ESSU elected as member of the Board of LoGoTRI-PhilNet
BORONGAN CITY-The Local Governance Training and Research Institutes (LogoTRI-PhilNet) has elected Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) represented by Dr. Vicente Agda, Jr., director for Extension, as one of the members of the Board of Directors for 2019-2022 during its convention for renewing commitment to local governance capacity building held last April 23-25, 2019 in Pasig City.
The LoGoTRI-PhilNet is the country’s response to rationalize and direct the capacity development efforts in local governance and to institute mechanisms towards a sustained, responsive, appropriate, transparent, accountable, and quality capacity building interventions to the local governments. Patterned after the Local Government Training and Research Institutes (LOGOTRI) in the Asia-Pacific, the Local Government Academy of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (LGA-DILG) has facilitated its establishment on September 12, 2003 during the National Convention of Local Resource Institutions (LRIs) held in Los Baños, Laguna.
ESSU as one of the local resource institutes (LRI) of the DILG has also been tapped through Dr. Agda as chair for Programs and Education of LogoTRI-PhilNet. The network which is composed of public and private higher educational institutions, NGOs and people’s organization throughout the country will engage local government units in capacity development interventions and services through the online capacity development market system (OCDMS).
LoGoTRI-PhilNet aims to: 1) adopt a holistic institutional development or reform framework for integrated and concerted action by installing functional systems and mechanisms including but not limited to the sharing of best practices, innovations and resources; 2) ensure institutional development of member LRIs and the network through the establishment of quality standards, accreditation schemes and academic consortia; and 3) espouse good governance principles and values by strengthening grassroots democracy and promoting transparency and accountability, among others.
Elected as president of the network is the De La Salle University, represented by Dr. Marlon Era.
As LRI, ESSU was also invited by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to attend the Newly-Elected Officials’ (NEO) Program Managers’ Orientation held on April 29-May 2, in Cebu City.
ESSU President Dr. Edmundo Campoto expressed his gratitude for the windows of opportunities afforded to the university in terms of forging various linkages particularly in the areas of research and extension. (PR)
Tinocdugan Elementary School has a new classroom donated by the Leyte provincial government
BY: JENNIFER C. CAMARINES
The Tinocdugan Elementary School in Leyte town, Leyte province will soon have a new school building consisting of one classroom.
Thanks to the donation made by the provincial government through Governor Leopoldo Dominico ‘Mic’ Petilla.
Earlier, a resolution signed by the school head and barangay officials was submitted to the Office of the Governor seeking support for the construction of additional school building for the Tinocdugan Elementary School, about 15 kms away from the town center.
Thankfully, Gov. Petilla responded positively that led to the construction of the school’s new classroom.
Needless to say, the donation will be a big help to the school which suffered devastation when super typhoon hit Leyte town on November 8,2013.
The construction of the new building worth P1.2 million started on May 20 of this year and is expected to be completed on September 20.
(Note: The author is the teacher-in-charge of the Tinocdugan Elementary School in Leyte,Leyte)
Earthquake safety at school
It’s good to be prepared always, thus the need to strengthen the capacity of schools to enable them to respond in the event of disasters and emergencies to save more lives and ensure resilience.
Recently, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has warned of a possible strong earthquake in Leyte as the Philippine Fault in the province never had significant shaking in more than 100 years.
Aiming for disaster resilience, Gov. E. Jaro Elementary School (GEJES) in Babatngon II District has initiated its disaster risk reduction (DRR) programs that prepare students and teachers for different disasters.
According to Head Valentin C. Trapela, the school regularly conducts earthquake drills.
“All students and teachers participate in the regular drills, where they pass through the designated routes to evacuate,” Trapela said.
Trapela emphasized the importance of preparing for earthquakes through regular drills, as the province of Leyte is prone to earthquakes, and earthquakes are more difficult to predict.
Barangay Gov. E. Jaro, where the school is located is also prone to flood, being located near Bagahupi River.
But Trapela said it is easier to predict floods. “We can see it coming, and people can make announcements right away. Unlike with earthquakes, there aren’t announcements for that, except when it actually happens, then that’s when you respond. That’s why we focus on having earthquake drills,” Trapela said.
Aside from strengthening the capacity of the school, GEJES has also bolstered its partnership with different agencies for the promotion of volunteerism, humanitarian values, and culture of safety and health through trainings on life saving and first aid.
The local Philippine National Police (PNP) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the local government unit have been active partners for activities and programs involving disaster risk reduction. These technical assistance strengthens the capacity of the school and help minimize and efficiently respond to the impact of disasters.
This also becomes an opportunity for the school officials to ask the PNP and BFP for evaluations and recommendations, either written or oral, and uses then to improve the program.
“We study the evaluations. Whatever they point as weaknesses, that’s what we keep in mind for improvement. What they point out as okay, that’s what we maintain,” Trapela said.
