Search for outstanding kids of overseas Pinoys now on
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 22 (PIA) --- Children of Overseas Filipinos (OF) with outstanding achievements are invited to join in the 2011 Search for Ten Outstanding Expat Pinoy Children conducted by the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI).
The search will award OF children with exceptional achievements in academic and non-academic fields under the following categories: Ibang Klaseng Talino, Ibang Klaseng Community Leader, Ibang Klaseng Entrepreneur, and Ibang Klaseng Artist/Athlete categories.
Qualified to join the search are college students not more than 21 years old, with no failing grade and with a parent holding a current work contract abroad.
Applicants must submit an essay titled “What is the strongest characteristic that you have which you think is unique to an OF son/daughter that you believe is beneficial to change the community around you?” or alternatively “Ano sa palagay mo ang natatangi mong katangian bilang anak ng isang Overseas Filipino Worker na makatutulong sa pagpapaunlad ng iyong pamayanan?” in either English or Filipino with at least 1,500 to a maximum of 2,000 words.
A screening committee will judge applicants based on their academic excellence, community contribution, and other non-academic talents or skills such as sports, music, or arts.
Application period is until August 15 with application forms available atwww.bpiexpressonline.com.
Now on its fifth year, the search is an annual campaign that aims to honor the children of OFWs while promoting the value of education, culture of excellence and nationalistic pride among OFWs and their families.
BPI, in a statement, said that the remittances of OF's play a key role in keeping the local economy afloat.
“BPI’s annual search for outstanding Expat Pinoy children reflects our continued thrust to support and help the country build a stronger nation through the empowerment of our country’s modern day heroes, our overseas Filipino workers,” said Teresita B. Tan, executive vice president and group head of Overseas Banking and Channel Services Group of BPI. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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Dumaguete City needs PWDs voter’s ID for medical assistance
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 21 (PIA) Dumaguete City Social Welfare and Development Officer (CSWDO) Marina Mendoza said the city government has an ordinance requiring the persons with disabilities PWDs of voting age to present a voter’s identification whenever they ask a medical or hospitalization assistance.
CSWDO Mendoza in a Kapihan sa PIA, has called on anew to all PWDs in the barangays to come out and register in the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office to avail of government's programs and services.
“There are some parents of PWDs still embarrassed to bring out their children with disabilities which oftentimes hinders the health, economic and social well being development of the PWDs,” said Mendoza.
With the Comelec’s support declaring a week-long registration for the PWDs coinciding the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week (NDPRW) encourages the m to be positive and exercise their right to vote, Mendoza said.
The local social welfare office also asked the barangay residents to promote the rights and welfare of the sector concerned in their respective localities.
PWDs are those who have restricted or differentiated abilities due to mental, physical, or sensory impairment and are protected by law to receive equal employment opportunities similar to able-bodied ones.
According to the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities or R.A. 9443, PWDs are entitled same rights as any other citizen including the right to be properly integrated to a functional society.
In the Magna Carta, a private employer is entitled to 25 percent tax deduction paid to employees’ salaries and wages and another 50 percent for expenses incurred to make the workplace PWD-friendly, as stated.
The Provincial Council for Disability Affairs (PCDA) and CSWDO spearhead the 33rd NDPR with the theme ‘Making the Rights Real for Filipinos with Disabilities’ from July 17 -23 where various activities reinforcing public awareness for special needs of PWDs ranging from preventive measures to ethical treatment are highlighted. (PIA NegOr/JCT)
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DPWH initiates monthly sessions with mayors
by Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 21 (PIA) --- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Second Engineering District office in Dumaguete City has recently started holding a series of monthly meetings with mayors of the second district to thresh out issues affecting the construction of infrastructure projects in the district.
District Engineer Ricardo Duran took the initiative to hold the brainstorming sessions with mayors in order for DPWH to directly address infrastructure-related issues and complaints in their coverage area, said DPWH Planning Officer Engr. Edna Ravelo in an interview.
DPWH intends to hold the monthly discussions in all areas under their district from Mabinay town to Dumaguete City.
Two meetings have already been conducted starting last month in Tanjay City and on July 15, 2011 at El Camino Blanco, Dumaguete City which was attended by majority of the second district mayors together Cong. George P. Arnaiz.
“During these meetings, we listen to what the mayors have to say about the infrastructure projects in their areas, their complaints if there are any and we discuss the solutions to them,” said Ravelo.
One common issue frequently shared by the mayors is the delayed completion of national road projects, causing traffic problems in their areas. “We suggest alternative traffic routes to them to address this,” she added.
Some mayors also point out problematic spots along national roads that need to be rehabilitated while others request for the provincial engineers to survey areas in their LGUs for possible road construction. “In this case, Cong. Arnaiz would help us out in looking for funding assistance,” said Ravelo. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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Rescue group opens new base station in Dumaguete
by Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 21 (PIA) --- The recue group Oriental Negros Emergency-Rescue Foundation, Inc. (ONE RESCUE-EMS) officially opened the doors to its new base station today during a blessing ceremony led by Bishop John Du.
