By Lorry V. Gabule
ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, Sept. 15 (PIA) -- Beware of fake DTI inspectors roaming around the city of Iligan!
This warning came from Ruel B. Paclipan, Provincial Director, Department of Trade and Industry, Iligan City/Lanao del Norte Office, who said that there seems to be people claiming to be employees or representatives of DTI Iligan and in the province out to inspect Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders in the households.
“We would like to inform the public that DTI has not authorized any of its employees or representatives to conduct LPG inspection in this city and in the province,” Paclipan said.
Thus, residents are encouraged to be vigilant and cautious in letting these fake inspectors gain entry into their households, he said.
As to identify official inspection or enforcement activities from any government agencies, we urge the public to ask for employee’s identification (ID) cards and “authority to inspect/enforce” or “mission order” duly signed by the head of agency and issued in 2011.
“We should always remember that the Best Consumer Protection is Self-Protection,” Paclipan concluded. (PIA-10)
LGU to train RIC on rice straw utilization for handicrafts
by Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy
MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon, Sept. 15 (PIA) –Some 25 members of the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) in the city’s rice granary or rice farming communities, will undergo skills enhancement training on the use of rice straw to produce fine handicrafts.
City Mayor Ignacio Zubiri said the training, which is set on Sept. 23, at the Farmers’ Training Center, would somehow help RIC women in their efforts to enrich their livelihood.
“In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), this project will practically help generate new strategies for rice farming households to improve the situation of women by exploring different aspects in the rice livelihood systems,” the Mayor said.
City Agriculturist Andrew Bergado, likewise, said the participants’ skills would be enhanced, as new techniques will be introduced in making placemats, bags, flower vases, gift items, and other home ornaments, among other native crafts, that they have been producing.
“This will also increase public awareness on agro-biodiversity, knowing there’s money in the piles of rice hay in the rice fields,” Bergado said. (PIA-10)
NEA now shor-listing replacement for LANECO Manager
By: Vincent N. Labial
TUBOD, Lanao del Norte, Sept. 15 (PIA) – The National Electrification Administration (NEA) is now making a shortlist of candidates who will replace Resnol Torres, former General Manager of the Lanao del Norte Electric Cooperative (LANECO), here.
This, after NEA issued last August 26, its decision on the administrative case filed against Torres resulting to his removal from the LANECO top post.
After hearing the case for eight months, NEA found Torres guilty of grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty and meted out the penalty of removal from office.
The NEA decision also banned Torres from holding any position in any electric cooperative in the Philippines and cancelled all his benefits as General Manager of LANECO.
The administrative case docketed as NEA Case No. 01-03-11 filed by the LANECO Board of Directors arose after Torres caused the issuance of three check payments totaling to Three Million Pesos representing partial payment for the “success fee” of Atty. Edgardo Era without prior approval from NEA and without authorization from the LANECO Board of Directors.
“We commend the NEA officials for acting speedily on our complaint and finally resolve this issue that has divided the cooperative. Now we can move forward on focus on uplifting LANECO and improving the lives of our member”, Board of Director President Reinario Bihag expressed.
According to the 19-page decision of NEA, using a web of concealments and misrepresentations Torres ignored standard payment procedures to release cooperative funds which was personally delivered by Torres to Atty. Era.
Furthermore, the decision also pointed out that General Manager Torres failed to disclose to the Board of Directors the actual real property assessment of the provincial government of Lanao del Norte.
The provincial LGU collected only P31-million and not the P150-million computed by the LANECO legal counsel as basis for the “success fee” at the Regional Trial Court level.
For months now, LANECO was split into two factions – one group loyal to Torres and another group who favored the stand of the LANECO Board of Directors. (PIO/PIA-10)
Haribon Brigade donates chairs for a Madrasah in Lanao del Sur
KAMPO RANAO, Marawi City, Sept. 15 (PIA) --- The 103rd Infantry (Haribon) Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army, here, has donated 45 sets of high quality armchairs for a Madrasah school in Maguing town, this province.
The armchairs were made out of the illegally cut lumber confiscated during the conduct of checkpoint operations along the main highways of the province.
The donation, which took place, last Sept. 9, at the 103rd Bde headquarters, was part of the continuous support of the unit to the local government agencies in the province.
Col. Danilo A. Lucero, Commander of the 103rd Bde, said it is one of the few programs and efforts of the Haribon Brigade and the Army, as a whole, to address the current needs of the Madrasahs and in pursuit of respect to the local culture in the province.
Meanwhile, employees of the Madrasah have expressed appreciation to the men and women of the Brigade for the armchairs.
