Thus, expect to see
and hear Senator Kiko Pangilinan, National Movement of Young
Legislators Secretary General Carlo Loreto and former National Youth
Commission Commissioner Paulo Benigno Aquino IV in the various
universities and colleges in the Visayas in November, not only to
discuss their campaign against graft and corruption but also to
encourage young leaders to run for office come 2010.
“The three of us will
work together to promote good governance and to encourage young people
to be vigilant about public affairs and even run for elections and
join government,” Atty. Loreto said.
Atty. Loreto who is
currently a senior member of the board of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan
ng Leyte, informed that the movement aims to promote real change in
government by advocating and promoting transparency, accountability,
people empowerment and electoral reforms.
The idea came out of a
series of meetings among the trio, who are noted young leaders in the
Philippines today.
“In the course of our
discussions, it came upon us that we should organize various fora that
could make a difference for the better as far as government and
politics are concerned. It was how the concept was born,” said Atty.
Loreto.
Senator Pangilinan is
a young political leader who belongs to a breed of new legislators who
possess dedication to work and passion for the voiceless segments of
Philippine society. A visionary and dedicated public servant, he is
acknowledged as one of the most hardworking and most productive
senators in the country today.
NMYL Secretary General
Loreto is among the most productive and outstanding legislators and
political leaders in Region 8. A lawyer and active public official, he
has authored or co-authored numerous landmark ordinances in the Leyte
SP, among them: The Gender and Development Code of the Province of
Leyte; Anti- Illegal Drugs and Substance Abuse Ordinance; Ordinance
Creating a Provincial Council for the Protection and Welfare of Leyte
Overseas Filipino Workers; Anti-Illegal Logging and Timber Poaching
and Environmental Code of the Province of Leyte.
Aquino, who is a
nephew of National Hero Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, is currently the
president of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards
Foundation. A host of the ABS-CBN Start-Up program and promising young
leader, Aquino has been recognized recently as a Young Global Leader
by the World Economic Forum.
To jumpstart their
advocacy, the three young leaders will first go on Campus Tours around
Eastern Visayas next month to promote principles of good governance.
BM Loreto said that as
part of the “Campus Tours,” they will organize and conduct fora on
ethical and good governance wherein they hope to invite student
leaders and young professionals who may be interested to join the
advocacy.
Among the schools in
the region the three crusaders are planning to get involved with in
their advocacy are the University of the Philippines (UP), Eastern
Visayas State University (EVSU), Leyte Normal University (LNU), and
the Visayas State University (VSU).
P249-M worth of
concrete pavement project to be implemented next year
By RODRIGO S. VICTORIA (PIA Biliran)
October
10, 2008
NAVAL, Biliran –
Representative Glenn Chong of the Lone District of Biliran revealed
in an interview with PIA that a P249-M worth of concrete pavement
project will be implemented in 2009 as a continuation of the various
on-going concrete pavement projects in the remaining unpaved portion
of the Biliran circumferential road network.
He informed that aside
from the amount, he also got an additional fund of P50M which will
likewise be used for the concrete pavement project.
He said that
Biliranons can see big accomplishments by next year in terms of the
concrete pavement project with the considerable amount intended for
the project
“I will try my best
and show to the Biliranons that I am sincere in my promise although it
is hard to get funds for the road concreting project” said Rep. Chong
in a voice full of confidence.
It was learned that
Rep. Chong wrote a letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
requesting the amount of P880-M for the completion of the remaining
unpaved portion of the Biliran Circumferential Road Network.
Few weeks ago, a group
of high ranking officials from the central office of the Department of
Public Works and Highways (DPWH) visited the office of the
DPWH-Biliran Engineering District and one of the purposes of the visit
was to inspect the unpaved portion of the Biliran Circumferential Road
Network.
Meanwhile, based on
the lists of on-going projects and projects for implementation
furnished by Engr. Virginia C. Sarabusing, District Engineer of
DPWH-Biliran Engineering District to PIA, the following are the
different infrastructure projects related to road concreting under the
CY 2008 Infrastructure Projects, namely: Concreting of Naval-Caibiran
Cross Country Road (Mohon-Pulang Yuta Section) – P20M; Concreting of
Masagongsong Bridge Approaches – P2M; Concreting of Critical Portion
Along Kawayan-Culaba National Circumferential Road (Bulalacao-Bilwang
Section) – P15M; Concreting of Caibiran-Cabucgayan Road (Uson-Gamay
Section) – P4M; Concreting of Culaba-Caibiran Road (Culaba-Looc
Section) – P4M; Concreting of Cabucgayan-Biliran Road (Balaquid-Lawaan
Section) – P5M and the Rehabilitation of Biliran Bridge Along
Leyte-Biliran Section – P25M.
