Army receives Command Plaque of Merit
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 3 (PIA) -- The 302 Infantry (Achiever) Brigade received a Command Plaque of Merit from the Commanding General, Philippine Army in recognition of its search and rescue, as well as relief operations, during typhoon Sendong and 6.9-magnitude earthquake that hit Negros Oriental on December 17, 2011 and February 6, 2012 respectively.
Brigade's Commander Col Francisco Patrimonio received the award during the 115th Founding Anniversary Program at the Fort Bonifacio, Manila.
According to Capt. Anacito Naz, information officer of the army, the award was given in recognitions of the collective meritorious service rendered by army personnel involved during the conduct of various Disaster Relief and Rescue Operations (DRRO).
The military teams assisted severely typhoon affected areas in the cities of Dumaguete and Tanjay and the municipalities of Sibulan, Valencia, Siaton, Bacong, Amlan, San Jose, Mabinay, and Pamplona in Negros Oriental.
Capt. Naz said the DRRO efforts resulted to 84 persons saved during the rescue operations, six cadavers recovered, conducted 45 transportation assistance, two aerial reconnaissances, and facilitated 30 relief operations activity that greatly mitigated the effects of the said disasters to the residents and helped them to quickly rehabilitate.
"With the influx of relief goods coming from various sources in the Provincial Department of Social Welfare Development Office, the Achiever troopers and OPCON units actively participated in the hauling, repacking and distribution of relief goods in the various distribution sites, maximizing the utilization of the personnel and equipment to the fullest to immediately reach out the victims," said Naz.
“Despite in the middle of the rehabilitation phase of the DRRO for the typhoon, the 302nd Brigade successfully addressed another disaster after the 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit the northern part of the province that severely damaged Guihulngan City and the municipalities of Bindoy, Ayungon, Tayasan, Jimalalud and La Libertad,” added Naz.
On the same occasion, during the Philippine Army Anniversary, Pvts Danny Faigane and Marlon Vera of 32 DRC, OPCON also received the Command Plaque of Merit for being honest in returning the P90,000 pesos recovered in Solonggon landslide area to its rightful owner.
Naz said the relief and rescue operations created a positive impact to the public, reinforcing the image of the Philippine Army and AFP as public servant and protector of the Filipino people and promoting "Bayanihan" in the Internal Peace and Security Program of the Army.
"The Brigade's high level of efficiency and effectiveness during the two occasions brought the soldiers closer to the people, and strongly reinforced their belief in the capability and dependability of the soldier in times of calamities, and deep sense of dedication and purpose in fulfilling their duties to serve the Filipino people," Naz concluded. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)
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Industrial Peace Council-NegOr holds job fair on Labor Day
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 3 (PIA) -- The Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) in Negros Oriental has organized a job fair in celebration of Labor Day on May 1.
Of the 20 companies or agencies that participated in the job fair in Robinson’s Place Dumaguete, Qualfon and SPI Global needed 100 agents while Teletech needed 50.
For overseas employment, 200 domestic helpers are needed, 733 for construction workers, among others.
The job applicants included fresh graduates, skilled and semi-skilled workers and disadvantaged workers. They are provided search assistance by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO)-Dumaguete City.
To symbolize the unity and strong determination of TIPC and maintain industrial peace, Canlaon City held a solidarity run to also promote health consciousness.
The Bayawan TIPC composed of management, labor and government representatives also conducted a tree-planting activity to support the efforts of the local government unit to protect the environment now for the future.
While in Bohol and Siquijor, a Eucharistic celebration was held in observance of the Feast Day of Saint Joseph the Worker.
In Cebu City, more than 20 suppliers joined the “Tabo sa Mamumuo” that offered discounted price on basic commodities at the USC south campus. (JCT-PIA7 Negros Oriental)
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Spanish-era churches' exhibit opens in Sibonga town
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 3 (PIA) -- A traveling exhibit on Spanish-era churches opens today at the Church of Nuestra Senora del Pilar in Sibonga, Cebu province for public viewing.
