ABS-CBN to put up relay antenna in Aparri
I do not wish to make my blog a repository of public documents but this one I guess is an exception. Many had asked me to explain details of the Resolution adopted by the Sangguniang Bayan as regards to its request to ABS-CBN to kindly install a relay antenna in Aparri. Eliminating the cost of photocopying and mailing expenses, I decided to put it here in my blog making it easier for friends and relatives to access and facilitate the sharing of it to others.
As a backgrounder, last November 27, 2008, Sanggunian Secretary Percival P. Arce, my brother-in-law Christopher L. Jarabe, and I went to ABS-CBN office to submit a copy of the Resolution. After a short wait, we were met and entertained by Engr. Bernie Acosta and Louis Benedict O. Bennett, Asst. Vice President, Mindanao Operations Group and Irene C. Copiozo, Luzon Cluster Head, Regional Network Group. These are young cool guys and very humble too. After our fruitful meeting with them, we were toured around the ABS-CBN Compound. Truth to be told, we were awed by the state-of-the-art technology of the broadcast network.
On the same day, after a quick lunch, I sent this text message to Mr. Bennett: “Good pm po Sir Louis. Aparri councilor Reginald Tamayo here. I just would like to thank you for the hospitality you accorded to us this morning. The happy experience of seeing ABS-CBN compound for the first time will forever be etched in our hearts. I will relay to my fellow Aparrianos the good news ABS-CBN is giving them. On behalf of Aparri municipal officials headed by our mayor please accept our sincerest gratitude and a load of prayerful wishes to you and our kapamilya. God bless po.” Mr. Bennett’s reply: “Good afternoon Councilor Reginald! You are most welcome po. We are in fact looking forward to putting up a relay station in your beautiful and quaint town of Aparri…we were glad to have met you personally too and we hope to meet you again when we visit you there. Kindly extend our warmest regards to your good mayor po. All the best and GOD bless!”
Just two weeks ago, I received another text message from Mr. Bennett saying among others that the engineers of ABS-CBN are now busy with their plans to put up the antenna here. Having heard of this wonderful news, some friends have offered their lots for lease or for sale to ABS-CBN which the latter agreed to conduct an ocular inspection on these sites.
Hereunder is a copy of the Resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 2008-152
RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING ABS-CBN TO KINDLY INSTALL A RELAY ANTENNA TO BROADCAST ITS TV SIGNAL IN APARRI, CAGAYAN.
WHEREAS, ABS-CBN is a leading television company in the country extensively providing news and entertainment to majority of televiewers nationwide but whose programs are yet to reach residents of this municipality other than those who can afford cable television service;
WHEREAS, residents of this municipality clamor for the extension of ABS-CBN free broadcast services in the municipality in order for them to avail of the popular programs aired in Channel 2 of said company;
WHEREAS, said broadcast and/or reception of free television programs would be possible through the installation of a broadcast antenna in this Municipality;
WHEREAS, said broadcast services, depending on the installed power, may also reach other towns in northern Cagayan Province, thus highly contributing to the progress and development through the resultant people’s greater awareness of events, trends and development particularly in technology, agriculture and other areas to the people’s economic and social well being;
NOW, THEREFORE:
On joint motion of the members present;
BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved to request as it hereby requests Mr. Eugenio Lopez, III, President and Chief Executive Officer, ABS-CBN, to kindly consider the installation of a broadcast antenna in this municipality;
RESOLVED FURTHER, to forward this resolution to Mr. Eugenio Lopez, III, President and Chief Executive Officer, ABS-CBN, Quezon City, for his kind consideration.
ADOPTED during the 46th Regular Session of the Sangguniang Bayan held on Monday, November 17, 2008 at the Municipal Hall.
CERTIFIED CORRECT:
(Signed)
HON. NORMAN B. PENEYRA
Vice Mayor
(Presiding Officer)
Concurring Statement:
I fully join the Sangguniang Bayan
in this request for public welfare.
(Signed)
HON. ISMAEL V. TUMARU, M.D.
Mayor
ATTESTED:
(Signed)
PERCIVAL P. ARCE
Sanggunian Secretary
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
What about the non-whistleblowers?
What about the non-whistleblowers?
