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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. 2 | NO. 42 December 9-16, 2014
Siquijor PENRO says LGU CRM framework should gear towards climate change adaptation SIQUIJOR (PIA)—Coastal resource management (CRM) framework of the local government units of the province should gear towards contributing climate change adaptation and enhancing resiliency to the coastal areas. This the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) expressed during the Information and Education Campaign (IEC) held at the Provincial Coastal Resource Management (PCRM) office in Larena, Siquijor recently. Tagra committed to support and intensify program for the coastal resource management in Siquijor following a recent study that assessed the province’s coastal resources with high vulnerability to both nature and human destruction. He said the DENR is continuously conducting studies, rehabilitations, assessments and reports to identify and provide proper actions for addressing coastal concerns. Several programs have also been organized to mainly focus on coastal and marine resources conservation, he said. These, and other initiatives such as trainings, rehabilitation activities and information drives have been intensified to strengthen the battle against coastal and marine degradation, Tagra said. He cited the Sustainable Coral
stabilization mats, he explained. He said a number of low relief and high relief fish habitats were deployed to marine protected areas (MPAs) to support and provide shelter for fishes. Tagra urged all local stakeholders to actively share the best practices and lessons learned in Siquijor province citing that the Philippines’ designs and protocols for reef rehab specifically targeted for typhoon damaged areas are still being developed and are on its experimental stages. The PENRO hopes to complement the methods with existing effective protocols and manuals so that DENR can introduce protocols and methods for large-scale rehab
that can be implemented by LGUs and coastal communities. Ta g r a a l s o e n c o u r a g e e v e r y Siquijodnon to contribute in decision-making and planning stages of coral reef and MPAs. Per records from the DENR, the province has estimated 1,384.71 hectares of coral reef area; 211.17 hectares of MPAs covering the 18 MPAs province wide. He said everyone must take active participation in the protection and conservation of the coastal assets because these will provide not only income and livelihood to locals but also to the tourism industry that is identified as the biggest contributor to the island’s local economy. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Siquijor w/ reports from Katrina Abing/ DENR-PIO)
SIQUIJOR, (PIA)— The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) recently launched in Siquijor province the Expanded Students’ Grant-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PIA). DSWD assistant regional director Maria Shelaine Lucero said the program is created by the government to free the cycle of poverty in the country as she urged studentbeneficiaries to grab the opportunity and take every single chance to finish college education. “Not all students in the whole archipelago are given the same opportunity, she said. She said the study grant is a continuous and additional financial assistance
from the national government that ensures full coverage of education for the children of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries. Lucero said there are still 40 slots available out of the 234 given for Siquijor. She explained that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has increased the scholarship slots nationwide from 4,041 in school year 2012-2013 to 40,453 this year. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) allotted some P2.5 billion for the implementation of the ESGP-PA this school year, adds CHED regional director Freddie Banal, also during the launching. He said the DBM would release the funds directly to the 35 participating state
universities and colleges (SUCs) nationwide. Student grantees would receive a maximum of P60,000 each per year. The fund covers students’ tuition and other school fees and extracurricular expenses, textbooks, board and lodging, transportation, and clothing, among others. ESGP-PA is a joint program of the CHED, DSWD, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC). It aims to contribute in effectively addressing poverty by increasing the number of graduates in higher education among poor households. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Siquijor w/ reports from IAAbatayo)
Reef Ecosystems Management Program (SCREMP) as the DENR’s major ongoing project that provides strategic and sustainable ecosystembased approach in protecting and rehabilitating coastal and coral reef. The DENR has also assisted in the installation of amazon nets as low relief fish habitat for reef fish recovery. These amazon nets buoyed with cable tie and marine epoxy were utilized for fast and easy ways of attaching loose coral recruits on the
.PENRO Tagra (right) in a chat with his staff and the Philippine Army in one of the tree planting activities in Siquijor province
Expanded students’ GIA program launched in Siquijor; seen to free the cycle of poverty
iSIQUIJOR GOVERNMENTNEWS
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DOST inks MOA with LGU-San Juan to support tourism development
by Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing SIQUIJOR (PIA)—The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Local Government Unit of San Juan (LGU San Juan) on a Grant-in-Aid project. The DOST is set to allocate Php 613,000 for the program to support the tourism industry of San Juan through Science and Technology (S&T) interventions. The project aims to introduce solar technology concept, install ICT-based information system, install Science and Technology Academic and Researchbased Openly Operated Kiosk Station (STARBOOKS), put up butterfly sanctuary, construct wall garden using hydroponics technology and adopt water treatment facility. All said improvements are set to be built at the Capilay Spring Park – a popular tourist destination of natural fresh water spring. Specifically, solar-powered street lights will be built to complement existing lighting structures; a solar panel will be installed to power the lighting system of the Tourism Office; S TA R B O O K S and wi-fi system will be housed in the said office, among others. Mayor Wilfredo Q. Capundag, Jr., Municipal Engineer Bernadette C. Camilo and Provincial Science and Technology
(Seated L-R) PSTD Engr. Mario E. de la Peña of DOST Siquijor and Mayor Wilfredo Capundag, Jr. signing the MOA on a project sponsored by DOST. Also present in the picture are (L-R) Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing of DOST Siquijor and Engr. Bernadette Colong of LGU San Juan.
