PRC pushes campaign on RA 10072 

By Rizalie A. Calibo 

Siquijor province, April 15 (PIA)—The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) – Siquijor Sub Chapter is pushing its campaign for RA 10072 or the correct usage of the Red Cross emblem. 

This was raised during the chapter board of directors' orientation last week at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Session Hall. 

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) National Officer of the PRC, Eunilo T. Lagasca who graced the event, said the Red Cross symbol could only be used by the medical services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross, the Red Crescent Societies and the PRC. 

He said that the PRC sign is used for the protection of its workers and volunteers, AFP medical personnel/units, vehicles and hospitals in times of war as well as to identify the PRC members’ belongings and PRC vehicles. 

Improper use of the PRC emblem can cause destruction to the whole security system in times of war, it is violence against the International Humanitarian Law, he warned. 

He also said that incorrect usage can lead to the loss of its significance to the public thus removes its protection in terms of war. 

Lagasca said that the symbols of Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal entail nothing about religion, principles or any political matters. It means protection in times of war. 

Violation of RA 10072 carries a penalty of P 50,000 and an imprisonment of not more than one year. 

He said that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) had already issued memorandum circulars to remind thelocal government units, hospitals, and security agency the proper usage of the PRC sign. 

He also said that an information drive is scheduled next month. (Rizalie A. Calibo/PIA-Siquijor from the reports of Inacher A. Abatayo) 

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2010 Annual survey of Philippine Business Industy, ICT on 

Siquijor province, April 15 (PIA)—The National Statistics Office (NSO) here announces that it is presently conducting the 2010 Annual Survey of Philippine Business Industry (ASPBI)/Survey on Information and Communication Technology (SICT) with 15 sample establishments in the province. 

Information Officer Rizalyn Teodora G. Postrado in her press release said, ASPBI/SICT is started following the completion of the three-day training of NSO Field personnel who undertake the survey. The training was conducted at NSO-Siquijor Provincial Office. 

Adopting the slogan, “Providing Statistics for Globally Competitive Economy,” the 2010 ASPBI covers sample establishments nationwide engaged in the following economic activities: Agriculture, forestry and Fishing; Mining and Quarrying; Manufacturing; Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply; Water Supply, Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation; Construction; Wholesale and Retail Trade, Repair of Motor Vehicles, motorcycles; Transportation and storage; Accommodation and food service, information and communication; financial and insurance activities; real estate activities; professional, scientific and technical services. 

Health and social work; public administration and defense; compulsory social security; education; human health and social work activities; arts, entertainment and recreation; other service activities; activities of private households as employers and undifferentiated goods and services producing activities of household for own use; activities of extra-territorial organization and bodies. 

The 15 sample establishments were selected mainly on the kind of industry or economic activity they are engaged in and on the number of employment they have, Postrado said. 

The survey is a continuing activity of NSO that aims to collect information on the structure and trends of economic activities in the entire country for the year 2010 particularly in performance, and provide indicators that are useful to institutions and entrepreneurs, she said. 

The sample establishments can access E-questionnaire, an electronic copy of the survey form from the NSO website:www.census.gov.ph/aspbi/eqst. 

For more details and statistical information, visit NSO Siquijor Provincial Office located at national highway, Poblacion, Siquijor, Siquijor. It can also be reached through telephone nos. 344-2002 and 480-9003 or its e-mail address: nsockjor@yahoo.com. (Rizalie A. Calibo/PIA-Siquijor with reports from NSO). 

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TESDA-Siquijor bares competency results: 

38/39 applicants in Siquijor pass 

By Rizalie A. Calibo 

Siquijor province, April 15 (PIA)—Thirty eight out of 39 applicants in Siquijor province get competent results in the first run of three batches of the National Competency Assessment and Certification (NATCAC) last March 28, 2011 to April 1, 2011. 

These was announced yesterday by Provincial Director Visitacion C. Millanes of the Technical Education and Skills development Authority (TESDA) here during the Small and Medium Development Council (SMEDC) Meeting at the Provincial Governor’s Office, Provincial Capitol, Siquijor, Siquijor. 

Visitacion said 39 applicants took the competency assessment in the following qualifications / trade areas: Food and Beverage Service NC II, 21 applicants, Housekeeping NC II, 12; Housekeeping NC III, 1; and Bread and Pastry Making NC II, 5.

Except for one in Housekeeping NC II, all the rest have passed and were issued National Certificates during the closing program graced by Congressman Orlando B. Fua, Sr. and Honorable Danilo Yano with Sangunniang Bayan Member and Community Training and Employment Coordinator (CTEC) of Lazi, Siquijor. 

Second and third batches will be conducted on June 27, 2011 to July 1, 2011 

and August 22-26, 2011 respectively. 

The said competency assessment is being offered nationwide for free. Industry workers are encouraged to take the NATCAC in order to be a certified worker, she said. 

For more information please visit the Provincial Office and its accredited assessment center at LNAS, Tigbawan, Lazi, Siquijor. # vcm4/12/11. (RAC/PIA-Siquijor) 

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Siquijor initiates enhancement skills training for Gulayan Implementers 

Siquijor Province, April 15 (PIA) --The Provincial Government of Siquijor through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) conducted an Enhancement Skills Training for the Gulayan sa Paaralan at Barangay - Optimizing Sustainable Food Upliftment Alternative (GPB-OSFUA) Project Implementers in support to the Government’s Pantawid Pamilya Program, says a report from the OPA here. 

OPA Farmcaster and Information Officer Engr. Jinky P. Wenceslao said the training was conducted in the six municipalities in Siquijor. The first was done at Lazi National Agricultural School (LNAS) Lazi, Siquijor; second, at Maria Central Elementary School (CES), Maria, Siquijor; next, at Siquijor CES, Siquijor, Siquijor; then at the Solangon CES, San Juan, Siquijor and lastly at the Larena Planning Center, Helen, Larena, Siquijor. 

A total of 241 participants from the six towns participated the training. 

The participants were composed of division and district supervisors, school administrators, teachers and nutrition coordinators, she said. 

The training aims to enhance the skills of the program implementers on the technologies essential in food productivity. It further aims to improve the schools’ food basket, and manifest the full support to the government’s campaign to address hunger and malnutrition among the poorest sectors in the communities. 

The program will hopefully ensure a year-round food supply to sustain the school’s nutrition program and showcase the value of maintaining vegetable garden in every household. 

Resource persons from the OPA were Lowel Salve, Avelina Pis-an, Novelyn Omandam and Jinky Wenceslao. 

Topics discussed were Proper Soil Sampling; Farm planning; Nurserying; Care & Management of Vegetables; demonstration on vermi-composting; & a monthly report forms discussion to account all the vegetable production in schools that joined the GPB-OSFUA project. 

The participants expressed their profound appreciation to the Provincial Government of Siquijor for the continuous support to this project. 

The OPA, Engr. Wenceslao said is hopeful to have a progressive yield this year with the knowledge acquired by the participants. (Rizalie A. Calibo/PIA-Siquijor, from the report of Engr. Jinky P. Wenceslao)