Inquirer
First Posted 11:56pm (Mla time) 08/17/2006
Filed Under:
Published on Page A14 of the August 17, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
DEPUTY Ombudsman for Luzon, Victor C. Fernandez invited me to attend the launching last Aug. 4 of the "AHA: A Citizen's Primer on Whistleblowing and Tipping" in Quezon City.
During the open forum, I was fortunate to have been one of the five guests asked to raise some issues relative to whistle blowing. Please allow me to share with the readers these humble observations.
Of course, I thank the Office of the Ombudsman, Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus and the USAID-Rule of Law and Effectiveness Project for their efforts to help curb graft and corruption in the government. The launching of the primer indeed eloquently demonstrates their sincere desire to promote decency, transparency and accountability in government service.
Not surprisingly, the primer is focused on the required legal knowledge, tipping strategies and techniques, fears and other concerns of the whistleblower. In sum, the primer is a tool-guide only for the whistleblower or would-be tipster.
There is no question that we must be concerned with the safety and security of the whistleblower. However, we should take into account, with equal concern, the "non-whistleblower." By reporting doubtful transactions in the government office where he is working, the whistleblower becomes a nitpicker among the non-whistleblowers. The whistleblower is condemned as a faultfinder.
For sure, the naughty non-whistleblower's impulse will be to hate the whistleblower and find ways not to be caught red-handed by the latter. It becomes a consumptive ritual for the whistleblower to be vigilant and to nitpick and the non-whistleblower to be cautious and not to be caught.
I strongly suggested during the open forum that the government should start introducing the non-whistleblower to the Gospel values of honesty, integrity, discipline and the significance of a Christian work ethic.
If all of us who are against graft and corruption in the government dare face the realities of our time as courageously as the whistleblower, we must admit a miscarriage of focus: the education of the non-whistleblower on such values. Doubtless, if we can do this, one day there will be no more whistleblowers to nitpick the non-whistleblowers.
REGINALD B. TAMAYO, member, Sangguniang Bayan, Aparri, Cagayan
Inquirer
First Posted 11:56pm (Mla time) 08/17/2006
Filed Under:
Published on Page A14 of the August 17, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
DEPUTY Ombudsman for Luzon, Victor C. Fernandez invited me to attend the launching last Aug. 4 of the "AHA: A Citizen's Primer on Whistleblowing and Tipping" in Quezon City.
During the open forum, I was fortunate to have been one of the five guests asked to raise some issues relative to whistle blowing. Please allow me to share with the readers these humble observations.
Of course, I thank the Office of the Ombudsman, Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus and the USAID-Rule of Law and Effectiveness Project for their efforts to help curb graft and corruption in the government. The launching of the primer indeed eloquently demonstrates their sincere desire to promote decency, transparency and accountability in government service.
Not surprisingly, the primer is focused on the required legal knowledge, tipping strategies and techniques, fears and other concerns of the whistleblower. In sum, the primer is a tool-guide only for the whistleblower or would-be tipster.
There is no question that we must be concerned with the safety and security of the whistleblower. However, we should take into account, with equal concern, the "non-whistleblower." By reporting doubtful transactions in the government office where he is working, the whistleblower becomes a nitpicker among the non-whistleblowers. The whistleblower is condemned as a faultfinder.
For sure, the naughty non-whistleblower's impulse will be to hate the whistleblower and find ways not to be caught red-handed by the latter. It becomes a consumptive ritual for the whistleblower to be vigilant and to nitpick and the non-whistleblower to be cautious and not to be caught.
I strongly suggested during the open forum that the government should start introducing the non-whistleblower to the Gospel values of honesty, integrity, discipline and the significance of a Christian work ethic.
If all of us who are against graft and corruption in the government dare face the realities of our time as courageously as the whistleblower, we must admit a miscarriage of focus: the education of the non-whistleblower on such values. Doubtless, if we can do this, one day there will be no more whistleblowers to nitpick the non-whistleblowers.
REGINALD B. TAMAYO, member, Sangguniang Bayan, Aparri, Cagayan
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Soul of our Nation
The Soul of our Nation
Recently, one of my students asked me this question: Does our country have a soul? I was bewildered by the question since it was not within the purview of our topic being discussed. We were talking about the City of God of St. Augustine. I honestly said to my student that I was not ready to give an answer and if he can give me some time to think it over.
When I got home, I pondered on the question and tried to relate it with St. Augustine’s political theory. After a philosophic reflection I concluded that our nation indeed has a soul. If man has a soul and it is being quarreled over by two forces- the force of good (City of God) and the force of evil (City of Man), our nation’s soul is being torn apart by these same forces.
