Army, civil society join hands for the country's 1st reg'l 'Bantay Bayanihan'
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Julyo (PIA) -- Fifty people coming from the army, police, civil society organizations, members of the academe, and other stakeholders launched the country's first ever regional level 'Bantay Bayanihan' at the Bethel Hotel in Dumaguete City recently.
Commanding General of Philippine Army, Lt. General Emmanuel Bautista with the heads of civil society groups in Negros Oriental led the signing of manifesto supporting the Regional Bantay Bayanihan Region 7.
According to Capt. Anacito Naz, army Information Officer the Bantay Bayanihan is a civil society-led initiative that started last year by a core group from the academe and civil society organizations.
Capt Naz said it aims to create an oversight body over the armed forces, including defense and security policies. This initiative intends to insure that the principles of Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law, as well as the values of accountability and good governance are embedded in the operations of the AFP.
Naz added the Bantay Bayanihan serves as a “dialogue space” to encourage civil society debate and citizen’s awareness of and engagement with defense and reform issues.
During the launching, Working Group Security Sector Reform convenor, Dr. Jennifer Santiago-Oreta emphasized that the military action is not enough to address this multi-faceted security problem.
Hence, Oreta said there is a need for a concerted efforts and convergence of all stakeholders to finally put an end to the problems in insurgency by 2016 through peaceful means under the IPSP Bayanihan.
The launching of Bantay Bayanihan was also attended by Major General Gerardo T Layug Jr., Commander of 8th Infantry Division, Col Francisco M Patrimonio, Commander of 302nd Brigade, Col Isidro L Purisima, OJ3 Representative, Col Raul M Farnacio, CS CENTCOM, Col Allan S Martin, DBC 802 Brigade.
Government and non-government sectors also attended the event that included Marietta “Baby” Jambora, president of Oriental Negros Children’s Advocacy Network (ONCAN); Roel R Degamo, governor, Negros Oriental; Jocelyn Limkaichong, representative, of 1st District; PCSupt Marcelo P Garbo PNP; Dr. Jennifer Santiago Oreta; local government officials; members of civil organization (CSOs) from Negros Oriental, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor. (mbcn/JCT- PIA 7, Negros Oriental)
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PBF to set up P20M bamboo nursery in NegOr
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 1 (PIA) --The Philippine Bamboo Foundation (PBF) is now setting up the biggest bamboo nursery in the Visayas and Mindanao in Dauin, Negros Oriental.
PBF Sr. Project Director Herbie Teodoro said the nursery is a joint collaboration with Buglas Bamboo Institute with a total investment of P20 million for the production of at least 400,000 propagules.
Teodoro said that while Negros Oriental is the center of the Visayas and proximity to Mindanao it also has more than 30 species of bamboo variety that thrive well in Negros Oriental, thus, the bamboo nursery is being established in Dauin town.
The PBF bamboo nursery will also conduct in-house training seminars on how to professionally create and manage bamboo plantation for the interested bamboo growers, said Teodoro.
“These training will also be incorporated with other sustainable agricultural practices such as intercropping vegetables with bamboo to serve as cash crop,” he added.
While bamboo propagation also mitigates the impact of climate change, PBF president Ed Manda, in his visit to Dauin nursery said more than 27,000 hectares of barren military camps in Luzon will be converted into bamboo forests.
Manda said aside from providing sufficient forest cover and soil erosion control, bamboo plantations give decent source of livelihood and food for the communities.
Bamboo is known as the world's tallest grass and yet it is one of the most durable materials for building, a multipurpose plant with great environmental and economic values, said Manda.
It is noted that bamboo matures in three to five years and survives for the next 30 years. Due to its extremely high bending strength, bamboo can be made into plywood. It is as good as the solid wood of high-density commercial timbers. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)
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TESDA showcases services in Dumaguete digicraze exhibit
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 1 (PIA) -- The Technical Education & Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has joined the Digicraze Exhibit with call centers and schools that started on June 22 until July 1 at Robinsons Place, Dumaguete City.
The week-long exhibit provides an opportunity for TESDA to promote its e-learning training program or the TESDA Online Program (TOP) and Specialista Technopreneurship Program (TSTP), said TESDA Information Officer Geraldine delos Reyes.
The TOP is TESDA’s current initiatives on promoting technical education and vocational training (TVET) and job generation.
Delos Reyes said the TOP provides computer instruction online over the public internet, private distance learning networks or in house via an intranet for free for the public to have greater access to quality tech-voc education and training.
TESDA is initially offering four online courses, namely: Computer Hardware Servicing NC II, Room Attendant Servicing, a core competency of the Food and Beverage Servicing, Guestroom Attendant Servicing NC II, a core competency of the Housekeeping NC II and Cellphone Servicing, one of the competencies of Consumer Electronics Servicing.
“After only a month since the program was formally launched in May, it has already generated more than half a million page views and registered close to 20,000 users,” Delos Reyes said.
The TESDA Specialistas graduates and NC II were also provided tool kits for their services they offer to the community with a minimal feee.
The 10 groups of Specialistas in the province in partnership with local government units (LGU’s) become entrepreneurs with it specialized skills such as Computer Hardware Servicing, Automotive Servicing, Appliance Repair, and Bldg./House Repair & Maintenance, and Welding & Metal Fabrications.
Schools from Asian College, STI, Metro Dumaguete College, Foundation University and the Phil. Call Center Institute, Inc. participated in the exhibit to showcase their academic programs and course offerings. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)