Tuesday, January 13, 2015

NSO, BAS in SurSur merge as PSA

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Jan. 13 (PIA) – The National Statistics Office (NSO) and the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) have already made public their merger as single entity to be officially called Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Ruel Dres, PSA interim chief, said this is by virtue of Republic Act (RA) No. 10625 otherwise known as the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013.

He explained that under the said law, “four statistical agencies, namely, the National Statistics Office (NSO), Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES), and National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) were merged into one and shall be known as the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).”

“Since only NSO and BAS had existing provincial offices in Surigao del Sur before the merging, all transactions pertaining to the two offices shall be addressed to PSA with the undersigned as the authorized official starting January 2015," Dres pointed out.

An official communication to this effect has already been sent out to all government offices as part of dissemination effort, the official added.

The PSA is located at the 2nd Floor, Pimentel Building, Donasco St., Bag-ong Lungsod, Tandag City. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

SurSur town chief mulls sanctions vs gas dealers

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Jan. 13 (PIA) – Petroleum dealers based in Carrascal town, 74 kilometers north, this city, may face sanction if Mayor Vicente Pimentel, Jr. gets a favorable response.

In a letter to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Surigao del Sur dated January 6, 2015, the town mayor inquired whether his office has “the authority not to grant or renew the business license/permit to operate” of both Caltex and Phoenix filling stations.

He admitted that his office is “quite alarmed,” about several complaints received from vehicle owners.

Aside from pointing out “two weeks” delay in implementing “rollbacks,” Pimentel alleged that price in their area is “very much high” as compared to “Filling Stations in other municipalities of this province.”

Meanwhile, Romel Oribe, acting DTI provincial director, said the letter has already been referred to Atty. Mara Maquiling of DTI-Caraga Regional Office for a legal opinion.

He clarified, however, that concern of this nature is primarily under the Department of Energy (DOE).

Almost all vehicle owners and transport operators in cities and municipalities in Surigao del Sur have the same share of sentiment with Carrascal town since Republic Act No. 8479 otherwise known as “Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998”  has taken effect, consumers sources said. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Police Regional Office 13 conducts New Year’s call

By Noel B. Najarro

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 13 (PIA) - The Police Regional Office 13 had conducted their annual New Year’s Call, 7:30 a.m. Monday.

PCSupt. David Y. Ombao, Caraga PNP acting regional director received his callers in front of the administration building of the police regional headquarters here, headed by PCSupt. Keith Ernald L. Singian, the deputy regional director for administration and the other senior officials of the PRO 13 Command Group consisting of PSSupt. Pedro U. Obaldo, Jr.; Caraga PNP deputy regional director for operations and PSSupt. Gregorio R. Pimentel, regional chief directorial staff of the said regional police office.

The command group was followed by the officers of the directorial staff from R-1 to R-7, the Personal Staff Support office, the city and provincial directors of the five provincial police offices and the battalion commander of the 13th Regional Public Safety Battalion.

The National Support Units consisting of the Regional Finance Service Office 13, the Regional Headquarters Support Group, the 13th Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, Regional Maritime Unit 13, Regional Highway Patrol Unit 13, Regional Crime Laboratory Office 13, 10th Philippine Aviation Security Unit, Regional Legal Service Office 13, Regional Engineering Office 13, Regional Chaplaincy Office 13, Regional Intelligence Office 13, Regional Special Training Unit 13  the Regional Internal Affairs Services 13 and the Non-Uniformed Personnel, who mostly came along with their spouses.

CSupt. Ombao before his New Year’s message after the “New Year’s Toast and Cocktails," requested for few minutes of silence in honor of their comrades who have laid down their lives in line of their service.

In his message following the minutes of silence, Ombao thanked the regional office senior officials, city and provincial directors, staff officers, the National Support Units and the Non-Uniformed Personnel for their unity, cooperation and good performance which have greatly contributed to the peacefulness of the region. He also commended the accompanying spouses for understanding the nature of the work of their mates who have to render police duties especially during “alert” periods and even during holidays.

The Caraga PNP chief also pointed out the good performance shown by the regional police. “I have reviewed the records from the first quarter until the last quarter of 2014, and noticed that our regional crime incidents volume is in the downtrend while the crime solution efficiency has increased,” Ombao said. According to him that everyday police records will show that various police operations anywhere in the region yielded significant results and accomplishments particularly against criminalities, illegal drugs and other illegal activities, in the services of arrest warrants against wanted persons and of search warrants against illegal drugs, loose and illegal firearms.

He also said that the regional police had done well in its peace-keeping and community relation functions.

Ombao also pointed out that 2015 will be a year of challenges. He mentioned about the efforts of the regional police in providing assistance for the security of the visiting pope. He also emphasized that the regional police will focus on the Performance Governance System (PGS) 2030 and the Patrol 101. The regional top police official is also hoping that the peace talks between the GRP and the CPP/NPA/NDF will push through so that once peace be largely attained, the police can focus on other peace concerns. For now, Ombao said, police will focus on anti-criminality, illegal activities and other peace and order concerns including its assistance to the internal security operations where necessary.

