Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Caraga Regional Director Chona Mantilla explains the background of the Project NARS during the press conference held today (March 18, 2009) at DOLE-Caraga Conference Room. (Gerie Mae G. Coco, PIA-13)Nurses Assigned in Rural Service (NARS) is a training cum deployment project, jointly implemented by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Professional Regulations Commission – Board of Nursing (PRC-BON), designed to mobilize unemployed registered nurses to the 1,000 poorest municipalities of the country to improve the delivery of health care services.
In a press conference conducted at DOLE-Caraga Conference Room here, Regional Director Chona Mantilla said the project is very much timely as the country is affected with the retrenchment of Filipino workers both in local and in international scene.
Ms. Wilma Joji Yu of the Department of Health (DOH)-Caraga discusses the mechanics of Project NARS as well as the role of DOH in the project during the press conference held today (March 18, 2009) at DOLE-Caraga Conference Room. (Gerie Mae G. Coco, PIA-13)
According to Dir. Mantilla, “since there are lots of displaced workers here in Caraga both in the local and international jobs, the implementation of this project is very timely that gives opportunity to inexperienced registered nurses in the region.”
Mantilla further said that the NARS project is part of the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) of DOLE. With this project, Mantilla said, registered nurses who want to be trained in their profession will no longer look for a hospital to undergo training and pay for the training fee. “Aside from the trainees to pay for the training fee, they will be receiving monthly allowance amounting to Php 8,000. The LGUs, on the other hand, are encouraged to subsidize Php 2,000 for the whole duration of the training,” she said.
Personnel Regulation Officer Mr. Rotelo Cabugsa of the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) emphasized the role of PRC in implementing the NARS Project in Caraga. According to Mr. Rotelo, PRC will be validating the professional licenses of the applicants, held during the press conference today (March 18, 2009) at DOLE-Caraga Conference Room. (Gerie Mae G. Coco, PIA-13)
However, Mantilla said, the trainees of this program will only be doing the training for six months: three months for rural health services, and the remaining three months for hospital or clinical site training. “There will be two batches of the program. The first batch will have their training on April to September while the second batch will undergo training from October until March next year,” Mantilla said.
Meanwhile, Ms. Wilma Joji Yu, Medical Officer of the Department of Health (DOH)-Caraga said their agency is responsible for the technical assistance as to identify the hospitals where the nurses will be trained, and to monitor and evaluate the status of the project, among others.
On the part of the PRC, Mr. Rotelo B. Cabugsa, Personnel Regulation Officer said they will be validating the professional licenses of the applicants. PRC will also develop training modules in nursing.
Project NARS was launched by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on February 9, 2009 during the Multi-Sectoral Summit on “Joining Hands against the Global Crisis” in MalacaΓ±ang Palace, Manila.
In Agusan del Norte, 10 municipalities will benefit the program. In Agusan del Sur, 14; Surigao del Norte-21; Surigao del Sur-19; and Province of Dinagat Islands-7. Each province will have five nurses, making 355 registered nurses in Caraga to benefit the program and will compose the first batch. On October, 2009, another batch of trainees will benefit the program.
As of press time, DOLE-Caraga received some 250 applicants, whose application documents were already forwarded to DOLE Central Office in Manila for the final selection.
List of successful applicants with their area of assignments will be posted online at http://www.nars.dole.gov.ph. For more inquiries, visit the website. (Robert E. Roperos, PIA-13)
POLICE REPORTS
By PO3 Rene Boy Ocares Bernaldez
and PO3 Arturo Suganob Campania
Report on robbery incident
On March 13, 2009 at 7:45 in the morning at Cantilan Municipal Police Station received a telephone call from Mr. Rolando Julve, owner of the New Horizon Pawnshop and Jewelry that his pawnshop was forcibly entered by unidentified persons.
Elements of Cantilan Municipal Police Station immediately responded to the crime scene located at the commercial center, Barangay Linintian, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur.
Initial investigation disclosed that the pawnshop was forcibly opened by unidentified person/s early dawn of same date by destroying two padlocks in the main door with the used of claw bars, in which the two claw bars was recovered inside the said pawnshop.
The vault room which was properly locked was also forcibly opened, and suspect/s carted assorted jewelries items and case in the amount of P182,661.50. Suspect/s failed to open the safe chamber inside the vault room.
Follow-up investigation and operation was made by police operatives, which resulted to the apprehension of suspect identified as Nixon Suarez, 29 years old, married, a resident of Sitio Nangka, Barangay Cabangahan, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur on March 17, 2009 at 11:30 in the morning with the help of Barangay Captain Martin Ampo Jr. of said Barangay.
