PNP Talakayan Sa Isyung Pulis (TSIP) tapes 4th episode in Samar PPO

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
August 25, 2007

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar  –  The Philippine National Police (PNP) TV  Program Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis (TSIP) Eastern Visayas taped its 4th monthly episode Thursday at the Samar Police Provincial office.

The monthly TV show showcases the PNP’s accomplishments and questions posed by the media are tackled.

PSupt. Cesar Darantinao and PO1 Sheryl Sumalbag played hosts to the show.

Police Community Relations (PCR) Chief Darantiano said that they have started producing the TV show four months ago and plans to change locations by rounding up all provincial police stations throughout the region.

The first three episodes were taped at the Police Regional Office while the third one was done at the Leyte Provincial Office.

After Samar, the PNP contingent wish to feature Biliran as their next target site.

In that particular episode, Catbalogan City Police Chief PSupt. Ramil Ramirez, shone brightly. Most questions were directed to him from illegal fishing, depleted police force, prostitution and cybersex. The questions he answered in straightforwardly.

Some 12 media personnel from Catbalogan City, Calbayog City and Tacloban City took turns in asking issues about police matters.

Meanwhile, Samar PPO Provincial Director PSSupt. Asdali Idja Abah talked about his glowing accomplishments like being instrumental in making juvenile gangsters surrender to authorities and were morally and spiritually transformed said Darantinao.

Ramirez and Abah were joined by SPO4 Roland Diaz (who represented Calbayog City Officer-in-Charge Aniceto B. Tecbobolan) who reported that they have trained the Barangay Tanods as a force multiplier.

The PNP acknowledged that the ideal ratio of the PNP personnel and population had not really been met and that the local PNP force is left on its own to strategize and innovate to be able to deliver the best police service they could.

Diaz added that they have also conducted five Student Fora on Laws on Women, Children and Trafficking in Persons for additional information and education.

The visitors from the region also announced that recruitment on the 3rd quarter for some 250 new PNP will be done. Applicants are advised to see their nearest PNP Headquarters for details.

Samar professor won President Ramon Magsaysay national award

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
August 23, 2007

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar  –  The Region 8 and Samar province’ bet for the President Ramon Magsaysay Outstanding Filipino Worker Dr. Lolito Amparado bested other contenders in the national quest for a Filipino worker who started with tech-voc and has achieved success in his present career.

Ms. Cleta Omega, Samar TESDA Provincial Director broke the news Wednesday morning while the awarding ceremony in Manila was still going on.

TESDA said that the award is a concrete recognition by the government of the important role played by Filipino workers who are honest, hardworking, persevering, highly skilled and successful.

The national awardee, Dr. Amparado, is currently teaching at the Samar State University (SSU) College of Fisheries at the Mercedes Campus this city.

Just last week, Amparado received news that he won the regional award. In a PIA interview last week, Amparado, although happy and elated with the regional award then, said he did not expect to win the regional search, much more the national quest since there would be many contenders.

The nomination by TESDA-Samar proved to be the best decision as Amparado emerged as the Best in Eastern Visayas and now the national winner.

The award, named after then President Ramon Magsaysay who was considered a true blue-collar worker is given to Filipinos workers who are highly successful in their respective fields, toward achieving the country's economic goals in support of national development.

Amparado, who will turn 50 this October is presently in Manila to receive his award and could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, TESDA said that they will prepare a jovial homecoming and motorcade for the national awardee.

Amparado is married to Herminia Amparado, the Provincial Red Tide analyst.  Even two of their three children have developed a leaning to fisheries as his eldest child is pursuing a course in Marine Biology while their youngest child plans to go into the same field.

Amparado has always taken pride in his humble beginnings as a tech-voc graduate who pursued higher education up to his doctorate degree.

The whole of Samar especially TESDA is excited for Amparado’s return next week and TESDA together with its newest national awardee would drumbeat the theme this year “TESDA sa ika 13, kasanayan mo, higit pang isusulong ko!  [read related article]

Visayas State University searches for new president

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
August 22, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  The Visayas State University is searching for its new president, Hon. Nona Ricafort, CHED Commissioner for the Visayas, announced.

