NEWS BRIEFS

Vatican appoints new Bayombong bishop

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – The Vatican has named the new bishop of the Bayombong diocese, whose ecclesiastical jurisdiction covers Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.

Bishop Sofronio Buncad replaced Bishop Ramon Villena, 77, who reached the retirement age of 75, on Wednesday, said Fr. Jocson Ogaya, director of the Catholic church-run dwRV.  – Victor Martin

Ifugao celebrates 50^th founding anniversary

LAGAWE, Ifugao – Thousands of ethnic tribe members and tourists are expected to witness today’s celebration of Ifugao province’s 50th founding anniversary.

All of Ifugao’s 11 towns will also serve for free their own brew of baya (rice wine) using the ungot (coconut or bamboo glass) to interested local and international tourists.

Some Ifugao natives will also butcher and cook their animals in front of spectators in the traditional way – watok for carabaos and wekwek for pigs – before serving a free meal.

The seven-day festivity, dubbed as “Gotad ad Ifugao,” kicked off on Independence Day and will end today.

Also highlighted in the celebrations are the indigenous games like bultung (native wrestling), hinukkting (leg wrestling), uggub (human dart), batawil (rice/palay race), caba (basket race), and the akkad guyyudan (tug-of-war).

The event also features a marathon for men on G-strings, competitions for woodcarving and loom weaving, and the search for Mr. and Ms. Gotad (Bugan ya Wigan di Gotad 2016).

Gov. Denis Habawel said this year’s theme is “Hagiyo Ifugao (Long Live Ifugao)” to showcase the Ifugao history, culture and traditions. -- Victor Martin

Children Int’l donates shoes to MP folks

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The Children International Philippines Inc. (CIPI), a nonprofit, humanitarian organization dedicated to alleviating effects of poverty on Filipino children donated TOMS shoes to school children of Mountain Province which started as a partnership program between the foundation and the Office of Rep. Maximo B. Dalog. The shoe distribution had been ongoing since January this year.

Rebecca J. Fuellos, chief of programs of CIPI participated in the shoe distribution to different schools. Recipient- schools were:  Balugan National High School, Guina-ang National High School, Bangnen National High School Otucan-Bila National High School, Taccong Primary School, Besao Elementary School, Cagubatan Elementary School, Chatol High School, Barlig National High School, Lias National High School and Kadaclan Elementary School. Also given shoes were various women and civic organizations in the province.

In her message, Fuellos said that the shoes came from TOMS, a shoe company based from the United States whose services are provided to partner organizations or foundations through its One for One Program.

This means that for every pair of shoes purchased, a new pair is donated to someone in need.  Fuellos said CIPI works with TOMS to help eradicate poverty through diverse programs that empower children and other beneficiaries to create lasting and positive changes in their communities.

Dalog in an interview said the partnership between his office and CIPI started last year when the foundation donated more than 4,000 volumes of books and other resource materials which were turned-over to the Dept. of Education though Supt. Gloria Buya-ao, District Supervisors, School Principals and Librarians. With this partnership, Mountain Province had been recipient of various items like shoes, soaps, sports wears, medical supplies, and books to name a few. Dalog said this continuing partnership with CIPI will go a long way especially that more donations are being anticipated this year in favor of Mountain Province.

Under this partnership, the role of the congressman’s office is to shoulder the tracking and travel expenses of the items donated in transporting them to Mountain Province. - Agie F. Kadchao

DOH turns-over TSeKap equipment to Kalinga

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The Department of Health turned over medical equipment under its TamangSerbisyosaKalusuganparasaPamilya (TSeKap) program  to 11 rural health units and 118 barangay health stations in the province.

Dr. Lakshmi Legaspi, DOH Cordillera Administrative Region director, gave equipment packages to recipient municipalities and barangays during recent ceremonial turn-over at the Capitol here.

Dr. Bernadette Andaya, DOH provincial office head here, said the package worth P35, 000 each contains two Nebulizers, one stethoscope, one dressing set for wounds, one digital blood pressure apparatus, one glucometer and two non-contact thermometers.

