DSWD7 warns public accepting 4Ps cash card as loan collateral
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, June 2 (PIA) The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 7 has cautioned the public for accepting Pantawid Pamilya cash card from grantees as loan collateral or guarantee for any lending purposes.
Information Officer Aileen Lariba of DSWD said 4Ps grantees offer cash card to any individuals or institutions as collateral for loans is strictly prohibited.
Lariba explained that Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), a conditional cash transfer (CCT) poverty reduction strategy for poor households with set conditions on health and education.
“The program continues to educate and develop these identified beneficiaries with emphasis on health, education a call for public cooperation, partnership and vigilance is made so that these cash card/grants shall not be subject to abuse,” Lariba stressed.
Any violation reported and proven, subjects the beneficiary to automatic suspension and eventually delisting from the program.
Furthermore, DSWD has urged 4Ps beneficiaries to practice responsibility by safeguarding their cash cards from getting lost since this is the vital identification in all Pantawid Pamilya activities and other services that would be accorded to them in the near future.
The DSWD sets up the following hotline number for reporting any abuse, discrepancies in the use of grants or program implementation invoking the government’s concept of private-public partnership.
REKLAMO sa 4Ps I-text sa 09189122813 or 0917-381-5555 (ex. 4ps (space) pangalan (slash) reklamo or 4ps Juan Cruz/Tanjay City/Wala ko sa payroll.
Meanwhile, DSWD carried out a convergence strategy to enhance the effectiveness of its program implementation for faster and better delivery of service to the people.
The DSWD convergence strategy is comprised of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), a conditional cash transfer (CCT) poverty reduction strategy; Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), a community-driven program; and the Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K), a sustainable livelihood assistance for the poor. (PIA NegOr/JCT)
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Dumaguete City acquires 2 new classrooms building
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, June 2 (PIA) Dumaguete City government has acquired two classrooms school building in time for the June 6 opening of classes in Batinguel Elementary School.
The city received the classrooms building from the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FCCCI) in the province in today’s turn-over ceremony.
The School Principal of Batinguel Elementary School, Neileen Wale said, the two classroom building is donated by the family of Co Kin Hung.
Wale said, “We are happy for the additional two classrooms school building inside the campus so that at the opening of classes next week these can be used by the grade six students here.”
Engr. Gregorio Uymatiao, Jr, Vice-President of FCCCI for his part, the school building project is under “ Operation Barrio Schools,” a project of Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Incorporated and Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Dumaguete Negros Oriental Incorporated for this year.
Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria lauded the Chamber for the support especially the construction of the school building in Dumaguete City.
The mayor pledged to continuously support the education program of the city schools division as he, also commended the OIC-School Division Superintendent Dr Ramir Uytico for the ideas and the improvement of education.
The turn over ceremony is witnessed by Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, Engr. Gregorio Uymatiao Jr of FFCCCI, Businessman Edward Lee of the Filipino-ChineseChamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Ramir Uytico, Neileen Wale, Principal 1Batinguel Elementary School, and parent-teacher association. (PIA NegOr/JCT)
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CSC invites Negrense to a video contest by Jennifer Catan-Tilos DUMAGUETE CITY, June 2 (PIA) – In partnership with Kabayanihan Foundation, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) invites Negrense to join the video competition dubbed “Kuwentong Kabayanihan: The CSC-Kabayanihan Foundation Video Contest” to promote patriotic citizenship among Filipinos. The contest banners the theme, “Every Filipino is a hero, Every Filipino is part of the solution,” stresses CSC’s program to serve towards a Responsive, Accessible, Courteous and Effective (RACE) Public Service, and Kabayanihan Foundation’s concept of being a “kabayani” by showing love for country in doing small, consistent acts of heroism. Video entry not only adheres to the theme but encourages individuals to act something concrete for the country. The contest is open to all amateur filmmakers. Video entry must run in 30-40 seconds with style either in animation, documentary or commercial type. The entry is judge with the following criteria: subject relevance, 30%; message clarity, 30; video quality, 20; and audience impact, 20 percent. A total of P65,000 cash prizes will be awarded to the seven winners from the two categories, regular and special awards including the people’s choice award. Preliminary submission of entries must be done through uploading of the video inYouTube. Uploads to any other sites will not be eligible for the contest. The title of the video must be “Kuwentong Kabayanihan Video – (insert personal title here).” Entries may be submitted in English or Filipino. Those that use other Filipino dialectsmust be subtitled in either English or Tagalog. Accepted video formats are .avi, .mpeg, .mp4, or any type that is compatible for upload in YouTube and Facebook. Other details of the contest can be obtained from Audrey Trinidad or Osep Reyes at (02) 358-3333, 0917-842-7111, or through email at info@kabayanihan.org. (PIA NegOr/JCT) |
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3 NegOr towns gear up to achieve the MDGs in 2015
DUMAGUETE CITY, June 2 (PIA) With the eagerness to achieve theMillennium Development Goals (MDG) set by the United Nations (UN) by 2015, three municipalities of the province of Negros Oriental came together to learn how to finance, localize and monitor the MDGs.
