Gov't agencies to boost digital employment in Siargao,
Bucas Grande islands
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, July 14 (PIA) –
The Rural Impact Sourcing (RIS) Coordination Meeting which was recently held at
the D’Islander Ville Pension Hauz, Dapa, Siargao Island, this province paved
way to addressing concerns and finding solutions to implement information and
communications technology (ICT) industry development programs.
The RIS Team is composed of the three national line
agencies such as Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of
Information and Communication Technology (DICT), and Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD).
During the said meeting, DTI provincial director
Celestino L. Negapatan discussed on the net-out-migration at an average age of
23 years old in the island and how ICT-enabled industry services can be a
development tool for the island countryside advancement.
On his part, Del Carmen mayor and Siargao Unified
Resources for Information Technology (Surf IT) President Alfredo M. Coro II
shared how their local manpower is preparing the infrastructure in bringing
digital jobs to the local manpower pool.
DICT Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands
officer-in-charge Engr. Ricardo T. Bacolod talked about the agency’s programs to
address inclusive growth.
Meanwhile, DSWD-Sustainable Livelihood Program
(SLP) provincial coordinator Ian G. Auditor mentioned how their office is
streamlining and integrating programs for RIS especially in the municipalities
of Tubod, Mainit, Del Carmen and Socorro.
In turn, RIS Philippines has pledged its commitment
in providing capacity building, client provision and technopreneurship
mentoring for sustainability and this will compliment its existing tourism
development programs to capacitate more the human capital in the island for
inclusive growth. (DTI-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Dinagat Islands guv leads groundbreaking of Women's
center
SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands, July 14 – Dinagat Islands governor Glenda B. Ecleo
led the groundbreaking of the Women and Children Crisis and Development (WCCD)
Center on July 4, 2017 held at Purok -1 Barangay Cuarinta here.
WCCD center is a residential care facility that
will cater women especially in difficult circumstances (WEDC) or those women or
wives that are maltreated or abused and children in need of special protection
like abused neglected, abandoned, street children and foundlings.
The WCCDC Center is worth P4 million that comprises
a land area of 600 square meters and has a work duration of 187 calendar days,
which is funded by the provincial government from the Performance Challenge
Fund as incentive for winning the 2016 Seal of Good Local Governance,
In her message, governor Ecleo is grateful and
expressed her gratitude to all the Dinagatnons for all the support extended to
her administration. (PIO-Dinagat Islands/PIA-Dinagat Islands)
Woman sentenced to jail due to unauthorized
withdrawal of death pension
BUTUAN CITY, July 14 - The Social Security System
(SSS) won a case against a woman who misrepresented herself to claim the
monthly pension benefit of her mother.
The Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch
100 convicted Angelina Vergara for misrepresenting herself as her deceased
mother, Corazon Vergara, to continue to receive the latter's death pension as a
survivorship pensioner of the SSS.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel
F. Dooc said that Vergara was sentenced to a minimum jail term of six years and
one day, to a maximum of eight years for the violation of Section 28 of the
Republic Act 8282 or Social Security Law.
“Even after her mother’s death on April 6, 1993,
Vergara continuously received her mother’s pension through illegal withdrawals,
amounting to overpayments of P180,732.71,” Dooc said.
Based on the decision from the RTC, the
unauthorized withdrawals were discovered when Alfredo Vergara, the brother of
the accused, received a letter for his mother from her depository bank. He
immediately notified the bank of his mother's death, and was advised to report
and present her death certificate to SSS.
Likewise, Elma Vergara, the sister of the accused
issued a testimony in support to the investigation stating that Angelina did
withdraw their mothers’ monthly pension.
During the hearing of the case, the accused pleaded
guilty and paid an initial amount of P57,000 to settle her civil liability.
According to SSS Corporate Litigation Department
Head and handling lawyer Atty. Henry C. Pablo, Vergara’s admission became a strong
primary evidence which led to her conviction.
“The fact that the accused has obtained the cash
benefits she is not entitled to made it clear that Vergara has the intention to
defraud SSS,” Pablo said.
Aside from six to eight years of imprisonment, Vergara
was also ordered to pay P123,732.71 worth of actual damages to SSS, subject to
the payment of legal interest of six percent per annum.
“I hope that this case will serve as a constant
reminder for everyone that it is a grave offense to claim SSS benefits that is
not rightfully yours. SSS will not allow this unscrupulous act. Rest assured
that the full strength of the law will be used to punish offenders,” Dooc
concluded. (SSS/PIA-Caraga)