The following day, I went to school with a ready reply to the question. I said emphatically that our nation has a soul. The soul of our nation is the values by which we live. We are known as a people to be hospitable, respectful, patient, working as a team known widely as the bayanihan spirit, and many others. It is sad to note that nowadays hardly any of these values are put into practice by us. It is even sadder to observe that our national leaders seem to ignore this moral malady. It is because they are the cause why the soul of our nation is unwell.
If only our national leaders are more decent and respectable, if only they appreciate a little more the value of honesty, fair play, and truth-telling, our country would be better off and the soul of our nation would become a member, by St. Augustine’s parlance, of the City of God. At present, I say that the soul of our nation is captured by the force of evil hence our country belongs to the City of Man.
In my humble opinion, the soul of our nation is not only unwell but is dying. What we need are leaders who can inspire us to live morally. We need leaders who can be trusted and has a vision for this country. We need leaders who are willing to listen to concerns and troubles and be our voices.
My students were satisfied with my answer. They even complimented it with their bright ideas like the soul of the nation needs to be spiritually and morally nurtured. However, in the closing stage of our class, one keen student said that “he disagrees with me that the soul of our nation is dying because our nation is soul-less.” The statement hit me like a bolt from the blue. I did not know how to react and what should be the appropriate reply. The bell rang and it saved me from embarrassment. As part of their homework, I told my students instead to mull over the statement and be ready for another roundtable discussion next meeting.
Recently, one of my students asked me this question: Does our country have a soul? I was bewildered by the question since it was not within the purview of our topic being discussed. We were talking about the City of God of St. Augustine. I honestly said to my student that I was not ready to give an answer and if he can give me some time to think it over.
When I got home, I pondered on the question and tried to relate it with St. Augustine’s political theory. After a philosophic reflection I concluded that our nation indeed has a soul. If man has a soul and it is being quarreled over by two forces- the force of good (City of God) and the force of evil (City of Man), our nation’s soul is being torn apart by these same forces.
The following day, I went to school with a ready reply to the question. I said emphatically that our nation has a soul. The soul of our nation is the values by which we live. We are known as a people to be hospitable, respectful, patient, working as a team known widely as the bayanihan spirit, and many others. It is sad to note that nowadays hardly any of these values are put into practice by us. It is even sadder to observe that our national leaders seem to ignore this moral malady. It is because they are the cause why the soul of our nation is unwell.
If only our national leaders are more decent and respectable, if only they appreciate a little more the value of honesty, fair play, and truth-telling, our country would be better off and the soul of our nation would become a member, by St. Augustine’s parlance, of the City of God. At present, I say that the soul of our nation is captured by the force of evil hence our country belongs to the City of Man.
In my humble opinion, the soul of our nation is not only unwell but is dying. What we need are leaders who can inspire us to live morally. We need leaders who can be trusted and has a vision for this country. We need leaders who are willing to listen to concerns and troubles and be our voices.
My students were satisfied with my answer. They even complimented it with their bright ideas like the soul of the nation needs to be spiritually and morally nurtured. However, in the closing stage of our class, one keen student said that “he disagrees with me that the soul of our nation is dying because our nation is soul-less.” The statement hit me like a bolt from the blue. I did not know how to react and what should be the appropriate reply. The bell rang and it saved me from embarrassment. As part of their homework, I told my students instead to mull over the statement and be ready for another roundtable discussion next meeting.
Proposed Flexi-Fare Ordinance
Proposed Flexi-Fare Ordinance
OIL PRICE CHANGES- either increases or decreases- affect the tricycle fare rates in the municipality. In the past few months the oil prices fluctuate dramatically. And such changes, no doubt, are both disruptive to the tricycle drivers/operators and the riding public.
Every petition to increase or decrease the tricycle fare rates would mean a long, arduous, tedious, sometimes frustrating, and complex legislation. It requires a timely public hearing, full committee consideration, and an en banc or floor deliberation by the Sangguniang Bayan. Worse, if the determination of the tricycle fare rates are based on many and varied factors like prices of spare parts, road condition, size of family of drivers, and the like, then the legislative process becomes mind-numbingly slow and complicated. Much more, with the hierarchical system of reviewing municipal ordinances, it would take time to pass any proposed municipal ordinance because the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is required by law to judiciously review the same.
