Bong Go fulfills promise to Kapampangans, launches tenth Malasakit Center
PAMPANGA, October 8, 2018 — Special Assistant to the President
(SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go today fulfilled his promise to establish a
Malasakit Center to give Kapampangans easier access to financial assistance, in
line with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s commitment to provide quality health
services to all Filipinos.
Together with the officials from the different government agencies and the local government officials of Pampanga, Go led the formal opening of the Malasakit Center at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital (JBLMRH) in San Fernando City, Pampanga.
Following the program, Go proceeded to the Emergency Ward of JBLMRH where he visited some patients and extended assistance to them.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop program of President Duterte to hasten the delivery of medical services and give poor patients access to free medicine. A fast lane prioritizing the senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) will also be available.
Under the program, patients are assisted in availing themselves of the services and financial assistance provided by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the Philippine Amusement and Games Corporation (PAGCOR), Department of Health (DoH), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Pooled together, the assistance can push the patient's medical bill, including medicines, to the lowest possible amount.
Go has been instrumental in putting up Malasakit Centers throughout the country. Currently, there are also Malasakit Centers in the cities of Cebu, Tacloban, Iloilo, Bacolod, Puerto Princesa, Maasin, Dumaguete, Davao, and in Manila (Philippine General Hospital).
By the end of the month, the government eyes to put up at least five more Malasakit Centers in various cities like Tagbilaran, Zamboanga, Cagayan De Oro, Legazpi, and Butuan, to name a few, according to Go.
In his visit to Pampanga, Go said the Duterte administration will also provide more projects to further develop and address problems in Central Luzon.
“Maraming proyekto ang nakalaan para sa Pampanga. Tomorrow po may ground breaking ceremony para sa Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Measures ang DPWH sa Minalin, Pampanga,” Go said in an ambush interview.
(There are numerous projects for Pampanga. A ground breaking ceremony for the Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Measures in Minalin will be held tomorrow through the efforts of DPWH.)
During an earlier visit of Go in Pampanga last August 28, he promised that he will talk to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to address the problem of flooding in the area.
The PhP6.15-B project is a flood-control facility of DPWH that targets to reduce the damage brought by perennial flooding in southern Pampanga. It is expected to finish in March 2022.
Go enumerated several other infrastructure projects that are lined up for the Kapampangans under the Duterte administration.
“Ang new Clark International Airport ay matatapos sa 2020. Ongoing po ito para dumami pa ang kapasidad para sa airport na ito (para maka-accommodate) ng additional 8 million na passengers. Naumpisahan na rin itong New Clark City Food Processing Terminal and International Food Market natin. At next ‘yung Subic-Clark railway, under the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program,” he added.
(The ongoing expansion of the Clark International Airport will be finished by 2020. This aims to accommodate the additional eight million passengers. We have already started the New Clark City Food Processing Terminal and International Food Market. And next is the Subic-Clark Railway, under the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program.)
Meanwhile, when asked about the upcoming 2019 senatorial elections, Go said he is still not considering the possibility of running.
“Unang-una kailangan ko pa mag-dasal. Pangalawa, syempre ang desisyon po ng ating Pangulo. Papalapit ng papalapit ang araw na iyan kailangan ko ng mag-desisyon,” Go said.
(First, I have to pray. Second, we have to wait for the decision of the president. The day [filing of candidacy] is fast approaching, I have to decide.)
Caraga security guards receive workers’
entitlement pay
BUTUAN
CITY, Oct. 8 — About eight security guards from AB Security Services have
recently received their work entitlement fee held at the Department of Labor
and Employment (DOLE) Caraga Regional Office, this city.
Each
of the guard received a cheque that totaled to Php295,000.00.
The
affected workers were from Surigao del Norte, namely Audie T. Baslot, Mar E.
Baja, Jonathan P. Nepomuceno, Richard C. Estrera, Roldan Eupnilde, Ben Alexis
T. Rosalin, Marjun P. Aguilar, and Vermie C. Parao.
According
to them, they were underpaid of their minimum wage, unpaid of their night shift
differential, holiday pay and service incentive leave.
The
checks were released after the management of AB Security Services represented
by the Security Director Yulie M. Yap showed willingness to comply with the
order issued by DOLE Caraga Regional Director Chona Mantilla from the complaint
inspection of Labor Inspector Romelyn Bactol on March 7.
