NSO-7 encourages public to cooperate during surveys
CEBU CITY, June 20 (PIA) -- The National Statistics Office in the region (NSO-7) encourages all establishments/individual to cooperate during the conduct of surveys in their area.
NSO-7 District Statistics Officer, North District, Baby Premne said the establishments or individuals who will not comply with the questionnaire will be charged of a criminal case.
Premne explained, under Commonwealth 591, Section 3, that any person who fails or refuses to accomplish such questionnaire or form received from the NSO within thirty days upon receipt, or any person who, in accomplishing any such questionnaire or form, knowingly gives data or information which shall prove to be materially untrue in any particular; or any person who signs such questionnaire or form after it has been accomplished in the knowledge that it is untrue in any particular will be punished with a fine of not more than six hundred pesos or by imprisonment of not more than six months, or both.
To date, NSO-7 filed a criminal case against one establishment in Cebu City for not accomplishing the questionnaire given by the enumerator. A demand letter will be sent to those establishments that will refuse to answer the questionnaire.
Meanwhile, NSO-7 Information Officer Noel Rafols said a Census Compliance Project, in partnership with the prosecutor’s office, was created to assign a fiscal who will handle the cases charged by the NSO to erring establishments or individuals who will refuse to comply regarding the data needed by the agency.
Premne said the conduct of any survey by the NSO is for statistical purposes, investigations, and studies of social and economic problems and conditions of the country and it should be taken seriously.
On the other hand, NSO-7 officials revealed that from June 1 to 15 this year, they were able to process 28,580 security papers from all Cebu outlets, while the Civil Registration System Serbilis Outlet in Cebu was able to process 13,750 documents.
NSO-7 Officer-in-Charge Candida Taghap also appreciated the installation of the Batch Request Query System (BREQS) in the local government units because it is a big help to the operations. Many people are now availing of NSO services through BREQS.
In the region, there are already 43 BREQS installed to various LGUs in Bohol and Cebu. The latest installation of BREQS is in SM Cosolacion, Cebu.
BREQS is a scheme where NSO authorizes the city government to receive request for NSO issued copies and certifications of civil registry documents from the public and issue the documents to its clientele. (mbcn/hfg/PIA-7 & NSO-7)
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DENR-7 identifies invasive alien species in NegOr’s nat’l park
CEBU CITY, June 20 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) in Central Visayas has identified 14 invasive alien species (IAS) in the Natural Park of Negros Oriental.
DENR-7 regional executive director Dr. Isabelo Montejo said many alien species have successfully invaded natural and human-altered habitats through premeditated and unintentional introductions.
Ecosystems Research and Development Services (ERDS) biologist Regie Bueno, forester Ambrosio Villanueva, Alex Villanueva and two park aides conducted the three-day inventory on June 13 to 15.
Based on the initial results of the assessment, 14 invasive alien species were identified within the 8,016.05-hectare Balinsasayao Twin Lakes National Park, which straddles three towns in Negros Oriental.
Three are fish species, and eleven are plant species. Among the fish species found in the lake are tilapia or Tilapia mossambica, mosquito fish or Gambusia affinis, and carp or Cyprinus carpio.
This came after the Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)’s Global Invasive Database (GISD) lists 47 alien species that have been introduced to the Philippines and identified seven worst invasive plant species.
Invasive alien species are species introduced deliberately or unintentionally outside their natural habitats where they have the ability to establish themselves, invade, outcompete and take over the new environments.
“Balinsasayao Twin Lakes is a natural park which is a relatively large area not materially altered by human activity where extractive resource uses are not allowed and are maintained to protect outstanding natural and scenic areas of national or international significance for scientific, educational and recreational use,” Montejo explained.
Montejo said IAS can negatively impact biodiversity, species extirpation and even extinction, soil degradation or erosion, and reduce productivity in forestry, agricultural and fishing sectors.
“DENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje has given us instructions to continue in the conduct of the inventory particularly those proclaimed protected areas,” the DENR director added.
The Balinsasayao Twin Lakes, known as the habitat of rare birds and animals, have been proclaimed a protected area under Presidential Proclamation No. 414 dated November 21, 2000 and situated in the municipalities of Valencia, Sibulan, and San Jose, Negros Oriental under the category of natural park. (DENR7/MBCN/HFG-PIA7)
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RAFI Micro-finance to establish more branches in the Visayas
CEBU CITY, June 20 (PIA) -- The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Micro-finance, Cebu-based NGO, is set to establish more branches in the provinces of Leyte, Bohol, and in Cebu City to serve and help more women micro-entrepreneurs.
In a press release, Micro-finance Leyte area manager Noneto Gonzales said that there are plans of putting up additional branches in Central and Eastern Visayas, especially in rural areas.
A branch in Jagna will soon open for Bohol clients. More branches in the northern part of Leyte will also be set up too.
According to Ormoc City Leyte branch manager Richard Candelada, there are currently around 800 active members in Ormoc and more than 1,600 members in the entire Leyte province.
RAFI Micro-finance already has branches in Ormoc, Sogod, Baybay, Maasin, Albuera, Bato, Merida, Kanangga in Leyte and in the municipalities of Ubay, Tubigon, Talibon, and Dawis in Bohol.
RAFI Micro-finance is a program under the Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship focus areas, which believes that a better life begins with a stable and rewarding livelihood.
RAFI Micro-finance also trains their members in saving for their future.
“In RAFI Micro-finance, we discipline our clients to have savings. Membership process is also very easy. Giving of loan is individual. We don’t have collaterals and character is one of our bases. We also accept big amount of loans,” Gonzales said.
Clients are also given health insurance upon membership. They can benefit much from this for hospitalization purposes.
"RAFI Micro-finance program continues and never stops thinking of ways to enhance the business skills of its clients, such as giving them free trainings,” Candelada said.
Ormoc Client Advisory Board (CAB) president Ma. Luisa Olita shared the big changes in her life when she joined the program, saying, “As a member for five years, I was able to build my own house, expand my sari-sari store, buy things for our house and two motorcycles. I also learned to have discipline in handling money, such as being thrifty.”
RAFI Micro-finance Leyte had a general assembly last June 16 at the Visayas State University (VSU), Baybay, Leyte.
Members from Bato, Baybay, and Ormoc participated in the activity. There was medical mission, which includes free general consultation and pap smear. PILMICO foods corporation also conducted a seminar on hog-raising. (MBCN/HFG-PIA7, RAFI)