President Aquino calls on all departments, agencies, local government units to support technical working group onBaguio and Boracay

President Benigno S. Aquino III has enjoined all departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the national government and local government units (LGUs) to actively support the Technical Working Group (TEG) on Baguio and Boracay for the preparation of comprehensive plans and programs to preserve and develop these places.

The Chief Executive issued the directive by virtue of Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 47 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on May 17.

Baguio City and Boracay Island are leading tourist destinations that are considered national assets, the President said.

He said rapid growth, commercialization, and the lack of a comprehensive development and zoning plan have caused the degradation and deterioration of the two localities.

The President has directed the secretaries of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources, Interior and Local Government, and Justice to constitute a Technical Working Group (TWG) to review the environmental, commercial, tourism, and law and order situation in Baguio and Boracay for the purpose of developing comprehensive plans to preserve these vital national assets.

He said there is need to ensure full support and cooperation from all officials and employees of government agencies and instrumentalities, including Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations for the successful completion of its tasks and functions.

The President designated the Secretary of Tourism as coordinator of the technical working group to ensure proper formulation and full integration of social and economic policies, plans, and programs.

He directed the said technical working group to work with all concerned stakeholders, including the LGUs with jurisdiction over Baguio and Boracay, in the preparation and implementation of plans and programs, and to submit regular reports to the Office of the President.

This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately.

President Aquino signs into law a consolidated bill amending Rural Bank Act to allow foreign capital infusion in rural banks

President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed into law a consolidated bill amending the Rural Bank Act to allow foreign capital infusion in rural banks.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte announced during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday that the Chief Executive signed on May 24 Republic Act 10574 otherwise known as "An Act Allowing the Infusion of Foreign Equity in the Capital of Rural Banks, Amending Republic Act No. 7353 otherwise known as "The Rural Bank Act of 1992," as amended and for other purposes.

The Act is a consolidation of House Bill 5360 and Senate Bill 3282 that were finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on February 4, 2013 and January 30, 2013, respectively.

The new law amends Section 4 of Republic Act 7353 to enable foreign individuals and entities to acquire equity of up to 60% in rural banks.

"Non-Filipino citizens may own, acquire or purchase up to sixty percent (60%) of the voting stocks in a rural bank. The percentage of foreign-owned voting stocks shall be determined by the citizenship of the individual or corporate stockholders of the rural bank," the law said.

Prior to the passage of this Act, foreign banks are allowed to acquire equity in rural banks but prohibits foreign individuals or foreign entities from doing the same.

The new law provides "that no rural bank shall be operated without a Certificate of Authority from the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Rural banks shall be organized in the form of stock corporations. No less than forty percent (40%) of the voting stocks of a rural bank shall be owned by citizens of the Philippines or corporations or associations organized under the laws of the Philippines at least sixty percent (60%) of whose capital is owned by such citizens."

Under RA 10574, non-Filipino citizens may become members of the Board of Directors of a rural bank but their participation in the Board shall be limited to their proportionate share in the equity of the rural bank: Provided, however, that at least one (1) independent director shall be elected to the Board of Directors.

"No director or officer of any rural bank shall, either directly or indirectly, for himself or as the representative or agent of another, borrow any of the deposits or funds of such banks, nor shall he become a guarantor, indorser, or surety for loans from such bank to others, or in any manner be an obligor for money borrowed from the bank or loaned by it except with the written approval of the majority of the directors of the bank, excluding the director concerned. Any such approval shall be entered upon the records of the corporation and a copy of such entry shall be transmitted forthwith to the appropriate supervising department. The director/officer of the bank who violates the provisions of this section shall be immediately dismissed from his office and shall be penalized in accordance with Section 26 of this Act," the law said.

The Monetary Board may regulate the amount of credit accommodations that may be extended directly to the directors, officers or stockholders of rural banks of banking institutions. However, the outstanding credit accommodations which a rural bank may extend to each of its stockholders owning two percent (2%) or more of the subscribed capital stock, its directors, or officers shall be limited to an amount equivalent to the respective outstanding deposits and book value of the paid-in capital contributions in the bank.”