 On the request of other barangays for the same health kits, Legaspi said she would bring the matter to the attention of DOH Secretary Janette Garin. 

In another development, Andaya said they will conduct mass deworming on school children and the community this July. -- Peter A. Balocnit

DOLE to SPES recipients:Submit  requirements

BANGUED, Abra -- As the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) ends this week in various local government units and commercial establishments here,  SPES recipients  are reminded to submit early necessary requirements for their pay.

George G. LubinJr,  Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Abra Field Office head, said all 1,029 students under SPES program should now submit to DOLE their enrolment form or statement of account and certification in case of out-of-school youth.

“DOLE shares 40% which is directly paid to their school for their tuition while their employer’s share which is 60% is paid directly to the students.” said Lubin.

Lubin added they have monitored their partners under SPES and saw no problem.

Lubin reported there was no complaint so far coming from employers or the recipients. We made sure that these students underwent required orientation prior to employment, he said.”

To both parents and students, this program is helpful to cover bills of another school semester, added Lubin. -- Ginalyn B. Brioso

Kiangan children, youth attend life skills session

KIANGAN, Ifugao -- Eighteen children and youth of this town underwent a one-day “Life skills session on character building and responsible behavior” at Kiangan Youth Hostel here.

 Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office head Mario Indopia said the activity was aimed to gather children and youth so they can share and express their ideas, talents and skills and develop their character.

Activities included lectures by the MSWDO personnel on character building and responsible behavior, identification of positive and negative behaviors which the children and youth possess, identification of action points for behavior change and the demonstration of learnings on positive behavior.   

The MSWDO has started this life skills session especially for identified children in conflict with the law and those who are at risk as part of continuing work with the children and youth through the coordination with different organizations and offices in the government and the community. -- Daniel B. Codamon

Kalinga TESDA maintains regular scholarship programs

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority announced its  two  regular scholarship programs will continue even  as   local  scholarship sponsorship ends this June.

Artemio Jose, administrator of the TESDA Training Center here, said the sponsored scholarship program of the provincial and Tabuk City local government units and the Office of the District Representative will stop this month.

 However, he said trainees will not worry since TESDA has still the regular Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) and Special Training for Employment Program or STEP.

Jose  is optimistic that   since incumbent Gov. JocelBaac and City Mayor Ferdinand Tubban were re-elected,  they will continue this program as it really helps a lot of beneficiaries.

In a related development, the TESDA training center regularly conducts skills assessment to graduates including those in technical-vocational schools. Graduates need only to register at TESDA training center and get a schedule for the purpose. -- Peter A. Balocnit

Abrenians urged to engage in fish industry

LAGANGILANG, Abra -- Abrenians were urged to engage in the fish industry as it is a good source of income.

National Fisherfolk Director Teddy Matulac, in his recent visit to the province, said next to agriculture, fishery is the second largest livelihood of Abrenios because of Abra River and other water bodies.

The fish industry offers good source of income thus Abrenians should engage in fish industry and learn modern, relevant but ecologically conscious methods in fishing like constructing fish ponds to establish constant fish production, he said.

Matulac said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is now  going around places to look into the concerns of fisherfolks and  assess which need more projects.

He particularly visited DJ Farm in Lagangilang town owned by Danny Trongco, National Anti-Poverty Commission Ddrector, to see how the fish industry among locals has been faring. 

He commended the DJ Farm for contributing to employment of said community, and for helping empower local fisherfolk.

Trongco’s framework he said  should be put up as national mechanism and model to other fisherfolks  as it is not only a means to progress and promote  the fish industry  but most importantly, a way to help his neighbors and people from the area.

 It is offers free seminar and training to all interested fisherfolks in the province. They will learn how to make their own fish pond, increase their production and learn new methods especially in feeding and eventually turn from simple fisherfolks to fish farm owners.

They could lead a better life by believing that there is indeed success in this endeavor which to a few is lowly and out of class, said Trongco. -- Ginalyn B. Brioso

DILG turns over BUB project in Kalinga

TABUK CTY, Kalinga--  The Department of Interior and Local Government Cordillera Administrative Region turned over a completed river flood control project located here at barangay Calanan funded from its Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB)  with fund equity from the local government unit.

