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iSIQUIJOR Information is our business.

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.14 April 11-- 20, 2015

Siquijor remains insurgency free

by Rizalie Anding Calibo

SIQUIJOR, April 15 (PIA) — Military and police officials in Siquijor assured that the province remains insurgency-free.

Commanding Officer Lt. Col Harold Anthony Pascua of the 79th Infantry Battalion, 302nd Infantry Brigade said this during the Provincial Peace and

Order Council (PPOC) held recently at the Provincial Capitol, Siquijor, Siquijor.

Pascua, however, warned local officials and the general public that the island is not spared from possible attacks from terrorists as he stressed that public awareness, monitoring of tourist arrivals, and other security operations should be intensified

Internal Security Operations (ISO) signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the 302nd Infantry Brigade represented by Lt. Col. Harold Anthony Pascua (right), commanding officer of the 79th Infantry Battalion, based in Negros Oriental, Siquijor Police Provincial Office (SPPO)

by Provincial Director Primitivo Tabujara Jr. (left) and the provincial government of Siquijor by Governor Zaldy S. VIlla (center).(mbcn/ rac/PIA7-Siquijor)

especially that the province is known to be one of the country’s tourist destinations.

As part of its security measures, the Philippine Army, represented by Lt. Col. Pascua and the Siquijor Police Provincial Office headed by Provincial Director Primitivo Tabujara Jr. with Provincial Governor Zaldy S. Villa signed a memorandum of agreement on the Internal Security Operations (ISO) for the province.

The MOA signing is part of the mandate of the Philippine Army and the police to continue undertaking internal security operations and assuring security in the province.

G o v. Z a l d y Villa lauded the partnership of the army and the police.

“Keeping peace and order requires teamwork,” he said as he called on everyone to cooperate with local governments in making Siquijor a perfect place to live and visit. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor)

DSWD collaborates with partners agencies to improve lives of “Pantawid” benificiaries

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) led nine government agencies in a consultation workshop to search for means to uplift 2.3M impoverished Filipinos.

The theme of the workshop, “Getting Near, Getting There: The Convergence Benchmark in Propelling 2.3 Million Households into an improvedlevel of well-being by 2016,” reflects the renewed commitment of the DSWD and its partner agencies to act on shared plans and goals to improve the lives of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries.

DSWD Secretary Corazon JulianoSoliman said the partnership with various

agencies is vital in the implementation of social protection services to ensure that no household will be left behind.

“The DSWD and its partneragencies will continue to optimize the convergence of government programs and resources to help 2.3 million poor households move from subsistence to self-sufficiency,” Sec. Soliman added.

Participating agencies of the four-day (April 21-24, 2015) convergence dubbed ” 9th Regional Directors Consultation Workshop “(RDCW) included: Departments of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Education (DepEd), Health (DOH), Labor and

Employment (DOLE), Agriculture (DA), Agrarian Reform (DAR), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Trade and Industry (DTI), and one attached agency of DOLE – the Technical Education

DSWD conducted the first RDCW in 2010 to reinforce convergence planning and identify specific areas of collaboration with partner agencies to further improve beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya program which is the flagship social protection program of the government being implemented by DSWD.

To date, there are 4.43 million household Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries nationwide wherein 234,632 are in Metro Manila. (DSWD/RJB/LFB/PIA-NCR)

iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS

DOST Siquijor holds orientation seminar, signing of scholarship agreement

by Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing

SIQUIJOR, April 20 (PIA) - - The Department of Science and Technology here in Siquijor conducted recently an orientation seminar for this year’s passers of the undergraduate scholarship.

Accompanied by family members, the scholars attended the event which aims to inform them of their rights and privileges as well as their duties and responsibilities.

DOST Siquijor lauded the students for graduating high school and for passing the DOST SEI Undergraduate Scholarship this year.

Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing who served as resource speaker for the program made the message in lieu of Provincial Science and Technology Director Engr.

Mario E. de la Peña who was on leave.

Questions regarding monthly stipend to availability of courses were raised to during the seminar.

The parents were reminded to give their all-out support to their son/ d a u g h t e r a s a D O S T s c h o l a r.

As privilege of being a DOST s c h o l a r, t h e s t u d e n t w i l l r e c e i v e a monthly stipend depending on the priority course he/she pursues.

DOST will shoulder the tuition fee of the scholar not exceeding P10,000 per semester/ trimester/quarter term. The student will also receive book allowance every semester.

