Tuesday, February 11, 2014

President Aquino to meet with local government officials in ARMM

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Feb. 8 (PIA) --- President Benigno Aquino III will meet with local chief executives in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) at a local government summit scheduled Tuesday, February 11, in Davao City.

The governors of ARMM’s five provinces and mayors of its two cities and 116 municipalities including regional officials and legislators from the region are expected to be in attendance to discuss, among others, crisis management issues at every government level in the region.

Lawyer Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary, said it’s going to be the second local government unit summit for the ARMM.

Alamia said the summit will highlight the role of ARMM government units in the Mindanao peace process and issues on disaster management, mitigation and response.

The regional government, she said, is hoping to capacitate local government units and “cascade” what it has done in terms of disaster risk management down to the local level.  

In a meeting with members of the ARMM Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (HEART) and non-government organizations operating in ARMM,  Alamia said ARMM’s unique setup calls for a “temporary special measure to respond to an abnormal situation” in the region.

Alamia said the local counterparts of most agencies that are supposed to be at the forefront of emergency response have still not been devolved to the ARMM government and there are 12 municipalities that don’t have internal revenue allotment (IRA), meaning they can’t source the five percent calamity fund provided by law.

Displacement has also become the norm in some of the region’s unstable communities.  

Alamia said the regional government has to take a proactive stance and provide immediately intervention in times of emergencies, although the law does not provide for it.

The ARMM HEART is one of the regional government’s response to the prevalence of displacement and emergencies in the region due to man-made and natural calamities. (Bureau of Public Information/PIA-10)


By: Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob
                                     
OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 10 (PIA) – Effective Jan. 1, 2014, all documents on the Full Disclosure Policy of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will refer to Memorandum Circular No. 2013-140.

Issued by DILG Secretary Mar Roxas on Dec. 3, last year, the circular calls on the Provincial Governors, City/Municipal Mayors, the Regional Governor of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and all Regional Directors of DILG to follow the Implementing Guidelines on the Full Disclosure of the Local Budget and Finances, and Bids and Public Offerings.

These guidelines have set the type of annual reports in at least three conspicuous places in the Provincial Capitol, City/Municipal Hall and government-owned facilities, such as the social center, gymnasium, auditorium, manpower development center, training center, transport terminal, public market, public school, health station or center and hospital.

Thus, MC 2013-140 prescribes the posting and the period of posting of the following reports: Annual Budget, on or before January 20 of each year or not later than 20 days after its approval by the local Sanggunian, and the Statement of Debt Service (SDS), 20 days after approval by the Local Chief Executive (LCE) of the SDS Annual Report.

Statement of Receipts and Expenditures (SRE), 20 days after approval by the LCE of the SRE Annual Report, Annual Procurement Plan or Procurement List , on or before January 31 of each year and the Annual Gender and Development (GAD) Accomplishment Report, not later than the end of January of the ensuing year.

Meanwhile, the LCE’s, upon request, are to provide copies of the above-listed financial documents to the media, civic society organizations, basic sector, and business groups, the reproduction of which shall be at the expense of the requesting party, Sanivier G. Patuc, DILG Provincial Director of Misamis Occidental, said.

On the other hand, the glass-covered bulletin boards containing the financial documents must not be locked to allow the general public to view and read each and every page, which must remain posted until the first quarter of the ensuing year, Patuc added. (RCA/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)


By: Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, Feb. 10 (PIA) – The Department of Education waged an intensified information dissemination package for the anti-measles campaign in Misamis Occidental.

The campaign, which is conducted in all schools, nationwide, is in response to the alarming increase of individuals/children sick of measles and in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), Dr. Jonathan S. Dela Peňa, Schools Division Superintendent (SDS), said.

He said the school heads have been instructed to disseminate information about measles and measles immunization and advise children manifesting flu-like symptoms to stay home, rest and recuperate, and coordinate with the local government health units  (LGU) for the complete vaccination of children.

Meanwhile, the campaign includes mobilizing all school officials to undertake supportive activities to prevent measles infection, which has been considered a public health problem in the Philippines.

Described as a highly contagious viral infection, measles is transmitted by droplets and its infection is characterized by rashes, fever, cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis or red eyes.

Very dangerous to young and under-nourished/malnourished children, complications of measles in children include pneumonia, encephalitis, blindness, ear infection, diarrhea, dehydration, and very easily and rapidly transmitted from person to person through air or direct contact.

On the other hand, the DOH said all children not immunized or infected by measles have the highest risk of infection and no cure, but prevention only through immunization and those measles vaccines are safe, effective and free at all health centers, nationwide. (RCA/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)


Brgy. Assembly sets on March 29  
By Ana Celeste W. Felisilda

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 7 – Barangay Assembly is set on March 29, based on Proclamation No. 260, series of 2011 declaring the last Saturday of March and the second Sunday of October every year as Barangay Assembly Days.

