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Larena Christmas made more fun with tree lighting contest
The Winning Tree (third photo, 1st row) was created by the Province of Siquijor Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PROSIELCO). Second and third places went to the Siquijor State College (SSC) (5th photo, 1st row) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) (bottom, last photo). Fourth and fifth places went to the Business Group (1st photo, 2nd row) and the National Food Authority (NFA) (4th photo, 1st row).
SIQUIJOR (PIA)--Chrismas trees stood tall and glittering in every corner of the town in Larena, Siquijor during the recently concluded Christmas season. The town piloted a Christmas tree decorating and lighting contest among government and nongovernment agencies, business sectors and schools based in the municipality. The contest hoped to promote local craftmanship and creativity with the use of environment-
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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. THERE IS GOOD NEWS EVERYDAY.
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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. 07| No. 01 January 1-7, 2019
PPA allots P100M for Siquijor port expansion
The 11 Christmas Trees as entries to the Christmas tree decorating and lighting contest initiated by the municipality of Larena. Simultaneous lighting was started on December 10, 2018. Which of these do you think would win? Let’s watch and find out together on December 30 at the Queengate Center, Larena, Siquijor for the Awarding of Winners. (photo credits: Larena Review) friendly indigenous and recyclable materials as well as strengthen camaraderie and revelry among townfolk especially during this season of Christmas. “It has indeed added color, fun and gaiety,” said Mayor Dean S. Villa as he thanked the agencies for their support in putting up the Christmas trees in the designated areas. The agencies and organizations actively participated in the competition and accepted the challenge of making huge Christmas trees despite their busy schedule, since only the employees and members of the organization are allowed to conceptualize and decorate the trees. They were grouped accordingly and each cluster built a tree with the height of 20 to 25 feet and should be made of recyclables and indigenous materials only, and ornamented with lights to make it more attractive at night. All Christmas trees were lighted simultaneously at 6:00 p.m. on December 10 which also served as the first round of judging. “This activity show how Larena works as one and how united are we in this municipality,” said Villa during the meeting with the participants conducted on the day of the lighting. Christmas trees were on display until the Epiphany, January 6, and were lighted from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. But on December 24, 25, and 31 and January 1 and 6 this year, the Christmas trees are lighted from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. to highlight the special occasions on these days. Second judging was on December 19 and the third on December 28, 2018. Criteria for judging include attractiveness/overall appearance (visual impact and color play), 40 percent; artistry and creativity (craftmanship, design, ingenuity, and artistic skill execution), 30 percent; and use of recyclable, environment-friendlty materials, 30 percent. The winning tree was announced on December 30 at Queengate Center, Larena and was awarded P50,000. Second placer received P30,000 and the third placer, P10,000. Fourth and fifth received P7,000 and 5,000, respectively, while each non-winning cluster received a goodwill award of P3,000 and a certificate of appreciation. (rac/ PIA-Siquijor/MJBanglos)
The operational area of the Siquijor port that, according to Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Manager Nileto Opinion, the contractor might use for the port expansion which is expected to start once the notice to proceed is delivered. (PIA/Siquijor) SIQUIJOR (PIA)--The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) awarded more than P100M to Siquijor province for the expansion of Siquijor port.
According to PPA Siquijor Acting Division Manager Nileto Opinion, the local office is currently waiting for the notice from the head office of PPA to proceed with the construction.
PhilPost strengthens PID security features
(PIA)--“The most secure governmentissued identification card today:” this was how the Philippine Postal Corporation defined the new and improved Philippine Postal ID (PID) , during their guesting at the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO) Forum. According to Ms. Rachel Betos, the Information Officer and Marketing Specialist of PhilPost, the improved PID is the corporation’s solution to the proliferation of fake PIDs and the answer to the challenges in the confirmation of a card’s authenticity and the owner’s real identity. A PID is used in verifying the identity and address of a recipient of letters or parcels through the mail. It can also be used to apply for other government IDs and in transactions requiring one’s identity verification. Betos also said that the new PID secures the identity and grants safe transactions to its owner. Included in the enhanced security
features of the new PID, is that it requires onsite digital capture of fingerprints, signature and personal details to verify the identity of the applicant. It also has enhanced ID physical security features such as postal reference number, guilloche printing, encrypted quick response (QR) code, pre-printed serial number, hologram, ghost image, UV ink and microprint. All Filipinos living in the Philippines and living abroad but is temporarilly in the Philippines at the time of application may apply for a PID. Applicants must submit two (2) copies of duly-accomplished PID application form and bring proof of identity such as birth certificate issued by PSA or the local civil registry. PhilPost also accepts either GSIS, SSS, UMID cards, driver’s license or passport. (HFG with Jan Karla Madrio/PIA7)
He revealed that once the construction starts, it shall be completed within 15 months. “Kinahanglan mahuman sa contractor ang project within 450 days, otherwise, naa sila’y liquidated damages (The contractor should finish the project within 450 days, otherwise, they will pay for liquidated damages),” he said. This project shall include the construction of back-up area, reinforce concrete work with roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ramp, and port lighting systems. However, he said RoRo vessels like Aleson and Montenegro may have to transfer to the port of Larena once the construction will start depending on the construction methodology of the contractor. “Kun gamiton nila ang operational area natu sa Siquijor kay gamay raman na, dako kaayo ug posibilidad nga tanang RoRo operation didto mabalhin dinhi (If they use the operational area of the port, there is a possibility that all RoRo operations will be transferred here),” explained Opinion. Other motor vessels like Oceanjet, Jaylann, and Anika Gayle can still resume operations at the Siquijor Port. (rac/PIASiquijor/MJBanglos)
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Mga tambal sa mga nag-unang sakit, VAT-exempted na sugod 2019 (PIA)--Epektibo niadtong Enero 1, wala na pahamtangi og Value Added Tax (VAT) ang mga tambal alang sa diabetes, hypertension o high blood ug highcholesterol.
