Volunteerism, perfect gift for Christmas
by: Hannah Reoma
CEBU CITY, Dec. 11 [PIA) -- What is the best way to celebrate Christmas?
For some people like Ency Encinares, a volunteer deaf mute teacher, and Venerva Amil, a teacher for the Bajau community in Barangay Alaska Mambaling, Cebu City , volunteering for a cause is the best gift this yuletide season.
They both define volunteerism as serving without expecting something in return, as long as the person is happy with what he or she is doing.
They also associate volunteerism as saying the truth, letting the people know that one is sincere with his/ her voluntary service.
Encinares and Amil were guests during the December 3 episode of “Pagtuki” a weekly radio program of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. airing every Saturday, 9-10a.m, at DYLA on the topic “The State of Cebuano Volunteerism.”
"When I was still in college, I belonged to an organization that is into helping the community. I have had worries, such as failing my subjects since I gave so much of my time as a volunteer. But at the end of the day, I find fulfillment in what I was doing,” Encinares explained.
He added that he would have had a hard time learning the sign language if he was not dedicated and passionate about it.
For Amil, she has seen the need for the Bajau community to focus on education, especially learning the Cebuano language.
“I decided to share my knowledge with them despite the challenges of being a volunteer teacher such as getting the cooperation of the Bajau community. I know majority of my students want to learn. I want to impart to them that education is very relevant in our lives," Amil explained.
Apart from sharing their personal experiences on volunteerism, they also encouraged the public, particularly the youth to do voluntary work and contribute to community development. [PIA-7/mbcn & RAFI/hr)
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Cebu NGO bags 2 Quill Awards for environment protection programs
By: Minerva BC Newman
CEBU CITY, Dec. 11 [PIA) -- The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), a Cebu-based NGO won the “Quill Award of Merit for communication management: economic, social, and environmental development” for its Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines.
Another project the “Tree of the Month”, a series of environmental stories, that comes out in The Freeman newspaper twice a month, is a finalist under the writing category of the communication skills division of the Quill Awards.
RAFI’s Integrated Development executive director Rowena Alensonorin said the awards are indicators that RAFI has achieved that competitive advantage in terms of pushing its programs and advocacies forward through communication.
"They also serve as a challenge for RAFI to continuously raise the bars so that the Foundation will continue to be effective in delivering its brand promise and reach the highest mark of excellence,” Alensonorin added.
The Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines is the environmental initiative under the GREENIN Philippines (Generation REdemption andExpansion of Natural resources INitiatives in the Philippines ) Program of RAFI that engages the general public to participate in a simultaneous running and planting of native tree species throughout the province of Cebu.
Held on June 25, 2011, the event aimed to raise public awareness in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation among local government leaders and in forging local and national government commitment to action as well as encourage multiple partnerships in caring for the environment.
Some 55,372 participants from across Cebu Province who collectively planted 239,580 native tree seedlings in more than 115 hectares of land. These figures were beyond RAFI’s targets that were set at 20,000 participants with 100,000 native tree seedlings to be planted in 56 hectares of land.
Since this partnership endeavor started early this year, RAFI has been able to extend technical expertise on the proper planting and caring of native trees to more individuals and organizations.
Another RAFI program finalist was the "Tree of the Month" bi-monthly section that comes out in The Freeman newspaper twice a month. The section is replete with environmental stories that aim to educate the public on the various native trees species and encouraging their propagation.
“We at The Freeman are very proud to have such recognition coming from a prestigious award-giving body,” The Freeman news editor, Lucky Malicay said.
Malikay was referring to the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines that hands out the Philippine Quill Awards annually.
The communication excellence award program is organized and managed by seasoned communication professionals of IABC Philippines who are also multi-awarded internationally and nationally for their programs, skills, and creative work.
IABC-Philippines chairman Elpi Cuna Jr. said, the Philippine Quill Awards is a program geared towards excellence of business and organization that collectively lead to national development.
With communication as its main tool to help resolve the panacea of problems that the country and the rest of the world are currently up against.
Cuna continued that he is proud to say that this standard-setting event has once again proven fruitful in providing a bountiful harvest of innovation and effectiveness which we can use to address those issues.
IABC Philippines is the first chapter of IABC outside of the United States . It continues the tradition of excellence through its annual awards program of the Communication in Excellence (CEO) Excel Awards given to leaders whose outstanding and strategic use of communication helps them achieve business goals and the Philippines Quill Awards and its continuing learning programs for professionals and students.
RAFI President Roberto E. Aboitiz is among the awardees of the CEO Excel Awards 2011.
