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THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH and the DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.DOST.GOV.PH
VOL. 3 | NO. 10 March 10 - 17, 2015
Siquijor lady mayor declares town as smoke-free
Rizalie Anding Calibo
SIQUIJOR, March 10 (PIA) - - Siquijor town mayor Mei Ling Quezon formally declared the town as smoke-free with its grand launching March 9 at its Capital Square. Apparently rejoicing for the local government unit’s (LGU) initiative, town folks from all its 42 barangays joined the parade amidst scorching heat as it started at 1:00 in the afternoon, each displaying smoke-free advocacy streamers of different designs and messages. Siquijor, being the pilot town for smoke-free in the province won support of the smoke-free awardee towns in Negros Oriental with no less than the mayors and other advocates attending and gracing the grand launching. Mayors Valente Yap of Bindoy, Bentham Dela Cruz of Amlan, Enrique Gonzales of Valencia, Hazel Billones of Jimalalud and Lawrence Limkaichong of La Libertad who are all anti-tobacco advocate and some recipients of the Red Orchid Award for their consistent and effective implementation of the smoke free campaign, stressed the need to put high on education and information campaign. All pledged support and encouraged the lady mayor and other local political leaders to have strong political will in implementing the government’s anti-smoking campaign. The town’s declaration is supported by Municipal Ordinance 654, “prohibiting the use, sale, distribution and advertisement of cigarettes and other tobacco products in certain places” as one of its comprehensive and effective tobacco control measures after seeing the urgency for local governments to denormalize the culture of smoking and tobacco consumption. T h e m u n i c i p a l i t y, i n i t s ordinance, recognizes the fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the tobacco industry’s interest and public health policy, hence the need to be alert, be informed and get involved with tobacco control measures. (mbn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor)
On this Women’s Month, Siquijor Lady Mayor Mei Ling Quezon gives life to the theme: Juana, Desisyon Mo ay Mahalaga sa Kinabukasan ng Bawat Isa, Ikaw Na!” as she strongly advocates for a smoke-free environment with her declaration of Siquijor as a smoke-free town. (RACalibo)
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DOST-Siquijor head congratulates 10 qualifiers for 2015 undergrad scholarship
Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing SIQUIJOR, March 12 (PIA) -- Provincial Science and Technology Director Engr. Mario de la Peña congratulated the new qualifiers for passing the 2015 DOST-SEI Science and
DFA Cebu reminds public to check passport before travel
CEBU CITY, March 17 (PIA) -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) – Regional Consular Office in Cebu reminds the public and to all passport holders to ensure that their passports are in good condition before travelling abroad. D FA a d v i s e d a l l c u r r e n t passport holders and all those planning to apply for their passports to kindly check their passports beforehand in view of the forthcoming travel and vacation season in summer. Their passports are valid for at least six (6) months for each travel abroad. For applicants made in Cebu, the turn-around time for e-passports processing is thirty (30) working days. Applicants who are in a rush may apply at DFA Manila where the turn-around time is ten (10) working days provided the applicant has first scheduled for an appointment online www.passport.com.ph. DFA is now gradually shifting to an up-to-date system and in order not to hamper its operations starting February 23, the DFA is temporarily implementing the following passport releases dates: At the DFA-Aseana (Office of Consular Affairs) at Aseana Center, Bradco corner Macapagal Avenue, Parañaque City, regular processing is twenty (20) working days while the express processing is ten (10) working days. Satellite Offices at SM Megamall, SM Manila, Metro Mall Alabang, Robinsons Galeria and Ali Mall, the regular processing is twenty (20) working days while the express processing is ten (10) working days. A t t h e D FA C e b u , r e g u l a r processing is thirty (30) working days while the express processing is twenty (20) working days. DFA assures the public that normal passport releasing schedules will be restored upon the end of the transition period to pave the way for an improved passport system with enhanced security features that will facilitate every Filipino’s travelling experience and safety.(mbcn/hfg/PIA7/AGIO7)
Technology Undergraduate Scholarships. Siquijor province posted 10 qualifiers for the scholarships with two each from five Siquijor towns except Enrique Villanueva. They are Rechel Ann Baclay of Kinamandagan National High School, Felton Flint Belgera of Philippine Science High School-Central Visayas Campus, Armyn Justin Catiel of Candaping High School, Mariah Desiree Duazo of Siquijor Provincial Science High School, Carlo Mhar General of Campalanas National High School, Hannah Mae Gomez of Tambisan National High School, Alyssa Magsanay of Banban National High
School, Gwaineth Stephan Pabinguit of Siquijor Provincial Science High School, Aira Shayne Paculba of Candaping High School and Rico Tomimbang, Jr. of Siquijor State College-High School Department. The 10 qualifiers will be notified formally through a letter of award from DOST. They will undergo an orientation on a scheduled date at the Siquijor Provincial Science and Technology Center regarding the benefits and responsibilities of being a DOST scholar. Signing of scholarship agreement will follow immediately after the orientation. (mbcn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor/ Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing/DOST-Siquijor)
Above shows Larena Mayor Dean Villa recognizing in his speech the big contribution of women in nation building as he plans to come up with more aggressive livelihood programs to really support them at the local government unit’s celebration especially dedicated and participated in by the women town folks of Larena, Siquijor. Below are women dancers/participants awaiting the judges’ announcement of winners. (PIA7-Siquijor/RACalibo)