In return, the scholar shall exercise his duties and responsibilities. Some of these include maintaining the prescribed annual weighted average per year level, submitting required documents every semester and enrolling in the regular academic load as prescribed on the curriculum.

After the orientation seminar, signing of scholarship agreement followed.

This year, the province posted a total of 11 passers – 10 of which were classified as RA 7687 Scholarship passers while the remaining passer is under Merit Scholarship.

However, one RA 7687 passer willfully abandoned his scholarship. (PIA7-Siquijor Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing/DOST-Siquijor)

Passers of Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) Undergraduate Scholarship together with parents and family members listen as Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing of DOST orients them on their scholarship privileges alongside duties and responsibilities.(rac/ PIA7-Siquijor w/ photo from DOST-Siquijor)

DepEd gears up for K to 12 full implementation

“On this 5th year of K to 12 implementation, we are running a marathon and I can already see the finish line. We are on our last mile,” said Secretary of Education Armin Luistro after presenting a midterm report to the 16th Congress on the K to 12 Basic Education Program.

In his presentation, Luistro outlined developments in the implementation of the K to 12 Program, specifically, the provision of fundamental education inputs from 2010 to 2014. He asserted that, “All 220 divisions of the Department of Education (DepEd) have finished planning and have figures on enrolment a year in advance. Plans were reviewed per division and against national figures then we [took results and] consulted with industry representatives.”

Since 2010 to 2014, DepEd has filled 128,055 new teacher items and constructed a total of 88,805 classrooms. DepEd expects 1.2M to 1.6M students from public high schools to enter Grade 11 in 2016 and 2017.

Of the 7,914 public high schools, DepEd identified 5,020 as potential Senior High Schools that are expected to accommodate 1.6M to 2.2M students. The remaining 800k to 1M students are expected to go to non-DepEd providers such as private high schools, private HEIs, SUCs and LUCs offering Senior High School.

Amid criticisms, the education chief encouraged openness to dialogue and extended gratitude to partners in the legislative who were instrumental in creating the Enhanced Basic Education Act and ensuring that no learners are left behind.

“The curriculum is done and it is the first time in history that it can be accessed in its entirety in the DepEd website,” Luistro said. He added that while it is complete, the Department welcomes feedback from the public. He maintains that education is everyone’s responsibility.

Commenting on the strengths of the K to 12 Program, Luistro said, “We looked at the exits (of the K to 12 curriculum). Each Filipino should have skills in Information Technology, Learning and Innovation, Communication, and Life Skills.

Mas importante po ang life skills, hindi lang ang nakukuha sa libro. Every Filipino will have the skills to be able to go to school, start their own businesses or be employed.”

Amid claims that a number of teachers stand to be unemployed because of the K to 12 Program, Luistro gave his assurance saying, “The situation is manageable.

We will be hiring an estimated 30,000 to 41,000 high school teachers for 2016 and 2017 and we will give priority to the displaced teaching and non-teaching staff.”

In his closing remarks, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. vowed to block attempts by Congress to suspend the K to 12 Program’s implementation saying, “We in Congress have given them the law and it cannot be suspended.

Based on the discussion today, I think they [DepEd] are on the right track.”

As of March 5, there are 1,116 private schools that applied for SHS permits for SY 2016. Luistro said, “By the end of March, we will be able to issue actual probationary permits [for these applicants].” (deped.gov.ph)

iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS iSIQUIJOR GOVERNMENTNEWS

DSWD, Smart solidify partnership for disaster management

In an effort to provide communications support to communities affected by disasters and emergencies, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Smart Communications, Inc. forge a partnership on, April 21, that will extend free calls, internet use, and charging of mobile phones in DSWD operations centers, as well as in designated evacuation centers.

“In times of disasters, the need for communication is as important as the need for food. People in disaster-stricken areas need to immediately communicate with their loved ones to assure them that they are safe or to ask for help,” Secretary of Social Welfare and Development Corazon Juliano-Soliman said.

“Through this partnership with Smart, the Department’s visibility and capability to respond to the most urgent needs of the affected population will be enhanced,” Sec. Soliman added.

Sec. Soliman cited the important role played by information and communications t e c h n o l o g y i n t h e a f t e r m a t h o f Ty p h o o n Yo l a n d a .

