Cover Story CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-10 has recognized a number of individuals and organizations for their contribution as partners in promoting the Tech-Voc sector in the region.
In an awarding ceremony held Tuesday, Aug. 29, at Mallberry Suites Business Hotel, Provincial Director Leo V. Velez of TESDA-Misamis Oriental hailed the support extended to TESDA by some individuals, businesses, industries, schools, government sectors, media, religious organizations and other stakeholders that enabled the agency to achieve its goals. The individual awardees were Connie B. Adajar for wage-employed category and Michellene A. Uapal for
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self-employed category. From the industries, the awardees were the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Mindanao Area, Del Monte Foundation, Inc., Republic Biscuit Corportion and MM enterprises, Inc., Municipal Agriculture Office of LGUManolog Fortich, Bukidnon and Juan C. Acosta foundation, Inc. in Bukidnon; MAQS Training Center and Alrose Foods Corporation in Lanao del Norte; Monark Foundation, Inc., Steag State Power, Inc., Greencars Mindanao Corporation,
Crossroads Training Institute, Inc., Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association (COHARA), First Asian Metals Corporation, Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex of the Department of Agriculture-10 in Misamis Oriental. TESDA “Kabalikat Award” was given to the provincial government of Misamis Oriental, one of the only two local government units of Mindanao that got said award. The other Kabalikat awardee was Tagum City. For the TVET institutions/ associations, the awards were given to Federations of Region X TVET (FORT), Bukidnon TVET Institutions Association (BUKTIA), St. Laurence Institute of Technology, Inc., Christian Horizon School, Inc., Oroquieta Agro-Industrial School, and Our Lady of Triumph Institute of Technology. These LGUs were also recognized for their support to TESDA, namely, Cagayan de Oro City, the municipalities of Quezon and Manolo Fortich, and Valencia City in Bukidnon, Bacolod and Kauswagan town in Lanao de Norte, and Oroquieta City in Misamis Occidental. From the development institutions, the awardees include the World Vision Development Foundation-Northwestern Mindanao, Technical Vocational Association of Institutions in Iligan City and Lanao del Norte. Gender and Development Program of LGU-Iligan City and Save Life Program of LGUSinacaban. Awardees from community training and employment coordinators (CTECs)
were Vera May Eunice D. Zamora of Bukidnon, Laurafe Z. Diaz of Lanao del Norte, Mark Anthony D. Artigas of Misamis Occidental and Patricio P. Parami Jr. of Misamis Oriental. TESDA-10’s active media partners were RPN TV-5/DXKO, Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-10, 101.3 Grace-FM, Tingog Misamisnon Channel and Mellow Touch 95.7 FM. TESDA -10 has also bestowed loyalty awards on its personnel who have served the agency for 10 years or more. The awardees were Carmen Savariz, Dendo Sumagang, and Fred N. Naingue for having served 10 years of service; Romuel M. Cabahug, Edgar A. Sales and Maria Rowena M. Paña for 15 years of service; Gil Arsenio Q. Factura, Gemma C. Lee, Augustine H. Matbagon, Mabie L. Sabornido, Joselito A. Balares and Lee R. Catane for 20 years of service; Susan Maghanoy, Irma M. Del Mar, Carina B. Ledesma, Ma. Villa L. Suralta, Jouie C. Tabilin and Augusto D. Trinidad for 25 years of service; Margarita G. Dela Cruz, Marcelino G. Lagunsad, Antonio Saluta, Agustin F. Llido and Ruben A. Torremucha for 30 years of service; and Minda S. Pearales for 35 years of service. The awarding ceremony was also attended by Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano, who shared that his “Iskolar Ko Ni Bambi” program had already benefited a number of students in the province. Most of his scholars, he said, are now gainfully employed here and abroad. (FPGumapon/PIA10)
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CSC 10 celebrates 117th anniversary with Talakayan ng mga Lingkod Bayan CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Civil Service Commission (CSC) region 10 in celebration of its 117th anniversary convened heads of national and local government in Talakayan ng mga Lingkod Bayan to share programs and projects which underscored ‘malasakit’ or care for the people.