Top RAFI officials received the two awards during the 10th Philippine Quill Awards held on November 18 at Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila, Quezon City. They were joined by Lucky Malicay, news editor of The Freeman. [PIA-7/mbcn with reports from RAFI/Nancy R. Cudis)
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Engaging businesses for a sustainable Cebu
By: Hanna Reoma
CEBU CITY , Dec. 10 [PIA) -- A local legislator urged the private sector in Cebu City to follow the provisions of Ordinance 2243 passed on June 23, 2010 that requires all those operating business in the City to submit an Environmental Sustainability Action Plan (ESAP) upon securing or renewing business and/or Mayor’s Permit.
Cebu City councillor Nida Cabrera sees the need for Cebu City to prepare programs to heal the ailing earth by encouraging the business sector to create sustainable programs for the protection and preservation of the sources of life and reduction of global warming effects.
As chair of the committee on environment, she emphasized the need for the private sector to submit an ESAP as a way of helping ensure environmental sustainability and economic development.
Cabrera was one of the speakers during the “Understanding Choices Forum” organized by the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center (EADSC) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. in partnership with Kaabag sa Sugbo and the Cebu City Government recently.
The forum, entitled “Prosperity and Planet: Engaging Business as Stewards towards Sustainable Cebu”, presented a framework for sustainability and discussed the role of the business sector in ensuring sustainable development beyond boosting local economy.
It also served as a venue for discussion on the development and compliance of ESAP, which will be one of the requirements of business establishments in Cebu City by 2013 as stipulated in ordinance 2243.
Since the ordinance is designed to help the business sector boost the economy of Cebu City while ensuring environmental sustainability, ESAP focuses on land, air, water, and waste management; energy conservation, information and education campaign.
Cabrera pointed out the need for businesses to implement a waste management system that includes waste segregation, composting, recycling, plastic regulation, and reuse of recyclables, among others.
Cabrera enjoins the business community to put in projects that curb air pollution such as anti-smoking and anti-smoke belching and emission programs.
In water, they must establish water treatment facility and rainwater catchment. Business establishments must also have activities on urban river such as coastal clean-up, and other related projects that can help maintain cleanliness on water, Cabrera added.
Meanwhile, former Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival, a staunch environmentalist stressed the need to consider the environment in the business plans of the private sector.
Archival said “there is interconnectivity among us—people and the environment. We are dependent on the environment and the environment needs our care."
Allan Dinampo, vice-president of the Pollution Control Association of the Philippines-Central Visayas on the other hand remarked that the Cebu City government and the private sector must work together in the implementation of Ordinance 2243.
According to the president of the Cebu City Association of Barangay Councils [ABC) Michael Ralota, the barangays on their own have started to take actions like coming up with resolutions enjoining the public to use the "bayong" instead of plastic bags in buying goods.
"We want to help in developing a greener community for Cebu City . The barangays should also comply with the ordinance so that the rest of the communities will do the same,” Ralota said. (PIA-7/ Minerva BC Newman & RAFI/ Hannah Reoma)
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Pilar, Camotes makes it to the top 10 finalists in Global Solution Search
(Calls on public to vote on line for its entry--PMMP)
By: Minerva BC Newman
CEBU, Dec. 9 (PIA) – The Pilar Municipal Marine Park (PMMP) in Camotes Island, Cebu made it to the top 10 finalists in the Rare and National Geographic's search for community-based solutions for global environmental issues specifically innovations for near-shore fisheries based on proven successes.
According to a release from www.solutionsearch.org, more than 100 entries from 48 countries worldwide were submitted for the contest that included implementation of no-take zones; introduction of innovative fishing gear and the development of alternative livelihoods.
Rare president and CEO Brett Jenks in a release said, “For too long the conservation community has focused on problems, but there are a lot of working solutions in remote parts of the planet.”
“Local communities are the research and development labs of conservation. We have to find what’s working and make it available where it’s needed. We are excited for the public to be engaged in this process because, in the end, it’s their ocean,” Jenks went on.
A panel of seven judges has selected the 10 finalists, and starting November 16 to December 24, 2011, the public can vote for the solution that is most likely to turn the tide for coastal fisheries at www.solutionsearch.org.
The entry that receives the most votes will be declared the grand-prize winner and be awarded a U.S.$20,000 project grant and a video on National Geographic’s Ocean website.
Two runners-up will each receive a U.S.$5,000 project grant and the winners will be announced on Jan. 6, 2012.
