Category: General

MANILA: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Thursday underscored the importance of social work in promoting social justice, human rights and sustainable development.

This as the DSWD joined the World Social Work Day celebration, done annually every 3rd Tuesday of March.

This year’s event, held March 19, has the theme: ‘Buen Vivir: Shared Future for Transformative Change.’

World Social Work Day honors the hard work and dedication of social workers to bring transformative change to communities through the principle of ‘Buen Vivir,’ which means ‘living well’ or ‘life in harmony.’

‘Social work is a practice-based profession, whose core mandate or core intention is to effect social change, social development, social transformation, and changes favorable to the society, the individuals, the families, and the nation,’ DSWD Undersecretary for National Household Targeting System and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Vilma Cabrera said in a news release.

The DSWD and the ASEAN Social
Work Consortium-Philippines held a forum to promote the development of the social work profession at the DSWD Central Office Auditorium in Quezon City.

Cabrera said promoting the celebration contributes to the initiatives of the roadmap in the implementation of the Hanoi Declaration on Social Work that aims to strengthen the social work and social service workforce towards ‘the effective, responsive and sustainable delivery of inclusive and quality social service’ in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region.

‘By commemorating the World Social Work Day, stakeholders can leverage the momentum generated by this global event to highlight the role of social work in addressing regional challenges and provide a platform to showcase successful social work interventions and initiatives that have made a positive impact,’ Cabrera said.

Undersecretary for Standards and Capacity Building Group (SCBG) Denise Bragas enjoined the participants to continue to ‘cooperate, coordinate, and collaborate’ in addressing t
he contemporary challenges and bring into fruition the aspirations of social work in the global setting.

The resource persons included DSWD Assistant Secretary for SCBG Janet Armas; Ateneo de Davao University Social Work Department chairperson Dr. Epifania Melba Manapol; Association of Local Social Welfare and Development officer Jocelyn Arzaga; and Ateneo de Davao University social work student Jhunhalyne Villarta.

Also gracing the event were ASEAN Social Work Consortium-Philippines chairperson Glady Bunao; Department of Health League of Medical Social Workers president Evelyn Muniz; National Association of Social Work Education, Inc. president Khalachuchi Flores-Caballes; Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. official representative Rosauro Luntayao; and, Philippine Association of Court Social Workers, Inc. representative Precious Loida Ladaga.

Source: Philippines News Agency

BUTUAN CITY: To enhance the livelihood of local fishermen through increased production, the provincial government of Dinagat Islands has earmarked a supplemental budget of PHP7 million for the full implementation of Republic Act (RA) 11736.

RA 11736, signed and approved by then-president Rodrigo R. Duterte on April 27, 2022, mandated the establishment of a multi-species marine hatchery in the town of Basilisa in Dinagat.

“I want the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), together with our technical people here at the agriculture office in Dinagat, to continue to identify other areas that are good spots for more hatchery projects for the benefit of our fishermen,” Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. said in a message to the Philippine News Agency on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Demerey met with the technical team from BFAR 13 (Caraga Region), led by Rizalinda Abing, for updates on the continuing completion of the project.

“Harnessing the potential of aquaculture in Dinagat through the hatchery and other projec
ts will diversify the species of marine life that can be sustainably cultivated in the province, help open new avenues for income generation for the fishermen, and ensure food security,” he said.

Aside from finding a perfect spot for hatchery, Demerey said, the research study should continue to find areas suited for deep-sea fishing for the fishermen in Dinagat.

The initial funding of the project, amounting to PHP18 million, was released by the BFAR to the local government unit of Basilisa on July 7, 2023, for the construction of the required building.

Demerey said the supplemental budget allocated by the provincial government would ensure the project’s full completion.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The proposed New Government Procurement Reform Law may be ready for signing by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in May.

Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. said he met with Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday to discuss the proposed new procurement law.

‘Pinag-usapan po namin ni Senate President Migz na maipapasa by May. At siguro po, before SONA (the President’s State of the Nation Address in July), okay na po ‘yung ating (bagong) Procurement Law, (I discussed with Senate President Migz that it will be passed by May. And hopefully, before the President’s SONA in July, we already have a New Procurement Law)’ Gonzales said in a press conference at the House of Representatives on Thursday.

The proposed New Government Procurement Act, principally authored by Speaker Martin Romualdez and Gonzales, is one of the priority measures included in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

The House passed House Bill 9648 (HB) on Dec. 12
last year. The Senate opened second-reading deliberations on its version on Monday.

Gonzales noted that the enactment process for the proposed new law could be shortened further if the Senate would just adopt HB 9648, which seeks to repeal and replace Republic Act (RA) 9184, the present procurement statute.

‘So, ang gusto ko po sana kung pupuwede, kaming dalawa ni (Budget) Secretary Mena (Amenah Pangandaman) at ni Speaker, gusto namin talaga mapabilis itong (My point is if it’s possible. I and Budget Secretary Pangandaman, and Speaker Romualdez want to hasten the passage of the) Procurement Act,’ he said.

He said in the case of the judiciary, the Supreme Court has ‘pipeline projects all over the country,’ like more courtrooms, but cannot be immediately bid out because RA 9184 has to be amended first.