Under this Act, loans or advances extended by rural banks organized and operated under this Act shall be primarily for the purpose of meeting the normal credit needs of farmers, fishermen or farm families owning or cultivating land dedicated to agricultural production as well as the normal credit needs of cooperatives and merchants.

The new law "provides supplemental capital to any rural bank until it has accumulated enough capital of its own or stimulate private investments in rural banks, the Land Bank of the Philippines, the Development Bank of the Philippines or any government-owned or -controlled bank or financial institution shall subscribe within thirty (30) days to the capital stock of any rural bank from time to time in an amount equal to the total equity investment of the private shareholders which shall be paid in full at the time of the subscription or such amount as may be necessary to promote and expand rural economic development: Provided, however, that shares of stock issued to the Land Bank of the Philippines, the Development Bank of the Philippines or any government-owned or -controlled bank or financial institution, may, pursuant to this section, at any time, be bought at adjusted book value."

According to the new law, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, consistent with Section 11 of Republic Act No. 7353, "shall prescribe the necessary rules and regulations on the amendments of the Rural Banks Act of 1992 in consultation with various stakeholders as well as disseminate this information to allow entry of foreign equity into our rural bank system to revitalize the rural banking industry and improve access of banking services to the rural areas in the country."

The implementing rules and regulations shall be published within ninety (90) days from the publication of this Act in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

This Act shall take effect 15 days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least 2 newspapers of general circulation, whichever is earlier.

President Aquino signs laws creating more courts, amending Family Code

President Benigno S. Aquino III recently signed into law Republic Acts creating more courts of justice in the Philippines and amending provisions in the Family Code Establishing the Liability of the Absolute Community or Conjugal Partnership for an Obligation of a Spouse who Practices a Profession and the Capability of Either Spouse to Dispose of an Exclusive Property, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said on Wednesday.

In a press briefing in Malacanang, Valte said the President signed Republic Acts 10562 up to 10571 “creating courts in several areas.”

“First, from R.A. 10562 to R.A. 10571…we now have new courts in Paniqui, Capas, Concepcion, Tarlac (in the province of Tarlac); in Digos, Davao del Sur; as well as in Pasig (in Metro Manila); in Urdaneta, Pangasinan; Antipolo, Rizal; Biñan, Laguna; Cebu City; and Bais, Negros Oriental,” Valte said.

Valte added that the President signed RA 10572 which establishes the Liability of the Absolute Community or Conjugal Partnership for an Obligation of a Spouse who Practices a Profession and the Capability of Either Spouse to Dispose of an Exclusive Property.

According to Valte, this new law amends Articles 73 and 111 of Executive Order No. 209, also known as the Family Code of the Philippines (FCP) designating the Courts to determine if there is basis for any objection between spouses in exercising any legitimate occupation, business or activity and to discern whether any benefit from this exercise should accrue against community property or separate property; and allowing “either spouse may mortgage, encamber, alienate, or otherwise, dispose of his/her exclusive property,” respectively.

“So, ang spouse po hindi kailangan ng pahintulot sa kanyang kabiyak para mag-practice ng isang legitimate occupation or profession. Ngunit kung meron disagreement, the court can step in and decide if there is basis to the objection of the spouse,” Valte said.

“Ngayon, kung nag-benefit na po ang pamilya from the proceeds of that occupation or profession that is being objected to, then puwede na pong i-charge ang benefit to the community property. Kung hindi naman po nag-object, nag-benefit muna, tapos saka lang nag-object, then it should be charged to the separate property of the spouse,” she said.

Valte said the amendment to Article 111 of the Family Code was done to reflect changes in the law.

Palace says judicial reforms continue

Reforms in the judiciary is continuing and the Aquino administration remains committed in pushing this initiative, a Palace official said on Wednesday.

