DSWD-Caraga: Indigent senior citizens’ pension
fund come from nat'l gov't
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, May 24 (PIA) -- The Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that fund source for indigent senior
citizens pension in the region come from the national government.
According to Jane Amil, DSWD-Caraga Social
Pension Unit chief, said the funds have been downloaded to all regional offices
for distribution to the recipients.
The official explained that source of funds for
the pension solely comes from the national level and that no other government
agencies as well as local government units have provided for it.
For transparency and accountability purposes,
the official said all transactions are properly accounted for and must undergo
on the process of liquidation.
Based on article five, paragraph six of Republic
Act 9257, the government was directed to provide subsidy and social pension to
all indigent senior citizens of the country.
Amil said, qualified beneficiaries are those
senior citizens aged 77 and above, and are not receiving any pension funds from
any government institutions. Also, they must not regularly receive any
financial support from their family, children and relatives.
Qualified indigent senior citizens are receiving
P500 per month and can be withdrawn quarterly at the DSWD office.
In a related development, the Expanded Senior
Citizens Act of 2003 (R.A. 9257) provides additional benefits and privileges to
senior citizens coming from the government and the private establishments,
amending for the purpose Republic Act 7432, an act to maximize the contribution
of senior citizens to nation-building.
Under the law, all indigent senior citizens can
avail a 20 percent discount on goods and services.
Among these goods and services are those found
in establishments like in hotels, restaurants, recreation centers, drugstores,
hospital pharmacies medical and optical clinics and similar establishments
dispensing medicines and medical rehabilitative/assistive devices, and funeral
parlors.
They must also enjoy the same discount on public
transportation such as in public railways, including LRT, MRT, PNR, Skyways,
buses, (PUB), jeepneys (PUJ), taxi and shuttle services (AUV).
Air and sea transportation are the fare for
domestic air, and sea travel based on the actual fare, including the
promotional fare, advance booking and similar discounted fare for the exclusive
use and enjoyment of Senior Citizens.
In terms of medical and dental services in
private facilities, indigent senior citizens must avail the same discount
including diagnostic laboratory fees such as but not limited to x-ray,
computerized tomography scans and blood tests, including professional fees of
attending doctors in all private hospitals and medical facilities.
Likewise, they are also entitled to a 20 percent
discount on admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses and concert
halls, circuses, carnivals and other similar places of culture, leisure and
amusement.
Moreover, senior citizens can avail of special
discounts in special programs, particularly on the purchase of basic
necessities and prime commodities.
They are also entitled to free medical and
dental services in government facilities, including diagnostic and laboratory fees
such as, but not limited to x-rays, computerized tomography scans and blood
tests in all government facilities subject to guidelines issued by DOH.
The law also pointed out that senior citizens
must be exempted from filing the individual income tax return, provided that
the annual taxable income of a senior citizen from all sources does not exceed
the poverty level. They are also exempted for any training fees on
socio-economic programs conducted by private and government agencies.
The Expanded Senior Citizens Act also grants
educational assistance to qualified senior citizens to pursue post secondary,
post tertiary, vocational or technical education in both public and private
schools through the provision of scholarships, grants, financial aid, subsidies
and other incentives including support for books, learning materials and
uniform allowance to the extent feasible.
For retirees, they are given a grant of
continuance of the same benefits and privileges given by the Government Service
Insurance System (GSIS), and Social Security System (SSS) and PAG-IBIG.
Retirement benefits of retirees from both the government and the private sector
shall be responsive and sustainable, and shall be upgraded to be at par with
the current scale enjoyed by those in active service.
In terms of express lane privileges, the law
stipulated that a priority for any transaction must be given to them in all
private, commercial and government establishments. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
.
DENR notes Mt. Mayapay’s return of biodiversity
By Noel B. Najarro
BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte, May 24 (PIA) --
Environmental authorities noted a significant resurgence of the biodiversity of
Mt. Mayapay, a prominent natural landmark of Butuan City, according to a
planning officer of the regional office of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR).
