One Mindanao - March 18, 2014

Alfonso Arts and Crafts: Promoting ethnic-inspired handicraftsFranklin P. GumaponWESTERN MINDANAO

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014 Vol. 3 No. 142

Palace spells out benefits of increased rotational presence of US forces in PHL

NATIONAL

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WESTERN MINDANAO

NORTHERN MINDANAO

CENTRAL MINDANAO

SOUTHERN MINDANAO

Over 2,500 summer jobs open for students, OSYs in ARMM

MSFPC-Sibugay to intensify forest protection activities

Davao City Hall to pioneer underground cabling

SSS improves system of employer reimbursement for sickness, maternity

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17 32RG Alama

Oliver Ross V. Rivera

Information to Empower Filipinos

10 7 12CARAGA REGION

DILG 13 releases P36.6M PAMANA checks

PAGBA to discuss public financial management, transparency with govt officers

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Don Manuelo O. Patrimonio

Jennifer P. Gaitano

SSS Iligan

DepED-Tangub bares results of classroom evaluation for SY 2013-2014 33Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

Emmanuel D. Taghoy

Alfonso Arts and Crafts: Promoting ethnic-inspired handicrafts

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Alfonso Arts and Crafts: Promoting ethnic-inspired handicrafts

Artistic. Indigenous. Nifty. Ideal for souvenir items, home and office decors. All

these you can find at Alfonso Arts and Crafts along national highway at Barangay Sicayab this city.

Alfonso D. Suganob Jr., 43, a high school teacher, started his handicraft business in 2000 with a P50 thousand loan from a teachers’ cooperative. Although he is not a TLE (Technology and Livelihood Education) teacher, he is good at creating home and office decors with ethnic designs. Today, Alfonso Arts and Crafts is producing customized trophies and plaques, serving tray, flower vase, wine rack, brochure holder, key holder, mortar and pestle, etc. – all made of bamboo and wood.

Bamboo Crafts

For over a decade Alfonso Arts and

Crafts was known as A.D.S. Bamboo Crafts, as most of its products were made of bamboo, applying a technology that his brother learned from a nearby manufacturer of bamboo furniture and housewares. That manufacturer has long transferred to Kuta Kinabalu in Malaysia. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) encouraged Suganob to

By Franklin P. Gumapon

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pursue a bamboo craft industry as the raw materials are aplenty in the area. All types of bamboos are available all over the city and its neighboring towns. Upon DTI’s prodding, Suganob began his new business, but his first month of operation only raked in P265. “My wife blamed me for venturing into this business which, to her, is not profitable,” he told this writer.

Trade fair

With DTI’s help, Alfonso Arts and Crafts participated in four national trade fairs held at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City and one international trade fair in Kota-Kinabalu, Malaysia. In one of the national trade fairs he joined, he got excited when a certain customer placed his order worth P30 thousand. He immediately delivered the items but the payment did not come. Late did he know that he was swindled. He has been too careful in dealing with customers since then. One good thing he learned from joining trade fairs was that he was able to compare his products with those from other participating exhibitors, giving him the idea on how to further improve his craft.

Ethnic-inspired designs His products are not only well-polished and delicately made, but they

bear ethnic streaks featuring Yakan, Bagobo, Mandaya and Subanen arts. “Orders placed by most local government units (LGUs) in Zamboanga Peninsula are more of Subanen arts, as Subanens are the predominant cultural group in the region. They want something reflective of the peninsula,” he said. He, however, revealed that most of his customers prefer the Yakan design because it is colorful and attractive.

DOST support

Alfonso Arts and Crafts had received an assistance worth P50 thousand from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for its equipment such as wood grinding machine, compressor and others. These sets of equipment are manned by his workers who were all trained by him. When orders are high, he would take on 16 to 20 workers.

Functional items

Aside from customized plaques

and trophies, the Alfonso Arts and Crafts is now also producing “functional items” such as housewares that can be used daily. It is accepting orders for mortar and pestle, serving tray, rice bowl and many others. Its products are sold at the Dipolog City Tourism Display Center situated near the Dipolog Airport, Rizal Park in Dapitan City, and an outlet in Dumaguete City.