The project is part of the Chico River Master Plan, a long term plan to establish a unified route and shorten channel of the river to stop it from destroying ricefields and settlements. 

The flood control plugs one of existing river channels on the Calanan side.

DILG-CAR regional director MarloIringan turned over the project to City Mayor Ferdinand Tubban then to the host barangay.

DILG-CAR provided P10 million while the city LGU provided P4.8 million counterpart for the project.

Meanwhile, three concrete access roads were also inaugurated in barangays Agbannawag, Gobgob and Appas with combined BUB fund of P2.5 million.

The BUB is a scheme whereby the needs and wishes of the grassroots are considered in the preparation of agency budgets. -- Peter A. Balocnit

Tesda provides wellness services to MP mothers

BONTOC, Mountain Province --   In celebration of  Mothers’ Day, the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority conducted  Gender Social Enhancement  in this municipality  last May 26.

As Mothers’ Day is a day to thank mothers, and a time to reflect on their importance in our lives, mother–participants were treated to wellness activities and film showing, said Christine Oliquiano of the TESDA.

Part of the  morning activities was  a short film showing on gender and family Issues conducted by MellicynthYodong,  Gender and Development (GAD) Focal of TESDA-Mt. Province Provincial Office. The participants actively critiqued the stories they watched.

TESDA in partnership with 12 industry workers also provided wellness activities to some 45 mother-participants in the afternoon to heal the body, calm the mind, rejuvenate the spirit. These wellness activities include blood pressure taking, massage, haircut, foot spa, manicure and pedicure. -- Juliet B. Saley

Lubuagan POs gets P.5M DOST assistance

By Peter A. Balocnit

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The Department of Science and Technology provincial office here approved two community-based projects providing financial assistance to upgrade machines for mass production.

DexyCatacutan of DOST said the Changoy Beaders Association in Lubuagan which is manufacturing beads from plastics will receive P300, 000.00 to purchase a machine capable of upgrading product quality into stainless beads.

On the other hand, the Ag-agama Irrigators Association, also in Lubuagan, which is engaged in producing soft brooms from tiger grass will receive P221, 650.00 to purchase additional capital machines to make production of their product easier and speedier.

The assistance in the form of check will be released to recipient organizations upon signing of the memorandum of agreement involving the barangay LGU as conduit of the funds, the association and DOST.

She said they are targeting to assist 11 associations in 2016.

Catacutan informed that associations that made 85% repayment of their loans can apply for further assistance to sustain their business.

DTI-Abra sets June 13 ‘Diskwento Caravan’

BANGUED, Abra– The Department of Trade and Industry here   will conduct “Diskwento Caravan” in partnership with the Department of Education in time for school opening tomorrow (June 13.)

DTI public information officer Mark Rex Hall confirmed schedule of Diskwento Caravan on May 30-31 and June 6-7   at the Pilar Rural High School.

Hall said consumers will get five up to ten percent discount in all school supplies they will buy like notebooks, bags and pad papers and other school materials.

As part of the BrigadaEskwela program, they will be monitoring prices of all school supplies in all shopping stores, said Hall.

In the past years, there were several stores reported that did not comply with the suggested retail price (SRP) of school supplies.

The agency will be making sure this time that all stores observe the regulation implemented by DTI, he said. -- Ginalyn B. Brioso

Bangued West Central School starts Innammuyo program            

BANGUED, Abra-- Bangued West Central School (BWCS) in this capital town has started Innammuyo program of the Department of Education – Abra Division Office.

The Innammuyo is a localized version of Brigada Eskwela, a national program of the DepEd in observance of the Annual School Maintenance Week before the opening of classes.

The BWCS is the center of all activities of the Division Office of DepEd-Abra. It is host-venue for conferences, trainings and seminars, and other activities, Jan Nowel Pena, the Division’s Senior Program Specialist for Social Mobilization and Networking said.

For this year, Brigada was scheduled last week, but implemented at BWCS a week earlier to give way for the regional kick-off ceremony of the Brigada Eskwela hosted by Pulot National High School in Lagayan.