“I am very glad and thankful that our soldiers under 103rd Infantry Brigade were kind enough to donate a number of armchairs which is really of big help to our Madrasah students,” said Ibrahim Macauday, a native of Maguing town and an employee of the Madrasah. (103rd Bde/PIA-10)
DTI’s BAGWIS Award soars high in 6th year
By Lorry V. Gabule
ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, Sept. 15 (PIA)—The renowned BAGWIS Award of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), initially named as Certified Establishment Seal (CE-Seal) has opened wider its wings in pursuit for excellence, on its 6th year.
Ruben B. Paclipan, Provincial Director, DTI Iligan City/Lanao del Norte Office, said this prestigious award continues to soar high as the commitment from business sector goes strong in establishing a fair, honest and responsible market place.
Paclipan explained, the award is given to business establishments that uphold the rights of consumers by instigating an in-house regulation to deliver high quality products at reasonable prices.
It also acknowledges those establishments with a high degree of courtesy, honesty and responsibility in business where consumers indeed get true value of money.
Likewise, the award encourages the setting-up of a sustainable Consumer Welfare Desk (CWD) or a DTI-recognized customer service counter that will provide information to consumers and serves as mechanism for speedy resolution of consumer complaints.
“The government exemplifies the stores’ adherence by elevating their status to the elite group of business institution which heeds the call of our government to practice responsible entrepreneurship and become partners towards consumer empowerment,” Paclipan said.
The BAGWIS Award comes in three categories: bronze, silver and gold which symbolizes commitment to nurture, guide, and protect both the consumers and the establishment from unfair trade practices.
Thus, DTI is inviting all business establishments, such as supermarkets, department stores, specialty stores, appliance center, hard wares, service and repair shops and Liqufied Petroleum Gas (LPG) dealers, to take the challenge towards excellence, he said.
Application forms are available for free at the DTI Office- 0171 PM Durias Bldg., Quezon Ave. Extension, this city.
For further information, interested applicants may call Engr. Elvira Redublado or John Fernan at telephone number 221-5534. (PIA-10)
CEPALCO campaigns for increase of solar photo-voltaic capacity in Mindanao
By Apipa Bagumbaran
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Sept. 15 (PIA) --- The Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company, Inc. (CEPALCO) is campaigning for solar photo voltaic (PV) technology to boost power generation in Mindanao.
With the constantly increasing demand for power in Mindanao, solar PV is the fastest technology to address the current capacity shortage in this part of the country, said Engr. Cecilio U. Sumaoy, Senior Manager, CEPALCO’s System Operations Department.
He emphasized that the solar PV will effectively complement the hydro-electric power (HEP) plants, especially during dry seasons, since major portions of the energy supply in Mindanao comes from these plants.
Sumaoy, further, said that based on their simulation, a 100 MW solar power plant will enable large HEP plants to store and reserve water for the night time peak.
“If we can store water at the hydro, we can use that water to complement the deficiency in the contingency reserve during peak time and augment the reserve of the system during night time peak,” he cited.
He also said the solar electricity production matches the daytime peak in Mindanao, so it can displace up to 365 MWh per day of electricity from oil-fired generation resulting to savings in generation costs.
At the current fuel costs of P9.35/kWh, displaced oil-fired generation translates to around Php1.0 billion a year of savings, and with the total Mindanao consumption at around 7GWH, this is equivalent to P0.14/kWh reduction in generation costs, he added.
With this, CEPALCO is calling for the immediate implementation of the Renewable Energy Law and asks Malacañang to increase the solar capacity targets, especially for Mindanao.
Out of the 760MW additional capacity for renewable energy, the Department of Energy (DOE) has endorsed or certified only 50MW for solar capacity, while wind has an allocated capacity of 200MW, ocean with 10MW, and hydro and biomass with 250MW each.
Sumaoy also stressed that solar PV is the cheaper alternative than fossil-based generation.
Based on the National Renewable Energy Board figures, adding 760MW of renewable energy plants eligible for the proposed Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) will result to a rate impact of only 10 centavos per kWh with solar PV contributing only 1.14 centavos per kWh.
The rate impact, he said, is much less than the Php0.05 centavos per kWh, additional electricity payments experienced by the people of Mindanao at the height of power shortage in 2010.
At 100MW installed solar capacity, the rate impact is only 2.28 centavos per kWh, he concluded. (PIA-10)
DOST grants college scholarships
By: Tess Superioridad-Baluyos
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Sept. 15 (PIA) - The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will once again award scholarship slots in Bachelor of Science degree programs to students with high aptitude in science and mathematics who wish to pursue a career in science, mathematics and engineering.
Director Alfonso Alamban of DOST, region 10, said the DOST undergraduate scholarship program has two categories: Program A known as Republic Act 7687, which is designed for poor but intelligent students whose family’s combined gross annual income is less than P156,000, and Program B or the Merit Scholarship for those who have higher family income.