Romel Alboromo, planning officer of the Planning
and Management Division of DENR-Caraga, speaking before an audience consisting
of stakeholders, district (purok) and barangay officials and concerned citizens
during a forum to discuss the Butuan City Comprehensive Land Use Plan held at
the Libertad National High School covered court recently, pointed out that
DENR-Caraga is determined to sustain the notable resurgence and restoration of
the biodiversity of the 18,523 hectares of a mountain range covering portions
of Butuan City and Buenavista town of Agusan del Norte.
Mt. Mayapay located east of Butuan City, which
plateau formation forms the predominant feature as the city’s backdrop rises
375 meters above sea level and is considered the range’ highest peak.
Alboromo, who headed a team of DENR, Community
Environment and Natural Resources Office and City Planning officials also led
by Lounella Villanueva, Planning Officer IV of the Butuan City Planning Office
conducted the hearing and made an inspection thereafter, at the forested part
of the mountain range located near Sitio Malalag which is a part of Brgy.
Libertad.
Discussing on the topic “Preservation of
Forestlands” during the forum, Alboromo disclosed that during the past two
years, at least three deers were caught by poachers within the 375-hectare area
designated for the mountain rehabilitation.
“Though the incident is unfortunate as these
wild animals were supposed to be among the wild species to be preserved and
protected by law, yet it tells us something that biodiversity is already
resurgent in the area,” Alboromo said.
The environmental officer also said that aside
from the deers, the presence of some bird species, tarsiers, wild hogs and
monkeys were reported by the caretakers assigned by their office at the area.
According to him, measures were already in place to avoid the repetition of the
said incident.
Two years ago, a P 17-million peso, three-year
(2008-10) rehabilitation project of the 375 hectares of the mountain range was
initiated by the congressional office of Rep. Jose “Joboy” Aquino II, the
Department of National Defense and the DENR. The project was expected to
showcase Mt. Mayapay as a model park and strictly no logging zone.
The project was participated by the regional
line agencies, the government owned and controlled corporations, non-government
organizations, the private sectors, religious groups, academes and the
indigenous people cultural communities.
A task force was also created to oversee the
project with National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) as the lead
agency.
The 18,523-hectare mountain range covering part
of Butuan City and the town of Buenavista in Agusan del Norte; 4,179 hectares
was considered as alienable and disposable, 14,344 hectares as timberland,
7,127 hectares as open access, 1,599 falls under the integrated social forestry
(ISF), 1,229 falls under the community-based forestry management (CBFM in
Butuan City), 2,250 hectares as watershed area (in Calayagan, Buenavista) and
2,139 hectares as military reservation area, according to a DENR data. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
.
GSIS-Butuan thankful to members, pensioners
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte, May 24 (PIA) --
The management of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in the city
have expressed their thanks and gratitude to all members and pensioners for
their full cooperation in all the activities that are spearheaded by the
agency.
GSIS-Butuan Branch Manager Mamole Pangandaman
said whenever activities are being conducted by their office, there’s a good
turnout of attendance of members and pensioners which means that they are
interested to know the updates of the government’s premier state insurer.
Pangandaman also told their members and
pensioners to immediately get in touch with their office for queries or other
matters regarding their transaction with agency, assuring them of their
service.
It may be recalled that during the stakeholders’
dialogue with GSIS top officials held here in the city on February this year,
more than 200 of its stakeholders composed of local government officials,
government employees, pensioners and retirees have attended the event.
Participants coming from as far as province of
Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del
Norte and Butuan City participated in the half-day discussion with GSIS top
officials to clear their concerns.
During the dialogue, GSIS president and general
manager (PGM) Robert G. Vergara emphasized that the existing policies on the
grant of survivorship benefits were revised by the management with the end in
view of granting equitable benefits to survivorship pensioners.
Vergara also outlined the initiatives launched
for the past year and a half by the new leadership to bring its services closer
to its stakeholders.
The GSIS chief likewise cited the expanded
partnership with the Land Bank to include pensioners and active members; the
deployment of 500 additional GWAPS (GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System)
kiosks in key cities, clusters of municipalities and big government agencies
such as the Department of Education.
The consultation forms part of the effort of the
new GSIS leadership to “be more consultative, transparent, and member-focused”
in line with its new vision and mission, in support to the transparency and
accountability governance of the Aquino administration. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
.
