Dragon town conquers 2011

Saturday, December 31, 2011

THE dragonfly signifies strength and power - the same characteristics displayed by the 1st class municipality of Itogon as it chalked up one achievement after the other in 2011.

The dragonfly, as a symbol of the town, is under the suborder Anisoptera of order Odonata. Dragonflies abound in the municipality. These feed on mosquitoes which is a great advantage for the town.

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In the yearlong achievements, the town proved it indeed deserved to be called the dragon town of Benguet.

On May 26, Municipal Mayor Oscar Camantiles received a plaque of distinction in Sagada, Mt. Province from the Philippine Councilors’ League–Benguet Chapter.

The town’s Mt. Ugo Summer Climb bagged the best tourism event in the country in the nature, sports and wellness category awarded by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (Atop) in its 12th National Convention on October 5 in Roxas City, Capiz.

Apart from other older achievements, the town bagged several awards during the Adivay celebrations last November. The town grabbed the title of Ms. Benguet 2011 through Lora Cris Almoza on the night of November 12.

The Provincial Government recognized the town’s 9th Mt. Ugo Summer Climb for being one of the national awardees of the Atop on November 23 during the achievers’ day. Still on the Adivay celebration, Fianza Memorial National High School performing arts group was hailed as winner in the dance drama cultural theatrical competition on November 23.

On the same day, the Provincial Government awarded the Best Lupong Tagapamaya to Barangay Tuding, Itogon in the 1st to 3rd class municipal barangay category. The town was further declared as champion in different events like egg catching, chess, bowling – singles and team (both men and women), volleyball ladies, and flower arrangement.

On December 9, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) declared the town as the best barangay peace and order council in the Cordillera. In addition, SN Abiotiz Power awarded the best CSR “Green Turbine” project to the municipality with the provincial government last December 16.

And as the New Year approaches, another award is set to reach the town, which is from the DILG. It is the seal of good governance, which is a national award still to be given this coming January.

Indeed, the dragonflies to the fulfillment of its outmost existence as a symbol of power.

Itogon, Tublay awarded outstanding peacekeepers

The search has ended and winners were discovered; two municipalities of Benguet were declared as outstanding lupon tagapamayapa of the year.

Barangay Tuding, Itogon was honored as outstanding lupon tagapamayapa in the 1st to 3rd class municipal barangay category with a rating of 96.25 percent. Barangay Ambassador, Tublay on the other hand, was hailed outstanding lupon tagapamayapa in the 4th to 6th class municipal barangay category with 92.25 percent rating.

In the 1st to 3rd class municipal barangay category, Barangay Paco, Mankayan topped second with 93.75 percent rating. Next to it is Barangay Bangao, Buguias with a rating of 92.75 percent. The fourth place is Barangay Sinacbat, Bakun with 88.75 percent rating.

Meanwhile, in the 4th to 6th class municipal barangay category, Barangay Banangan, Sablan with a rating of 90 percent ranked second. Another barangay of Tublay which is Caponga was honored as third place with 88.75 percent rating.

These awardees were acknowledged during the Adivay celebration of Benguet. The first placers received P40,000 while P25,000 for the second place. The third and fourth placers received P15,000 and P7,500, respectively. The awardees were also given plaques of recognition.

The Provincial Government conducts the search yearly. This is to recognize the exemplary performance of lupon which contributes to the attainment of indigenous mediating systems in resolving disputes.

The evaluators were the Department of the Interior and Local Government of Benguet, Liga ng mga Barangay–Benguet Chapter, Department of Justice–Benguet and the Regional Trial Court of Benguet.

One of the criteria for the evaluation is the efficiency in operations in the observance of settlement procedures and deadlines; conduct of monthly meetings for Katarungang Pambarangay (KP); systematic maintenance of records of the cases; and timely submission of reports.

Another criterion used is the effectiveness in securing the objectives of the KP program which is measurable through quantity of settled cases against cases filed; quantity of settlement of cases; and at least 80 percent compliance with the terms of settlement.

The third criterion is creativity and resourcefulness of Lupong Tagapamayapa in terms of innovative mediation techniques; active coordination with concerned agencies; and sustained advocacy efforts in the promotion of KP among others.

