DTI-Caraga warns public on the use of butane
canister filled with LPG
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 20 (PIA) – The Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga warned the public of the rampant unsafe
practice of the use of butane canisters as containers for household liquefied
petroleum gas (LPG).
“These canisters are not intended and designed
for LPG and therefore may pose danger to users and households,” reminded
Brielgo Pagaran, DTI-Caraga regional director.
Pagaran also bared that based on the Philippine
National Standard (PNS) 03-01:2000, only welded steel cylinders with a water
capacity of one liter to 150 liters are intended for storage and transport of
LPG.
“Butane canisters are not compliant with quality
and safety requirements for LPG refill. As such, it may leak and emit hazardous
gas and cause explosion and fire, thus posing danger,” Pagaran reiterated.
DTI further urged the public to report any
information on the said unsafe practice at the nearest DTI Regional or
Provincial Office.
Aside from its mission to enable business
environment/reduces cost of doing business to facilitate trade and investments,
intensify global competitiveness, and value chain and industry cluster
management, DTI is also continuously empowering consumers, ensuring safe and
reasonably-priced products and services, and the supply chain management.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
CSC Caraga stays assertive to crackdown illegal
red tape
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 20 (PIA) – In its effort to
eradicate red tape in government agencies, the Civil Service Commission (CSC)
Caraga remains driven in raging war against corruption and inefficiencies to
make services more business-friendly and to improve frontline services
delivery.
All government offices are mainly responsible to
implement the Republic Act No. 9485, also known as the Anti-Red Tape Act
(ARTA), the government’s weapon in fighting bureaucratic red tape.
According to CSC Caraga regional director
Resurreccion Pueyo, “the commission is serious in motivating them to fully
comply with the ARTA rules.”
Through a Report Card Survey (RCS), a mechanism
provided in the ARTA used to rate agency performance, offices must meet the
required presence of Citizen’s Charter, anti-fixer campaign materials, a manned
help desk, and observance of “No Noon Break” policy.
Pueyo reiterated that in drawing up a Citizen’s
Charter which will be posted in most conspicuous place, it should identify the
frontline services offered; show a step-by-step procedure of service available,
the employee responsible for each steps, documents required, time needed to
transact, fees; procedure for filing complaints; and apply feedback mechanisms.
Public assistance and complaint desk shall be
set up and manned even during breaktime. The officers and employees transacting
with the client are likewise required to wear an official identification card.
In order to avoid delay in the processing of
transactions, “the law limits the number of signatures of officials and
employees directly supervising the evaluation, approval or disapproval of the
frontline service to a maximum of five signatories,” and Pueyo further
emphasized, “all applications/requests for frontline services shall be acted
upon within five to ten working days."
Also, clients’ satisfaction can be assessed by
the quality of service rendered, time it took to complete the transaction,
physical setup of the agency (directional signages, accessibility, cleanliness,
etc.), and availability of basic facilities (comfort rooms, waiting area, etc.)
Disciplinary actions or penalties will be
imposed to public employees who violate the Act. Under grave offense for fixing
and collusion with fixers in consideration of an economic gain or advantage, he
or she will be dealt with administratively through dismissal and perpetual
disqualification from public service. Likewise, fixers shall suffer a
corresponding criminal liability or a penalty of imprisonment not exceeding six
years, a fine of not more than P20,000 but not more than 200,000, or both fine
and imprisonment at the discretion of the court.
“CSC Caraga seeks for cooperation among
government public servants to promote excellent services to transacting public,
help simplify procedures, expedite the transactions, and be accustomed to
effective practices and transparency to prevent graft and corruption that would
gain integrity and public trust,” remarked Pueyo.
It was learned that there are two tracks
following the conduct of the RCS – recognition and assistance. High flyers are
awarded the Citizen’s Satisfaction Center Seal of Excellence, symbolized by a
wall-mountable glass seal, and given a cash reward that an agency can use to
further improve their delivery of frontline services.
On the other hand, agencies that received a
failed rating in the RCS are recommended for the Service Delivery Excellence
program (SDEP) where they will be assisted in reviewing and improving their
service delivery systems.
The service offices that shall be subjected to a
client satisfaction survey are Bureau of Internal Revenue, Government Service
Insurance System, Home Development Mutual Fund, Land Registration Authority,
Land Transportation Office, National Statistics Authority, Philippine Health
Insurance Corporation, Professional Regulation Commission, and Social Security
System. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
DAR-Surigao Sur trains agrarian coops on basic
accounting
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 20 - The Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR) is currently training Surigao del Sur’s agrarian reform
cooperatives on Basic Accounting for Non-Accountants to arm the cooperative
officers and its members sufficient knowledge in preparing financial statement
and other transactions.