Market

As the country is pushing for the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asian Growth Area), Malaysia is the target market outside the country of Alfonso Arts and Crafts, as it tries to match, if not surpass the quality of products produced by other exporting countries.

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President Aquino to meet different sectors this week

President Benigno S. Aquino III will meet various sectors this week to work with them find ways in speeding up

national development, the Palace said Monday.

Across the Nation

In a statement, Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the President has always emphasized the role of local government units in the development of the country that’s why he is meeting with them this week.

The President will administer the oath of office for the oathtaking of the

Leagues of Local Government Units and Elective Officials, and speak at the general assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP).

President Aquino will also lead the conferment ceremonies of the 16th Philippine Quality Awards recognizing exemplary performance of entities in

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the public and private sectors that have contributed to the competitiveness and productivity of the country, Lacierda said.

The Palace official said the President

will also attend the Original Filipino Music Summit to meet different stakeholders in the industry and push its development, he said. PND


Sealing an agreement for an increased rotational presence of American forces in the Philippines will bring in wide-ranging

benefits for the country, a Palace official said.

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The agreement, which will be buoyed on existing agreements with the US such as the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Mutual Defense Treaty, will certainly help the Philippines in terms of technology transfer and disaster response, Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Monday.

“The reason why it helps is because there’s some technology transfer, there’s knowledge sharing between the American forces and the Philippine forces when they do conduct military exercises,” Lacierda told reporters.

“It improves the quality of the Philippines’s defense in terms of preparedness. And let me also emphasize that a part of this rotational presence is now focusing on disaster preparedness and disaster reduction,” he added.

The Philippine government sees a big improvement when it comes to increased rotational presence

particularly when the American military sent its assets to the Central Visayas in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda.

The US sent ships, planes, helicopters and military vehicles to assist in transporting relief goods, supplies and equipment in the affected Visayas region.

A new agreement does not need ratification of the Philippine Senate because an increased rotational presence pact with the US will be built on previous agreements already ratified by the Senate.

“It is an agreement that builds upon... or to be implemented based on the provisions of the Mutual Defense Treaty, as well as the Visiting Forces Agreement. Both agreements have been ratified by the Senate,” Lacierda said.

“So in the view of the Executive branch, these are mainly provisions which implement both treaties that have already been previously ratified by the Senate.” PND

10MARCH 2014 | www.pia.gov.ph PAGE |

‘NGCP not qualified to manage Mindanao grid’: Davao business leader

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines) is not qualified to manage the Mindanao grid.

This was according to Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon) chair Vicente Lao.

Lao said the NGCP is not doing its job for it only thinks of profit over and above the interest of the general public.

Lao’s ranting stemmed from the February 27 Mindanao-wide blackout

that started around dawn. The power outage lasted over six hours with no word from NGCP on what have caused the massive power interruption.

He said NGCP is not qualified to manage the Mindanao grid because it has no generation plant that it could use in case one of


its facilities conks out and should not get power from the same grid.

“Under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) operator of a grid, like NGCP for Mindanao grid is mandated to contract out to have a standby power capacity so it has something to use in case of emergencies. Now, they are getting power from the grid,” he said, adding that the same law says that over a hundred megawatt should be set aside as buffer stock by a grid operator which will be used in case of unprecedented problems.

“They (NGCP) are getting buffer from existing generation,” which is not supposed to be.

Before, Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) could still sustain brownouts in Davao City but now it could not because out of the 275-megawatt provided before by NGCP previously, now they are only getting 50 percent of that, that’s why Davao City is now experiencing brownouts, he said.

He further questioned the recent move of NGCP to cut its distribution to some power cooperatives, ”which is not correct.”

Lao said in the next meeting of the Mindanao Power Committee , he would strongly suggest that NGCP should put up their own generation plant.

“NGCP is making a lot of money from managing the grid,” he added.

He said “it’s about time we call the attention of the government on NGCP,

if not, this (referring to Feb. 27 black out) will happen again and again.”

Councilor Leonardo Avila, vice chair of the committee on energy, when asked to react on Lao’s statement, said “ I tend to agree with him because NGCP should have address quickly the February 27 massive block out if it has the mandated buffer.”