Benguet soars high with numerous awards

Five individuals were given recognition for their exemplary performance and contribution to development at the Ben Palispis Auditorium on November 23 as a highlight of the 111th Benguet Foundation Day celebrations.

The recognition award which used to be called leadership awards in the past was dubbed Benguet Achievers this year.

The Benguet Achievers were Francis Ching, Dr. Violeta Salda, Genice Dalislis, Edgar Madlaing and the Mt. Ugo Summer Climb, while Reynaldo Carlos was given a special award.

Francis Ching of Cada, Mankayan is the 2010 National Gawad Saka awardee of the Department of Agriculture under the “Outstanding High Value Crops Farmer” category. He also won the Cordillera search for Gawad Saka Award title last year as “Outstanding High Value Commercial Crops Farmer.”

Ching, whose farm is already established, supplies high-end markets such as Dole-Asia, Kentucky Fried Chicken among others.

Benguet State University (BSU) chief Science Research Specialist Dr. Violeta Salda is one of the 2011 Lingkod Bayan Awardees of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for her outstanding work performance and exceptional service for the government. Salda currently manages the Benguet Vegetable Processing Center of the BSU which produces vegetable fortified organic noodles and other vegetable processed products.

Genice Dalisdis from Tuba is the 2010 National Gawad Saka awardee as “Outstanding Small Animal Raiser.” She ventures on a swine business which thrived and has expanded due to her determination.

Edgar Madlaing, Master Teacher I, Benguet National High School is one of the semi-finalists of 2011 Dangal ng Bayan awardees of the CSC at the national level. Madlaing assisted during the Little Kibungan tragic incident in 2009 wrought by Typhoon Pepeng, which claimed lives and damaged properties.

Reynaldo Carlos of Tadian, Mt Province, a bus driver of Lizardo Trans, was also accorded with honors due to his heroic act for saving the lives of passengers on board the bus he is driving along the critical road in Ambassador, Tublay at the height of typhoon Mina.

Meanwhile, as Fongwan’s 2011 accomplishment, he increased the revenue collection through his governance as the head of the province. He negotiated with National Power Corporation, TRANSCO, Hydro power and large mining companies which greatly increased the collection of the province’s share in the national wealth generated by these companies.

Fongwan also improved health services through strengthening inter - local health zones. He initiated the improvement of the five district hospitals of the province, namely: Atok District Hospital; Abatan Emergency Hospital in Buguias; Dennis Molintas Municipal Hospital in Bokod; Itogon Municipal Hospital; and Kapangan Medicare Community Hospital by upgrading their health facilities for fast and efficient delivery of health services to the people.

Apart from increasing the budget of these hospitals from P49 million in 2008 to P57.5 million in 2009 and P61.8 million for 2010, six ambulances and other medical equipment were acquired from PCSO for use of the district hospitals and Benguet General Hospital including trainings for health personnel.

Through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), three X-ray machines were acquired for Kapangan Medicare Community Hospital, Abatan Emergency Hospital and Dennis Molintas Municipal Hospital.

Water systems and other facilities of these hospitals were also improved. In addition, the rural health units (RHU) buildings in Kapangan, Bokod, and Mankayan were constructed and improved, including various health stations in the province. Additional doctors and nurses were also hired to man the emergency room of Benguet General Hospital for 24 hours.

Moreover, Fongwan was challenged by the lack of sports center, he moved for the development of the Benguet Sports Center in Wangal, La Trinidad. The ground oval, drainage system and grand stand were constructed. An amount of P6.5 million was set aside for the construction of covered bleachers in the area.

The province of Benguet was given a national award this year for universal coverage under the PhilHealth sponsored program for surpassing its target. The province gained recognition as one of the top provinces in the country which has the most number of enrollees.

Fongwan is one of the 46 awardees for the government’s Gawad Pamana ng Lahi awardee for this year. He received the award for the province for winning the provincial honors in various social development, environment and good governance projects.

These were among the awards and accomplishment the province and its towns has achieved for 2011. Hope more dragons will soar for the coming year.