Butuan City gov’t leads celebration of this year’s Phil. Veterans Week
by Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, April 9 (PIA) – The city government here headed by Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. initiated this year’s commemoration of the Philippine Veterans Week, in time with the celebration of the “Araw ng Kagitingan” with this year’s theme “Beterano: Huwaran ng Lahing Pilipino.”
The program started with the Flower Offering Ceremony participated by government officials, veterans, employees, and stakeholders at the City Library grounds here.
On behalf of the city mayor, City Administrator Leah Mendoza led the flower offering ceremony together with Engr. Hadji Andres Atega, 1st District Agusan del Norte Commander of the Veteran’s Federation of the Philippines; Col Rodrigo Diapana, Jr. of 402nd Brigade and Col Jonathan Ponce of 15th (Caraga) Regional Community Defense Group Commander (both from Philippine Army; PNP-Caraga Regional Director Reynaldo Rafal; and Rev. Fr. Joesilio Amalia.
In his welcome remarks, Engr. Atega acknowledges the city government and partner-stakeholders for recognizing the efforts of the Filipino War Veterans and for initiating activities for them. He also reiterated that the commemoration is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 466 issued on September 14, 1989, wherein the contribution of our veterans is recognized as we observe Philippine Veterans Week on April 5-11 each year.
Atega also stressed that the celebration encourages the holding of activities that will pay tribute to all Filipino veterans who survived or perished during the Philippine Revolution, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and other conflicts where Philippine military contingents helped preserve the cause of world peace.
Meanwhile, City Administrator Mendoza emphasized the general public should never forget the valuable sacrifice of the Filipino War Veterans who had fought and died for the freedom and independence of our country. (PIA-Caraga)
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“Balanghayan Grow a Million Tree project” launched in Butuan
by Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, April 9 (PIA) -- In time with the celebration of the 2011 Araw ng Kagitingan the city government here headed by Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. also launched the “Balanghayan Grow A Million Tree Project”, held Saturday, this city.
Right after the program held for the celebration of the “Araw ng Kagitingan” at the City Library grounds, some of the city government officials, veterans, employees, and partner-stakeholders proceeded to Barangay Bit-os, as one of the seven identified barangay-sites wherein the tree planting activity was conducted.
Other barangays included in the implementation of the project are Ampayon, Buhangin, Mahay, Bancasi, Libertad, and Ambago.
In his message, Vice-Mayor Lawrence Fortun stressed that the “Balanghayan Grow A Million Tree Project” is a flagship program of the new administration. It is also a tree conversion project that aims to reduce the vulnerability of Butuan City to natural disasters by improving the environmental governance performance of the city government through an enhanced tree conservation measures in its lowland and upland ecosystems. Total project cost is P10-M.
Mayor Amante on the other hand said the project is in support of the national government’s efforts in mitigating the impact of climate change through the “Billion trees Project” of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
Meanwhile, a press conference was also held in Brgy. Bit-os Covered Court with Mayor Amante, V-Mayor Fortun, Retired Chief Justice Renato Puno, DENR USec. Ernesto Adobo, DENR-Caraga Regional Director Leonardo Sibbaluca, Col Rodrigo Diapana Jr. and Col. Efraim Oropel (both from Philippine Army), PNP-Caraga Regional Director Reynaldo Rafal, and PSSupt Jose Velasquez Carillo of Butuan City police Office.
The “Signing of Commitment” by the city and barangay officials with partner-stakeholders followed in Brgy. Bit-os. (PIA-Caraga)
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Deadline of filing SALN on April 30
MANILA, April 9 --The Civil Service Commission (CSC) reminds all incumbent public officials and employees that they have until April 30, 2011 to file their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN).
CSC Chair Francisco T. Duque III made the early announcement so that government workers will have enough time to review their properties, liabilities and financial connections and, thus, be able to provide detailed and accurate information in their SALN form.
The SALN is a comprehensive record of a declarant’s assets, liabilities, net worth, business interests and financial connections, including those of his or her spouse and unmarried children below 18 years old.
It also includes names of the declarant’s relatives in government up to the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity. “Let us remember that the SALN is accomplished under oath, which means all information that you indicate therein should be complete and accurate.
Falsification of information or underdeclaration may be subject to disciplinary or criminal action under Republic Act 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees,” said Duque.
The CSC chief added that it is the sworn duty of every civil servant to declare his or her financial status. “The SALN is a reminder that public office is a public trust, that we should use our positions to serve the interest of the country and not our personal interest.”
The CSC said that the SALN to be filed on or before April 30 should reflect information as of December 31, 2010.
It also advised civil servants to use the 1994 version of the SALN Form. A copy of the 1994 SALN Form can be downloaded from the CSC website at www.csc.gov.ph. (CSC-13/PIA-Caraga)
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Nominations to Search for Outstanding Public Servants extended
BUTUAN CITY, April 9 --The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has extended the deadline for nominations to the 2011 Search for Outstanding Public Servants to April 15, 2011. The CSC said the move aims to give nominees and their nominators more time to work on the requirements needed for them to qualify in the competition.
It also hopes to garner more nominations this year. In 2010, the CSC received a total of 190 nominations nationwide, 29 of which were conferred the awards by President Benigno S. Aquino III in September 2010.
Nominees to the Search can vie for three award categories. The Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award is conferred on an individual or group for exceptional contributions resulting from an idea or performance that had nationwide impact on public interest.
On the other hand, the Pagasa Award is granted to an individual or group for outstanding contributions that directly benefit more than one department of government on a certain degree of standards.
The Dangal ng Bayan Award is given to an individual for performance of extraordinary act or public service and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior on the basis of observance of the norms of conduct provided under Republic Act 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Cash prizes and other rewards await the chosen finalists to the 2011 HAP Search. They will also be given masteral or doctorate degree scholarship transferable to their spouse or child. Lingkod Bayan and Dangal ng Bayan awardees will be entitled to automatic promotion or corresponding salary increase.
More importantly, the awardees will join the roster of hundreds of public servants who are models of honor, excellence and integrity in public service.
Nominees to any of the three award categories should be in the government service at the time of nomination, have been rated at least Very Satisfactory for the last two consecutive performance rating periods, and have not been found guilty of or have no pending administrative or criminal case at the time of nomination. Posthumous nominations are also accepted.
Nominations are accepted through any of the Commission’s Regional and Field Offices nationwide or through the HAP Secretariat at the CSC Central Office, Batasan Hills, Quezon City. For more information on the 2011 Search for Outstanding Public Servants, please contact the HAP Secretariat at telephone numbers 931-7993, 932-0381 and 932-0111. The guidelines and downloadable forms are available at www.csc.gov.ph. (CSC-13/PIA-Caraga)
