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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. 31 September 1-11, 2015
Siquijor power outages due to power plant snags-SIPCOR SIQUIJOR (PIA) - - Siquijor Island Power Corporation (SIPCOR) admitted earlier that the recent power outages in the island are due to technical and mechanical problems in Lazi and Siquijor Diesel Power Plants. This after the local public’s clamor for explanation on the series of power interruptions even after its privatization just a few months ago. During the recent Stakeholders’ Meeting, SIPCOR technical head Jose Rommel Orillaza explained that there was a problem related to the Vacuum Circuit Breaker and/or Programmable Logic Controller in Lazi plant which prevented the synchronization of the generating unit. Likewise, Siquijor plant has a mechanical problem that caused leakage in the cylinder that affected the function of the generating units, he said. Te c h n i c a l e n g i n e e r s a n d technicians, he said, completed repair works and preventive maintenance services (PMS) of the generating units although PMS in Lazi has to be postponed in October due to road constructions that affect the delivery of the service. Orillaza assured that all four units are now operational to serve the 21,903 consumers and that there is no need for another unit at present. He added that SIPCOR has made arrangement with the National Power Corporation and/or Monark Philippines to allow them to use or lease more or less 1-megawatt unit that will be able to provide the electricity requirement of PROSIELCO. Province of Siquijor Electric Cooperative Inc. (PROSIELCO) general Manager Laureen Malolot said the stakeholders meeting was held after member-consumers raised questions and aired their frustrations on social media and elsewhere over the power outages. The meeting aimed to discuss the problem with SIPCOR, PROSIELCO and the stakeholders and that it would be given right and justifiable solutions, said Malolot in her letter. In that stakeholders’ meeting, res i d e n t s, b u s i n e s s operators and officials also expressed dismay over the returning power outages and poor services despite promises of ‘no more b r o w n o u ts ” a fte r th e p ri va t i z a t i o n . Governor Zaldy Villa demanded that new and efficient units should be provided as promised to him by the SIPCOR
Tourism, private, government sectors, consumers - all but one cry to power service providers: “Just give us the kind of service we deserve!” even with the assurance that all four units are now operational with three engines currently running in a capacity of 4.8 mw and the other one as standby unit. Three big resort operators/owners questioned the one to three-second brownouts for five to ten times a day that destroy their appliances and affect the kind of service they are giving to the customers. Local residents said Siquijodnons deserve efficient and quality power service just the way they are in paying promptly their electric bills. They said they cannot understand why power supply seemed to have worsened despite the assurance that it would improve with the new operation. It must be recalled that Siquijor province has since experienced periodic brownouts and unstable power supply in the previous years due
to the ageing power generators of the National Power Corporation (NPC). But wiith the the entry of the new provider, hope flickered among Siquijodnons especially when it was given a taste of the seemingly ‘unhindered’ but ‘short-lived’ power supply, because another series of power interruptions recur in the island only a few months after SIPCOR has assumed operation in February this year. Residents, business and resort operators and local officials, during the meeting, all demanded urgent solutions from both PROSIELCO as distributor and SIPCOR as power generator/provider. SIPCOR has a 20-year power supply agreement with the PROSIELCO that it is expected to address the present generation capacity requirements and even future demand of the province. (rmn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor)
iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS
DOST extends dengue surveillance tool to LGUs, private schools
by Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing
SIQUIJOR (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Region 7 is extending Dengue Vector Surveillance Thru OL Trapping to local government units (LGUs) and private schools here. This was bared during the recently conducted recently orientation seminar on Sustained Nationwide Dengue Vector Surveillance Thru OL Trapping at the Conference Room of DOST Siquijor that aimed to hold a multi-sectoral campaign in the province against dengue. DOST 7 Focal Person Ronya Mae Bayan said the program was extended from the public schools to the LGUs and subsequently to the private schools because DOST believes that dengue vector control should not limited to public students but should also cover those from the private schools. Bayan also requested the assistance of local LGUs in monitoring since DOST has no jurisdiction as to the interventions and implementation on health issues, she said. DOST 7 Focal Person Ronya Mae Bayan and staff Eliezer Serra served as resource persons. The morning session was attended by representatives from the various LGUs in the province except the Municipality of San Juan and representative from DepED-Division of Siquijor. Private school representatives were then oriented in the afternoon. In his message, provincial science and technology director Engr. Mario de la Peña expressed his gratitude to the participants for attending the orientation seminar, as he stressed the crucial role of both the LGUs and the private in the success of the implementation of the program. With the program in place, the project team expects to generate positive feedback from the schools and LGUs as they tackle to lessen the incidence of dengue in their jurisdiction. The program further aims to maximize the role of schools in the prevention of dengue cases. To note, children/students spend most of their time at schools from 7am to 5pm. Keeping the school free from dengue-carrying mosquitoes is a step up in the dengue prevention campaign, the DOST official said. The inclusion of the LGUs and private schools in the province will further strengthen the prevention c a m p a i g n o f D O S T i n S i q u i j o r. The program has already included 10 sentinel public schools in the province as implementers of the campaign. (rmn/ rac/PIA7-SIquijor with reports from Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing/DOST-Siquijor)
Focal person Ms. Ronya Mae Bayan (wearing green shirt) and staff of DOST 7 served as resource persons during the orientation on Sustained Nationwide Dengue Vector Surveillance Thru OL Trapping. Participants are from the local government units of Lazi, Maria, Siquijor, and Enrique Villanueva; Department of Education Division of Siquijor, and private schools.