The group's new headquarters are located at the ground floor of the Diocesan Pastoral Center Building, Cathedral Compound, this city.
When it was formed in 2010, One Rescue-EMS temporarily held office in Foundation University.
ONE RESCUE is composed of businessmen, medical doctors and private citizens who banded together in their desire to ensure that advanced emergency rescue services are made always available for free for everyone.
According to Dr. Kenneth Coo, chairperson of ONE RESCUE-EMS' operations, the group aims to bring to Dumaguete City free emergency medical services patterned after Cebu City's Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) and the 911 hotline system in the United States.
The group is currently led by Atty. Jose Riodil Montebon of Silliman University as president; Fr. Enrique Balongag as vice president; Danah Fortunato as secretary; and Arthur Chua as treasurer. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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NegOr, Siquijor take part on Parole & Probation 35th Founding Anniversary celeb
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 20 (PIA) The Negros Oriental-Siquijor Cluster of the Parole and Probation Administration (PPA) has lined-up various activities to highlight the celebration of the 35th Parole and Probation- Department of Justice Founding Anniversary.
The anniversary-event on July 24 banners the theme, “Matuwid na Landas: Susi sa Pagbabago at Kaunlaran” started with Jail intake interview at the Negros Oriental Detention and Rehabilitation Center followed by a therapeutic community meeting with 150 probationers and lecture on the Alternative Learning in coordination with the Department of Education.
According to PPA Information Officer Maria Necita Mariño, the series of month-long celebration include the activities of the provinces of Negros Oriental and Siquijor and other PPA offices in the component cities of the province.
A briefing on the insurgency problem was held on July 12 with the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relation Service at the provincial office, while in Bayawan City, Gender and Development Seminar along with money and family management for the client-probationers and parolees.
The 50 probationers in Siquijor and PPA clients of Canlaon City participated in the tree planting at Palingkod Hills, barangay Helen, Larena, and Inland Resort, Malaiba,respectively.
On July 20, a series of lecture on Proper Nutrition, Gender Sensitivity seminar andorganization of family association, Therapeutic Community Morning Meeting and Skills Training for its clients have been conducted in three separate areas in the cities of Dumaguete, Bais and Tanjay.
To culminate, the local government of Tanjay, concerned line agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs) along with the probationers, pardonees, and parolees of PPA will gather for a civic parade around the city on the 23th of July. (PIA NegOr/JCT
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Negros Oriental Gov to award P1-M to village with most trees planted
by Rachelle M. Nessia
The village that grows the most number of trees under the pocket forest program conceived by Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo will receive P1 million from the provincial government as cash prize.
This was disclosed by Gov. Degamo during the recent launching of the National Greening Program (NGP) and the 87th township anniversary in Ayungon, this province.
The cash prize is aimed at further motivating communities to see to it that the planted trees are grown. “The cash award will also be used to implement environmental projects in the barangay,” said Capitol Information Officer Adrian Sedillo in a statement.
Early this year, the governor has allocated around P5.5 million for the creation of pocket forests in all 557 barangays across the province, with each village given P10,000 to undertake the project.
The mini-forest project is spurred by the governor's aim of to protect and improve the environment in the province and as a local counterpart to the national government's greening program. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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Local PMHA chief rues lack of jobs for PWDs
by Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 20 (PIA) --- The local chief of the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) in Negros Oriental lamented the lack of job opportunities available for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Aurora Flores, local PMHA chapter executive manager, lamented that despite the trainings conducted by the government to enable PWDs, only a handful of them land jobs in both the private and public sectors.
“We need to look into how to employ them,” she stressed during a July 19 forum held by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) at the Women's Center in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
Flores said that based on R.A. 9442 or the Magna Carta for PWDs, 5% of the contractual work force in government should be reserved for PWDs provided that they are qualified for the job.
“However, we still don't see that happening here now,” lamented Flores.
She pointed to a lack of self-esteem among PWDs as one of the factors that continue to hamper the full compliance of said provision under the Magna Carta. “Most of the PWDs still allow their disability to be a hindrance for them to fully function in the society,” she stressed.
Flores also urged private and public workers to undergo sign language trainings so they can cater to hearing impaired clients while opening doors for the possible employment of PWDs.
“If an employee of an office can communicate to a hearing impaired, this will increase the chances of PWDs getting hired in that office as long as he or she has the skills that they are looking for,” she said.
The PMHA official also lauded the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for complying with the Magna Carta and employing PWDs into their roster of personnel.
CSWDO early this year hired two contractual workers to serve as sign language interpreters for their hearing impaired clients while DPWH hired the services of two PWDs. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)