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CSC regional director Adams Torres shared that this year’s theme, “Tugon sa hamon ng pagbabago, Malasakit ng Lingkod Bayani” is a challenge to government employees to change and be agents of change. In fact, he said, “We are agents of change.” This can be achieved through
showing ‘malasakit’ or care such as in various government programs and projects that would uplift the lives of the people. He explained that each government office has a story of ‘malasakit’. Although he admitted that only
1-15 September 2017 a few selected people can enter the career service. He said that anyone who wants to enter public service are strictly screened not just in their qualifications but based on their character. He also clarified that the security of tenure does not mean you cannot be removed from your post. Right now, CSC implements performance based security of tenure where employees are rated through their performance according to their position. Aside from this, government employees also follow Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards. This would include duties and responsibilities and prohibited acts. Apart from facilitating eligibility exams, processing appointments and providing trainings, CSC can also act as a quasi-court, a disciplining body to cases which are elevated from other government agencies. Torres explained that if there are concerns in a government agency, the head of office is the first person to resolve the issue. However, when it is not resolved or head of office does not take action then CSC will be the one to do it for them alongside with other regulatory services. As quasi court, CSC can impose discipline with highest penalty to remove the person from government service. However, for criminal cases, the Office of the Ombudsman can imprison a government employee if
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found guilty. Corruption is the number one enemy of the government. Torres shared that through the Anti Red Tape Act (ARTA), processing time of government documents is revealed. People will know exactly how long the process will take. This is believed to lessen or do away with corruption which is the source of money making. He further said to never transact anyone without any valid ID. Torres revealed that dishonesty is the number one case among government offices in the entire country. This includes falsification of documents, fake educational attainment, fake qualification of licenses from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) or Career Service Eligibility from CSC or National Certificate (NC) II from Technical Educations Skills and Development Authority (TESDA). In terms of hiring, CSC 10 has come up with weekly bulletin of vacancies. Torres urges everyone to check their facebook page Civil Service Commission region 10 to get weekly job hiring in various government offices in Northern Mindanao. (JMOR/ PIA10)
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NorMin DILG chief underlines police, community partnership to achieve peace CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Northern Mindanao interior and local government director Arnel M. Agabe underscored the importance of a sustainable and continuing partnership between the police and the community.
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Speaking to stakeholders during culmination of Police Regional Office (PRO)-10 of the 23rd National Crime Prevention Week with the theme: “Pamayanan Mapagmasid, Kapayapaan ang Maihahatid, director Agabe, as guest of honor and speaker, said that the community needs the
protection and services of the police, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) needs the cooperation of the community for the maintenance of peace and order and ensuring public safety.” He also said that in order to win the war against criminality, the
1-15 September 2017 police and the community must work together to achieve a peaceful environment which is free from harm and danger so that our children and the unborn will enjoy its benefits in the next generation to come Agabe, on the other hand, expressed his deepest gratitude to the PNP for their dedication to duty and unselfish service for the welfare of the people and the country. Meanwhile, PRO-10 director PCSupt Timoteo G. Pacleb, together with Agabe led the awarding ceremony to pay tribute and give recognition to the local government units LGUs) and civilian individuals for their valuable contribution to the overall efficiency of PRO-10 in the performance of its mandate duties: Yevgeny Vincente B Emano, provincial governor, Misamis Oriental; Oscar S Moreno, city mayor, Cagayan de Oro City (Represented by Councilor Jay R Pascual); Celco Regencia, city mayor, Iligan City (represented by Councilor Ian C.