Of late, I proposed to streamline the legislative process by proposing a Flexi-Fare Ordinance. Instead of entertaining numerous petitions to increase or decrease tricycle fare rates because of the unpredictability of oil prices then consequently craft the corresponding legislative measures, I suggested that we legislate only one ordinance covering an omnibus of would-be petitions. In my proposal, I recommended that the tricycle fare rates should be determined by the current gas pump price per liter. The schedule of fare rates are put into brackets with the corresponding brackets of gas prices. One has to find out only the current gas pump price per liter to determine the tricycle fare rate.
This simplifies legislation as regards the determination of tricycle fare rates and makes it easier for the tricycle drivers/operators and the riding public to know readily the schedule of fares on the basis of the current gas pump prices.
Many support this proposed ordinance. As usual, I still have to get the nod of the members of the majority of the legislative council considering that I belong to the minority.
Below is the draft of the proposed ordinance:
ORDINANCE NO. ___
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 2008-106 COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS “AN ORDINANCE APPROVING REVISED TRICYCLE FARE RATES IN THE MUNICIPALITYOF APARRI AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF.
The SANGGUNIANG BAYAN, duly assembled in session, herby ordains that:
SECTION 1. This Ordinance shall be known and cited as the “Flexi-Fare Ordinance of 2009.”
SECTION 2. Section 1 of Ordinance No. 2008-06 is hereby amended to read as follows:
“Except as may otherwise be provided by law or ordinance, the following fare brackets are established as tricycle fare rates in the municipality:
Gasoline Per Liter Regular Fare College/HS/SCS/PWDs Elementary
For every 1st 5 kms.
P30.00-P40.00 P8.00 P6.00 P5.00
P40.01-P50.00 P9.00 P7.00 P6.00
P50.01-P60.00 P10.00 P8.00 P7.00
P60.01-P70.00 P11.00 P9.00 P8.00
SECTION 3. Section 2 of Ordinance No. 2008-06 is hereby amended to read as follows:
“In view of the volatility of oil prices, the regular fare rate and the corresponding fare charged for college and high school students (HS), senior citizens (SCs), persons with disabilities(PWDs), and elementary pupils are flexible and are dependent on the current gasoline pump prices in the local market as indicated in Section 2 hereof.”
SECTION 4. Any person found to have violated this Ordinance shall be penalized as follows:
a. 1st Offense- a fine of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00)
b. 2nd Offense- a fine of One Thousand Pesos P1,000.00)
c. 3rd Offense- a fine of Two Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (2,500.00) and the cancellation and/or revocation of tricycle franchise to operate.
SECTION 5. Any or all Ordinances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent or contradictory herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SECTION 6. This Ordinance shall take effect upon approval.
OIL PRICE CHANGES- either increases or decreases- affect the tricycle fare rates in the municipality. In the past few months the oil prices fluctuate dramatically. And such changes, no doubt, are both disruptive to the tricycle drivers/operators and the riding public.
Every petition to increase or decrease the tricycle fare rates would mean a long, arduous, tedious, sometimes frustrating, and complex legislation. It requires a timely public hearing, full committee consideration, and an en banc or floor deliberation by the Sangguniang Bayan. Worse, if the determination of the tricycle fare rates are based on many and varied factors like prices of spare parts, road condition, size of family of drivers, and the like, then the legislative process becomes mind-numbingly slow and complicated. Much more, with the hierarchical system of reviewing municipal ordinances, it would take time to pass any proposed municipal ordinance because the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is required by law to judiciously review the same.
Of late, I proposed to streamline the legislative process by proposing a Flexi-Fare Ordinance. Instead of entertaining numerous petitions to increase or decrease tricycle fare rates because of the unpredictability of oil prices then consequently craft the corresponding legislative measures, I suggested that we legislate only one ordinance covering an omnibus of would-be petitions. In my proposal, I recommended that the tricycle fare rates should be determined by the current gas pump price per liter. The schedule of fare rates are put into brackets with the corresponding brackets of gas prices. One has to find out only the current gas pump price per liter to determine the tricycle fare rate.
This simplifies legislation as regards the determination of tricycle fare rates and makes it easier for the tricycle drivers/operators and the riding public to know readily the schedule of fares on the basis of the current gas pump prices.
