Senior citizens body highlights members’ roles, enforces RA 9994 By: Recthie T. Paculba
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To ensure implementation of the Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Senior Citizens (RIAC-SC) monitors the activities and programs of the local government units (LGUs), and continues the advocacy to all its members in the region.
As a chair and secretariat of the national and regional committees for senior citizens, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) facilitates the accreditation requirements and endorsement of non-government organizations (NGOs) to service providers to avail of the 50% utility discount on water, electricity, and telephone. In addition, DSWD implements the Social Pension Program for indigent senior citizens with cooperation of LGUs and assists in the organization and registration of people’s organizations (POs), and licensing and accreditation of NGOs. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on the other hand serves as vice-chairperson of the committees and ensures the establishment of the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) and proper appointment of OSCA heads to the legal procedure. DILG also ensures the establishment and functionality of the Senior Citizens Center (SCCs), P2,000 Death Benefits Assistance, and social Safety Net provision which is the prioritization of elderly in resource allocation during disasters and calamities. To ensure the grant of 20 percent discount and 12 percent value added tax (VAT) exemption on medical benefits and health privileges, the Department of Health (DOH) orients and capacitate the private sector or business establishments on relevant
issuances and guidelines. Moreover, they monitor the compliance of hospitals, clinics, laboratory and diagnostic centers, medical facilities, drugstores, and pharmacies. When it comes to ensuring the grant of 5 percent special discounts, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) coordinates with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and DOH. They also orient and capacitate the private sector or business establishments on relevant guidelines and ensure their compliance especially the groceries and supermarkets. As a whole, the committee on senior citizens ensures the compliance and monitors grant of utility discounts by coordinating with local cooperatives, water districts or telecommunications providers. They also coordinate with LGUs thru the OSCAs and monitor the grant of 20 percent SC discount. Currently, the senior citizens throughout the country are given the privilege to enjoy 20 percent discounts on drugs and medicines, hospitalization and medical services, restaurants or food establishments, domestic transportation, hotels/ lodging establishments, cinemas, theaters, and recreation centers. Thus, the RIAC-SC encourages every senior citizen to make use of the RA 9994 and refer to the respective agencies to address their concerns about their privileges.
Forest fires continue to spread in Bukidnon’s Mt. Kitanglad natural park By: Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy
MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – The forest fires that started April 2 at the foot of Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park (MKRNP) in Bukidnon is now increasing slowly but continuously, particularly in Mt. Nakalu situated in barangay Sil-ipon, Libona town. Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Maria Theresa J. Allen said, initial field reports disclosed that 52 hectares of trees under National Greening Program (NGP) in sitio Magantol was razed by fire. She said the fires burned down 10 hectares of natural forest in sitio Anlawon, while five hectares in barangay Capehan and another five hectares in barangay Sil-ipon, all in Libona town, were already burned. Another fire occurrence was spotted Monday in the southern part of Mt. Kitanglad at barangay Sungco, Lantapan town, and in the municipality of Sumilao—northeast of the park. There are also patches of forest fire occurrences in north of the park specifically in sitio Mangasa of Dalwangan village and barangay Imbayao all in Malaybalay City, but were contained by Kitanglad Guard Volunteers and Tribal Guards by establishing fire lines. However, Allen said, the condition in Mt. Nakalu near Mt. Kitanglad
Natural Park is alarming. “If not controlled, it would damage huge number of hectares of natural forests. Firefighters had tried to block the fire in Mt. Nakalu but failed because strong winds made firefighting efforts even more difficult,” she said. Allen said they are now coordinating with Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and Philippine Air Force (PAF) for assistance to provide helicopters for aerial water spray to extinguish the spreading fires. Reports said the fire started in the burned grassland and bushes along Bubunawan river near the park’s downslope until it spread to the protected area. This can be attributed to the long dry spell brought by the El Nino phenomenon. Grasslands are very dry including forests. This is not to discount the negligence of some residents burning the grasses along riverbanks, Allen said.
NCMB 10 conducts basic course on Labor Management Cooperation By: Junaliza Aragon
TAGOLOAN, Misamis Oriental – The National Conciliation and Mediation Board of Region 10 conducted the Basic Orientation Course Seminar cum Labor Management Cooperation (LMC) Structuring to the Mindanao International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (MICTSI), Tagoloan town, Misamis Oriental on March 11, 2016 with the management and union officers.
