Thursday, January 9, 2014

MisOr gears up for 1st Kuyamis Festival
By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Jan. 7 (PIA) – The province of Misamis Oriental (MisOr) in its vision to build up and repackage its agriculture and tourism industry, highlights the start of the year with a three-day festivity dubbed Kuyamis Festival.

Just in time for its 84th MisOr Week every first week of the year, the provincial government has come up with the Kuyamis Festival to perk up the locals, business and tourism industry with the theme “Agro-Turismo sa MisOr Ipalambo.”
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Set on January 8 to 10 this year at the Provincial Capitol Grounds here, the festival promises various line up of activities including Coconut Products Display, Photo Exhibit, Sports Fest and Business Bazaar.

According to MisOr Provincial Tourism Officer Robert Maestre, Kuyamis was the original name of Misamis. It is a variety of sweet coconut found in the province and described it as a Golden Malayan Dwarf Coconut Tree, part of the Cocus Nusifera family.

He added that aside from branding the activity Kuyamis, the provincial government intends to develop the coconut industry since according to the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) statistics, Misamis Oriental is the 5th major producer of coconut in the country.

There will be prizes to local government unit (LGUs) participants and will be used to enhance coconut productivity and livelihood.
                                    
Moreover, he explained that this festivity is associated with the founding of the Province on January 1, 1930 as separate and independent local government unit through Republic Act 3537 enacted by the Philippine Legislature on November 2, 1929.

He added that since then, every first week of January of each year is dedicated to commemorate the birth of Misamis Oriental. (JMOR/PIA10)


RHRC-ARMM announces hiring of 18 permanent positions
By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Jan. 7 (PIA) --- The Regional Human Rights Commission in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RHRC-ARMM) announced 18 job vacancies to be assigned in its regional office in Cotabato City.

Lawyer Abdel Jamal R. Disangcopan, head of RHRC Provincial Office, said they are in need of three Attorney III with salary grade 21; Information Technology (IT) Officer I with salary 19; Accountant II with salary grade 16; Administrative Officer IV, Planning Officer II, Information Officer II, and Special Investigator II, all with salary grade 15; Administrative Officer III with salary grade 14, four Special Investigator I and one Administrative Assistant V with salary grade 11; Administrative Officer I with salary grade 10, and two Administrative Assistant III with salary grade 9.

For the position of Attorney III, one must have Bachelor’s Law degree, with RA 1080 eligibility, with one year of relevant experience and four hours of relevant training.

Qualification standards for IT Officer I, Accountant II, Administrative Officer IV, Planning Officer II, Information Officer II, Special Investigator II, and Administrative Officer III positions include Bachelor’s Degree, one year of relevant experience, four hours of relevant training, and 2nd Level Civil Service (CS) eligibility.

Applicants for Special Investigator I, Administrative Assistant V and Administrative Officer I are required to possess a Bachelor’s Degree and 2nd Level Civil Service eligibility, no relevant experience and training needed.

On the other hand, applicants for Administrative Assistant III must have completed two years studies in college, with one year of relevant experience and four hours of relevant training, and with 1st Level CS eligibility.

Qualified applicants are advised to submit their application letters, Personal Data Sheets and other documents to RHRC-ARMM Regional Office located at 1F Japan-ARMM Friendship Hall and Training Center, ORG Compound in Cotabato City or to the RHRC Sub Regional Office in Zamboanga City or RHRC Provincial Office , 2F Titanic Building New Capitol Complex, this city.

Disangcopan said all applications must be submitted on or before January 20, 2014.

Accordingly, the sub-regional and provincial offices are only going to accept applications. Applicants must be prepared to take the exam and interview in Cotabato City. (APB/PIA-10)


DepEd-Misamis Occidental prepares for Jan. 25 Early Registration Day
BY: Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, Jan. 7 (PIA) – Preparations are underway for the early registration of the school children for School Year (SY) 2013-2014, the Department of Education, Division of Misamis Occidental said.

This, as DepEd requires that all regular pupils, students, out-of-school children (OSC) and out-of-school youths (OSY) shall be undertaken in all levels of the Division, Dr. Jonathan S. Dela Peňa, Schools Division Superintendent, said.

