DepEd employees to receive refund from GSIS

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 2 (PIA) -- Employees of the Department of Education (DepEd) will receive refund of premiums from the Government Service and Insurance System (GSIS) starting February.

Ma. Cecilia Vega, GSIS Cagayan de Oro Branch Manager, said they will refund premiums in arrears previously deducted from the life insurance benefits of more than 73,000 DepEd employees including 28,279 active members, 35,759 pensioners and 9,329 separated members.

DepEd employees covered by the February refund are those whose Cash Surrender Value (amount paid to the policyholder upon separation from the service) or Maturity Benefit (benefit payable upon maturity of the endowment policy) were processed between 1997 to 2010.

The refund will be released through the eCard or UMID card but those without eCard or UMID card will receive the refund through checks.

According to the GSIS, the initial refund of P363 million was made possible by the payment of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) of a 50 percent down payment of DepEd’s P6.92 billion in unpaid compulsory premium contributions representing the government share of nearly 800,000 teaching and non-teaching employees of the DepEd from July 1, 1997 to December 31, 2010.

The GSIS, DBM and DepEd signed an agreement September of last year to address the recurring concern on the non-remittance of premium contributions affecting the right of DepEd workers to avail themselves of their full GSIS benefits while in service and upon their retirement.

DepEd employees in active service will enjoy a proportionate increase in loanable amounts and potentially increased retirement and life insurance benefits after the complete settlement of unpaid premiums.

GSIS will also recalculate the benefits received by those who have already retired and will refund deducted amount representing premium in arrears that have already been paid by the DBM. Their pensions will likewise be adjusted. (GSIS/APB/PIA10)

CSC-10 enjoins civil servants to support Million Volunteer Run

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 3 (PIA) --- The Civil Service Commission -Region 10 (CSC - 10) is encouraging all government officials and employees to support and participate in the Million Volunteer Run (MVR) this coming February 10.

The MVR is nationwide simultaneous run event spearheaded by the Philippine Red Cross that will be participated by 100 Red Cross Chapters and Sub-chapters across the country.

Now on its second year, the MVR aims to advance the spirit of volunteerism to address today’s humanitarian challenges and heighten public awareness to reduce disaster risks and vulnerabilities of communities.

The funds that will be raised during the event will be used in the humanitarian activities of Red Cross including training for youth and volunteers on disaster risk reduction and management.

Considering that its objectives will redound to the benefit of the less privileged in our society, the CSC is thus enjoining all civil servants to support the said activity, said CSC-10 Regional Director Lourdes Clavite-Vidal. (APB-PIA 10)

Written authority from Comelec needed to transfer gov't workers

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 2 (PIA) -- There will be no transfer of government employees during the election period - January 13 to June 12, 2013 - except when there's authority from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

This is stipulated in Comelec Resolution No. 9581 that, “No public officials shall make or cause any transfer or detail whatsoever of any officer or employee in the civil service, including public school teachers during the election period,” except upon prior written authority of the Comelec.

The term "transfer" means any personnel movement from one government agency to another or from one department, division, geographical unit or subdivision of a government agency to another with or without the issuance of an appointment.

In like manner, no person can suspend any elective provincial, city, municipal or barangay officer, unless the suspension will be for purposes of applying the "Anti- Graft and Corrupt Practices Act."

Again, starting March 29 until May 13, 2013, except upon prior authority of the Comelec, no head or appointing officer of any national or local government office, agency or instrumentality, including government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCC) can do the following:

Appoint or hire any new employee, whether permanent, provisional, temporary, substitute or casual or create and fill any new position.

Resolution 9581 also stipulates that no government official shall promote or give any increases of salary or remuneration or privilege to any government official or employee, including those in the GOCCs, during the election period. (RCA-PIA 10, Misamis Occidental)

Camiguin spends P10M on scholarship programs

By Jorie C. Valcorza

MAMBAJAO, Camiguin, Feb 2 (PIA) -- The P10-million financial assistance from government is benefiting 1,939 provincial youth scholars and 175 Commission on Higher Education (CHED) scholars.

The fund was sourced from Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of the province’s lone district representative Pedro P. Romualdo.

