DOST USec inspires PSHS scholars to strive &
pursue their goals in life
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, June 24 (PIA) – “Scholars of the
Philippine Science High School get the best education. It takes perseverance
and hard work for students to survive and surpass all the challenges in PSHS.”
This was the statement of Department of Science
and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary Prof. Fortunato T. Dela PeΓ±a who reached
out to the 72 scholars and inspired them to strive hard in their studies and
pursue their goals in life, during the opening of the Philippine Science High
School (PSHS) Caraga Region Campus (CRC) held at the Caraga State University
(CSU) Gymnasium in Brgy. Ampayon, this city.
Dela PeΓ±a also expressed his thanks and
gratitude to the city government officials for the fast realization of the
campus and to DOST Caraga headed by regional director Dominga Mallonga where
the PSHS is directly under their care.
Dela PeΓ±a also stressed that by year 2016, the
PSHS will reach to 16 campuses nationwide. “The Philippine Science High School
in Caraga region is the 13th campus in the country,” he added.
USec further bared that graduates of the PSHS
are recommended to enroll science and technology, engineering and mathematics
courses in college.
"We, as parents should let our children
choose what course they would want to take up in college. I believe they have
specific interest which they will really perform well. Let us help them excel
in their studies. With PSHS, the students here are expected to do best in
Science and Math," emphasized Dela PeΓ±a.
Also, the chosen 72 scholars with the presence
of their parents expressed their commitment thru the scholarship pledge.
"The campus administrators with the faculty
and staff of PSHS will do their best to ensure the safety and protection of the
students while they are in the campus. We encourage the parents to let us know
if you have any concerns, we are very willing to assist you," Dela PeΓ±a
clarified.
He also introduced the Philippine Science High
School System as a Service Institute of the DOST whose mandate is to offer on a
free scholarship basis for secondary course with special emphasis on subjects
pertaining to the Sciences with the end view of preparing its students for a
Science career. This is according to
Section 2 of Republic Act 3661 that established the first Philippine Science
High School campus in 1964.
“PSHS Scholars receive an education that is
humanistic in spirit, global in perspective and patriotic in orientation. When they graduate, the scholars are expected
to pursue degrees in Science and Technology at various colleges and
universities both here and abroad. It is
hoped that with seeds of seal for the truth, the PSHS alumni will continue to
contribute to the betterment of Philippine society through their engagement in
research and development work and leadership in Science and Technology
endeavors,” highlighted Dela PeΓ±a.
During the program, Dela PeΓ±a also shared how
his children took the challenge as students in the PSHS in Manila and
successfully achieved their goals in life. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
S & T Caraga chief acknowledges individuals,
institutions for opening of PSHS CRC
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, June 24 (PIA) - Department of
Science and Technology (DOST) Caraga regional director Dominga Mallonga
acknowledges the contributions of individuals, groups and institutions for the
successful opening of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) or Pisay Caraga
Region Campus (CRC) on Monday here.
Director Mallonga, who will lead the supervision
and monitoring of Pisay CRC, is very grateful to the local government of Butuan
City headed by mayor Ferdinand Amante and the Sangguniang Panlungsod members
headed by vice mayor Angelo Calo and its predecessor now congressman Lawrence
Lemuel Fortun for pursuing the establishment of the school campus and allotted
almost P2 million for the renovation of the classrooms, office, canteen and
dorm for temporary use of the students while waiting for the campus to be
constructed and completed.
Mallonga also expressed her thanks to former
vice president Teofisto Guingona and his family for donating the 5-hectare lot
located at barangay Ampayon.
"I would also like to thank Caraga State
University (CSU) headed by then president Johanna Cuenca and the current
president Dr. Rowena Varela and Dr. Luisito Tabada taking turns as OIC presidents
for allowing the use of its building as classrooms, dorm and office and for the
CSU Board of Regents for the vote of approval and support," she said.
Also, Mallonga acknowledges the contribution of
DOST undersecretary Fortunato dela Pena for seeing thru the preparations and
fast tracking of efforts; and to secretary Mario Montejo for the approval of
the establishment of the campus.
The Department of Education (DepEd) also
contributed to the opening of CRC, for pushing quality basic education
resulting to the 91 passers in the 2013 entrance/qualifying examination. A
total of 72 scholars enrolled in CRC while the other 19 passers enrolled in
other campuses in the country, Mallonga said.
Mallonga also acknowledges the contributions of
Dr. Ruwena Gonzaga, the OIC Campus director for organizing and directing the
activities together with the PSHS directorate particularly executive director
Dr. Josette Biyo, Dr. Rod Allan de Lara and the faculty and staff for without
them, classes of the Pisay campus will not be able to start Monday, June 23.
For his efforts leading to the establishment of
Pisay CRC and for vigorously promoting science and technology education in the
region, director Mallonga is also thankful to his former boss director Lyndo
Villacorta and to her colleagues.
Mallonga said, the establishment of Pisay CRC is
vested in Republic Act No. 3661. ”The purpose of this specialized high school
is to offer, on a free scholarship basis, a secondary course with special
emphasis on subjects pertaining to the sciences with the end view of preparing
the students for a science and technology career," Mallonga added.