Among the salient features of the new law is the reduction of the procurement process from 120 days to just 27 days, ‘starting from the advertisement up to the notice of award, notice to proceed, and signing
of contract and (with) one publication only.’

The measure aims to adopt a ‘single electronic portal’ known as the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) for all procurement activities — from planning to implementation.

Another salient feature of the proposed new procurement law is the removal of the requirement for the post-qualification of bidders.

On Tuesday, Pangandaman said passing the New Procurement Act would be a ‘significant step’ in promoting transparency and good governance and, at the same time, help government agencies utilize their budget efficiently.

‘This is a significant step that will promote transparency, efficiency, and good governance, aligning with President Bongbong Marcos’ vision of Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines),’ Pangandaman said in a statement.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The implementation of the Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay (RPSB) program could greatly help win the trust and bring the government closer to the people, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos said.

Abalos made the remark as he visited Barangay Putatan in Muntinlupa City on Wednesday to check on the progress of the implementation of the RPSB, which he described as a good concept because “it humanizes the police.’

Introduced in 2011 and expanded in 2019, the RPSB embodies the PNP’s commitment to community-oriented policing as law enforcers work to ensure safety and security in the barangays where they are assigned.

“Aside from maintaining law and order, community cops also perform other tasks, such as assisting in live birth registrations, and facilitating free theoretical driving course,” Abalos said, as quoted in a news release on Thursday.

These police officers, he said, also provide home medical assistance and conduct lectures in schools about the DILG’s Buh
ay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (Protect Life, Avoid Drugs) program, and other services.

Abalos pointed out that under the RPSB, police personnel are immersed in the community so they would be able to learn firsthand from the residents their primary concerns and help them find solutions to their problems.

The mission of the RPSB team encompasses several key objectives, including sustaining progress achieved by government initiatives delivered to the barangays, preventing any potential resurgence of criminal and terrorist groups, and safeguarding the unaffected neighboring communities.

Abalos was joined by Muntinlupa City Mayor Rozzano Rufino Biazon, PNP Directorate for Police Community Relations Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo, and DILG Undersecretary Odilon Pasaraba during the visit.

Biazon, meanwhile, thanked Abalos for his visit as he urged his constituents to support the RPSB, which is aligned with the Kapayapaan (Peace) and Kaayusan (Order) components of the 7K agenda of the city government.

Source: Philippi
nes News Agency

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA: The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has stepped up its campaign on Exit Drill in the Home (EDITH) during its two-day open house for learners, aiming to raise awareness of appropriate responses amid the increasing fire incidents due to drought.

BFP San Jose de Buenavista Fire Marshal Chief Inspector Vic Matta said in an interview Thursday that they focused their March 19-20 open house on the EDITH campaign for learners from six primary schools.

“It is important that learners know what to do in case there is a fire incident, considering that our fire calls have increased this year,’ he said.

Matta said from Jan. 1 until March 19, they received 39 fire calls, mostly rubbish and grassfires.

For 2023, they registered 16 fire calls composed of residential and grass fires.

‘The fire easily spreads, that is why we are also urging the public to observe fire safety,’ he said.

The participants familiarized themselves with the essential firefighting tools, fire trucks, ropes, and rescue tech
niques.

The BFP advised parents to have their home exit plans by identifying exit doors where their children could go out in case of a fire incident.

Kezia Rose del Rosario, a primary school adviser of the Rosario Javier Moscoso Memorial School, said the fire drill provided her class with first-hand experience in fire safety.

Shara Claire Isidro, a parent, said she is glad her child joined the activity, an opportunity to gain new knowledge.

“This activity can truly help children learn about fire prevention, and they will surely share this knowledge with their peers,” she remarked.

Source: Philippines News Agency

ILOILO CITY: This city’s disaster risk reduction and management council will declare a pertussis outbreak in the districts of Molo and Jaro in Iloilo City before the month ends.

At least 10 cases of respiratory illness were reported as of March 16, according to the City Health Office (CHO).

Five of them were confirmed cases of pertussis, two were negative and three have pending polymerase chain reaction test results.

The age ranges from zero to 12 years, but the most affected age group is from zero to four months.

‘In Molo, we have three cases, and in Jaro, we have two cases. It is not citywide but localized. Why outbreak? Because of the 400 percent increase in cases. We only had one last year,’ CHO Medical Officer IV Roland Jay Fortuna said in a media conference Thursday.

CHO data showed that of the confirmed cases, four have incomplete vaccination and one has complete primary vaccination.

With the declaration of the outbreak, Fortuna said all members of the health and sanitation cluster would be on bo
ard in responding to the situation.

At the same time, they would tap barangay officials to help locate children with missed vaccinations and spread awareness on preventing the spread of pertussis.

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a contagious disease.

Infants and children with no vaccines or incomplete vaccines are at high risk of getting infected once exposed to individuals with influenza-like symptoms.

Fortuna added they have talked with the city social welfare and development office that manages daycare centers not to allow children with symptoms.

They also need to report to the CHO for tracking and appropriate intervention.

‘Currently, we have a massive information drive, and we vaccinate those who are still qualified to get vaccinated,’ Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said in an interview Thursday.

Source: Philippines News Agency