Lagan is ‘best performing barangay’ in Sabangan
SABANGAN, Mountain Province -- Barangay Lagan
headed by Punong Barangay Jonie Frenzel Omero was adjudged “best performing
barangay” in the town. Mayor Donato Danglose awarded barangbay officials
during the recent Gagayam Festival at Saint Joseph Parish Plaza.
Barangay Lagan was
also champion in street dancing, cultural presentation and battle of the gongs
in elementary level during the festival. Lagan is one of the oldest barangays
of this town. It is located across the Chico River facing barangays Tambingan
and Poblacion. Its people are known to be fierce but very accommodating.
El Niño
phenomenon to stay until July: Pagasa
BAGUIO CITY -- El Niño will stay until June
or July this year according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
El Niño started
November last year, and one of the most affected areas is the Cordillera
Administrative Region was Baguio City, according to Danny Galate, meteorologist
of PAGASA, urging residents to prepare
severe rise in temperature.
Baguio City still
experiences raining with the “cold front” causing it, Galate said, adding no typhoon would hit the
city in May.
El Niño is one of the
most common problems of farmers in the Cordillera with farmers complaining
about lack of water supply for their crops . PAGASA however said water supply
in the Cordillera would be sufficient
until El Niño ends.
Mt.
Province LGUs, school to employ 1,015 studes this summer
BONTOC, Mountain Province -- About 1,015
students are expected to work this summer vacation under the Special Program
for the Employment of Students (SPES) under the auspices of the Department of
Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The Provincial
Governor’s Office, Office of the Vice Governor, nine local government units in
the province and the Xijen College of Mountain Province pledged a total amount
of P6, 352,390.00 for the employment of these students.
Based on the data
provided by DOLE Provincial field Office Chief Samuel T. Lasdacan, Natonin LGU
pledged the highest amount of P2, 493,750.00 for the employment of some
285 students for 25 days.
The
Governor’s Office committed P1 million to hire 200 students for 20 days
while the Xijen College pledged P600, 000.00 for the employment of 50 students
for 40 days.
The Office of the Vice
Governor committed P170, 200 for 37 students for 20 days.
The other LGUs
that will participate in the SPES include Barlig which
pledged P420,000 for 70 students; Bauko – P414,400 for 112 students; Tadian –
P400,000 for 80 students; Sabangan – PP248,400 for 54 students; Bontoc –
P168,000 for 30 students; Besao – P80,640 for 24 students, Sagada – P32,000 for
8 students. These seven LGUs will employ the students for 20 days.
Paracelis LGU which
pledged the amount of P325, 000 shall employ 65 students for 25 days.
Lasdacan said the
daily wage of students who will be hired under the SPES varies depending on the
daily wage provided by each LGU. Sixty percent (60%) of the students’ salary
shall be paid by the employers in cash while the remaining 40% shall be paid by
DOLE in the form of education voucher.
Interested students
and out-of-school youth who intend to continue their studies are advised
to start completing the required documents ready for submission during
application period scheduled by the employers. They may visit the Public
Employment Service Office (PESO) in the different municipalities in the
province and the Provincial DOLE Office to get the required documents to be
accomplished.
The SPES is a regular
annual job creation program of the national government intended for the poor
but deserving students to augment their school fees by providing them work
during summer vacation. -- Juliet B. Saley
Ifugao
studes learn business skills from Negosyo Center
NAYON, Ifugao -- Graduating students
of the Ifugao State University (IFSU) here taking up Business
Administration and Hotel and Restaurant Management attended a training
conducted by the Negosyo Center of the Department of Trade and Industry-Ifugao
Provincial Office.
Known as Business
Expenses Savings Training (BEST) Game, the
training recently held at the IFSU Gym in Lagawe, Ifugao enabled
graduating students to plan and operate a business.
The BEST Game as
explained by DTI-Ifugao provincial director Valentin Baguidulol aims to teach
business skills to the participants through the playing of a reality-based game
which has three modules.
