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2 NPA child warriors rescued

Victims’ kin mull boycott of Melo Commission

Bells of Balangiga Resolution filed in U.S. Congress

Southern Leyte province to establish blood bank

Alleged NPA liquidation list sows fear among those included

LCDE brings relief aid to fire victims

Biggest fire to hit Tacloban City razes five urban poor communities

Samar’s No. 1 Most Wanted fell

Army officer says San Jorge mayor is misinformed

802nd IB commander determined to destroy the remnants of NPA in Leyte island

 

Evardone: Managing population is not abortion

By ALICE E. NICART (PIA Eastern Samar)
October 12, 2006


Governor Evardone

BORONGAN, Eastern Samar  – Population management does not mean abortion, so said Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone in his keynote address recently during the launching of Local Legislators League on Population, Health Environment and Development (3LPHED) at the provincial capitol.

Evardone who himself believes in a small family size, as still far better than a large one because parents can readily meet the education, health and other basic needs of their children. Thus he stressed, that there is a need for couples to understand the implications of very close spacing of child birth against those which are spaced by at least three years.

In Finland where the Governor went with President Gloria Arroyo recently, he observed that the huge land area of the country have only about five million people; many couples have only one child and their unemployment rate at 15% is very much higher than the Philippines’ 11%. But it does not mean that there are less employment opportunities in Finland, Evardone reported; it is because many refuse to work because they are subsidized by the government. Apparently, the country must be capable to provide not only the basic needs of their people. The Governor even mentioned of Mercedez Benz and Volvos plying the routes of Finland as taxi cabs.

Back to his homeland, Evadone added in his speech that while he believes in small family size, he, just like the Population Management Program of the Government, is also  pro-life. He therefore urged the Sangguniang Bayan members present to place on top priority the reproductive health mothers and the health needs of the children in their area. With the projects of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) now being piloted in the municipalities of Llorente, Maydolong and Sulat, Evardone is hopeful maternal and child deaths rate of the province pegged at 22 and 12 respectively per 1,000 births will be reduced or better yet eliminated. Putting health in the LGU is the essence of devolution he quipped. As envisioned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the realization of the Medium Term Development Goals (MDG) rests upon the local legislators, the young governor further stressed.

In his presentation, Mr. Renato Llorin, Program Manager of one UNFPA project, mentioned that the Arroyo Administration (2004-2010) aims to reduce population growth rate from 2.36% to 1.9%. This is not however absolutely compelling couples to adapt the modern family planning methods as misinterpreted by some sectors, but rather couples are made aware on the four pillars of population management: 1) Responsible Parenthood 2) Respect for Life 3) Birth Spacing 4) Informed Choice. Thus, it follows that couples are free to choose an option whatever is comfortable to them, the officer said.

However, Llorin added, that a study revealed that, some couples tend to produce more children than what they plan to raised which they attribute to either lack of adequate information or the lack of health services in Rural Health Units. This problem will only be addressed by the local policy makers of the province and municipalities Llorin opined because they are actually the most knowledgeable persons who can muster local development strategies.

The UNFPA team was in town recently to advocate with the local policy-makers for policy solutions and support as they play a critical role in population management. If the current growth rate of 2.36% is not addressed, experts estimate that by 2020 an increase of 37.1M is likely to happen, Llorin disclosed. This would mean, bigger population, bigger problems in health, education, employment and environment Llorin concluded.

Nonetheless as for the ULAP Spokesperson, abortion is illegal, and in whichever form, or kind, he said, it is against the will of God.

 

 

 

 

CSC, DBM push for passage of wage bill for government employees

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
October 12, 2006


DBM secretary Rolando Andaya stresses a point during the briefing on the operations of the PX Commissary attended by government employees and LGUs at Kanhuraw Convention Center, Oct. 11. Looking are LTO regional director Rene Aguilos, RD Imelda Laceras (DBM) and Tacloban city mayor Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez.  (Vino R. Cuayzon)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  – Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. of the Department of Budget and Management revealed that the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Budget and Management are pushing for the passage of a new wage bill for government employees.

The Civil Service Commission and the Department of Budget and Management, Secretary Andaya said, is set to introduce and lead efforts to drumbeat support for the passage of the proposed Wage Bill, which designs a compensation and benefits program for all state workers.

