1 vol 4 isiquijor 1 10 16

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. 4| NO. 1 January 1 - 10 , 2014

Community food program pours in P9M for 490 households in Siquijor

SIQUIJOR, (PIA) -- The Integrated Community Food Production (ICFP) project is pouring in a total of P9-M for 940 households provincewide, said ICFP Provincial Coordinator Javerlyn Jane Tamala.

Tamala said that per approved national budget, Lazi has the biggest share of P2.5 million with 80 beneficiaries, followed by Enrique Villanueva with P2.2 million for 100 beneficiaries, San Juan with P1.7 million for 150 beneficiaries, Larena with P1.4 million for 120 beneficiaries, and Siquijor with P1.2 million for 40 beneficiaries.

Maria town has its own ICFP concept project of more than P400,000 but not under the BottomUp Budgeting (BUB) program.

According to the ICFP provincial coordinators, the first tranche of 60% from the total amount was already downloaded to the municipalities of Larena, Siquijor, and Enrique Villanueva.

Funding for Lazi and S a n J u a n w i l l s o o n f o l l o w.

ICFP household beneficiaries take care of the s i x c o m p o n e n t s co m p ri si ng root crops, vegetables, fruits trees, goat and native chicken raising, and vermi composting.

Bidding for the procurement of the needed supplies for the ICFP components will be taken care of by the local government units (LGUs).

F u n d i n g p e r municipality depends

The 16th Philippine Hobie Challenge is set to conquer the Central Visayas on February 20-28, 2016.

Exploring five breathtaking and enchanting island destinations, the challenge will conclude in Siquijor island with festivities and sponsored by the Cocogrove Beach and Dive Resort and the Provincial Government of Siquijor.

A fleet of up to 25 Hobie 16 catamarans will sail a distance of approximately 200 nautical miles through Mactan, Cabilao, Sumilon, Balicasag, Panglao islands and will finish in Siquijor.

Organized by the Philippine Inter-Island Sailing Foundation (PHINSAF), the event consists of five (5) inter-island legs ranging from 30-50 nautical miles each, and at least one (1) inshore racing series involving up to 5 course races.

on the project proposals that were being identified during the Local Poverty Reduction Action Planning (LPRAT).

Tamala said that all the beneficiaries were chosen and screened based on the criteria from the CBMS survey conducted by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).

Eligible for the program are households with one malnourished child or those belonging to an indigent family and must be members of any of the farmers, fisher folks, women, and youth sectors.

Initiated by the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) and funded by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the ICFP aims to eliminate hunger by helping poor communities grow their own vegetables and raise poultry and livestock—which they can also sell for additional income.

Household beneficiaries are thoroughly monitored and and taught by the municipal agriculturist (MAs) as the ICFP community technicians.

The project, Tamala stressed, is not ‘dole out’ as it needs full cooperation and participation of the member of the recipient-families.

ICFP was implemented in 94 LGUs in 2015 and is set to be implemented in 309 LGUs this year.

NAPC is also set to implement this year the Rapid Community-Based Monitoring System (RCBMS) under the BuB program.

RCBMS uses mobile phones for faster, cheaper, and more reliable collection of data for planning and program development, identification of beneficiaries, and monitoring and evaluation of anti-poverty projects.

NAPC is also implementing the Citizen-Led Monitoring Program (CLMP) under the BuB process.

T h r o u g h C L M P, b e n e f i c i a r i e s a r e e m p o w e r e d t o m o n i t o r t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f BuB projects in their communities. (rmn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor w/ reports from IAAbatayo)

iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DOST bares breakthroughs, innovations in 2015

by Rainier Allan Ronda

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)’s promotion of an S&T “ecosystem” in the country started bearing fruit in 2015 and is likely to further benefit the economy with the ASEAN Economic Community now in effect.

Science Secretary Mario Montejo said such an ecosystem would make possible substantial investments in infrastructure as facilities and laboratories are set up to provide Filipino scientists and researchers a conducive environment for research and development.

“There is usually a question on what is the role of science and technology, why do you spend on S&T. This is not just here in the country but also elsewhere,” Montejo told The STAR. “For S&T to really have a role, it should help people, it should benefit people.”

These benefits, Montejo pointed out, come with breakthroughs achieved by scientists and researchers in their labs, workshops, and in the farms or fields.

We had some breakthroughs in 2015,” Montejo said.

He cited the irradiated carageenan fertilizer unveiled in field trials funded by the DOST’s Philippine Council for Agriculture and Aquatic Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

The collaboration between nuclear scientists and agriculturists was seen to boost resiliency of rice plants and increase yield by up to 65 percent.

“That’s just initially for rice… irradiation done with nuclear science.

Our scientists from the PNRI (Philippine Nuclear Research Institute) worked with agriculturists and agri-scientists,” Montejo said.

The R&D for the “carra-vita” organic fertilizer was done by the PNRI while agriculturists and scientists from PCAARRD and UP Los Baños did the research, application and field trials in rice fields in Pulilan, Bulacan; Victoria and Los Baños in Laguna, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija and Iloilo.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala was excited about the partnership where his department will fund a program to distribute the “carra-vita” formula for free to rice farmers this 2016, Montejo said.