The BWCS served as a model of the concerted efforts and combined resources of various stakeholders composed of the police and army, national government agencies, the local and national media, the business sector, parents-teachers associations and the community.

They did not  only do  some face-lifting tasks like gardening and cleaning of the surroundings; they went as far as doing a complete make-over by painting the roofings and walls of the Gabaldon-type building and making a sand-bed children’s playground  during the week-long activity.

The Innammuyo at the BWCS was successfully carried out under the direct supervision of Mr. Peter Paganao in the absence of their principal who at the time was on training in Baguio City.

Division Schools Superintendent Ronald Castillo gave certificate of appreciation to the stakeholders of BWCS for their invaluable contribution and participation in the successful implementation of the first Innammuyo 2016.

The BWCS served as the assembly area and take-off point of the motorcade that went around Bangued Town Proper and up to Pulot National High School in Brgy. Pulot, Lagayan during the Brigada Eskwela 2016 regional launching last May 27. -- Maria Teresa B. Benas

14 Ifugao families attend adolescent sexuality training

ALFONSO LISTA, Ifugao -- Fourteen Ifugao families were trained on reproductive health recently promote the total well- being of children and parents.

The three-day seminar held in Ramon, Isabela province was spearheaded by the Provincial Sustainable and Youth Development Division in coordination with government agencies.

Families from Alfonso Lista, Banaue and Lagawe underwent the seminar-workshop on Adolescent Sexuality and Reproductive Health (ASRH) and Learning Package for Parent Education of Adolescent Health and Development which highlights the role of parents as the primary source of accurate and sound information on adolescent health and development including ASRH.

Discussed topics for parents are understanding self and sexuality,  maternal care, child health and nutrition, life skills, confronting threats and risk of the adolescent, challenges and threats to a family, effective parenting, communicating with adolescents and ways to get along with adolescents and protecting adolescents.

The children, on the other hand, were  lectured on understanding three adolescent self (self-awareness), adolescent sexuality and gender, understanding fertility awareness, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, love and manifestation, the language of love, different types of loving relationship, consequences of early sexual activities, understanding contraception, sexually transmitted diseases (HIV-AIDS) and fighting vulnerabilities through life skills.

Participant EmilianoBallitoc Sr. of Alfonso Lista said that he is indeed thankful he was invited to the activity.  “Agyaman nak unay iti daytoy nga training nga naited kanyami.Adu ti nasiyaat nga banag nga naadal mi a kasamma ken nu kasano nga mapatalgedan ti pamilya.”

CrisantaGumiran also shared  that in one of the sessions, her daughter cried and asked for forgiveness after realizing her misdeeds.

Miriam Baguidudol of the PPSD said that they will expect better relationship between husbands and wives, parents and their adolescents.

 “The parents are now equipped with the correct and sound information about human sexuality and reproductive health so that they can better communicate with their adolescents on the danger of their engaging in risky behaviors such as early sexual involvement and vices that will affect their future,” she said. -- With report from Lorena Dulnuan 

DOH CAR gives equipment to health facilities in Abra

BANGUED, Abra -- The Department of Health- Cordillera regional office   distributed Tamang Serbisyo para sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya (TSeKaP) packages to the rural health units(RHUs) and barangay health centers in all 27 municipalities here on Friday.

TSeKaP Equipment package contains blood pressure apparatus, stethoscope, glucometer for measurement of blood sugar, non-contact thermometers, nebulizers for asthma relief and dressing kit with scissors, clamp, needle holder, kidney basin and others.

The package will equip RHUs to address common health problems in the community like hypertension, diabetes and asthma, said DOH CAR Assistant Director Dr. Amelita M. Pangilinan who delivered the equipment.

It is also part of DOH’s efforts in partnership with LGUs and communities to provide quality health service to the community and enhance service delivery of health centers.  It will also help RHUs in their Phil Health accreditation, she said.

Dolores town Mayor JR Seares extended his gratitude to DOH CAR as he received the equipment together with Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Allen Brix Bachiller in behalf of all LGUs. -- Ginalyn B. Brioso