2013 PEPT applications deadline on May 31

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, May 24 (PIA) -- The deadline for the submission of applications to the 2013 Philippine Education Placement Test (PEPT) is on Friday, May 31.

the PEPT will be given for free on June 12, this year, in commemoration of the 115th celebration of the Philippine Independence Day, in all divisions, nationwide, said Jonathan S. Dela Peňa of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Misamis Occidental.

Consistent with the Education For All (EFA) goals, DepEd through the National Education Testing and Research Center (NETRC), will administer the PEPT to the out-of-school children/youth to determine their grade/year level placement in the formal school system.

The PEPT results will be utilized to assist the test-passers to re-enter the formal school in order to finish/complete the basic education program, Dela Peňa said.

This will encourage the test-takers to avail of learning modules prepared by the Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS), Bureau of Elementary Education (BEE) and Bureau of Secondary Education (BSE) or any other learning resources available at the division.

Meanwhile, Dela Peňa said the registration will be done at the division offices and the Division Testing Coordinators (DTC) are directed to submit the actual number of PEPT registrants to NETRC on or before June 3, 2013.

The DTC will be in-charge with the evaluation of documents and will see to it that documentary requirements of each of the registrants are complete, specifically, Forms 137/138 or the School Report Card, birth certificates and two (2) 1X1 pictures, Dela Peňa added. (RCAguhob/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

Misamis Occidental allots P13.3M for Special Educ Fund, CY 2013

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, May 22 (PIA) – A total of P13.3 million have been appropriated by the Provincial Government of Misamis Occidental (PGMO) for projects/programs/activities under the Special Education Fund (SEF) for Calendar Year (CY) 2013.

Of this amount, P3.425 million or 25.75 percent have been allocated for the first quarter of the year, Governor Herminia M. Ramiro, said.

Likewise, of this annual appropriation, the highest amount of P6 million have been programmed for instructional materials and references, followed by the school sports activities of P2.6 million and the repainting of school buildings and other public school facilities with P1 million.

Purchase of office equipment came next with P750,000, establishment and maintenance of extension classes, P700,000, and schools press conference, P600,000.

Incentives of winning athletes, P300,000, cultural awards, P300,000, assistance to sports training program, P200,000, revenue generation, P200,000, science activities, P150,000 and Youth/Student Entrepreneurship Program (Y/SEP), P150,000.

Boys Scout of the Philippines (BSP) Movement, P100,000, Girls Scout of the Philippines (GSP) Movement, P100,000 and Parents-Teachers’ Association (PTA) activities, P100,000.

Also included is the P50,000, allocation for the Special Program for the Education of Students (SPES), the Governor said.

Meanwhile, as of March 31, this year, the amount of P228,700 have already been obligated leaving out a balance P3.19 million in the first quarter allotments.

The Governor said these obligated amounts were for the following: P82,000 for sports activities, P56,700 for BSP Movement and P90,000 for revenue generation. (RCAguhob/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

Usec Varela thanks Brigada Eskwela volunteers in Misamis Occidental

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

BONIFACIO, Misamis Occidental, May 22 (PIA) -- Education Undersecretary Francisco M. Varela of the Department of Education (DepEd) thanked the volunteers of the 2013 Brigada Eskwela in Misamis Occidental.

Undersecretary for Finance and Administration of DepEd, Varela was in the province for the launching of Brigada Eskwela or the National Schools Maintenance Week (NSMW) at the Diwat National High School (DNHS) in Barangay Tusik, Bonifacio town, last May 20.

Set from May 20-25, this year, the NSMW activities are focused on the theme “Isang Dekada ng Bayanihan sa Paaralan (A Decade of Cooperation in Schools).”

Varela said the NSMW is a voluntary school maintenance program that engages all education stakeholders to contribute their time, effort and resources to ensure that public school facilities are set in time for the June 3, 2013 opening of classes.

Expenses for the Brigada Eskwela activities will be charged to the Special Education Funds (SEF) of the local government units (LGU), subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

Particularly, for the DepEd employees who are participating in the Brigada Eskwela activities, near their residences, they are given two days to do volunteer work on official time, provided that their work is approved by their respective heads of offices, Varela said.

Meanwhile, launching of the Brigada Eskwela has been set at the DNHS in Barangay Tusik, its new location after it was transferred from Barangay Buenavista upon recommendation of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (EMB-DENR), region 10.

Superintendent Jonathan S. Dela Peňa of the Misamis Occidental Schools Division said the school’s former location was found to be very vulnerable to natural disasters, such as, earthquakes, strong rains and strong winds.

Even with the slightest earth movements, landslides easily occur in the area, in the past, sending big stones, rolling down to the classrooms putting the lives of the teachers and students in great danger, Dela Peňa said.

On the other hand, Dela Peňa thanked Governor Herminia M. Ramiro, who released an initial amount of P200,000 for the relocation of the DNHS, last school year.

Likewise, parents of the DNHS students expressed their appreciation of the school’s new location, as they found it more safe for their children when disasters like earthquakes occur while they are in school. (EOR/RCAguhob/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

DOE shares LPG safety and buying tips

CAGAYAN DE ORO, May 23 (PIA) -- The Department of Energy (DOE) conducted a seminar recently on Energy Efficiency and Conservation here to inform the public on ways to ensure safety at home and tips on buying Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG).

Senior Science Research Specialist Norita Froilan said the LPG produced in the Philippines is a mixture of 60 percent butane and 40 percent propane gases. It is colorless and has no smell so for safety purposes, manufacturers added Ethyl Mercator so consumers can detect any leak in the LPG container.

Froilan said consumers must first check the gas burner to make sure that it is free from any dirt or impurities. To save time and cost, ingredients and condiments must be prepared ahead of time, and consumers should also determine required boiling time for each cooking activity.

He pointed out that calculating the net content of LPG helps a lot in ensuring a wise buy. She said the difference between the LPG tare weight and the weight of the filled tank is the net content of the LPG.

Furthermore, consumers must check if the cylinder is still in good condition-making sure that they will not have the rusty ones, and they should buy cylinders that are properly marked and painted.

For safety tips on handling LPG, consumers must not invert LPG cylinders or let it lie horizontally on the floor. Froilan also shared that consumers must use only LPG resistant rubber hoses with clamps which are regularly checked for wear, cracks and leaks using soap and water. Also, LPG cylinders must be kept away from electrical points and other sources of fire or ignition. Consumers should not also store LPG cylinders in enclosed kitchen cabinets.

In addition to these helpful tips, Froilan shared basic yet important reminders like opening all doors and windows to improve ventilation, and taking the LPG cylinder in an open area and getting in touch with the distributor for emergency cases. (Jennica Rojas/RTP/EPT/PIA10/YWR)