The P50-million program will benefit some 30,000 hectares of rice lands.

Another flagship DOST R&D project, the Electric Road Train (ERT) was completed in 2015 to improve efficiency of public mass transport systems.

Th e a s s e m b l y o f th e E RT prototype was finished in the second quarter of 2015, allowing the DOST to present the train during the National Science and Technology Week last October.

Montejo said the ERT may be adopted by the Department of Transportation and Communications whose secretary, Joseph Emilio Abaya came away impressed after a test ride.

Montejo pointed out that the Clark

One of the directors of PHINSAF and co-chair to this year’s challenge, Eddie Legarda closing the deal with the government of Siquijor and visiting the outreach site for 16th Philippine Hobie Challenge to conquer Central Visayas on February 20-28, 2016 with five breathtaking and enchanting island destinations that will conclude in Siquijor island.

Development Corp. has asked the DOST to collaborate on a study to construct an ERT line at the Clark special economic zone.

Leading local construction firm D.M. Wenceslao, owner of Aseana City, has expressed interest in having an ERT line in the envisioned central business district.

The year 2015 saw the completion of infrastructure investments of the DOST to lay out buildings and laboratories to serve as facilities for design and innovation.

Montejo, however, stressed that the facilities are not just buildings.

Testing centers, FICs, digital library

Raymund Liboro, DOST assistant secretary for plans and programs, pointed out that the DOST launched in 2015 several test facilities and innovation centers.

In January 2015, Die and Mold Solutions Center (DMSC) began offering modern infrastructure support services and capabilities that will connect firms involved in processing of raw materials with firms that convert these into the final product.

Last June, the Auto-Parts Testing Facility started to serve the local automotive parts manufacturing industry.

The facility will serve as a testing center for local manufacturers so that expenses incurred overseas will be minimized.

Housed within the facility are more than 30 pieces of equipment performing different testing services for automotive

and other metal-related industries, such as hardness measurement of metallic material and rubber, thickness measurement for base metal, simulated crash analysis, tire endurance and accelerated corrosion tests.

Last July saw the launch of the Electronics Product Development Center, a workshop for Filipino innovators with ideas for potential breakthrough gadgets.

Liboro said the DOST had also opened three regional Food Innovation Centers in 2015, bringing to six the total FICs.

Last September, Region 8 or Eastern Visayas FIC set up shop at the Eastern Visayas State University in Tacloban City, and Region 1 FIC at the Mariano Marcos State University S&T Park in Ilocos Norte.

Early in 2015, Region 2 FIC commenced operations at the Cagayan State University Carig campus in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Valley.

Montejo said the FICs have reportedly come up with 2,200 product innovations.

The DOST also bagged another international award in 2015. The digital library kiosk Starbooks won recognition as an innovative library project from the prestigious American Library Association.

The digital library is accessible with or without Internet connection. The citation was presented to Liboro and the DOST last June at the International Librarians Reception at the San Francisco Public Library in California. (Phil. Star)

Gov’t has existing assistance programs for pensioner - Malacanang

MANILA -- Countering criticisms alleging the administration lacks compassion to senior citizens for vetoing the Social Security System (SSS) pension hike, a Palace official said the Aquino government is actually carrying out a number of measures

iNFOBYTES

that uplift the lives of the pensioners.

In a radio interview on Saturday, Undersecretary Manolo Quezon III of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) said the administration has many programs for senior citizens for the past five and a half years.

For instance, the government imposed mandatory PhilHealth coverage

Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) set up at the local government units of Siquijor (first photo) and Larena (second & third) to provide ease to businessmen in the application and/or renewal of business permits.

for all senior citizens in June last year with more than 4.8 million senior citizens being enlisted under the healthcare program.

This is done by amending the 2010 Expanded Senior Citizens Act signed by President Aquino in 2014.

Another form of assistance is for indigent senior citizens who received “augmented social pension,” Quezon told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

“Ang naging batayan nito ay ang 2010 Expanded Senior Citizens Act na pinirmahan noong Pebrero 2010,” he noted.

“Kasama sa batas na ito ang isang probisyon na dagdagan ang pondo para sa medical needs ng mga indigent senior citizens sa paraan ng P500 monthly pension.”

From 2011 to May 2015, some 937,556 senior citizens are under the social pension program, he said.

Also, the government adjusted the age limit for senior citizens to qualify for indigent ‘senior citizens’ pension.

Quezon said that from 2011 to 2014, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) prioritized senior citizens aged 77 years and above.

And in 2015, seniors citizens with ages from 65 years old and above qualified under the program. In that year alone, Quezon said 760,736 indigent senior citizens were served by the government.

Also, SSS pension increased by five percent on May 31, 2014.

The SSS also increased the funeral benefits from a fixed amount of P20,000 to a maximum amount of P40,000 depending on the number of contributions and average monthly salary credit as of August 2014.

SSS also put up a voluntary provident fund, called the Personal Equity and Savings Option (PESO) fund for SSS members to provide more avenues for retirement security.