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ODA loan disbursement triples in Q4 2014 The financial performance of projects and programs funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA) improved as the disbursement level in the fourth quarter of 2014 tripled from the same period of last year, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). “Comparing the financial performance in the fourth quarter of 2014 from the same period in 2013, all absorptive capacity indicators registered favorable performance. This includes the disbursement level, disbursement rate, availment rate, and the disbursement ratio,” said NEDA Monitoring and Evaluation Staff (MES) Director Roderick M. Planta. The disbursement level, which is the actual expenditure or draw-down of ODA-funded projects and programs, increased to US$1.62 billion in the last quarter of 2014 from US$546.36 million during the same period in 2013. The said improvement was caused by higher actual loan drawdown (or disbursements) from 13 program loans amounting to US$1.1 billion from US$182.60 million in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to a report of the NEDA-MES. The disbursement rate, or the actual disbursement level as a percentage of target disbursement for the year, had an 18-percentage-point increase to 68.3 percent in 2014 from 50.3 percent in 2013. Though this was below the acceptable 70-percent threshold, for a satisfactory financial performance for a given year, the disbursement rate was a significant improvement compared to 2013 figure. The availment rate, or the percentage of loan amount’s actual utilization against loan
Dancing to the Juana Ikaw Na Women’s Month dance video with the 4Ps beneficiaries of Licoan, Maria Siquijor during the Family Development Session (FDS) on Climate Change and Women conducted by the PIA-Siquijor. schedule, likewise improved and still exceeded the threshold at 77.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014 from 73.0 percent of the previous year. Furthermore, the disbursement ratio, which is the actual drawdown as against the available net loan amount, improved by 12.3 percentage points, from 9.3 percent during the last quarter of 2013 to 21.6 percent in fourth quarter same period. The increase was due to the entry of about US$2.04 billion worth of new program loans, but almost half of which was disbursed within the year. Meanwhile, the overall net commitment for ODA-assisted projects and programs registered an increase of US$3.18 billion in fourth quarter of 2014. This was from US$8.11
billion in last quarter of 2013 to US$11.29 billion. The said net commitment consists of 13 program loans amounting to US$4.09 billion and 62 project loans amounting to US$7.21 billion. The Infrastructure Sector had the largest share (40.2%). The World Bank was the biggest source of loans, with a 39.5-percent share amounting to US$4.46 billion. The Japan International Cooperation Agency came second with US$3.41 billion (30.2%), followed by the Asian Development Bank with US$2.23 billion (19.8%). The total assistance from the said three sources of loans amounting to US$10.10 billion constitutes 89.0 percent of the total 2014 portfolio.(NEDA)
BSP reminds public that old banknotes can be used up to this year
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 18 (PIA) – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) once again reminds the public that they only have until this year to use their old banknotes or New Design Series (NDS) currency for their payment transactions. BSP-Dumaguete City senior research specialist Gregorio Baccay III disclosed that by 2016 unused old money will no longer be acceptable for buying or paying goods and services. By 2017, these banknotes will totally lose its tender value. This is part of the demonetization process of NDS banknotes to give way for the circulation of New Generation Currency Series (NGC) or the new
designed Philippine Peso banknotes. Baccay explained in a Kapihan forum today that demonetization of old banknotes is a way to keep the integrity of Philippine currency and safeguard money from counterfeiters. “Once our banknotes are out for circulation for a long period, counterfeiters will study the features (of the money), so it’s very easy for them to copy the design. NDS has been in circulation for almost three decades,” Baccay added. Aside from this, demonetization also aims to reduce the circulation of two design series to one. BSP has begun demonetizing NDS banknotes since January 1 until December
31 this year. The BSP official urged the public to have their old bills exchanged with new generation currencies at their banks, other accredited financial institutions or at the BSP office before it these are totally demonetized. “This year, these old banknotes are still a legal tender but BSP cautioned that it should be used,” Baccay said. Even though, NDS peso banknotes will no longer be used for purchasing by 2016, the public can still handover these to BSP in exchange for new currencies within the said year. For OFWs who still has old Peso banknotes, “Starting October 1, they have to register at BSP website to inform (us) when will they return to the Philippines to have their banknotes exchanged. They only have one year period for that, starting from the day of registration,” Baccay announced. Meanwhile, the Negros Oriental Bankers Association (NOBA) assured BSP that they will help in the massive information campaign to raise the public’s consciousness on the demonetization of old banknotes. “The bankers can come out with brochures, tarpaulins for massive information regarding the demonetization because it’s the banks that have a direct transaction with their clients,” NOBA president Elmer Teves said. “People should be informed about economic and financial matters,” Baccay concluded. (mbcn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)
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iSIQUIJOR is the Island of Siquijor’s first electronic newsletter produced by the Philippine Information Agency-Siquijor Information Center and the DOST - Provincial Science and Technology Center. It contains snippets of information about Siquijor, Central Visayas and the Philippine Government.
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