Part two in the lists
is the Realigned Projects from Reblocking under the CY 2007 Regular
Infrastructure Program where the projects are the following: Concrete
Paving of Critical Portion of National Circumferential Road,
Kawayan-Culaba Road (Masagaosao-Bulalacao-Bilwang Section) – P6M;
Concrete Paving of Critical Portion of National Circumferential Road,
Culaba-Caibiran Road (Maurang-Manalabang Section) – P5M; Concrete
Paving of Critical Portion of National Circumferential Road,
Caibiran-Cabucgayan Road (Rawis Section) – P4M.
In item number three
which is the Realigned Projects from Asphalt Overlay under the Motor
Vehicle Users Charge of the General Appropriations Act of CY 2007, the
projects are the following; Reblocking/Concrete Paving of Critical
Portion of Naval-Caibiran Cross Country Road (Km. 1033+482-Km.
1033+933) – P4.73M and Reblocking/Concrete Paving of Critical Portion
of Biliran National Circumferential Road (Km.1114+000-Km. 1114+451.60)
– P8.53M.
Other sources of fund
for the road concreting project came from the Roro Port Fund in the
amount of P8M for the Concreting of Access Road-Naval Roro Port
National Highways; Memorandum of Agreement Projects under the CY 2007
Regular Infrastracture Projects namely: Concreting of Bool Central-Bool
East Section – P3M, Culaba, Biliran; Concreting of Pawikan-Baso Road
Section – P3M, Cabucgayan, Biliran and Concreting of Looc-Balaquid
Road Section, Cabucgayan, Biliran – P2M.
An amount of P40M
under the item Eastern Nautical Highway is allocated for the
Rehabilitation/Concreting of Cabucgayan-Biliran-Naval Road that was
bid-out at the DPWH Regional Office and will be implemented by the
Biliran District Engineering Office.
Aside from the various
road concreting projects, Representative Chong was able to implement
119 projects in the amount of P20M under the Various Infrastructure
Including Local Projects (VILP) in the 2nd and 3rd tranches of CY 2007
to include concreting of barangay roads and pathways, flood controls,
water systems, drainage systems, multi-purpose buildings, seawalls,
health centers, school buildings, footbridges and stairways.
Another 98 VILPs were
implemented in the 1st tranche of CY 2008 in the amount of P20M.
These various VILPs
were implemented in the 132 barangays and in the eight municipalities
throughout the province of Biliran.
Engr. Sarabusing
disclosed in a recent interview that all of these infrastructure
projects were made possible through the efforts of Rep. Chong.
Lawyerless court
procedure OK'd, Chiz lauds SC
Press Release
By Office of Senator Chiz Escudero
October 8, 2008
PASAY CITY,
Philippines – Now anybody can go to court and handle his case from
start to finish without the need for a lawyer.
The Supreme Court has
already approved A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC or the "Rule of Procedure for
Small Claim Cases" which provides a simpler and more inexpensive and
expeditious means of settling disputes involving purely money claims
than the regular civil process.
Small claims cases are
civil claims which are exclusively for the payment or reimbursement of
a sum of money not exceeding P100,000.
The new rule which
became effective last October 1 makes court procedures inexpensive,
informal and simple. An individual is allowed to handle his own case.
One has to only fill out the ready-made available forms and procedural
rules, including the rules of evidence, are not anymore required, thus
there is no need for a lawyer.
Senator Chiz Escudero,
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights said this
new rule augurs well for both the plaintiff and the defendant as it
encourages summary procedures which are notably rare in most of the
country's judicial courts.
This rule, he said
will unclog our courts which will enable them to direct their focus
more on other higher cases and act on these.
"Small claims courts
will allow faster action without the complexity of the usual court
procedures and the usual lawyer-client transaction. Most often,
lawyers just complicate simple matters. This time, they are not
allowed to appear in court unless they are either the plaintiff or the
defendant."
The procedure only
entails one day hearing in which a judicial dispute resolution (JDR)
judge will preside. "This is where an amicable settlement can already
be achieved without going through court procedures anymore. It's
faster and economical for both parties in terms of expenses when you
go to a regular court".