Secretary Andaya who was in Tacloban yesterday, made the revelation during the Press Conference conducted by PIA for the launching of the PX Commissary in Region 8.

He said that he is hoping that the new wage bill will be passed this year and that it will be effective starting next year and fully implemented after four years or in 2010. With the passage of the Wage Bill comes the standardization of salaries in the government agencies. From the salary grades which total to thirty three (33), there will only be twenty two (22) salary grades, Secretary Andaya said.

It could be recalled that the government employees have not been given an increase in their compensation for the past several years. They have only been given non-wage benefits like the PX Commissary where government employees will be able to avail of basic commodities at a cheaper price.

The last financial incentive is the granting of P3,000.00 additional allowance for the government employees.

Secretary Andaya’s revelation comes as good news for the workers in government. Some government employees expressed optimism that this will be passed in Congress.

Others opined that the government employees all over the country must lobby with their respective congressmen so that they will vote favorably for the passage of the administration bill.

 

 

 

 

DTI-Samar gives away 20 PCs to Calbayog City public high schools

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
October 11, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar   – DTI Samar distributed some 20 personal computer (PC) units to Mag-ubay High School and Calbayog City High School on October 6, 2006 as part of the Personal Computers for Public High schools Project (PCPS) Phase III.

The simple ceremony was attended by Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento and Congressman Reynaldo Uy along with DTI Provincial Director Ruth Thelma Samonte.

Speaking before a gathering of students and teachers, Sarmiento said that the installation of the PCs is relevant because he is trying to promote Calbayog City as the next ICT hub. He added that some investors have expressed willingness to invest in his city for the technology.

Sarmiento added that the modern times require computer literacy, saying that even buying in drugstores and grocery stores involved computers.

Congressman Reynaldo Uy likewise extolled the merits of computer literacy and urged students to take advantage of the high-tech facilities offered for free.

Samonte told PIA that 37 high schools all over Samar Division have been installed with a total of 500 PCs mentioning Calbayog City, Jiabong and Hinabangan as recipients among others.

This Saturday, October 14, 2006, another ten (10) PCs will be installed at the Clarencio Calagos Memorial School of Fisheries in Calbayog City.

To promote mastery of PC manipulation, another computer training will be held for teachers of the schools that received the PCs.

DTI said that Phase II of the PCPS project distributed PCs to some LGUs in Samar while Phase I was concentrated on distributing PCs to public schools.

The project was initiated by then DTI Secretary Mar Roxas and since proven effective, incumbent Secretary Peter Favila chose to perpetuate.

 

 

 

 

Political motive behind Bishop Ramento slay strong

KARAPATAN skeptical on PNP investigation

Press Release
By KARAPATAN
October 11, 2006

MANILA, Philippines  –  The human rights watchdog KARAPATAN echoed the skepticism of the family and colleagues of murdered Bishop Alberto Ramento over result of police investigation on the case. The Philippine National Police hastily concluded that the killing of Bishop Ramento on October 3, 2006 was a simple case of robbery with homicide even before a thorough investigation had begun.

"We are of the view that the PNP hastily dismissed the slaying of Bishop Ramento as robbery with homicide to downplay strong suspicions that the killing of the bishop was one of the hundreds of politically-motivated killings," said KARAPATAN Deputy Secretary General Jigs Clamor, who joined the fact-finding team on October 4.

Clamor said, "With the unending spate of political killings in the country under the Arroyo government's Oplan Bantay Laya, the murder of Ramento cannot be simply dismissed as a common crime."
KARAPATAN recorded 762 victims of extrajudicial killings, all of them non-combatants, 328 of them were political activists.

There are glaring indications that Bishop Ramento's murder was thoroughly planned and politically motivated. KARAPATAN believes that the brutal killing was a consequence of his principled engagement with the people and their struggle for social justice.

Clamor said, "The brutal manner of killing of a frail and defenseless old man demonstrated a serious intent to kill rather than to steal. There was no valuable item lost except his ring."

"Based on our fact-finding team's initial investigation, there was no DVD player taken on October 3. The DVD player was stolen from his quarters on September 23, 2006," Clamor added.

It is public knowledge that the late Bishop was receiving numerous death threats. He even reported these threats in a recent forum held at the University of the Philippines on September 18, 2006.

