iSIQUIJOR GOVERNMENTNEWS As we observe “Women
#EmpoweringCommunities
with Disabilities Day”, let us celebrate their strengths
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
and contributions to the
VOL. 09| No. 10 MARCH 18-25, 2021
progress of our society. #Womenwithdisabilitiesday #Kayakolahat #Pantaynakakayahan
Siquijor promotes responsible pet ownership from page 1
(c) Maintain control over their Dog and not allow it to roam the streets or any Public Place without leash. (d) Be a responsible Owner by providing their Dog with proper grooming, adequate food and clean shelter. (e)Within twenty-four (24) hours, report immediately any Dog biting incident to the Concerned Offiicials for investigation or for any appropriate action and place such Dog under observation by a government or private veterinarian, (f) Assist the Dog bite victim immediately and shoulder the medical expenses incurred and other incidental expenses relative to the victim’s injuries. Meanwhile, in line with the celebration of Rabies Awareness Month in March with the theme, “Pet Mo, Alaga Mo!”, the Provincial Government of Siquijor through the Provincial Veterinary Office and Integrated Provincial Health Office in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture Region 7, Municipal Local Government Units and Siquijor Animal Rescue Organization joined the conduct of a series of information drive, free spay and neuter, and rabies vaccination (with Dog Registration fee of P100) provincewide with the following schedule: March 2, 2021 – sponsored by SARO at The Sylvia, Solangon, San Juan, Siquijor March 9, 2021 - Siquijor at Fish Port, Canal, Siquijor March 16, 2021 - San Juan at Capilay Spring Park March 23, 2021 - Lazi at Groundfloor, Municipal Agriculture Office March 30, 2021 - Maria at Municipal Agriculture Office April 5, 2021 - Larena at Barangay Hall, Helen, Larena, Siquijor April 13, 2021 - Enrique Villanueva at Poblacion, Enrique Villanueva There will also be an Information
iiSIQUIJOR SIQUIJOR Information is our business.
Free Spay and Neuter and Rabies Vaccination at the Capilay Spring Park conducted by the Provincial Veterinary Office in cooperation with the Integrated Provincial Health Office, Department of Agriculture Region 7, and Municipal Local Government Units to highlight the celebration of National Rabies Awareness Month. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor)
Beach Watch Siquijor’s Vivian Fonollera talked about the Present Condition of Pet Population vs. Human during the information drive, prior to the Free Spay and Neuter and vaccination conducted in Lazi, Siquijor, Siquijor. drive on RA 9482 at Siquijor Capital Square on April 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to selected barangay officials of Siquijor and a “Dog Show” on April 8, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at the Dugokanan sa Kapitolyo. During each information drive, prior to the vaccinations, Fonollera talks on the Present Condition of Pet Population vs. Human, Dr. Tabada on Understanding Spay and Anti-Rabies, while Ramir Chan, also of the PVO, on Legal
NEEDING FOREVER HOMES. Abandoned two-week-old puppies that the Siquijor Animal Rescue Organization tried to rescue by looking for their possible forever homes.To those who are willing to adopt, SARO will cover the cost of spay/neuter surgery. (Photo from SARO FB page) Responsibilities of Pet Ownership. For more details and for advance registration, please contact the respective Municipal Agriculture Office in the LGU for more information. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor)
Siquijor promotes responsible pet ownership towards sustainable tourism By Rizalie Anding Calibo Concerns about abandoned and stray animals in the province have been raised for quite a time now, with some complaining of having their sleep disturbed by the barks and howls of dogs in the streets. Residents have also complained of feces and litters from scavenging dogs and cats along the beaches and even outside houses, dog and cat bites, and serious vehicular accidents caused by stray dogs. Siquijor is lucky that with the efforts of the Provincial Government through the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), it has maintained its status of being a rabiesfree province for more than a decade now, according to the report of the PVO. However, PVO said that this alone will not solve the increasing issue involving stray animals and its impact on the community. In an effort to address this concern, the Provincial Government of Siquijor through the PVO - in cooperation with the local government units of the six municipalities here, Siquijor Animal Rescue Organization (SARO), the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and the Beach Watch Siquijor, and volunteers - is intensifying the information, education and communication (IEC) campaign to promote responsible pet ownership in the province. Dubbed “Binuhi Mo, Ampingan Mo: Kasayuran-kampanya alang sa responsable nga pagbuhi ug pagpanag-iya sa hayop (Responsible pet ownership), an orientation/ briefing for the barangay officials of Maite, San Juan, Siquijor, was initially done on March 7 with Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Bernardita Tabada, Beach Watch Siquijor Consultant Vivian Fonollera, together with some volunteers and the PIA-Siquijor representative. Maite is eyed as the pilot barangay for the advocacy drive called “Save My Pet Project 2021” of the Beach Watch Siquijor, which includes the conduct of survey to determine the population and health status of