DAR Information Officer Myra Yu said the
week-long training, which began on August 18th and will be concluded on the
23rd this year, aims to enhance the capabilities of the 22 cooperatives in handling
their businesses.
The training is divided into two batches which
is held separately in Tandag City and the municipality of Barobo. The
participants are the Treasurers, Bookkeepers and Audit Inventory Committee of
the cooperatives. Speakers are from VICTO National Cooperative Federation and
Development Center in Cebu City.
The training is also one of the requirements
during the conduct of Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) Level of Development
Assessment (ALDA) in evaluating the maturity and stability of the cooperatives.
ALDA is conducted annually to determine the outcome of the key interventions
provided by the department.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer
Benjamin Mataksil believes that this training will improve the literacy of the
cooperative members in handling their financial operations.
“This endeavor is part of the various support
services in empowering the agrarian reform beneficiaries under the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP),” Mataksil said. (DAR/PIA-Caraga)
DOST calls for scholarship applications till Aug
22
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 20 (PIA) - Graduating high
school students who would like to avail scholarships for priority science and
technology (S&T) courses have until August 22, 2014 to submit their
applications for the 2015 Department of Science and Technology-Science
Education Institute’s (DOST-SEI) Undergraduate Scholarships Examination.
The nationwide examination shall be held on
September 21, 2014 with results to be announced in March 2015.
Priority S&T courses include agriculture,
agricultural biotechnology, biochemistry, computer science, environmental
science, fisheries, food technology, forestry, geology, information technology,
science/mathematics teaching, statistics, and engineering courses.
Interested parties may download the application
form at www.sei.dost.gov.ph or www.science-scholarships.ph. Application forms
are also available at the Science Education Institute office at the DOST
Compound in Taguig City and in all DOST regional offices, Provincial Science
and Technology Centers, and offices of Congressmen and Senators.
Scholarship qualifiers may enroll any of the
state universities, colleges, and tertiary institutions identified as Centers
of Excellence or Centers of Development by the Commission on Higher Education
and in DOST-SEI identified network institutions all over the country. Among
these are the University of the Philippines, University of the East, Ateneo de
Manila, Ateneo de Davao, De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas,
Mapua Institute of Technology, Don Bosco Technical College, Siliman University,
Mariano Marcos State University, and St. Louis University.
For more information, visit www.sei.dost.gov.ph
or www.science-scholarships.ph or call (02)839-0083, (02) 837-1333, 837-2071
loc. 2382 or regional/provincial offices near you. (S&T Media
Service/PIA-Caraga)
Displaced Caraganon OFWs in Libya receive
financial aid from OWWA
By Jean Mary G. Ronquillo
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 20 (PIA) - Displaced Overseas
Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Libya received monetary assistance of P10,000.00
under the Financial Relief Assistance Program (FRAP) of the Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA).
As of Tuesday, OWWA Regional Welfare Office
(OWWA-RWO) Caraga has released a total of P170, 000.00 financial assistance to
17 displaced Caraganon OFWs. While the number of Caraganon OFWs on the
repatriation list, have risen to 55, three of which were not included in the
master list out of the 2,736 total repatriates in Libya, based on the report
from OWWA Membership Processing Center.
One of the OFW repatriates, Jescel Cordova, 24,
from Tandag, Surigao del Sur, expressed his gratitude for the government’s
effort to rescue OFWs affected by Libya crisis. “I am also grateful to OWWA for
the financial assistance they have given, for this amount is already of big
help for my family while I search for new employment,” Cordova said.
Cordova has worked in Libya for 11 months nearly
to finish his one year contract in Tripoli as a General Assistance in Galaxy
Company who is engaged in catering services.
Cordova said he was traumatized with his
experience. “I was scared by the exchange of ammunitions outside the compound
we were staying. Explosions are everywhere which may hit us anytime,” added
Cordova.
He said it took him and his other co-workers
courage and determination to surpass the warfare area. Accordingly, the Libyan
armies escorted them along their way from Tripoli to Tunisia in order to seek
assistance from the embassy. Cordova arrived in the country on August 6 through
the aid of the Philippine government. OWWA led in the conduct of airport
assistance, emergency medical check-up and stress debriefing and provided
transport assistance to OFWs on their way to their respective provinces.
Godofredo Barao, 42, also expressed appreciation
to the government for ensuring their safety. Barao worked for almost 20 months
as a pipefitter in Jabel Oil Services contracted by Waha Oil Company located in
Libyan Desert.
Barao related it was not his first time to work
overseas for he has been to Taiwan and Brunei before, but he was terrified with
his experience in Libya.