The applicant to the position of university president is preferably at least thirty five years old but not more than sixty years old on the deadline for submission of application for the position.

He or she must be a Filipino citizen to include any person who have become a naturalized citizen of another country but has been able to acquire dual-citizenship.

The applicant must be a holder of an earned Doctorate degree and must have a proven track record as top administrator in academic field such as President, Vice President and Campus Director, whether public or private tertiary educational institution, for the period of three years. These must be supported by documents.

The applicant must also possess leadership in school administration and managerial skills within the purview of the needs, goals and objectives of the University.

He or she must be of good moral character and must not have been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude or of any administrative charge.

Qualified applicant must submit documentary requirements like a formal application letter addressed to Hon. Nona Ricafort; curriculum vitae with authenticated supporting documents; neuron-psychiatric examination result accomplished by a government physician; clearance certificates from the Ombudsman or Sandiganbayan, Civil Service Commission and National Bureau of Investigation; accomplished CSC Form 212 under oath and Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of year 2006.

Interested applicants must send the documentary requirements in seven sets on or before September 15, 2007 to the Chair of the Search Committee, Visayas State University at VISCA, Baybay City or to Hon. Nona S. Ricafort at the office of the Commission on Higher Education, San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig City.

1995 DWU graduating students may now be accepted, CHED says

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
August 21, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  The Commission on Higher Education in the Region headed by Director Ma. Rita Ortiz, has allowed two private schools in the Region to accept the Divine Word University students who were unable to finish their collegiate program of study due to the closure of the Divine Word University in 1995.

Director Ortiz said she has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Asian Development Foundation College Chief Executive Officer Dr. Edward Y. Chua and the Saint Paul’s Business School President Absalon Apostol, who both agreed to give special consideration to the DWU graduating students and honor them as graduates when they enroll and finish their courses at the ADFC and SPBS where they will be given Special Orders and Diplomas.

It would be recalled that when the Divine Word University closed in 1995, some of the students failed to graduate due to lack of units/subjects and have failed to finish their courses up to the present. Also, because of the closure, the Divine Word University could no longer give permits to study, to the said students.

The former DWU will release transfer credentials to the said graduating students and the ADFC and the SPBS will accept them and will no longer require them to undergo the school program, residency or any requirement pertinent to a transferee.

Director Ortiz, however, reminded the said graduating student that the special consideration is valid only for the period of two years, from June 2006 to June 2008, without any extension.

The Divine Word University or DWU was a private, Catholic, co-educational institution of higher learning run by the Society of the Divine Word or SVD in Tacloban City, Leyte, Philippines.

Founded in 1927, it was closed in June 1995 by the school administrators after a court ruling favoring its labor union.

DWU was the biggest and best Catholic institution of higher learning in Leyte and Samar (Region VIII). At its peak, it had around 14,000 students, and a faculty complement of about 400 of the best teachers in Region VIII. It offered courses in around twenty different fields including Law and Medicine, and pioneered in indigenous research in the Region. It produced Board topnotchers year after year, and was considered a very good cost-effective alternative to more expensive private schools in Cebu and Manila for the students of Leyte and Samar.

DWU has produced around 60,000 graduates, and was a major player in the educational, religious and economic picture of Region VIII. Its closure caused severe dislocation in these areas.

TESDA Samar distributes 158 PGMA TW Scholarship certificates

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
August 20, 2007

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar  –  Some 158 college freshmen from Samar College enrolled in Bachelor of Science in Information Systems (BSIS) with an embedded course in PC operation were given PGMA Training for Work Scholarship certificates.

The PGMA TW P5,000 worth of scholarship certificate were distributed in a simple ceremony at the Samar College Gymnasium on Friday.

Dean of Information Technology Education (ITE) Ms. Arlene Cebu and Marvin Piczon, Dean Students Services and Development assisted Mr. Ben Mar of TESDA Samar OIC in the distribution.

The PGMA TW Scholarship is a financial assistance to deserving students enrolled at a TESDA CHED approved ladderized college degree program.

This is aimed to prime the students to technical-vocational qualification empowerment.