A year after former chief justice Renato Corona was convicted by the Senate for not fully disclosing his assets, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the administration hasn’t wavered in reforming the country’s judiciary.

“It’s still a work in progress,” Valte said in a press conference in Malacanang on Wednesday. “Perhaps, the impact immediately that you could already see is the emphasis given on the filing of SALNs [statements of assets, liabilities and net worth] when it comes to employees of the government. But it is still a work in progress,” she said.

“We hope to continue the reforms that the President has been talking about since he was a candidate for the presidency in May 2010,” Valte said.

In May last year, the Senate, sitting as impeachment court, voted 20-3 to convict Corona for betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Philippine Constitution.

The court ruled that Corona was guilty of Article II of the impeachment complaint: the chief magistrate did not fully disclose his assets in his SALN.

Corona’s conviction came at the end of a five-month trial with the entire nation glued to their television sets watching events as they unfolded.

The verdict was seen as a triumph for President Benigno S. Aquino III who campaigned in the 2010 presidential election under the “daang matuwid” reform agenda.

The President never recognized Corona’s appointment as chief justice by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo a few weeks before she stepped down in 2010.

President Aquino vetoes rights of Internally Displaced Persons Act of 2013

President Benigno S. Aquino III has vetoed a consolidated bill entitled “Rights of Internally Displaced Persons Act of 2013," saying the measure's provisions are in conflict with the Constitution.

The Chief Executive vetoed last May 24 "An Act Protecting the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Providing Penalties Therefore and For Other Purposes"

The vetoed measure is a consolidated enrolled Senate Bill No. 3317 and House Bill No. 5627.

In his veto message sent to the Senate, the President said that while the objectives of the bill relating to the protection and promotion of rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) are laudable, the measure’s provisions conflict with the Constitution.

The President cited four grounds in vetoing the bill.

First, the bill’s provision on damages unlawfully differentiates between displacements caused by security agents of the State and other entities;

Second, the power granted to the CHR (Commission on Human Rights) to determine damages incurred against IDPs and facilitate the award of such claims is a power that belongs exclusively to the Judiciary, thus impinging on the latter’s exclusive power;

Third, the additional powers that it grants to the CHR exceed those which the Constitution intended to give as it was conceived as an investigative and recommendatory agency exercising limited powers; and

And fourth, the provision allowing individuals to claim financial assistance and compensation from the government opens the door to a slew of claims or cases against the government, and goes against the 'non-suability' character of the State."

JICA rehabilitation project for COWD takes off

By Jorie C. Valcorza

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 28 (PIA) -- The typhoon-hit facilities of the Cagayan de Oro City Water District shall soon undergo rehabilitation with the P40-million grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The said grant, according to COWD's Public Relations/Information Division, is in the form of provision of materials and equipment, which procurement processes has just been completed,

Facilities covered by this rehabilitation project include 11 booster pumps, 6 production wells, 5 generator sets, chlorinating set, controllers and transformer cables. It will also cover replacement of the biosafety cabinet (laboratory equipment) and damaged water meters.

Some 5,562 units of water meters were already delivered last week and the project is expected to be completed by the third quarter of the year. (COWD/PIA)

RDC-X chairperson bares gains in state of the region address

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 30 (PIA) -- Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz, chairperson of the Regional Development Council of Northern Mindanao (RDC-X), spelled out the major accomplishments of the Council in the past three years in his State of the Region Address (SORA) which he delivered during the 97th RDC-X meeting held Iligan City on Tuesday, May 28.

He said that the region’s quest to present Northern Mindanao as the most competitive, efficient and attractive transshipment hub and the leading industrial core and trade center in Southern Philippines is now fast becoming a reality.

According to him, various infrastructure projects have been implemented including the improvement of the region’s road networks and seaports.

