DENR-7 conducts public bidding for political boundary survey
CEBU CITY, April 3 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) in Central Visayas is set to conduct a public bidding for the P4.995-million political boundary survey which is a component of a cadastral survey project in Central Visayas on May 2012.
In a press release, DENR-7 reported that the project covers 161 barangays in six municipalities such as Argao and Minglanilla with 45 and 19 barangays, respectively; Dauin with 23 barangays, and Zamboanguita with 10 barangays, all in Negros Oriental.
Siquijor province will have 64 barangays covered with Siquijor town and Maria with 42 and 22 barangays respectively.
“A political boundary survey is a survey showing the terrestrial extent or limit of a unit of government such as barangay, municipality or province,” said DENR-7 regional executive director Maximo Dichoso.
To ensure transparency, competitiveness and accountability in the procurement process and project implementation, the Regional Bids and Awarding Committee (RBAC) conducted a pre-bidding conference and opening of bids on March 30 with the presence of local government officials of Dauin, Negros Oriental, and Garcia-Hernandez, Bohol and a representative of Geodetic Engineers of the Philippines (GEP).
Three surveying services participated in the bidding, namely, Francinilla Surveying and Engineering Inc., Deo Surveying, and Gurrea Surveying Services.
The bidding was documented with the use of audio and video camera with other stakeholders who sat as observers in compliance to government procurement reform act or Republic Act No. 9184.
“DENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje has given the DENR a marching order to hasten and complete the cadastral survey in support of the government’s various projects such as land titling, land use planning, taxation and internal revenue allotment (IRA) program for the different municipalities nationwide,” Dichoso added.
Cadastral survey is made of extensive areas covering an entire municipality or city consisting of several or many parcels of land undertaken for the purpose of land registration.
By completing a political boundary survey, Dichoso said that possible conflict of boundaries between and among barangays and municipalities will be minimized and or settled as the survey results will provide the correct information or details on the demarcation of each barangay. (MBCN/HFG-PIA7)
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Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries help one another in times of adversity
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, April 3 (PIA) -- Ubay Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries turned-over cash donation of almost P30,000 to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Bohol recently as financial assistance to the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in Negros Oriental who were affected by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake.
Upon watching the scenes unfold on television, Joel Otero of Barangay San Pascual, Ubay Bohol was deeply touched to help those beneficiaries affected in Negros Oriental who are poor yet working to cross the poverty threshold.
Otero explained, “the Negrenses Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries were their model, as they are soon to graduate from the program in 2014."
Stories of starting small scale business through SEA-K, initiating community clean-ups and other good practices was how they see Set 1 beneficiaries of Negros Oriental, but on February 6, it created a whole different story.
“Mapasalamaton mi sa programa apan sa among natan-aw sa among kaubang benepisyaryo sa Negros, mapasalamaton mi nga kami buhi ug padayon sa pagpanday sa mga oportunidad sa paglabang aning kalisod” (We are thankful to the program but seeing our fellow beneficiaries in Negros, we are more thankful that we are alive and continuously building that bridge that would cross us over poverty), Otero added.
The beneficiaries from Ubay, Bohol started dropping P5 in a plastic bag passed around to help their fellow beneficiaries in Negros Oriental as their way of saying “All is not lost.”
“P5 gamay ra kung usa apan kung kami tanan magkahiusa ug hatag, kabalo mi nga dako na siyang alibyo sa kalisod nga gibati sa usa ka inahan or pamilya. Wala gyuy ga duha-duha ug tunol sa kantidad nga P5 (P5 is a small amount but if all of us are united in giving, we know it would go a long way in alleviating a mother or a family’s need. Nobody had second thoughts in giving P5)," he said.
During the pay-out of cash grants for Ubay, Bohol, everyone gave P5, some even added used clothing for children of affected families.
Almost P30,000 was pooled that day but it is not so much the amount that mattered but rather the hope that each P5 brings from one beneficiary to another .
