TRENDS (04 February 2010)

Ban on promotions of government workers to start March 26

CAGAYAN de Oro City (02/04/10) – Effective March 26 until May 10, 2010, promotion or increase of salary and giving of remuneration or privilege to any government official or employee, shall be strictly prohibited.

This prohibition includes all those in government agencies or instrumentalities and government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCC), Atty. Renato A. Magbutay, Regional Elections Director of region 10, said.

As provided in Resolution No. 8737, promulgated last Dec. 23, “promotion” shall mean the advancement of an employee, from one position to another, with an increase in duties and responsibilities as authorized by law, and usually accompanied by increase in salary.

In the context of the same resolution, promotion may be from one department or agency to another or from one organizational unit to another within the same department, Magbutay also said.

Thus, the Civil Service Commission (CSC), including all its field offices is enjoined not to approve the appointment of new employees where no prior written approval of the Commission of Elections (Comelec) or its regional offices is presented.

In like manner, the Dept. of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Commission on Audit (COA), including all its field offices, shall not release or authorize the release of any appropriation, or pass in audit, payments and expenditures of public funds that may be directly used in violation of the foregoing prohibitions.

Magbutay said any violation of the provisions of Comelec Resolution 8737 shall constitute an election offense and shall be punishable by imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more than six (6) years, among other penalties provided by law. (Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob, Philippine Information Agency, Region 10)


LTO-X hikes revenue collection by 17.46%

CAGAYAN de Oro City (02/04/10) – A total revenue of Php359.17 million was collected by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), region 10, last year, higher by17.46 percent (%) over that of Php305.79 million in 2008.

Regional Director Porcawa B. Dia of LTO-X said their office has handled a total of 234,007 registration cases in 2009 or 8.54 percent (%) higher compared to 215,588 cases in the previous year.

He also said a total of 179,551 motor vehicles (MV) were registered in the region, in 2009, up by 6.75 percent (%) compared to 168,197 MV’s in 2008.

Registration of “new” privately-owned MV’s also increased by 4.67 percent (%), from 29,168 to 30,531 MV’s while renewals also increased by 7.91 percent (%), from 116,911 to 126,153 MV’s.

Likewise, the LTO-X data show that registration of new “For Hire” MV’s increased by 2.89 percent (%), from 485 to 499 MV’s while renewals of the same type of MV’s posted an increase of 4.82 percent (%), from 18,094 to 18,967 MV’s.

However, registration of new government-owned MV’s showed a decline or a negative 16.81 percent (%), from 232 to 193 MV’s and renewals, a negative 3.03 percent (%), from 3,301 o 3,201 MV’s.

Again, LTO-X has renewed the registration of three (3) diplomatic MV’s and four (4) tax exempt MV’s last year.

Meanwhile, Edith Roa, Regional Information Officer of LTO-X, said their office has handled a total of 17,761 cases of apprehension or a decrease of 6.69 percent (%) compared to 19,034 cases in 2008.

“This only means that Northern Mindanao residents have continued to be more law-abiding in terms of traffic safety rules and regulations,” Roa said. (Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob, Philippine Information Agency 10)


COMCENTER responds 4,140 calls

THE Cagayan de Oro Emergency Assistance and Communication Center (COMCENTER) has responded last year a total of 4,140 emergency and other public assistance calls.

In his annual accomplishment report to City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula, COMCENTER manager Ric Pabayo said that 18 cases on murder / homicide / dead body; six (6) on rape / attempted / molested; 20 on shooting incidents; 1,065 on traffic; 130 on robbery / theft / snatching / vices; 27 on stabbing / hacking; 18 on drug; 73 on fire alarm; 19 on physical injury; 37 on rescue; one (1) on vandalism; 132 on carnapping; nine (9) on kidnapping / missing; 15 on domestic; one (1) on bombing incident / threat / recovery and 36 on public utility trouble were acted upon.

Some 506 calls related to nuisance public disturbance / intoxication, 844 bank / pawnshop alarm and 1,183 other calls for assistance were also recorded during the period, Pabayo added.

The COMCENTER is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to accept calls from the public who need assistance. It can be reached through landline number 166 and 14500 mhz for VHF radio. (City Information Office)


BAC assists 1,992 clients

A total of 1,994 poor residents of Cagayan de Oro city availed last year of various services extended by the Barangay Assistance Center, according to Allan Fernandez, BAC operations head.

In his annual accomplishment report to City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula, Fernandez said his office has responded to 522 requests for coffin assistance, 565 on transportation assistance during burial, 47 on embalming assistance and 557 on other vehicle assistance.

He also added that the BAC also acted on 271 sand and gravel delivery requests from barangays. The Barangay Assistance Center is a round the clock action center of the city government tasked to respond to emergency needs of the local constituents, especially those living in far-flung barangays. (City Information Office)


CVO earns P465T in slaughter fees

THE City Veterinary Office (CVO) in Cagayan de Oro earned P465,029.50 in slaughter fees for the last two months.

Dr. Perla Asis, CVO officer–in-charge, reported that 2,048 cattle, 101 carabao, 15,681 hogs, 446 goat, 225 horse and 72 ostrich or a total of 18, 573 animals were slaughtered during the period.

Of the total number of animals slaughtered, the CVO condemned two carcasses of hogs due to boar and another seven for being dead on arrival, aside from 2, 273.90 kilograms of animal organs. (City Information Office)


Oro library serves 1,694 clients

A total of 1,694 clients were served by the City Public Library in January, this year.

City Public Librarian Lorna CH. Regalado said that the clients availed 992 research materials, 922 books, 722 serials and 13 non-book materials.

The Public library has a total collection of 15, 937 research materials.

The City Public Library also registered a total of 42 internet users during the period.

Meanwhile, Regalado is inviting all Cagayanons to be a member of the library and have unlimited access to the city public library’s resources. To date, the library has 43 active borrowers. (Cagayan de Oro City Information Office)


PDEA chief warns public of fake anti-drug group

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), particularly in region 10, would like to warn the public on the existence of unscrupulous personalities and groups who posed as members of anti-drug groups.

Director Gilberto B. Abanto, Jr. of PDEA in region 10 said that there are groups or individuals who pretend as members of anti-drug groups asking protection money.

He added that there are also proliferations of identification (ID) cards with the name of the agency in the possession of these individuals who solicit funds from unsuspecting members of the community.

Abanto clarified that PDEA in the region never issued any ID cards or documents to any individual or civilians. If there are people using the name of PDEA, they are directly violating DDB Board Resolution No. 34, Series of 2006, which stipulates guidelines governing the accreditation of various organizations involved in drug abuse prevention programs, because they are not duly accredited by the DDB.

Moreover, Section VI, sub-paragraph (4) of the Resolution states that “Accreditation is not an authorization to solicit funds.”

Thus, Abanto encourages the public to report or coordinate directly with PDEA 10, through the following hotline numbers: 09088924770; 09228949115 and (088) 8572279 for any clarification and verification regarding this matter. (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Press Release)