86 Brgy Employment Service Officers installed
By Francis Dominique Y. Nazario
BUTUAN CITY, May 24 (PIA) -- Some 86 barangay
officials of the city were recently inducted as Barangay Employment Service
Officers (BESOs) in one of the private schools here.
In a simple ceremony, Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) Caraga Regional Director Ofelia B. Domingo gladly welcomed
the newly inducted barangay employment officers.
"It is a great honor to welcome you all as
part of the DOLE family... This is your chance to serve your constituents in
your own barangay and to help them find jobs,” she said.
Representing the barangay officials, Association
of Barangay Captains (ABC) President Nestor Amora, in his acceptance speech,
lauded the convergence efforts of DOLE-Caraga in continuing to innovate and
find ways to minimize the incidence of unemployment in the region.
On behalf of Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante
Jr., Mr. Amora thanked everyone for the support and cooperation extended to the
local government unit and its constituents.
BESO is the counterpart of the Public Employment
Service Office (PESO) of the local government in the barangay level. (RER/NCLM/DOLE-13/PIA-Caraga)
.
BFAR-Caraga to strengthen inland fishing
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, May 24 (PIA) –- With nearly two
weeks left as Fisherfolk Regional Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Caraga, Dir. Marciano Monato recently said the
agency is eyeing to strengthen inland fishing here in the region.
Monato said the region’s fisheries bureau is
giving focus on culturing fish of different types especially in inland fishing
as this is beneficial to those provinces that are far from coastal areas like
Agusan del Sur, although the province is near the Agusan River.
Aside from inland fishing, the agency is also
enjoining local fisherfolk communities to strengthen the establishment of fish
ponds and fish pens to ensure livelihood sustainability.
The official said fisherfolk may coordinate with
the farmers to establish fishponds beside the ricefields. He added they are
also giving attention to culturing fish in streams and rivers for those fishes
that can thrive on fresh waters.
The fisherfolk director was installed on May 2,
2012 in time with the opening of the Farmers’ and Fisherfolks’ Month
celebration. He assumes the position as regional director of BFAR during the
month-long celebration. His term of office will end on May 31, 2012.
Meawhile, BFAR-Caraga Regional Director Nerio
Casil will assume the position on the first day of June. He is expected to
continue the plans and programs that are put in place by the outgoing
fisherfolk director to improve the economic condition of the fisherfolk community
in the region.
Accordingly, among the inland fishing locations
are the lakes, rivers, streams, and even backyard pond at home. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
.
PAGASA-DOST to conduct seminar-workshop for
northern Mindanao mediamen
By Danilo S. Makiling
BUTUAN CITY, May 24 (PIA) -- The Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration-Department of
Science and Technology (PAGASA-DOST) is set to conduct an annual
seminar-workshop for Northern Mindanao mediamen on May 25-27 at Bahay
Bakasyunan sa Camiguin, Balbagon, Mambajao, Camiguin Island.
Dubbed "PAGASA-DOST Seminar-Workshop for
Northern Mindanao mediamen," the three-day seminar-workshop aims to update
the basic knowledge of mediamen in meteorology, particularly the disaster risk
reduction.
PAGASA Administrator Dr. Nathaniel Servando said
the event also aimed to converge the weathermen and mediamen towards mitigating
the impact of hydromet disasters by means of giving information to people.
This year's event is anchored on the theme:
"Sharing Knowledge between Weathermen and Mediamen towards Mitigating the
Impacts of Hydromet Disaster."
The event supports the disaster preparedness
program of the national government, in an effort to mitigate the impact of
disaster and calamities. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
.
Red Cross Agusan del Sur chapter bags
prestigious award
By David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, May 24 (PIA) -- The Philippine Red
Cross (PRC) Agusan del Sur Chapter bagged another prestigious award of
excellence, adding to the numerous awards they received in the previous years.
The most recent is the “Resource Generation
Award of Excellence” received three weeks ago in Manila, by chapter
administrator Cristyll Basan.
It was signed by PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn
Pang and PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard Gordon, that reads
“Surpassing all expectation and overachieving its fund generation campaign
targets for the year 2011."
In the entire country, only two chapters were
awarded and they are the Rizal, Manila Chapter and the Agusan del Sur Chapter.