Director Engr. Mario de la Peña signed the Memorandum of Agreement in a ceremony held at the Office of the Municipal Mayor in LGU San Juan. During the MOA signing, the municipal mayor expressed his gratitude to DOST for receiving a project from the
agency. Provincial Science and Technology Director Engr. Mario de la Peña, likewise said DOST aims to raise the status of the famed Capilay Spring Park by featuring S&T innovations. (RAC/PIA7-Siquijor w. reports from Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing)
Siquijor joins Phl leg of Science Film Festival screenings by Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing Has anyone heard about graphene? Are you familiar with your carbon “footprint”? Did you know scientists are developing a so-called 3D virus for health researches? To answer these and to inform students of the recent technological breakthroughs that will shape tomorrow’s world, the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) and the Geothe – Institut Manila conducted film screenings in this year’s Science Film Festival (SFF) with the theme “Technologies of the Future”. In the province, DOST Siquijor has partnered with Siquijor State College (SSC) and Siquijor Provincial Science High School (SPSHS) in the conduct of
the movie screenings. The event was held simultaneously at SSC and SPSHS on December 1-5, 2014. Seven films were chosen to be screened for the college category, namely: “Graphene: Sketches of Our Future”, “Post-Petroleum Age”, “ The Lithium Revolution”, “” Supercomputers”, “Taming the Quantum World”, The Joy of Logic”, “Robot Revolution: Will Machines Surpass Humans?” and “The Sum of Its Parts”. On the other hand, films such as “What is your greenhouse effect?”, “What is your personal CO2 balance?”, “Bioplastic”, “LEGO Touring Machine”, “Simply Complex”, “Tomorrow’s World: A Horizon Special”, and “Dream Flight Under Microgravity” were chosen for the high school category. At the end of the film, the students
were not only entertained but also educated on what science and technology has been offering nowadays and what S&T can offer in the future. They were also expected to have an increased inclination to S&T topics so that they might take up S&T related courses. In the Philippines, DOST-SEI together with Geothe Institut – Manila has been conducting SFF screenings since 2010. SFF has gained popularity not only in the Philippines but also in other countries in Southeast Asia, Middle East and North Africa. Meanwhile, PSTD Engr. Mario E. de la Peña expressed his thanks to the participating schools in the positive reception of the first ever Science Film Festivall in the province.