He said he had asked Lao to furnish him data on the issue so he could raise it before the City Council. These data should be carefully studied to come up with recommendations.

Avila also said there is a probability that the council would join Lao in raising the matter to the national government once it finds the recommendations and data justifiable.

Efforts to get NGCP’s reaction on Lao’s statement through its spokesperson Melfrance Capulong were fruitless. (PNA)


10% of population facing water crisis due to brownout By Claro A. Lanipa

PAGADIAN CITY – General Manager Edilberto E. Yorong of the Pagadian City Water District (PCWD) said in yesterday’s media forum conducted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) that 10 percent of the city’s population would be facing water crisis wrought by frequent brownouts that hit across Mindanao nowadays.


Gay Iris T.S. Tangcalagan of DOLE-9 reported in a press release that

the participation of DOLE-9 in the jobs fair was in response to the invitation of

Yorong said “of the 19,788 water service connections here with more or less 114,528 subscribers, some 3,200 connections are likely to be affected.” “Our water in the city is one of the best in terms of quality in the whole of Mindanao or in the region,”Yorong added.

“PCWD is a government owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) created through Presidential Decree 198 better known as the Provincial Water Utilities Act of 1973, supported by Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP) Resolution 54 dated September 6, 1976,” Yorong explained.

DOLE-9 participates in “Kabuhianan” job fair in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi By Rene V. Carbayas

ISABELA CITY, Basilan – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)- 9 participated in the “Kabuhianan” (livelihood) Job Fair in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi recently.


Tawi-Tawi Provincial Governor Nurbert M. Sahali. Together with its family of agencies, namely, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)-9 and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) - IX headed to Bongao, Tawi-Tawi to render the necessary technical assistance in the conduct of the three-day job fair at Sand Bar Lepa Convention Center, Pasiagan, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, last February 17-19, 2014. Tangcalagan said that a total of 1,414 registered applicants participated in this year’s job fair, dubbed as “Kabuhianan”, a local term which means livelihood. The event was so far considered as the biggest and the most successful job fair in the history of Tawi- Tawi. The event was made possible by the presence of six overseas recruitment

agencies with 8,034 vacancies for various skills, and 11 local agencies under the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), resulting to 428 applicants interviewed, of which 316 were deemed qualified and 60 Tawi-Tawians were hired on the spot (HOTS), marking a 14% HOTS. The event also served as an avenue for discussion on the various programs and projects of DOLE and its family of agencies, specifically on the overseas employment process knowing that Tawi-Tawi is the backdoor channel to Sabah, Malaysia. During an informal discussion with the local government of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, it was raised that a plan to conduct another job fair in the area was slated sometime in August or September of this year. (DOLE9)

MSFPC-Sibugay to intensify forest protection activitiesBy Emmanuel D. Taghoy

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – The Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committee (MSFPC) of Zamboanga Sibugay convened on Thursday afternoon at the provincial office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here to draw up measures aimed at protecting the forest.

Ms. Arlene E. Gabayno, acting chief of the Forest Resources Conservation Division of DENR-Sibugay disclosed that her office had received a report of rampant cutting of mangroves in some part of the province. “This is the reason why the MSFPC meeting is being called,” she said.

The meeting was participated in by the DENR personnel, provincial and municipal officials, Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bantay Mangrove team, academe, and barangay officials.


Gabayno said the MSFPC has been created to help maintain, protect and conserve forest natural resources. Other environmental issues and concerns were also discussed in the said meeting. Gabayno also that the Executive Order No. 23 issued by President Benigno S. Aquino III on Feb. 1, 2011 declaring a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests is still in effect. “Any violation of the

same will be dealt with accordingly,” she added. EO No. 32 underscores the State’s obligation of protecting the remaining forest cover areas not only to prevent occurrences of calamities, but also to preserve biodiversity, protect threatened habitats and sanctuaries of endangered and rare species, and to allow for the natural regeneration of residual forests and the development of plantation forests.