Recovered from said suspect were four pieces necklace gold with pendant; one piece bracelet; three pieces ring and three pairs of earrings.
Suspect is now under the custody of Cantilan Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.
Another identified suspect named Michael Martizano, a resident of Barangay Linintian, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur still at large. Appropriate charge is being prepared for filing in court against the suspects. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
Report on burning incident
On March 17, 2009 at 9:00 in the morning, a certain Engr. Eufemio Azogue, 55 years old, married and a resident of Chino Roses Avenue, Makati City, operation Manager of Sergio Pascual Construction based at Barangay Bigaan, Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur reported to Hinatuan Municipal Police Station that on March 16, 2009 at 10:45 in the evening their heavy equipments were burned by suspected members of New Peoples Army (NPA) armed with assorted firearm wearing black fatigue uniform.
Heavy equipment burned were four units of dumptruck; one unit grader FGS Komatso; one unit transit mixer Nissan; one unit pay loader and one unit canter Mitsubishi.
Total estimated damage is more or less Php16,000,000.00. Investigation is still ongoing to determine the motive of the incident. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
PNP arrests wanted persons
On March 16, 2009 at 6:30 in the morning at Sitio Maputi, DoΓ±a Carmen, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur, elements of Tagbina Police Station led by PSI Tomas Felizcuso, COP apprehended the suspect identified as Ervin Costa, 30 years old, married and resident of said place.
Suspect was arrested by virtue of warrant of arrest (WOA) issued by Judge Merlyn Pacarro-CaΓ±edo, Presiding Judge of RTC 11th Judicial Region, Branch 29, Bislig City for the crime of Theft under criminal case number 2009-6-3266 with recommended bailbond of P40,000.00.
Subject person is now under the custody of Tagbina Police Station for proper disposition.
Also, around 10:00 in the morning at Imperial Appliance Plaza, M. Calo Street, Butuan City, PNP personnel from Warrant Section of Butuan City Police Station-1 led by SPO3 Jerry Advincula apprehended the suspect identified as Glen Torralba, 30 years old, married and resident of T. Calo Ext, Butuan City.
Suspect was arrested by virtue of alias warrant of arrest issued by Judge James Go, Presiding Judge of MTCC Branch 2, Libertad, Butuan City for the crime of Malicious Mischief docketed under criminal case number 34700 with recommended bailbond of P1,000.00.
Subject person was turned-over to the issuing court for proper disposition. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
Report on physical injury
On March 14, 2009 at 6:30 in the evening at Purok-3, Avocado, Barangay San Vicente, Butuan City, a certain Romeo Layan Desuyo, 56 years old, married and resident of said place was clubbed with the use of handgun and was fired upon by the suspect identified as a certain Domingo Catong Guibao, 45 years old, married and member of Philippine Army presently assigned at 4th Military Intel Battalion, 4ID.
Victim sustained one lacerated wound on his forehead and was brought to Butuan City Medical Center and treated as out patient while suspect was apprehended by the responding Police Officers of Butuan City Police Station 1 led by SPO3 Morgadez.
Recovered from suspect's possession were one cal .45 pistol, colt MK IV, Nickel plated with serial nr 577398 and one magazine with six live ammos.
Motive was grudges against the victim. Case is being prepared in an inquest proceeding against the suspect. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
Report on illegal possession of firearm
On March 15, 2009 at 9:00 in the evening at Purok-2, Barangay Kauswagan, Cabadbaran City, a certain Rodolfo Jongko, resident of said place was apprehended by PNP elements of Cabadbaran Municipal Police Station led by PINSP Nelvin Rufon for illegal possession of firearm.
Recovered from the suspect’s possession was one unit cal .38 revolver (armscor), without serial number with two live ammos.
Arrested person and confiscated firearm and ammos were brought to Cabadbaran City Police Station for proper disposition while appropriate charges is being prepared against the suspect. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
Report on illegal logging
On March 13, 2009 at 9:00 in the morning at Sitio Balisong, Barangay Panaosawon, Bayabas, Surigao del Sur, PNP personnel of Bayabas Municipal Police Station led by PINSP Abersalon R Rivera recovered 200 board feet of sawn lawaan lumber abandoned at said place with an estimated market value of Php 3,000.00.
Recovered lumber was brought to Bayabas Municipal Police Station for recording and documentation and further turned over to DENR for proper disposition. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
