LTO 3rd District conducts Deputation and Re-orientation seminar

LTO 3rd District Chief of Office Noel Barbacena begins the seminar with LTO's system on licensing.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) 3rd District conducted a two-day Deputation and Re-orientation seminar for Philippine National Police (PNP) Personnel on 21-22 July 2015 at Tuburan, Ligao City. Participated by 69 PNP Personnel from Ligao City, Guinobatan, Oas, Polangui, Pioduran, Jovellar, Libon, and Camalig, the seminar aims to re-orient the participants with existing transportation and traffic laws as well as update them with the changes in the LTO system. Likewise, the activity addresses the need to increase the number of deputized PNP Personnel that will reinforce transportation and traffic laws.

LTO Assistant Regional Director Vince Nato said that there is a need for more deputized PNP Personnel to monitor road safety of drivers and pedestrians. Every year, around 60,000 new vehicles are added in the Bicol region, according to ARD Nato. He also added that 60% of crimes committed in the region involve vehicles. Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez also emphasized the existing problem with the increasing road violations and accidents due to lack of deputation. Law enforcement officers are tied up because they are not authorized to enforce land transportation laws, rules, and regulations such as R.A. 4136.

Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua advised the participants to be strict in enforcing traffic laws. She emphasized that the rules and regulations must apply to all and no special treatment must be displayed to selected persons who committed a violation. ARD Nato, however, reminded the participants to use their power righteously and not abuse their authority.

LTO 3rd District Chief of Office Noel Barbacena is the forefront the two-day seminar. The activity highlighted several misconceptions in traffic laws and discussed transportation rules and regulations in a problem-solving approach.| Written by Lala Peñafiel

Ligao City hails first 57 women graduates of beauty care and hairdressing training

Fifty seven (57) women from different barangays of Ligao City graduated from the 1st Beauty Care and Hairdressing training program on 20 July 2015 at the JMR Productivity Center, Tuburan, Ligao City. The training program is a collaborative implementation of the City Government of Ligao, Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Technical Education and Skills Development (TESDA) under the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) program and Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the DSWD.

(left-right) Evegate Academy President Yco Tan, Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez, DSWD Regional Project Director Gina B. Millete, DSWD Region 5 Assistant Director Corazon B. Mina, and Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua congratulates the graduates of the beauty care and hairdressing course.  Photo courtesy of City Government of Ligao

With trainers Jenilyn Florante and Beverly Perez of the Evegate Technical Development Academy, the women were trained to perform basic hair care services such as hair cutting, hair coloring, hair bleaching, hair perming, hair and scalp treatment, and applying make-up. They were also trained to perform beauty care services like manicure and pedicure, hand spa, foot spa, and nail art.

After completing the program, the women underwent a Competency Assessment administered by TESDA and received a Beauty Care National Certificate (NC) II and Hairdressing NC II for passing the assessment.

The graduates also received starter kits to help them continuously practice their skills in beauty care and hairdressing. Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua encouraged the women graduates to utilize the starter kits to earn profits by doing home service within their community.

The Beauty Care and Hairdressing course, along with other training programs under BUB, gives opportunities to the marginalized communities to improve their living standards by helping them develop competency in different skills set. According to Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez, the beauty of the BUB is that communities are involved in the development of capability building programs. Upon consultation from the community, the local government with the DSWD formulates a decision based on the need of the community. These programs also help unemployed citizens to find a living or earn profits in their local areas instead of leaving their families for employment abroad, added Congressman Gonzalez.

Further, Evegate Academy President Yco Tan said that numerous employment opportunities are now available to women unlike in the old times. Several companies are now hiring female job seekers to work on male-dominated occupations such as butchers, welders, and painters. This leaves a conclusion that women are now more capable and empowered to perform tasks that were originally maintained by men, to which President Tan added a funny remark, “magtira naman kayo [leave something for us].” He also urged the graduates to spread the stories and invite more citizens to join the training.
Written by Lala Peñafiel.

DepEd Sec. Luistro visits Ligao LGU-funded school buildings

DepEd Sec. Armin Luistro (4th from left) a recently completed school building at Ligao East Central Elementary School. He was joined by Assistant Schools Div. Superintendent Ma. Luisa P. Samaniego (far left), Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua (2nd from left), Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez (3rd from left), Regional Ramon Fiel Abcede and representatives from DepEd Division office. Photo courtesy of City Government of Ligao

Before proceeding to the Department of Education (DepEd) Grand Summit at Albay Astrodome, DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro visited some of the LGU-funded school buildings in Ligao City on 14 July 2015. Accompanied by Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez, Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua, Regional Director Ramon Fiel Abcede of Deped Region V, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Ma. Luisa P. Samaniego, together with the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Sec. Luistro went to Ligao National High School, DepEd City Division Office, and Ligao East Central School to check on the state-of-the-art facilities.

