DSWD, DILG, COMELEC caution public from "Epals"

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, October 23 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) caution the public, particularly those under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program from electoral candidates who are using the Program for their political advancements.

DSWD is reminding the program beneficiaries that only the Department can enlist them to and de-list them from Pantawid Pamilya based on their compliance to the set conditions of the program.

Having forged a tripartite memorandum of agreement last October 1, 2013, DSWD, DILG and COMELEC are implementing the “Bawal ang Epal Dito” (BAED) Campaign to ensure that the implementation of Pantawid Pamilya during elections and campaign period is free from political influence and manipulation.

The BAED aims to resolve electoral-related grievances as well as sanctions to be taken for reported individuals validated to have acts of misdemeanor during the campaign and election period in line with the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilya.

As agreed, DILG and COMELEC shall not only provide guidelines on how the grievances or complaints can be acted upon, especially where such cases fall under the election offense cases, but they shall also conduct fact-finding investigation or preliminary investigation as the case may be, when such complaints or grievances are filed appropriately in its jurisdiction and prosecute the same.

DSWD encourages the public to report their complaints and grievances to the nearest DSWD, DILG and COMELEC offices with regard to political influence and manipulation to Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries during election and campaign periods. (CPT/RTP/PIA10)

Barangay NHS studes win first place in Ozamiz Consumer Quiz Bee

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, Oct. 24 (PIA) – Mariane D. Cobero and Jophil Q. Cabanas of Kalabayan National High School (NHS) were proclaimed first place winners in the 2013 Consumer Quiz Bee for secondary students of the Department of Education, Division of Ozamiz City.

Held in consonance with Presidential Proclamation No. 1098 declaring the month of October, each year as Consumer Welfare Month, the activity was done in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

It was aimed to raise the level of awareness of the students on consumer laws and consumer rights and safety, among others, Dr. Rebonfamil R. Baguio, Schools Division Superintendent, said.

All public and private secondary participating schools in the Division, were allowed to send two participants, each, a Third Year and a Fourth Year student.

The content questions were based on Republic Act (RA) No. 7394 otherwise known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines, RA 7581 or the Price Act and DTI Administrative Order No. 03, s. 2005 or Guidelines on Granting Special Discounts and Special Programs for Senior Citizens.

Also included were the Fair Trade Laws, RA 6969 or Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990, RA 10054 or Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009, RA 4109 or Standards Law and other Trade and Industry Guidelines.

Meanwhile, DepEd-Ozamiz also announced the other winners in the Quiz Bee: Jojie B. Edma and Christine Marie J. Donayre, Labo NHS, second place, Trischa Sheen Dumanjug and Louise A.  Cajita, Ozamiz City NHS, third place, Jeralim S. Trigo and Nickie F. Reroma, Montol NHS, fourth place and Rizza Mae A. Uy and Leonard John J. Bandala, San Antonio HNS, fifth place.

Baguio said the division top three winners will participate in the Provincial Level Consumer Quiz Bee at the DTI Office in Oroquieta City on Oct. 25, 2013. (RCA/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

XCCA holds Sulat Dula 3

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, October 23 (PIA) -- Xavier University through its Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts (XCCA) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) holds Sulat Dula 3 – a Playwriting Workshop in Mindanao on October 23-25 at the Office of the President Conference Room 2 and AVRs 2 and 3.

Sulat Dula is a bi-annual play writing workshop which started in 2008.  It has been funded by the NCCA and supported by the Writer’s Bloc – a group of playwright’s in Manila.  This project is part of the Artistic Excellence Program of XCCA, and this aims to establish a play writing development program in Mindanao. 

This year’s Sulat Dula has ten fellows who will become the next pool of playwrights in Mindanao.  They come from Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, Bukidnon and South Cotabato. Our panel and resource playwrights are Dr Steven Patrick Fernandez, Rodolfo ‘Rody’ Vera and Prof Layeta Bucoy.  The fellows will undergo workshops with the resource playwrights, and they are expected to write and submit a short one act play.

Align with SULAT DULA 3 is a repeat performance of Layeta Bucoy’s Doc Resureccion on October 24, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the XU Little Theater. This is a voter’s education program of The Xavier Stage for the upcoming barangay elections. Doc Resureccion is directed by Hobart P Savior. Admission is free.  For seat reservations, please call or text Jerry Acido through 09264218289. (VG/RTP/PIA10)