“As Pisay CRC begins its journey, I wish all the
best and may this campus delivers students and graduates who epitomize the
ideal educated Filipino,” Mallonga said. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
Tandag City chief exec bares feat
By Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG CITY, June 24 (PIA) – City Mayor Roxanne
Pimentel has bared it all yesterday when she delivered her first State of the
City Address (SOCA) during the occasion of the 7th Charter Day celebration
program held at 2:00 p.m. at the public gymnasium here.
In her 36-page report, she stressed that what
guided her administration to succeed were the “six pillars of development” she
vowed to sustain in her inaugural address:
increased production for food security and increased income; decreased
illiteracy and improved skills among youth; healthy community and clean
environment; support to social services for the marginalized groups; tourism
and infrastructure; and peaceful, orderly and disaster-resilient community.
Alongside other commitments to pursue necessary
reforms in local administration and fiscal management, with the promise “to
mobilize local and external resources in implementing various development
programs and projects throughout the 21 barangays” as well as “to harness
public-private collaborations and active involvement of people in local
governance and community actions,” Pimentel said that the city government has
ensured the prompt, effective and efficient delivery of public service.
Earlier in her report, the mayor said that out
of 122 Local Government Units (LGUs), Tandag City was declared by the National
Competitiveness Council Philippines as the “45th Most Competitive City in the
country for 2013.
Citing statistical data to support her claim how
Tandag City has morphed into what it is now—from business, agriculture and
livelihood, health and environment, support services, tourism and
infrastructure, peace and order, and to future plans and programs—Mayor
Pimentel stressed that all these cannot be achieved without the help and
cooperation of all concerned in the community in general.
However, she named in particular the “workforce”
behind her in the city government and other public officials like Governor
Johnny Pimentel and Congressman Philip Pichay as well as head of national
government agencies.
Also, with particular mention, the lady mayor
said that her administration was conferred with the “Seal of Good Housekeeping”
for two consecutive years now—2012 and 2013—by the Department of the Interior
and Local Government (DILG) and the national government.
She attributed the feat to the “unqualified
opinion” of the Commission on Audit (COA) on the fairness of the presentation
of the financial statement of the city as of December 31, 2013.
Pimentel added that all transactions under her
administration are transparent in compliance with the “Full Disclosure Policy”
under the DILG Memorandum Circular 2013-140. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao
del Sur)
DA Caraga empowers women through livelihood
training
By Aurelius P. Arais
TANDAG, Surigao del Sur, June 24 (PIA) -
Recognizing the role of women in nation building, the Department of Agriculture
(DA) Caraga conducted series of livelihood training for Rural Improvement Club
(RIC) and 4H members and Extension Workers in the region.
The AgriPinoy Corn Program is currently
promoting value adding products utilizing cassava through cooking demo
livelihood training in which the second batch was held in Tandag City, Surigao
del Sur last June 17, 2014.
Similar training was also conducted late last
year in Butuan City and more training are currently on the pipeline.
Participants were taught how to cook various
cassava recipes such as pudding, cheese, hagik-hik (suman), toron and
pitchi-pitchi.
Regional Corn Program Coordinator Abel Wagas
emphasized that food processing is an opportunity for the farmer’s wives and the
women in general to help augment the income of the family.
He urged the participants to strengthen their
associations to engage in cassava food processing wherein ready market is just
around in the locality such as restaurants, canteens and more.
A participant expressed amazement after learning
that cassava can be processed into more mouth tantalizing menu and vowed to add
cassava recipes during special occasions or gatherings.
Cassava is a healthy food alternative. Cassava roots are a rich source of
carbohydrates which is an energy source.
It is generally considered to have a high content of dietary fiber,
magnesium, sodium, riboflavin, thiamin, nicotinic acid, and citrate.
Cassava is traditionally utilized as food source
in broiled, steamed and boiled forms. (DA-13/PIA-Caraga)
Surigao Chamber, AusAID to conduct Roads Forum
SURIGAO CITY, June 23 (PIA) – A one-day Roads
Forum will be conducted on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 to be held at the Sagisi
Hall, Gateway Hotel, this city.
The one-day forum is organized under the
Coordinating Road Investments for Development (CRID) Project of the Surigao
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (SCCI) in partnership with the Asia
Foundation and funded by the Australian Agency for International Development
(AusAID).
The activity aims to discuss issues related to
roads and propose plans to help address them to ensure convenience in the
transport of goods and delivery of services.
The SCCI will also give updates of the CRID
Project implementation; share to the stakeholders of Surigao del Norte the
initiatives done by the Provincial Roads Investment Coordinating Committee and
draw further support in the project.
Highlight of this event is the turn-over of the
Digital Road Database of the Province to the provincial government through
Governor Sol F. Matugas.
The forum is expected to be participated by the
various stakeholders, local government unit executives and the Provincial Road
Investment Coordinating Committee members and other partners in the province.
