PIA News

DOST calls for RICE entries

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Nov. 18 (PIA) – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), region 10, is calling all Filipino inventors, makers, designers and creative researchers in Northern Mindanao to send entries for the Regional Invention Competition and Exhibit (RICE) to be held this city.

According to DOST Regional Director Alfonso P. Alamban, this year’s theme for RICE is “Inventions and Innovations for Smarter Philippines.”

There are six categories for this competition which include Invention, Utility Model, Industrial Design, Creative Research, and Student Creative Research for high school and college students respectively.

The Out-Of-School Youths are eligible to join either in the Creative Research category or the Student Creative Research category. However, entries should be duly endorsed by the local inventors’ organization in the region, said Director Alamaban.

Further, the mechanics require entries under invention, utility model and industrial design to already have patent, utility model registration and industrial registration on or before the deadline of submission.

According to Narvinso Tan of DOST 10, they have already received a few entries but they intend to get at least 40 entries from the academe (high school and college), professionals and out of school from all over the region.

He added, “We already sought the endorsement of Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED).”

The regional invention contest is pursuant to section 4 of the Republic Act no. 7459 also known as “Inventors and Invention Act of the Philippines.”

For more information, you may call Narvinso S. Tan or Maria Christina Helena E. Lisondra of DOST through telephone numbers 858-3931 or 858-3932 local 23. (JMOR/PIA)

DOLE-10 rolls-out 19 computer sets for skills registry implementation 

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Nov. 17 (PIA) --- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office 10 has rolled out 19 computer sets to selected local government units (LGUs) in Northern Mindanao to facilitate the fourth wave implementation of the skills registry system (SRS).

SRS is database registry system that links the country’s active labor supply, including information on the skills and qualifications of registrants, with the current local and overseas manpower demand.

The system is connected to the government’s online job portal, the enhanced Phil-Jobnet, where jobseekers and companies and recruitment agencies have access to.

The database, being computerized and accessible via web, would foster fast and easy access to job seeking and job applications without the fear of skills mismatch.

The LGUs who received a complete computer set include El Salvador City, Naawan, Manticao, Alubijid, Sugbongcogon, Claveria, Magsaysay and Talisayan in Misamis Oriental; Plaridel and Tudela in Misamis Occidental; Impasug-ong, Cabanglasan, Maramag, Dangcagan and Kibawe in Bukidnon; and Linamon, Bacolod, Kapatagan and Kauswagan in Lanao del Norte.

DOLE Regional Director Alan M. Macaraya said the SRS is vital to LGUs because it will provide them necessary data needed in planning and facilitating employment of jobseekers in their respective locality. 

Macaraya said the distribution of SRS computer sets are prioritized according to the LGUs who have institutionalized their Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs).

To date, the SRS has already benefited 23 LGUs in the region.

The fourth batch of recipient-LGUs also forged a memorandum of undertaking (MoU) with DOLE-10 during the November15 turn-over ceremony held at the DOLE Regional Office, this city.

Under the MoU, DOLE-10 will provide technical assistance to the Public Employment Service Office of the LGUs while the LGUs will provide the manpower and administrative support for the PESO to ensure protection of all information contained in the registry. (APB/PIA-10)

ARMM’s 24th anniversary packed with cultural events

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Nov. 16 (PIA) --- The month-long anniversary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) which started early this month is set to launch activities that showcase the diverse cultures and traditions of the region.

The anniversary dubbed as ‘Pakaradjaan’, a Moro generic term which means festivities kicked off last November 7, tied with the celebration of the Sheikh Makhdum day, an Arab missionary who was responsible for the propagation of the Islamic faith in the country more than 600 years ago.

Ardan Sali, executive director of the ARMM’s Bureau on Cultural Heritage said cultural events were lined up for the entire month.

“Some of these are tutorial workshops on Kulintang, Kuntao, Pangalay and Sagayan dances,” said Sali.