Many support this proposed ordinance. As usual, I still have to get the nod of the members of the majority of the legislative council considering that I belong to the minority.
Below is the draft of the proposed ordinance:
ORDINANCE NO. ___
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 2008-106 COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS “AN ORDINANCE APPROVING REVISED TRICYCLE FARE RATES IN THE MUNICIPALITYOF APARRI AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF.
The SANGGUNIANG BAYAN, duly assembled in session, herby ordains that:
SECTION 1. This Ordinance shall be known and cited as the “Flexi-Fare Ordinance of 2009.”
SECTION 2. Section 1 of Ordinance No. 2008-06 is hereby amended to read as follows:
“Except as may otherwise be provided by law or ordinance, the following fare brackets are established as tricycle fare rates in the municipality:
Gasoline Per Liter Regular Fare College/HS/SCS/PWDs Elementary
For every 1st 5 kms.
P30.00-P40.00 P8.00 P6.00 P5.00
P40.01-P50.00 P9.00 P7.00 P6.00
P50.01-P60.00 P10.00 P8.00 P7.00
P60.01-P70.00 P11.00 P9.00 P8.00
SECTION 3. Section 2 of Ordinance No. 2008-06 is hereby amended to read as follows:
“In view of the volatility of oil prices, the regular fare rate and the corresponding fare charged for college and high school students (HS), senior citizens (SCs), persons with disabilities(PWDs), and elementary pupils are flexible and are dependent on the current gasoline pump prices in the local market as indicated in Section 2 hereof.”
SECTION 4. Any person found to have violated this Ordinance shall be penalized as follows:
a. 1st Offense- a fine of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00)
b. 2nd Offense- a fine of One Thousand Pesos P1,000.00)
c. 3rd Offense- a fine of Two Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (2,500.00) and the cancellation and/or revocation of tricycle franchise to operate.
SECTION 5. Any or all Ordinances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent or contradictory herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SECTION 6. This Ordinance shall take effect upon approval.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Purge of ghost voters
Purge of ghost voters
Philippine Daily Inquirer
July 5, 1997
I SUPPOSE many of us encountered problems about ghost voters during the May barangay election. Unscrupulous candidates allegedly used ghost voters. As expected, this has become a subject of dispute before the courts.
Section 29 of Republic Act 8189, also known as "An act providing for a general registration of voters adopting a system of counting registration, prescribing the procedures thereof and authorizing the appropriation of funds therefor," is inutile. Among its provisions are the following: "The board shall cancel the registration records of those who have died as certified by the local civil registrar. The local civil registrar shall submit each month a certified list of persons who died during the previous month to the election officer of the place where the deceased are registered. In the absence of information concerning the place where the deceased is registered, the list shall be sent to the election officer of the city or municipality of the deceased's residence as appearing in his death certificate. In any case, the local civil registrar shall furnish a copy of this list to the national central file and the proper provincial file."
Despite this provision, ghost or zombie voters are still very much around during elections, haunting our polling places and making a mockery of the right of suffrage.
I suggest the amendment of Rule 34 of Administrative Order No. 1 series of 1993, known as the "Implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 3753 and other laws on civil registration." It says: "It shall be the duty of the person concerned to accomplish and send four copies of the death certificate to the civil registrar for egistration. After registration, the civil registrar shall distribute copies of the document bearing the civil registry number within five days from receipt thereof as follows: first copy to the Office of the Civil Registrar-General; third copy shall beretained for filing; and fourth copy to the attendant at death."
As an amendment, I propose that five copies, instead of four, of Municipal Form No. 103, commonly known as the death certificate, be accomplished and sent within five days to the aforementioned recipients, with the fifth copy being sent to the election officer of the city/municipality when the person who died was at least 18 years old or a qualified voter.
I am sure this will help the Commission on Elections purge its list of voters of those who died, based on the copies of the death certificate prepared by the civil registrar. Election officers should also report for work during regular office hours and not only during the election season. Comelec offices are a haven for ghosts and spirits, aside from being filled with cobwebs when they are not preparing or overseein elections.
Reginald B. Tamayo
member, Sangguniang Bayan
Aparri, Cagayan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
July 5, 1997
I SUPPOSE many of us encountered problems about ghost voters during the May barangay election. Unscrupulous candidates allegedly used ghost voters. As expected, this has become a subject of dispute before the courts.