On September 29, 2006, three days before he was killed, he already expressed alarm over the intensity of the threats that he seriously considered drawing up a security plan for the San Sebastian Church with the assistance of his son. It was even suggested that his car be darkly tinted to discourage possible perpetrators.

"The police refused to look into these circumstantial evidences, that's why the result of their investigation is dubious," Clamor said.

KARAPATAN said that the case is far from solved with the arrest of suspects. "The PNP will also have to prove that the suspects, beyond reasonable doubt, are indeed the perpetrators of the gruesome murder before the police can boast that the case is closed,"

Bishop Ramento is the first personality of national prominence to be killed and the 23rd among church people who were victims of extrajudicial execution under the watch of the Arroyo administration.

 

 

 

 

NPA massacres a family in Matuguinao town

By Maj. FELIX M. MANGYAO, (INF) PA
October 8, 2006

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan, Samar  – A gruesome and violent atrocity was perpetrated by the Communist Terrorist New People’s Army in Samar Province when they massacred a family in a remote barangay of Mahanod, Matuguinao town yesterday October 7, 2006 at 6:00 in the morning.

A band of Communist Terrorist (New People’s Army) led by communist terrorist leader Artemio De La Cruz alias Ato massacred the family of Julie De La Cruz and wounded the rest of her family members. The CTs mercilessly fired their high-powered firearms and hit Julie in the different parts of her body causing her instantaneous death. The wounded were identified as Domingo, Juvic, Johnny and Mylene, all surnamed De La Cruz, who were rushed to Catbalogan Provincial Hospital for medical treatment.

According to sources, the CTs were irked by the family De La Cruz for not heading to their demands of extortion and other illegal activities. Likewise, they deliberately opposed the CTs recruitment of their family to be members of the underground movement.

Major General Rodrigo F. Maclang, Commanding General of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army condemns the CTs atrocities in strongest possible terms. He said that, “the tragedy is a vivid example of how gruesome and ruthless the communist terrorists. They harm defenseless civilians to sow terror in order to pursue their anti-people and anti-development objectives. I call and appeal to the civilian populace to cooperate with the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines by giving testimonies and other valuable information to facilitate the resolution of the case. Likewise, I encouraged the people to provide timely intelligence information in order to prevent the CTs from conducting similar inhuman acts and atrocities in the future”, Maclang added.

 

 

 

 

PDC commends, adopts Alocilja Southern Leyteña

By BONG PEDALINO (PIA Southern Leyte)
October 8, 2006

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte  – A unanimous mass motion by the members of the Provincial Development Council (PDC) in its regular, monthly meeting at the RK Kangleon Function House, this city, October 4, summed up the mood of gratefulness everybody has as a fitting tribute towards Schools Division Superintendent Violeta Alocilja.

In two successive resolutions raised one after the other, the PDC commended Alocilja and the rest of her teaching staff and administrators down the line for a job well done, for giving honors to the province by reaching academic excellence as shown by the latest results of the national achievement tests (NAT).

Another resolution, moved by Provincial Administrator Genis Murallos, came as a natural, inevitable consequence for such kind of success: a measure to have Alocilja as an adopted Southern Leyteña.

Earlier, the comely Alocilja made a presentation on the data from the national office of the Department of Education showing ten elementary schools in various barangays and towns of the province sweeping the top ten spots, in numerical order, out of the 35,000 plus public elementary schools in the country for the grade six NAT results.

For first year high school, eight public high schools landed in the top 30 nationwide listing, and the topmost three all came from Southern Leyte.

The result for fourth year high schools also showed Southern Leyte Division on the number one slot, it was learned.

“There are still pockets of achievements on specific subjects, and we are still waiting for the list from the Central Office. But all schools in Southern Leyte are above par,” Alocilja said during the presentation, although she did not elaborate.

She likewise expressed her deep thanks to the local government officials, the DepEd family, and all other stakeholders in the academic sector, particularly the parents and students for their heartfelt support to the innovative approaches in learning she undertook in the province as a matter of policy.

It was learned that schools conduct extended classes every Saturday as part of their discipline and tedious preparations for the nationwide examinations, and this has been taken as a policy being implemented provincewide.

But in spite of all the accolades and honors thrown her way, Alocilja humbly concluded it all by saying “To God be the glory.”

 

 

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