Kini ang gi-anunsiyo sa Department of Finance (DOF). Tanang pasyente nga adunay reseta para tambal sa diabetes, hypertension ug high cholesterol ang
January is NATIONAL ZERO WASTE MONTH, as mandated by Presidential Proclamation No. 760, pursuant to Republic Act No. 9003 which is also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. Let’s observe proper #solidwastemanagement
mahimong makapahimos niining VAT exemption. Sigun pa sa impormasyon nga gipakatap sa DOF, usa sa mga probisyon ubos sa Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion o TRAIN Law nga mahatagan ang katawhan og akses a healthcare ug mas baratong tambal. Ang mga senior citizens ug Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) makadawat na og VAT exemption ug 20% diskwento base sa “Senior Citizen Act” ug “Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities.” Kining VAT exemption kauban sa TRAIN Law aron matabangan ang tanang adunay “common maintenance medications” sa sakit nga diabetes, hypertension ug high cholesterol. Gitambagan sa DOF ang publiko nga mangayo gayud og resibo aron mahibaw-an kun ang napalit nga tambal alang sa mga nahisgotang sakit VATexempted na ba gayud. Alang sa dugang kasayoran, mahimong mosulat ang publiko sa ecomplains@bir.gov.ph alang sa pag-avail og exemption ug sa pag-resibo; edpms@ doh.gov.ph alang sa pag-reseta; ug info@ fda.gov.ph alang sa bagbaligya sa mga botika, hospital pharmacies ug uban pang namaligya og tambal. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
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New Year’s gift of fortitude: Help protect the environment
By Harold E. Clavite In 2018, we started banning singleuse plastic in the Philippine Information Agency. This is our institutional response to critical conditions of our environment where the main culprit is man’s irresponsibility and inability to care for the environment due to limited information. On a planned New Year’s Eve event in Manila to obtain a Guinness world record on the largest balloon drop, which private entities Cove Manila and Okada Manila eventually cancelled due to public outcry, around 130,000 latex balloons were prepared to be released. Balloon drop is a practice of many businesses, not only in the Philippines but in many parts of the United States and several other countries, as part of company milestones and/or public celebrations. While organizers claim that the event was designed not to hurt the environment, this is a manifestation and indication of the inability to see what is beneficial and what is not for the environment. There are several balloons falsely advertised as “biodegradable latex” and regardless of all claims, they end up polluting places where they end up and are usually mistaken by animals as food causing their death. See how BalloonsBlow.org clearly points this out: https://balloonsblow.org/latex-balloons-stillkill/. Such acts can be seen as irresponsible and may send the message that entertainment and sales take precedence over the welfare of the environment. Unfortunately, a single uninformed decision on these matters may compromise attempts to protect the environment by governments and non-profit organizations. Our commitment this year is to not only talk about environmental advocacies within our organization but to continue to support, in terms of publicity and promotion, the National Environmental Health Action Plan (NEHAP) 2017-2022. Our goal is to increase the number of people and communities who understand this plan and we continue to work closely with the Environmental Management Bureau and relevant government and private entities to push for these advocacies. Secondly, our support to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (#SDGs) shall continue and, in particular, to use public information and communication strategies to promote urgent action against climate change and its impact. Our work plans this year would see an increased public engagement through forums, consultations, and multi-sector interactions and include environment as an important point of discussion, in addition to several other relevant issues.
Let us welcome the new year with a resolve to be better citizens of the Earth by adopting an eco-friendly, zero-waste lifestyle! Read more: https://pia.gov.ph/press-releases/releases/1016643 #ZeroWaste | #BeatPlasticPollution
At the same time, we call on every citizen to take important steps to be part of this advocacy. It is a must for everyone to fully understand the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law in the Philippines and for people to fully embrace it. Just recently, a senate bill has been filed— the Single-Use Plastics Regulation and Management Act of 2018, which aims to regulate the manufacturing, importation, and use of single-use plastic products. While we await creation and enforcement of new laws, we must do our share to avoid or eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste. Gone are the days where man is unable to understand the connection between waste management and a sustainable world. The ability to decipher what is wrong or right for the environment is a decision one has to urgently make. Most, if not all, would choose to live in a better world— let us choose to extend it a bit longer so that it would not only benefit ours and our children’s family lines but several more future generations. Whether they are government or private sector-led, companies, organizations, and communities must consider the
environment in its decisions and in the conduct of celebrations, occasions, and even down to its day-to-day activities including printing of documents and ordering food. Since 2019 is an election year, Filipinos must be able to identify with and support leaders who can present a doable plan of action to protect the environment. As a Filipino citizen and a government official, I demand for political agenda that is focused on environmental protection and immediate action on climate change, among other equally important societal concerns and issues. It is never too late. We cannot keep repeating the same mistakes and we must decide to make it right this time. Let us continue to be the responsible citizens that we are now and become watchdogs ourselves to ensure we contribute to making this world truly better and sustainable for our children and our children’s children and for many more generations to come. It is not going to be very easy but we must endure all difficulty and begin this new year with fortitude by showing altruistic motivation to help protect our environment.