Pilar, Camotes vice mayor, Eufracio Maratas, Jr. calls on Filipinos all over the world to vote for the Pilar Municipal Marine Park or PMMP the same way we did for the Puerto Princesa Underground River that made it to the New 7 Wonders of the World.
“By being part of this contest, we have a chance to win $20,000. Winners are decided by the most number of votes. We also have a great opportunity to get the word out about our work to leaders in the marine conservation field, investors, the media, potential partners, and other supporters,” Maratas said.
To vote, Maratas encourages the public to log at www.rareplanet.org; go to the ‘Solution Search’ tab near the top of the page and visit Pilar’s entry at http://www.rareplanet.org/en/solution-search-entry/multi-stakeholder-co-management-scheme-pilar-municipal-marine-park.
Maratas also asks the public to spread the word to your colleagues and friends through emails, blogs, or websites.(PIA-7/mbcn)
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Pantawid beneficiaries in Cebu City assess initial gains of 4Ps
By: Minerva BC Newman
CEBU CITY, Dec. 8 (PIA) – Over a thousand Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino beneficiaries of the 10 barangays in Cebu City reported a substantial increase in the awareness and behavioral changes towards education and health-related concerns over the past 3-year implementation of the program in the city.
This is based on their own assessment consultation conducted in November with the first ten barangays of Sawang Calero, Tejero, T.Padilla, Inawayan, Duljo Fatima, Sudlon I & II, Kalunasan, Tagbao and Mambaling.
DSWD-7 regional coordinator of the Pantawid Pamilya program, Aileen Lariba said initial gains include barangay Tejero’s noted less cases on Violence Against Women & Children (VAWC) by 80 percent.
Barangay Tejero used to have high cases of domestic violence before the entry of the Pantawid program according to the assessment report.
According to Lariba, with the program the beneficiaries were empowered to lobbying for the assistance of Cong. “Cutie” Del Mar and the local barangay through a resolution seeking to put up a gymnasium at the Tejero Elementary School benefiting all the children in the area.
Barangay T. Padilla on the other hand, recorded a 100 percent of the beneficiaries availing post-natal, immunization and de-worming programs of the government.
Barangays Kalunasan and Sawang Calero that used to be one of the malnourished barangays in Cebu City were dropped from the list and are now enjoying the benefits of good nutrition and health.
Barangay Inayawan beneficiaries meanwhile aggressively implement curfew and police the internet cafes in their community as their response to the call of anti-trafficking.
The Badjaos too in Barangay Mambaling have their own initial success to be proud of. They reached a 100 percent immunization of their children in 2011 from 60 percent in 2009.
Responsible parenthood can now be seen with the Badjaos as they availed of natural and artificial family planning methods with a zero record in 2009 to approximately 20 percent in 2011.
Lariba noted that for nomads like the Badjaos who have the tendency to transfer from one place to another, the onset of the program made them stay in Mambaling so their children can continually attend school as required by the program’s condition of 85% school attendance.
Illiterate parents too availed of DepEd’s Alternative Learning System Program, says Lariba.
DSWD-7 regional director Evelyn Macapobre in her message said in the dialect, “Bisan daghan ta ug makit-an nga problema nga naka latid sa news, ang inyong gipakita karon nga maayong balita sa inyong mga tagsa tagsa ka barangay ug panimalay nagpa-ila nga tinuod diay nga makatabok ta sa kalisod pinaagi sa edukasyon, maayong panglawas ug kadasig nga maningkamot.” (Even if we see problems and bad news in daily bulletins, the good news you have reported today from each of your barangay and household proved that we can indeed cross poverty through education, good health, your efforts and hard work.)
Macapobre continued, “Padayona kini nga mga maayong buhat ug ipakita nga sa pagpadung ninyo pag graduate sa Pantawid Pamilya mahimo kamong sumbanan sa mga bag-o nga benepisyaryo.” (Continue with your good works and as you go on towards graduating from the program, be an example and an inspiration to the new beneficiaries).
Macapobre also expressed pride on the beneficiaries’ accomplishments and thanked the partners-- DepEd, Health and the local government units in supporting the program.
She most especially mentioned the availability of the supply side such as additional health workers, teachers and the opening of twenty home-base daycare schools to accommodate the increasing number of enrolment of day care children.
Breaking generation poverty through social development is but one of the main objectives of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
One of its major strategies in achieving this goal is through the conduct of family development sessions at least once-a-month emphasizing on values and empowerment among families.
In the three years of Pantawid Pamilya implementation in Cebu City , those initial gains were seen especially in terms of education and health seeking behavior of the beneficiaries. (PIA-7/mbcn)