Through this, grantees are freed from school fees and were also enjoying quarterly cash allowances.

Through its partner, the Camiguin Polytechnic State College (CPSC), students are honed in their chosen fields like engineering and technology, agriculture, arts, sciences, education, eco-tourism and nursing, including technical vocational education and training (TVET).

Governor Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo, likewise, acknowledged the assistance of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) for implementing P1.1-million worth of training under its work scholarship program.

The fund extended assistance to CPSC and to the Camiguin School of Arts and Trades (CSAT), that helped 174 students.

Tesda’s private education student financial assistance (Pespa) also helped 52 needy student scholars.

All in all, Tesda’s TVET training has reached about 4,462 graduate beneficiaries in the province, last year. (JCV/PIA)

DepEd-ARMM embarks on a new program

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Feb. 2 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Madrasah Education (BME) under the Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM) launched a new program on spiritual development and moral transformation.

The program dubbed Da’wah and Transformation was developed to support the moral recovery thrust of the current ARMM leadership as a critical aspect of sustaining the reforms.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said this latest program will provide leadership in spiritual development and moral transformation of the ARMM bureaucracy as well as translate the precepts of peace building among Muslims in the region.

DepEd-ARMM Regional Secretary Atty. Jamar Kulayan said that among the more than 400 Arabic teachers employed by DepEd-ARMM are prominent Ulama who can be tapped to lead in spiritual development and moral transformation.

Under the program, BME is considering Spiritual Development and Renewal through Ihtikaf (Group Retreat), Ikram (Service), Ijtima’ (Annual Congregation); media-based advocacy (radio Da’wah); and Islamic values integration across the K to 12 curriculum with Arabic teachers serving as mentors to subject teachers, said Madrasah Education Undersecretary Prof. Alzad Sattar. (DepEd-ARMM/APB/PIA10)

Troopers, NPA clash anew in Bukidnon

MARAMAG, Bukidnon, Feb. 2 -- Another fierce encounter between troops of 8th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army headed by Lieutenant Colonel Jose Maria Cuerpo II INF (GSC) PA and NPA transpired at a remote village in Pantaron Range, Sitio Abakahon, Barangay Nacabuklad, San Fernando, Bukidnon, today at 7:30 a.m.

In flash report, members of Bravo Company of 8th Infantry Battalion led by Second Lieutenant Cirian B Rosero, while conducting combat clearing operation in the vicinity of Pantaron Range, sitio Abakahon, Barangay Nacabuklad, San Fernando, Bukidnon encountered around 20 NPA’s armed men believed to be members of Sandatahang Platon Pampropaganda 3, Front Committee 6, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee under Reynante Tumbalang also known as Kumander Jigger.

The firefight that lasted for about 20 minutes resulted to the recovery of personal belongings, assorted medical supplies and subversive documents. After the encounter, the NPA withdrew as government troops continued hot pursuit.

The encounters were made possible due to the strong support of the residents who gave information about the encampment and presence of the rebels who were collecting taxes and foodstuff from the farmers in the area.

LtCol Cuerpo, 8IB’s commanding officer, said the NPA rebels have no place in the peace-loving province of Bukidnon and troopers will continue to bring criminal activities such as extortion, collecting foodstuff, threats and abuses to the community to a halt. The only thing for them is to come down from the mountains, bring their firearms and surrender so that we can attain the sustainable peace and development in the Province. (8IB/403Bde/4ID/PIA10)

288 Davaoeños receive medical care from IPHO-Lanao

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Feb. 2 (PIA) -- More than 200 residents in Boston, Davao Oriental have received medical attention and care from the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) here.

IPHO Chief Dr. Alinader Minalang said around 137 residents in Barangay Poblacion and 151 in Barangay Nicolas were provided with free medical services during the IPHO solidarity medical mission in the said municipality last January 29 and 30.

These services include free consultations, tetanus toxoid injections, free medicines and wound dressing, among others.

He said the two-day medical mission was conducted in cooperation with the Department of Health in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOH-ARMM).

According to him, the activity was the second solidarity medical mission conducted by the IPHO-Lanao to respond to the healthcare needs of typhoon-affected communities in Davao Oriental. (APB/PIA-10)