The exhibit, organized by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) and Ortigas Foundation, Inc., is dubbed “Hidden Treasures: An Exhibit of Spanish-Era Churches of the Philippines.”
The exhibit kicked-off earlier on April 18 at the Cathedral Museum of Cebu, which was also the International Day of Monuments and Sites.
After Sibonga town, the exhibit will travel to the following churches in the Archdiocese of Cebu: Church of San Guillermo de Aquitania, Dalaguete, Cebu (May 14-21); Church of San Miguel Archangel, Samboan, Cebu (May 23-30); Church of San Francisco de Asis, Dumanjug, Cebu (June 2-9); Church of San Francisco de Asis, Balamban, Cebu (June 12-19); Church of San Roque, Cordova, Cebu (June 21-28); and Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva, Danao, Cebu (July 10-15).
The exhibit will also travel to churches in the Bohol province.
The Ortigas Foundation Inc. conceived the exhibit, while its exhibit in Cebu and Bohol is hosted by RAFI in partnership with the Archdiocese of Cebu through its Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church. (RMN-PIA Negros Oriental)
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Army serves free medical services to quake-stricken village
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 3 (PIA) -- A total of 446 residents in Barangay Planas, Guihungan City availed of free medical and dental civic action program (MEDCAP) services held recently .
The MEDCAP included medical and dental services, eye consultation, blood pressure examination, circumcision, ear piercing, free haircut, and therapeutic massage for the residents of Brgy. Planas
The village is one of the areas severely affected by the magnitude-6.9 earthquake that struck the 1st district of Negros Oriental and the nearby barangays on February 6.
Of the number of health beneficiaries, 214 individuals availed of medical consultations, 30 for dental check-ups and tooth extraction,11 individuals received free haircut, 40 for circumcision, 79 for eye check-ups, two minor surgeries, nine massages, and 61 for ear piercing.
Army’s 302 Brigade Information Officer, Capt. Anacito Naz, said the medical team also distributed medicines for the beneficiaries, while the office of 1st district Representative Jocelyn Limkaichong distributed free toys and candies to the children.
The MEDCAP is a joint effort of the Army’s 302 Brigade and 11th Infantry Battalion which provided skilled personnel and vehicles and equipment during the MEDCAP and the office of 1st district representative Jocelyn Limkaiching.
Naz said the involvement of different stakeholders consistent with the spirit of “Bayanihan” to address the health concerns of the Negrenses was a manifestation of commitment and dedication by peace-loving citizens in order to serve the needy Filipino people. (rmn/JCT-PIA-Negros Oriental)
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NHA set to buy relocation area of Sendong victims in Dumaguete
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 3 (PIA) -- The National Housing Authority (NHA) is now negotiating for the purchase of a lot in Dumaguete City which has been identified by the city government as the resettlement area for Tropical storm Sendong victims in the city.
The privately owned lot is located in Banilad village, around three kilometers away from the Dumaguete City Hall.
Dumaguete Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria said he expects NHA to finalize the initial purchase the of 3.7 hectares out of the total 8.7-hectare lot anytime soon.
NHA is still working out the purchase of the remaining five hectares.
“Once NHA has settled the purchase of the 3.7 hectares, we will immediately construct an initial number of 300 houses for the Sendong victims,” said Sagarbarria in an interview.
This developed after the mayor appealed to Vice President Jejomar Binay, who sits as the NHA chairman, to buy the lot for the resettlement area.
Part of the original arrangement was for the city government to purchase the lot as its counterpart while NHA will build the houses. However, the mayor said the city government does not have the money to acquire said lot after its Internal Revenue Allotment for this year was cut by P34 million.
“There are lots of land here, but the city government does not have the money,” he said.
The city government is targeting to build 1,000 houses in the resettlement area through NHA, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Department of Public Works and Highways.
DSWD earlier allocated P19 million to establish over 300 core houses in the city for Sendong victims at P75,000 per housing unit.
“But due to the inter-agency arrangement in Manila for the construction of 1,000 houses here through NHA, that funding from DSWD will be given to NHA instead as their counterpart to the housing construction,” said Sagarbarria. (RMN-PIA Negros Oriental)