NegOr awards winning GPAK school implementers
by Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 20 (PIA) --- A total of 20 schools in Negros Oriental were awarded today for successfully implementing the agricultural program “Gulayan at Palaisdaan Alay sa Kabataan” (GPAK) started in the province in 2002.
The winning schools received their cash prizes and certificates of recognition conferred by Gov. Roel Degamo, Second District Rep. George Arnaiz and Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Executive Director Leo Caneda during the 9th GPAK Awarding of Prizers ceremony held July 19 at Plaza Ma. Luisa Suites Inn in Dumaguete City.
The cash prizes will be used to implement projects in their schools such as school buildings, said Provincial Agriculturist Office Nitz Bangay.
Winners of the Gulayan or Vegetable category received, aside from certificates and plaques, P100,000 for the first prize winner, P75,000 for second prize; and P50,000 for third prize while Palaisdaan or Fisheries Category winners bagged P50,000 for first prize; P30,000 for second prize; and P20,000 for third prize.
Fourth and fifth prize winners of the two categories received certificates and plaques.
For the Gulayan category, the winning schools in the First Congressional District are, namely: Tinaogan Elementary School in Bindoy, first prize; Bindoy Central School, second prize; Lower Lumapao Elementary School in Canlaon City, third prize; San Jose Elementary Schoolin Manjuyod, fourth prize; and Don Vicente Lopez Elementary School in Vallehermoso, fifth prize.
Second Congressional District's winners are: Junob National High School in Dumaguete City, first prize; Cantumbol Elementary School in Mabinay, second prize; Jose Rotea Elementary School in Tanjay City, third prize; Banban Elementary School in Mabinay, fourth prize; and Silab Elementary School in Amlan, fifth prize.
The winners in the Third Congressional District are: Omod Elementary School in Bayawan City, first prize; Ambrosio M. Ramirez Elementary School in Sta. Catalina, second prize; Banga Central School in Bayawan City, third prize; Lico-lico Elementary School in Siaton, fourth prize; and Nangka Elementary School in Bayawan City, fifth prize.
On the other hand, for the Palaisdaan category, the five winners are: Lower Lumapao Elementary School in Canlaon City, first prize; Cantumbol Elementary School in Mabinay, second prize; Pal-ew Elementary School in Tanjay City, third prize; La Libertad Central School, fourth prize; and Gomentoc Elementary School in Ayungon, fifth prize.
GPAK was conceived in 2002 by then Governor and now Cong. Arnaiz to involve the schools in measures to improve food production in the province by alloting unused lots within the school grounds for vegetable production and tilapia ponds.
The vegetable and tilapia harvests are then enjoyed by the community, providing students and their families with the required vitamin and protein daily requirements.
In 2005, the program was thrust into national limelight after it became a Galing Pook awardee for its impact on the nutritional status of school children and how it has mobilized parents to plant their own vegetable gardens and put up tilapia ponds in their homes.
A report from the Galing Pook Foundation, Inc. cited that GPAK helped reduce the malnutrition problem in the province at that time, “with cases steadily falling to 23 percent of the province's population from 39 percent in 2002 and 27 percent in 2003.” (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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Soldiers forge ties with DepEd in NegOr
by Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 19 (PIA) --- The 11th Infantry Battalion (11IB) of the Philippine Army has forged a partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) in Negros Oriental through a series of teacher-soldiers forums in Guihulngan City and Vallehermoso.
The latest and third forum held July 19, 2011 saw the 11IB soldiers coordinating with elementary teachers of Vallehermoso town at the Vallehermoso Central School to arrange the conduct of “non-traditional activities and unconventional approaches to counter-insurgency” which the battalion has been known for.
In the past months, the 11IB has constructed classroom buildings and potable water supply source and donated computer units, books, school supplies and slippers for students in far-flung barangays in the province as part of their counter-insurgency measures under the “Oplan Bayanihan” program.
Aside from these, the soldiers have agreed to set up funds taken from their wages to finance the Lapu-Lapu Education Assistance Program (LEAP), a scholarship program for poor but deserving students in Negros Oriental State University.
The DepEd teachers in Vallehermoso during said forum pledged to continue their support and cooperation to the “Oplan Bayanihan” activities of the 11IB.
11IB Lt. Col. Ramil M. Bitong, in the same forum, cited DepEd's key role in the government's internal peace and security plan. “Teachers remain to be one of the most reliable and formidable partners of the military and the entire community as they contribute a lot to our advocacy against lawlessness particularly insurgency,” he said in a statement. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental with reports from 1Lt. Von Ryan Gomez)
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Comelec urges PWDs in Negros Oriental to register now
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 19 (PIA) All persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Negros Oriental has called on to register as voter in the nearest Commission on Elections (Comelec) office starting on July 18 to 23.
The Comelec set this week as National Voter’s Registration Week for PWDs to coincide with the observance of National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week.
“For PWDs who hesitate to register due to accessibility problems and inconvenience due to influx of registrants, the Comelec thru the inter-Agency and NGO Network on Empowering Persons with Disabilities, seeks to provide an avenue to resolve these problems,” revealed Comelec press statement.
Comelec Minute Resolution No. 11-0623 directed all offices of the Election Officers nationwide to give priority to PWDs during the PWD Registration Week.
Another remarkable event during the said week is the holding of satellite registrations in major cities in accessible venues such as in the malls and in barangays where there are many PWD registrants, it stated.
The Comelec has expected the week-long event to gather thousands of unregistered PWDs.
Meanwhile, the provincial government has led the opening activity of the weeklong celebration for the 33rd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week (NDPR) yesterday with an ecumenical mass at the Provincial Convention Center.
The activities have been lined-up to promote public awareness on disability prevention and rehabilitation include kapihan sa PIA forum, radio and television guesting with members of PCDA and DSWD on the same day; and psychological assessment for PWDs with Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA).
The forum discusses this year’s theme “ Making the Rights Real for Filipinos with Disabilities with officials from provincial and city PWDs associations, Great Physician Rehabilitation and CSWD as guest-panelist. (PIA NegOr/JCT)