Every year, GEJES boosts the disaster awareness and preparedness through the conduct of quarterly nationwide simultaneous earthquake drills (NSED).
Trapela meanwhile hoped that GEJES’ DRR programs will equip all members of the GEJES community with the knowledge and skills to prepare for any kind of disaster.
“We urge our students to take earthquake drills seriously so they would know what to do when a strong tremor happens. We also asked them to share what they learned in the drills to their families,” Trapela said.
The Leyte Island fault line is part of the 1,200 kilometer-long Philippine fault zone, a major tectonic feature that transects the while Philippine archipelago from northwestern Luzon to southeastern Mindanao.
The presence of active fault zone have put some areas in Eastern Visayas as high risk to earthquakes.
“As they say, it’s good to be prepared,” he said.
(Note: The author is a Teacher III of Gov. E. Jaro Elementary School in Babatngon District, Babatngon,Leyte)
BY SHELLARICA C. ARINTO
DILG urges governors, mayors to create Local Governance Transition Teams
TACLOBAN CITY-The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through Director Artemio B. Caneja urged Local Chief Executives (LCEs) in Eastern Visayas especially those outgoing officials to initiate the creation of the Local Governance Transition Team.
Regional Director Caneja revealed that it is imperative to prepare for an effective turnover of responsibility as part of ensuring continuity in local governance, as enunciated by Secretary Eduardo Año.
Pursuant to Memorandum Circular 2019-39, the team is responsible in conducting an inventory of the properties of their respective LGUs. These include the immovable properties such as the land, buildings, infrastructure facilities and its improvements, and machineries made immovable as well as the movable properties like the vehicles, office equipment, furniture, fixtures, and office supply stocks, among others.
Director Caneja said all official documents and/or records of LGU official transactions such as, but not limited to, Governance Assessment Report (CY 2018) and Commission on Audit Report (CY 2018) should be gathered, secured, and preserved by the newly elected and reelected officials.
Furthermore, the officials are directed to conduct turnover of accountabilities using the prescribed forms. They should as well organize a turnover ceremony that will include briefing on the Governance Assessment Report and key challenges to incoming set of officials to ensure a smooth local governance transition.
The DILG8 chief likewise encouraged them to accomplish and submit the Elective Local Official Personal Data Sheet (ELOPDS) not later than July 8 to their respective Human Resource Management Offices, Sanggunian, and DILG city/municipal office.
The newly-elected and reelected officials will also undergo the Program for Newly-Elected Officials (NEO) led by the Local Government Academy (LGA) which will train them on how to become effective leaders.
The NEO Program has five major components which shall be open to all elected local officials. The five components of the program are: (1) Ensuring Smooth Transition; (2) Jumpstarting Local Governance; (3) Creating the Roadmap for LGU Development; (4) Sharpening the Competencies of NEOs and Functionalities; and (5) LGU Performance Management.(PR)
DPWH Samar II employees, salute to a clean flag of the Philippines
CATBALOGAN CITY- All employees and some field personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways(DPWH)- Samar II joined the simultaneous flag ceremonies synchronized with all government agencies, ground owned and control corporation, and LGUs nationwide during the National Flag Day Celebration.
The same was held on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 at 8:00 AM at the DPWH Compound as consonance with Memorandum Circular No. 2019-76 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) enjoining DPWH and all Local Government Units (LGU) to conduct Flag Raising Ceremony Nationwide.
According to Pronove Tai website, this event was the first in Philippine history when privately owned business districts and residential villages advanced their flag display ahead of June 12 Independence Day and held simultaneous flag ceremonies to celebrate the National Flag Day.
This is also in line with 120th anniversary when the Philippine Flag was first unfurled by Emilio Aguinaldo to signify victory over Spanish colonialism in a historic battle of Alapan in Imus Cavite.
“Stop and Salute” is the present campaign of Salute to a Clean Flag movement – a non-political citizen’s initiative that aims to reignite patriotism through the abundant and proper display of the Philippine Flag.
This movement aims to spark renewed respect and love for the Philippine flag, through the re-education of the private sector in proper and visible flag management.
This celebration is the year’s project of National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and Pronov Tai International Property Consultants.
The DPWH issued a memorandum dated May 16, 2019 signed by B. Elizabeth Yap, Assistant Secretary for Support Services, directing all Undersecretaries, Asst. Secretaries, Bureau Directors, Regional Directors, Heads of UPMOs, and District Engineers to actively take part of the said national celebration.
During the flag ceremony, Creole Montallana, Administrative Officer (AO) thanked the DPWH Samar II management and to all employees for showing their respect to the one flag of the country which symbolizes victory and unity of every Filipino.
“I think we succeeded, we were united as one. There was no color, no height, and no odor. At least we are one Filipino saluting to one flag and that is the flag of the Republic of the Philippines”, he said.
(JAIME L.BERNALES/PR)