BFP notes high incidence of grassfires

DAVAO CITY- The Bureau of Fire Protection in Region XI (BFP-XI) has noted a large increase of grassfire incidents in the region for the first quarter of this year. According to their data there had been 15 grassfires from January to March 13. Three of these grassfires were reported in the month of February and about 12 grassfires recorded in March (from March 1 to March 13). This compared to 2013 figures

where the BFP recorded only three grassfires in the first quarter of that year. Fire Inspector Nestor Jimenez chief intelligence and investigation branch of BFP-XI said that the dry weather coupled with unattended burning trash, slash and burn practices and lighted cigarette litters are common causes of grassfires. He said these fires are small and controllable blaze

however they could pose a big problem to neighboring structures. So far no structures were affected by these grassfires. There were no reports also of forest fires. Aside from grassfires the BFP reported 126 fire incidents, which is higher than 2013 first quarter figures of about 91 fire incidents. (PIA/RG Alama)

by Rudolph Alama


DAVAO CITY- The City Hall of Davao will pioneer the putting up of underground wiring and cables around its vicinity. City Councilor Leo Avila, chair of the City Council’s Committee of Transportation and Communications said he is expecting the project to start within this year, as there is already an agreement between the City Hall, the Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and other cable companies regarding the underground cable system. Avila, interviewed by the Davao

media during Kapehan sa SM at SM City Davao today (March 17) said that the City Hall project will be the benchmark for a future underground cable system in the city. He said that some of the telecommunication cables in the city hall area are already buried underground. The City Councilor bared that the City thru City Administrator Melchor Quitain has already

formed a team to look into combining all telecommunication cables into a fiber-optic network and separating it from power cables. The City’s current wires and cables fixture is a vertical aboveground cable system where power, telecommunication and media cables are hung over poles. The City Councilor says he is also eyeing measures to fix tangled and messy wires as it has become an eyesore long the subject of complaints by many residents. (PIA/RG Alama)

Davao City Hall to pioneer underground cabling


Governor Solon bares development plansGENERAL SANTOS CITY (March 18) - Sarangani Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon relays development plans for Sarangans to some writers and reporters of national newspapers and a major TV station Saturday, March 15, together with representatives of Coca-Cola Foundation. The partnership with the company could bring in their flagship projects to more communities in the province. (Kim Tiblani/PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR’S OFFICE)


KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato-- The offices of the City Disaster Risk Re-duction and Management and City Health here joined efforts in conducting a fogging operation as part of the local government’s campaign against the spread of dengue.

Kidapawan CDRRMO, CHO conduct fogging operation against dengueBy: Shahana Joy E. Duerme

The activity was conducted in Barangay Poblacion particularly in the streets of Alim and Talisay.

The fogging operation was ordered by City Mayor Joseph Evangelista after the city registered 40 cases of dengue beginning January of this year. Of the 40 recorded cases, one was confirmed dead due to complications brought about by the disease.

After the mayor notified local leaders in Talisay and Alim, CDRRMO and CHO personnel went to the said areas and firstly conduct search and destroy operations for places served as breeding ground of mosquitoes.

CDRRMO personnel then did the fogging operations using the newly procured fogging machines of the office.

To strengthen the fight against dengue, Evangelista is urging

the public to actively take part in the anti-dengue campaign of the local government.

“Everyone should observe and strictly follow the campaign against dengue like search and destroy of mosquito breeding places by putting away stagnant water containers.

“We should have a regular cleaning of house gutters and waterways,” Evangelista stated.

Meanwhile, the CHO reminded the residents that self protection measures against mosquito bites like using insect repellant lotions and wearing of long sleeved shirts and pants are important.

The health office also told the residents to immediately seek medical treatment for those having high fever which is the primary symptom of dengue. (SJDuerme-PIA12/KLOasay-Kidapawan City LGU)


COTABATO CITY– The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is encouraging students and out-of-school youths to avail of the summer jobs under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES).

Over 2,500 summer jobs open for students, OSYs in ARMMBy: Oliver Ross V. Rivera

ARMM Labor Secretary Muslimin Jakilan said, DOLE-ARMM has allotted P6.3M to cover for the salaries and benefits of SPES beneficiaries for a total of 2,520 SPES slots for students and out-of-school youths in the whole autonomous region.

“DOLE-ARMM allocated 450 equal slots for the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao Del Sur, Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, while the remaining 270 will be for the regional office in Cotabato City,” Jakilan said.

Jakilan also said that they are taking steps ensure that even students from the remote parts of the region will get to avail of the program.

