Police Regional Office 7 to form technical working group to study impact of Helmet Law
By Fayette C. Ri�en
CEBU CITY, June 27 (PIA) -- The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 is planning to form a technical working group (TWG) that will study the impact of the Helmet Law.
“We will first form a technical working group and see what measures could be recommended on the specifications of the helmet that would also address motorcycle-riding criminals. The recommendations by the body would then be submitted to Camp Crame for any action,” said S/Supt. Orlando Ualat, chief of the PRO 7 Regional Directorial Staff during the monthly ‘Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis’ (TSIP) Forum this morning.
Republic Act 10054 or the Helmet Act will be implemented on August 1.
Under the law, motorcycle drivers and their passenger are now strictly required to wear the standard protective gear which the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said should bear the ICC (import commodity clearance) or the PS (Philippine Standards) mark.
The full-faced helmet, intended to promote the safety of the motorcycle driver and passenger, aims to reduce the incidence of motorcycle accidents.
However, police officials here said the law could have a slight impact on their anti-criminality drive especially in identifying motorcycle-riding criminals.
Although both Mandaue Police Director S/Supt. Noel Gillamac and Cebu Police Director S/Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe admitted that still the most effective solution for identification are scientific means such as ballistic exam or fingerprint and also through their tattoos, height, or the plate number of the motorcycle and the type and kind of helmet used.
“There is a need to clarify whether a helmet covering half the face would be acceptable to address the security issue but such a request however, should never compromise the safety of the driver and the passenger,” Napolcom 7 public information officer Zandro Ronnie Oriol said in the same forum.
Land Transportation Office 7 Regional Director Raul Aguilos earlier said under the law, local government units can request the kind of helmet that would still allow the face of the driver or passenger be seen, where they can still be easily identified, relative to security concerns.
Buenafe welcomed the news and said he would bring it up to the Cebu City Police Coordinating Council.
On the other hand, Oriol said since it is a national law, it would be better if the PRO 7 can work on its recommendations and submit it to the national headquarters which the latter can request to the DTI. (FCR-PIA7 Cebu)
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Cebu city's anti-drug parade to draw thousands of people
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, June 27 (PIA) -- Over 20,000 people are expected to join the parade tomorrow, June 28, as the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) celebrates the first anniversary of the Movement Against Illegal Drugs (MAD).
CCPO Director S/Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe said he expects more people to participate in the parade tomorrow compared with the previous year when they launched the anti-drug campaign.
“Last year, there were about 22,000 participants in the parade, and we expect the number to increase tomorrow,” said Buenafe.
The parade will start at 2:00 p.m., with participants coming from different sectors to converge at the Fuente Osmeña circle for a program.
The MAD is a brainchild of Buenafe who said that one way to effectively reduce crimes is to address the problem of illegal drugs. “Over 50 percent of those behind bars are convicted due to drug-related crimes,” added Buenafe.
Buenafe further said there will be an oath of commitment by the participants at the Fuente rotunda, and dance and song numbers to entertain the crowd.
Inspiring messages will also be given by top officials from both the Cebu city government and the Cebu provincial government.
Prizes also await the winners of the slogan-making contest wherein 10 entries will be taken per sector.
The city director said the finale of the program will be the destruction of an illegal drugs' effigy.
Expected to boost crowd volume are the students. Last year an estimated 11,000 students joined.
Other participants are expected to come from the religious and business sectors as well as members from the military and from the barangays, among others. (FR/PIA-Cebu)
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Siquijodnon teacher nominated to CSC national award
By Rizalie A. Calibo
ENRIQUE VILLANUEVA, Siquijor, June 27 (PIA) -- A teacher from Enrique Villanueva National High School was nominated for the prestigious Civil Service Commission (CSC) Pagasa Award.
This is an award given every year for hero-public servants throughout the country who have demonstrated exemplary work performance that has significant impact.
Neddy Garcia-Arong, 38, has consistently coached winning Math teams and individual contestants. She freely and generously gave her time and resources to conduct special Math classes, reviews and tutorial sessions.
As a result, her students bagged major awards and even went on to become honor students and graduates when they went to college, besting graduates from private and specialized schools.
Many of her students from the little town of Enrique Villanueva (Talingting) have also become successful CPAs and professionals.
“Her students' success have always brought a sense of joy and fulfillment for herself,” said her school principal, Arvin H. Magpiong.
She also trained and coached winning volleyball teams, whose members come from farming and fishing families but ended up getting varsity slots and scholarships from college and universities.
The teacher also helped the school's Math Club acquire their own computer set, printer and calculators and led students not only in tree planting activities but also in ensuring that the planted trees grow well and survive.
Garcia-Arong is also DepEd’s provincial finalist in the Metrobank Foundations’ Search for Outstanding Teachers. She was awarded as Outstanding Secondary School Teacher in 2004.
With these accomplishments she had through the years as a teacher and as a public servant, she became the region's deserving nominee for the Pagasa Award. (RMN/RAC-PIA7 Siquijor, with reports from the CSC-Siquijor)