The mechanics of the
game according to Baguidudol divides the participants into competing teams that
simulates a business environment with each group trying to make the most profit
at the end of the certain reckoning period.
The Best game exercise
was facilitated by DTI-Ifugao’s SME Development Division (SDD) and Consumer
Protection Division (CPD) personnel who introduced the learning modules to the
students. -- Art Tibaldo
Baguio
pet owners against restriction of pets
BAGUIO CITY – A signature campaign of Baguio
pet owners was launched here last week against restriction of pets in parks of
this summer resort. Administrative Order 21 of 2015 of the city government
stipulates “no raising, pasturing, herding, breeding, tying out or turning
loose of pets and other domesticated animals,” in city parks.
According to the City
Environment and Parks Management Office, that doesn’t mean that pets are not
allowed to enter the city parks.
She said it only means
that pet owners should be responsible for their pets and make sure that the
park is always clean for human activities. – Krisha Daniwes
Poverty
alleviation programs set in Apayao
LUNA, Apayao -- Gov. Elias Bulut Jr. said the provincial
government has launched province-wide anti-drug campaign, livelihood projects
and the “Pabahay” program.
The “Pabahay” program
is the main focus of the province’s anti-poverty campaign, and the provincial
government has identified the poorest barangays in each municipality as
intended beneficiaries.
The provincial
government allocated P8 million for the “pabahay” program with counterpart from
each municipality.
The governor explained
that lack of shelter is number one in the poverty indicator of the province as
of 2015, followed by income or livelihood then lack of sanitary toilets.
The number of houses
to be built will depend on the community-based monitoring system of each barangay.
The goal for
livelihood is to strengthen the coffee production in the municipalities of
Kabugao, Calanasan and Conner. Other livelihood programs will be based on the
design to be created by each municipality.
“These programs are to
address the poorest of the poorest”, said the governor. Apayao is the second
poorest province in the Philippines in 2011, and the 4th on the list in 2015..
-- Jillie Ominga
UN urges
Baguio gov’t: post Earth Day photos
BAGUIO CITY – The city joined World Earth Day
celebration Friday, with pre and post-activities focused on mitigating climate
change and global warming.
Activities included
free smoke-emission testing conducted by the City Environment and Parks
Management Office. Other activities are slated with the celebration
of World Earth day.
A letter from Michael
Bloomberg, United Nation Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Cities and
Climate Change, requested Mayor Mauricio Domogan to join the celebration by
“posting a photo of participation in Earth-friendly programs and initiatives to
highlight the leadership, commitment and progress cities are making on climate
mitigation and resilience.”
A “toolkit” from the
Compact of Mayors Earth Day to help “promote and amplify climate initiatives
across all social media channels,” was enclosed.
The expected signing
of the Paris Agreement by world leaders Friday signaled start of bigger and
more comprehensive actions from the grassroots to national groups. Aside from
planting trees, targeted to be 7.8B by year 2020 on world earth day’s 50th
anniversary, other commitments include riding the bike, installation of LED
lights, switching to electric buses, recycling and reduction of garbage, use of
recyclable energy and the like.
Bloomberg encouraged
action for the reduction of “local greenhouse gas emissions, enhance resilience
to climate change, and track progress publicly.” We can build from the
agreement in Paris to “a permanent place for cities as critical partners in the
global climate solution,” he said. – Julie G. Fianza
Health
team serves far barangays
of Abra
MALIBCONG,
Abra -- Health team composed of personnel from Provincial Health Office,
Municipal Health Office of Malibcong,
and the Philippine Red Cross
conducted medical mission in landlocked barangays of this
upland municipality March 21.
The team conducted
‘kilatis kutis’ to children, blood typing to adults, urine screening and
medical checkup to residents of far-flung barangays of Dulao, Mataragan,
Bayabas and Pacgued.