The summer job is in keeping with the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) flagship program of DOLE under Republic Act No. 9457.

SPES is intended to help poor but deserving students and out-of-school youths pursue education through a 25-working day summer

employment program.DOLE-ARMM has already started

accepting applicants since February 26 and will be receiving applications until March 25.

SPES beneficiaries will receive the P250-daily minimum wage, recently approved in the region, 60 percent of which will be paid the employer and the remaining 40 percent will be shouldered by the labor department.

Jakilan said the program is open to qualified high school, college, vocational students and drop-outs between 15-25 years old.

Interested applicants must submit the following requirements: birth certificate, barangay clearance, most recent report card, certificate of good moral character and parents’ income tax return, which should not exceed the P85,000 in annual income.

The summer job is expected to begin on April 01 and end on May 16, 2014. (ORVRivera-PIA12/Bureau of Public Information-ARMM)


OWWA-Caraga focuses on OFWs welfare, family tiesBy Jennifer P. GaitanoBUTUAN CITY - In a recently conducted press conference of the Caraga Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC) chaired by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) held here, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Caraga regional director Petrona Bergado emphasized that the agency focuses on providing the special needs of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families who are left behind in the region.


“If the families who are being left behind by the OFWs are settled, the OFWs are also in condition to work better and are productive in the job they do. We will continuously look into the needs of our OFWs for their welfare,” said Bergado.

Bergado added that their office is focused on the development of the families especially those who have family member/s working abroad. “We wanted to help the family of the OFW who are left behind to become financial literate since working as OFW is temporary and so we wanted them to establish their own livelihood,” she remarked.

Bergado also reiterated that an OWWA member-OFW is entitled to services and benefits over and above the provisions of the employment contract offer of employers or the laws of the receiving country.

“With its membership contribution (renewable every two years, or for the duration of his/her contract if

it’s less than two years), an OWWA member is entitled to the following benefits and services: Insurance and Health-Care Benefits (which include life insurance, disability and dismemberment benefits, total disability benefit, burial benefit); Education and Training Benefits; Social Services and Family Welfare Assistance; and Workers Assistance and On-site Services,” Bergado cited.

Meanwhile, Bergado also invited family members of the OFWs to avail of the OWWA’s Tulay Program where they are taught how to connect and communicate with their families abroad in a faster, easier and convenient way possible.

“TULAY was created to provide OFWs access to both technology and IT training. Its main purpose is to provide free computer classes to OFWs and their dependents,” explained Bergado.


DILG 13 releases P36.6M PAMANA checksBUTUAN CITY -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Caraga Region released a total of P30.8 Million worth of checks for the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) 2013 projects and P5.8 Million worth of checks for PAMANA 2012 projects for the first quarter of 2014.

By Don Manuelo O. Patrimonio

These releases were the second tranches for each project comprising the residual 20 percent of the total project cost. The first tranche of 80 percent was released upon approval of the project and the second tranche was withheld until the project is completed and the first tranche liquidated.

Of the P30.8 Million, P27 Million was given to the province of Surigao del Norte on February 20, 2014. This is broken down to P6M for the rehabilitation of Antipolo-Tuburan-Quezon (8.93 km) road in Del Carmen; P1.9M for the construction of Banban-Taganaan-Magsaysay Road (1.7 km) in Placer; P2.9M for the construction of a 50-meter Bailey Bridge at Cantugas in Mainit; P2.8M for the rehabilitation of Diaz-Magtangale Road (3.19 km) in San Francisco; P1.9M for the rehabilitation of Cantapoy-Villaraza Road and P2.8M for the rehabilitation of Pili-Karihatag Road (2.38 km) both in Malimono; P1.8M for the rehabilitation of Pinaypayan-Brazil Road, Mat-I in Surigao City; and P6.8M for the construction of Campo Little Baguio Road in Bacuag.

P2.8 Million was given to the province of Surigao del Sur on January 8, 2014. P1 Million was for the

Rehabilitation of Union-Bogak-Rajah Cabungsuan Road in Lingig; and P1.8 Million for the Rehabilitation of Spring Development in Burgos, Mabahin, Manlico, Poblacion, Matho and Tigao, Cortes.

