BIR-RR16 collects P7.51B, exceeds 2011 collection

By Aimee D. Valencia

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Jan 23 -- The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Revenue Region No. 16 (RR16) collected P7.51 billion in tax revenues in 2012. It registered a P284 million surplus or 3.94 percent above the assigned collection target. The collection for 2012 is higher by P1.38 billion or 22.56 percent than the collection in 2011.

All the six Revenue District Offices under RR16 exceeded their collection targets. The revenue region covers the cities and municipalities under Northern Mindanao and Lanao del Sur.

This is a big accomplishment for BIR RR16 under the leadership of Regional Director Alberto S. Olasiman.

“It is the first time since 2008 to 2011 that BIR RR16 exceeded its collection target,” said Collection Division Chief Blandina Florante.

“Nothing is impossible if we will just think positive. Without reservation we could say, we had an excellent collection performance for 2012. We had done our part, which is to collect taxes for the government,” said Olasiman to the revenue district officers during the first Regional Staff Conference in Cagayan de Oro City last January 21.

It can be recalled that when Olasiman reported last September 2011, the region suffered a deficit of more than P200 million. For the last remaining quarter of the year, he managed to reduce the deficit by yearend to P58 million. He said the region could have done better last 2011 had it not been for tropical storm Sendong which resulted to damage to property, loss of lives, and adversely affected the economic well-being of the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

During the Conference, Olasiman recognized the efforts of each of the revenue officers and their personnel which led to the good collection performance of the region.

First to be recognized was the 2012 Presidential Lingkod Bayan Awardee - Revenue District Officer (RDO) Aminoding Macarampat. He led RDO 102 Marawi City and Lanao del Sur to achieve the highest percentage of excess over goal in the region. RDO 102 collected P388.73 million, exceeding the assigned collection goal by P26.83 million or 7.41 percent.

Olasiman also acknowledged the performance of OIC Samson Carcueva Jr. who led RDO 98 Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental to achieve its collection targets since he assumed as officer-in-charge. For 2012 RDO 98 collected a total P4.02 billion in tax revenues. The district exceeded the goal by P121.21 million. RDO 98 has the highest contribution with 53.59 percent share of the total collection of the region for the year.

Also recognized were the new billionaire RDOS, – RDO Myrna Bernardo of RDO 99 and RDO Judith Pacana of RD 101. They breached the P1 billion-mark in tax collection. RDO 99 covers the cities of Malaybalay,Valencia, and the Bukidnon Province. The collection reached P1.027 billion with P69.7 million or 7.28 percent excess over the goal. RDO 101, on the other hand, which includes Iligan City and Lanao del Norte collected P1.13 billion with a surplus of P53.7 million or 4.99 percent more than their assigned target.

Next was RDO Gledonio Teope Jr. of RDO 97, the 2012 ARTA Seal of Excellence Awardee. RDO 97 covers Gingoog City and Camiguin Province. The district collected P275.79 million with a surplus of P5.84 million or 2.17 percent over goal.

Finally, RDO Maria Alfonso of RDO 100 covers Misamis Occidental and the cities of Ozamiz, Oroquieta, and Tangub. RDO 100 collected P663 million exceeding their goal by P6.97 million or 1.06 percent. (APB/Aimee D. Valencia/BIR-RR16/PIA10)

4ID soldiers scores anew against NPA rebels

CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City, Jan 23 -- Soldiers from 8th Infantry “Dependable” Battalion, 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division encountered around 10 NPA rebels at Sitio Kasilaan, Barangay Halapitan, San Fernando, Bukidnon at around 5:20 a.m., Tuesday.

The troops were conducting combat-clearing operation when the civilian residents tipped them off about the presence of the NPA rebels who were conducting force taxation and collecting foodstuff from the poor farmers in the area.

A firefight ensued that lasted for about 40 minutes which resulted to the recovery of one US Springfield single shot Garand rifle (defaced serial number) with four rounds of live ammunition and subversive documents.

No casualty was reported on the government side while the rebels were believed to have suffered casualties based on the unconfirmed information from the locals.

Colonel James V Jacob, commander of 403rd Infantry “Peacemaker” Brigade said, “We are very thankful to the residents for their timely information that resulted to the successful encounter with the rebels and recovery of high-powered firearms and subversive documents from the NPA rebels. This is a concrete proof of the efforts of the people in the community to thwart the long existing abuses of the rebels. They are now awakened and want to end their sufferings in the hands of these rebels.”

Lieutenant Colonel Jose Maria R Cuerpo II INF (GSC) PA, commanding officer of 8th Infantry Battalion said that the Dependable troopers will continue to exert proactive actions to foil any forms of armed threat from hampering normal activities of the community.

He also said that maintenance of peace is their prime objective in carrying out their tasks to pave way for development in their area of operation.

Lieutenant Colonel Eugenio Julio C Osias IV, 4ID spokesperson said, “Let us work together to put this extortionists in jail or better, convince them to stop these criminal activities.” (8IB/4ID/PA/PIA10)

Public schools to start registration on Jan. 26 – DepEd

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Jan. 23 (PIA) -- The Department of Education with the theme “Makapag-aral ay Karapatan Mo, Magpalista Ngayong Enero (It's your right to learn, Enlist this June),” declares January 26 as the Early Registration Day for school year (SY) 2013-2014 in all public elementary and secondary schools throughout the country.

This Early Registration Day aims to achieve the Millennium Development Goals on Universalization of Primary (Basic) Education and the objectives of the Education for All (EFA) said Dir. Allan Farnazo of DepEd - Region 10.

There will also be massive campaign for the early registration of out-of-school children (OSC) and out-of-school youths (OSYs), including the children and youth with difficulties and the regular pupils and students starting January 7.

Among the reasons for this mandate are: to ensure the enrolment of kindergarten and grade 1 pupils for the next school year; for the OSC and OSY from the disadvantaged groups to get in their preferred education delivery system through alternative delivery mode (ADM) or alternative learning system (ALS); collaboration with local government units and other sectors to prepare and address potential resource needs in time for June and for the department to prepare the Three-Year Catch-Up Plan in Basic Education from SY 2012 to 2013 to SY 2014 to 2015 to accommodate the registered learners.

In addition, the department will also support schools in the region to provide interventions so that pupils and students will not drop out of school, said Farnazo.

There are qualifications and documentary requirements on registration day. Children born on October 31, 2008 or earlier will be eligible for kindergarten while children born on October 31, 2007 or earlier with or without kindergarten experience to enter Grade 1. Birth certificate is a must to enrol and submitted within the school year.

Expect to see registration centers within the school premises. Learners enrolled or registered in the Dropout Reduction Program (DORP) or in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) must present their report card to the TIC of the registration.

Covered are the SPED centers as well, according to Farnazo. Trained SPED teachers assigned to regular schools and all health personnel will assist in locating children and youth with disabilities ages five to 18 years old who have not been to school as part of the Child or Youth Find Activities and Advocacy Campaign of the department.

Division offices and schools will collaborate with barangays on family mapping and home visits to targeted enrolees as well as street visits to get the profiles of learners. (Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat/PIA10)