He said the RDC has created the Special Committee on the Laguindingan Airport Development Project that fast-tracked the formulation of immediate actions on issues and concerns pertinent to the operation of the much-awaited international standard Laguindingan Airport.

RDC-X was also instrumental in bringing back the survivorship benefits removed in August 2009 for gainfully employed surviving spouses of GSIS members, Cruz added.

Moreover, the Council endorsed the following proposals for inclusion in the Regional Development Investment Program 2011-2016: Road Development Projects in Ozamiz City; Iligan Coastal By-Pass Road Project; Iligan Tourism Triangle Development Master Plan; Gilligan-Bukidnon Agribusiness and Ecotourism Growth Corridor Master Plan; and eFlood Control Development Master Plan for Mandulog and ligan Rivers and the Conduct of a Feasibility Study for a Sabo Dam Project in Iligan City.

The Council further supported the request for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) through the Regional DRRMC to retain the budget for Iligan City recovery and rehabilitation after 2013 until all the projects in the P12 billion plus Calamity Fund have been completed.

It also expressed support to the amalgamation of the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in Region X; the passage of the Magna Carta for Barangay Nutrition Scholars;RA 10070 Establishing an Institutional Mechanism to Ensure the Implementation of Programs and Services for Persons with Disabilities, Amending RA 7277 known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons; and the revised implementing rules and regulations governing Section 18 of the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) to fast-track the relocation of high-risk communitiesto safe areas.

Meanwhile, the RDC awarded Certificates of Appreciation to its officials for their exemplary leadership and Certificates of Recognition to its members for their steadfast commitment, active participation and continuing support in attaining regional development.

The said meeting was the last full council conference presided by Mayor Cruz as the RDC now prepares for its reorganization in August 2013 for the 2013-2016 term. (Peleta B. Abejo/NEDA-10/APB/PIA-10))

DOLE-10 signs MoU with guidance counselors network, other gov’t agencies to solve job mismatch

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 29 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has forged a partnership with the Career Guidance Counselors Network (CGN) and other government agencies to address job mismatch in Region 10.

The regional offices of DOLE-10, Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Professional Regulations Commissions (PRC), Department of Tourism, and CGN-10 formalized their partnership through signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Friday, May 24.

Under the MoU, the parties committed to work hand-in-hand in the delivery of employment services to its clientele in the labor market.

They vowed to strengthen collaboration and partnership to address the persistence of job mismatch and decrease underemployment and employment by providing students with relevant labor market information.

This is to guide students in their choice of career and prepare them for their eventual entry to the world of work, said Atty. Johnson Cañete, DOLE-10 Regional Director.

The MoU signing highlighted the 2nd Northern Mindanao Career Advocacy Congress, a gathering of 270 Public Employment Services Office (PESO) Managers and Career Guidance Counselors in Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.

Cañete, who was proud that Northern Mindanao is the only region in the country that conducted a career advocacy congress for the second time, said the congress sought to provide field implementers with updated labor market information for use in conducting guidance and employment coaching.

He said the conduct of career advocacy congress is in line with the directive of the President to address job skills mismatch in the labor market. (APB/PIA-10)

OWWA-10 releases livelihood assistance to five OFWs in MisOr

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 29 (PIA) -- The National Reintegration Center for Overseas Filipino Workers (NRCO) through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in region 10 has released financial livelihood assistance to five overseas Filipino workers in Misamis Oriental.

OWWA-10 Director Petrona Bergado, assisted by Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Director Atty. Johnson Cañete, spearheaded the awarding of checks amounting to P10,000 each to the beneficiaries during the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) meeting last week.

The recipients of the livelihood assistance were Mary Celyn Arcadio, Lorna Caballes, Jenny Garcia, and Leah Romero, all from Cagayan de Oro City, and Celeste Sabunod from Claveria town.

The livelihood projects identified by these beneficiaries are chicken ala carte station, meat processed products, sari-sari store, and eatery/fastfood business.

Bergado said the livelihood assistance which is under the NRCO’s National Reintegration Program aims to give safety nets to displaced OFWs.