The registration process shall follow this schedule: January 6-24, Child or Youth Find Activity, January 25, 2014, Early Registration Day (ERD) in all public schools, January 28-February 1, 2014, submission and coordination of registration data and February 3-February 28, 2014, Planning to Address Resource Gaps and Implementation of Different Interventions.

Children who were born on Oct. 31, 2009 or earlier shall be considered for early enrolment in Kindergarten, while those born on Oct. 31, 2008, or earlier, with or without Kindergarten experience shall be eligible for enrolment in Grade 1.

Dela Peňa said the basis for registration is the birth certificate of the child. If not available, during the ERD, the document can be submitted earlier in June 2014 or within the school year and the same document is required for all other children who have never been to school.

Meanwhile, he said there should be at least four registration centers (RC) in the school premises at the elementary level: One (1) RC, each, to be managed by the pre-school teachers, Grade 1 teachers, teachers who will handle OSC’s, from ages 6-8, and another who will handle OSY’s with ages 9-11.

The secondary level will also have one RC each, to be managed by 1st Year Teachers, who will register OSY’s with ages 12-13, 1st Year Teachers, who will register OSY’s with ages 14-15, 3rd Year Teachers who will register OSY’s with ages 16-17 and 4th Year Teachers who will register OSY’s with ages 18 and above, Dela Peňa added. (RCA/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)


LGU Ozamiz, DA, MISA set to ink MOA for rice production facility
By: Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob
                       
OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, Jan. 7 (PIA) – The Ozamiz City Government is set to enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Region 10, and the Misamis Irrigators Service Association (MISA) to increase rice production in the farmlands of the city.
                                                              
This, after the Ozamiz City Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP) allowed Mayor Reynaldo O. Parojinog, Sr., to sign the MOA per Resolution No. 182-13, for the implementation of the “On-Farm Mechanization Program: Provision of Farm Mechanization Facilities and Equipment to Farmer Associations.”

Such MOA specifies that DA, through its Rice-Mechanization Component, provides mechanization infrastructure and facilities, to enable small farmers improve their productivity through appropriate and efficient mechanization technologies.

A legitimate and registered irrigators association, MISA, which is among the agriculture sector of the industry, is most in need of and qualified to receive the Rice Cutter/Harvester, Rehabilitation of Flatbed Dryer, Power Tiller/Hand Tractor and Rice Thresher, the mechanization facility subject to this agreement, is willing to collaborate in the implementation of the program as beneficiary/cooperator.

The local government unit (LGU), on the other hand, will assist the cooperator in terms of technical information regarding the use of the facility, assist the DA in the selection of proponent and regularly monitor the performance of the facility.

Among others, the MOA specifies the following: That MISA shall provide a counterpart amount of 15 percent of the total estimated cost of the facility and shoulders the operating and maintenance cost of the mechanization facilities.

That it shall secure all legal documentations, such as permit to operate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), have the full accountability to any problem or issue arising from it, acknowledge receipt of the facilities and be responsible in its operation and maintenance.

It shall not also, in any manner, sell, lease or transfer the facility with monetary consideration to other parties, and while in its custody, must ensure its optimum utilization. (RCA/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)


News Feature: Extension of coverage of Pantawid Pamilya inspires children beneficiaries

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, January 7, PIA -- Beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (PantawidPamilya) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has all the reasons to celebrate this 2014.

The DSWD is set to implement this year the extension of age coverage among beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya.

This was finalized after the National Advisory Committee of the program, the highest policy-making inter-agency body that provides policy directions and guidance on matters pertinent to program implementation, passed and approved NAC Resolution No. 12, series of 2013.

Currently, the program provides health and education grants to children beneficiaries aged 0-14for five years only. With the implementation of the extension of coverage, the program will go beyond its previous five-year contract  to cover up to high school education by extending its coverage up to 18 years old in order to complement the K-12 program of the Department of Education.

Under the proposed extension, children in high school will receive higher education grant in the amount of P500 a month, but removing the health grant for those households who have been exposed to the program for five years and no longer have children beneficiaries enrolled in elementary monitored by the program.

The program also maintains the limit of three children beneficiaries per household.

Lawyer Araceli F. Solamillo, DSWD Field Office 10 Regional Director, explained that under the extension of coverage, children will be entitled for education grants until they are 18 years old, implying that they could benefit from educational grants up to 15 years, starting from age three to 18.
 