iSIQUIJOR GOVERNMENTNEWS
Canada reforms caregiver program; promises faster action on application for permanent residence Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday said the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Toronto has reported that the government of Canada had implemented reforms in its caregiver program, a feature of its immigration system as a component of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. “Labor Attache Leonida Romulo had reported that Minister Chris Alexander of the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) had announced sweeping reforms in Canada’s Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP). Filipinos who wish to work in Canada as caregivers must study the reforms to ensure they make correct decisions about their plans,” said Baldoz. The LCP, now the Caregiver Program, enables Canadian employers to recruit foreign nationals to live and work in their homes to provide childcare or home support for senior citizens or Canadians with disabilities when there are no Canadians or permanent residents to fill available positions. After two years of work, caregivers have the option to apply for permanent residence. The CIC said on its website that the removal of the live-in requirement will result to greater opportunities for Canadians in caregiver occupations and an increase in wages for
foreign caregivers after employers clearly demonstrate that there are no Canadians available for the job. It also said the Government of Canada plans to admit 30,000 caregivers (including their spouses and dependants) in 2015 by fast-tracking applications from those who have completed their work experience but are facing long waits for their permanent residence to be finalized. Under the reforms, caregivers are no longer required to live in the home of their employer, which can place them in vulnerable conditions, including unpaid overtime work, poor working conditions, or worse, until they are able to achieve the status of permanent residents. The reforms provide for two career pathways for caregivers: (1) the Caring for Children Pathway and (2) Caring for People with High Medical Needs Pathway. For the first pathway, applicant caregivers must have a two-year work experience in Canada as a home child care provider; “initial intermediate” Canadian language benchmark 5 provided in a designated third-party language test; and a Canadian postsecondary education of at least one year, or an equivalent foreign education credential. The
limit or cap to the number of applicants to be accepted under this pathway is 2,750 per year. The second pathway, Caring for People with High Medical Needs Pathway, is for caregivers who provide support to those with high medical needs. The requirements are as follows: (1) two-year full-time work experience in Canada providing in-home care or care in a health facility to the elderly or persons with disabilities or chronic diseases; (2) licensed to practice in Canada; and (3) “intermediate” Canadian language benchmark 7 provided in a designated third-party language test, if applying as a registered nurse or registered psychiatric nurse. The limit or cap to the number of applicants to be accepted under this pathway is 2,750 per year. On this matter, Secretary Baldoz advised those who would like to work in Canada as caregivers to visit the CIC website for more detailed information, and urged them to only deal with legitimate and licensed Philippine recruitment agencies to avoid getting duped or victimized by illegal recruitment agencies and individuals with criminal intent. “Still, the safe and legal pathway to work overseas is through the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration,” she said. (dole.gov.ph)
.Enrique Villanueva mayor Gerold Pal-ing (upper left) stressed in his Christmas message to the 4Ps beneficiaries how blessed they are with the program of the government as he urged everyone to celebrate the yuletide season with joy, peace and thanksgiving.
iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS
Cebuano News
P2.606 trilyon 2015 budget gilagdaan ni PNoy MANILA (PIA)--Gilagdaan na ni Presidente Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III ang P2.606 trilyon national budget. Sa iyang mensahe, miingon si PNoy nga ang sulod sa baga nga libro mao ang matag piso nga probisyong nahisulod nga nagsimbolo sa kolektibong tinguha nga ipasaka ang matag usa ug palambuon ang nasud. Giingong kini ang pagmatuod sa gisaad nga pagbag-o ug walay mahabilin sa ‘tuwid na daan.’ Sa maong General Appropriations Act of 2015, nakuha gihapon sa Department of Education (DepEd) ang gitawag nga lion’s share nga P364.9 bilyon; gisundan sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) nga adunay P300.5 bilyon ug Department of National Defense (DND), P144 bilyon. Sa sectoral allocation, nakuha sa social services ang pinakadakung appropriation diin ang social protection and welfare services nakakuha og 37.1 porsiyento o P967.9 bilyon ug gastohon kini sa Conditional Cash Transfer Program, Health Insurance ug Education. Ang CCT program partikular nga nakadawat og P64.7 bilyon aron suportahan ang 4.4 milyon beneficiaries, samtang ang health insurance, P37.2 bilyon. Samtang ang P52.7 bilyon gigahin sa pagpatukod og basic education facilities nga gilangkoban sa 31,728 nga bag-ong classrooms ug 13,586 water and sanitation facilities. Ang economic services adunay P700.2 bilyon samtang P399.4 bilyon sa debt payment o pambayad sa utang.
iNFOBYTES
Nahatagan usab ang general public services og budget nga P423.1 bilyon samtang ang defense s p e n d i n g a d u n a y P 11 5 . 5 b i l y o n . Ang ubang department sama sa Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) adunay P141.4 bilyon; Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) - P108.970 bilyon; Department of Health (DOH) - P102.2 bilyon; Department of Agriculture (DA) P88.8 bilyon; Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) - P59.4 bilyon; Department of Environment and National Resources (DENR) P21.29 bilyon; samtang ang judiciary - P20 bilyon. (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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