NegOr to build infra projects in Guihulngan barangays
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, April 9 (PIA) -- The provincial government here is now set to construct infrastructure and development projects amounting to P11 million in the barangays of Guihulngan City.
This was disclosed by Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo during his recent visit to the city to meet with the village chiefs there.
The projects funded by the provincial government include construction of roads, water systems, classrooms, multi-purpose pavement and electricity installation.
Said projects were scheduled to be constructed earlier this year but was postponed when a 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit Negros Oriental in February this year, said Capitol Information Officer Adrian Sedillo.
Sedillo said the projects to be implemented in Guihulngan are in addition to the infrastructure projects already identified under the provincial government’s 20 percent economic development fund.
Guihulngan, which has a total of 33 villages, was one of the areas badly hit by the earthquake.
On February 8, two days after the earthquake struck, Pres. Benigno Aquino III donated P3.3 million as financial assistance to Guihulngan during his inspection in areas damaged by the quake in the province. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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NegOr, GK ready to build 50 houses in 5 days
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, April 8 (PIA) -- This year’s Gawad Kalinga Bayani Challenge targets to build 50 houses for the homeless in Amlan, Negros Oriental in barely five days.
About 150 teams of summer bayani volunteer-builders to start building houses on April 9, and are expected to finish the construction on April 14.
Working closely with GK organizers, the municipality of Amlan has offered a three hectare lot for the initial 50 houses intended for the victims of typhoon Sendong.
Amlan Mayor Bentham dela Cruz, however said, the lot can accommodate more than 120 houses which the local government unit also plan to serve it to residents living along the riverbanks and beachfronts as the priorities.
Nevertheless, Mayor dela Cruz disclosed that his town has more than 50 informal settlers whom he would like also to be accommodated soon in the project.
The challenge aims to develop a site not only sheltering the homeless but building community for the poor residents in Amlan, the mayor said.
The identified housing lot is located at barangay Tambujangin which estimated to cost at P 4.5 million as counterpart from Amlan LGU.
With only sweat equity from a family-beneficiary, a GK house costs P110,000 per unit with 22 square meter floor area in a 60 sqm lot per area.
The GK has allocated P13 million for the 120 houses for Amlan, aside from the targeted four areas this year in Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Masbate and Occidental Mindoro.
The five-day challenge aims to address social issues behind poverty through building houses, refurbishing public schools, community health or medical mission, children’s activity, clean up and greening program.
This year’s Bayani Challenge is in support for the “Pilipinas Natin” movement, a government campaign that seeks to harness the spirit of people power to steer the country toward progress.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) has led the Pilipinas Natin to encourage volunteerism in nation-building. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)
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Negros Oriental Guv urges conclusion of peace agreement
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, April 8 (PIA) -- Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo is pushing to speed up the conclusion of the peace process agreement for the immediate implementation of the livelihood and development programs in the province as outlined in the agreement.
Degamo recently met with the senior officials of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) to discuss a proposed memorandum of agreement that calls for the implementation of livelihood programs once the peace talks reach closure.
Col. Francisco Patrimonio, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, in an earlier interview, said that livelihood and development assistance will be extended to members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) in Negros Oriental upon closure of the peace agreement.
Said agreement stipulated that inventoried firearms, ammunitions and explosives carried by RPA-ABB members will be turned over to the government in exchange for the livelihood and development programs, said Patrimonio.
OPAPP representatives on March 23 have already conducted an inventory on firearms and weapons belonging to some members of the RPA-ABB at Sitio Candanqui, Brgy. Azagra in Tanjay City.
A team from the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office’s Crime Laboratory was also present during the inventory to stencil the items presented by the RPA-ABB members.
In an interview with the media who witnessed the inventory, Azagra village chief Felix Mira, Jr. said he is supporting the inventory and thus, the peace process.
“I’m supporting this activity because I want the government’s projects to continue to be implemented in my barangay. If there’s no peace here, no development projects will be undertaken here,” said Mira. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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Silliman University joins road safety campaign
DUMAGUETE CITY, April 8 (PIA) -- Silliman University recently joined the nationwide campaign on road safety initiated by Yamaha Motor Philippines, Inc. (YMPH) dubbed “Yamaha Safe Riding Science (YSRS): Be Safe, Be Different, Be Yamaha.”
YSRS is a nationwide campaign conducted in coordination with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
The Visayas-leg of the national launch was held recently at the university’s Luce Auditorium.
During the launching attended by students from SU and other schools and universities here, YMPH Pres. Takeshi Yano spoke on the campaign’s aim of reducing deaths caused by motorcycle accidents.
“Motorcycle accidents are the fourth leading cause of deaths in the Philippines,” said Yano.
He said that based on Yamaha’s survey, an average of 16,208 motorcycle accidents is recorded in the Philippines every year.