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Uy); Jennie Rosalie T Uy, municipal mayor, Villanueva, Misamis Oriental; Leonardo Genesis T Calingasan, mayor, Libona, Bukidnon; Al P Legaspi, barangay chairman, Bulua Cagayan de Oro City; Veronico S Echavez, barangay chairman, Hinaplanon, Iligan City; Nathaniel D Salvo, barangay chairman, Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte; John Cristino Lao II, owner of Summit Drilling Company, Cagayan de Oro City; and Roger Chiu, owner of Graphics Store. Likewise a Medalya ng Papuri was given to police senior inspector Marvin N. Cajegas, deputy station commander, Police Station 4 and senior police officer 2 Lyrma N Cajegas, chief, police community relations (PCR), both from Iligan City Police Office were recognized for having been adjudged as the Regional Winner of the 2017 Search for PNP Model Family which was conducted by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) 10. (Lemuel Gonda/PRO10)
BOI bares 2017 investment priorities CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Board of Investments (BOI) unveiled the priority investments activities that may be given incentives by the government during an investment roadshow held here Wednesday, September 6.
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The priority activities are listed in the approved 2017 Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) that follows the President’s Zero + 10-point Socio Economic Agenda and the aspirations embodied in AmbisyonNatin 2040. The preferred areas included manufacturing activities; agriculture, fishery and forestry; strategic services; healthcare services; mass housing; infrastructure and logistics including local government unit-public private partnerships; environment or climate change-related projects; and energy.
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Lawyer Raul Angeles, BOI Investment Assistance Service Executive Director, said the new IPP also focuses on the inclusion of innovationdriven activities and inclusive business models which addresses development in the countryside. Innovation drivers, which underscore the important role of research and development, innovation ecosystems and infrastructures in modernizing the economy, include commercialization of Department of Science and Technology or
1-15 September 2017 government-funded research and development. Inclusive business models covers activities in agribusiness and tourism that fosters income and business opportunities for the poor or lowearners of society by integrating them into the supply chain of medium or large companies. Other activities were also strategically modified to stimulate a more prosperous and inclusive economic development. Manufacturing activities include agro-processing since the sector can generate higher employment, income and output multipliers relative to other sectors. Agriculture, fishery, and forestry includes the development of forest plantations in private lands and also promotes food irradiation projects to improve the safety and extend the shelf life of our food. Strategic services include IT and IT-related services geared for the domestic market, digital or technological startups, telecommunications to make the service more competitive, and state-ofthe-art engineering, procurement, and construction to support infrastructure and manufacturing projects. In addition, drug rehabilitation centers to support the President’s program against illegal drugs are now included in the healthcare services. Infrastructure and Logistics were also integrated with PPP Projects
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that also includes projects initiated by LGUs to encourage infrastructure development in the local level. Mass housing now includes in-city Low-cost housing for lease to encourage developers to build leasable housing units nearby areas where people work. While energy projects support the power requirements for the rapid economic development of the country, environment or climate change-related project, on the other hand, encourage investments on manufacturing products or establishing facilities that would lead to the efficient use of energy, raw materials, or minimize pollution. These include green ship recycling and the establishment of privately owned materials recovery facilities. The incentives that investors can avail of include income tax holiday, duty-free importation of capital equipment, tax and dutyfree importation of spare parts and supplies, and additional deduction for labor expense, among others. (APB/ PIA-10)
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DOH campaigns to find 1M cases of TB nationwide CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Department of Health (DOH) through its Tuberculosis-Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (TB-HIV) dissemination forum in Cagayan de Oro City campaigns in aggressively looking for the one million cases of tuberculosis (TB) in the country by switching strategies and changing from “business as usual” to “business unusual.”