The
checks were released in the presence of the DOLE Caraga Assistant Regional
Director Naomi Lyn Abellana, the Officer In-Charge of the Technical Support
Services Division Annie Tangpos, and the DOLE Caraga Cashier Ana Delos Reyes.
When
ARD Abellana asked the recipients what they are going to do with the money,
some responded that they will use the money for the school fees of their
children, some for house repairs while others will use it for daily expenses.
In
2017, there were at least 3,433 workers in Caraga who benefitted from work
entitlement with a total amount of Php10.8-M and as of August 2018, 442 workers
received their claims totaling Php11.9-M.
Under
the general labor standards, the workers are bound to receive wages and other
benefits as stipulated under existing laws, rules and regulations.
The
benefits that a worker may avail are, but not limited to, overtime pay, night
shift differential, service incentive leave, 13th month pay and the minimum
wage. (DOLE-13/ PIA-Caraga)
Family healing stressed in DSWD-Caraga's
parent-child encounter
By Mike
Ariel P. Plaza
BUTUAN
CITY, Oct. 8 - Themed “Healing Within the Family,” the recently held
parent-child encounter of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD)-Caraga’s Home for Girls (HFG) focused on the restoration of family
relationships as part of furthering the department’s aim in bringing
“vulnerable” children close to their homes.
Parents
and guardians of HFG residents coming from different provinces of Caraga
attended the one-day encounter, which is anchored on the celebration of the
National Family Week.
Resource
person Rev. Fr. Dandy Marababol started his talk by underscoring parents’ role
in molding their children’s character “which many tend to look over because of
the struggle to provide for their children’s basic needs.”
“Kasagaran
sa mga ginikanan makalimut na sa ilang relasyon sa ilang mga anak tungod kay
mas nafocus sila sa pagpaningkamot nga mahatag ang ilang mga kinahanglanon
(Most of the parents have forgotten the importance of their relationship with
their children as they are very much focused on providing their needs),”
Marababol said.
Marababol
said that part of the many problems of young people today is their relationship
with their parents because a lot of them seem to feel distant from their
families as they do not feel happy inside their homes.
“Ang
balay nga ang haligi gianay, lisod dyud mulampusay. Kung ang gihatag sa ilaw ng
tahanan kangitngit, aha man padulong ang mga anak (A house whose pillars are
weak will hardly survive.. where will a burnt out light of a home take the
children)?” added Marababol.
He
also pointed out that parents should help their children in learning to love
others.
“Maningkamot
kita nga ang atong pamilya naa dyud kabag-ohan (work on bringing change to your
family),” Marababol reminded the parents.
A
parent said in a testimony that “maningkamot kita makahatag og kalamboan ug
kaayohan sa mga hiwi nga kinaiya ug tabangan usab nato ang DSWD nga maporma ang
atong mga anak (Let us strive to develop our children and change their
unpleasant traits; let us help the DSWD in molding them).”
After
Marababol’s talk, parents and children were given time to write each other
letters which they personally read on a private dialogue.
“Nalipay
ko nga makauban akong pamilya karung adlawa ug maistoryahan ang mga gusto namo
isulti sa ila (I am happy to be spending time with my family today and tell
each other what we wanted to),” said one of the residents.
Also
featured in the encounter are testimonies of successful discharged clients,
tribute to parents and participants’ sharing of learnings.
The
parent-child encounter is an annual activity of the HFG done every September.
This
year, the activity has commenced right after the groundbreaking of the
two-story dormitory for the center, which is set to be completed in January
next year.
HFG,
which was built in 1997, still continues to provide protection, care, treatment
and rehabilitation to vulnerable, abused and exploited girls below 18 years
old. (Social Marketing Section/DSWD Field Office Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
PSA enjoins agencies to support, participate in
29th NSM celebration
BUTUAN
CITY, Oct. 8 - The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) - Regional Statistical
Services Office Caraga, in coordination with the Regional Statistics Committee
(RSC), invites all agencies of the government, local government units, academic
institutions, state universities and colleges, and the private sector to
participate in the month-long 29th National Statistics Month (NSM) celebration.
This
year’s 29th NSM with the theme “Exploring Philippine Wonders in Numbers: Statistics Towards Sustainable Tourism
Development” reflects the relevance of statistics in achieving a sustainable
and progressive tourism growth for the country and emphasizes the need for
statistics to identify potential tourism havens and areas which require
intervention.