Meanwhile, OWWA-10 assured the families of OFWs in Taiwan that contingency measures are already in place should tension between Filipinos and Taiwanese people escalate in that country.

Bergado said the region has 1,031 OWWA-registered workers in Taiwan as of May 17, this year, majority of whom are female.

Per OWWA-10 records, 520 of the 1,301 OFWs came from Misamis Oriental, 288 from Lanao del Norte, 243 from Bukidnon, 218 from Misamis Occidental, and the rest are from Camiguin.

She said they are closely coordinating with their counterparts in Taiwan adding that OFWs there could also seek assistance from the three MECO Labor Centers in Taipei, Kaoshiung and Taichung. (APB/PIA-10)

MinCARED 2013 works for sustainable energy development

By Recthie T. Paculba

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 29 (PIA) -- The Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives Inc. (AMRECO) held the Mindanao Congress of the Advocates for Renewable Energy and Rural Electrification and Development-MinCARED 2013 to achieve a sustained visible platform for sustainable energy development on May 27, here.

With the theme, “Mainstreaming the Mindanao Power Agenda: Reliable, Affordable and Sustainable Power Supply in Mindanao,” AMRECO is in partnership with the Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST), Institute of Power Sector Economics (IPSec), and Mindanao Development Authority (MINDA) in seeking solutions on the challenges of meeting demands for Mindanao’s power in the future.

According to Dir. Romeo Montenegro, MINDA Investment Relations and Public Affairs Officer, the congress’ advocacy focuses on bracing diversity with emphasis on renewable energy such as wind, biomass, fuel cell system, solar energy and hydroelectric energy.

Furthermore, he added that with the development of renewable energy technology, electric generation cost will not be as costly as having the non-renewable energy as part of the generation mix.

On the other hand, Sergio Dagooc, AMRECO president, said that it is their thrust to institutionalize the congress as an annual activity joined by multi-sectors embracing the advocacy on electric power concern as personally theirs being consumers themselves.

Giving an emphasis on the use of renewable energy to save generation cost, Dagooc said that “we will develop renewable energy technology with a balanced use of such and good distribution supply management.”

Dagooc also added that with the help of their partners, they will be able to come up with good solutions on the power crisis in Mindanao and they will try to “beat out ahead of our requirement.”

In 2012, the greatest achievement of MinCARED was on rendering the supply problem being everyone’s concern and not blaming the electric cooperatives for it, and cushioning the impact of the coverage brownouts of the electric cooperatives’ respective areas.(Recthie T. Paculba/PIA10)

14 polling places in Region 10, among the country's RMA sites in the May 13 elections

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, May 28 (PIA) -- At least 14 polling places in region 10 had some of their clustered precincts randomly selected for the conduct of the random manual audit (RMA) relative to the mid-term elections, last May 13.

This number of polling places actually represents 5.98 percent of 234 polling places that were subjected to the RMA, nationwide, that also corresponds to the 14 legislative districts of the region, Atty. Noli R. Pipo, Regional Election Director (RED) of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), region 10.

The RMA was done on these polling places immediately after the sealing of the ballot box by the Board of Election Inspector (BEI) in the presence of the poll watchers, political parties, citizen's arm groups, media and the public.

Among the duties of the five-member RMA Team per legislative district was to check if there was over-voting in the polling places for each position voted for or if there was a situation where a voter selected more than the allowed number of seats for a particular position.

Meanwhile, RED Pipo said the following polling places with their clustered precincts (CP’s) and number of registered voters were subjected to RMA in the region:

Misamis Occidental – Four (4) CP’s with 627 voters at Baliangao Central School, Southern Poblacion, Baliangao in District 1 and three (3) CP’s with 598 voters in Dela Paz Elementary School, Dela Paz, Clarin in District 2.

