Amended scholarship qualification to widen inclusion of grantees

by Susan Aro LA TRINIDAD, Benguet- More students from the municipality of Kibungan are expected to qualify under the town’s college educational scholarship program with local officials amending an earlier ordinance that limits scholars to only poor and deserving residents who attended or graduated in schools within the area. Municipal Ordinance 22 series of 2011 amends Municipal Ordinance Number 18 series of 2009 implemented first semester of school year calendar year 2010. This carried the provision that the student grantee, “must have attended and completed his/her elementary and high school or its equivalent educational programs in the municipality of Kibungan.” Under Mun. Ordinance 22, the Sangguniang Bayan is amending said provision to “must have completed his/her Elementary and High School or its equivalent educational program in Benguet province.” The councilors noted that some eligible residents were not able to avail of the program because they finished their high school in public schools outside Kibungan; there are no trade/industrial and agricultural high schools in Kibungan. Most of the poor but deserving students who are candidates for the scholarship go to Balakbak in Kapangan and other secondary schools in adjacent towns. Such provision deprives some qualified grantees the chance to pursue their college education. Said measure was forwarded to the Provincial Board for their appropriate action. * (JDP/SCA- PIA CAR,Benguet)

NCCA looks into addressing the cultural dimension of the country’s social problems

by Lito Dar

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is looking into the possibility of the NCCA helping in addressing the cultural dimension of the country’s social problem in support to the good governance vision of President Benigno Aquino III.

According to NCCA executive director Maria Lourdes "Malou" Jacob, PNoy’s administration has been very supportive to the cause of NCCA. It does not dictate and really upholds artistic freedom which could be a big help in really promoting the cultural industry for our Filipino artists,” she said.

Jacob explained that what they are trying to do now is to convince the government that art could also play a big part in pushing the country forward. “If during the time of Jose Rizal the artists are important on the birthing of a nation, now artists are important on the development and upliftment of our country,” Jacod said.
Filipino artists, Jacob continued, should realize their significance, not only for their self but also for the community and to the country as a whole. According to Jacob, artists have different ways wherein they can express themselves -- some of them want to be left alone which we should also respect, but there are also those who want to be part of the community, this is where the NCCA can help by providing the opportunity and avenue to do so.

“It is always a true artist’s role to provide the people new insights and provoke people into action and change of attitude. Artists should look for a new and different way to encourage people to really participate in promoting a really proud Filipino identity,” Jacob said.

Jacob was the guest of honor during the 2nd Tam-awan International Arts Festival, which was successfully held from May 13 to 15, through the partnership of Chanum Foundation Inc., Tam-awan Village, and the NCCA. *(JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

Nurses association joins effort to close the gap on access, equity to health care services

by Lito Dar
The Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) Cordillera Regional and Baguio City chapters join the International Council of Nurses (ICN) in its effort to enjoin all nurses worldwide to help close the gap on access and equity to health care services.

In a press conference here Friday, PNA Regional head Ruth Thelma Tingda said that in line with the ICN- led International Nurses Week celebration from May 6 to 12, the PNA adopted the theme, “Access and Equity to Health Services for a safer and healthier Philippines”, in recognition of the significant role nurses play on the delivery of health care services, not just for the people here in Cordillera but to all Filipinos.

Meantime, PNA – Baguio chapter President Norenia Dao-ayen stressed that aside from programmed activities, the PNA also continuously provides activities and programs that promotes the welfare of the Filipino nurses.

Dao-ayen said they conduct monthly seminar which not only aims to upgrade the knowledge and skills of nurses, but also to familiarize them with the various monthly health activities of the Department of Health and the City Health Office as well.

According to PNA adviser, Dr. Erlinda Castro – Palaganas, the PNA in its almost 88 years of existence, is still very much wanting of really trying to do its share in closing the gap in as far as at access and equity to health care services are concerned.

