Thursday, December 6, 2012

YOUTH AWARD GIVES OUT ITS 100TH RECOGNITION

MANILA, December 6, 2012-In 2002, youth organizations from all over the Philippines were given a chance to be part of a selection of the most dynamic groups of young individuals yearning to effect positive change in their communities. This year will mark the 10th batch of winners of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) who will receive their trophies at an
  awarding ceremony with President Benigno S. Aquino III on December 6 at the Heroes Hall in Malacañang, completing its first hundred awardees.

"We once again thank our TAYO winners for being the shining light amidst the darkness of the world. Thank you for being the break of dawn that signifies the start of a new, changed day. Thank you for showing us with your work that indeed, we have every reason to be helpful; that in fact, genuine change is now before us, is now happening, is now becoming a reality," said Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, who is recognized as the person who thought of recognizing outstanding youth organizations.

TAYO Awards Foundation President Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV said, “When Sen. Kiko Pangilinan and the National Youth Commission started TAYO in 2002, we thought that we would soon run out of organizations and the youth will continue coming up with the same projects as before. But we are continuously surprised with the variety of projects and the number of organizations and their locations. It seems that in every corner of the country, and for every issue that our countrymen have faced, there is a youth organization working to alleviate the problem.”

Asec. Georgina Nava, the Chairperson of the TAYO 10 National Organizing Committee, surmised that "Based on the project entries that we went through during the national judging the other day, we witness the growth of agriculture and social entrepreneurship-related projects. We now see that whenever our youth sees one problem in their community, they are able to come up with various innovative solutions that respond to the situation. Talagang magaling at likas na malikhain ang mga kabataang Pilipino!“

NYC Chairman Leon G. Flores III adds, “I hope that with a hundred organizations all over the country as walking best practices, our youth get more encouraged to become socially aware and join organizations and participate in activities that aid in nation-building”.

The 10th batch of TAYO awardees come from diverse backgrounds, offering alternative approaches to seemingly similar problems. First up is the problem of the lack of electricity in remote areas. One Million Lights Philippines tied up with an international organization to access thousands of solar lamps which they were then able to distribute to needy communities all over the country. On the other hand, RMTU – Electrical Engineering Society saw the same problem in a village in Zambales, provided a solar power charging station and solar lamps to Aeta families and are now looking into providing a more sustainable renewable power source in the area.

To respond to the needs of their communities to recycle trash and generate income, two organizations made similar projects, using discarded tarpaulins to make bags. I CAN Make a Difference provided differently-abled young Zamboanguenos a way to earn a living, while the Cebuano Youth Ambassadors gave out of work moms in the slum areas the ability to provide extra income to provide for their families’ needs.

Other organizations saw the need to maintain the livelihood opportunities of people in their area. Monte Verde 4-H Club from Zamboanga City helps young farmers and their families improve their earnings not only through agricultural training for better yields, but processing their crops for better earnings. The CBA-Kalipunan Marketing Junior Executives aims to encourage organic farmers in Benguet by providing them with greenhouses, ensuring that their produce earns them enough money to make a living. On another hand, the University of Luzon Students in Free Enterprise provided fisherfolk in Pangasinan a chance to regain lost income from environmental degradation through the technology of Aquaphonics, which allow them to form fish condominiums that can also support crops like mushrooms.

The remaining three organizations focused on improving the way of life of the people around them. Angat Kabataan caused the awakening of hope and renewal of cooperation from various sectors in their town in Rizal by cleaning up and revitalizing a dead creek. Dire Husi Initiatives from Cagayan de Oro not only encouraged street children to stay away from vices, but also to go back to school, earn a living though learning a trade, and turn their lives around through a common ground, art education. The La Salle Debate Society put the Philippines on the map of the international debating scene by organizing the World Debates Championship, the largest academic gathering of students in the world, amassing not only income from tourism but fostering friendships and encouraging local support in the field of debate.