And, together with the national government, the SSS opened a P7-billion educational assistance loan program that started in 2012. And, as of June 2015, over P3.1-billion worth of loans have been disbursed for 67,299 qualified student beneficiaries, Quezon explained.

To l e s s e n t h e b u r d e n f o r pensioners, SSS implemented two penalty condonation programs in 2011 and 2012 allowing delinquent beneficiaries to once again join the SSS.

Some 406,421 delinquent member borrowers benefitted from this program.

Quezon defended the President after he vetoed the proposal asking for P2,000 across-the-board increase in SSS pension saying the President did the right decision by choosing to prolong the life of the SSS fund.

“I think we should understand the President’s reasoning in doing this.

Lahat naman ng bumabayad ng SSS ay mga miyembro nito at may obligasyon ang pondo na mabayaran sila at pati ang mga benepisyo,” he said. (PCOO)

iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS

Internal revenue allotment up 62% from 2010 to 2016

The improvement in revenue collection continues to impact positively on the finance of local government with the total internal revenue allocation (IRA) share released to local government units (LGUs) amounting to P428.62 billion in 2016. This represents a 10 percent increase over the 2015 IRA share and more than 60 percent compared to 2010.

“On top of the CCT, KALAHI-CIDSS, PhilHealth, and the innovative Bottom-up Budgeting projects, the increase in IRA can only mean more capacity for LGUs to provide social services and local infrastructure projects for local communities,” said Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad.

The budget chief further said that the Aquino administration’s meaningful devolution thrust has resulted not only in more national government resources being transferred to local governments, but also greater participation of LGUs and local communities in the national decision-making.

He added that, “Efficient tax collection and our policy of building the capacity of LGUs to serve as partners of the national government in the implementation of projects have made this possible. This means more gains in terms of infrastructure build-up and social services in local communities.”

For this year, a total of 43,593 LGUs received a share of the IRA in the 2016 General Appropriations Act (GAA) amounting to P428.62 billion, or 14.28 percent of this year’s total budget. Under the Local Government Code of 1991, LGUs shall have a 40 percent share from the national internal revenue taxes on collection of the third fiscal year preceding the current year.

The following is the breakdown of the IRA shares from 2010 to 2016:

YEAR IRA SHARE

2010 P265.80B

2011 P286.94B

2012 P273.31B

2013 P302.30B

2014 P341.55B

2015 P389.86B

2016 P428.62B

Abad also said that since 2012, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has been automatically and comprehensively releasing the IRA of LGUs at the start of every year, without any conditions or actions required from LGUs. This policy is better than the one mandated by the 1991 Local Government Code requiring releases to be made only “on a quarterly basis” (as referenced in Title III, Section 286).

This has been further enhanced with the adoption by the DBM and the Department of Finance of the policy of direct release, which would allow the IRA share of LGUs to be (Department of Budget and Management )

Cebuano News: Malakanyang, mipasabot sa pagveto sa dugang SSS pension

MANILA (PIA) -- Gipasabot sa Malakanyang ang rason nganong gibasura ni Presidente Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III ang dugang P2,000 pensiyon sa mga miyembro sa Social Security System (SSS).

Matud pa sa Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), imbes nga pugngan ang pension hike, angay mas tutokan sa gobyerno ang paggukod sa mga employer nga wala nagbayad o atrasado sa pag-remit og kontribusyon ug pugngan ang pagpanghatag og dagkung bonus nga ginadawat sa mga SSS executives.

Apan gitataw ni Presidential C o m m u n i c a t i o n s O ¬ p e r a t i o n s O ff i c e (PCOO) Kalihim Herminio Coloma Jr. nga dili tinuod nga nagdawat pa gihapon og dagkung bonus ang mga opisyal sa SSS ug napausbaw na usab ang koleksiyon sa kontribusyon ubos sa Administrasyong Aquino.

Pero bisan mas daku ang koleksiyon karon sa SSS, dili kini igo aron gamiton nga pangdugang sa pagsaka sa pensiyon.

Matud pa nga base sa ilang kuwentada, mokabat sa P56 bilyon ang ipagawas sa SSS alang sa P2,000 umento sa 2.15 milyong pensioner sulod sa napulog-tulo ka bulan.

Giingong mas daku ang maong kantidad kun itandi sa average nga P30 bilyong collection sa SSS matag tuig sukad misulod ang administrasyong Aquino.

Panawagan ni Coloma, unta tun-an kini sa mga kritiko imbes nga mangastigo nga walay basehan.

Una nang gipanalipdan ni House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. ang pag-veto ni PNoy sa SSS pension hike kay matud pa niini, gipili lamang sa Presidente nga mahimong ‘fiscally responsible leader’ kaysa sa usa ka lider nga magpamando sa kasamtangang politika.

Gipasabot usab ni Belmonte nga wala’y “choice” si PNoy kun dili e-veto ang propsed pension increase tungod kay dili kayanon sa SSS sa higayong mahimo na kining balaod.

Gigugang pa sa Speaker nga napasa na sa Kamara ang sister bill sa SSS pension increase bill nga maghatag unta sa SSS board members og gahum sama sa GSIS aron magpasaka og premiums. Apan matud pa nga wala pa kini nakalabang sa Taas nga Kapulongan. (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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