Native of Negros Or. cited one of 2012 outstanding Phl soldiers
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, July 24 (PIA) -- A native of Tayasan, Negros Oriental is one of the Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (Tops) this year.
Engineman Second Class Staff Sgt. Arce Balasabas of the Philippine Navy is one of the winners of this year’s Tops, an annual search organized by the Metrobank Foundation Inc. and Rotary Club of Makati.
This was revealed by Metrobank Foundation Inc. President Aniceto M. Sobrepena in a letter addressed to Governor Roel Degamo on July 9 this year.
Sobrepena said Balasabas joins the elite roster of outstanding soldiers in the country who are recognized for their outstanding example of gallantry, dedication, commitment, professionalism, and integrity among members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Balasabas will receive a trophy and a cash prize of P300,000 during the awarding ceremonies on September 5.
Born on May 7, 1964 at Matuog, Tayasan, 28-year-old PO2 Balasabas joined the Philippine Navy in 1983.
He is currently designated as petty officer-in-charge of the Maintenance and Repair Branch at the Headquarters Fleet Maintenance and Support Group of the Naval Station at Felix Apolinario Camp, Panacan, Davao City.
In a profile sheet attached to Sobrepena’s letter, PO2 Balabas is said to have been instrumental in Navy’s successful response to the rescue and retrieval operations of the victims of tropical storm Sendong.
He also played a key role in the conduct of 61 in-house repairs of machinery aboard Navy vessels deployed at Eastern Mindanao.
“His expertise enabled the Philippine Navy to save man-hours and millions of pesos through timely and satisfactory repairs,” the profile sheet stated. (RMN-PIA7, Negros Oriental)
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New NegOr State U prexy lauds move to hike SUC’s budget
DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, July 24 (PIA) -- The newly-installed president of the Negros Oriental State University (Norsu) has lauded the move to increase the budget of state universities and colleges (SUC) in the country.
Norsu President Don Vicente Real described President Benigno S. Aquino III’s announcement to hike SUC’s budget next year as a “resounding development in higher education.”
President Aquino, in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday said he is proposing a 43.61 percent increase in the budget of SUCs next year.
“As the new president of Norsu, I am very happy with this news,” said Real in a phone interview.
Real, who was installed as Norsu president early this month said the budget hike is long overdue since the total 107 state colleges and universities did not receive any allocation for capital outlay during the previous administration.
“We need funding if we have to work on producing top caliber students,” he said.
President Aquino, in his third SONA, reminded SUCs that the budget increase comes with a condition that students sponsored by the state are of top caliber.
“Expect that if you work to get high marks in this assignment, we will be striving just as hard to address the rest of your needs,” President Aquino said.
Norsu, the only state university in the province, has long been producing top notchers in national licensure exams.
In May this year, one of its graduates placed 10th in the Registered Master Electrician Examination held in May this year.
Two graduates from its Criminology and Midwifery courses also made it to the Top 10 of the respective licensure tests last year.
Real attributed Norsu’s academic improvement over the years to what he called as the “excellent management” of his predecessor, Dr. Henry A. Sojor, who he said practice conservative budgeting in savings and spending of incomes.
Norsu’s current student population is at 20,892 from its nine campuses in the following areas, namely: Guihulngan; Mabinay; Bais City (2); Pamplona; Dumaguete (2); Siaton; and Bayawan-Sta. Catalina. (RMN-PIA7 Negros Oriental)