Section 29 of Republic Act 8189, also known as "An act providing for a general registration of voters adopting a system of counting registration, prescribing the procedures thereof and authorizing the appropriation of funds therefor," is inutile. Among its provisions are the following: "The board shall cancel the registration records of those who have died as certified by the local civil registrar. The local civil registrar shall submit each month a certified list of persons who died during the previous month to the election officer of the place where the deceased are registered. In the absence of information concerning the place where the deceased is registered, the list shall be sent to the election officer of the city or municipality of the deceased's residence as appearing in his death certificate. In any case, the local civil registrar shall furnish a copy of this list to the national central file and the proper provincial file."
Despite this provision, ghost or zombie voters are still very much around during elections, haunting our polling places and making a mockery of the right of suffrage.
I suggest the amendment of Rule 34 of Administrative Order No. 1 series of 1993, known as the "Implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 3753 and other laws on civil registration." It says: "It shall be the duty of the person concerned to accomplish and send four copies of the death certificate to the civil registrar for egistration. After registration, the civil registrar shall distribute copies of the document bearing the civil registry number within five days from receipt thereof as follows: first copy to the Office of the Civil Registrar-General; third copy shall beretained for filing; and fourth copy to the attendant at death."
As an amendment, I propose that five copies, instead of four, of Municipal Form No. 103, commonly known as the death certificate, be accomplished and sent within five days to the aforementioned recipients, with the fifth copy being sent to the election officer of the city/municipality when the person who died was at least 18 years old or a qualified voter.
I am sure this will help the Commission on Elections purge its list of voters of those who died, based on the copies of the death certificate prepared by the civil registrar. Election officers should also report for work during regular office hours and not only during the election season. Comelec offices are a haven for ghosts and spirits, aside from being filled with cobwebs when they are not preparing or overseein elections.
Reginald B. Tamayo
member, Sangguniang Bayan
Aparri, Cagayan
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Students to be displaced
Students to be displaced
Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 16, 1997
This refers to the memorandum of agreement between the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) signed by Secretary Ricardo T. Gloria and Director Jose D. Lacson on March 21, 1997.
I am sure those who read the memorandum felt alarmed and perhaps share my apprehension that many of our grade school graduates will not be able to pursue their secondary or high school education in the future.
One of the "whereas" clauses of the memorandum explains why. It says: "Whereas, Item No. 19 of the Special Provisions of the 1997 General Appropriations Act provides that "the amounts appropriated for technical and vocational education and other related budgetary items shall be used to fund the implementation of RA 7796 creating the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority: provided, that the transfer of such schools with predominantly post-secondary enrollment, including qualified teachers and personnel, their proportionate share of the budget and other assets, shall be completed by March 31, 1997: provided, further, that the secondary school enrollment shall be gradually phased out by Tesda in consultation with DECS, over a five-year period..."
This should be the concern of local officials whose municipalities do not have secondary schools or national high schools to absorb their would-be displaced elementary graduates after five years.
The agreement also provides that the DECS shall "cause the establishment of replacement secondary schools, where necessary, that will absorb the student populace over a five-year period."
This is not to question the credibility of DECS, but DECS's recurrent problems every school year include the difficulty to construct the much-needed additional classrooms, repair of dilapidated school buildings, inadequacy of books and other instructional materials, due to funding constraints. Will DECS, after five years, be ready to establish high schools? I doubt it.
I solicited the views of students who learned of the unwelcome consequences of the memorandum. Some said, Siguro, mamumundok na lang kami. Tutal, magiging NPA (Neglected Populace of the Academe) na rin kami (Maybe we'll just go to the mountain. After all, we'll be NPAs."
Reginald B. Tamayo
member, Sangguniang Bayan
Aparri, Cagayan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 16, 1997
This refers to the memorandum of agreement between the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) signed by Secretary Ricardo T. Gloria and Director Jose D. Lacson on March 21, 1997.
I am sure those who read the memorandum felt alarmed and perhaps share my apprehension that many of our grade school graduates will not be able to pursue their secondary or high school education in the future.
