GSIS-Butuan chief updates members on
compensation computation
by Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, July 8 (PIA) -- To enlighten its
members on the issue of the computation on basic and average monthly compensation
which was reported to have been revised, Government Service Insurance System
(GSIS) Butuan branch manager Mamole Pangandaman on Friday said the formula for
the computation of pension is still the same.
Speaking before members of the Regional
Development Council (RDC) during the council’s 71st meeting held in one of the
local convention centers here, Pangandaman said their office have not received
any office order, guidelines, or any new implementing rule from their top
management regarding any revision of the formula in the computation of the
members’ pension.
Pangandaman also denied knowing that there is a
proposal to change the formula in computing the pension. True to this, she said
the current leadership of GSIS chairman Daniel Lacson and GSIS president and
general manager (PGM) Robert Vergara implemented the new policies responsive to
the needs of its members and pensioners.
She added some of these new policies include the
restoration of the survivorship pension. Pangandaman explained that under this
revised policy, surviving spouse of members and pensioners can now receive
monthly pension benefits even if they are gainfully employed and receiving
income.
The GSIS chief of the city also said under the
restoration of the pro-rate pension, pensioners can now receive their pension
on the actual date of the retirement not on the following month.
Further, Pangandaman said by cancelling the
Agency Remittance Advise (ARA), there is no need for the pensioners residing in
the Philippines to comply with the ARAs. She added the National Statistics
Office (NSO) will provide the GSIS the list of the deceased pensioners.
Meanwhile, Pangandaman said the present stand of
the country’s premier insurer is to process based on the current formula
provided by Republic Act 8291, an act amending Presidential Decree 1146,
expanding and increasing the coverage and benefits of the GSIS.
She said further that only the Congress can
mandate or authorize GSIS to revise the computation of the pension. She added
that Vergara advised the members during a dialogue early this year here to
inquire from their congressmen and if ever there is proposal in Congress requesting
them not to alter this computation/provisions in RA 8291. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
.
NGP expert takes over headship of DENR Caraga
By Eric F. Gallego
BUTUAN CITY, July 8 (PIA) -- The Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon JP Paje had pulled out
his top key official in the National Greening Program (NGP) Mario D. Mendoza on
Thursday, to head DENR-Caraga after he relieved its regional director, Leonardo
R. Sibbaluca, over unabated illegal logging activities.
Mendoza, who works as Assistant Secretary for
Special Projects at the Office of Secretary Paje, said he has left several
unfinished projects at the central office when he was ordered to assume his new
post.
Mendoza was accompanied by the director of the
Forest Management Bureau Nonito M. Tamayo who replaced regional technical
director of Forest Management Services Musa Saruang.
Mendoza and Tamayo immediately proceeded to the
DENR training Center shortly after they arrived in Butuan City where they were
met by cheering employees at the DENR Training Center in Barangay Ambago, this
city.
In his acceptance remark, ASec Mendoza said he
will worked with different organizations to implement new strategies to uplift
the economic condition of the people in the upland barangays.
He, however, clarified that their mission is
anchored on pushing the social reform agenda of President Aquino by promoting
agri-business in the uplands where about 80 percent of the people are dependent
on the forest for a living.
“We will function as technical support to the
anti-illegal logging operations being undertaken by the Anti-Illegal Logging
Task Force Kalikasan headed by executive director Renato Miranda, a retired
general of the Philippine Marines,” Mendoza said.
In his farewell statement, Sibbaluca said his
18-month stint in Caraga Region had been challenging although their efforts
earned little appreciation from the people. He said he had put his “best foot
forward” in pursuing the anti-illegal logging operations even in critical areas
such as the rebel-infested mountain forest at the boundary of Loreto, Agusan
del Sur and Melale, Compostela Valley Province .
”We have cheated death several times when we
dared penetrate critical forest areas to extract the heavy equipment at the
height of our operations and these experiences will serve as my inspirations
wherever the Secretary may be pleased to assign me,” he said.
“This is our mandate,” Sibbaluca as he expressed
his sincere thanks to the employees of the DENR Caraga for their support.
Incoming RED Mendoza said he has not known so
far of any regional executive Ddrector of DENR who had put himself at the
frontline in the anti-illegal logging operations as Sibbaluca had done and
therefore his exemplary service is admirable.”
Mendoza requested the outgoing Sibbaluca to join
him for the meantime in crafting new strategies aimed at solving the perennial
problems on illegal logging in regions Caraga and 11.
“We are confronted with a complicated problem
amidst a tall order from the President to stop illegal logging,” he said.
ASEC Mendoza is a product of the University of
the Philippines where he finished Bachelor of Science in Forestry in 1985. He
obtained his Master in Development Management from the Asian Institute of
Management (AIM) in 1993. He served as program director of the Bantay
Kalikasan, and consultant and program adviser at the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.
He is a faculty member of the Department of
Social Forestry and Forest Governance, College of Forestry and Natural
Resources, UPLB. He served as director of Forest Management Bureau, DENR from
2009 to 2010 where he was elevated to assistant secretary of Special Projects.
(NCLM/DENR-13/PIA-Caraga)