”The year 2014 is a successful and wonderful year for us. Let us make 2015 equally successful and a preparation to the coming year 2016,” Ombao said.

The morning activity was followed by a command conference attended by the chiefs of the command group, regional police staff, provincial and city directors, the 13th RPSB and the national support units. (PNA/PIA-Caraga)

Business sector urged to participate in a survey to gauge satisfaction level on Mayor’s Permit renewal process

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 13 (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga regional office is urging the business sector in all cities and municipalities of the region to participate in the 2015 Business Permit and Licensing System (BPLS) Customer Experience Survey on the Renewal Process for Mayor’s Permit.

This is the 4th run of the annual survey conducted by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) which aims to determine the satisfaction level of business registrants and assess the performance of the LGUs in terms of the renewal process for Mayor’s Permit.

Respondents are asked to give their impressions and experiences on a number of indicators in relation to the business permitting procedure that the business registrant has undergone during this year’s renewal period.

The responses of the business sector on this survey will provide the NCC and the local government units (LGUs) concerned with the necessary information in identifying opportunities to better improve the registration process.

The survey can be accessed at the NCC link, http://www.competitive.org.ph/bpls_survey, for those with access to internet at their homes, offices or at internet cafes. No registration is required and responses are kept confidential.

For areas that do not have internet, the agency has coordinated with the LGUs concerned to make available and disseminate hard copies of the survey forms to their business registrants during their Business-One-Stop Shop (BOSS). Accomplished forms shall be collected by the personnel from DTI provincial offices.

The agency has also requested city and provincial chambers of commerce to disseminate information on this for their officers and members for them to undertake the said survey. (DTI-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)

Cebuano News: Unang MMS convergence sa kapitolyo sa Siargao gipahigayon

Ni Mary Jul E. Escalante

SIARGAO ISLAND, Surigao del Norte, Enero 13 (PIA) - Unang convergence Monday Morning Sharing sa Kapitolyo Nan Siargao sa tuig 2015 gipahigayon kagahapon, Enero 12 sa 'Kapitolyo Nan Siargao,' ning probinsya.

Sa mensahe sa gobernador, ang 'Kapitolyo Nan Siargao' magpadayon sa paghatod sa mga serbisyo ngadto sa mga katawhan sa isla ubos sa HEALS (Health, Education, Agri-Aquaculture, Livelihood and Spirituality) Plus agenda diin sa Health o  maayong panglawaas palapdan pa niini ang maayong serbisyo publiko, sa edukasyon kinahanglan masabtan sa mga ginikanan ang K to 12 nga programa ug ang Nutrition Education, sa Agriculture mao ang food security ug ang Cancohoy Integrated Demo Farm, sa livelihood mao ang paghatag og kapanginabuhian pinaagi sa pagpalambo sa turismo sa maong isla, sa social services, mao ang paghatag og philhealth cards og dapat miyembro ang tanan, ug sa spirituality nga mao ang pagkamatinud-anon sa trabaho.

Atol sa maong kalihukan gipaabot usab ni Cong. Francisco Matugas ang mga kalambuan sa isla pinaagi sa mga proyektong imprastruktura diin 11kilometros nalang ang kulang aron nga matapos na gayod ang pagsemento sa circumferential road sa maong isla diin kini aduna nay pondo nga mokabat P900 milyon karon nga tuig.

Gibutyag usab ni Cong. Matugas nga natapos na usab ang pagsemento sa karsada gikan sa Brgy. Malinao sa Gen. Luna ngadto Cloud 9 ug aduna na usab pondo kantidad ug P58 milyon alang sa Cloud 9 road ngadto Brgy. Catangnan.

Matud ni Cong. Matugas ang mga provincial roads sa Antipolo-Tuburan-Quezon-Mabini naaprobahan na ngadto sa pagka national roads ug ang Socorro ngadto Pamusaingan nahimong national road na usab ug adunay P150 milyon nga pondo alang sa pagsemento sa maong dalan ug mokabat sa P83 milyon nga pondo alang sa dalan paingon sa Socorro ngadto Sohoton.

Gihisgutan usab ni Cong. Matugas ang longterm program sa Bucas Grande Island nga mao ang Siargao Nautical Tourism Highway.

Ang maong convergence meeting gitambungan ni Governor Sol F. Matugas uban ni Cong. Francisco T. Matugas, Vice Governor Arturo Carlos Egay, Jr, sila Board Member Mamerto Galanida, Marlito Longos, Leonita Gorgolon, Cesar Bagundol, Simeon Castrence, Fernando Larong, Dapa Mayor Yullie Ruaya, Pilar Mayor Lucio Gonzalez, Gen. Luna Mayor Jaime Rusillon, mga hepe ug representante sa nagkadaiyang ahensya sa Siargao ug ang team capitol. (SDR/PIC-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)