The event which took place at the El Oriente Beach Resort in Dumaguete last June 1 was attended by Local Government Unit (LGU) representatives and citizen groups from La Libertad, Sibulan and Dauin.
Prof. Carlos Magtolis Jr., a member of Social Watch Visayas said that these three municipalities are under the project named “Cementing Pathways to Financing theMillennium Development Goals” which is implemented by the Social Watch Philippines and the Legal Policy Institute funded by the European Union (EU) and UN MDG Achievement Fund.
He added that these three municipalities from Negros Oriental, together with other three municipalities from Pangasinan that are also funded by the EU will be the models to other places in implementing the MDGs. They are expected to reduce extreme poverty, improve health condition especially the child and maternal mortality, be more gender sensitive, elevate the quality of education and have a sustainable environment.
Prof. Leonor Magtolis-Briones, a representative from Social Watch Philippines said that as of now, the Philippines is in critical level in eradicating poverty by 2015, same with reducing the maternal mortality rate, what is likely to be achieved is the infant mortality rate.
She said, “The country is pressured to work very hard.”
Prof. Briones added that though there are no direct consequences to the country if these MDG goals will not be meet by 2015, the standing of the country will be affected. Some donor communities including the UN are revolving around the MDG status and their assistance to the country might be minimized.
Cong. Lorenzo Erin Tanada, Deputy Speaker of the House of the Representative said that this year, the budget allocated under the Aquino administration is more focused on the MDG. He said,“2011 is a catch up budget for the MDG.”
He added that the government has used Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT ) as one of the vehicles in fast tracking or trying to catch up with what has happened in the last nine years where the MDG goals were not being considered as the primary objective of the previous administration.
Furthermore Tanada said: “They try to reach it, this is also the reason why in order for them to minimize the gap they make certain things a condition, and the people have to do something before they can take the cash. There’s a cause and effect benefit.”
Prof. Briones said that challenge here for the government is how to sustain the CCT given that it was able to allocate 21 billion pesos for the CCT this year. (PIA NegOr/ Liam Vrent Lumogdang)
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Sen. Sotto shares PDAF for Rizal Boulevard boardwalk project
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, June 2 (PIA) Senator Vicente Sotto III granted additional financial assistance of P1 million for the completion of boardwalk project at the Rizal Boulevard in Dumaguete City.
Information Officer Steve Gabriel of Dumaguete City said the Office of the Mayor has received the notice yesterday from the Department of Budget and Management Region 7, informing the Mayor that the check has been deposited in the city current account of the bank.
The sum of money from Senator Sotto allotted from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
The city is continuing the massive development and rehabilitation program of the Rizal Boulevard as it is the show window of Dumaguete, according to Gabriel.
Recently, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri in his quick visit in the city few weeks ago, also promised the city government to give one or two million for the funding for the further development of the boardwalk along Rizal boulevard.
City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria for his part thanked Senator Sotto for the additional funding assistance for completion of the boardwalk project in the city.
Previously, Francisco Pangilinan, Ralph Recto and TG Guingona also allotted some financial assistance from their PDAF through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the same project, Gabriel said. (PIA NegOr/JCT)