pets in the area, while taking into consideration other observations on the proliferation of stray dogs that is seen to be detrimental to the health of the people and the province’s environment and tourism, said Fonollera. “I want to help promote sustainable tourism for Siquijor which means keeping a healthy Siquijor that is free from stray animals, engaging in activities that support poverty alleviation, as well as making ecofriendly communities to attract more tourists, especially now that we are reopening Siquijor amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said. She added that this is why they are calling for more volunteers to assist in keeping not only the streets and beaches but the entire island of Siquijor free from stray animals. Fonollera explains that the survey is in preparation for the seminar-workshop on responsible pet ownership and to support the provincial vet campaign for free vaccines, among other activities. Volunteers are needed to facilitate the survey and provide provisions for the data gatherers, and prepare the survey forms and transportation to get them in their places of assignments. “This is a unifying
task, not a one-man band. Everyone is welcome to work with us,” she said. “I personally believe that by educating the people, explaining to them the situation, we will soon achieve our dream of seeing no abused, abandoned and stray ‘fur babies’ in the island. We can achieve this with the help of the municipalities the barangays and the volunteers,” Nerisa Umali, a pet lover and one of the Save My Pet Project 2021 volunteers, said. During the initial briefing with the Maite barangay officials, Tabada discussed the salient points of RA 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act which cites the responsibilities of the pet owners, the concerned agencies, and the local government units. She said Section 5 of RA 9482 requires all pet owners to: (a) Have their Dog regularly vaccinated against Rabies and maintain a registration card which shall contain all vaccinations conducted on their Dog, for accurate record purposes. (b) Submit their Dogs for mandatory registration.
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iSIQUIJOR
#Empowering Communities
CSC chair person cites women empowerment, gender equality as essentials for nation building (PIA) -- Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairperson Alicia dela Rosa-Bala has cited women empowerment and gender equality as essential ingredients on the road to development and nation building. “When we have more inclusive policies and programs that enable women’s rights and participation, we are able to unlock the capabilities of half of the population for the benefit of society at large,” Bala said amid the country’s observance of Women’s Month this March. She said as the premier HR institution of the Philippine government, the CSC continues to pursue HR reforms that support female government workers throughout their career. On 1 May 2019, the CSC, together with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Social Security System (SSS), issued the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11210 or the Expanded Maternity Leave Law. The IRR defines the rules for availing of the expanded maternity leave. Under R.A. 11210, which took effect on 11 March 2019, women who underwent live childbirth are entitled to 105 days maternity leave with full pay, with an option to extend for 30 days without pay. On top of 105 days, solo parents are entitled to 15 more days of maternity leave. Meanwhile, women who suffered miscarriage or emergency termination of pregnancy, or delivered stillbirth, can avail of 60 days maternity leave with full pay. Female employees in the government service can avail of maternity leave under R.A. No. 11210 regardless of their employment/ appointment status, whether permanent, temporary, casual, contractual, provisional, substitute, coterminous, or fixed term. The law also does not distinguish civil status, length of service, employment status, and legitimacy of the child in granting the benefit. Meanwhile, the 105-day maternity leave may also be allocated to the child’s father or an alternate caregiver who may be a relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity
or current partner sharing the same household. The allocation will be on top of the 7-day paternity leave that male government employees may avail of as well. Special leave Even before R.A. No. 11210, the CSC has already issued leave benefits that recognize the unique needs of women. This includes the special leave benefits for women under Republic Act No. 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women (MCW). In CSC Resolution No. 1000432 issued 22 November 2010, the CSC set guidelines on the availment of special leave benefit for qualified female public sector employees who have undergone surgery caused by gynecological disorders, pursuant to the provisions and implementing rules and regulations of the MCW. Per the resolution, any female public sector employee, regardless of age and civil status are entitled to a special leave of a maximum of two months with full pay based on her gross monthly compensation, provided she has rendered at least six (6) months aggregate service in any or various government agencies for the last twelve (12) months prior to undergoing surgery for gynecological disorders. Generally, availment of the said special leave benefit should be in accordance with the List of Surgical Operations for Gynecological Disorders, which reflects, among others, the estimated periods of recuperation from surgery due to the specific gynecological disorder. The leave may be filed in advance or at least five (5) days prior to the gynecological surgery. In case of emergency surgical procedures, the leave may be filed immediately upon return to work. The leave application should be accompanied by a medical certificate and clinical summary. Women’s Month The CSC joins the Philippine government in celebrating the 2021 National Women’s Month from 1-31 March with the theme “Juana Laban sa Pandemya: Kaya!” which highlights women’s participation in battling the pandemic as well as discusses gender issues exacerbated by the pandemic. (PIA NCR)
iSIQUIJOR GOVERNMENTNEWS
infobits
First dose vaccination of the first batch of sinovac vaccine to some 100 health personnel is made today, March 12, at the Dugokanan sa Kapitolyo, Siquijor, Siquijor. -------ooo-------ooo------Health personnel listed for the vaccination expressed mixed emotions, saying they are apprehensive of the possible effects but generally excited and thankful that finally the vaccines have come and that they were the first to get them. -------ooo-------ooo------Medical Officer Dr. Lorbie Yap of the Provincial Health Office was the first of the 100 vaccinees to get the shot of the sinovac vaccine in the province during the first dose vaccination conducted on March 12, at the Dugokanan sa Kapitolyo, Siquijor, Siquijor. -------ooo-------ooo------Another batch of 520 doses equivalent to 52 vials of Astrazeneca Vaccine for the Siquijor Provincial Hospital and Lazi Medicare Community Hospital arrived yesterday, March 14, at the Siquijor Port, Siquijor, Siquijor via the Philippine Coast Guard. -------ooo-------ooo------Vice Governor Mei Ling QuezonBrown commended the 100 medical frontliners, whom she calls as the “new heroes” in Siquijor, who volunteered to be the first batch in the vaccination conducted on March 12, at the Dugokanan sa Kapitolyo, Siquijor Siquijor. She said that with their courage, they set as good examples and inspiration to their colleagues and the people of Siquijor. In her inspiration message during the vaccination, said every frontliner has to take the lead in showing the people of Siquijor that the end is near, that the COVID-19 pandemic will soon end. She said that with the vaccine as our weapon, we should move on from fear and move on to life. -------ooo-------ooo------A total of 810 farmers under the Corn Peanut Production Project of Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program receive farm tools. Seven hundred seventy corn farmers and 40 dragon fruit growers receive one pick mattock, two hand trowels and seedling trays. Farmers in the municipalities of Larena, Maria and Lazi will still receive the tools next week.
CEBUANO NEWS
Libreng face mask sa tanan, gimando ni Duterte
(PIA) -- Kinahanglang mahatagan og libreng face mask ang tanan aron makasunod sa minimum health protocols, matud pa ni Presidente Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Sa Talk to the People on COVID-19 niadtong Lunes sa gabii, Marso 15, miingon ang Presidente nga pila ka higayon gigamit ang mga daang mask ilabi na sa mga wala’y ikapalit. “It’s the mask, ilang gamit lang ‘yan. Iba luma na, isang buwan na gamit because they don’t have money to buy,” matud pa ni Duterte. Gibalik na usab sa Presidente ang una niining pahayag nga angay manghatag og libreng mask ang gobyerno. “We have to provide masks for everyone. Kung yung tao walang pambili, how would you expect compliance,” pahayag pa ni Duterte. Gitahasan sa Presidente ang Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) ug mga kapitan sa barangay nga motabang sa pangapod-apod og face mask sa ilang mga nasakupan. Gawas sa pagsuot og face mask, kinahanglan usab nga magsuot og face shield ang mga mogawas sa ilang panimalay ug sundon ang gipatuman nga social distancing aron makalikay sa COVID-19. (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. THERE IS GOOD NEWS EVERYDAY.
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