TRENDS (01 February 2010)

GSIS members get to hand free college scholarship to lucky youths

MEMBERS of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) once again get to help fulfill the scholastic dreams of a number of lucky youths through the 2010 GSIS Scholarship Program, wherein winning members get to select any incoming college freshman or current college student of their choice to be the beneficiary of the scholarship.

All GSIS active members with updated premium payments can join the program. To join, members just need to fill up an application form available in all GSIS offices nationwide and also downloadable from the GSIS website at www.gsis.gov.ph.

Duly accomplished forms must then be submitted to any GSIS office for processing.

Winning members will be drawn through an electronic raffle. Two-hundred slots are available this year.

Under the program, scholars enjoy tuition and miscellaneous fees of P20,000 per semester and a monthly stipend of P2,000.

“The GSIS scholarship program is one of our premier Corporate Social Responsibility programs. With it, we can help a lot of our youths achieve their goals and live their dreams by providing them free tertiary education,” said GSIS President and General Manager Winston F. Garcia.

GSIS scholars may enroll in any school or degree of their choice. Records show that since the program’s inception, majority of the grantees have pursued engineering, accountancy, and nursing courses.

The application period is currently ongoing and will last up to April 23, 2010. The electronic raffle draw is on May 19, 2010.


PhilHealth 10 lauds Creation of MisOr PHIO

THE PhilHealth Regional Office (PhRO X) in Cagayan de Oro lauded Governor Oscar S. Moreno, Vice-Governor Noris C. Babiera, and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for the creation of the first and only provincial department in the country primarily tasked to implement the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP).

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Misamis Oriental, under the stewardship of Vice-Governor Babiera, passed Ordinance 1161-2009 on November 16, 2009, creating the Provincial Health Insurance Office (PHIO).

Hence, Gov. Moreno signed the ordinance into law on January 20, 2010.

The newly created PHIO seeks to provide the people of Misamis Oriental with the mechanism to gain financial access to quality health care services via enrolment in PhilHealth.

Misamis Oriental has enrolled 170,000 indigent families into PhilHealth’s sponsored program or roughly 850,000 beneficiaries. This is the second biggest provincial enrolment of indigent members in the country and gives 90% of the provincial population access to PhilHealth benefits.

PhRO X Regional Vice President Datu Masiding M. Alonto, Jr., noted Governor Moreno’s political will in putting high priority to social security and ensuring insurance coverage to the least privileged and most susceptible sector.

He also cited the upgrading to secondary level of the PhilHealth accreditation of the four (4) of MisOr’s seven (7) provincial hospitals in the last three (3) years. These are the Provincial Hospitals at Manticao, Initao, Talisayan, and Balingasag. This would entitle PhilHealth patients to more benefits at the hospitals and generate more hospital income.

He added that with the ongoing construction of a new provincial hospital at Alubijid, Misamis Oriental, would now really enhance its health care delivery system.

RVP Alonto assured that PhilHealth will continue to support the programs of Governor Moreno and strengthen its partnership in health with Misamis Oriental for the benefit of the people. (Merlyn H. Ybañez, PhRO X)


PNP 10 celebrates 19th founding anniversary

Cagayan de Oro (1 February) - The Philippine National Police (PNP) is under an impetus to evolve with the ebb and flow of history, especially now when the changing needs of our country have demanded more from our men and women in uniform.

Thus said Police Chief Superintendent Danilo T. Empedrad, regional director of the PNP, region 10, as he delivered his opening remarks during PNP’s 19th anniversary, held at Camp Alagar, this city, February 1.

Empedrad stressed that the police today are not just "wilders of the sword and shield' but above all, they are moral compasses and partners in societal development of the community. He pointed out that the police must not only possess tangible skills but more importantly, they should have the right mindset and heart to do what is right, honest, and just.

Quoting Jose P. Rizal's words "Tal pueblo, Tal gobierno" (the government reflects the people governed), Empedrad admonished with his revised version "Tal policia, Tal pueblo" (the police reflects the kind of people in our country), focusing on the important role of the police as role models of the people.

He added that as the PNP moves forward into the future, more emphasis will be focused on acquiring modern equipment, upgrading of individual skills and capabilities, and learning of new doctrines and tactics. All these should be done to improve the delivery of service towards a modern police force.

Empedrad ended by calling on all men and women in uniform to reflect on the real essence of being a member of the force. He hopes that all the men and women of Police Regional office 10 will continue to live up to what the badge and uniform ask of them, in terms of moral conduct and ethical behavior. He also reminds everyone that the fight against lawless elements will be difficult if there is no help and participation of the community. (Henry D. Daquipel, PIA 10)


COMELEC calls on public cooperation to ensure success in May 2010 election

CAGAYAN de Oro (1 February)—"The cooperation of the public sector is paramount to the success of this automated election," said Atty. Renato A. Magbutay, regional director of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), region 10, as he keynotes the 19th founding anniversary of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at Police Regional Office 10, Camp Alagar, February 1, this city.

Magbutay said that now is the most opportune time for PNP and most especially the voting populace whom he called as stakeholders, to unite their efforts as the country ushers in a new era of automated elections.

As the May 2010 election is fast approaching, Magbutay encourages and challenges all the men and women of PNP in the region to perform their duties until completion.

He said that the entire Filipino community looks up to PNP forces in order to implement security measures for a successful, orderly and peaceful election.

He also reminds the PNP forces to be non-partisan during the election and remain humble servants of the people. He added that the will of the people rests on the ballots. Thus, it is of utmost importance to safeguard the sanctity of those ballots as a way of lifting the nation's spirit.

Magbutay assured the public that in spite of the recent failures of the Precinct Count Optical Scanner (PCOS) machines in Cotabato, Taguig, and Pateros, all remedies and solutions are being studied with the help of SMARTMATIC and other telecommunication companies to make sure that the automated election will run smoothly.

Lastly, he calls on all the members of PNP and the voting populace to give this new system a chance in order to prove to those who are skeptical that the Filipinos are capable of change for the betterment of this country. (Henry D. Daquipel, PIA 10)