Small claims courts
will be heard in first level courts like the Metropolitan Trial
Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts and
Municipal Circuit Trial Courts.
The court may dismiss
the case outright when any grounds for the dismissal of a civil case
is apparent or obvious from the statement of claim and supporting
documents.
Out-of-school youth
get a second chance thru DepEd’s equivalency tests
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
October
8, 2008
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– Out of school youth will have a chance to acquire a high school
diploma this month of October as the Department of Education
administers a series of Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) tests in
189 school divisions all over the country, on all the Sundays of the
month.
The A&E Test is a
multiple-choice, paper-and-pencil test that is designed to measure the
competencies of those who have not finished formal elementary or
secondary education.
The Department of
Education offer this annually to all out-of-school youth so that they
can become productive members of society even without having to attend
formal school.
Targets of the A&E
Test include elementary and high school drop outs who are at least 11
years old, and 15 years old, respectively, on or before October 5,
2008. Industry-based workers, housewives, drivers, and maids are also
welcome to take the test.
Those who pass the
test are given a diploma certified by the DepEd Secretary himself.
This certifies that their competencies, as revealed in their exam
results, are at par with high school graduates from the formal school
system.
This test gives a
chance to both in- and out-of school youth to pursue college. Passers,
like those schooled in the formal system, are even eligible for
government positions.
The test was
administered on October 5, 2008 in Regions 9-13 and the Autonomous
Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
On the other hand, the
examinees from Regions 5, 6, 7 and 8 are scheduled to take it on
October 12, 2008.
Further more, tests
for Regions 1 to 3 and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) are
scheduled on October 19, 2008.
Lastly, tests for
Regions 4A, 4B, and the National Capital Region (NCR) are slated for
October 26, 2008.
Interested
examinees may contact the Alternative Learning System coordinator or
any school authorities in their areas. Late examinees may register on
the day of the test from 8:00 o’clock in the morning up to 5:00
o’clock in the afternoon. They are advised to bring any identification
card, and two size 1x1 photos.
Former Congressman
donates P100 thousand to Church-led Northern Samar Peace and Order
Task Force
By NENE A. MANZANARES (PIA Northern
Samar)
October 7, 2008
CATARMAN, Northern
Samar – The group’s vision, mission and objectives were clear.
Members of the core group were generous with their time and expertise.
The workprogram was done, and all the group needed was a little push
to sustain the formative activities of the Northern Samar Peace and
Order Task Force. And this did not take long. In a flicker of an eye,
the special push came from one concerned Nortehanon – a former
Congressman of the second district of the province (also a former
regional director of PIA) and now one of the board of directors of the
Coconut Industry Investment Fund.
Director Wilmar P.
Lucero did not need any convincing in parting with his hard earned
money which now serve as a seed fund of the task force. A committed
public servant who believes that peace and development go together, he
gave the task force support fund without hesitation.
Colonel Eduardo D. del
Rosario, brigade commander of the 803rd Infantry Brigade who was
requested by the task force to give the soliciation letter, told the
group that when he was about to give the letter, Director Lucero at
the same time handed him the donation.
“Hindi ko pa nga
naiibigay ang sulat, ibinibigay na sa akin ang pera!”, (I still had to
give the letter, but he was already handing in the money), the brigade
commander said, describing their meeting. This news was received with
knowing grins from some members of the task force who have already
known Director Lucero’s generosity from way back.
Meanwhile, the seed
fund was turned-over in a simple ceremony by Col. Del Rosario to Sr.
Lydia Collado, RSCJ who is head of the Secretariat, during a regular
meeting of the task force Friday, October 3 last week. Witnessing the
turn-over was Rev. Father Cecil Lucero, chair of the task force
including the members of the said group.
The Northern Samar
Peace and Order Task Force is one of the three task forces under the
Northern Samar Peace and Development Forum formed by the Diocese of
Catarman which is headed by Bishop Emmanuel C. Trance, DD. The task
force aims to reduce insurgency and criminality in the province by
fifty percent in 2010. The other two task forces are the Task Force
on Good Governance and the Task Force on Environment.
The Northern Samar
Peace and Development Forum is the local counterpart of the Samar
Island Partnership for Peace and Development (SIPPAD) comprising the
Diocese of Catarman, Calbayog and Borongan. The organization prides
itself of having the Church, Government and Civil Society as its
partners.