The remaining P1 Million, which was released on February 20, was given to the province of Agusan del Norte for the construction of Cabadbaran-Putting Bato-Lanuza Road, Phase 1.

There were also P5.8 Million worth of second tranche checks released during the first quarter of 2014 for the PAMANA 2012 projects.

Of this, P4.9 Million was given to the province of Agusan del Sur for the rehabilitation of Tapaz-Tagumpay-Guinobtan Road in Sta Josefa, which was released on February 5.

And finally, P900,000 was given to the province of Agusan del Norte for the Potable Water System in Baragany Taod-oy in Magallanes (P40,000); and Farm-to-Market roads: Jaguimitan concreting in Nasipit (P356,000); Tagbongbong-Kanluran-San Antonio road construction in Remedios T. Romualdez (P354,000) and Manoligao-Liongan rehabilitation in Carmen (P176,000). The first two were released on January 9, and the


PAGBA to discuss public financial management, transparency with govt officers

BUTUAN CITY -- The Philippine Association for Government Budget Administration (PAGBA) Incorporated is set to convene officers of government agencies for a seminar and meeting on April 23-26, 2014 to be held at the APO View Hotel, Davao City.

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

Budget/Finance officers, accountants, administrative/personnel officers, cashiers/treasurers, comptrollers, planning development officers, fiscal/school administrators and other officials are the participants of said activity.

“As a dynamic organization, PAGBA

commences this year’s quarterly seminars and meetings with an array of fora to respond to the continuing and current requirements in public service and governance, particularly on effective implementation of various reforms on public financial management,” bared Mario

remaining on January 13 and February 20, respectively.

The release of the second tranche was recommended and approved upon attainment of the preset requirements by the provincial government in accordance with Joint Memorandum Circular between the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and DILG.

PAMANA is the convergence framework through which the national government, the local government units and development agencies provide targeted interventions in identified conflict-affected areas.

The portfolio of PAMANA projects for 2013 consists of 93 percent connectivity projects (amounting to P208 Million) and seven percent Basic Services projects (amounting to P15.3

Million). Although increasing in value by as much as 41 percent, this was a narrowing down in terms of coverage by 50 percent as compared to the previous year. PAMANA 2012 projects amounted to P158 Million with 86 percent connectivity projects, seven percent agricultural investments; six percent basic services and one percent disaster preparedness projects.

PAMANA 2013’s connectivity projects are broken down into road projects (one in Agusan del Norte, seven in Surigao del Norte and six in Surigao del Sur); and bridges (one in Surigao del Norte and one in Surigao del Sur).

The Basic Services projects were mostly potable water systems (six projects) and are all in Surigao del Sur.


PAGBA to discuss public financial management, transparency with govt officers Relampagos, PAGBA president.

Relampagos further said that distinguished speakers were invited to discuss various topics such as Climate Change Adaptation, Information Systems Strategic Planning, ongoing Public Financial Management Reforms, Leave Credits Administration and Computation, Project NOAH, Disaster Preparedness, Commission on Audit (COA) Rules and Regulations on Suspension and Disallowance, and Personal Financial Management, among others.

In this seminar, each participant shall pay a registration fee of P4,800.00, annual dues of P300.00 and membership fee of P200.00. “Cheque/cash payment should be issued/

addressed to the Philippine Association of Government Budget Administration Inc. through the Land Bank of the Philippines Account No. 1692-1000-30,” specified Relampagos.

Relampagos added that early payment and online registration is encouraged. To register online, interested participant may visit the website of PAGBA at www.pagba.com. The onsite registration will be open on April 22, 2014 a day before the scheduled seminar.

Said seminar is anchored on the theme, “Public Financial Management and Climate Change Resiliency Towards Responsive and Transparent Governance.”

Dominga MallongaDOST-Caraga Regional Director

for more details visit us DOST National Website: http://www.dost.gov.phDOST Caraga Website: http://caraga.dost.gov.ph


Community disaster preparedness crucial - DOSTby Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through ‘IbaNaAngPanahon’ – Science for Safer Communities Roadshow urges local government units to early action in disaster preparedness and to use advanced tools to prepare for severe weather condition.


DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo said that after TS ‘Yolanda’ on 2012, they have come up with a four-point agenda to guide Community Disaster Preparedness particularly, increase local risk knowledge, capacitate hazards monitoring, test warning and communications protocol and build response capability communities. He said “Our local communities and people on the ground prepared for the strong typhoon. However, post disaster assessment showed that more needs to be done in helping communities prepare for stronger typhoons and future disaster.” Severe storms and typhoons that occurred every 30 to 50 years before has now turned annual, said Montejo. The Philippines faces an average of 20 typhoons per year with associated floods, storm surges and earthquakes. He said that we are facing a warmer planet and we experience more severe and more frequent weather disturbance as effect of climate change that is why the availability of new tools such as the latest high-resolution maps and flood modeling solutions can be used for community disaster preparedness, to prepare for severe weather condition. Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards or Project NOAH which President Benigno S. Aquino III commissioned to DOST after typhoon ‘Sendong,’ has now

provided 100 local government units with 3D flood hazard maps, free of charge, so that local chief executives can identify areas prone to floods, and help alert their constituents ahead of a disaster. According to Montejo, part of the project is the mapping of the 18 major river basins of the country. This includes Cagayan de Oro, Compostella Valley and flood plains or river systems of Iponan in Cagayan de Oro, Mandulog and Iligan in Iligan City, Pampanga, Davao Oriental and Marikina. “There is an increasing trend in the intensity and frequency of disasters. Although we cannot stop the occurrence of natural hazards, we can mitigate potential disaster risk in our communities,” he said. The local chief executives and provincial and city disaster risk reduction office/personnel of the five provinces of Northern Mindanao particularly, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte attended the two-day Roadshow on March 10-11 in Cagayan de Oro City. The Roadshow comprised a workshop that covered end-to-end process for science-based and scenario driven community disaster preparedness from early warning and early action to achieve minimum loss and establish quick recovery post disaster.


SSS improves system of employer reimbursement for sickness, maternity by SSS Iligan

ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte – As part of Social Security System’s (SSS) campaign to enhance its service delivery, employers all over the country can now receive their reimbursements for advance payments of employees’ sickness and maternity benefits directly at their own bank account, instead of waiting for SSS checks from the mail.

Cheryl V. Jariol, branch manager, SSS Iligan, explains that the SSS Sickness and Maternity Benefit Payment thru the Bank (SMB PB) Program provides employers a safer, faster and more convenient means of reimbursement than its previous system of sending checks thru registered mail, which may take up to a month depending on their mailing address. She added, companies, as well as household employers, will benefit from the SMB PB Program since it addresses concerns regarding lost, misdelivered or stale reimbursement checks that can take several months to replace. It also eliminates the waiting period for mailing and check clearing. Since January 2014, all employers nationwide are required to enroll in the SMB PB Program, following positive feedback from over 1,000 employers in the National Capital Region that voluntarily participated in the program in the past several years. Per SSS procedure, employers pay the

sickness and maternity benefits of workers in advance, then apply for a corresponding reimbursement from SSS. In a statement from Agnes San Jose, SSS Vice President for Benefits Administration, that in the past, employers either wait for their reimbursement check to be mailed via the Philippine Postal Corporation, or send an authorized representative to claim it from the SSS. Now, the funds will be credited to their designated bank account. The employer’s existing savings or current account in a SSS-accredited bank may be enrolled in the program. To enroll, employers may secure a copy of the SMB PB form from any SSS branch, SSS-accredited banks or the SSS Website at www.sss.gov.ph, and then submit the accomplished form in two copies to their designated bank. Upon receiving the SMB PB form, the bank will certify the correctness of the employer’s bank account information and submit the application to the SSS.


The evaluation was done to establish dignified schools for students and pupils and ensure that the classrooms are well-maintained and conducive for learning throughout the SY, Dr. Victoria V. Gazo, Schools Division Superintendent (SDS), said. Results of the evaluation cited the following teachers and schools in the

four school districts of the Division as Best in Classroom Structuring (BCS), Best Administrator’s Office (BAO) and Best in School Beautification (BSB): North District: BCS – Kindergarten, Clarence A. Yack, Maloro Elementary School (ES); Grade 1, Janeth B. Abarco, Sta. Maria ES; Grade II, Jojita P. Jay, Capalaran

by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

DepED-Tangub bares results of classroom evaluation for SY 2013-2014

TANGUB CITY, Misamis Occidental - The Department of Education, Division of Tangub City, has released the results of the third and final round of evaluation of schools and classrooms in the public elementary and secondary schools of the Division for School Year (SY) 2013-2014.