Bukidnon – Five (5) CP’s with 949 voters at the Kisolon Central School, Sumilao, Kisolon in District 1, four (4) CP’s with 535 voters at Freedom Elementary School, Freedom, Cabanglasan in District 2, another four (4) CP’s with 580 voters at Lourdes Elementary School, Lourdes, Dangcagan in District 3 and three (3) CP’s with 411 voters at Forchacu IV Elementary School, Sitio Forchacu IV, Malinao, Kalilangan in District 4.

Camiguin – Three (3) CP’s with 960 voters at the Cabuan Elementary School, Cabuan, Guinsiliban in the lone district of the province and four (4) CP’s with 851 voters at the East Central Elementary School, Hinaplanon, Iligan City, in the lone district of the city.

Lanao del Norte – Five (5) CP’s with 715 voters at Manga Elementary School, Simboco, Kolambugan in District 1 and another five (5) CP’s with 510 voters at the Nunungan Public Market, Bangco, Nunungan in District 2.

Misamis Oriental – Five (5) CP’s with 629 voters at the Balingoan Central School, Bauk-bauk, Balingoan in District 1 and six (6) CP’s with 863 voters at Libertad Central School, Poblacion, Libertad in District 2.

Cagayan de Oro City – Four (4) PC’s with 756 voters at Bulua Elementary School, Bulua in District 1 and a single precinct with 141 voters at the City Central School, Barangay 20, Poblacion in District 2. (RCAguhob/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

Task Force Kasalimbago helps prepare Marawi for school opening

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, May 29 (PIA) -- Preparations for the opening of classes this June is in full swing here after members of the Task Force Kasalimbago joined the Department of Education (DepEd) in the annual schools maintenance week popularly known as Brigada Eskwela.

The Task Force, headed by the 103rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, mobilized parents, teachers, police and military personnel, youth, community residents, and other volunteers in the cleaning-up and repairing of schools last May 21 to 25.

Major Abdullah D. Mocsana, Civil Military Operations Officer of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, said the move aims to assist DepEd in preparing schools for the opening of classes next week.

He said the Task Force wanted to help in providing school children an environment conducive for learning.

The Amai Pakpak Central Elementary School (APCES), Marawi Central Elementary Pilot School, Dansalan Elementary School, Angoyao Central School, Cadayonan Elementary School, and Calocan Elementary School, among others, benefited from the Brigada Eskwela.

Abdel Mulay Jr., a youth volunteer, said he joined the activity to help fellow students feel comfortable in school during classes.

“Through this activity, we have also shown that different sectors of the society can come together and be united to improve the community,” he added.

APCES School Principal Pinamili Diron-Abedin meanwhile expressed appreciation to the Task Force for helping in the Brigada Eskwela and choosing APCES as one of the beneficiaries.

She said APCES needed the clean-up and repairs after it was used as a polling center during the May 13 national and local elections.

The Task Force Kasalimbago was formed following the success of the general voters’ registration in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. It is aimed to work as a network of government organizations and civil society organizations committed to the strengthening of democratic ideals in the province through electoral reforms and activities that broadens people’s participation. (APB/PIA-10)

  

SSS educational assistance loan program made easier

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 27 (PIA) -- Active Social Security System (SSS) members can now avail of the educational assistance loan program through easier application process and with higher loanable amount.

There is no distinction whether an SSS member is employed or self-employed to avail this loan, said Lawyer Edwin Halo, branch head of SSS Cagayan de Oro. If the member is active and is regularly paying his monthly contribution, then he or she may avail.

Nationwide, there are already 17,000 SSS members who availed of such loan, Atty. Halo revealed.

The maximum loanable amount per semester or trimester is P20,000 for college degrees and P10,000 for those vocational and technical courses.

Atty. Halo also said that they grant these loans to SSS members in the condition that the schools and universities they intend to be enrolled or want their beneficiary enrolled are accredited by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and vocational schools which are accredited also by Technical Educational Skills and Development Authority (TESDA).