Report unofficial use
of government cars to PACE or thru sms, PGMA says
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
October
6, 2008
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo enjoins the public to report any
unofficial use of government vehicles to the Presidential Action
Center (PACE), Arlegui Street, San Miguel Manila or thru cellphone
numbers 09198984621, 09198984622, 09198984623, 09178398462,
09178398462, 09178982462, 09178985462.
The report should
contain among others, the type of vehicle, plate number, and the place
and time where the government vehicle is found, preferably with
pictures.
The call came as
President Arroyo directed all government agencies and offices to limit
the use of government vehicles for purposes other than official
business.
Such directive is
enshrined in Administrative Order 239 dated September 15, 2008, signed
by President Arroyo. Through AO 239, the President has ordered
government institutions to ensure a continuous, adequate, reliable and
economic supply of energy through the judicious conservation, renewal
and efficient utilization of energy to keep pace with the country's
growth and economic developments.
The Arroyo
administration adheres to the principle that public office is a public
trust and inherent in this principle is the judicious and responsible
stewardship in the utilization of government resources, AO 239
stipulates.
Vehicles used by
intelligence and investigative agencies of the government shall not be
covered by the foregoing proviso.
The use of government
vehicles on Sundays, legal holidays or out of the regular office hours
or outside the route of the officials or employees authorized to use
them, or by any person other than such officials or employees shall
unless properly authorized, be prima facie evidence of violation of
Administrative Order 239 in the administrative proceeding against
officials or employees responsible of such violation.
All government
agencies and offices shall limit the use of government vehicles to
essential activities and shall review their travel program and
schedules to minimize unnecessary trips.
The use of government
vehicles for private social functions such as receptions, balls,
theaters and for other personal purposes is absolutely prohibited.
Likewise, use thereof by the spouses, children, relatives, friends and
the like of the officials entitled thereto, even if they are in the
company of said officials is strictly prohibited.
Government vehicles
shall be used strictly for official business, bear government plates
only, and after office hours or during weekends and holidays kept in a
garage designated/provided therefore by the bureau or office to avoid
their unauthorized use.
President Arroyo
ordered the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to closely coordinate and
render assistance for the prompt and efficacious implementation of
this order particularly in the identification of the reported
government vehicles.
PGMA announces
appointment of DTI 8 director as new Presidential Asst for Eastern Visayas
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
October
2, 2008
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced the appointment of
Department of Trade and Industry Region 8 Director Cynthia Nierras as
the new Presidential Assistant for Eastern Visayas.
The announcement was
made during the September 30 emergency meeting of the Regional
Disaster Coordinating Council 8 held at the President’s Hall of the
Leyte Park Hotel in Tacloban City.
Director Nierras will
take the place of PA Victor A. Domingo who was recently appointed as
the new Secretary for New Government Centers.
Director Nierras said
she would assume her new post immediately after the President signs
her appointment papers. She said she accepted the post because she
cannot say no to the President’s call to serve knowing that the
President’s sincerity in serving the Filipino people.
As Presidential
Assistant for Region 8, Director Nierras will continue the good job
started by Secretary Vic Domingo in fulfilling the President’s
development strategy that will ultimately benefit the Filipino people.
Working with and for
the President is not new to Director Nierras because she had the
chance to work with the President when the President was the
Undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry.
Knowing the way she
works, the Regional Directors present agreed that Director Nierras was
the right choice as Presidential Assistant for Region 8.
The local chief
executives interviewed gave their vote of confidence to Director
Nierras saying that she is a good link of Region 8 to the President.
Present during the
RDCC Meeting were RDCC Chairman PRO 8 Director Abner Cabalquinto and
the members of RDCC 8.
Also present were
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Presidential Assistant Victor
Domingo, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, Leyte Vice Governor
Mimyet Bagulaya, Southern Leyte Governor Damian Mercado, Eastern Samar
Governor Ben Evardone, First District of Leyte Congressman Ferdinand
Martin Romualdez, and Eastern Samar Congressman Teodulo Coquilla.
The Office of the
Ombudsman yesterday dismissed fifteen Public Works officials for
various offenses
Press Release
By OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN
October 2, 2008
MANILA, Philippines
– In separate orders, Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando C. Casimiro
ordered the dismissal from the service of Wilfredo B. Agustino,
Regional Director; Rudy G. Canastillo, Assistant Regional Director;
Edward G. Canastillo, Acting District Office Head; and Cecil C.
