units; 19 barangays; five rural health units; one barangay health station; eight inter –local health zones (ILHZ) and four Department of Education offices, in recognition of their valuable assistance and appreciation of their various achievements in delivering health programs and services.

DOH also gave special recognition to regional line agencies:  NEDA, DBM, DILG, DSWD and PIA; the emergency response teams of Emergency Medical Service of Buguias Inc (Benguet), Rescue 26 of Mt. Province, Mankayan (Benguet) Emergency Response Team, Bontoc Emergency Response Team (Mt. Province), 911 On-call and Baguio City Emergency medical Services; NGOs - JICA SSC, Zuellig Family Foundation, Luzon health and Diteng, Inc.; and media outfits Mountain Province Broadcasting Company, Bombo Radyo, DZEQ Radio ng Bayan, Sky Cable – Baguio and ABS – CBN Baguio.

Plaquea of appreciation were given to them, in recognition for their notable and steadfast support to the vision and mission of the health department under the spirit of volunteerism, sharing of resources, expertise and time towards Kalusugang Pangkalahatan in Cordillera.

USEC Gako, in his keynote address, extended Health Secretary Janette Garin’s warm greetings and congratulations to all their health partners in the region, whom through their support and worthy undertaking, assured the delivery of DOH priority health programs and services to their respective target group of beneficiaries in Cordillera.

Among these programs and services include the High Impact 5 (HI -5) program, strengthened Health Facility Enhancement Program, investment on human resource to augment the health manpower where it is needed, Buntis Congress and extensive campaign on HIV screening and treatment.

“Reaching the target clients (of the DOH health programs) would not be possible without your active participation and support. Seeing you all today and hearing all the accolades given to you makes the DOH truly happy as we know that in CAR, we have multitudes of allies who are and who will always be there with us working for the health of all Filipinos,” Gako said.

MGB: Alfonso Lista not prone to landslide

ALFONSO LISTA, Ifugao – This town is not extremely prone to landslide.

Geologist Kevin Carlo S. Gaerlan of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources bared this afer geological survey done by the DENR in the area.

Situated 156 meters above mean sea level, the municipality is gently sloping in terrain, mixed with some flat topography and scattered narrow valleys occurring between hills.

 “In terms of flood susceptibility, the municipality is generally situated on high ground thus flooding is not a problem. Minor flooding will only likely to occur along the river/floodplains which are presently not utilized for residential purposes,” Gaerlan said. – Marcelo Lihgahwon with report from Lorena Dulnuan 

BFAR puts 100,000 fish fingerlings in Kalinga waters  

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) provincial office had dispersed about 100,000 fingerlings of tilapia and carp to communal water bodies and rivers from January-April this year.  

Aside from tilapia and carp, the office also planted 10,000 eel-ver at creeks and inland waters in the upper municipalities of the province.

Joyce Ducyugen of BFAR-Kalinga reported the move is in anticipation of the adverse effects of the long dry spell brought by the “El Nino” to the fish industry of the province.

 Because of the drop in fish supply caused by receding water level at private fish ponds here, BFAR-Kalinga had resorted to other local alternative source of fish by feeding communal water bodies.

According to Ducyugen, fish production in the province is greatly affected because of low water supply of fish ponds during the summer season.

The province has a fish production area of 31 hectares with an average fish production of 206,913 kilos but due to the effects of the long dry spell, production loss is estimated at 41,382 kilos or 20%. 

Ducyugen said to prevent heavy losses, they told fish farmers to make earlier harvest even if their produce has not yet reached the desired marketable size.They explain to fish farmers to better harvest under-size fish rather than risk higher losses from longer period of operation, she said.

As part of their fish production program, BFAR-Kalinga is up with the barangay-based information and education drive on improved fish technology and urged barangay officials to strengthen implementation of ordinances against illegal system of fishing. -- Larry T. Lopez