Palaganas affirmed that there still a lot of things needed to be done though she also assured that nurses would really be a force to reckon with. As a huge human resource body, nurses have the voice and force to put into form certain policy that would really make health care accessible.

In the same press conference, Caridad Binwag, a PNA member who heads the Human Resource and Management Division of DOH-CAR, gave a briefing on the Aquino Health Agenda of Universal Health Care, a focused health reform program which primarily aims to provide all Filipino families especially the poor financial risk protection through enrollment to Philhealth and access to affordable and quality health care facility and services. *(JDP/LD -PIA CAR)

CSC issues guidelines on primarily confidential positions

Prompted by perennial requests received from various local government executives especially after every election, the CSC has issued the guidelines in determining primarily confidential positions as contained in CSC MC No. 12, s. 2011

The nature of the function of the office determines whether a position is primarily confidential. A primarily confidential position shows that the nature of the functions of the offices has “close intimacy” between the appointee and the appointing power which insures freedom of intercourse without embarrassment or freedom from misgivings of betrayals of personal trust or confidential matters of state.”

The CSC declares the following positions as primarily confidential: Executive Assistant I-V, Private Secretary I-II, Security Agent I-II, Security Officer I-V and Personal Driver/Chauffer. Positions bearing generic career service titles and were classified as primarily confidential under CSC MC No. 22, s. 2007 shall be retitled as follows: Administrative Aide with parenthetical title (Driver) to Driver, Administrative Assistant with parenthetical title (Secretary) to Private Secretary; and Administrative Officer to Executive Assistant.

Appointments to Administrator, Legal Officer and Information Officer positions in municipalities, cities and provinces, all of which are co-terminous with the appointing authority, shall comply with the qualification standards and concurrence by the concerned Sanggunian, otherwise, they will be disapproved.

It is important that a reversal or retitling of positions is made with a Sangguniang Panlalawigan /Panlungsod/ Bayan Resolution, as the case may be, to be submitted to CSC Regional and Field Offices. www.csc.gov.ph.
The complete details of the new guidelines are contained in CSC Memorandum Circular No. 12, s. 2011 downloadable from the CSC website www.csc.gov.ph. *(CSC-CAR/PIA CAR)

Domogan warns bet collectors from entering the city

by Lito Dar

Mayor Mauricio Domogan reiterated the city government’s firm stand against illegal gambling as he warns bet collectors from entering the city.

On the issue of the (LGU) of Sablan, Benguet accepting the operation of Jai-Alai by Meridien Vista Gaming Corporations, gambling.

According to Domogan, the city government maintains a clear position on the issue , and he respects the decision of Sablan Local Government Unit in allowing the operation of Jai-alai in their municipality.

But he is firm in not allowing bet collectors to enter or bring their business into the city, unless they can show an authorization from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) that allows them to collect bets outside the LGU that granted them permit.

“This is what we have fully agreed and has been already disseminated to the City’s Task Force Jupiter. If Jai-alai bet collectors are seen by our police collecting bets inside the city, they must be apprehended. There is no other condition there”, Domogan said.

In line with this, Domogan also appealed to the people to refrain from entertaining or patronizing any illegal gambling activity.

“This is one problem that the city government’s anti-illegal gambling effort is facing. If only the people of Baguio will stop patronizing or betting on such gambling activity, then gambling operators would stop prying inside the city” Domogan said.

“There would be no gambling activity in the city if there were no gamblers, may it be legal or illegal” Domogan added.

Relative to this, Task Force Jupiter is also closely monitoring the operations of bingo in several barangays in the city to ensure that these would not operate as front of jueteng operations. *(JDP/LD - PIA CAR)

DILG pushes full disclosure of LGU budgets, finances, other transactions

by Lito Dar

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) reiterates its call to all local government units (LGUs) to comply with the department’s ‘Full Disclosure Policy’ of local budgets, finances, bids and public offerings as embodied in the DILG Memorandum circular (MC) no. 2010 – 83.