The group also
distributed hygiene kit to children, vitamins to pregnant women, medicines and
ointment for skin diseases and 14 sacks of used clothings donated by local
thrift shops in Bangued.
According to Rev. Fr.
Oscar Alunday, a native of said place, the medical team was the first- ever to
reach and serve the upland barangays of Malibcong.
“In my 64 years of
existence this is the very first time. We are also from Abra. Lowlanders may
have long forgotten that but you recognize that we are and thank you,” he said.
People there seldom get
medical attention because the place is very far from rural health unit. Trails
going up and down the mountains are risky, barely two feet wide near the
cliffs.
“This is not the first
and last time that we will serve the uplands. Slopes and tracks may be really
too difficult to trek but there is no amount of difficulty for a heart ready to
serve,” assured Dr. Lilibeth B. Martin, team leader.
The Philippine
Information Agency-Abra also joined the team.
-- Ginalyn B. Brioso
NFA-Kalinga
auctions 9,000 bags of rice
TABUK CITY, Kalinga --The National Food
Authority (NFA) provincial station here is auctioning more than 9,000 bags of
its current stock of imported rice to
unclog its warehouse for the new delivery of rice.
The auction is open
from Monday to Thursday, until supply lasts.
NFA provincial manager
Miguel Tecson said their office auctions the stock to NFA-licensed rice traders
in the province at P24/kg from the prevailing price of P30/kg. He assured the
rice is fit for human consumption.
As soon as their
warehouse is ready, 40,000 bags of new imported rice shall be delivered to the
province, Tecson disclosed.
Meanwhile, NFA-Kalinga
targets to establish 370 bigasan outlets throughout the province.
The move was made so
all of the province’s 152 barangays shall have bigasan outlets in line with
NFA’s mandate to provide accessible cheap and quality government rice to the
grass root.
At present, NFA
provincial station has 30 newly licensed retailers added to its original 80
licensed bigasan outlets, while application is open. NFA sells its rice
at regular price of P27-32/kg. -- Larry .T Lopez
Grass
fires burn power posts
TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Several instances of
brown-out during summer were caused by fallen power posts due to
grassfires.
The National Grid
Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) bared this as it appealed to the public to help
prevent burning of wild grasses that often leads to power outages.
Lilibeth Gaydowen of
the NGCP reported that Gaydowen recalled one case last year in Solana, Cagayan
where a wide service area including Kalinga, experienced power interruption
because of burned electric posts due to grassfires.
Wild grass fires are
common every summer when grazing lands are burned to generate fresh grasses as
food to cattle.
Another concern is the
continuing “slash & burn” practice in areas where NGCP power lines
traverse.
In a related
report, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office here warned that
wild fires do not only destroy electric posts but also impede the reforestation
program as trees planted on the National Greening Program sites are burned.
In Tabuk City,
greening projects including fruit tree orchards are not spared by the
destruction caused by wild grass fires because of these practices.
As prevention, the
CENRO recommended the putting-up of fire lines around the perimeters to prevent
wildfires from rapidly catching-up on the vegetation.
In the first quarter
this year, the Bureau of Fire Protection -Tabuk recorded five cases of
grassfires. -- Larry T. Lopez
1,028
Abra students set for employment
BANGUED, Abra -- Fifteen local government
units and five private establishments have committed to participate in this
year’s Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) in the province.
Department of Labor and
Employment Abra field office head George G. Lubin Jr. said pledge of commitment
had already been signed by partner agencies to accommodate 1,029 students under the SPES.
Lubin said 961
will be employed by the LGUs and 68 by the private establishments. They will be hired for a minimum of 20 days
to a maximum of 52 days within one year. The wages will be shared by DOLE and
the host agency on a 40:60 ratio with the 40% share of the DOLE and 60% by the
employer.
DOLE pays its share in
the students’ wages directly to the school where the students will enroll since
the SPES program is intended to defray school fees of the students.