If approved, the SSS will send the duplicate copy of the SMB PB form back to the bank, which will then forward it to the employer. Employers can also check the status of their SMB PB enrollment using their SSS Website account. The list of accredited banks is also found at the SSS Website. San Jose added, employers with several branches or subsidiaries with different SSS Employer ID Numbers may designate a single bank account for their sickness and maternity reimbursement from the SSS. The SSS disbursed a total of

P4.03 billion for maternity benefits of over 211,000 members from January to November 2013. Payments for sickness benefits over same 11-month period amounted to P1.65 billion for some 340,000 members. Of the P1.65-billion total disbursement for sickness claims, payments under the Social Security Program accounted for P1.57 billion, while the rest was paid under the Employees’ Compensation Program, which provides additional benefits to SSS employee-members with work-related contingencies.


Primary School; Grade III, Philamer T. Tacatani; Grade IV, German Suminguit; Grade V, Prejun Betacura; and Grade VI, Lornita E. Duhaylungsod, all of Maloro ES. BAO - Monograde, Jolito Vince, Tituron ES; Marilyn C. Bunawan, Tituron ES; and Secondary, Eflida C. Enerio, Banglay National High School (NHS); and BSB - Elementary, Isidro D. Tan ES; and Secondary, Banglay NHS. Central District: BCS - Kindergarten, D’Joan D. Betonio, Tangub City Central School (CS); Grade 1, Evangeline O. Largo; Grade II, Cynthia D. Reyes; and Grade III, Lucita R. Rivera; all of Sta. Cruz ES; Grade IV, Lourdes P. Rundina; Grade V, Antonieta D. Abalde; Grade VI, Ruvie B. Dapat; Grade VII, Jerson P. Alo; and Grade VIII, Judy Marie F. Cabrera, all of Tangub City CS. Third Year, Mercy B. Arsenal; and Fourth Year, Jocelyn B. Ocampos, both of Tangub NHS; and BAO - Elementary, Wilfredo B. Ca?ete, Tangub City CS; and Secondary, Myrna T. Barbon, Tangub City NHS; and BSB - Elementary and Secondary, Tangub City CS and Tangub NHS, respectively. South District: BCS - Kindergarten, Prima S. Rosario, Lorenzo Tan CS; Grade 1, Merlisa G. Tala; and Grade II, Rosalita B. Fernandez, both of Labuyo ES; GradeIII, Rita V. Sumalpong, Pangabuan Beach ES; and Grade IV, Jocelyn C. Tala; Grade

V, Angelina C. Tala; Grade VI, Ethel C. Encallado; Grade VII, Emily Magusara; Grade VIII; Mercedita T. Dompales, all of Lorenzo Tan Memorial CS. Third Year, Alma Melgar; and Fourth Year, Adelita A. Boyonas, both of Lorenzo Tan NHS; and BAO - Elementary, Relita P. Decina, Lorenzo Tan MCS; and Secondary, Crispina R. Gayem, Lorenzo Tan NHS; and BSB – Elementary and Secondary, Lorenzo Tan MCS and Lorenzo Tan NHS, respectively. Southwest District: BCS- Kindergarten, Anna Jean S. Bazar, Balatacan ES; Grade 1, Alma C. Rosales, Silangit ES; Grade 2, Nilda P, Jaralba, Bintana ES; Grade V, Marilyn A. Montefalcon, San Vicente ES; Grade VI, Roger F. Baga, Sicot ES; and Grade VII, Jonah Mae A. Catubig, Sumirap NHS. BAO - Elementary, Susan A. Libonfacil; and Secondary, Ma. Sherwin C. Alduheza, Silangit ES; and Silangit NHS, respectively, and BSB – Elementary, Balatacan ES and Secondary, Silangit NHS.

One Mindanao - March 18, 2014

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