Cagayan de Oro ready for Bayani Challenge 2013

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 22 (PIA) -- A series of activities have been set up here for the Bayani Challenge 2013 themed: “Isang Bayan, Isang Bayanihan,” that will take place from March 23 to 27.

At least 100,000 volunteers in more than 35 provinces nationwide will gather and simultaneously hold the Bayani Challenge dubbed the biggest multi-sectoral showcase of volunteerism in the country.

Jose Mari Oquiñena, undersecretary for special concerns of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and director general of the Philippine Information Agency, said it will challenge more volunteers and partners to change lives, bring hope to others and build sustainable communities not only in times of disaster and tragedy.

The Bayani Challenge is a five-day gathering of volunteers where bayanihan and love for country are showcased through building homes, repairing schools, medical missions, climate change mitigation activities and more.

In Cagayan de Oro, the Bayanihan Challenge will target to build homes at Gawad Kalinga (GK) SM-BDO and GK-Shell Village, Canitoan, where survivors of Typhoon Sendong were relocated.

Bulua Central School, Puerto National High School and KM 5 Elementary School will also be refurbished.

There will also be activities such as Pinoylympics at Bulua Central School and Paraisong Pambata at Canitoan–Elementary School and Xavier Ecoville at Lumbia.

There will also be an Operation Tuli for all the boys at the GK Berjaya Village, Upper Camaman-an.

The volunteers will also clean the shores of coastal and riverside barangays and the streets of Divisoria. (JMORS/PIA-10)

 

Pag-IBIG membership now mandatory to all

By Recthie T. Paculba

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 22 (PIA) -- Membership to the Pag-IBIG Fund (Home Development Mutual Fund) is now mandatory for all Social Security System (SSS) and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)-covered employees.

Membership also includes uniformed members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and Filipinos employed by foreign-based employers.

Republic Act (RA) 9679 states: “Spouses who devote full-time to managing the household and family affairs, unless they also engage in another vocation or employment which is subject to mandatory coverage, may be covered by the Fund on a voluntary basis adopting as a basis of contributions one-half (U2) of the monthly compensation income of the employed spouse.”

Ferdinand Saniel, department manager, Pag-IBIG Fund Cagayan de Oro Branch, said RA 9679 aims to have more Filipino workers enjoy the benefits reserved only for Pag-IBIG fund members.

The benefits include dividend earnings at rates that are higher than bank rates, savings that are government-guaranteed and tax-free to both short and long term loans. Housing loan packages also have the lowest interest rates (7.9 percent for regular loan and 4.5 percent for low-income earners) and easy payment terms (maximum of 30 years term).

Saniel said the P100 monthly contribution for each employee will already give them access to the benefits from Pag-IBIG Fund.

“We would like to solicit the agency or office’s support to provide us the opportunity to inform their colleagues and employees of our products and services,” Saniel said.

For housing programs and packages, Pag-IBIG Fund will provide the pre-qualification of the employee’s eligibility to avail of a loan with Pag-IBIG including the loan amount they can avail themselves of, home matching to facilitate employee’s choice of housing units and on hand and immediate answers to queries with partner developers.

For details of this undertaking, agencies and offices can get in touch with Alymore A. Camacho, Stephannie Ingrid V. Sepulveda or Jackeylou M. Asuncion, Housing Relations Officers at (088) 856-2131 or at email address: ro_cagayandeoro@pagibigfund.gov.ph. (RTP/EOR-PIA10)

BFP calls for cooperation of public schools in fire safety standards

By Jorie C. Valcorza

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 22 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is calling on school heads to comply with the fire safety code.

This is after BFP inspected a number of public and private schools in the region and ordered the imposition of fines to 10 out of 29 high school facilities initially covered.

BFP 10 Assistant Regional Director for Operations Alan N. Aladano said the most common reason for non-compliance is lack of funds, especially among public schools.

He urged school heads to lobby for support from its local school board to address deficiencies noted by the BFP.

“The safety of our students is among our utmost concern,” Aladano said.

He added that the most common violations in the fire safety code includes failure to observe practices that would undermine the fire safety features and electrical system; failure to undergo fire safety seminars, lectures and exit drills; defective alarm system; insufficient firefighting appliance; locked exit doors; obstruction of exit ways and the absence of secondary fire exit in most multi-storey buildings. (JCV-PIA10)

8th Bayani Challenge targets 100,000 volunteers 

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

  

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, Mar. 22 (PIA) -- At least 100,000 of volunteers are expected to join the Bayani (Heroes) Challenge from March 23-27.

Now on its eighth year, the event which started in 2006, invites volunteers, mostly the youth, to take part in rebuilding schools and homes devastated by typhoons and other calamities/disasters resulting in the displacement of not only individuals but their families, as well.

Harvey Maraguinot, Bayani Challenge coordinator for Northern Mindanao, said last year, around 10,400 joined the event, but more participants are expected now since it will simultaneously be held in 37 sites nationwide, of which 16 are in Mindanao, 10 in the Visayas, and 11 in Luzon.

The sites in Mindanao are Barangay Miatan, Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte, Barangay Tigbanuang, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay and Barangay Tulungatung, Zamboanga City, Region 9.

Barangay Canitoan, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Barangay Kisolon, Sumilao, Bukidnon and Purok V, Barangay Poblacion, Sapad, Lanao del Norte, Region 10.

Barangay Osmeňa, Compostela and Barangay Poblacion, Monkayo, both of Compostela Valley, Barangay Loay, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur and Barangay Poblacion, Cateel, Davao Oriental, Region 11.

Promised Land GK Village, General Santos City and Barangay Kalkam, Tupi, both of South Cotabato and Barangay Sagasa, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat, Region 12.

Barangay Lobogon, Del Carmen, Siargao, Surigao del Norte and Sito Anilaw, Barangay Sampaguita, Veruela, Agusan del Sur, Region 13, as well as K19 Barangay Pacumalin, Lantawan, Basilan, Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The Bayani Challenge sites in the Visayas include the following: Barangay Cabugao Sur, New Lucena, Iloilo, Barangay Daga, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental and Barangay Aningalan, San Remigio, Antique, Region 6.

Purok VI, Barangay Mabinay, Negros Oriental, Barangay San Miguel, San Remigio, Cebu, and Barangay Magsaysay, Talibon and Barangay Bantolinao, Antequera, both of Bohol, Region 7, and Barangay Dinagan, Calbayog City, Samar, Barangay Sto. Niňo, Bato, Leyte and Barangay Combado, Maasin City, Southern Leyte, Region 8.

In Luzon, the Bayani Challenge Sites are: Barangay Maestranza, Intramuros, Baseco, Metro Manila, National Capital Region (NCR), and Barangay Bayani Ubbog, Candon City, Ilocos Sur, and Barangay Lucap, Alaminos City, Pangasinan, Region 1.

Barangay Biga, Sto. Tomas, Isabela, Barangay Sto. Domingo, Bambang, Nueva Vicaya and Sitio St. Joseph, Barangay San Fernando Sur, Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, Region 2.

Barangay Hugo Perez, Trece Martires City, Cavite and Barangay Pulong, Sta. Cruz, Santa Rosa, Laguna, Region 4A and Barangay Mayabig, Baco and Barangay Villafor, Puerto Galera, both of Mindoro Oriental, Region 4-B and Barangay Laniton, San Lorenzo, Daet, Camarines Norte, Region V. (RCA-PIA10, Misamis Occidental)