Qualified to apply are high school graduating students or high school graduates who have not enrolled in college and who belong to the upper five (5) percent of the graduating class, a natural-born Filipino citizen, a resident of the municipality/district for the last four (4) years, of good moral character and good health and must have no pending application for resident/immigrant status in any foreign country.
Applicants are required to submit a filled-up information sheet or application form, two (2) recent identical 1x1 photo taken within the application period, one (1) of which is to be attached to the information sheet and the other, to the test permit.
They are also required to submit a photocopy of their birth certificates with the original copy of their birth certificate for authentication
Alamban said application forms can be downloaded at this site: http//dost.sei.gov.ph.
A non-refundable test fee of Php200 will be required from applicants for the Merit category. Those who are applying under the RA 7687, however, are not required to pay the test fee.
The selection of DOST scholars is through a written examination which will be held on November 20, 2011, Sunday at identified testing centers all over the country.
The final testing centers for Region X will be announced later. Deadline for filing of application is on October 21, 2011.
Successful examinees will enjoy the following benefits: tuition fees not to exceed Php6,000 per semester, allowance for prescribed textbooks and essential school fees at Php500 for first semester of the first year only.
Outright grant for prescribed military science/PE uniform, for first year students only, free transportation for one economy-class, round-trip fare between the scholar’s permanent residence and place of study on reimbursement basis, once every school year.
Group health and accident insurance, a monthly allowance of not more than Php5,000 depending on the awardee’s scholarship category, and a post-graduation allowance of Php1,000, for full scholars only.
Interested applicants can visit the DOST-X regional office located at J.V. Serina St., near JR Borja City Hospital, Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City or its website: http://region10.dost.gov.ph and can be reached at telefax # 8586790.
Inquiries can also be accommodated at the Provincial Science and Technology Centers (PSTC) in the following locations:
Bukidnon PSTC, at Central Mindanao University (CMU) Compound with landline phone # (088)3561853.
Camiguin PSTC at SSS Bldg., Gen. Bonifacio –Aranas Sts., Mambajao.
Lanao del Norte PSTC at PCIERD Model Bldg., Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) Compound, Iligan City, with landline phone # (063)3516275
Misamis Occidental PSTC at 2/F Amil Bldg., Independence cor. Calapini Sts., Oroquieta City with landline phone # (088)5311332.
Misamis Oriental Provincial Center at Mindanao University for Science and Technology (MUST) Compound, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City at landline phone # 8562930.
They can also contact Tess Superioridad Baluyos, tsuperioridad.dost@yahoo.com, (09277559972). (DOST/PIA-10)
Members of working committees for the SOMM undergo seminar on protocol
By: Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Sept. 15 (PIA) – Now you can add another moniker to your city. It will not just be the City of Golden Friendship or the City of Boom, Blossom and Bloom. But it can also be called it the “City of Protocol.”
This was how Ambassador Fortunato D. Oblena (Ret) described Cagayan de Oro City, after he labored to lecture on the different aspects of protocol during a seminar held at the VIP Hotel, this city, yesterday, Sept. 14.
The seminar was attended by members of the working committees for the Senior Officials’ and Ministerial Meeting (SOMM) of the Brunnei Darusalam- Indonesia -Malaysia and the Philippines, East ASEAN Growth AREA (BIMP-EAGA) scheduled , here, next month.
Oblena’s remarks was also in recognition of the efforts of the City Government and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) , in cooperation with the Promote CDO Foundation, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Tourism (DOT), and several others for their effort to equip the committee members with the proper and most acceptable way of receiving the visitors from our neighboring BIM countries who will be here for the meeting.
Participants of the seminar included the representatives from DTI, DOT, Philippine Army (PA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (OroChamber), Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA), among others.
Protocol, Oblena said, refers to accepted rules governing the conduct of diplomats with the foreign ministry, the officials and the public in the host country, other diplomats and international organizations.
“The rules of protocol include the niceties, courtesies and politeness in oral and written communication,” he said.
Covered by Oblena’s lecture were the overview of diplomatic protocol, order of precedence, diplomatic ceremonies, escorting procedures, protocol of the flag and the different arrangements and requirements for official and social functions.
It also included the following topics, among others: Hosting of officials visits , pre-arrival preparations, arrival and departure scenario, visit proper , invitations, speeches, toast and choosing of menu.
Conference management, cultural/artistic events, ceremonial/historical events, opening/closing ceremony, signing ceremony, unveiling ceremonies, press conferences/interviews/ presentation/ exchange of gifts, etc. (PIA-10)
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