SU BSME tops 20th PSQ provincial match
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Nov. 11 (PIA) Dean Alvin Macasilhig, a BS Mechanical Engineering freshman student of Silliman University (SU) was adjudged the provincial winner in the recently concluded 20th Philippine Statistics Quiz (PSQ) held at Foundation University.
From Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) Neil Tinaytina, a BS Geodetic Engineering garnered the first runner up slot while another from SU, a BS in Accountancy, Kristin Monikka dela Viña got the 2nd runner-up place.
Both contestants from SU were coached by Jumar Endan and Normina Batucan coached the NORSU contestant.
According to National Statistics Office (NSO) Provincial Census Officer Ariel Fortuito the three provincial winners will represent Negros Oriental in the regional level PSQ on November 17 in Cebu City.
Fortuito said, this year’s competition composed only of 12 contestants as some schools failed to send their students due to an on-going enrollment for the second semester.
The 20th PSQ is conducted nationwide involving freshmen students enrolled in colleges and universities in the 17 regions of the country.
The provincial elimination was a simultaneous activity with all other provinces in region 7 and regional elimination will determine the representative to the national finals.
At stake for the winners in the PSQ National Finals are cash and trophies, among others. All regional champions will also be awarded during the National Finals with a PSQ medal and a certificate of recognition. Their respective coaches, the college or university where they are currently enrolled, as well as the high school where they graduated from, will likewise be given certificates of recognition.
The Philippine Statistics Quiz is an annual contest which started in 1992 and has been endorsed by the Commission on Higher Education since 1994. (PIA/JCT)
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Dumaguete PWDs lament over non-compliance of Magna Carta 9442
by Jennifer Catam-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Nov. 11 (PIA) Persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Dumaguete City expressed complaint over the non-compliance of Magna Carta for PWDs by most establishments or agencies in Negros Oriental during the Kapihan sa PIA forum this week.
PWD focal person Artemia Degamo of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) region-7 briefed the Kapihan PWD-participants the benefits and privileges under Magna Carta 9442.
The law provides 20 percent discount to PWDs for services in hotels, lodging houses, restaurants and recreation centers and another 20 percent discount on the purchase of medicines in drugstores, dental and medical services, including diagnostic and laboratory fees in all government and private hospitals and medical facilities.
The 20 percent discount also includes all transportation fares and equal opportunities for employment among others stated in Magna Carta 9442.
However, provincial federation of PWDs president, Antonio Fabruada said most of his group members never able to avail of the 20 percent discounts on medicines, even though the disability is obvious, pharmacies here refused to recognize.
PWDs also complain that pharmacies do not really give discounts despite having IDs, purchase order booklet and prescriptions.
Rose Pharmacy representative explained that they have not received any directive or guidelines from its head of office or from any government agency concerned for them to abide the implementation.
So far, it is learned that there are only few PWDs employed because of limitations set by establishments both public and private.
Employment of PWDs is one of the weakest links of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the mandated agency to promote employment, it is said.
Also, under the law, the PWDs are given main concern on access to quality education and public transport facilities. (PIA/JCT)