On December last year, PRC Agusan del Sur
administrator also received recognition for invaluable contribution in moving
80 to 100 percent voluntary blood donation through regular mobile blood
donation in the area of jurisdiction.
“We dedicate this December award to our mobile
blood collection team headed by our PRC Agusan del Sur chapter medtech Julie
Lapidez and D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital medtech Napoleon Montejo for their
untiring efforts in collection blood from our voluntary donors provincewide by
conducting mobile blood collection,” Basan said.
According to PRC Medtech Julie Lapidez, this
year’s blood collection is on the right track after having 42.16 percent
collection against target, as of the end of April.
“With the provincial government conducting
medical outreach program as many as three municipalities per month, we make
sure that we join the outreach program so that the delivery of medical services
and the blood collection activities be conducted jointly so that it will be
very convenient for both the people and the service providers to interact,”
Lapidez said.
For this month, three municipalities are lined
up where the medical and dental outreach and the blood collection be conducted.
They are the municipalities of Veruela, Del Monte, Talacogon and Sibagat.
For the month of June, only one was so
identified and it is the municipality of Loreto. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
.
5 Surigao Norte towns to benefit from DOLE-TESDA
convergence program
SURIGAO CITY, May 24 (PIA) -– A total of five
municipalities in Surigao del Norte will benefit from the Department of Labor
and Employment (DOLE) - Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA) Convergence Program on poverty alleviation.
TESDA Provincial Director Rodrigo De Villa said
the program brings together DOLE’s Special Program for Employment of Students
(SPES) and TESDA’s Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) which aims to
provide trainings and employment opportunities particularly to those belonging
to the marginalized sector, especially out-of-school youth (OSY).
De Villa said the SPES-TWSP Convergence Program
in the province will initially cover the municipalities of Socorro, Claver,
Gigaquit, Placer and Malimono.
Under the program, OSY beneficiaries in the
above mentioned towns will be enrolled in training programs registered with
TESDA for a minimum of 20 days (160 hours) and a maximum of 52 days (416
hours). The training will be conducted within the premises of TESDA or in
TESDA-identified institutions.
Interested OSYs may file his/her application and
required documents at the nearest Public Employment Service Office (PESO) or
TESDA Provincial Office.
For more inquiries, they may refer to the
nearest TESDA, DOLE, or PESO offices in their areas. (TESDA-SDN/FEA/PIA-Surigao
del Norte)
.
P6-M water project benefits Agusan Nor barangay
By Gil E. Miranda
BUTUAN CITY, May 24 (PIA) -- The Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR) of Agusan del Norte through Agrarian Reform
Infrastructure Support Project Phase 3 (DAR-ARISP3) on Tuesday handed over a
potable water system (PWS) Level II project worth more than P6 million that is
serving some 344 households in Barangay San Antonio, R.T. Romualdez, Agusan del
Norte.
According to DAR ARISP III Project Engineer
Ernesto Gatab the Potable Water Supply (PWS) Level II System acquired its
source from a spring using an intake box that consistently distribute water all
the way to 62 common faucets servicing about five to 10 households per communal
faucet.
RTR municipal agrarian reform officer Virginia
Batosalem said, “About 1,958 residents from 344 households are currently
benefiting from the said project. SAWSARTRAN will maintain the operation and
maintenance and ensures all plans and policies will be provided and implemented
to the beneficiaries.”
Bioleta O. Alingasa, one of the recipients,
shared that the PWS completion greatly helps the residents, since they used to
fetch water through a sloping nearly 800-meter trail from the water source to
the village, and vice-versa. She added that because of this, they were prone to
water borne diseases.
“Usahay kong ting-ulan dili mainom ang tubig nay
uban dali ra mosakit ang tiyan (Sometimes if it’s rainy and the water is not
suitable for drinking, others become susceptible to diarrhea),” Alingasa added.
The ceremonial turnover was led by Remedios T.
Romuladez (RTR) municipal mayor Nilo D. Soliva, assisted by DAR regional
director Faisar A. Mambuay and DAR Agusan del Norte provincial director Andre
B. Atega who turned-over the documents to San Antonio Water Sanitation Association
RTR Agusan Norte (SAWSARTRAN).
