TRENDS (31 May 2010)

No collection of any type be undertaken during enrolment period - DepEd

Iligan City – No fees shall be collected from school children enrolling in pre-school up to Grade 4 during the enrolment period and at any time during the school year.

Schools Division Superintendent Cherry Mae L. Limbaco of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Iligan City said they encourage parents to enroll their children in public schools as we strictly observe policies provided for in DepEd Order No. 65, series of 2010, pursuant to the Constitutional mandate on the provision of free public education at the elementary and secondary levels, an urgent need to remove financial and non-financial obstacles to the smooth enrolment process and continued schooling of school children.

Limbaco added contribution maybe collected from Grade 5 to High School starting the second month of every school year but on a voluntary basis on the following: P50.00 per learner for BSP/GSP (Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts of the Philippines) membership; P5.00 for Anti-Tuberculosis (TB) fund; and P60.00 and 90.00 for school publication for elementary and secondary students, respectively.

Collection of Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) fee shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Likewise, fees for membership in Student Organization shall be based on existing school policies, said Limbaco.

Meanwhile, the wearing of school uniform shall not be required in public schools. Students with existing uniforms may continue using these uniforms, if they so desire, in order to avoid incurring additional costs for new attire.

Also, identification cards (ID) shall be provided to students at no cost on their part. The school administration shall fund these from its Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE).

Classes will definitely start on June 15, 2010, the first day of school for Calendar Year (CY) 2010-2011, disclosed Limbaco. (Lorry V. Gabule / PIA LDN)


Lawyers, police trainees to serve on special polls in Lanao del Sur

Islamic City of Marawi (31 May)—The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will deploy its lawyers and tap police trainees to serve in the special elections in Lanao del Sur on June 3.

In its recently-promulgated resolution, the COMELEC ordered the replacement of Elections Officers (EOs) in the seven municipalities of the province where there were failure of elections.

Resolution 8965 provides that Special Action Officers (SAO) consisting of selected officers, preferably lawyers of the commission, shall be assigned as EOs and Chairmen of the Board of Canvassers.

The SAO shall be responsible for the safekeeping and distribution of the ballots and other election paraphernalia which must be done a day before or early morning of Thursday, June 3 in a place designated by it in coordination with the Municipal Joint Security Control Centers, the resolution stated.

It shall also ensure that all sealed and tested precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines are delivered in the polling centers not later than Wednesday, June 2 and turned over to the concerned special board of election inspectors (SBEIs), the resolution further stated.

At the same time, the COMELEC has also deputized Philippine National Police trainees from Regions 10, 11 and 12 to be on stand-by in case there would be shortage of teachers who will serve as members of the SBEIs.

These trainees shall undergo training on the operation of the PCOS machines and the procedures for voting and counting.

The training shall be conducted on site, where they are currently being trained not later than May 31, the COMELEC said.

In a related development, troops from the 601st Infantry Brigade based in Iligan City were deployed to the province to ensure the orderly and peaceful conduct of the special elections.

Colonel Leo Cresente Ferrer, chief of the 601st Infantry Brigade, said the deployment was made to augment the forces of the 103rd Infantry Brigade in securing the coming special elections in the province. (Apipa P. Bagumbaran / PIA-Marawi City)


Special elections in Lanao Sur reset to June 3

Islamic City of Marawi—The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) issued a resolution moving the conduct of special elections in Lanao del Sur from May 29 to June 3.

The provincial board of canvassers chaired by acting Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Josllyn P. Demesa issued a memorandum seeking to reschedule the special elections because eight (8) municipalities were added to the initial seven municipalities that declared a total failure of elections.

The special elections in the seven towns involving more than seventy thousand (70,000) voters were initially set on May 29.

These towns are Lumba Bayabao and Masiu in the first district, Sultan Domalondong, Tubaran, Lumbaca Unayan, Marogong and Bayang in the second district.

Resolution 8946 stated that the postponement was made in view of the possible declaration of failure of elections in some precincts in eight other municipalities in the province.

The precincts are found in Buadiposo, Buntong, Kapai, Marantao, Calanogas, Ganassi, Lumbatan, Pagawayan and Tugaya, involving a total of some 12,000 voters.

The results of elections in the said municipalities will affect not only in the provincial level but also in the municipal level.

Other reasons cited in the memorandum include reported missing ballots in certain barangays in Tugaya and Lumbatan, unwilling and disqualified Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs), Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines were already pulled out by Smartmatic, the need for newly-constituted BEIs to undergo training and certification, and the need to review the manning of COMELEC personnel at the municipal level.

The said postponement will also give time for the preparations on the logistics, manpower and security requirements on the conduct of special elections. (Apipa P. Bagumbaran / PIA-Marawi City)


Candidates for Ms. Lanao del Norte 2010 screened

Tubod, Lanao del Norte – The 17 candidates representing different municipalities of the province were screened by the pageant’s organizing committee at the provincial capitol building here on May 31.

“By joining this pageant, I hope to give honor to my municipality and at the same time expose myself to this unique challenge,” said 17-year-old Cristine Baclayon of Linamon.

Members of the screening committee included Joselito Quibranza (Provincial Administrator), Atty. Jonathan Puno (Provincial Legal Officer) and Minda Regis (Provincial Tourism Officer).

“We are happy with this year’s batch of candidates. They embody the true essence of the empowered young Filipina of today,” Regis announced.

Due to the recent election, 2 towns have expressed their non-participation in the beauty tilt because of organizational changes being implemented by the local chief executives - these are the towns of Lala and Poona Piagapo.

“We need to screen these candidates to ensure that they really are from Lanao del Norte and that they can handle the pressures of this pageant,” Quibranza explained.

The highly anticipated beauty pageant will highlight the Tourism day on July 2 as part of this year’s week-long celebration of the Araw ng Lanao del Norte come July 4.

Among the activities identified for Tourism day are the Showdown of Festivals, Sagayan Festival, Photo and Painting Contests and the Coronation Night of Ms. Lanao del Norte 2010.

Organizers of the pageant have included actor Derek Ramsay and popular TV host Ryan Agoncillo in its short-list of possible pageant host.

During the Environment day celebration on June 29, the candidates will be formally presented to members of the media in the scheduled press conference at Mighty Cave Park, Tagoloan, this province. (VNL/PIO-LDN)