Caligan, Acting District Office Assistant Head, all of the Department
of Public Works (DPWH)-Iloilo; Rolindo M. Perez, OIC-District
Engineer; Vicente E. Vargas, OIC-Asst. District Engineer; Dennis P.
Geduspan, Engineer III; Mayo R. Pelagio, Engineer III; Bernardo P.
Yparosa, Accountant III; Jose M. Javier, Jr., Property Custodian; and
Pio M. Gareza, Jr., Supply Officer, all of the DPWH-Negros Occidental;
Miviluz R. Aviles, Chief of the Systems and Procedures Division; and
Leticia V. Osorio, Chief of the Medical-Dental Division of DPWH-Manila;
Geronima E. Muncada, Cashier; and Azucena O. Viojan, Supply Officer,
both of the DPWH-Samar; and Abdulmunib Muksan, Depot-in-Charge of the
DPWH-8 in Leyte.
Agustino, Caligan, and
the Canastillos were dismissed for Grave Misconduct for conspiring to
give “unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference” to one Rogelio
Yap, the contractor for the construction of the Bancal-Leon-Camandag
Road in Leon, Iloilo.
Investigation revealed
that the said officials connived to make it appear that P6,7333,329.23
was used for the excavation phase of the project, when what was
actually spent was only P38,610.
In the case of
Agustino who had already retired, ODO Casimiro imposed upon him the
accessory penalties inherent to dismissal, including Cancellation of
Eligibility, Forfeiture of Retirement Benefits, Disqualification for
Reinstatement or Reemployment and Bar from Taking any Civil Service
Examination.
In a separate case,
Perez, Vargas, Pelagio, Geduspan, Yparosa, Javier, and Gareza – all of
the 4th Sub-Engineering Office of the DPWH office in Bago, Negros
Occidental – were dismissed for Grave Misconduct in connection with
irregularities in the two projects for the improvement of the
Camingawan-Pandan Road
in Pontevedra.
A special audit of the
said projects revealed a discrepancy of P8,128,768.37, representing
cost of materials and labor paid but not delivered or accomplished.
In addition, a discrepancy of P2,968,268.33 occurred representing cost
of materials and labor which were utilized or applied in the project,
but which were not included among the paid items.
On the other hand,
Aviles and Osorio were dismissed for Dishonesty and Grave Misconduct
after Aviles incurred a three-month absence from work without filing
the necessary leave of absence or authority to travel abroad.
In order to cover up
for the said irregularity, Osorio issued to Aviles a medical
certificate to make it appear that she was sick and rightfully on sick
leave, although records show that Aviles was actually in Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, Muncada was
ordered dismissed for Dishonesty after incurring a shortage of
P4,586,839.35 in her accounts, consisting of unliquidated cash
advances and checks issued without disbursement vouchers and
supporting documents. Investigation revealed that Muncada would alter
the name of the real payees and replace it with her own for
presentment to the banks, and would alter them again for the purpose
of reporting the checks as disbursements.
Viojan, on the other
hand, was dismissed for Gross Neglect of Duty and Simple Misconduct
after she signed twenty of the said checks amounting to P1,371,852.75
even if these were not duly supported by necessary documents.
Moreover, she was found to have received payment for a check worth
P94,967.50, although the same was not issued in her name.
Muksan, an employee of
the DPWH-Central Office but was assigned as Depot-in-Charge of the
President’s Bridge Program Depot in Palo, Leyte, was dismissed for
Dishonesty in connection with the alleged stealing of 176
government-owned steel bars worth P440,000.
Investigation revealed
that Muksan hired two laborers to haul and deliver the said steel bars
to the junkyard of one Bienvenido Sta. Iglesia in Ormoc City, to be
sold as scrap materials, without authority of the DPWH.
ODO Casimiro
ordered the DPWH Secretary to immediately implement the said dismissal
orders and to submit a compliance report therewith.
PGMA grateful storm Pablo did not cause
damage in Eastern Visayas
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
October 2, 2008
TACLOBAN CITY,
Leyte – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo heaved a sigh of
relief and gratitude to the Lord upon learning that tropical storm
Pablo did not cause damage to Samar Island where it had a land fall at
5:00 o’clock in the afternoon of Tuesday.