Soliva lauded to DAR-ARISP III for their
developmental interventions on physical infrastructure projects, institutional
strengthening and agricultural-agribusiness development being poured in his
municipality.
He also expressed his gratitude to the
provincial government of Agusan del Norte under the leadership of Agusan del
Norte governor Erlpe John M. Amante and Agusan del Norte second district
representative Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba who were the direct partners
through counterpart arrangement in the implementation of the said PWS System
and other DAR-ARISP III sub-projects.
DAR regional director Faisar A. Mabuay
emphasized that the PWS sub-components will provide reliable water supply to
the community and asked the end user to take care of the project in order to
prolong its service.
Also present during the ceremony were RTR vice
mayor Elioterio Enriquez, San Antonio barangay captain Diosdado Enriquez, DAR
PARO I Denia M. Jabagat, DAR project engineer Ernesto Gatab, local officials
and some residents.
The PWS project is jointly funded by the
Philippine government and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and
implemented under DAR’s Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project, Phase
III (ARISP III). (NCLM/DAR-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Caraga)
.
Cebuano news: Aquino mihurar sa acting NEDA
chief ug 2 ka Special Presidential Envoys ngadto sa China
Ni Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Mayo 24 (PIA) –- Gihurar ni
Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ang bag-ong grupo sa bag-ong natudlo nga mga
opisyales nga gikatakdang motambayayong uban ang gobyernong Aquino aron
segurohon ang paghatag sa mga nag-unang serbisyo ug maseguro ang maayo nga
antas sa kinabuhi alang sa katawhang Filipino.
Sa usa ka simpleng seremonya didto sa Rizal Hall
sa MalacaΓ±ang Palace kagahapon Miyerkules, gipangulohan sa Pangulo ang
pagpapanumpa sa katungdan sa bag-ong natudlo nga National Economic Development
Authority (NEDA) Director-General/Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.
Ang bag-ong hepe sa NEDA maoy mopuli kang kanhi
NEDA director-general Cayetano Paderanga human sa iyang resignation niadtong
milabayng Mayo 10 tungod sa panglawas nga rason.
Si Balicasan mikuha sa iyang doctorate sa
Economics didto sa University of Hawaii niadtong tuig 1985 human siya mitapos
sa iyang masters degree sa Agricultural Economics didto sa University of the
Philippines sa Los BaΓ±os, Laguna niadtong tuig 1982.
Siya migradwar magna cum laude gikan sa Mariano
Marcos State University niadtong tuig 1979 diin siya mikuha sa iyang Bachelor
of Science degree in Agriculture.
Siya usa ka propesor sa Australian National
University ug executive director sa Philippine Center for Economic Development
diin siya nagserbisyo isip adviser ug expert sa poverty, food security,
agricultural ug rural development, human development, impact assessment, ug
governance issues ngadto sa mga public chief executives ug mga magbabalaod,
non-governmental organizations, multilateral development institutions, sama sa
World Bank, Asian Development Bank, ug nagkalain-laing mga ahensya sa United
Nations.
Si Balisacan usab maoy tagsulat ug co-editor sa
pito ka mga libro ug nagsulat og mosobra 100 ka mga articles ug technical
journals ug book chapters.
Nanumpa usab sa ilang katungdan sila Ambassador
Domingo Lee ug Ambassador Cesar Zalamea, silang duha maoy Special Enoys sa
President ngadto sa People’s Republic of China (Department of Foreign Affairs).
Ang mga opisyales sa Philippine Coast Guard nga
sila Vice Admiral Edmund Tan, Rear Admiral Cecil Chen, Rear Admiral Lino Dabi
ug Rear Admiral Luis Tuason Jr. nunumpa usab kang Pangulong Aquino nga
gisaksihan ni Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II.
Ang lain pang mga opisyales nga nanumpa sa
Pangulo naglakip nila Representative of the Consumer Organizations to the
Optical Media Board, Office of the President, Elmar Ingles; Deputy Director V,
Public-Private Partnership Center of NEDA, Ferdinand Tolentino ug napulo ka mga
representante gikan sa nagkalain-laing mga sektor sa National Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources Management Council of the Department of Agriculture.
(PIA-Surigao del Norte)