“There are 3.4 million motorcycle users in the country and most of them are beginners. Why the number? Because motorcycle is the most economical, convenient and enjoyable means of transportation,” said Yano.
Yamaha’s campaign attempts to address the growing number of motorcycle accidents by holding lectures and drills across the country aimed at highlighting the importance of road safety and the use of protective gears such as helmets.
Silliman University was the first university in the province to implement a “No Helmet, No Entry” policy.
“The reason we took on this partnership with YMPH is because of that policy. No motorcycle driver or rider is granted access to the campus without wearing a helmet,” said Mark Raygan Garcia, director of SU’s Office of Information and Publication.
In a statement, Silliman Vice President for Finance and Administration Prof. Cleonico Fontelo explained that SU’s helmet policy was strictly implemented since four years ago.
“We recognized this as our social responsibility, even in the midst of waning enthusiasm in Dumaguete, to strictly enforce the helmet law,” he said.
Fontelo said the policy was initially met by opposition but was “gradually embraced by students, faculty, staff and visitors getting inside the campus.”
“We hope that this (YSRS) seminar will stimulate awareness on safe motorcycle driving and, in a way, bolster the need to implement the helmet law in Dumaguete City,” he said.
During the launching, topics that were discussed included “Danger Perception,” “Be Conspicuous/Blind Area/ Optical Illusions”, “Impact Force: Theory for Use of Helmets”, “Kinetic Energy: Theory for Collision Impact”, “Inertial Force and Friction Force: Correct Breaking”, “Stop Distance”, “Proper Riding Position”, and “Pre-Operational Checks”. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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Silliman U to host int'l workshop of theological librarians
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, April 8 (PIA) -- Silliman University’s (SU) Divinity School is set to host this year’s 6th Forum for Asian Theological Librarians (ForATL) Workshop and Consultation from April 10 to 14, 2012.
Around 60 theological librarians and experts from 11 countries are expected to gather in Dumaguete City for the workshop, namely Indonesia, Thailand, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, Malaysia, Philippines, Argentina, Switzerland and France.
SU Office of Information and Publications Director Mark Raygan Garcia said the university was picked to host this year’s convention for being one of the Philippines’ leading theological institutions.
“We have a strong international network of partners and programs accredited by the Association of Theological Education in Asia,” said Garcia.
He said the workshop is funded by different Christian organizations and will be attended by theological librarians, or librarians assigned in seminaries.
Lined up is a series of presentations and small group discussions on common issues that confront theological librarians in the areas of collection, resource management and promotion, the use of digital tools and resource sharing, and collaboration.
“The activities also aim to enhance the capabilities of librarians assigned to handle books and similar resources in theological education,” added Garcia.
Dr. Mariel Deluca Voth, chairperson of the International Collaboration Committee of the American Theological Library Association, is expected to keynote the workshop.
Voth will touch on the theme, “Asian Theological Librarians Moving Forward Towards Global Partnership and Collaboration”.
Another speaker is Dr. Christoph Stuckelberger, founder and executive director of Globethics.net, a global network of persons and institutions interested in various fields of applied ethics.
He will provide a picture of the Global Digital Library on Theological and Ecumenism, a multi-lingual global digital library on theology and ecumenism, and tackle issues related to publication. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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DTI to promote food-oriented treaties in NegOr
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, April 8 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here is spearheading an information campaign to publicize the new free trade agreements (FTAs) benefitting the food industry in the country.
DTI is launching the campaign here together with the Trade Commission and in partnership with Silliman University’s (SU) Nutrition and Dietetics Department.
Kicking off the campaign dubbed “Doing Business in Free Trade Areas” is a presentation on April 18 at SU’s Instructional Media and Technological Center.
The discussion will center on food-related opportunities and include notes on market opportunities and products with zero or reduced tariffs while attempting to give a larger picture of the impact of the FTAs on local trade and commerce.
It will also highlight the 2011-2013 Philippine Export Development Plan.
The following day, a session with owners of local establishments and other professionals will take place to explain the FTAs to them more comprehensively.
There are currently seven newly implemented FTAs: Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (PJEPA), Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade Area (AFTA), and five ASEAN Regional FTAs with China, Japan, Korea, Australia-New Zealand and India.
Countries like the Philippines enter into FTAs with other countries as a means to promote trade and investment flows, penetrate international markets while offering enormous trade opportunities for exporters of various goods and services.
DTI noted last year the low level of awareness among exporters of trade opportunities under the country’s various FTAs.
“Understanding emerging and new markets and its instruments such as FTAs will help exporters address new challenges in the global business environment,” Trade and Industry Sec. Gregorio Domingo said in an earlier report that appeared in Manila Bulletin.
He also noted in the same report that export companies have not fully utilized the FTAs ‘because businessmen are not properly informed of the business opportunities that the country has gained from our FTA.” (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)