As Sec. Luistro tours around the Ligao National High School campus, Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez explains the developments that were made in the campus. LNHS' Principal Mrs. Carmelita A. Sinson also shared the plan to replace old facilities in the school.

Sec. Luistro was also impressed by the reports presented by the local government regarding the budget allocation for the construction of the school facilities. He was surprised to know that school buildings were constructed at lower costs without compromising the quality and design of the facilities. One of the projects that were showcased includes the recently completed school buildings for the Ligao Community College which only cost 23 million pesos. Congressman Gonzalez also suggested to Sec. Luistro the construction of two-storey school buildings to maximize the use of school sites.
Written by Lala Peñafiel

61-year old mother finally gets high school diploma

On 12 July 2015, 57 learners graduated from the Alternative Learning System (ALS) at the Department of Education (DepEd) Division office, Ligao City. One of them is the 61-year old mother of five and a resident of Barangay Ranao-Ranao, Lilia L. Nepomuceno. 

61-year old Lilia L. Nepomuceno finally receives her high school diploma with her husband.

A mother’s dream

“Narito ang isang ina na minsang naghangad ng sariling diploma, [Here is a mother who once dreamed of having her own diploma]” said Nepomuceno during the graduation ceremony. Nepomuceno have always dreamed of having her own high school diploma but due to poverty she was forced to leave her second year in high school and work as house help in Metro Manila. In 2007, Nepomuceno heard about the ALS program but felt hesitant to join the program. Then finally on January 2014, she joined ALS.

Despite her and her husband’s lack of resources to finish secondary level education, they were able to give their children full support to finish school. Their five children have successfully reached tertiary level education with bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, nursing, commerce, and education. Seeing her children achieve and settled with good education, Nepomuceno decided to finally reach her lifelong dream of achieving a high school diploma through the ALS program.

57 graduates received their diploma on 12 July 2015 for finishing the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program and passing the Accreditation and Equivalency (A & E) Examination on 14 December 2015. With them are Ligao Women’s Club President and former Ligao City Mayor Linda P. Gonzalez (6th from left), Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua (7th from left), Assistant Schools Div. Superintendent Ma. Luisa P. Samaniego (center), city councilors, schools division supervisors, faculties, and local officials.Photo courtesy of City Government of Ligao

Nepomuceno, like her fellow graduates of ALS, passed the Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) Examination held last 14 December 2014. They all received a certificate signed by the highest official of DepEd, Secretary Armin Luistro.

When asked about her plans after graduation, Nepomuceno said that she might help in the barangay as her way of giving back to the community.

Age does not matter

Fe J. Pradia (left) graduated from ALS with flying colors.

Aside from Nepomuceno, Fe J. Pradia a 54-year old resident of Ranao-Ranao, Ligao City also found a turning point of her life when she met Lorna Besin, a Literacy Volunteer in East District.

Pradia is a native of Leyte. Like Nepomuceno, she did not finish high school due to lack of resources. She also took a job as house help to make ends meet. In 1994, she settled down with her husband in Ligao City.

When Besin went to her house to talk about the ALS program, Pradia was hesitant to join the program because she was conscious about her age. Besin told her, “walang matanda o bata dito [age does not matter here].”

Pradia did not only finish the program with good standing but with flying colors. She was awarded with Best in Math and Science, and Best in Sustainable Use of Resources/Productivity.

Pradia plans to take vocational course in culinary to improve her skills which she can use to improve their food vending business.

Towards “Zero Out-of-School Adults”

ALS has changed the lives of many out-of-school youths and adults. Like Nepomuceno and Pradia, many were deprived with formal education due to lack of resources. However, poverty did not hinder them to realize and achieve their goals no matter how old they are.

As Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua said in her speech, poverty should not hinder people in learning. Those who are born from poor families should not die in poverty, and that poverty should not be for lifetime. Every person holds his own fortune.

The 57 graduates were only among the hundreds of people who reaped the benefits of ALS. Most of the ALS graduates pursued a college degree and became professionals.