One of the "whereas" clauses of the memorandum explains why. It says: "Whereas, Item No. 19 of the Special Provisions of the 1997 General Appropriations Act provides that "the amounts appropriated for technical and vocational education and other related budgetary items shall be used to fund the implementation of RA 7796 creating the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority: provided, that the transfer of such schools with predominantly post-secondary enrollment, including qualified teachers and personnel, their proportionate share of the budget and other assets, shall be completed by March 31, 1997: provided, further, that the secondary school enrollment shall be gradually phased out by Tesda in consultation with DECS, over a five-year period..."
This should be the concern of local officials whose municipalities do not have secondary schools or national high schools to absorb their would-be displaced elementary graduates after five years.
The agreement also provides that the DECS shall "cause the establishment of replacement secondary schools, where necessary, that will absorb the student populace over a five-year period."
This is not to question the credibility of DECS, but DECS's recurrent problems every school year include the difficulty to construct the much-needed additional classrooms, repair of dilapidated school buildings, inadequacy of books and other instructional materials, due to funding constraints. Will DECS, after five years, be ready to establish high schools? I doubt it.
I solicited the views of students who learned of the unwelcome consequences of the memorandum. Some said, Siguro, mamumundok na lang kami. Tutal, magiging NPA (Neglected Populace of the Academe) na rin kami (Maybe we'll just go to the mountain. After all, we'll be NPAs."
Reginald B. Tamayo
member, Sangguniang Bayan
Aparri, Cagayan
Thursday, January 22, 2009
True national unity
True national unity
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Politics in our country is seemingly going bananas. Our political life appears to be characterized by political spurts which ultimately lead to disunity.
The political power game now going on is a case in point. We witness the splintering of many political parties and the spreading practice of turncoatism. These result in confusing our already confused people and further illustrate our disunity.
In these times when our country can hardly cope with the difficulties brought by natural and man-made calamities, we should be united and design a common agenda to bring our country back to its feet.
However, a sense of unity must first be initiated by our leaders. They should be the exemplars of unity. The cliche "follow the leader" is native to the Filipino mind. That is why, we fix our attention on our country leaders and whatever they do, we follow. We are not unified as a people because we do not see any unity in our leaders. If only our leaders appreciate a little more the value of unity, we will follow suit and our country will be better off.
Too much politicking causes disunity among our leaders. It blinds their eyes to the general welfare. They become myopic and see only the enhancement of their political careers, not our needs.
When will we ever learn to unite? Many claim that the Filipino people unite when something tragic happens. Thus, we are united and pool our resources to help our countrymen who are victims of coups, earthquake, volcanic eruption and flood. But such a demonstration of unity is artificial. Our country cannot anchor her survival on this kind of unity.
What is imperatively needed is a genuine sense of unity. We should not only be united during natural and man-made calamities, we should practice unity as a way of life.
Therefore, I appeal to our country leaders to show us the way to unity by being united themselves. They are our mirrors. We see ourselves in them. We follow ther examples.
Reginald B. Tamayo
member, Sangguniang Bayan
Aparri, Cagayan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Politics in our country is seemingly going bananas. Our political life appears to be characterized by political spurts which ultimately lead to disunity.
The political power game now going on is a case in point. We witness the splintering of many political parties and the spreading practice of turncoatism. These result in confusing our already confused people and further illustrate our disunity.
In these times when our country can hardly cope with the difficulties brought by natural and man-made calamities, we should be united and design a common agenda to bring our country back to its feet.
However, a sense of unity must first be initiated by our leaders. They should be the exemplars of unity. The cliche "follow the leader" is native to the Filipino mind. That is why, we fix our attention on our country leaders and whatever they do, we follow. We are not unified as a people because we do not see any unity in our leaders. If only our leaders appreciate a little more the value of unity, we will follow suit and our country will be better off.
Too much politicking causes disunity among our leaders. It blinds their eyes to the general welfare. They become myopic and see only the enhancement of their political careers, not our needs.
When will we ever learn to unite? Many claim that the Filipino people unite when something tragic happens. Thus, we are united and pool our resources to help our countrymen who are victims of coups, earthquake, volcanic eruption and flood. But such a demonstration of unity is artificial. Our country cannot anchor her survival on this kind of unity.
What is imperatively needed is a genuine sense of unity. We should not only be united during natural and man-made calamities, we should practice unity as a way of life.
Therefore, I appeal to our country leaders to show us the way to unity by being united themselves. They are our mirrors. We see ourselves in them. We follow ther examples.
Reginald B. Tamayo
member, Sangguniang Bayan
Aparri, Cagayan
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