Army’s Bayanihan teams on peace works clash with NPA
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Aug 2 (PIA) -- Army’s Bayanihan teams have figured in two separate encounters with rebels recently while on their peace and development works and reconnaissance patrol.
1Lt Roel Morales Jr of the 302 infantry brigade said the army personnel came across groups of armed men believed to be members of the New People’s Army- Komiteng Rehiyon-Sentral Bisayas at Barangay Nagbinlod, Sta Catalina, Negros Oriental and Barangay Quintin Remo in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.
The Bayanihan team was conducting peace and development works in Barangay Quintin Remo when the rebels fired on the soldiers,
wounding of the team leader, Corporal Edward Rubite, Morales said.
In Barangay Nagbinlod, “the firefight lasted for almost 20 minutes leading the enemies to withdraw towards southeast direction. No casualty was reported on the government side while undetermined on the enemy side," Morales said.
The Army is in hot pursuit of the fleeing rebels, the army officer added.
According to Morales, ammunition and armaments have been recovered in the area.
However, despite series of encounters, the Bayanihan of the AFP works as residents are really optimistic in winning the peace through convergence of efforts for peace and progress, Morales said.
“This shows that people are now aware that they have to be involved and must take part in addressing the insurgency problem in Negros. The series of encounters showed that the residents in Negros really cooperated with the military by putting up a strong social pressure by providing information on the presence of armed group and compelling them to abandon their armed struggle,” Morales added. (mbcn/JCT-PIA 7, Negros Oriental)
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DOST gives P1M financial aid to Negros agri-fisheries co-op for tech upgrade
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Aug 2 (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in NegOr has granted a P1-million financial assistance to the Southern Negros Agri-fisheries Multipurpose Cooperative (Sonamco) for the technology upgrading of its milkfish and shrimp production.
The fund will come from the the DOST's Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (Setup).
DOST Provincial Director Gilbert Arbon turned over a check worth P999,800 to Sonamco General Manager Juventud Chavez for the technology upgrading of its machine-operated marine production in Dumaguete City.
The DOST provided equipment including three 7hp submersible pumps, two 5hp submersible pumps, 11 paddle wheel accelerators, three root blowers, one D.O. meter and a refract meter.
Arbon said all these machineries will be employed in a water reservoir and a fish pond. These would also reduce electricity consumption--a problem faced by the co-op--with only few horsepower being used.
The Setup aids in enabling quicker, convenient and efficient production of the company’s valuable aquatic products which include fresh shrimps and bangus as well as milkfish processing, such as deboned and bottled bangus, added Arbon.
The aquatic products are cultured and maintained by the cooperative to assure product quality. With the technological interventions provided by Setup, the co-op also envisions exporting marine products.
“The cooperative is very successful in operating domestically and is planning to expand and enter the global market,” said Chavez.
Sonamco, a registered cooperative formed in 1997 produces high quality milkfish or bangus and other aquatic products but only uses a traditional way of production.
The cooperative currently employs roughly 100 skilled workers, 34 direct workers, 27 workers for production, seven hands for non-production and 50 indirect and contract employees.
It is has been working for at least 20 years and located in Sumaliring, Siaton, Negros Oriental and recently branched out to a new facility in Bais City.
DOST helps small and medium enterprises by endowing funds through machineries for lease intended for three years with zero interest. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)
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DSWD7 asks 4Ps recipients to update any transfer of residence
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 30 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) in Central Visayas has called on all Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in Central Visayas to update any changes particularly the transfer of residence to avoid removal from the list of beneficiaries.
DSWD-7 Information Officer Aileen Lariba said the social welfare office intensified its effort to ensure that all intended beneficiaries of the pantawid program are covered with the right payment of grant relative to their monthly compliance.
Some beneficiary-families do not comply with such conditions and transfer of residence without informing the program implementer. And this has caused non-monitoring and non-payment of their grants, said Lariba.
Lariba said updates from the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor may be texted to 09157984215. Calls may also be made to Maricor Rote at the DSWD-7 regional office, and to city and municipal links or the nearest DSWD office.
The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is a national government’s anti-poverty program involving conditional cash transfer (CCT) including sending the children to school and health development if the family-beneficiaries.
Qualified beneficiaries receive P6,000 a year or P500 per month per household for health and nutrition expenses and P3,000 for one school year or 10 months or P300 per month per child for educational expenses. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)
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USAID strengthens commitment with local partners
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Aug 2 (PIA) -- The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) plans to work more closely with a greater number of local organizations in the country .
This will enable it to deliver its programs more effectively, USAID Mission Director Gloria Steele said in a press statement.
This expanded engagement with local organizations is part of "USAID Forward," an ambitious reform effort, USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah said. This will help modernize and strengthen the work of USAID missions around the world, including the Philippines.
USAID Forward will also strengthen the monitoring and evaluation of USAID's programs around the world and will emphasize science, technology, and innovation.
Working with the Ayala Foundation, USAID already provides a range of capacity building services to strengthen local community organizations in core organizational management competencies.
Early this month, USAID posted new solicitations seeking proposals from local organizations for two upcoming projects: "Communication for Health Advancement through Networking and Governance Enhancement" and "Health Policy Development Program – Phase 2 (HPDP2)."
The USAID is the US government’s development arm.
“Over the last 50 years, USAID has worked with public and private partners to help communities throughout the Philippines to reduce maternal and child mortality," Steele said.
