SO NOW, the thrice-postponed Barangay and SK elections will finally push through on Monday, May 14.
These will be recorded in Philippine political history as a much-electoral exercise because of its implications that the candidates are with illegal drugs link that foster bad influence on the electorate.
Previously, there had been serious observations that the elected barangay officials do not function well according to their mandate and if they did, they only serve political masters and not the electorate who, they swore upon assumption to office, they were bound to serve.
As to the Sangguniang Kabataan officials, some sectors suggest that the real purpose for their being in office is not achieved since they emulate their corrupt and scheming elders and old politicians and the welfare and needs of the youth are not best served.
Anyway, with the conduct of the Barangay and SK elections, all these not-so-favorable observations will be set aside in favor of giving the elected officials the benefit of the doubt and give them the fair chance to serve their constituents better and not shortchange them altogether.
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An important DTI event. I attended the Business Forum on MSME Development and Disaster Resilience on May 10, 2018 at the Century Hotel, Angeles City.
Participants came from Central Luzon's seven provinces: Pampanga, Zambales, Tarlac, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija.
The topics included in the events program were: Public-Private Partnership on MSME Disaster Resilient Roadmap, Building a Regional Roadmap for MSME Disaster Resilience, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System, Natural Hazards and Risks in the Region, the Philippine Geoportal and its importance to MSME Resilience, Calamity Rehabilitation Support Fund and Building Disaster Resilient Communities through Micro Insurance.
The resource speakers, prominent in their respective fields were: Executive Director Veronica Gabaldon, Dr. Renato Solidum, Jr., Ma. Paz Montano, Irvin Quiambao of Landbank and Ghay Lyne Mapano, department head, Product Development and Management Unit, Cebuana Lhuiller Insurance Solutions.
For DTE were: Zorina Aldana, OIC, Asst. Regional Director, DTI-Central Luzon, a representative of Zenaida Maglaya, Undersecretary of DTI Regional Operations Group, Elenita Ordonio, OIC Provincial Director. Ms. Judith Angeles, DTI Region III Director was in Cagayan de Oro for some commitments.
Facilitators were: Dr. Melgabel Capistrano, Ma. Felisa Leong, Hannah Grace Escamilia, Grace Carolyn Morella, Elvira Tan, Alfee Rei Galapon, Abigail Galang and Roxanne Omega-Doron.
The DTI forum was well attended by MSME practitioners.