LOSING BIG
Capiz execs mourn Robredo’s demise
By Felipe Celino and Edalyn Acta
ROXAS City—Over the weekend, government officials in Capiz province and Roxas City had their share of grief over the death of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse M. Robredo.
Robredo, who, with two others, went missing after the private plane carrying them crashed off Masbate on Saturday, was found in the cabin of the plane in the morning of August 21. He was 54.
Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco, Sr. said he was very saddened when it was relayed to him that Robredo, former mayor of Naga City, had died.
“We have lost a champion of good governance and an advocate of transparency, accountability and people’s participation, a great loss to the administration of President Aquino,” Tanco said in a text message.
Robredo served as one of the guests during Capiz’s 111th founding anniversary celebration on April 13–15.
For his part, Mayor Angel Alan Celino said the DILG secretary was instrumental in the development of modern police stations here and in the province. Celino said he is a great loss for the Filipino people, a sentiment shared by businessman Emmanuel Billones, Sr.
Robredo’s body was located and retrieved after three days of intensive search and rescue operations off the coast of Masbate City.
Robredo was one of the seven Cabinet secretaries who joined the Capiceños in celebrating the province’s 111th anniversary.
In his visit to this city, Robredo called for a responsible mining in Capiz, among others. According to Robredo, while mining is both an opportunity and a vehicle for jobs generation, the government continues to advocate for responsible mining. Responsible mining considers a variety of factors including the environmental impact of the activity and the danger it poses to the people, Robredo said.
Helen Mestidio, DILG Capiz chief, describes Robredo as simple, quiet and hardworking. The DILG chief’s projects in the province includes, among others, the Sagana Ligtas na Tubig, one worth 7 million awarded to the pilot town of President Roxas. But during his April visit this year, Robredo included five more towns--namely: Tapaz, Sigma, Sapian, Dumarao and Jamindan--as recipients of the said project with P7 million each, and also facilitated a rural health project to Cuartero worth P1M. Fifty percent of the household in the said towns have no access to potable water.
To share the country’s grief and loss of the said official, the DILG Capiz Provincial Office sponsored a Mass on August 28 at the Our Lady Of Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in downtown Roxas City, attended by government employees, local chief executives and the general public.
ROXAS City—Over the weekend, government officials in Capiz province and Roxas City had their share of grief over the death of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse M. Robredo.
Robredo, who, with two others, went missing after the private plane carrying them crashed off Masbate on Saturday, was found in the cabin of the plane in the morning of August 21. He was 54.
Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco, Sr. said he was very saddened when it was relayed to him that Robredo, former mayor of Naga City, had died.
“We have lost a champion of good governance and an advocate of transparency, accountability and people’s participation, a great loss to the administration of President Aquino,” Tanco said in a text message.
Robredo served as one of the guests during Capiz’s 111th founding anniversary celebration on April 13–15.
For his part, Mayor Angel Alan Celino said the DILG secretary was instrumental in the development of modern police stations here and in the province. Celino said he is a great loss for the Filipino people, a sentiment shared by businessman Emmanuel Billones, Sr.
Robredo’s body was located and retrieved after three days of intensive search and rescue operations off the coast of Masbate City.
Robredo was one of the seven Cabinet secretaries who joined the Capiceños in celebrating the province’s 111th anniversary.
In his visit to this city, Robredo called for a responsible mining in Capiz, among others. According to Robredo, while mining is both an opportunity and a vehicle for jobs generation, the government continues to advocate for responsible mining. Responsible mining considers a variety of factors including the environmental impact of the activity and the danger it poses to the people, Robredo said.
Helen Mestidio, DILG Capiz chief, describes Robredo as simple, quiet and hardworking. The DILG chief’s projects in the province includes, among others, the Sagana Ligtas na Tubig, one worth 7 million awarded to the pilot town of President Roxas. But during his April visit this year, Robredo included five more towns--namely: Tapaz, Sigma, Sapian, Dumarao and Jamindan--as recipients of the said project with P7 million each, and also facilitated a rural health project to Cuartero worth P1M. Fifty percent of the household in the said towns have no access to potable water.