Other organizations who joined this year are: the Mu Sigma Phi Sorority and Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity, both from the UP Manila College of Medicine; Tingug-CDO; Students in Free Enterprise – Sultan Kudarat State University; Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers – Student Chapter of West Negros University; Hayag Youth Organization; Development Communication Society of Benguet State University; English Society of Aklan State University; Kythe Ateneo; and JBLFMU Molo Community Extension Service Society.

Presented by Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, TAYO Year 10 is organized by the TAYO Awards Foundation, Office of Senator Kiko Pangilinan and the National Youth Commission. It is supported by the Philippine Council of Young Leaders in Governance (PCYLG) and sponsored by Cebu Pacific, Jollibee, SMART, Cemex, Lenovo and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

JINGGOY CHALLENGES LMP: BRING BENEFITS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH TO RURAL, POOR COMMUNITIES


MANILA, December 6, 2012-“Make sure that the economic growth we have posted will trickle down to the countryside, to the far-flung communities and municipalities.”
LMP ASSEMBLY. Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada delivers a solidarity message during the 2012 General Assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) with the theme “Layunin ang Matuwid na Pamahalaan at Pagkakaisa, 2012 and beyond.” Sen. Estrada, former LMP President, cites how the anti-corruption efforts of the Aquino administration have positively affected the national economy. He also urges the local government officials to sustain the momentum in order to bring the benefits of impressive economic growth to poor and marginalized communities. 
 
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada issued this challenge to the officials and members of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) during the closing ceremonies and fellowship night last Wednesday evening.
 
The theme for this year’s general assembly is “LMP: Layunin ang Matuwid na Pamahalaan at Pagkakaisa, 2012 and Beyond.”
 
“The challenge for us, not only for the incumbent administration but more importantly for our local government units, is how to bring the blessings of growth to reach the poor, the marginalized, the disadvantaged who reside in our communities,” Sen. Estrada said in a speech.
 
Sen. Estrada served as the National President of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, during his final tenure as Mayor of San Juan City.
 
Recently, government officials have announced an impressive growth rate in our country’s gross domestic product or GDP during the third quarter of this year.
 
“The growth is reported to have reached about 7 percent, which I consider as remarkably high because it is higher than our past economic performance and relatively comparable with the record posted by our neighboring countries,” Jinggoy asserted.
 
Sen. Estrada attributed this as a result of collective effort with the present administration to rebuild and reform our society from the excesses of the previous regime.
 
“Ang buong sambayanang Pilipino ay nakulong sa selda ng kahirapan. Ikinulong sila sa kadena ng kahirapan samantalang ang pondo ng bayan ay winawaldas. Iyong mga magbubukid na dapat tulungan, ang pera dapat para sa saka nila, ninanakaw pa. Kaya iyong mga anomalya noon parang pyramiding scam din,” Sen. Estrada lamented.
 
Moreover, the lawmaker urged the local officials to be at the forefront and center of activities which engage people to become active participants and partners into achieving, and not just beneficiaries of, development and growth.
 
Lastly, Sen. Estrada urged the local legislature and councils to pass and enact laws that will be pro-poor, will bring livelihood opportunities and will protect them against exploitation and oppression.

Legarda Enjoins Filipinos in a Day of Prayer, Mourning and Awakening in the Wake of Typhoon Pablo


MANILA, December 6, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today expressed sympathy for the victims and families affected by Typhoon Pablo and enjoined Filipinos in a day of prayer, mourning and awakening.

“I deeply commiserate with the families who have lost their loved ones due to Typhoon Pablo. This tragedy should bring us together in offering prayers for the victims and all those affected. More importantly, this disaster should serve as another lesson to us. The cold statistics on the dead and missing should bring us to the realization that we still need to do more to save our communities from the painful experience of losing to disasters,” said Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change.

Latest statistics from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) revealed that at least 325 individuals died, while 379 others remained missing due to Typhoon Pablo. It has also affected more than 48,000 families in 25 provinces in the country.