In a letter attached by the Ubay beneficiaries they quoted 2 Corinthians 9:7-8, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (mbcn/hfg-PIA 7/ DSWD 7)
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LTFRB 7 grants special permits to bus firms to accommodate influx of passengers
CEBU CITY, April 3 (PIA) -- To cope with the rising demand for more trips from passengers wanting to go home for the Holy Week break, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 has given 119 special permits to bus companies.
LTFRB 7 Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon said the special permits are given to bus companies to operate even outside their franchise areas to accommodate the influx of passengers. The special permits only cover the period of the Lenten holidays, this is said.
Cuizon also said that in order to promote road safety and prevent accidents, they, together with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 are inspecting the road worthiness of buses.
As part of their road safety program, the LTO 7 is conducting lectures at bus terminals to remind drivers of their responsibilities, this is learned.
“Drivers should know that lives of hundreds of people depend on them. Passengers expect that when they ride any public utility transport, they are brought safely to their destinations,” said Aguilos.
Aguilos further added they are also conducting random drug tests among bus drivers.
At the Mactan Cebu International Airport MCIA), help desks have been put up to assist passengers on any possible queries or concerns.
“We are on red alert status since March 29 until April 11,” because of the holidays, according to Mary Ann Dimabayao, MCIA public affairs manager.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) District Cebu meanwhile, is also strictly monitoring vessels to check on their compliance on passenger capacity as overloading could be a source of accidents. (PIA7-Cebu)
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GO, NGOs develop Badjau community in Cebu
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, April 3 (PIA) -- A Bajau model community is fast rising in Sitio Puntod, Alaska, Mambaling, Cebu City. The project had been contributing to the development of a self-reliant, self-sustaining, and self-progressive Bajau community with a sense of pride and belonging for almost one year now, says Rowena Bandola-Alensonorin, executive director of the Integrated Development unit of the R. Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI).
“Some of the program interventions include educating the Bajaus on the importance of proper hygiene,” Alensonorin added; Bajaus' known and historic habitat are houses on stilts along the coastline.
The Bajau Integrated Area Development Project (BIAD-P) directly answers the immediate needs of the community through safe, durable, and culturally-accepted housing project, Alensonorin said.
She added that parents had undergone responsible parenthood seminars to help them become better parents in rearing their children.
“We also trained families on how to establish backyard gardens to respond to the high malnutrition rate among Bajau children,” Alensonorin shared.
On August 1, 2011 BIAD-P proponents broke ground on the 140-hectare Bajau site at Sitio Puntod for the construction of concrete, socialized houses for 140 Badjao families.
To date, two quad housing units have been completed and ready to be turned over to eight families. The project is going to build 33 more quads, Alensonorin reported.
Aside from housing the project includes site development that consists of perimeter fence, access to water and electricity, community health clinic, livelihood center, and multi-purpose center.
According to RAFI, other organizations and private companies have contributed to the positive development of the Bajau community, such as the Committee of German Doctors for Developing Countries that conducts once-a-month medical mission in the Bajau community.
IBM donated a KidSmart computer set for the Nano Nagle Pre-school and a donation of $3,000 intended for the procurement of educational materials for the learning center in the community.
The Misean Cara, an Irish institution, granted the Presentation Sister some P6 milion to address the priority needs identified by the Bajau community.
Various donors have also shared their resources during the medical missions, and the Bajau Children’s Month and Solidarity Day, this was learned.
“It is also worthy to note that in 2011, a Bajau named Paulita Aliodin, a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education passed the Teacher Licensure exam and was immediately employed in a private school,” Alensonorin said.
All programs were delivered with the collective effort and continuous community participation and strong partnership with the Cebu City Government and local/international groups, Alensonorin concluded.
The Bajau housing was made possible through the convergence of private, LGU, and the religious groups: the Bajau Integrated Area Development Project (BIAD-P) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) and the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary in partnership with the Cebu City government and the University of San Carlos-College of Architecture and Fine Arts. (mbcn/hfg - PIA 7/RAFI)