He said that the upshot of the month-long celebration is to indulge the people of ARMM to increase the value of their appreciation as well as showcase the tribal culture, norms and traditions from the five major provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao. (Kistine P. Abatayo, Arman C. Trabucon, Lady Jean L. Kabagani / OJT – Bureau of Public Information/PIA-10)

LPCC, DTI monitoring team enforces ICC markings on Christmas lights

ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, November 15 (PIA)--As the Christmas season is fast approaching, the Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) of Iligan spearheaded by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)  of this province, conducted  monitoring to enforce Imported Commodity Clearance (ICC) markings on various models of Christmas lights.

Provincial Director Ruel B. Paclipan, DTI Iligan, said there were 16 major establishments,  monitored last November 11, 2013, this city . Five stores were found to have violations by selling uncertified Christmas lights, 14 boxes and five sacks did not bear the authentic ICC markings.

During the monitoring, Paclipan said, the compliance rate is 68.75 percent. Confiscated products included Christmas lights which are subject for validation since documents presented are inadequate. If after validation, the ICC sticker and ICC certificates are found to be in order, the confiscated products may be retrieved by the owners.

However, for the products which were found uncertified will be stored at DTI office for destruction at a later date and the business establishment will be accordingly charged and penalized.

Formal charges will be issued for violation of DTI-Department Administrative Order No.2, series of 2007, which provides that “importers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers who sell products under mandatory standards like Christmas lights, must sell only those which comply with the relevant standards and the required markings like the Philippine Standard-PS mark or ICC mark,” Paclipan said.

Penalty may range from P17,500 to P25,000 as provided for in the tables of fines for Executive Order 913 on Fair Trade Law.

The activity was a joint effort of the LPCC members with the Iligan City Police Office who provided security for the monitoring/enforcement team.

The team was composed of 22 LPCC members from the different government line agencies and from the city mayor’s office, divided into two teams. Each team was led by a DTI personnel. (DTI Iligan/LVG/PIA-10 LDN)

MisOr bags CROWN award

MISAMIS ORIENTAL, November 18 -- The Province of Misamis Oriental has been a consistent advocate for nutrition in Northern Mindanao.

Hence, the province received anew an award in the National Level for being a Consistent Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) in the region.

Governor Yevgeny Vincente B. Emano cited the province is focusing on the improvement of the quality of life for its people through efficient and effective implementation of health, nutrition and other related social services.

According to Gov. Emano, the Provincial Nutrition Committee (PNC) composed of the local chief executives, the chairperson of the 23 municipalities of Misamis Oriental and members of respective nutrition committees aim to continue the decline in the occurrence of malnutrition among preschool children. 

The PNC also expanded the Garden of Go, Grow and Glow or G4 Project which includes small animal-raising to its production of nutritious vegetables, root crops and fruits for home food security. The promotion of cultivated backyards was initiated in which barangays and municipalities were evaluated for the annual search of the Most Outstanding G4 Garden.

Likewise, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in cooperation with the Department of Education (DepEd) is promoting supplementary feeding for day care center children and supplemented VitaMeal, an ingredient made of lentil powder is added to vegetable soups or porridge which provides additional protein is given to malnourished school children.

Further, the PNC conducted breastfeeding and immunization programs, where 100% coverage of infants and 90% of immunizations were implemented. They also partnered with dentists from the Police Regional Office (PRO)-10 at Camp Alagar to conduct the province-wide free dental mission every year.

To ensure the effective and efficient delivery of health and nutrition services, a training of all the 23 municipalities of the province was conducted to intensify the advocacy on Promote Good Nutrition (PGN). Training on interpersonal and communication counseling was also conducted to capacitate rural health teams.

International organizations like Helen Keller International and World Food Programme provided technical and financial assistance to PNC in encouraging nutrition and health workers in municipal and barangay level.

Through all of these, the Province of Misamis Oriental is given the Green banner Award for the CROWN for three consecutive years for its exemplary leadership and contribution to the improvement of the nutrition situation in Northern Mindanao. The Province also received the cash award of 500,000 pesos, added Gov. Emano. (MisOr Press Office/PIA)