by anyajulia | Oct 28, 2008 | Headlines, National News
EKSKLUSIBO nga pautang nga may gamay lang nga interes ngadto sa Overseas Foreign Workers nga gumawasay apan nag-sagubang sa taas nga gastohan alangs a placement fees.
Kini maoy gipalabang human sa ikatulo nga pagbasa sa Ubos Balay Balaoranan ning bag-o lamang.
Aang House Bill 161 gilantaw nga makatabang ug dako sa mga OFWs kinsa gitawag nag mga bag-ong bayani.
Ubos sa balaodnon, ang usa ka OFW mga may valido nga kontrata segun sa napamatud-an sa Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) makahuwam ug P50,000 gikan sa Overseas Worker and Welfare Administration (OWWA) agi ug tabang sa banay sa OFW sa unang mga buwan nga sila dili una makapadala sa kwarta sa gibiyaang banay.
Ang pahuwam, iagi sa bangko ug bayran sa 12 ka binuwan nga data-data ug kini napailawom sa loan redemption insurance sa Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). (PIA/rachiu)
by anyajulia | Oct 27, 2008 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
The Department of Science and Technology(DOST) held their 4th Visayas Science and Technology Fair in Island City Mall in October 22-26, 2008 with its theme, “Making Science Work for You”. The DOST Secretary, Dr. Estrella F. Alabastro, graced the opening ceremony in the ICM Activity Center.
Different agencies and regional clusters of DOST from different parts of the country comprised the said event. There were the Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI), Science and Education Institute (SEI), Philipine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) among others. The ASTI is the center that initiated the Bayanihan Linux OS under the Open Source Group. Bayanihan Linux version 5.0 is soon to be available and it shall have two editions: one is catered for government and private offices while another is for educational institutions.
by anyajulia | Oct 27, 2008 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
THE ball now is in the hands of the city legislators who could be instrumental in the final resolution of the nagging city drainage problem, Governor Erico Aumentado reported Friday in his weekly program.
In the latest coordination meeting held early this week, City Mayor Dan Lim and Governor Aumentado finally agree that the public works department’s to turn over of the facility to the city would be a key to the solution of the problem.
Mayor Lim has stood his ground in his previous position asking for the immediate turn-over of the facility so the city can have the jurisdiction over it.
The facility turn-over is also hoped to finally end the buck-passing by local officials and authorities over who has got the responsibility on the constant flooding at the low-lying portions of the CPG North Avenue.
The environment department has plugged the exit canals of the drainage when it learned that the storm drains is also used as sewerage outlet by some city establishments.
The buck-passing started when the environment department’s local office wanted the public works to unplug the connections allowed by the contractor’s consultants. The consultants on the other hand reasoned out that they just adhered to the request of their clients.
Local district engineers said they have no hand in the project because it’s implemented in the national level. They also reasoned that the local government has the responsibility to un-tap.
Over the imbroglio, residents affected by the floodings have asked for fast resolution on the issue.
With the recent development, according to the governor, DPWH undersecretary Manuel Bonoan agrees to the request of the facility turn over to the city government with some conditions.
DPWH however wants that the city would also officially request the transfer of responsibilities, including the operation and maintenance of the facility.
The governor bared that Capitol has written to the city legislative council and the city Mayor about the need to come up with a formal resolution to this effect.
Over the developments too, the Bohol head sees a silver lining behind the problem as 28 of the more than 30 establishments named with illegal connections have asked for technical help in disconnecting their taps.
At this, the DPWH has sought to maximize road maintenance funds by ensuring the setting up of more drainage facilities.
DPWH Sec. Hermogenes Ebdane has ordered men in the field to ensure that foreign-assisted projects prioritize the construction of drainage facilities including line canals and cross drains along national roads all over the country.
Ebdane has identified the absence of drainage facilities as a primary cause of fast road deterioration due to water seepage and flood waters.
Line canals and cross drains allow rain water along the national roads to freely flow towards natural waterways such as creeks or rivers.
Ebdane said the drainage will not only prevent flooding but would also prolong lifespan of roads that will redound to saving funds by decreasing maintenance work.
The public works secretary also ordered all district engineers to go on site and strictly monitor the construction of the drainage facilities, as well as to ensure that all national roads along congested metropolis are kept passable at all times. (rachiu/PIA)
by anyajulia | Oct 27, 2008 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
EAGERLY awaiting deliberations of the recently wrapped-up Pamilihang Panlalawigan search by the evaluation team, Catigbian residents hope to finally bag the “best market award” this year.
Mayor Roberto Salinas however stressed that it is the unrelenting effort to dispense better service to the people that should an, but winning the provincial feat may come as a huge bonus.
Ranked only second to modern public market in Ubay in 2006, Catigbian pulled one ace off its sleeves when it edged the provincial winner in the regional competitions of that same year.
Bagging the region’s 3rd best market after Bayawan City in Negros and Pardo in Cebu, Catigbian now hopes their public market can finally be recognized as Bohol’s best, a huge feat for a public market that was constructed a few years after the war.
The provincial plum is a version of the Pambansang Pamilihan Search conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Bohol this year.
It is set to motivate public and private run markets to comply with trade rules including price tags, weights and measurements regulations and safety and quality standards, said DTI’s Concordia Erano, in a phone interview recently.
This year, the Bohol search only includes 11 markets, DTI sources said.
Evaluated together with Catigbian in this year’s search for Bohol’s best public markets were Jagna, Guindulman, Ubay, Talibon, Carmen, Inabanga, Tubigon, Loon, Antequera and Tagbilaran City, Erano enumerated.
In Catigbian, market Administrator and assistant municipal treasurer Cresilda Rulida said the town has not ceased innovating its public market since they earned the regional award in 2006.
The administration under Mayor Roberto Salinas has put in the market a better drainage system and revamped the market’s drainage culverts to assure the efficient and unimpeded flow of liquid wastes, further eliminating foul odor, Rulida shared.
The market gathered as much asP1.7M in revenues in 2006 and P1.4 M in 2007, despite the fact that the town livestock income was separately computed in 2007 following its independent operations, municipal records revealed.
In 2007, the town livestock center also netted about P.5M, Information officer Ardissa Estavilla said. (PIA/rachiu)
by anyajulia | Oct 27, 2008 | Headlines, National News
FINALLY going back to the basics, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through Secretary Lito Atienza is into re-thinking the bamboo as a miracle solution to environmental degradation, climate change and lack of crafts material.
Also called the miracle grass, the bamboo has been a major indigenous construction material and is now a favorite native accent in home interiors, not to mention its countless use in handicrafts.
Now seeing the potential of the grass and its market viability, the environment agency asks for more research on other possible uses of bamboo to help expand market potential of this plant.
“Let’s really study bamboo — it’s among the strongest and most resilient plants on earth,” Atienza said during the opening of the three-day National Bamboo Development Forum which Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and its partners are holding at the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) in Pasay City.
LLDA aims to generate from the forum-updated data on worldwide bamboo resources, industries and markets to get inputs for a national development program for this grass.
Atienza noted bamboo’s characteristics make it an ideal material for construction and watershed rehabilitation including addressing soil erosion.
Bamboo is also eaten as food, made into furniture and handicraft while its extract might be used to cure cough, he continued.
“In China, I even saw clothes made from bamboo,” he recalled.
Atienza also believes the country must hike research on bamboo as this grass thrives nationwide.
“The Philippines is among the few countries where bamboo is adapted to,” he noted.
To help promote studies on bamboo, Atienza said DENR can extend technical assistance to researchers.
“Bamboo can be among major solutions to today’s problems like climate change and environmental degradation,” he said. (PNA/PIA)
