BLESS THE BEASTS AND THE CHILDREN
DSWD 6 Assesses Ps; Year's Other Projects, Activities
By Edalyn Acta
"They have provided them more opportunities to be in school rather than becoming out-of-school children," Democrito Barrientos II, principal of Manocmanoc Elementary School said, referring to the allowances given under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The school principal made the remarks in a speech during the Yearend Conference of the DSWD VI in Best Western Visayas held Dec. , at the Boracay Tropics in Malay, Aklan. "The youths were excited because they would now go to school with something in their pocket and they do not need to walk going home," Barrientos said.
Barrientos' impression forms part of the many benefits enjoyed by least fortunate constituents under the DSWD's 4Ps.
In fact, children aren't the only ones benefited by the 4Ps. Parents and guardians are also enjoying their benefits. "On the part of the parents, they became more eager to bring their children to school because of the budget allotted for them," he said.
According to DSWD VI Information Officer May Rago-Castillo, as of November 5, some 254,483 active households have benefited from the program across Western Visayas. Of these, 37,200 or 15 percent are Capiznon households.
As of September 18, Capiz had 20% or 107 out of 526 households that had late registration approved under the program.
Capiz was the least compliant in terms of requirements to avail of education, health, and deworming programs of the 4Ps and second worst in terms of health programs for 0-5 year old children but topped the comparative average compliance turnout in family development sessions.
Aklan was the most compliant in terms of requirements to avail of health, education, and deworming benefits of the 4Ps program. Percentages didn't go down as far as 93.46% in all categories.
Some 7,924 households across the region were delisted since the start of the 4Ps program net grants on hold due to fraud, being "non-poor", and due to having irregular income.
Aside from giving cash subsidies, the DSWD's supplementary feeding program benefited some 185,198 kids from 5,557 day care centers across the region. A total of 17,053 pupils from the 540 day care centers in the municipalities of Capiz and 48 in Roxas City were fed.
In 2011, 171,548 of them from 5,448 day cares have been provided for. They spent P257,322,000 and P277,797,000 for the past two years.
This year, beneficiaries of social pension also increased - 15,743 shared some P68,694,500 worth of pension; and 1,699 of them are from Capiz. In 2012, some 12,981 shared P7,886,000.
The DSWD Regional Center for Women has discharged 113 cases out of 187 for the past four years; 83 of which are physical abuse cases; emotional abuse, 69; incest, 5; rape and neglect, .
They also gave shelter to abused and exploited girls aged to . As of September 2012, 5 of them called the Home for Girls their new home; while a year before, 48 have done so.
In 2012, the number of human trafficking cases decreased by more than 50%; only 24 cases of human trafficking were reported this year 9 from Aklan and 15 in Iloilo compared to 50 in 2011. Capiz has none this year unlike last year with 3.
DSWD also provides KALAHI-CIDSS which are town projects in collaboration with Local Government Projects. People of the towns of Maayon and Tapaz were among the 44,371 households who were served through the KC-Makamasang Tugon. Said two municipalities and Dumarao were among the LGUs eligible to receive assistance from the KC-AusAID Project.
Upcoming projects include one day-care center each in Maayon and Tapaz and two school buildings in Dumarao; three in Maayon; and six in Tapaz.
On This Site Will Rise Black Nazarene Shrine To Be Given For Faith For Capiznons
By Ralph John Mijares and Jose Arsenio Quinzon
Capiz will no longer be just the Seafood Capital of the Philippines, but also a religious destination for the millions of Catholics across the country. Such is the vision of Mr. Antonio Ortiz, owner of the San Antonio Resort and its group of companies.
Emanating from the mandate of the new Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Capiz, Msgr. Jose Advincula, a new shrine dedicated to the Nuestro Señor Jesus Nazareno (Black Nazarene) is being constructed in Ortiz's San Antonio Resort Village in barangay Baybay in Roxas City.
As one of the 19 shrines across Capiz proposed for construction, this mission station is Mr. Ortiz's way of "paying back what God gave" to him and his family. "Everything I have belongs to God; I am just His steward," said Mr. Ortiz, who donated the lot on which the said shrine will rise.
For Ortiz, now that the Catholics are celebrating the International Year of Faith, it is apt to build the Shrine for the Archdiocese and its faithful. Such effort is directed to help strengthen their faith which for him is undergoing "desertification."
In an interview, Msgr. Policarpio John Luza said that the shrine is intended for people who are encountering difficulties [in life] and are looking for [patrons] to intercede about them."
During the past years that the Black Nazarene has been in the province, it was flocked by the people who believe in its powers of healing.
"This mission-station is being built to bring the Church closer to the people again in this International Year of Faith," said Mr. Ortiz, which is confirmed by Msgr. Luza.
With continuous construction funded by local lay-faithful, the Shrine of Nuestro Señor Jesus Nazareno was blessed during the first Dawn Mass (Misa Dulom) on December 6.
According to Msgr. Victor Bendico, rector of the Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral (ICMC), on January , the Archdiocese will lead a procession of the Black Nazarene from the Cathedral to the mission station in Baybay, coinciding with the same celebration in Quiapo Church in Manila.
In anticipation of things to come, Bendico hopes the procession would later become a tradition here in Capiz, allowing for Nazareno devotees to celebrate His feast every year without anymore going to Quiapo in Manila.
Other mission stations (shrines) currently being constructed in various locations are in Brgy. Bolo intended for the Most Holy Rosary and the Shrine for Padre Pio in Brgy. Gabu-an, both in Roxas City.
SSS offers higher loans, more flexible terms
By Davy Gregorio
Members of the Social Security System (SSS) can now look forward to higher salary loan amounts and more flexible terms under the agency's revised lending guidelines that took effect Dec. 1, 2012.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio De Quiros, Jr. said the new guidelines - approved by the Social Security Commission (SSC) on April 18, 2012 - aim to align the SSS salary loan program with prevailing market conditions.
"Amid the current low interest rates, the SSS relaxed its lending terms and conditions that result in a higher maximum loanable amount, bigger net loan proceeds, lower computation of interest payments and earlier loan renewals for members," De Quiros said.
The SSS deferred the guidelines implementation to prepare its computerized loan system for the changes and to avoid disrupting the processing of members applications for the Loan Penalty Condonation Program, which was open for availment from April 2 to September 30, .
Under the new salary loan guidelines, members can file for renewal if they have already paid at least 50 per cent of the principal loan amount and at least half of the two-year loan term has lapsed.
In the past, members can only renew their loan if the outstanding balance is P500 or lower.
De Quiros, said that while the loanable amount remains based on the average of the members latest 12-posted monthly salary credits (MSC), the new guidelines provide a maximum salary loan of P30,000, higher than the previous P24,000. Members paying at the current P15,000 maximum MSC become entitled to the full amount of two-month salary loan, which is now P30,000.
"As added flexibility, members can indicate how much they want to borrow as long as it is within their loanable amount," he added.
The loan shall be amortized over a -month period and the 10 percent annual loan interest shall no longer be deducted in advance, which translates to bigger net loan proceeds.
In an earlier statement, the SSS cited the lack of basis on allegations of loan overcharging and said it adheres to accepted policies on credit-granting.
The SSC resolution issued in 2000 and amended in 2004 served as SSS guide in administering its salary loan program for the past several years.
"Since there is no ground on overcharging, there is also no basis on the giving of refunds to borrowers," De Quiros said.
Further, "the SSS is open to queries so that we can make clarifications for the benefit of members and stakeholder,"
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