He said through the efforts of the Philippine
government, the company allowed them to be repatriated. According to him, a
plane owned by the company was used in transporting around 500 OFWs going to
Tripoli and they travelled via land going to Tunisia.
He arrived from Libya on August 4 at Ninoy
Aquino International Airport and like Cordova, he was assisted by a government
team led by OWWA. He stayed at the OWWA Halfway Home for some medical check-ups
and stress debriefing. Two weeks after he travelled on his way home to
Cantilan, Surigao del Sur with all expenses defrayed by the government.
Barao said “the monetary assistance granted by
OWWA will be used for a business he is planning to startup in addition to his
savings.”
However, despite their experiences in Libya,
Cordova and Barao are still open for opportunities to work overseas.
On the other hand, aside from the financial
assistance from OWWA, displaced OFWs can also avail of the other assistance
under the Assist WELL (stands for Welfare, Employment, Livelihood, Legal)
Program of the government which aims to address the issues and concerns of OFWs
displaced due to political crisis. (OWWA-13/PIA-Caraga)
DOH on Wheels rolls out in Tandag City
By May Ann O. Escobal
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 20 (PIA) - The Department of
Health (DOH) and its partner agencies including the Commission on Population
(PopCom) will showcase DOH on Wheels: Kalusugan Pangkalahatan Roadshow on
August 26 in Tandag City.
KP roadshow aims to bring health care advocacies
to every corner of the country by 2016. It also focuses on promoting public
health while providing services and information to women and children,
adolescents, fathers, and senior citizens of every community.
As partner, PopCom Caraga will be facilitating
U4U Teen Trail Initiative and Kalalakihang Tumutugon sa Responsibilidad at
Obligasyon sa Pamilya (KATROPA) sessions for Communities 2 and 3.
In U4U session, teen participants can journey
through the exhibit to learn about puberty, self-image, relationships,
preventing pregnancy and gender-based violence, and youth advocacy. Through
structured learning exercises, participants will also learn about myths and
misconceptions on sex and sexuality.
PopCom Caraga regional director Alexander A.
Makinano underscored the importance of U4U program for this aims to deliver
critical information to Filipino teens aged 10-19 to prevent teen pregnancy and
reduce the prevalence of STI through online and mobile platforms.
To mobilize men as partners in women empowerment
and gender equality, PopCom Caraga will also conduct session on Kalalakihang
Tumutugon sa Responsibilidad at Obligasyon sa Pamilya (KATROPA), which hopes to
contribute in improving maternal, neonatal and child health and nutrition (MNCHN)
conditions among families of the identified area.
Makinano reiterated that males hold one of the
keys to reducing maternal deaths and improving women’s health. “The session
will focus on involving men in advocating and championing MNCHN program thus
contributing to the goal of reducing maternal deaths, and in promoting
responsible parenting,” emphasized Makinano.
KP is the Aquino administration’s universal
health care agenda which seeks to ensure equitable access to quality health
care by all Filipinos beginning with those in the lowest income quintiles. This
also aims to achieve Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 – the reduction of
child mortality and the improvement of maternal health in the Philippines.
DOH officials revealed that simultaneous
activities will be done and various health information and services on
Adolescents, Maternal and Child’s Health, Men’s Health and Family Health
Involvement, and Health for Elderly and their rights as maintained by DOH,
PopCom and attached agencies, will also be offered during the event. (PopCom/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: Binalangkas na batas Bangsamoro
isusumite sa Pangulo sa loob ng linggong ito
Ni David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Agosto 20 (PIA) - Inihahanda ng
grupong pangkapayapaan ng pamahalaan at ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front ang
balangkas ng Bangsamoro Basic Law para isumite sa Tanggapan ng Pangulo sa loob
ng linggong ito, sabi ng isang opisyal ng Palasyo noong Lunes.
“Ayon kay (Presidential Adviser on the Peace
Process Secretary (Teresita) Ging Deles, lahat ng mahahalagang isyu ay
natalakay at nailinaw na. Ang ginagawa na lang ng magkabilang panig ngayon ay
inihahanda ‘yung mismong draft Bangsamoro Basic Law na ihahain sa Tanggapan ng
Pangulo,” sabi ni Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary
Herminio Coloma, Jr. sa isang panayam sa sa mga miyembro ng Malakanyang Press
Corps.
Sabi ni Coloma na kapag natanggap na ng
Tanggapan ng Pangulo ang balangkas, ito ay pag-aralan kaagad at isumite sa
Kongreso.
Sabi niya na tiwala ang Palasyo na bibilisan ng
Senado at ng mga Kongresista ang pagpasa ng binalangkas na BBL.
