MATEO CHIYAWAN sees education and disaster risk reduction among 10 point agenda

GUBERNATORIAL candidate MATEO CHIYAWAN, 55  sees education and  disaster risk reduction as two among the main focus of his 10 point agenda.

              For one who has served as municipal mayor of Natonin from 2001 till the present. Mayor Chiyawan, has come to know good supervision and control over programs and activities of the municipality in  enforcing  laws and ordinances and programs of the national government.  He also served as provincial vice governor from  1998- 2001, acted as the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Provincial Legislative Body; and a two term Board Member of District 1 of Mountain Province.

Chiyawan prizes EDUCATION as crucial in the life of a person for his dignity, career, well being, and of better service to the community. As the only one among six siblings who finished college, education comes crucial in his agenda for his gubernatorial bid for Mountain Province. Chiyawan graduated Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History  in 1988 at Saint Louis College, San Fernando, La Union. He took up units in Graduate School in Masters in Public Administration  at Baguio Central University. He finished high school education at Immaculate Heart High School Poblacion, Natonin, and elementary education at Tonglayan Elementary School.

Common in most locations in Mountain Province, schools are located far from each other making the pupil and the student hike long hours to go to school.

And for one where Natonin’s 11 barangays are located far from each other, too with schools  are located far from each other. And  with the policy of  the Department of Education that there are 35 pupils in one classroom, makes it difficult for a  barangay to fill up  the requirement. This results to the  pupil having to walk far from his home, cross rivers in order to  go to school and finish elementary or high school  school. Mayor Chiyawan had to ask the Department of Education to open some elementary schools to give some exceptional consideration where attendance falls below the required minimum providing some fund from the local government to augment the salaries of teachers.

Such feat must have earned him a certificate of Appreciation from Early Childhood Care and Development Council  (ECCD) Council and from DepEd- CAR for his support to the implementation of the K to 12 Basic Education Program.

In the municipal level, Chiyawan received  a certificate of recognition from DepEd- Natonin District for his support in the improvement of education facilities in support to the Sustainable Eco- Friendly Schools (SEFS), a program of DepEd

The  SEFS  refers to environment-friendly schools that have initiated and integrated in their instruction, research, extension, and/or administration, programs which are environment-related. SEFS is based from Republic Act No. 9512 also known as the “National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008” and to the ASEAN Environmental Education Action Plan for Sustainable Development for 2014-2018.

SEFS is manifested in schools with  environmental policies  and practice on physical cleanliness, orderliness and beautification, energy and water conservation and management,  paper conservation and recycling; waste reduction and segregation, recycling and composting; air, water, and soil pollution control; seedling production and vegetable gardening and marketing, reforestation and nursery establishment; establishment of a botanical garden, herbarium, establishment of a bio-park; and environmental audits of school’s operations and facilities.

And for his exemplary promotion of the  Alternative Learning School  program of Dep Ed, he received  a Certificate of Commendation from DepEd- Bureau of Alternative Learning System.

In the realm of sports where DepEd is involved in for the physical development of  students, Chiyawan received Certificate of Recognition from World Archery Philippines for his support to the successful establishment of the First Archery Clinic and Tournament in Natonin

The gubernatorial candidate wants to implement programs for  education  culture and sports where more financial aid goes to deserving students as well as teachers for them to develop their career and competencies, provide greater support for academic festivals and improve promotion of culture and sports.

DISASTER RISK  REDUCTION

For one whose municipality has fallen to  many  victims during the onslaught of typhoon Rosita last year, attention to a high vulnerability to landslide Mountain Province is a must.   The Province has been an unfortunate witness to victims at  Dantay, Bontoc and  Banawel Natonin in the recent year.

Disaster risk  reduction is a matter of priority in a landslide prone Mountain Province..Let us learn from what happened in Natonin, he said. We tap Mines Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to identify  high risk areas, extend  technical support and identify safe settlement areas. It is not enough that MGB ound out that Mountain Province is a geo hazard area, more attention should be done in curbing disasters such as what happened in the landslides of iBanawel Natonin during typhoon Rosita or at Dantay Bontoc that killed victims. Chiyawan sees that MGB should extend technical and even facilitate financial assistance to mitigate landslides and keep communities safe from the disasters.  

LIVELIHOOD

Among the top priority needs is livelihood. For Mountain Province which belongs to one of the poorest provinces of  the country, livelihood support shall be done through the provision of  additional fund via  linkage and  partnership  with government entities and private organizations. Entrepreneurship  endeavors of our people  should be encouraged for  them put up small scale businesses by providing capital assistance.

Funding assistance shall come not only from the Internal Revenue Allotment  (IRA) but also outside sources. And with the lobbying capacity of  the candidate, sources from outside  shall be facilitated for implementation.  

Mountain Province abounds with natural resources, soil and waters. From here  agricultural farming and fisheries needs technologies and opportunities to get agricultural endeavors boosted. All the municipalities of Mountain Province have their respective  agricultural  products with rice  and bananas as the common crop.  With this, there is still need to develop mechanization of agriculture along with increase on arable land to increase rice production, provision of irrigation facilities  and post- harvest facilities for  vegetable producing areas of western Mountain Province and the rice and corn producing  town of Paracelis.