Also, we will need the assessment of the school to gauge how much loan we can grant for a member, he added.

An active SSS member may avail said loan if he or she has a monthly income of not more than P25,000 and he or she has 12 posted monthly contributions provided that one contribution is paid within three months prior to the loan application. If there were no contribution made in the past three months, a member can pay immediately and show proof of payment.

For those married SSS members, these two couples may avail to up to two beneficiaries each: who can be an SSS member, legal wife/husband of the SSS member and child including illegitimate.

This loan program started second semester of last year (2012) nationwide to help students from low-income families to pay for tuition and miscellaneous fees. (JMOR/PIA10)

DepEd-Tangub intensifies info campaign for Oplan Balik-Eskwela

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

TANGUB CITY, Misamis Occidental, May 28 (PIA) -- An intensified information campaign package on Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) have been waged by the Department of Education (DepEd) in Tangub City, from May 27-31, this year.

Foremost in the campaign is information dissemination through radio/television, church announcements, barangay and school governing council (SGC) meetings, Victoria V. Gazo, Ph.D., Superintendent of the Tangub City Schools Division (TCSD), said.

Also included are display of streamers, home visits and the continuation of the Brigada Eskwela or the National Schools Maintenance Week (NSMW), which was started last May 20, she said.

Gazo said activation of the OBE by DepEd from May 27-31 is intended to address the problems commonly encountered during the period and to give the assurance that students are properly enrolled and able to attend school on Monday, June 3, the first day of classes of School Year (SY) 2013-2014.

Meanwhile, TCSD is now preparing for the distribution of books and the list of students/pupils with their learner’s reference numbers (LRN), structuring of classrooms, and preparation of the class programs and instructional materials for use in the different class levels.

“We are also conducting meetings with the barangay officials to present our targets,” Gazo said.

In DepEd Memorandum No. 64, s. of 2013, Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro has directed the Schools/City Division Superintendents (SDS/CDS) to coordinate with other government agencies involved in school opening matters to assemble the OBE Inter-Agency Task Force.

Members of the OBE-IATF are the following: Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of National Defense (DND) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), among others. (RCAguhob/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

PRO-10 resumes recruitment of applicants

CAGAYAN DE ORO, May 29 -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) Recruitment Program for Police Officers 1 (PO1) will start on June 14. Oath-taking of successful applicants will be on September 30.

PCSupt Catalino B Rodriguez Jr, Regional Director, Police Regional Office (PRO-10) said that after a series of screening and deliberation, those who will take their oath shall immediately be turned over to Regional Training School (RTS) 10, Patag, Cagayan de Oro City for their basic training.

The PNP, through its transformation roadmap known as PATROL Plan 2030, will achieve to make the organization a highly competent police force where every police officer is duly trained, well-equipped and knowledgeable on all aspects of police work.

Applicants are required to submit their application folders with the following attachments: CSC Personal Data Sheet, Diploma and Transcript of Records, Eligibility, Birth Certificate, Medical and Dental Clearances, Neuro-psychiatric Test Result, Drug test result, Fingerprint Card, Handwriting specimen, NBI Clearance, marriage contract and birth certificate of children (if married) whole body and passport-size pictures and local clearances.

For further information, interested applicants are advised to visit PRO-10 (Attention: Chief, RPHRDD) at Camp Alagar, Lapasan, this city.(PSupt Ronnie Francis M Cariaga/PRO-X/PIA-10)

  

COWD heeds DepEd’s call for support to Brigada Eskwela 2013

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 28 (PIA) -- The Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) has readily made available its booster station in Macasandig to provide water to the firetrucks intended for delivery to schools for cleaning purposes, in response to the call of the Department of Education to assist the different public elementary schools in preparation for the school opening.

Apart from this, COWD donated construction materials to St. John Elementary School for the renovation and improvement of its Grade 6 classroom including its comfort room and wash area. It likewise provided hose bibs, sink, pail, dipper, bowl brush and caddy, non-slip tub mat for the toilet.