Feature: From humble beginnings to quality furnishings
by Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing
SIQUIJOR (PIA) --- In 1997, with only a meager capital of PhP 30,000, Charito J. Jumadla, who now owns Charito’s Furniture, put-up his business by using his skills in furniture-making and by acquiring the basic tools and equipment needed to start the operation. His fascination in making furniture started when he was a child. In Barangay Cangagong, Siquijor, Siquijor, he spent his childhood days wondering at the marvels of the furniture which were derived from molave, jackfruit, and gmelina trees. When he married and transferred to the neighboring barangay in Lambojon, his dream of putting up own furniture business returned. In 1997, his plan came into fruition when he saved P30,000 and decided to use that money as capital. With basic skills in furniture making learned from his woodworking class, he began making simple table and chairs. At first, he found the business challenging due to the limited financial capabilities of would-be customers. However, his hard work paid off when customers started coming to order for customized furniture. First came families, next came government agencies and then resort owners. With orders building up, he had a hard time beating deadlines. His existing tools and equipment could not meet the demands. Also, a lot of problems were encountered during the process. Wood planing was accomplished through the use of manual power and partially dilapidated planers. As a result, the job would take long to finish. Others even require rework while some became rejects. Shaping and carving of parts were also done manually. The increasing demand for their furniture products pressured the owner to seek for assistance from different agencies to procure mechanized and highly efficient wood working equipmentthat would lead to an increase in productivity. He started approaching different government agencies for assistance. When he came to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Siquijor, he learned of the agency’s Small Enterprise technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP) and decided he would avail of the program. However, parts of the requirements are BIR and DTI registration which he did not have at that time. In 2013, the owner registered his firm with LGU Siquijor, DTI-Siquijor and BIR in order to avail of the program. DOST’s intervention include the purchase of slide compound miter saw, power planer, contractor table saw, router and cordless driver drill. As a result, the quality and quantity of wood furniture increased. Revenue increased by 60% whilerejects reduced by at least 40%. To date, the firm has a total number of 4 employees. With efficient tools and equipment, the quality of the firm’s furniture improved and more customers were added to their existing list. Indeed, DOST SETUP has helped Charito’s Furniture to become at par with other furniture makers in the province. (rmn/rac/PIA7-SIquijor with reports from Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing/DOST-Siquijor)
iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS iSIQUIJOR GOVERNMENTNEWS
FDA-7 warns public not to buy meds in sari-sari stores
(PIA) -- Sari-sari stores are not allowed to sell medicines even just basic drugs for flu or colds, an official of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA-7) stressed. FDA-7 has cautioned the public against purchasing medicines in convenience outlets. Sariah Oriol, head of the Food and Drug Section said under RA 6675 or the Generics Act, said certified quality drugs can only be accessed in legitimate drug stores or pharmacies that have the legal license to operate. “Without the license, this is a clear violation of the law which can be
subject to a filing of a legal case against the establishment,” said Oriol during yesterday’s forum of the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO-7) that tackled the annual observance of September as Generics Month. Oriol advised the public especially those living in far-flung barangays to access basic medicines in barangay health centers or in the ‘Botika ng Barangay’ outlets instead of sari-sari stores. From January to August this year, Oriol said 112 out of around 800 establishments in Central Visayas have
Opening of Sports Activity and Presentation of Miss Siquijor Candidates for the 2015 Araw ng Siquijor Celebration at San Juan, Siquijor, Siquijor.
been served with notice of violation of the Generics Act with some having been padlocked due to gross violation. Majority of these cases are from Cebu, said Oriol. He said common violations are the absence of a license from the FDA to operate and make available in the commercial market drug products and that some food and drug products are not registered while other products alleged to contain certain ingredients but actually do not based on test. The cases are elevated to the FDA legal office in Manila that will decide and issue the appropriate penalty, whether it be suspension or closure depending o n t h e g r a v i t y, disclosed Oriol. Penalties are defined according to three categories, namely criminal, civil, and administrative of which the latter can be decided by the Secretary of Health to either revoke the license of the drug store or ask the P r o f e s s i o n a l Regulations Commission to revoke the license of the medical practitioner. Oriol said penalties stipulated under RA 6675 are amended in RA 9502 or the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008 with more severe penalties specified. (rmn/fcr/PIA7)
iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS
Employee’s compensation increased for public sector Public sector workers under the Employees’ Compensation Program will enjoy a 10% increase in their monthly pension.