             On the IMPROVEMENT OF ROADS  AND ACCESS  shall further improve provincial roads, bridges and pathways. Such commitment is anchored on the firm belief that good roads lead to greater opportunities. Infrastructure and tourism sees the building building of structures such as multi-layer parking spaces, and tourism facilities like toilets, view decks and information centers.

SOCIAL SERVICES to further enhance the programs for youth, senior citizens, the PWDs and other marginalized sectors. Health  to improve the health facilities and services in the district hospitals

Mateo Chiyawan  was born in Tonglayan, Natonin, Mountain Province. His mother Arummay Chiyawan (+), and  father Lubbagan Chiyawan (+) are from  Natonin. He is married to Shirley Acofo- Chiyawan of Bontoc and Sadanga descent and blessed with six children.

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Barangay, SK polls/ Rep Farinas’ past haunts him

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

With barely a week left in June, the Commission on Elections has urged legislators to decide soon whether or not the Oct. 23 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will push through.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said the poll body needs to know the decision because the commission is set to start printing of official ballots on July 20.

“Although we’ve never slowed down in our preparations, we still have not spent much. But on July 20, we’ll start the printing so we hope we’ll know if the elections will be postponed or not,” he said. He said most of the expenses incurred by the Comelec were for voter’s registration, which could also be used for the 2019 midterm polls. 

There are pending bills at the Senate and at the House of Representatives to move this year’s elections to October 2018 and to May 2020, respectively.

Even President Duterte has recommended the postponement, claiming that the barangay polls have become entry points of those involved in the drug trade into mainstream politics.

Administration officials had proposed appointment of barangay officials but this was met by protests.   Bautista had reserved an opinion on whether the polls should be shelved or not, underscoring that Comelec is bound to follow laws.

“We don’t want to be wasting money during the preparation but if there is no decision by July 20, we will start the printing of ballots,” he added.

He also maintained the Comelec does not want to be pressed for time in case they go slow on the preparations and Congress decides to continue with this year’s elections. It would do well for the House to start addressing the issue s time is of the essence.

***

Up north in Ilocos Norte, past dealings of 1st District Rep. Rodolfo “Rudy” C.  Fariñas  are being brought to fore after he initiated detention of six employees of the provincial government by the House of Representatives over “misuse” of tobacco excise tax funds. 

Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Da Vinci M. Crisostomo, a lawyer reminded Farinas of his case with docket no. OMB-97-2150 "Leonardo Velasco versus Rodolfo C. Fariñas," at the Office of the Ombudsman.

Fariñas, then governor of Ilocos Norte, was charged in 2002 with "illegal use of public funds" in connection with the purchase of a brand new 1995 Jeep Cherokee Laredo using a cash advance sourced from Republic Act 7171, or the Tobacco Excise Tax.

The said Cherokee purchase was mentioned by one of the "Ilocos Six" employees of the provincial government during the House of Representatives committee on good government and public accountability's fourth emergency hearing last June 20 on House Resolution No. 882 investigating Ilocos Norte's "alleged misuse" of tobacco funds.

"Mayroon ding special cash advance, long, long time ago, even yung purchase ng vehicle kahit noon pa. Kahit noong previous administrations," said Eden Battulayan, officer in charge of the Provincial Accounting Office.

"Yung Cherokee, Sir," she had answered when Fariñas probed her.

Crisostomo said , "Kinapudnona, adda met cash advance ngamin ni Apo Fariñas idi iso ti gobernador a naggapo iti pondo iti 7171." (The truth is there was cash advance of Farinas when he was then governor which came from 7171.)”

Commission on Audit Finding 8 under OMB-97-2150 stated regarding the Cherokee purchase: "There was no approved contract or purchased order perfected but instead there were communications between the contracting parties through fax and pro-forma invoices.

"It was noted there was no approval from the Department of Budget and Management and the Office of the President for the purchase of the car in violation of NBC No. 446 series of 1995."

Crisostomo said in addition to the Jeep Cherokee, the fund had also been used to purchase a Ford Crown Victoria.

Citing cash advances in question now, he said: "Iti administrasion ni Apo Gobernador Imee, para iti agtaltalon. Ngem dagiti in-cash advance da idi panawen ni Fariñas, ingatangda ti maysa a luxury vehicle ken maysa a luxury sports utility vehicle met lang, para iti personal nga use, so awan ti pagsayaatan iti agtaltalon.

 (Under the administration of Gov. Imee (Marcos), it was for the farmers. The cash advances they got at the time of Farinas as governor, they bought a luxury vehicle and another sports utility vehicle for personal use. So there was no benefit for farmers.)”

In Farinas’ case at the Ombudsman, it was employees of the provincial government, including two of the "Ilocos Six," who reportedly testified and defended then the governor.

"Naawatna diay summons idi Congressman isunan. Madina pulos sinungsungbatan (He got the summons when he was congressman. He sent provincial employees instead. They were the ones who defended him at that time. Now he detained them.)”

He was referring to the congressman's previous illegal detention charges and subsequent jailing, also during his term as governor, which locals know as "Voltez V" as he would allegedly lock employees inside a large room or vault. His late wife Maria Theresa Carlson had also accused him then of torturing her.

Meanwhile, the same OMB memorandum detailing both the Cherokee and Crown Victoria purchases had charged Fariñas with seven more cases of illegal use of public funds as well as violation of RA 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

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