Statistics Changing Lives: DENR Joins the 22nd NSM Celebration

By Jong Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY NEWS - “Quality Social Protection Statistics for Focused Targeting: Improving Outcome, Changing Lives”, this year’s national theme for the 22^nd celebration of National Statistics Month (NSM) that was started on October 1 to 31, 2011.

The activities were started last September 29, 2011 by the hanging and displaying of streamers from the different national and local government agencies here, the new Administrative Region in western Mindanao, Pagadian City.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – IX, Zamboanga Peninsula headed by its Regional Executive Director (RED) Arleigh J. Adorable joins the observance through the conduct of and participation in various statistical activities.

As early as September 29, 2011, a streamer was prepared and conspicuously displayed at the Office of the RED Compound, DENR, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur signaling the start of the celebration.

On October 3, 2011 at 8:00 AM, a fitting program was held at the DENR Regional Office which was attended by its officials and employees.

Planning and Management Division Chief Edgardo Montojo in his opening message illustrated how Statistics work in our everyday conversation or thinking. He said that in making predictions, Statistics uses the companion subject of Probability, which models chance mathematically and enables calculation of chance in complicated cases. He mentioned Statistics as a discipline which is concerned with designing experiments and other data collection; transform data into information; summarizing information to aid understanding; drawing conclusions from data; and estimating the present or predicting the future.

Today, Statistics has become an important tool in the work of many academic disciplines such as medicine, psychology, education, sociology, engineering & physics, just to name a few. Statistics is also important in many aspects of society such as business, industry and government. Because of the increasing use of Statistics in so many areas of our lives, it has become very desirable to understand and practice statistical thinking. This is important even if you do not use statistical methods directly, Montojo disclosed.

In a press statement by Hernanita A. Ascura said that the kick-off program of the NSM  was also highlighted with an Information, Education and Communication (IEC) presentation entitled Climate Change: Coping with the Changes at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) Main Campus, Zamboanga City last October 3 which was attended by National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Arthur Valerio, Dept. of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Director Teodoro Romo, National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) Regional Chair Mewchun Pamaran, representatives from other government agencies and ADZU students, among others.

Upholding one of the thrusts/programs of ENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje in personnel development, the focal person on Statistics of Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENROs) and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs) in DENR-IX are encouraged by RED Adorable to participate in a live-out training on Basic Statistics Course on October 24-28, 2011 at the ADZU Main Campus in Zamboanga City. 

This training will be conducted by the Regional Statistical Coordination Committee (RSCC) Region IX in coordination with the Statistical Research and Training Center (SRTC), National Statistical Coordination Board R-IX, ADZU and the Philippine Statistical Association (PSA) - Zamboanga City Chapter.

The National Statistics Month (NSM) was first observed in 1990 pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 647 signed by then President Corazon C. Aquino on September 20, 1990, declaring the month of October of every year as the NSM.

The NSM celebration aims to promote, enhance and instill awareness and appreciation of the importance and value of Statistics to the different sectors of society; and to elicit the cooperation and support of the general public in upgrading the quality and standards in the country.

PMD Chief Edgardo Montojo (from left) during the kick-off program of the 22^nd National Statistics Month Celebration before the DENR-IX Official and Employees (right) at the Regional Office. (Photo by Rommel B. Pacardo)

National Chalk Day: A Call for Change

By John Ryan C. Dela Cruz

September 16, 2011 was declared as National Chalk Day by The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT). The move was materialized not to literally suspend classes but to show to the government that the chalk allowance given to teachers is too far fromenough.

Teachers throughout the country received P700 as their chalk allowance or P3.50 per day which is not sufficient to cover all the teaching supplies needed by teachers to deliver effectively the lessons for 203 days in a year. For this, teachers are asking the government for an increase, that is from P700 to P2,000.

Teachers have been engaged in a long battle fighting for an increase of their salary which until now seems to be floating in the wilderness, for no government official is brave enough champion the cause all teachers are fighting for.

On the other hand, the standardization law of salary somehow helps teachers’ finances but still it is not enough considering that prices of prime commodities are soaring high and that cost living in our country also increases.

Furthermore, big percentage of teacher’s salary goes to transportation fees and procurement of school materials. I guess these reasons are vital for consideration so that the salary for teachers be increased.

The fight for salary increase has been a battle cry of teachers for years. Now, another crusade is started. It was mentioned by the ACT that the condition of the teachers on the more remote areas of the country is a lot worse than that on the city based public school teachers because they do not receive any chalk allowance at all.

So where do you think these teachers on the far-flung areas are getting their chalk? It is

said that the chalk came from their own pockets or from contributions of the parents. Just imagine that.

The Department of Education is sympathetic on this matter. DepED Secretary, Bro. Armin Luistro said that the increase on chalk allowance would only be possible if the budget allocated for 2012 also be increased. Since, the budget hearing is still subject for approval, teachers have still little hope for the increase. Let’s cross our fingers to that.

It is a fact that teachers are the molders of tomorrow’s leaders but with this poor plight teachers are experiencing now, what do you expect would happen next? Do you think that they can perform their assigned task having many thought of their credit deadlines? To our government officials, we beg you, hear the cry of our teachers.

PRESS RELEASE

GSIS expands partnership with LBP to cover active members

By Ana Marie O. Macuja

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) announced that beginning August this year, its more than 1.4 million members may already choose to have their loan proceeds and other benefits credited to a UMID (Unified Multi-Purpose Identification) eCard issued by the Land Bank of the Philippines.

By choosing LANDBANK as servicing bank, GSIS members would be able to benefit from LANDBANK’S wide network covering 327 branches and more than 900 ATMs nationwide.

With a LANDBANK-issued UMID eCard, members can withdraw their loan proceeds and other benefits in any Expressnet, Bancnet or Megalink ATM nationwide.