“Tinitiyak naman ng liderato ng Senado at ng
Camara de Representante ang kanilang buong pagsuporta para sa agarang pagpapasa
ng draft Bangsamoro Basic Law,” sabi niya.
“Hindi tayo dapat maligalig dahil ayon na nga sa
magkabilang panig, ay natalakay na at napagkasunduan na ang mga
pinakamahahalagang usapin,” dagdag ni Coloma. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Cebuano News: Buhatan sa City Agriculture
nagpadayon sa ilang mga programa ug proyekto
SURIGAO CITY, Agosto 20 (PIA) – Pipila ka mga
programa ug proyekto padayon nga gi-implementar sa buhatan sa City Agriculture
ning syudad.
Kini ang giluwatang pamahayag gikan mismo sa
buhatan sa Agrikultura ning syudad sa pagpangulo ni City Agriculturist Isaias
Elumba pinaagi na ni Senior Agriculturist Evaristo Cotiangco atol sa
gipahigayong Monday Flag Raising Ceremony.
Sumala ni Cotiangco nga sugod sa bulan sa Enero
ning tuiga hangtod karon nagpadayon ang ilang mga programa ug proyekto sa
agrikultura sama na sa pagpahigayon sa lima (5) ka mga agriculture livelihood
projects nagkantidad P1,980,000.00, onse (11) ka fishery aquaculture and
livelihood projects nagkantidad P6,960,000.00, ug ang Farm to Market Road nga
nagkantidad P6,111,111.00.
Sumala pa ni Cotiangco nga ang maong kantidad sa
kwarta ang naga- gikan sa pondo sa 2014 Bottoms-Up-Budgeting (BUB) Projects nga
sa kinatibuk-an nagkantidad sa P15,051,111.00.
Matud ni Cotaingco ang ilang buhatan
nakigtambayayong usab sa buhatan sa Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
alang sa pagpahigayon sa duha ka mga livelihood projects nga mao ang Packaging
and Labeling of Patis Products ug Banana Chips Production nga nagkantidad P960,000.00.
Dugang pa niya nga usa usab ka Seminar on
Product Enhancement Training ug Simple Bookkeeping ang ilang malamposong
napahigayon sa pakigtambayayong gihapon sa buhatan sa Department of Trade and
Industry. (SDR/MICO-Surigao/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Cebuano News: Pilipinas ug UNESCAP, KEITI -
naghost sa capacity building programme para sa carbon footprint ug labelling
scheme
Ni Richell P. Bongato
BUTUAN CITY, Agosto 20 (PIA) - Ang gobyerno sa
Pilipinas pinaagi sa Environmental Management Bureau o EMB sa Department of
Environment and Natural Resources kun DENR
ang mihimo bag-uhay pa lamang og programa alang sa carbon footprint ug
sa labelling scheme. Ang maong training kauban ang Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific- East and North East Asia (ESCAP-ENEA) ug
Korea Environment Industry and Technology Institute (KEITI), ang nangulo sa Asia
Carbon Footprint Network (ACFN).
Ang maong gipahigayon nga aktibidad nagdala sa
mga nagkalain-laing stakeholders gikan sa national government agencies, local
government units, industries, academe ug civil society groups. Kining
programaha naghinaot nga mo palig-on sa kapasidad sa nasyonal ug mo-awhag sa
mga inisyatibong pamaagi aron sa pagpalambo sa carbon footprint scheme sa atung
nasud.
Ang ACFN usa ka voluntary network nga gilunsad
tuig 2013 nga adunay 14 ka- organisasyon sa Asya nga nagtabang sa paghatag og
kaalam ug kooperasyon sa rehiyon kun hisgotan ang kalambuan ug ang pag-ubos sa
carbon footprint .
“Isip ang atung gobyerno adunay pagtugot sa
carbon footprint scheme nga kamanduan sa Philippine Clean Air Act, usa ka
kumprehensibong pamaagi nga mo hatag og panahon sa EMB nga mangulo sa paggama
og carbon footprint scheme ug magtukod sa mga magbabalaod ug experto aron sa
pagpalambo sa maong programa,” sigon ni Mr. Albert Magalang, Head sa EMB-
Climate Change Office.
Ang programa mao usab ang mohatag og giya aron
sa kaayuhan ngadto sa miyembro sa ACFN aron ang EMB ang maoy mo implementar sa
carbon labelling systems. Apil ang mga nasud sa China, Taiwan, Thailand ug
Republika sa Korea nga mohatag usab sa mga galastuhonon ug mga polisiya ngadto
sa Pilipinas. (DENR-13/PIA-Caraga)