Students coming from the different municipalities in Samar like Pinabacdao, Sto. Niño, Zumarraga, Daram, Paranas, Calbiga, Hinabangan and Catbalogan City among others gladly received the certificates.

Brylle Elizalde, a first year college student from San Jose de Buan was thankful for the P5,000 coupon, he said he pays around P7,000 per semester and that the P5,000 deduction was what he considers a big deal. His father works as a utility worker at his LGU.

Franshel Roncales on the other hand, hails from Dolores, Eastern Samar but enrolled in Samar College. She was also given the Scholarship Certificate. She said she enrolled in a Computer course because she wants to gain expertise in PC operation and go abroad. She has nine brothers and sisters and wish to send them all to school like her.

TESDA said that even those who have graduated but are still jobless or those out of school are welcome to visit their office and check if there is a scholarship available. If they are qualified, they avail of the PGMA TW Scholarship program, gain the required skills and competencies for a job.

August 20 is special non-working holiday, August 27 is regular holiday

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
August 20, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  For two consecutive Mondays, workers in government will have no work, in order to give the public a chance to have a longer week end.

First, August 20 has been proclaimed as special non-working holiday in lieu of August 21 which is Ninoy Aquino Day. This is after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law RA No. 9492, an Act Rationalizing the Celebration of National Holidays Amending for the Purpose Section 26, Chapter7, Book 1 of EO 292, as amended, otherwise known as the Administrative Code of 1987.

The following Monday, August 27 will be a regular holiday throughout the country in celebration of the National Heroes Day.

Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office 8 Director Forter Puguon called the attention of the Region’s employers on the rules for special and regular holidays for purposes of paying the wages to their employees on said dates.

For August 20 which is a special non-working holiday, if it is an employee’s regular workday, if the employee did not report for work, he will receive no pay, unless there is a favorable company policy, practice or collective bargaining agreement granting payment of wages on special days even if unworked.

If the employee worked, the first 8 hours will be multiplied by 130% of the regular daily rate. The hours in excess of 8 will be computed by the hourly rate for the first 8 hours for that day, plus 30%.

If it is the employee’s rest day so the employee did not work, the no work no pay policy will be considered. If the employee worked, the first 8 hours will be multiplied by 150% of the regular daily rate. The hours in excess of 8 will be computed by the hourly rate for the first 8 hours for that day plus 30%.

For August 27 which is a regular holiday, if it is the employee’s regular working day and he did not report for work, his compensation will be the regular daily rate.

If it is the employee’s regular working day and he worked, the first 8 hours will be compensated by adding 100% to his daily rate or a total of 200%. For the hours, in excess of the first 8 hours, the hourly rate for the first 8 hours plus 30 % of the hourly rate for the day will be his compensation.

If August 27 is an employee’s rest day, if unworked, the employee will receive his regular daily rate. If he worked, the first 8 hours will be computed 260% of the regular rate. The hours in excess of the first 8 will be computed by the hourly rate of the first 8 hours plus 30% of his hourly rate for that day.

Mr. Virgilio Doroja, Jr., Labor Information designate of DOLE 8 said that the DOLE Regional Office will be happy to answer questions regarding the computation of wages on those mentioned two days.

Comelec Manila orders opening of ballot boxes from Calbayog

By GINA SUELLO-SORILO
August 17, 2007

CALBAYOG CITY, Samar  –  The Commission on Elections Second Division started to open Monday (August 13) the contested ballot boxes which were transferred from Calbayog to Manila last August 2.

The transfer of 490 ballot boxes representing votes from 157 barangays of the city was the Comelec’s response to the protest filed by mayoral candidate ex-congressman Rodolfo Tuazon against incumbent mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento according to the city Comelec Officer Salvador Cruz.

Cruz said that Tuazon protested against the alleged election fraud in the last May 14 local elections.

The Comelec order under Election Protest Case (EPC) No. 2007-32 directs the five Revision Committees which constitutes the Commission’s Second Division to “commence the revision of ballot boxes on August 13 from 8am to 6pm Mondays through Saturdays and shall continue everyday thereafter until terminated.”