The employers’ share
is paid directly to the students for their personal allowances.
This year’s
partner-agencies to the SPES program with the number of their commitment
are: Abra Mountain Development Education Center of Bucloc, 20; Chowking,
6; Divine Word College of Bangued,35; Jollibee, 6; New Commercial Trading, 1;
Provincial Government of Abra,53; the LGUs of Bangued, 40; Bucay, 100; Bucloc,
20; Dolores,150; Lagangilang,40; Langiden, 50; Luba,10; Malibcong, 60; Pidigan,
20; Pilar, 15; Sallapadan,20; San Juan, 300; San Quintin, 8; Tayum, 55, and Tineg, 20.
Lubin said there are
still available slots for SPES in LGU-San Juan. Interested applicants may see
Ms. Marietta Ta-a, the Public Employment Service Office Manager. -- Maria
Teresa B. Benas
MP Red
Cross members insured for accidents, hospitalization
BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Philippine
Red Cross (PRC) - Mountain Province Chapter has expanded benefits for Red Cross
members.
Being
a member of the Red Cross is also one way of helping others who are in need,
Tactay added.
There
are many options for interested members to choose from depending on their age
bracket and the amount of benefits they want.
Tactay
said classic membership is open for people ages 6-25 years old. A one-year fee
of P60 entitles a member to an accident medical reimbursement worth P5, 000 and
P150 daily hospital allowance for a maximum of 60 days. The member is entitled
to a P12, 000 each for accidental death, disablement, dismemberment and
unprovoked murder and assault; and a burial assistance of P5, 000.
The
premier bronze with a P150 membership fee for one year entitles a member to
P5,000 for accidental medical reimbursement, and burial assistance; P150 daily
hospital allowance for a maximum of 60 days; and P5,000 for accidental death, disablement,
dismemberment, and unprovoked murder and assault.
If
a member chooses premier silver, he/she pays P300 for one year and is entitled
to P10,000 accidental medical reimbursement; P200 daily hospital allowance for
a maximum of 60 days; P5,000 accidental burial assistance, and P100,000 for accidental death, disablement,
dismemberment, and unprovoked murder and assault.
The
premier gold with a P500 membership fee entitles a member P10,000 accidental
medical reimbursement; P200 daily hospital allowance for a maximum of 60 days;
P5,000 accidental burial assistance; and P200,000 each for accidental death,
disablement, dismemberment and unprovoked murder and assault.
For
premier platinum, the membership fee for one year is P1,000 and this entitles a
member to a P10,000 accidental medical reimbursement; P200 daily hospital
allowance for 60 days; P5,000 accidental burial assistance; and P300,000 each
for accidental death, disablement, dismemberment and unprovoked murder and
assault.
Senior
citizens can also avail of this program. Under the Senior bracket, senior
citizens aging 66-80 years old who are interested to be PRC members shall pay a
membership fee of P300 and under the Senior Plus bracket, senior citizens
aging 81-85 years old shall pay P350. They are entitled to a P100 daily
hospital allowance for 60 days; P5, 000 each for accidental medical
reimbursement and accidental burial assistance; and P50, 000 each for accidental
death, disablement, dismemberment and unprovoked murder and assault.
Members
of the Red Cross need to renew their membership every year to be classified as
active members.
Based
on the data of Red Cross here, there were 2,183 members last year. Of the total
members, 1,392 chose classic, 564 premium bronze, 127 premium silver, 39
premium gold, 21 premium platinum, 36 senior and 4 senior plus.
As
of this month, the Red Cross national office released a total amount of P30,
196 as reimbursements to 15 Red Cross members due to illness and one due to
accident.
There
are still 14 members who submitted their application for reimbursements which
are on process.
Tactay
said the PRC here is expected to recruit 4,420 members this year to raise the
amount of P329,740 goal set by Red Cross national office for this
chapter. -- Juliet B. Saley
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