To share the country’s grief and loss of the said official, the DILG Capiz Provincial Office sponsored a Mass on August 28 at the Our Lady Of Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in downtown Roxas City, attended by government employees, local chief executives and the general public.
GSIS opens emergency loan window in 5 Vis-Min towns
Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) President and General Manager Robert G. Vergara announced the opening of the Emergency Loan window to members residing or working in five more municipalities in Visayas and Mindanao that were affected by the inclement weather in recent weeks.“Government workers residing or working in Banaybayan, Banaybayan, Davao Oriental; Culasi, Antique; Lawa-an, Antique; Talisay City, Cebu; and Valladolid, Negros Occidental may now apply for the loan until September 17,” Vergara said.
These areas, according to Vergara, have been placed under a state of calamity following the heavy rains and flash floods brought about by typhoon Gener, Ferdie and the Southwest monsoon in the past three weeks.
Close to 3,000 GSIS members in the five municipalities are set to avail of the loan program. The GSIS has set aside a budget of Php 54.6 million for the program.
Interested individuals may apply for the loan through the nearest GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GWAPS) kiosks. The proceeds will be electronically credited to the GSIS members’ account through their UMID cards. Members who do not have UMID cards may apply over-the-counter in any GSIS office.
The loan facility is available to members who work or reside in the calamity areas; not on leave of absence without pay; have no pending or administrative charge; have no arrears in premium payment; and have no loan that remain unpaid for six months or longer.
The agency of the member-applicant must not also be suspended because of non-payment and non-remittance of premiums and loans.
Kiwanis hosts summit in Roxas
By Boy Ryan Zabal
ROXAS City—Kiwanians across Visayas and Mindanao will gather in this city for their 37th Annual District Convention on September 13–15. More than 400 members of Kiwanis International Philippines are expected to attend the convention at the San Antonio Resort and the Kapis Mansions.
The organization’s Division 2B (Panay), led by District Governor Kenneth Alovera and Convention Chairman Alfonso “Bo” Bediones, Jr., will host the south district convention.
Aside from business and educational events and recognition of the club and individual members, the convention will host and feature excellent guest speakers, fun activities and fellowships.
Highlights of the convention include a grand opening ceremony and the election of district governor. During the convention, Dr. Steve Rood, country representative of The Asia Foundation, and Efren Balajadia of the Books for Asia Program, will also turn over books to their beneficiary schools.
Delegates will also celebrate the 25 years of women in Kiwanis, and the Asia Foundations’ Storyline in Asia, in partnership with the Kiwanis Book Bank Program and in observance of the International Literacy Day.
Kiwanis International supports the Eliminate Project, a worldwide initiative with the United Nations Children’s Fund that aims to eliminate neonatal tetanus around the world to save about 129 million mothers and their future babies from the disease by 2015.
Mayor Alan’s Blue Ladies
By Maria Elena Deocampo
Women are the pillars of the society. They juggle work with family tasks like watching over their kids. Creating a group for these women strengthens their role towards change.
Mayor Angel Alan B. Celino believes in the power of women. In recognition of their vital role in society, the mayor effected the formation of the so-called Blue Ladies.
He would call them his Palangga Ladies, a group of women with chapters in 11 barangays which has fostered camaraderie and fellowship. Given benefits from the city government for their active participation in the community, the Blue Ladies assist in projects being implemented in their areas, like the mobile feeding program, clean-up drive and the Caravan ni Alan sa Barangay, among others.
Blue Ladies is one way of protecting the rights of woman through information dissemination and providing support system to other members. This program is a reminder to women that they are not alone and helpless… that they have sisters to watch over them.
A group livelihood project is given to them to augment their monthly income and create a means of uniting them with other members in the barangays.
The City Government, through the Blue Ladies, plans to go further in preserving the environment through waste recycling by involving students of all schools in Roxas City in the collection of trash. Involved in the undertaking are the City Mayor’s Office, the Department of Education and the City Waste management Office.
They will be the ones who will operate the Mobile Tiangge in schools. Students will redeem their equivalent points from the tiangge depending on the amount of the recyclable materials they turn over.
Plans are set for holding the Farmer’s Market Day at the Roxas City Plaza every weekend starting this first week of September this year where organic produce and homemade products will be put on display to generate income for women and their families.
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