President Benigno S. Aquino III approved the implementation of the 10 percent across-the-board increase in employees’ compensation (EC) pension of public sector workers, effective May 1, 2015, thus putting in place the enhanced benefits for the workers under the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP). The 10 percent increase in EC monthly pension covers the Permanent Partial Disability (PPD), Permanent Total Disability (PTD), and death benefits. Based on the data provided
by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), 1,957 disability pensioners and 3,362 death pensioners will benefit from the 10 percent increase in monthly pension. Applying the 10 percent increase to the present average EC pension will result in an increase in average EC monthly disability pension from P1,623.00 to P1,818.00 and from P1,627.00 to P1,839.00 average EC monthly death pension. In a report to the DOLE Secretary, Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) Executive Director Stella ZipaganBanawis said that the last across-theboard increase for EC monthly pension in the public sector was implemented in 1982 at the rate of 20 percent. Director Banawis added that the
Cebuano News
GSIS mohatag ug dugang benepisyo sa mga miyembro ug pensioners
( PIA)—Ang Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) mi anunsyo nga dunay dugang benepisyong ihatag sa mga pensioners ug miyembro niini sugod karong bulan sa Setyembre 2015. Matud ni si GSIS President ug General Manager Robert Vergara ang funeral benefit sa mga miyembro sa GSIS gipatas-an ngadto na sa P30,000 gikan sa P20,000. Sugod Disyembre 31, 2014 dugang benepisyo nga “one-time benefit”ang ihatag sa 272,000 ka regular old-age ug disability pensioners balor ug usa ka bulan nga pension o ang kantidad nga P10,000. Mopahinungod usab ang GSIS sa gitawag ug “milestone” benefit scheme sa 6,000 ka pensioners nga nag edad ug 90 hangtud 94 anyos diin makadawat sila ug dugang P20,000; laing 1,100 nga ga edad ug 95 hangtud 99 anyos makadawat ug P50,000; ug 181 ka pensioners ga edad ug 100 anyos pataas hatagan sa milestone
benefit nga 100,000. Sugod niadtong Setyembre 2, 2015 dugang P20,000 ang madawat sa mga regular pensioner nga magsaulog sa ika 90 anyos nilang adlawng natawhan , P30,000 sa mga pensioner nga mosaulog sa ilang ika 95 nga adlawng natawhan, ug P50,000 sa mga mosaulog sa ika 100 anyos nga natawhan. Mipahibalo si Vergara nga ang mga pensioners nga ga edad ug 90 anyos pataas ang mas labaw nga nagkinahanglan sa protection ug suporta sa GSIS tungod sa ilang katigulangon. Sa tuig 2014 ang GSIS mikab-ot sa total assets nga P908 billion, income nga P140 billion ug revenues nga mokabat ug P231 billion. Ubos sa Republic Act No. 8291 (GSIS Act of 1997) ang Board of Trustees gihatagan ug katungod ug gahom base sa GSIS guidelines nga mohatag ug dugang benepisyo sa mga miyembro sa GSIS. (mbcn/lpp/PIA7/Negros Oriental)
situation prompted the ECC to approve the issuance of Board Resolution (BR) No. 15-01-01 (“Approving a 10 Percent Increase in EC Pension effective May 1, 2015 for the Public Sector,” dated January 14, 2015). DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, who also serves as ECC Chairperson, stated, “the ECC recognizes the need to increase EC benefits for the public sector to make ECP more responsive to the welfare and needs of persons with work-related disabilities (PWRDs) and their families”. Secretary Baldoz added that “this development is also in line with the President’s 22-Point Labor and Employment Agenda of enhancing social protection, such as social security and workmen’s compensation, to make it adequate as an income security program.” The recent increase in EC pension is the result of an actuarial study conducted by the GSIS. The study showed that its State Insurance Fund (SIF) can finance the said increase without affecting the stability of the SIF and without requiring additional EC premium from the government. From 2011 to date, a review of the EC benefits has been made where six EC benefits have been increased, or rationalized, to pursue equalization of benefits for the private and the public sector workers. As provided under BR No. 15-01-01, the retroactive application of the 10 percent across-the-board increase in EC monthly pension shall take effect 15 days after the publication of the corresponding Executive Order in a newspaper of general circulation. (From the Department of Labor and Employment)
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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