Don't mutilate, deface RP money - BSP warns banks, public
by: Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, April 26 (PIA) -- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) strongly warned the public as well as bank tellers in Negros Oriental against defacing or mutilating Philippine bank notes and coins.
"Mutilating the Philippine money is a violation of Presidential Decree No. 247 which prohibits the defacement, mutilation, tearing, burning or destruction of Central Bank-issued notes and coins," said BSP Senior Currency Specialist Cecille Hortal in a briefing for local bank and cooperative workers held today at the Perpetual Health Credit Cooperation Inc. Building in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
The defacement of bills and notes can take many forms. "Some coins are turned into jewelry and accessories such as earrings and we have come across bills that contain drawings and markings," said Hortal.
Burying coins to beckon luck in newly-constructed houses or coloring the bills to be used during Catholic wedding rites are also considered violations of PD 247.
Hortal, in the same briefing, also rebuked bank tellers who tend to write on the bills to mark their money counting progress. "We have received a lot of feedback from the public that they often see bank tellers doing this. Writing or making any mark on the bills is illegal," she stressed.
Violators of PD 247 risk facing a five-year jailtime and a fine of P20,000.
Hortal likewise warned against taking a picture of Philippine money and using it in advertisements without the permission of the Central Bank. "You need a permission from Bangko Sentral to do this, otherwise you will be sued," she said.
Defaced, mutilated and unfit notes and coins may be exchanged for new notes in any Philippine bank. "Anyone can walk into your banks and exchange their defaced or mutilated money into new notes," Hortal told the bankers in the audience in what was the second of a two-day series of information drive conducted by BSP here.
Commercial banks have earlier signed an agreement with Central Bank to assist the latter in helping remove unfit notes from circulation. "This is part of our objective of preserving the integrity of our currency," said Hortal.
The information campaign held April 25 to 26 in Dumaguete City is the 18th stop in BSP's nationwide awareness drive of the new bank notes called "new generation currency" released by Central Bank last year. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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NegOr allots P20M for additional classrooms
by: Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Apr 27 (PIA) The provincial government of Negros Oriental has set aside some P20million for the 29 additional classrooms for this year’s opening of classes.
Provincial Governor Roel Degamo said the budget for the construction of classrooms is taken from the Provincial School Board which also includes additional teacher items under the “Basta NegOr Education 104 Program.”
In cooperation with the local Department of Education (DepEd), this project may address the perennial classroom shortage in the identified public schools in the 20 municipalities and five cities of the province, Gov. Degamo said.
The provincial government has also continued to provide scholarships to poor but deserving students and the same to applicants for those who want to study medicine and other allied health courses.
Education program is part of the centerpiece priority agenda of the provincial government, the HELP as Health, Education, Livelihood Programs and Projects for peace and development.
With the provincial tag line, “Sa Probinsya-MagDEGAMO Ta,” prepares and fast track the development of the different programs and projects under HELP, it is said.
Degamo was happy to note that League of Municipalities of the Philippines in the province has showed support behind his programs to speed up the development which include the education programs in the locality. (PIA NegOr/JCT)