NegOr-funded road improvement projects underway in Dumaguete
by Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, June 17 (PIA) --- The provincial government of Negros Oriental has budgeted around P4.5 million for four ongoing road improvement projects in Dumaguete City.
The projects all involve the concreting of roads in four areas here.
Based on data from the Provincial Engineer's Office and provided by the Degamo Information Center, the biggest allotment is poured into the concreting of Colon Extension road with P2.5 million.
The concreting started in April 30, 2011 and targeted to be completed on the second week of August.
On the other hand, P1-M was alloted for the concreting project in Sto. Rosario, Brgy. Junob which is seen to be completed next month.
The other two concreting projects are along Claytown, Brgy. Daro with P678,000 and inside the park and playground in Upper Daro with P300,000. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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5,000 PhilHealth cards distributed to Dumaguete indigent families
by Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, June 17 (PIA) --- More than 5,000 indigent beneficiaries in Dumaguete City,Negros Oriental recently received their PhilHealth cards under PhilHealth's Sponsored Program.
The cards were handed out to said recipients by local PhilHealth personnel together with Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria in 30 villages in the city on June 15, 2011.
The indigent beneficiaries in the city were identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, according to a statement from the Dumaguete City Public Information Office.
The city government of Dumaguete is one of the 23 local government units (LGUs) in the province that renewed their sponsorship enrollment with PhilHealth this year, said PhilHealth Officer In Charge Marites Que in an interview.
Que explained that under the sponsored program, the LGUs and PhilHealth share the payment of the P1,200 total premium cost per person per year. "The sharing scheme based on our 2010 implementation of the program depends on the income class of the LGU and the enrollment is renewed every year," said Que.
Records from PhilHealth show that last year, there were 58,732 enrollees provincewide under the sponsored program with the LGUs, in addition to the 6,621 enrollees sponsored by the Department of Health (DOH) during the National PhilHealth Regstration Day in October last year. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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PNP strengthens campaign vs. loose firearms
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, June 17 (PIA) Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Director Col. Rey Lyndon Lawas has warned some 2,538 firearms holders with expired licenses in Negros Oriental to renew and obtain proper permits.
Col Lawas said the PNP is giving chance holders of loose firearms the chance to legalize their ownership of unregistered guns, if failed to do so, an arrest warrants will be issued for them.
The PNP has sent notices to holders of guns this month, but so far only 58 have responded and started processing their licenses, said Lawas.
He added that gun licenses must be renewed. Otherwise, these will be considered loose firearms.
The civilian holders of unlicensed firearms should make their possession legal in order not to be imposed with penalties and appropriate cases once they are caught, the PNP official said.
Col. Lawas said the campaign aims to trim down the loose firearms on the streets as he noted the shooting incidents for the past few weeks.
The expired number of licenses of firearms is part of the total 8,135 firearms license holders recorded in the PNP.
To lessen the proliferation of loose firearms in the province, the PNP encourages the public to report of any individual bringing unlicensed firearms outside their residence. (PIA NegOr/JCT)
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Mountain trekkers raise Phil flag at Mt. Kanlaon to mark Independence Day
by Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, June 17 (PIA) --- Some 51 mountain climbers in Negros Oriental trekked to Mt. Kanlaon on June 12, 2011 to mark the 113th Independence Day celebration in the country.
The trek dubbed as "Freedom Climb" capped with a flag-raising ceremony at the summit of Mt. Kanlaon by members of the 11 Infantry Battalion (11IB) of the Philippine Army, REACT,Guihulngan City government and mountaineering groups and freelance mountaineers.
According to a statement from the 11IB, the mountaineers started the climb early morning of June 11 and they reached the Makawiwili Peak of Mt. Kanlaon around 4:00 p.m. The following morning, the group resumed their climb and arrived at the volcano's oriental shoulder at 8:00 a.m. where the Philippine flag was raised.
The Freedom Climb is an annual nationwide activity organized by the Federation of Filipino Mountaineers.
11IB Commander Lt Col Ramil M. Bitong said the activity successfully strengthened the Philippine Army’s partnership with various stakeholders, and opened new doors for joint undertakings in the future.
“Our stakeholders now recognize the 11th IB and the entire Philippine Army as an able and reliable partner in community- building. More and more organizations are forging partnership with us in their programs because they know that they would never go wrong with the military,” Col. Bitong added. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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Sidlakang Negros Village Showroom to extend business hours
by Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, June 17 (PIA) --- The Sidlakang Negros Village (SNV) Showroom will soon extend its business hours to give more time for tourists and visitors to purchase locally-made souvenir items.