Steele added that USAID aims to foster good governance and rule of law, increase economic opportunities, protect the environment, improve access to basic education, strengthen peace in conflict-affected Mindanao and recover from natural disasters that are embedded in the projects.
To further the impact of its efforts in the Philippines in the coming years, USAID takes steps to work directly with a broader range of Filipino partners on upcoming programs.
“USAID Philippines values the partnerships it has built with the government, the private sector and civil society to meet our development objectives," Steele said.
USAID has posted more information on several websites such as http://philippines.usaid.gov, www.grants.gov and www.fedbizops.gov. (mbcn/JCT-PIA7 Negros Oriental)
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PNoy okays hike of GSIS minimum pension to P5,000
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Aug 2 (PIA) -- In his State of the Nation Address, President Benigno Aquino III announced the basic minimum pension of Government Service Insurance System’s (GSIS) old-age and disability pensioners to P5,000 effective January 2013.
In a GSIS press statement, GSIS Regional Manager Ma. Vilma Fuentes said the increase was a move that is more responsive to the needs of old age and disability pensioners, particularly in the light of the rising prices of basic commodities.
Under the plan, all old-age and disability pensioners will receive the new minimum monthly pension of P5,000 while those receiving over the minimum but less than P8,000 will receive an adjustment of P200 every month.
The release said, roughly 57,000 pensioners will enjoy the new minimum pension while another 50,000 will qualify for the P200 increment.
Under Republic Act 8291, otherwise known as The GSIS Act of 1997, the GSIS Board of Trustees may recommend to the President of the Philippines the adjustment of the basic monthly pension in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the GSIS, provided, however, that the basic monthly pension shall not be less than P1,300. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)
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Silliman ranked Top 6 in Nutritionist-Dietician licensure test
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, August 2 (PIA) -- Silliman University (SU) was ranked sixth among the top performing schools nationwide in the 2012 Nutritionist-Dietician Licensure Exam.
A press statement from SU’s Office of Information and Publications (SU-OIP) revealed that the ranking was conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission among schools with 25 or more examinees.
PRC released the exam results on July 27.
According to SU-OIP Director Mark Raygan Garcia, the university produced 20 new Registered Nutritionist-Dieticians (RND), garnering a passing rate of 64.42 percent.
Out of the total 896 hopefuls in the country who took the exam, 601 passed.
Garcia said SU’s Nutrition and Dietetics Program became the first of its kind in the country to receive a Level I accreditation status from the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU).
The new RNDs from Silliman are, namely: Mary Grace E. Adolfo; Ruby Jane A. Amor; Ma. Princess O. Bagarinao; Dianne I. Delos Reyes; Casandra A. Eparwa; Ann Francis R. Genove; Alessa Rose G. Godmalin; Isaiah Thomas E. Lim; Hannah Liezl G. Kadile; Loreine O. Ragay; Stephanie R. Reyes; Aimee O. Rubia; Jasmin B. Sarmago; Nikita Kaye R. Serion; Ivy Love O. Sy; Lea Dianne L. Tatoy; Careen A. Tomaroy; Dundee Mayrell C. Tumarong; Jhon Edison J. Uy and Trisha Erika A. Verora. (RMN-PIA7 Negros Oriental)
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Master guitarist to hold concert with Silliman rondalla group
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Aug 02 (PIA) --Master guitarist Michael Dadap will hold a concert with Kwerdas, Silliman University’s premier rondalla group, on August 4 at the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium, Dumaguete City.
The concert, titled “One/String,” is one of the highlights of the 50th Cultural Season of the Silliman Cultural Affairs Committee (CAC).
Maestro Dadap is a soloist and chamber music performer, a composer, and conductor.
He is also an accomplished classical guitarist that has recorded six CD Albums for the classical guitar, including Intimate Guitar Classics for solo guitar which was the featured album in February 1990 on the New York Times classical radio station, WQXR, a press statement from the CAC said.
Dadap also gives regular chamber music concerts with the Dadap-Ma Duo (with wife, the cellist Yeou Cheng Ma), that has performed in the United States, Asia, and Europe.
Dadap has dedicated a large portion of his career to the appreciation of Filipino folk music, pioneering the awareness of the Philippine rondalla in the United States.
He is the founding music director of the Iskwelahang Pilipino Rondalla of Boston Massachusetts.
His first published book, "A Complete Method for the Virtuoso Bandurria," is now widely used among folkloric Instrumental Ensembles in the Philippines and in the United States. Currently, he is working on his second book, "The Evolving Instruments of the Rondalla."
Kwerdas, Silliman’s rondalla group was founded in 1999, began as an ad hoc rondalla group with the sole purpose of performing the Bachianas Brasilieras No. 5 by Heitor Villalobos for one of the soprano students of ethnomusicologist Priscilla Magdamo-Abraham.
Primarily composed of music students from Silliman who believed in the rondalla’s unlimited potential and diversity, Kwerdas eventually went on to do local and international performances as guest artists or featured performers.
Most notably, the group participated in the Asian-Caribbean Festival in Miami, Florida, and was a mainstay act for the 1st and 2nd International Rondalla and Pluck String Festival of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Since its humble beginnings, Kwerdas has emerged to be one of the most creative and entertaining rondalla ensembles in the country today.
While most of its members have since finished their music studies in Silliman, they still come together for performances to keep the rondalla tradition alive.
Theater passes are available for both the 3:00 pm matinee, and the 8:00 pm gala. All tickets and season passes for Luce Auditorium shows are available for sale at the College of Performing and Visual Arts Building, and at the theater lobby before the show begins. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)