The order also notifies the parties that “ballot boxes which are to be revised on each day of revision will be transported from the Maxilite Building, the Comelec’s warehouse in Paco, Manila to the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila and to be returned thereafter at the end of the day to the Maxilite Building.”

Maxilite Building in Paco, Manila is the Comelec warehouse where the ballot boxes are stored with watchers from both parties aside from the security personnel posted.

“Magkukulang kita sin ballot boxes nga gagamiton sa tiarabot nga barangay election pero tungod harayo pa man, kaya iton ayuson san aton commission,” Cruz told reporters during the inventory in Calbayog last August 1.

SSU prof garners Regional Award for President Ramon Magsaysay Outstanding Filipino Worker, gets nominated to the national search

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
August 17, 2007

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar  –  A professor from the Samar State University (SSU) Dr. Lolito Amparado has been chosen as the regional awardee for President Magsaysay Outstanding Filipino Worker- Wage Employed Category.

This was disclosed by TESDA’s Provincial Director Cleta Omega.

TESDA said that the award is a concrete recognition by the government of the important role played by Filipino workers who are honest, hardworking, persevering, highly skilled and successful.

It added that the awardee should have invested an unwavering commitment toward achieving the country’s economic goals in support of national development.

He must also be a post secondary technical vocational graduate whose consequent immediate employment is in line with his tech-voc education/ training.

As TESDA-Samar knew by heart someone to have the qualifications, it immediately nominated Amparado

It would have been their best decision as Amparado emerged as the Best in Region 8 - Eastern Visayas.

Amparado, who will turn to be a golden boy come October, 2007 is an unassuming man who has been in the government for 29 years. He said that he was surprised when Madame Omega called her by phone.

“I did not expect it, but feels elated,” said the professor who has rose from the ranks. He said he earned a diploma in fishery, took up a Bachelors Degree in fisheries and earned a masteral and a doctoral degree while teaching in the same school where he graduated.

He said, however that it was in UP where he earned his masters degree.

Presently, Dr. Amparado teaches at SSU College of Fisheries Campus Barangay Mercedes, Catbalogan City and has been the acting Associate Dean. He also manages a CHED funded king crab production in Barangay Pupua still in this city.

Amparado is married to Herminia Amparado whose job is also close to his heart. She is the Provincial Red Tide analyst. Why? Even two of their three children have developed a leaning to their “fishery’ love affair. Their eldest has pursued a course in Marine Biology while their youngest child plans to go into the same field.

Come August 21, Dr. Amparado will be flying to Manila to receive his regional award and who knows he might just win the most coveted President Ramon Magsaysay Outstanding Filipino Worker Award.

TESDA is pinning its hope on this hardworking professional with several degrees yet one who has humbly started in tech-voc.

Amparado’s life, glowing achievements and awards will be TESDA’s testimony that tech-voc education truly pays.

South Leyte solon heads lower house’s committee on public works

By BONG PEDALINO (PIA Southern Leyte)
August 16, 2007

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte  –  The lawmaker from the lone congressional district of Southern Leyte, Rep. Roger Mercado, has been named chairman of the powerful Public Works Committee in the House of Representatives.

This was learned from Cong. Mercado himself last week in a casual chat on the sidelines of his visit to the Visayas State University (VSU), formerly ViSCA, some 90 kilometers going north from this city.

As the man in-charge of the public works in the lower house legislature, Mercado said one of his primary concerns was to try to decongest the busy streets of Metro Manila.

“I will look into the possibility of implementing the decongestion of Metro Manila.  What we mean there is to develop the road networks in the provinces,” Cong. Mercado said.

He added:  “We will develop national highways, and I will look into those that are not yet developed, those that had been started but not finished, and the reason for delays.”

He gave as specific example the national highway from Allen to Catbalogan, on “what’s the reason why they could not do it as fast as they could, and help them so this road can be passable and could be used already.”

“I want to help region 8, this is also one of the reasons why I seek the chairmanship because region 8 is still one of the depressed regions of the country,” he further said.

Part of his task was to see to it that the infrastructure program of President Arroyo as outlined in the super-regions project can be materialized.

The Public Works Committee also has an oversight function on the performance of a government agency, in this case the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and this posed a great responsibility on the committee.