Around 15 participants attended the activity and successfully institutionalized the creation of LMC Counsel with sub-committees namely: Labor Law Compliance, Safety and Health, Productivity Improvement Program, Family Welfare and Problem Solving Committees. MICTSI workers formed their union sometime in 2013 and concluded its first Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on March 20, 2015 under the affiliation of Federation of Democratic Labor Organization (FDLO) with lawyer Gregorio A. Pizarro as
national president. The CBA of MICTSI particularly Article 11 provides the provision on Labor Management Committee with a purpose to operate as a proper forum for dialogue among labor and management as well as to discuss matters such as, but not limited to: matters outside the provision of grievance machinery or non-grievable matters; to increase productivity and sharing of benefits in the form of bonus or incentives resulting therefrom; worker’s education at work and job enhancement; family planning; sports program and other matters that either of the parties may desire to thresh out in order to avoid strained employer-employee relationship. MITCSI LMC appointed a secretary from the staff of Human Resource Department to keep the records and serve notices for meetings at least three days before the schedule. LMC Meeting will be made every 2nd Friday of the month.
Supreme Court affirms lower court’s decision on Macatanong retirement MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur - The Supreme Court denied the petition for review on certiorari filed by former Marawi City Schools Division Superintendent Mona A. Macatanong. The said petition assailed the Court of Appeals’ decision annulling the judgment rendered by the Regional Trial Court of Marawi, Branch 9, which granted her petition for correction of her date of birth in public records. Macatanong has been ordered to vacate her office in May 2014 after she turned 65 years old, the compulsory retirement age for government employees, on October 2013. She resisted and insisted on the correction of her date of birth, as affirmed by the RTC Marawi, in order to extend her tenure until 2016. The resolution of the high court regarding Macatanong’s case was issued last 10 February 2016. Apart from denying Macatanong’s petition for cetiorari, the high court also directed the Office of the Court Administrator and the Office of the Bar Confidant to conduct an investigation regarding the the RTC Marawi, Branch 9’s “highly questionable” handling of Macatanong’s petition for correction of
her date of birth. The said investigation ordered by the Supreme Court may lead to the filing of administrative and criminal charges against Judge Gamor Disalo. Amir Mawallil, ARMM regional spokesperson, welcomed the decision of the high court. “That the high court will decide in our favor regarding this case was expected. It has been two years since the legal proceedings regarding Macatanong’s tenure as schools division superintendent began and this is a welcome development that will set the record straight once and for all,” Mawallil said. Secretary John Magno of the Department of Education-ARMM also expressed his relief following the Supreme Court decision. “The ARMM government,
especially the regional Department of Education, knew from the very start that Macatanong’s resistance regarding her retirement lacked merit. We pursued legal action because we knew that the rule of law was on our side, and this Supreme Court decision affirms our
position,” said Magno. Macatanong’s case has caused a backlog in the Marawi City Schools Division as it interrupted the process of promotion among teachers mandated by law. (Bureau of Public Information/ PIA-10)
DepEd-ARMM re-launches safety measures for teachers serving in May polls
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n election response mechanism that ensures the welfare and security of public school teachers serving in the May 9 polls has been reactivated on March 30 by the Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM).
The DepEd-ARMM’s Election Response Network (DERN) was first launched in the ARMM in April 2013. This mechanism effectively provides technical and legal assistance to teachers in case of problems while performing their duties during elections. The process includes the establishment of an Electronic Results Transmission Services at the division and municipal levels that will keep a directory of teachers’ names and their contact numbers. It also assesses the security situation and threats to teachers serving as Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs). The BEI serves as the panel that conducts the balloting process at the precinct level. Operating with personnel from government agencies, specifically the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Commission on Human Rights, the Public Attorneys’ Office, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as well as monitors from the United Nations’ Children’s Educational
Fund, teachers are better protected. “It is important to protect the teachers because they are exposed to many dangers,” Alfhadar Pajiji, DepEdARMM assistant secretary for special projects said. Out of over 26,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel in the region, Assistant Secretary Pajiji said more than 4,000 will serve in the upcoming elections. He also reiterated that his office is still waiting for the final lists of the teachers from the public school district supervisors. Under Comelec Resolution No. 10031, the chairperson and members of the BEIs will each receive P3,000 honorarium, P500 for the verification and sealing of the book of voters plus P500 for transportation and another P500 allowance. A support staff of the BEIs will receive a per diem of P500. A polling/ voting center supervisor will get a per diem of P1,000 while a supervisor support staff will receive P500. (BPIARMM/PIA-10)