Extension inspires children beneficiaries

Irah Cristena B. Esporma, 14 of Barangay Bocboc, Don Carlos, Bukidnon and the regional winner of the Search for Exemplary PantawidPamilya Child 2013, disclosed that the extension of coverage has inspired her to excel more in her studies.

Irah is a Grade 7 student of Bocboc National High School and the eldest in the family. “I am thankful for the program and for the extension. It’s a big help to me,” she said, adding that the extension of coverage is a great opportunity given by the national government for her to finish her studies.

Irah is ranked number 1 in her class.

Another child beneficiary, Kerr Dynyle Calape, a Grade 7 student of Regional Science High School in this city expressed that he is happy with the extension of coverage of the program.

He said the proposed extension answers his dream of finishing his studies.

“It’s my dream to finish my studies and earn a job so that I can help my parents and my younger sister in the future.”

Selection Criteria

The selection of children aged 3-18 for education monitoring will be based on the following existing policy on the selection of children beneficiaries which include son, daughter, grandson and granddaughter of the household head: for Sets 1-5, the children beneficiaries selected by the system will continue to be monitored; for Sets 6-7 and replacement; the household shall select from among the children included in the household roster; for replacement and additional children beneficiaries to complete the three children limit per household, the household shall select from among the children included in the household roster.

Pilot Phase

A pilot phase of Sets 1-7 households with children aged 3 to 18 in 1,627 cities and municipalities will be implemented anytime this year.

The expected number of children covered during the pilot phase is 10.2 million throughout the country. Of this number of eligible children, 6.321 million or 62 percent are eligible for elementary while 3.875 million or 38 percent are eligible for high school.

Out of the 10.2 million children, 4,287.630 individuals or 42.1 percent will be funded with P12.3 billion during the pilot phase of implementation.

As of December 18, 2013 monitoring, Northern Mindanao has a total of 246, 677 active beneficiaries, excluding the beneficiaries of the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer.

The implementation of the program has brought and kept young children in school. It also promotes human capital by incentivizing staying in school. (OBI-DSWD/RTP-PIA10)


Lanao Norte contingent gears up high for Sinulog 2014

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte, January 7 (PIA) –Dubbed as the ‘Land of Beauty and Bounty’ the Province of Lanao del Norte will be participating anew in the world-renowned Sinulog Festival, an annual cultural festival hosted by Cebu City held every third Sunday of January of every year  to celebrate and honor the Santo Niño, Cebu’s Patron Saint.

This year, the Lanao del Norte contingent will showcase the colorful ‘Alimango Festival’ of the coastal town of Lala.

The province will again be competing in the Free Interpretation category which is considered by choreographers and Sinulog devotees as the most competitive category in the annual festival, said Provincial Tourism Head Minda Regis.

About 300 people will comprise the contingent with  head choreographer Janrey Compacion.
For this year, the performance would again be filled with surprises that will surely excite the Sinulog crowd, added Regis.

The alimango became a symbol of unity among Christians, lumads and Muslims who are living in harmony and prosperity in the municipality of Lala and in the province of Lanao del Norte.

It also became a symbol of economic development as more people in various communities developed sustainable livelihood and agricultural practices.

For five succeeding years, the Land of Beauty and Bounty Contingent has consistently won in both the Sinulog Showdown event and Street Dancing category making them one of the crowd’s favorite in the competition, revealed Regis.

The Sinulog festival has been promoted as a tourist attraction, with a competition showing dancers from various parts of the country, consists of a street parade with participants in bright coloured costumes dancing to the rhythm of drums, trumpets and native gongs. The Sinulog competition is usually held in Cebu City Sports Complex during its showdown.

Meanwhile, LDN Governor Khalid Dimaporo, who will lead the contingent, said its main purpose of joining this highly-anticipated festival is to show to the Philippines and the whole world that Lanao del Norte is a peaceful and a beautiful province.

He added, the province of Lanao del Norte is also known as the ‘Motocross Capital of the Philippines’ after hosting numerous international motocross competitions and freestyle motocross events.  The province was also identified by the Philippine Basketball Association as the ‘Home of the PBA’ in Mindanao. (LVG, PIA-10 LDN/VNL/PIO-LDN)

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