(SDR/SCCI/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Travel Clearance: a must for minors traveling
abroad
By Vilma Bare & Theresa D. Barsobia
BUTUAN CITY, June 24 - The Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD) is mandated to provide special protection to
children from all forms of abuse and other conditions prejudicial to their
development. In compliance with the provisions of Republic Act 7610, Article IV
on Child Trafficking, a child shall not be allowed to travel to a foreign country
without a travel clearance except for minors traveling with either mother or
father. A travel clearance is also required by a minor who was born out of
wedlock traveling with his/her biological father.
The primary objective of the issuance of travel
clearance is to protect minors from trafficking, abuse exploitation or improper
influence by person/s engaged in trafficking. A thorough assessment and review
of the documents submitted will be made to ensure that a travel clearance will
be issued to minors who are traveling abroad (MTA) for valid reasons.
Documents needed for issuance of travel
clearance are authenticated Birth Certificate of the minor, Authenticated
Marriage Contract by the biological parents (if married), Certificate of No
Marriage (CENOMAR) from NSO for minors born out of wedlock, Death Certificate
in case of deceased parents, Affidavit of Consent from both parents permitting
their child/children to travel abroad stipulating the destination, departure,
purpose and traveling companion, Two colored passport size picture of the
minor, photocopy of the passport of the traveling companion, and filled-out
application form. This program is under the Protective Services Unit through
the Community Based Services.
One of the strategies made by the concerned
community based social workers to facilitate immediate issuance of travel
clearance is through coordination with the LGU Social Workers who are oriented
about the program including the required documents so that they could also
advise MTA applicants to comply first the needed documents before going to the
DSWD satellite office for interview and review of the documents as basis for
the issuance of travel clearance.
MTA applicants are advised to submit their
complete documents at the DSWD Satellite Offices per province through the
assigned community - based social workers for review and preparation of
assessment report except in the province of Agusan del Norte where they could
directly submit their application at the Field Office through the assigned
Focal Person/community based social worker. Processing of travel clearance is
at least two days upon completion of required documents.
From January 2014 to March 2014, a total of 52
travel clearance issued to minors. Out
of the 52 minors issued with travel clearance, 20 went for vacation, eight
visited their parents and relatives, four went for a tour or leisure trip, four
went for study tour or educational trip, four went for the completion of their
International Student Convention, three attended the International Science and
Engineering Fair, and seven for issuance of passport.
Agusan del Norte (AdN) ranked number one with
highest cases of minors traveling abroad with a total of twenty 24, province of
Surigao del Norte ranked number two with a total of 15, Agusan del Sur (ADS)
ranked number three with a total of eight and Surigao del Sur with a total of
five. (DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: Pilipinas at Hapon nakapag-ambag
sa kapayapaan ng rehiyon, sabi ng isang opisyal ng embahada
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Hunyo 24 (PIA) - Ang pinagsamang
depensa at seguridad sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Hapon ay patuloy na nakapag
ambag sa kapayapaan at tatag sa rehiyon, sabi ng isang diplomatiko ng
Pilipinas.
Gumawa ng pagsaayos ang dalawang bansa para sa
kanikanilang nangungunang ahensiya na magsagawa ng pag-uusap sa regular na
paraan, sabi ni Charge d' Affaires of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo Gilberto
G.B. Asugue sa isang panayam sa radyo at telebisyon ng Malakanyang noong
nakaraang linggo.
Sabi ni Asugue na ang dalawang bansa ay
nagkaroon ng pinagsamang pagtitipon sa antas na politikal: ang mga
undersecretaries ng kani-kanilang mga foreign affairs ministers na gumagawa ng
taunang konsultasyon para suriing muli ang kabuuang magkabilaang relasyon; at
ang Department of National Defense ng Pilipinas at ministerya ng Hapon ay
mayroon ding regular na pagpupulong.
“Ang Kalihim ng Depensa ng Pilipinas at ang
Ministerya ng Depensa ng Hapon ay gumagawa ng regular na konsultasyon para
mapag-usapan ang mga pang ehiyon na isyu ng bawat bansa para mapalakas ang
rehiyonal na kapayapaan,” sabi niya.
Ang pagpupulong na ito ay isang oportunidad para sa mga opisyal
ng pangseguridad para maipakita kung papano sila makipagtulungan sa isa’t
isa sa pag ambag para sa rehiyonal na
kapayapaan at para rin sa kanilang pagsisikap para matugunan ang iba pang may
kaugnayan sa seguridad, hindi lamang ng rehiyon kundi pati narin ang iba pang
parte ng mundo.
Sabi pa niya na ang pagtataling ito ay nagbunga
sa Pilipinas at Hapon na magbigay suporta para sa pandaigdigang pagsisikap para
labanan at pamimirata sa baybayin ng Somalia.
Ayon kay Asugue, ang Hapon ay nag-alay ng coast
guard para sa pinagsamang pwersa na pandagat habang ang Pilipinas ay nag-ambag
ng isang liaison officer sa pinagsamang pwersang pandagat.
Nakatakdang gumawa ng isang araw na pagbisita
habang nagtatrabaho sa Hapon sa Martes para makipagkita kay Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe at para na rin matugunan ang pangkapayapaang pulong ng Mindanao sa
Hiroshima.
Babalik ang Pangulo sa Manila mamayang gabi,
Martes, Hunyo 24. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