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Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, director of Disease Prevention and Control Bureau of DOH shares that the prevalence of TB in our country continuous to be high. Around one million Filipinos are expected to have TB and may or may not know it. Further, more than onethird of TB patients suffer catastrophic cost due to TB at 20% of the family’s annual income. On the other hand, Dr. Suy explained that the country also has an alarming 140% annual increase in the number of reported cases of HIV. He announced that we are not the highest in terms of number of HIV
cases in the Asia Pacific region but we have an alarming increasing rate of the numbers of HIV cases in the region. Further, DOH has registered more than 45,000 cumulative cases of HIV. To date, there is still no cure of HIV nor vaccine to prevent its transmission. Meanwhile, persons with HIV is 29 times more likely to develop TB than those without HIV. TB is the leading cause of death among people living with HIV. One in five deaths of people with HIV is TB. He said, our country is aggressively aimed to reduce the
1-15 September 2017 burden of TB by 2035. “Look for the 1Million cases of TB in the country” is a standing order of Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial. Meanwhile, TB and HIV services including treatment are free. Dr. Suy said our health workers are competent and facilities are reliable. For her part, Dr. Anna Marie Celina Garfin of the National TB program explained that TB is still a major health problem based on the 2016 National TB Prevalence Survey. Around 1% of the population or one million out of 100 million total population of the country has TB. Further, this is found more in males and older age group with history of treatment, smoking, diabetes, poor and urban dwellers. There is also low case notification of TB and a poor health seeking behavior with 81% of presumptive TB are not taking any action or self-medicating; 30% consulted a private sector. She said that impact targets for 2022 is to reduce the number of TB deaths by 50% from 14,000 to 7,000 deaths; reduce TB incidence rate by 15%, reduce to zero number of TB affected households that experience catastrophic costs due to TB and at least 90% of patients are satisfied with the services of DOTS facilities. On HIV and AIDS, Dr. Gerard Belimac program manager of National HIV, AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) prevention and control program said that DOH focuses on key populations namely the Male
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having sex with Male (MSM), female sex workers and people who inject drugs – inclusive of young people. For prevention, DOH includes services such as risk reduction counseling – safer sex, community-based treatment for drug users, outreach focused condom distribution and instruction. Meanwhile, diagnosis includes community-based HIV screening, Free HIV testing and counseling, and rapid HIV testing for pregnant women, key populations and TB patients. For the treatment, DOH provides interventions such as free antiretrovirals (ARV), outpatient HIV benefit package (P30,000/patient/ year to cover for other expenses). For care, DOH provides psychosocial counseling and treatment adherence counseling. Patients of either TB or HIV may go to various government health facilities including rural health centers, TB-DOTS centers, 130 social hygiene clinics nationwide, 50 satellite or treatment hubs and community based organizations. Finally, DOH proposes how communities can help. Companies and employers can institutionalize HIV awareness in workplaces, expand the number of HIV treatment hubs, conduct operations researches to improve programs and integrate HIV counseling services in relevant programs. (JMOR/PIA10)
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Complaints vs pharmacies on discount privileges for seniors acted
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The City Council committee on health and sanitation and health insurance in Cagayan de Oro acted on the complaint of senior citizens against pharmacies not granting the 20-percent discount for the purchase of drugs and medicines.
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This is in response to the special report of Councilor Suzette MagtajasDaba during the regular session few weeks ago. The councilor said some of the pharmacies operating in the city, particularly near the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) are not offering the mandated discount for senior citizens. According to councilor Daba, this is a violation of Republic Act 9257, which states that senior citizens shall be entitled to a 20-percent discount from all establishments relative to the utilization of services in hotels, and similar lodging establishments, restaurants and recreation centers and purchase of medicines in all establishments. During the committee meeting last week, one of the owners of a pharmacy admitted that the mandated 20-percent discount is not granted to customers who do not have complete requirements. “There are also requirements coming from their end that we need to check also or else we will be sanctioned,” he stressed. He said discounts are granted to them for the purchase of generic medicines, and two-percent discount for
branded medicines. A representative of the Department of Health (DOH), however, said in RA 9994, there is no specification of a twopercent discount for branded medicines. “If there is a complete requirement, senior citizens must be given 20-percent discount for all medicines, there is no such thing as two-percent for branded medicines,” she said. A representative of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) cited that Section 1 of RA 9994 on medicine and drug purchases, provides that the 20percent discount and VAT exemption shall apply for the purchase of generic and branded medicines and drugs by or for senior citizens, including the purchase of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. The committee, chaired by Councilor Maria Lourdes S. Gaane, urged pharmacy owners to coordinate with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for tax incentives, and advised the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD), thru the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) to remind senior citizens to strictly comply with the requirements so that they can avail of the 20-percent discount privileges. (JBD/ SP)