The Barangay Assembly serves to instigate the norms of transparency, responsiveness, accountability and participation at the barangay level. The assembly also serves as a venue for discussions on significant issues or concernsaffecting the barangay such as: disaster preparedness, solid waste management, peace and order situation, among others, said Atty. Rene K. Burdeos, Regional Director, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), region 10.

DILG issued Memorandum Circular No. 2014-09 dated January 28, 2014 for the conduct of Barangay Assembly Day for the first semester of CY 2014 on March 29, 2014.

During the Assembly, the barangay officials may also undertake other activities deemed necessary and appropriate. They are enjoined to prepare barangay assembly posters or banners to be posted on conspicuous places in the locality.

Punong Barangays are encouraged to deliver their State of Barangay Address (SOBA), with emphasis on C.Y 2013 Second Semester Accomplishment reports; Financial Report to include the itemized Monthly Collections and Disbursement; Summary of Income and Expenditures; and Updates on CY 2014 on-going programs and projects. (Ana Celeste W. Felisilda/DILG10/PIA)


DPWH bares completed projects in CdeO

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 7 -- Some of the infrastructure projects undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-10) by the First District Engineering District Office have been completed.

This is based on the status report submitted by OIC-District Engineer Yolanda Egam to the City Council committee on public works chaired by Councilor Alden Bacal.

Based on the report, as of January 2014, completed projects are: the road opening and concrete at Cagayan de Oro coastal road (by pass road) including road right of way, construction for the improvement of drainage structure at Sapang Creek along Butuan City-Cagayan de Oro City-Iligan City Road (BCIR) Kauswagan, constructions of Tignapoloan National High School, Canitoan National High School, Taglimao Elementary School, Tumpagon Elementary School, among others.

Meanwhile, ongoing projects include the construction of the Cagayan de Oro Resettlement Project, LGU-Canitoan Housing Project, Calaanan, Barangay Canitoan, construction of Carmen revetment, gravel to paved construction of farm to market road at Barangay Baikingon-Barangay Pagalungan, construction of drainage at Carmen-Patag-Bulua road and construction of Mambuaya National High School-Bayanga Annex.

The submission of the report is in line with the agency’s policy of close collaboration and coordination with the city government in the implementation of infrastructure projects in this region. (JBD/CdeOSP/PIA)


AEFs complete DAR-CRS certificate course
By Florence A. Ramos

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, February 10 (PIA) – There was a sweet smell of success when the agro-enterprise facilitators (AEF) from both the Department of Agrarian Reform and local government units gathered during the first Agro-enterprise Development (AED) Certificate Program commencement exercises on January 27 at the Nursing Auditorium of Xavier University.

Some 30 AE facilitators from Regions 1, 3, 10 and 11 successfully completed the AED course under the DAR-Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Partnership Program with their project goal “linking agrarian reform beneficiaries to the corporate supply chain.”

In his message, Joseph Curry, the country representative of CRS stated the importance of helping small-scale farmers.

“We are here today because we believe in the idea that small farmers play an important part in agriculture and that supporting them is essential in bringing them out of poverty,” said Curry.

DAR Secretary Virgilio De los Reyes, who was the commencement speaker, shared about the evolution of markets and profits in the country relating to what it has become today.

“A few decades ago, we didn’t talk about market and profit. We talked about price control on rice and fertilizers. We talked about commodity and supply management. But now it’s different. Now we’re linking small holders to the private buyers and commercial markets,” said De los Reyes.

He further expressed his gratitude to the graduates for going through almost a year of extensive training just so they could help and impart the knowledge taught to them on AED to the ARBs.

“I wish I knew how to reward people like you for doing such a great job to help our farmers,” said De los Reyes.

The CRS had initially chosen Region 10 as pilot area covering three municipalities in Bukidnon namely Sumilao, Impasugong and Malaybalay.

It has now expanded to Umingan, Pangasinan in Region 1; Llanera, Nueva Ecija in Region 3; Balingasag and Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental also in Region 10; and Matanao, Davao del Sur in Region 11. All clusters in these areas have linked their agricultural products to different corporate markets.

The AE facilitators underwent four week-long trainings focused on the 8-steps clustering approach of the AED certificate course. The trainings were facilitated by CRS in collaboration with XU-Southeast Asia Rural Social Leadership Institute (SEARSOLIN). The graduates were required to present and defend their case studies, submit progress reports and video documentations.

The DAR, specifically the Bureau of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development (BARBD), acted as project steering committee and technical working group.

The DAR-CRS Partnership Project aims to increase the production and income of ARBs and their household through agricultural extension, marketing assistance, and capacity-building with the assistance of the AE facilitators. (FARamos/ERS/PIA)

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