In order to promote proper health and sanitation, a trash bin, bottles of liquid soap and hand towels were also given.

Water Conservation stickers were provided for the wash areas to encourage the habit of saving water among the students.

St. John Elementary School is a public school located in St. John, Puntod this city.

It has around 520 pupils, including Badjaos, from Pre-school to Grade 6 levels. It has 7 instructional classrooms, a principal’s office and canteen. The school is located in one of the depressed areas of Bgy. Puntod where most of the families fall belong to below poverty line.

COWD has always given support to programs benefiting the students. Among these are the high school scholarship program it had for around two decades, the oratorical, essay-writing and poster-making contests it has conducted and recently, the Science and Math Quiz.

COWD hopes to contribute in whatever way to provide the youth with opportunities for a brighter future. (COWD/PIA)

SSS Cagayan de Oro to open on Saturdays of June for ‘kasambahay’ registration

CAGAYAN DE ORO, May 30 (PIA) - Social Security System (SSS) branches nationwide will open for business on four consecutive Saturdays in June to enable household employers and domestic workers or ‘kasambahay’, such as maids, nursemaids or yaya, gardeners, cooks and laundry women, to register with SSS.

SSS Cagayan de Oro branch will be opened to issue social security (SS) numbers for domestic workers as well as household employer ID numbers on June 8, 15, 22 and 29 to facilitate their mandatory SSS membership as provided under the Kasambahay Law and the Social Security Law, said Lawyer Edwin Halo, SSS branch manager.

The Kasambahay Law, or Republic Act No. 10361, was signed into law on January 19, 2013 to ensure the social protection of household employees under various government agencies, which include the SSS, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Pag-IBIG Fund.

To get an SS number, domestic workers, including family drivers who are considered household employees under the SSS charter, must fill out and submit the Personal Record Form (SSS Form E-1) to any SSS branch, along with a photocopy of any of the primary documents such as the birth or baptismal certificate, driver’s license, passport, Professional Regulation Commission card or seaman’s book.

Those without any primary document can give two secondary documents, both citing their name and at least one indicating their birthdate. SSS branches provide a comprehensive list of accepted secondary documents such as the ATM card, bank passbook, marriage contract, NBI or police clearance, voter’s ID or postal ID card.

"Only the Form E-1 and a photocopy of the supporting documents need to be submitted, but they should present to us the original copy for authentication purposes," Atty. Halo said.

"Without the documents, they will be issued a number that may be used for paying contributions and reporting for SSS coverage but not for availment of benefits and loans. They will attain permanent SSS membership status upon submission of these required documents."

To secure a Household Employer ID Number, the employer only needs to fill out and submit the Employer Registration Form (SSS Form R-1).

Existing household employers who still use their personal SS numbers in paying the contributions of their domestic workers will be given their Household Employer ID Number during their branch visit, via email or mail.

Household employers reporting workers for SSS coverage must submit the Employment Report Form (SSS Form R1-A), the Specimen Signature Card (SSS Form L-501), and the SSS Form E-1 of household employees with no prior SSS coverage.

Further, the domestic worker’s effective date of coverage, which is the same as the date of employment, marks the start of the respective household employer’s obligation to remit monthly contributions for the household employee.

"If the effective date of coverage is earlier than the date of registration, the household employer must submit a ‘Statement of Monthly Salaries’ received by the domestic worker starting from the date of employment indicated in the SSS Form R1-A," he said. "This will be the basis for the computation of the accruing contributions that the household employer has to settle."

Apart from registration services, SSS offices with branch tellering facilities will also accept contribution payments of household employers during the four selected Saturdays.

SSS forms are available at SSS branches and may be downloaded from the SSS website (www.sss.gov.ph) or you may call SSS Cagayan de Oro branch manager Atty. Halo for more information at (088) 858-3792/858-3793/858-3794. (SSS Cagayan de Oro/JMOR/PIA)