However, Legarda noted an observation by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) that the death toll could have been much worse if not for the improved early warning systems in place.

“While we are saddened by the tragedy, we remain hopeful because the UNISDR recognized our improved disaster preparedness, particularly in early warning. But this should not make us complacent because one death is one too many. We should always aspire for zero casualty. In this particular experience, the need for valuable information regarding the risks in our communities was highlighted. We must provide every municipality with geo-hazard maps and make sure that these are followed to avoid exposing our homes and our people to disaster risks,” she stressed.

“As we move to relief, recovery and reconstruction, we must bear in mind that it will not be enough to build people’s lives and communities to where they were before the disaster – we need to rebuild communities with the confidence that we are not rebuilding the risks again; we need to ensure that reconstruction of homes and infrastructure will be in safer ground following sound construction standards; we need to soon re-start and create livelihoods; and restore normalcy in people’s lives with a stronger sense of hope and confidence for the future,” Legarda concluded.

On the relief operations in the wake of Typhoon Pablo


MANILA, December 6, 2012-As part of government’s relief operations, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is calling for donations in the form of dry goods. Here is a listing of the dry goods needed in the evacuation centers:
• Banig (woven mats)
• Children’s clothing
• Blankets
• Plastic sheets
• Flash lights
• Batteries
Tarpaulins are also needed for use as temporary roofing in the sites as well as generator sets to provide power to the centers. In Metro Manila, these goods and donations may be delivered to the DSWD-National Resource Operations Center located along Chapel Road in Pasay City with telephone number (02) 8528081.
A listing of donation drop-off centers for the rest of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao will be posted momentarily. Please visit the Crisis Response Page for Typhoon Pablo (http://www.gov.ph/crisis/typhoon-pablo/), the Official Gazette Facebook page at (https://www.facebook.com/govph), and follow @govph, @ndrrmc_opcen, and @dswdserves.
Social media coordination of relief efforts is being spearheaded and promoted by the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office. On Twitter, we enjoin netizens to use the hashtag #reliefPH to amplify information on what is needed by our countrymen in the wake of Typhoon Pablo. For additional information, please tweet or message @dswdserves. 
Filipino solidarity is at its most potent amidst testing times. We call on our countrymen to give generously for the relief and well-being of our brethren in the Visayas and Mindanao who, themselves, generously came to the aid of Metro Manila and Luzon in previous calamities.

On the relief operations in the wake of Typhoon Pablo


MANILA, December 6, 2012-As part of government’s relief operations, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is calling for donations in the form of dry goods. Here is a listing of the dry goods needed in the evacuation centers:
• Banig (woven mats)
• Children’s clothing
• Blankets
• Plastic sheets
• Flash lights
• Batteries
Tarpaulins are also needed for use as temporary roofing in the sites as well as generator sets to provide power to the centers. In Metro Manila, these goods and donations may be delivered to the DSWD-National Resource Operations Center located along Chapel Road in Pasay City with telephone number (02) 8528081.
A listing of donation drop-off centers for the rest of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao will be posted momentarily. Please visit the Crisis Response Page for Typhoon Pablo (http://www.gov.ph/crisis/typhoon-pablo/), the Official Gazette Facebook page at (https://www.facebook.com/govph), and follow @govph, @ndrrmc_opcen, and @dswdserves.
Social media coordination of relief efforts is being spearheaded and promoted by the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office. On Twitter, we enjoin netizens to use the hashtag #reliefPH to amplify information on what is needed by our countrymen in the wake of Typhoon Pablo. For additional information, please tweet or message @dswdserves. 
Filipino solidarity is at its most potent amidst testing times. We call on our countrymen to give generously for the relief and well-being of our brethren in the Visayas and Mindanao who, themselves, generously came to the aid of Metro Manila and Luzon in previous calamities.

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