CV Regional Consultation of PYDP held today
By: Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, Aug 1 (PIA) --- The National Youth Commission (NYC) in Central Visayas conducted the Regional Consultation of the Philippine Youth Development Plan today at NEDA-7 Conference Hall, Lahug, Cebu City.
NYC has formally started the process of formulating the Philippine Youth Development Plan (PYDP) 2011-2016 as a companion document of the recently approved Philippine Development Plan (PDP), 2011-2016.
This activity will be participated by representatives from Regional Line Agencies, Youth Serving NGOs, Local Government Units (LGUs), SK officials and representatives from the different youth sectors (In-school Youth, Out of School Youth, and Specific Youth Groups).
The formulation of the PYDP shall apply an inclusive process and identify a) key issues facing the youth, b) opportunities, enabling conditions and proposed strategies and policies which government, other duty bearers and other stakeholders should further create and provide, and c) the appropriate role and activities which the youth should perform in the economy, society and local community and their families.
The nationwide consultation is co-sponsored by UNICEF Philippines and National Youth Commission.(PIA-7/mbcn/hfg)
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PPP benefits barangay Alambijud in Argao
By: Rosanna Gay Visitacion
CEBU CITY, August 2 (PIA) --- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) with the partnership of Julie’s Franchise Corporation (JFC), the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) of the University of San Carlos, the local government unit of Barangay Alambijud and the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of Alambijud Elementary School went into action to pursue public-private partnerships thru the implementation of the Community-Based School Development Project in the Barangay.
The project aims to empower local communities as key partners in addressing their felt needs and development, particularly in the basic education sector.
On July 16, 2011, officials and employees of Julie’s Franchise Corporation (JFC) distributed school supplies, shirts, lunch boxes and snacks to the 276 school children of Alambijud Elementary School as part of its community development support program.
About 80% of these school children come from very poor farming families who are beneficiaries of the agrarian reform program.
JFC, with the Society of the Divine Word of the University of San Carlos through Fr. Ulrich Schlecht were one of the first private entities that enthusiastically responded to the need to help the basic education sector in the mountain areas in partnership with the Department of Agrarian Reform in Cebu through the efforts of Maria Lourdes Mariano.
JFC also funded the P 650T water project for Alambijud Elementary School which aims primarily to provide water supply for the school.
Since the school has no water supply, students normally spend the first hours of the class days fetching water from the nearest spring which is about an hour walk from and back to the school.
The water project will also benefit the surrounding farming households.
The SVD of the University of San Carlos through Fr. Schlecht on the other hand, assisted in the capacity development of the teachers and the community and in provided school supplies to the students at half the market price.
Proceeds of the school supplies was matched by the barangay or LGU, the resulting total amount will be used to help in the improvement of the school facilities. (PIA-7/mbcn/hfg & DAR-PARO7/rgv )
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Tax collections from self-employed professionals a challenge to the BIR
By Fayette C. Riñen
‘PIA Kapihan to tackle BIR tax collection measures’
CEBU CITY, August 2 (PIA) -- Measures to address correct payments of income taxes from self-employed professionals is a challenge to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to increase tax collections, a directive made clear by Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III.
In his 2nd State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) last week, Pres. Aquino cited the BIR which reported that there are 1.7M self-employed professionals in the country such as doctors, lawyers and businessmen that paid only P9.8B in income taxes last year.
“This means that each of them paid only an average of 5,783 pesos in income tax—and if this is true, then they each must have earned only 8,500 pesos a month, which is below the minimum wage. I find this hard to believe,” the President bared.
The President said that not only in the bureaucracy does exist the ‘wang-wang’ attitude but also extends in the private sector as he called on all Filipinos to pay the proper taxes.
One of the mandates of the BIR on the other hand, is to run after tax evaders as the President is firm in his stance against graft and corruption.
To address the challenge of the BIR, top officials of the agency based in Cebu will be the featured guests in the weekly Kapihan sa PIA set tomorrow morning as it tackled the topic ‘Measures to Increase Tax Collections and Going After Tax Cheats.’
The forum to be attended by tri-media will also serve as a venue to highlight the agency’s accomplishments for the first semester this year. (PIA 7-Cebu)
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Cebu LGUs adopt measures to fight cyber sex crimes
by Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, August 2 (PIA) -- As the controversy on cyber sex crimes rage on in Cebu, the Cebu City Government through the Cebu City Anti-Indecency Board (CAIB) is now looking into internet cafes especially those with enclosed cubicles to ensure no lewd acts are being done.
Cebu City Police Director S/Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe said internet cafes are frequented by children and indecent acts might be happening right in front of them without them clearly knowing that such action is illegal.
“I call out to parents to always keep tabs on their children because there might be bad elements out there that are luring their children with money to perform lewd acts in front of the camera,” Buenafe advised.
Buenafe said the Cebu City Police Coordinating Advisory Council (PCAC) is proposing some measures to control cyber sex crimes in internet cafes including the plan to require internet establishments to put up or change cubicles to transparent partition.
Although the police admitted difficulty in dealing with cyber sex crimes, described as an emerging crime, as most of these are now done in private houses which needs a search warrant before police can raid the residence.
Buenafe appealed to the public to help fight against cyber sex crimes by being observant of the presence of young children and women frequenting a certain house.
In Mandaue City, the city government is forming a team composed of members of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) and the local Department of Social Welfare and Development to monitor establishments particularly internet cafes.
“We are also monitoring residences on internet operations and conducting pulong-pulong in barangays to increase public awareness on the issue,” according to P/Supt. James Gofforth of the MCPO.
Lapulapu City Police Director S/Supt. Anthony Obenza on the other hand, said they are also holding a series of information and education campaign against cyber sex crimes.
“We just completed a forum on cyber sex crimes in three barangays where reports circulate that wives are being pushed by their own husbands to perform lewd acts in front of the camera to earn money,” Obenza bared.
Obenza said Lapulapu City Mayor Paz Radaza wants the police to strengthen monitoring on residences that operate cyber sex dens. (PIA 7-Cebu)