All
participating organizations, universities/colleges and units of the government
are also requested to display the 29th NSM streamer/tarpaulin in their building
facade throughout the month of October.
Recently,
the PSA led the kick-off activity on October 2, 2018 through an opening program
held at the Robinson’s Place Butuan.
The
NSM is annually observed nationwide pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No.
647, declaring the month of October of every year as the National Statistics
Month.
It
aims to promote, enhance, and instill awareness and appreciation of the
importance and value of statistics to the different sectors of the society as
well as elicit the cooperation and support of the general public in upgrading
the quality and standards of statistics in the country. (PSA/PIA-Caraga)
DILG trains Caraga cities to streamline
construction permitting
By Don
Manuelo O. Patrimonio
BUTUAN
CITY, Oct. 8 - Building officials, fire marshalls and local government unit
departments involved in the issuance of construction permits of the six cities
of Caraga Region were recently given a training on Streamlining Building
Permits and Certificates of Occupancy held at the Butuan Grand Palace Hotel,
this city.
The
said event is in response to the President’s call to streamline all government
transactions and contribute to improve the country’s ranking in global
competitiveness survey.
The DILG through the Bureau of Local
Government Development (BLGD), in collaboration with Department of Public Works
and Highways (DPWH) Department of Information and Communications Technology
(DICT) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), issued Joint Memorandum
Circular (JMC) No. 2018-01: Guidelines in Streamlining the Processes for the
Issuance of Building Permits and Certificates of Occupancy, dated January 04,
2018.
This
year’s target in Caraga for the implementation of the JMC are the cities of
Bayugan, Bislig, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Surigao and Tandag and will be expanded to
include all municipalities in subsequent years.
Among
the reforms instituted in the JMC is the use of a unified form, the
establishment of a One-Stop Shop for Construction Permits, and setting of the
standard number of steps at 4 steps, and standard processing time at five days.
It
is to be noted that the processing time assumes that all requisite documents
are complete.
The
JMC covers simple applications for building permits and certificates of
occupancy.
It
refers to applications for structures not exceeding 1,500 square meters: single
dwelling residential buildings of not more than 2 floors or storeys; commercial
buildings of not more than 2 floors/storeys; renovation within a mall with
issued building permit; and warehouses storing non-hazardous substance.
The
One-Stop shop concept implores the One-Government and Accessibility of
Government Services principles.
For
this, the co-location of LGU departments involved in the application for these
permits have been recommended.
It
is envisioned that the applicants will only submit all required documents to
one receiving officer and every process pertinent to the application of the
permit are incorporated, such as the verification by the Assessor over the tax
declaration, the Treasurer over tax clearances, and the zoning officer over the
locational clearance; the evaluation by Office of Building Official as to
technical requirements such as line and grade, architectural, structural, plumbing/sanitary,
electrical, etc., joint inspection and verification by building inspectors and
BFP; fire safety evaluation/inspection by the BFP, and a one-time assessment
including barangay fees, then payment of fees and release of all documents.
“This
training is very timely because just this May, the president signed into law
the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Law or RA 11032 which includes the
streamlining of all LGU permits, including construction permits. We are here to
help capacitate the LGUs to know the standards and the guidelines in achieving
these standards so that we are compliant to the law which imposes severe
sanctions to those culpable of violations,” said DILG Caraga Regional Director
Lilibeth A. Famacion.
“But
more than just avoiding sanctions, streamlining our construction permitting
processes improves our rankings in the Doing Business report of the
international committee where we severely lag behind other countries, and will
redound to the benefit of our investors and business communities as well as the
general public,” Famacion added.
Meantime, the DILG will continue to
capacitate LGUs in the endeavor to make LGUs more business friendly and
competitive among the other major sectoral outcomes targeted by the Department.
(DILG-13/PIA-Caraga)
BUTUAN CITY, October 12, 2018 — Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go today assured the Butuanons that the Duterte administration prioritizes the infrastructure and agricultural development of the city.
Go launched the 13th Malasakit Center in the city to give easier access to financial and medical assistance, in line with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s commitment to provide quality health services to all Filipinos.
After delivering his speech, Go headed to the hospital wards and gave immediate assistance to the patients. 