The Sidlakang Negros Producers Association (SNPA), whose members compose the manufacturers and suppliers selling their locally-produced wares at the Pasalubong Center inside the SNV Showroom, has agreed to be open for business until 10:00 p.m.
This after Gov. Roel Degamo requested the association to extend its business hours to give more time for tourists to buy the souvenir items sold by SNPA inside the showroom.
Provincial Tourism Officer Myla Mae Abellana said the 10:00 p.m. closing time will take effect once the SNPA inks the memorandum of agreement with the provincial government.
The SNV is currently open from 9:00 am until 6:00 in the evening.
Capitol Information Officer Adrian Sedillo said the governor made the request in a recent meeting with the SNPA officers.
The SNPA members earlier agreed to turn over 10 percent of their income to the provincial government every month as they are allowed to sell their wares, including souvenir items, inside the village for free.
“But the governor told the group that instead of handing over their 10% to the provincial government, they can use the money to cover the costs of extending their business hours,” said Sedillo.
The governor likewise requested the association to make sure that their products' packaging clearly states that it is made in Negros Oriental in order to further promote the province among tourists. “Their products are one way for the province to be known in other areas,” Sedillo added.
He also disclosed that the SNPA members agreed to police their own ranks against producers selling products that are not from the province.
The governor's move is in the effort of maximizing the village to fully showcase the province's culture, arts and tourism as envisioned by his predecessor, the late Gov. Emilio Macias II, under whose leadership the SNV was constructed.
The village serves as the one-stop tourism center of Negros Oriental located in Dumaguete City. The sprawling village houses various tourist booths and pavilions, each of which features the crafts and delicacies unique to a town or city in the province while offering a preview of its tourist spots. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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Sidlakang Negros Village now open until 10 pm
by Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, June 17 (PIA) --- The Sidlakang Negros Village (SNV), the one-stop tourism center of Negros Oriental located in Dumaguete City, is now open until 10 p.m.
This after Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo requested the Sidlakang Negros Producers Association (SNPA), which supervises the village, to extend SNV's business hours to give more time for tourists and visitors to visit all the booths inside the village and buy locally-produced products.
The sprawling village houses various tourist booths and pavilions, each of which features the crafts and delicacies unique to a town or city in the province while offering a preview of its tourist spots.
Prior to the governor's request, the SNV was open from 9:00 am until 6:00 in the evening.
Capitol Information Officer Adrian Sedillo said the governor made the request in a recent meeting with the SNPA officers.
The SNPA members earlier agreed to turn over 10 percent of their income to the provincial government every month as they are allowed to sell their wares, including souvenir items, inside the village's Pasalubong Center for free.
“But the governor told the group that instead of handing over their 10% to the provincial government, they can use the money to cover the costs of extending their business hours,” said Sedillo.
The governor likewise requested the association to make sure that their products' packaging clearly states that it is made in Negros Oriental in order to further promote the province among tourists. “Their products are one way for the province to be known in other areas,” Sedillo added.
He also disclosed that the SNPA members agreed to police their own ranks against producers selling products that are not from the province.
The governor's move is in the effort of maximizing the village to fully showcase the province's culture, arts and tourism as envisioned by his predecessor, the late Gov. Emilio Macias II, under whose leadership the SNV was constructed. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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Negros Oriental to benefit PAMANA peace & dev’t fund
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, June 17 (PIA) The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) together with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process has identified 12 conflict-affected barangays in Negros Oriental that will benefit the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program.
Government’s flagship program for peace and development, PAMANA aimed to empower communities by reducing poverty and vulnerability, improve governance and empower communities in pursuing peace through economic integration and development.
DILG Provincial Director Jofralito Lorico said each covered areas in the province will receive P250,000 under the peace and development fund to be used for locally owned-projects.
The OPAPP identified six local government units (LGUs) covering 12 barangays -special zones of peace in Negros Oriental under the PAMANA program.
The barangays include Janayjanay, Malaiba and Siapo of San Jose; Jantianon, Silab and Tambujangin of Amlan; Abante and Magsusunog of Pamplona; Azagra and San Miguel of Tanjay City; Mayabob, Zamboanguita; and Datag, Siaton.
The total allocation of P3million will be distributed equally to all barangays as fund assistance to conflict-affected areas.
Dir Lorico said the propose project of the barangay must be supported by community and justifies peace-building and address conflict. (PIA NegOr/JCT)