For his part, Smart Public Affairs Head Mon Isberto said, “Communications has become an important component of disaster response. We have committed to support the relief operations of the DSWD by providing the agency our host of Larena Mayor Dean Villa recognizes in his speech the big contribution of communications solutions so that they are able to effectively women in nation building as he plans to come up with more aggressive deploy resources on the ground, and other services that will livelihood programs to really support them at the local government provide psychosocial relief to disaster-stricken communities.” unit’s celebration especially dedicated and participated in by the women

“Our libreng tawag services will help families in town’s folk of Larena, Siquijor. (mbcn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor) affected areas reconnect with their loved ones and reunite with other family members who may have been displaced by disasters. These services have become part of our post-disaster relief and response as we recognize the need of people to communicate with loved ones and family in difficult times,” added Isberto.

Both the DSWD and Smart will work closely in formulating the guidelines for the implementation of this partnership anchored on the country’s National Disaster Response Plan.

“This partnership with the DSWD will further boost our response efforts. [With DSWD as] the lead agency tasked with the national government’s CEBU PIA) – The Department of disaster response, this tie-up will allow us to serve more people and ensure that Energy (DOE) - Visayas Field Office is opening our resources are deployed to areas where they are most needed,” said Isberto. five vacant positions in its Energy Industry

Smart, through its year-round disaster preparedness and response Management Division and is now accepting umbrella program #SafePH, has strengthened its internal capabilities to prepare for applications from qualified individuals. disasters and help in post-disaster response, including the recalibration of its network Positions that are open are one infrastructure, and training of its on-ground personnel on surviving adverse conditions. Senior Science Research Specialist (SSRS),

T h i s p a r t n e r s h i p e f f o r t w i l l a l s o a c t i v e l y p r o m o t e t h e c u l t u r e o f three Science Research Specialist (SRS) preparedness to partner-communities, including religious organizations, schools, II and another SRS II in a different field. local government units, and even households in high-risk areas to build their For SSRS, one must have capacities to prepare for, deal with the impact of, and bounce back from, disasters. a Civil Service Level II Eligibility or its

DSWD is a member of the Disaster Response Pillar under the National Disaster equivalent and a graduate of any technical Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and is the lead agency for the Camp baccalaureate course (Engineering is Coordination and Camp Management, Protection, and Food and Non-Food Clusters.(dswd.gov.ph) preferable) with corresponding training and experience in his or her field of work.

He or she must function with less supervision, capable of handling project, work planning, supervision, implementation while experience in public relations is an advantage.

Likewise, the three SRS II must have a Civil Service Level II Eligibility or its equivalent and a graduate of any technical course (Engineering is preferable) with relevant training in his or her field of work.

The last SRS II however, must be a graduate of Chemical Engineering or Chemistry and must also have a Civil Service Level II Eligibility or its equivalent with experience or familiarity in laboratory procedure and analysis.

Interested applicants may submit their application, resume, transcript of records and Civil Service Commission or Professional Regulation Commission result to Director Antonio E. Labios, Department of EnergyVisayas, 3rd floor, Escario Building, Escario Tourism Instructor Cyd Sarmiento gives lectures to the tourism students of Street, Cebu City. For further inquiries, one Siquijor State College at the PIA-Siquijor office while on Mock Tour Guiding at may also call DOE-Visayas at telephone numbers (032) 253-7222 or 2533459. (mbcn/ the Old Capitol Building in Larena, Siquijor. (mbcn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor) fcr/PIA7/with reports from DOE-Visayas )

DOE-Visayas opens 5 vacant positions for hiring

iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS

‘Help us prevent forest fires’ – DENR-7

(PIA) --- The sweltering Philippine summer, made even hotter by the reported heat wave caused by a mild El Nino, has put forests at risk of succumbing to fires.

Since January this year, two incidents of bush fires have already hit two plantations covered by the government’s National Greening Program (NGP), one in Oslob, Cebu and another in Bohol island.

Department of Environment and

Natural Resources (DENR-7) Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo said it’s harder to control the spread of fire during summer due to the extreme heat.

Montejo appealed to the community residents living near NGP sites to help the department in protecting the woodlands by avoiding practices that will cause bush fires.

“They should help us in the

DA-BFAR, National Scientist condemn the destruction of marine resources in the West Philippine Sea -- See more at: http://www.gov.ph/2015/04/23/da-bfar-national-scientistcondemn-the-destruction-of-marine-resources-in-the-west-philippine-sea/

Cebuano News

protection of these areas. They shouldn’t just burn farm areas without making the necessary protection measures to protect the plantation sites,” said Montejo in a recent press conference.

The DENR regional director is referring to kaingin, a technique practiced by farmers in clearing lands by cutting down and burning plant growths.