LANDBANK-issued UMID eCards also serve as a debit card in more than 20,000 accredited merchants nationwide and as a discount card for GSIS corporate partners such as Pfizer and STI.

The card is free with no maintaining balance required for members transferring to LANDBANK.

To recall, the GSIS renewed its partnership with LANDBANK in December last year, to give its more than 300,000 pensioners the choice to receive their monthly pension and other benefits through a LANDBANK ATM or thru their eCard.

“This renewed partnership with LANDBANK makes it easier for our members and pensioners, especially in the provinces to access their benefits and other loans,” said Robert Vergara, GSIS President and General Manager.

For her part, LANDBANK President and CEO Gilda Pico said,  “As a partner of the GSIS in delivering improved service to its members especially in the rural areas, we share the commitment of the new GSIS leadership to provide excellent service for its stakeholders.”

To transfer to LANDBANK, members can visit the GSIS website  www.gsis.gov.ph, log on to the eCard member transaction page and click the CHOOSE LANDBANK AS YOUR SERVICING BANK icon.

They can also email their name, date of birth, and UMID Common Reference Number (CRN) to eservices@gsis.gov.ph, or visit the nearest GSIS Field Office.(AMOM/GSIS/PIA9/ALT-Zambo Sur)

Army promotes peace in Mindanao; pacifies feuding families

By Arthur L. Eamiguel

PAGADIAN CITY – In an effort to establish peace and unity among warring Muslim families, the 51st (FUERTE-UNO) battalion in coordination with Philippine National Police members of Malabang, Lanao del Sur on Saturday has pacified a days long “rido” or family feud between warring clans in said municipality.

The warring families identified as Halil-Albana, both from Balindong’s clan.

As the fighting intensified at 9am, the Bravo Company under 1st Lt. Ronald E. Dacawi and 1st Lt. Julius S Yasay, conducted clearing operations at Brgy. BPS together with PNP personnel under P/Insp Benjie A. Umalla of Malabang Police Station.

51IB commanding officer Lt. Col. Ceasar Marlon M. Yadao said the military employed two Simba Fighting Vehicles that fired volleys of warning shots which effectively broke the armed confrontation and forced the belligerents to flee leaving behind several war materials on the encounter site.

Yadao said the “rido” or family feud was fueled on August 25 in a separate shooting incident at Brgy. Jas which claimed the life of Jamil “Mel mel” Datumanong, a relative of Halil Balindong family.

Incidentally, the belligerent party accused of perpetrating the crime belongs to the Albana Balindong family, also a relative. This flared the successive armed confrontations between the Halil-Albana group on the afternoon of Aug. 25 and Aug. 27 at Brgy. BPS, the bulwark of Albana, he added.

The armed confrontations, Yadao said has caused panic particularly on civilian commuters taking the Cotabato-Malabang-Marawi route and nearby residents, according to 1st Lt. Emil Charlie B. Jaudian, CMO Officer of 51st IB.

“We initiated talks for a peaceful settlement with representatives of the warring groups to settle their conflict on Aug. 27”. This meeting transpired in the presence of Hon. Mamintal “Bombil” A. Adiong, Provincial Governor of Lanao del Sur, together with the LGUs of the 2nd Discitrict in Lanao del Sur and Col. Ricardo R. Visaya, Commander of 104th Infantry Brigade”, Yadao said.

“The members of AFP can help solve your differences through peaceful negotiations and should not be solved under the barrel of a gun. We are here to protect you preserve a peaceful environment”, Yadao explained to the civilians after the AFP-PNP intercession.

Meanwhile, 1st Infantry (TABAK) Division commander Maj. Gen. Noel A. Coballes expressed the need for collaboration with Maranao cultural and religious leaders to help solve this prevalent and endemic “Rido” violence which affect the peace and order situation in some parts of Mindanao. (JPA/AFP/GCC/PIA9-Pagadian City)

Zambosur PNP director welcomes PNP’s procurement of latest technologies

PAGADIAN CITY – The Philippine National Police’s (PNPs) procurement of latest technology is a welcome move and a key in both preventing and solving crimes.

This was the reaction of Zamboanga del Sur PNP provincial director P/Sr. Supt. Jose Bayani L. Gucela on the statement of Director Arturo Cacdac Jr., chief of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management during the weekly program “Talking Points” of PIA, PCOO and Radyo ng Bayan where he was the guest.

Cacdac said the PNP have the latest technology to aid them in their investigation of crime and forensics. The said technology includes DNA, Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS).

Cacdac said they could easily find out the identity of a body through the DNA, identify a suspect’s identity through his fingerprint using the AFIS and identify the type of firearm used through the bullet using the IBIS.

With the latest technologies we have , Gucela said “it will enable our PNP to be competitive with other law enforcement agencies in Asia.”

Gucela said these technologies are very much needed by the law enforcement agencies in the investigation process especially on DNA testing, fingerprint and ballistic identifications. “This is timely for our institution to acquire these kind of technologies,” Gucela said.

Gucela said the AFIS can be big help in the investigation process in finding the culprits but it has to have a requirement like gathering a data for comparison and for the computer to compare the finger print data.

“Since this is more on forensic investigation, I hope that these technologies will not only be confined in the PNP headquarters but these will be distributed to the different crime laboratories in the provincial stations to ensure speedy investigation on crimes,” Gucela concluded.

In a related development , Cacdac said that new members of the police force are now trained on how to investigate and handle criminal cases by the members of the PNP Crime Laboratory.

Cacdac said the training includes medico-legal exam basic course and basic fire arms course. “74.7% of current investigators have no formal training in handling criminal cases however, all of them will have undergone formal training by the end of 2012,” Cacdac assured. (GC-PIA)