This was stressed by DILG-CAR Information Officer Cris Rimando, in an interview during the PIA Hour radio program over radio station DZWT, Thursday.

According to Rimando, the said directive is DILG’s main thrust under its reform program, “Biyaheng Pinoy: Tapat na Palakad, Bayang Maunlad”, which is in line with President Benigno Aquino III’s battle cry for good governance, “Kung Walang Corrupt, Walang Mahirap”.

Rimando explained that ‘full disclosure’ promotes local governance reform towards transparency, accountability, performance and responsiveness, wherein compliance promotes an act of patriotism, public accountability and honesty.

Under the full disclosure policy, local chief executives are directed to post in conspicuous places within public buildings in the locality, or in print media of community or general circulation and in their websites the 2010 Annual Budget, quarterly statement of cash flows, utilizations of Thrust Fund (Philippine Development Assistance Fund or PDAF), Special Education Fund, 20% Component of Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), Gender and Development Fund; Annual Procurement Plan or Procurement List, items to Bid, Bid Results on Civil Works/goods/service’ and Abstract of Bid as calculated, and the 2009 statement of receipts and expenditures.

Non-compliance with the said DILG Memorandum circular may be viewed as anti-good governance and will be dealt with in accordance with pertinent laws, rules and regulations.

Meanwhile, in line with the DILG’s Reform Program and the Full Disclosure Policy, Rimando affirmed that DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo is currently going around the country for a “Tapatan Roadshow”, which is a venue for the different local officials to listen and question the secretary, regarding DILG’s latest policies.

According to Rimando, Baguio City will be the seventh road show stop of Robredo who will be here on June 14. *(JDP/LD - PIA CAR)

Segregate, Mayor to residents anew

by Aileen Refuerzo

For the nth time, residents here were reminded to segregate their wastes right in their homes.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said he will not get tired of reminding the public if only to make the city’s waste management program work.

He said residents should cooperate with the city government through segregation to maximize the operation of the Environmental Recycling System (ERS) machines which the city purchased to address the city’s biodegradable wastes.

He said the two machines could process 48 tons of biodegradable wastes daily but the waste output of the city for the past weeks has not kept up with the maximum because of poor segregation practice.

The mayor said there was a day when the machine processed only 34 tons because of improper segregation in the barangays.

“We hope we seriously comply with the segregation policy to maximize the operation of the machines,” the mayor said.

He said the city has totally stopped hauling of wastes to a landfill facility in Capas and this is a big relief to the city considering the big sum required to transport the wastes.

“Let us help each other to make our waste management program work,” the mayor said.

Biodegradable or compostable waste includes fruit and vegetable peelings, vegetable trimmings, fish entrails, egg shells, fish shells/scales, spoiled food leftovers, seeds, wet paper and newspapers, wet carton/cardboards, expired bakery products, chipped branches, sawdust, “kusot”, poultry and livestock manure, pet manure, corn cobs and sheaths, spoiled animal entrails, rice hulls, peanut shells, animal carcasses, coconut sells and husks, garden/grass clippings.

Recyclables mean dry paper, newspaper, dry cardboards and cartons, plastic containers and materials, empty toner containers, computer ink cartridges, metals, iron, tin and aluminum cans, glass bottles, colorless broken glasses, vehicle batteries, PVC pipes, PE pipes, purified water containers, computer casings, garapa, medicine bottles, undamaged plastic sacks.

Residual wastes include sanitary napkins, disposable diapers, worn out rugs, Styrofoam, broken ceramics, foams, coco fibers from cushion, colored broken glasses, sando bags, packing/twine straws, worn-out plastic sacks.

Special wastes are broken tiles, barber shop waste, dirt materials from sweepings, paint and thinner containers, household batteries, lead acid batteries, bulky wastes like beds, consumer electronics like TV sets, appliances, air filter elements and garden debris. *(AR- Baguio City PIO/PIA CAR)