TESDA opens Technopreneurship Program in NegOr
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 10 (PIA) The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has announced the initial opening of a new project, TESDA Specialista Technopreneurship Program (TSTP) in Negros Oriental.
According to Information Officer Geraldine Delos Reyes of TESDA, the project aims to organize TESDA trained and National Certificate Level II (NC II) graduates into small entrepreneurial groups to carry out their trade in the community.
These graduates forming the aggrupation will be nurtured by TESDA in partnership with local government units (LGUs) until such time they can do business on their own, said Delos Reyes.
In Dumaguete City, five community-based service aggrupations are organized with 10 Specialista per group.
The members include workers in Computer Hardware Servicing, Welding, Building/House & Maintenance Services, Automotive/Vehicle Maintenance Service and Appliance Repair Services.
The TSTP is attuned with the government’s rehabilitation efforts by providing manpower support especially to the Typhoon Sendong victims.
Those interested to avail of the services of these TESDA Specialistas may contact Shiela Ocariza at TESDA Provincial Office or at telephone number 422-9481 or CP No. 09263261179.
TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva will formally launch the TSTP, nationwide in January, 2012. (PIA/JCT)
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Silliman University’s Simulation Lab Project receives $500,000 Grant
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 9 (PIA) --- Silliman University (SU) in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental received a grant of US$500,000 from the Office of the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) for the development of a virtual simulation laboratory.
The grant was released through the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia.
This will allow the university to renovate its existing virtual laboratory, said Mark Raygan Garcia, director of SU Office of Information and Publications in a statement.
“It includes purchase of equipment, including human patient and other robotic simulators which are critical to recreate various scenarios such as natural calamities and other disasters,” said Garcia.
Said equipment will provide the university’s students and healthcare professionals in neighboring schools and provinces an opportunity to analyze decisions and courses of action by simulating different hospital-based conditions.
Garcia said SU currently has a virtual laboratory set up at the Olivia Villaflores-Yanson Hall which features “STAN”, a human patient simulator.
“The laboratory is being used by healthcare students in determining the proper administration of medicines and conduct of related medical procedures,” he added.
With the grant, SU hopes to enhancing the capability of the virtual laboratory and expand its coverage.
Part of the university’s plan is to to develop web-based courses and content from the simulation exercises to facilitate collective learning and interaction on real-life situations. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental with reports form SU-OIP)
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Negros Oriental Gov seeks financial aid for repair of storm-damaged infra
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 10 (PIA) --- Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo is seeking financial assistance from the national government for the repair of local infrastructure that were destroyed by the flood brought by Typhoon Sendong last month.
The provincial government needs a total of P1.2 billion to repair storm-ravaged roads, bridges, spillways, flood control and river dikes, schools, irrigation, among others.
The governor has earlier submitted his request for financial aid in a report to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
According to Gov. Degamo, the provincial government’s calamity fund is not enough to cover the needed amount for the repair of said infrastructure facilities.
“I hope the national government will immediately respond to our request the soonest time possible,” he said.
Typhoon Sendong that hit the province on Dec. 17, 2011 caused Okoy, Banica and Tanjay rivers to overflow, triggering floods to sweep away houses and damage infrastructure facilities.
The deepening, dredging and rechanneling of Okoy, Banica and other rivers in the province are currently underway after the provincial government allotted P8 million to rent the needed heavy equipment for said activities.
Another P5 million was released for the construction of gabions as flood control dikes and the purchase of water pipes and service drop wires. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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TOSP to hold Youth Hours in Dumaguete City
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 9 (PIA) The Outstanding Students of the Philippines- Alumni Community (TOSP-AC) in Central Visayas set to hold a “Youth Hours” (YH) simultaneously on January 28 in Dumaguete City and Cebu City.
TOSP regional representative Rolando C. Villamero Jr. said the activity gathers student leaders and school administrators from different Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in two separate venues.
Participants from Bohol, Siquijor, and Negros Oriental will have their YH in Foundation University (FU), Dumaguete City. On the other hand, Cebu participants will have theirs in University of San Carlos (USC), Cebu City, Villamero said.
“Youth Hours” is an annual youth-formation workshop anchored on the three pillars of the TOSP program: academic excellence, leadership, and social responsibility.
Each participant is expected to experience one of four different workshops: academic and professional excellence track, leadership track, social responsibility track, and school administrators’ track.
Villamero said, this also serves as a marketing tool to signal the start of TOSP 2012 search around the Philippines.
TOSP has active alumni groups both in Cebu and Negros Oriental who will facilitate the implementation of the said youth workshop. it is said.
This year YH Youth Hours for Region7 is supported by RFM Foundation and the Commission on Higher Education. (PIA/JCT)
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Additional monetary aid await storm-hit families in Negros Oriental
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 9 (PIA) --- Families who were displaced by Typhoon Sendong in Negros Oriental can expect more financial aid this time from the provincial government here.
Gov. Roel Degamo disclosed that the provincial government is set to extend P5,000 to families whose houses were totally damaged by the typhoon and P2,500 for those with partially damaged houses.
The provincial government has set aside a total of P13 million from its Quick Response Fund (QRF) as monetary aid for the storm victims.
The governor announced this during the distribution of the P10,000 financial assistance from the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) for each of the families of the victims who died due to the storm that struck Negros Oriental on Dec. 17, 2011.
A total of 38 beneficiaries received the cash assistance from NDRRMC, said Capitol Information Officer Adrian Sedillo.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sec. Dinky Soliman also announced earlier that DSWD will provide P70,000 as core shelter assistance for families whose houses were totally damaged by the floods.
Families whose homes were partially damaged will receive an average of P5,000 as emergency shelter assistance.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) here, in a report dated Dec. 23, 2011, puts the number of families affected by the storm at 12,260.
Said report show a total of 4,345 houses damaged by the typhoon. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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Army: ‘Bayanihan’ works for typhoon Sendong victims
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 9 (PIA) Army’s 302 Brigade Civic Action Team has served about 2,000 individual-victims of typhoon Sendong in a joint medical mission and relief operation earlier at Silliman University Hall, Dumaguete City.
Of the total number of beneficiaries, Public Information Officer, Captain Anacito Naz of the brigade said, 1, 252 individuals availed free medical consultations; 1, 312 for blood pressure examinations, while 1, 253 given relief goods and 390 children received feeding assistance.
The relief goods and medicines were also distributed to typhoon victims in Dumaguete City from ABS-CBN Cebu “Sagip Kapamilya and Bantay Bata 163 which earlier ferried by the Philippine Navy ship from Canjulao, Lapu-lapu City, Cebu, said Capt. Naz.
The army also offered free haircut and massage during the said activity supported by the ABS-CBN “Sagip Kapamilya” and Bantay Bata 163, Silliman University’s volunteer doctors and nurses with provincial and city health office and Civil Welfare Training Service students of SU.
The military officer said, the civic action team composed of the reservists personnel from 703rd Community Defense Center, military personnel from 79IB and 302 Brigade 302 Brigade Civil Military Operations Office had successfully gave their free services to 199 individuals for the free haircut and 50 individuals for the free massage, mostly children and elderly from the families affected by tropical storm “Sendong.”
“This collaborative effort was indeed very successful and supports the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Internal Peace and Security Plan “Bayanihan”, said Naz. (PIA/JCT)