He urged those living in the hinterland areas to get involved in the measures implemented by DENR-7 in protecting forest fires.

DENR-7 Spokesperson Dr. Eddie Llamedo said cigarette butts carelessly thrown around in grassy areas near forests can spark bush fires.

“Campers and trekkers should also be careful when cooking food in forested areas using outdoor camping stoves,” he said during a recent Kapihan forum held by the Philippine Information Agency in Cebu.

DENR-7 earlier kicked off its NGP implementation in Central Visayas with a budget of more than P404-M for this year.

President Benigno Aquino III issued Executive Order 26 on Feb. 24, 2011 establishing the NGP to reforest 1.5 million hectares of land while promoting a sustained environmental awareness campaign in the face of the ill-effects of climate change. (rmn/PIA7-Cebu)

Mag-amping sa food poisoning karong ting-init - DoH

MANILA, April 14 (PIA)--Gitambagan sa Department of Health (DOH) ang publiko sa pag-amping batok sa food poisoning karong panahon sa ting-init diin daling mapan-os ang mga pagkaon tungod sa grabeng ka-init sa

panahon.

Nagpagawas usab og advisory ang DOH ug nihatag og mga tips aron makalikay ang publiko sa food poisoning.

Matud pa sa DOH, angay

DA: Agri graduates giawhag nga i aplay ang ilang nakat-onan sa PHL

MANILA, Abril 15 (PIA)--Ang Department of Agriculture nag awhag sa mga gradwado sa kursong agriculture ug agriculture-related courses nga magpabilin ug i aplay ang ilang nakat-onan mahitungod sa tanom, hayop ug yuta dinhi sa Pilipinas..

Si Agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala nagkanayon nga nagkinahanglan ang sektor sa Agriculture sa dugang ug modernong kahibalo gikan sa mga batan-ong gradwado aron mapalambo pa ang programa sa agrikultura ilabi na sa mga bag-ong teknolohiya sa pananom, pangisda ug pagpadaghan sa hayop.

Pahibalo ni Alcala nga kadaghanan sa mga gradwado mangita ug trabaho gawas sa nasud alang sa katumanan sa ilang mga pangandoy nga makakuha ug trabaho nga dagku ang sweldo.

Tungod kay dili man mapugngan ang gidaghanon sa mga molangyaw ngadto sa laing nasud, nanghinaut gihapon si Alcala nga ang uban magpabilin ug mo serbi dinhi sa nasud.

Kung ang mga bag-ong gradwado mo praktis sa ilang kurso dinhi sa Pilipinas, dili hinoon sama ka daku ang sweldo sa gawas ang ilang makuha apan dakong tabang ang ilang mahatag sa mga katawhan sa atong nasud, matud ni Alcala.

Gani gipasigarbo ni Alcala nga ang mga unibersidad sa Pilipinas nabantog nga pinaka maayong tunghaan nga gatudlo ug kurso sa agriculture.

Midugang si Alcala nga daghang langyaw nga estudyante gikan sa mga silingang nasud ang nituyo pag eskwela ug kuha sa kursong agriculture tungod kay nisalig sila nga maayo ug dekalidad ang mga unibersidad nga gatudlo sa maong kurso dinhi sa atong nasud.

Ang mga langyaw nga nakakat-on ug naka practice sa atong mga tunghaan ug unibersidad, mapasigarbohon sa ilang nakat-onan nga abilidad ug kahibalo gani gi aplay kini sa ilang nasud.

Samtang nanghinaut ug nag-awhag usab ang DA sa mga mi gradwar sa high school pagkuha sa mga agricluture-related courses sama sa panguma ug pangisda.(mbcn/lpp/PIA7Negros Oriental)

siguradohong limpyo ang pag-andam sa pagkaon, limpyo ang tubig nga gamiton sa paghugas ug pagluto niini ug de-kalidad ang mga sangkap sa ilutong sud-an.

Angay usab nga ibuwag ang hilaw nga pagkaon sa luto nang pagkaon ug siguradohong naluto og maayo ang bawnon nga pagkaon ilabi na kun karne ug manok.

Angay usab siguradohon nga kun biyaan ang pagkaon, naa lamang kini sa safe temperature ug wala kini nainiti.

Pahinumdom pa sa DOH, kun init ang panahon daling mapan-os ang pagkaon mao nga doble amping gayud sa pagluto ang angay buhaton. (mbcn/ecb/PIA7-Bohol)

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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