ALS is a program of DepEd that gives the marginalized people an opportunity to gain knowledge and skills by bringing education closer to their homes. It aims to target the “zero out-of-school adults” to which the graduation ceremony theme, “Walang kabataang Pilipinong maiiwan [No Filipino youth will be left behind]” was anchored.

Former Ligao City Mayor Linda P. Gonzalez also urged the graduates to spread the word, to inform other out-of-school youths and adults about the beauty of ALS.

The local government, non-government organizations, and other government agencies are partnering to develop and implement programs for the marginalized and underserved communities. In the previous months, Ligao City held graduation ceremonies for the first batch of dressmakers who passed and received a National Certificate II in Dressmaking, and for the 100 farmers who finished a season-long training in organic vegetable production. Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez is also making a major contribution to improve the learning experience of out-of-school adults. He has donated laptops and projectors to help the learners experience e-learning.

Written by Lala Peñafiel 

LOOK: Photos of recently completed classrooms of Ligao Community College campus

The Ligao Community College (LCC) is now occupying a new campus at Guilid, Ligao City with newly completed 26 classrooms. With an allocated fund of only 23 million pesos, the state-of-the-art facility is complete with air-conditioned rooms, ceiling fans, laboratories, rest rooms, and a separate building for the Administration. Each classroom has a capacity of 45 students.

The Ligao Community College campus is now complete with 46 classrooms. Photo courtesy of City Government of Ligao

Previously, LCC holds its night classes at Ligao National High School. With its new facilities, LCC students now occupies the new LCC grounds.

Photo courtesy of City Government of Ligao

Photo courtesy of City Government of Ligao

Photo courtesy of City Government of Ligao

Photo courtesy of City Government of Ligao

Photo courtesy of City Government of Ligao

The establishment of the LCC campus is anchored in the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order No. 32 which includes guidelines on the establishment of local colleges.

Ligao City holds 3-day workshop on Forest Land Use Planning

Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez talks before the participants of the 3-day workshop on forest land use planning.

The City Government of Ligao in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 3rd Congressional District of Albay, and Deutsche Geselschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, is currently holding a three-day workshop on Forest Land Use Planning on 1 July 2015 and will continue through 3 July 2015. Officials from different barangays and the local government were among the stakeholders in the workshop.

The government conducts forest land use planning to properly allocate and manage forest and forestlands (FFL) as natural resources. Likewise, the planning aims to balance the production activities and protection of forest and conservation of biodiversity. The Forest Land Use Plan (FLUP), an expected output from the workshop, shall be integrated in the LGU’s Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUP) [1].

OIC-CENR Officer Marlon S. Francia of DENR Regional Office V said that the goal of forest land use planning is to preserve the forest and biodiversity, and attain a sustainable economic growth despite the increase in human population, land conversion, and globalization.

Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua seeks the cooperation of the stakeholders to actively participate throughout the three-day workshop as this will ease the flow of planning and production of the mandated FLUP.

[1] FMB Technical Bulletin No. 2 Forest Land Use Planning. Forest Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, FMB Building, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines. April 2014

Written by Lala Peñafiel 

100 farmers graduate from 1st Season-long Training on Organic Vegetable Production

The graduates of the 1st season-long training on Organic Vegetable Production with Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez (center), Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua (fourth from right), DSWD Regional Project Coordinator Gina B. Millete (fourth from left), and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod. Photo courtesy of City Government of Ligao

100 farmers from Ligao City were recognized for finishing the 1st season-long training on organic vegetable production on 1 July 2015. The training is a collaborative program of the City Government of Ligao, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) under the Bottom-Up Budgeting Program and Sustainable Livelihood Program of DSWD.

The farmers were trained how to practice organic farming using modern technologies. With Engr. Dexter Mendoza as Focal Person on Organic Agriculture, the farmers were also trained to practice vegetable farming without the use of pesticides. Farmers will continue to practice what they have learned as they visit different learning sites in Ligao, according to Engr. Mendoza.

Aside from the knowledge and skills as takeaways from the training, each farmer also received a starter kit which includes a woven straw hat, shovel, trowel, and bolo knife.

Farmers received a starter kit after finishing the training. Photo courtesy of City Government of Ligao

Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez who strongly supports agricultural programs believed that the program will provide a great opportunity for farmers to recoup the high production cost by increasing the production of quality products and income with the use of modern farming technologies. He also emphasized the importance of organic farming to the health of consumers. Chemical-free vegetables are safer and healthier, and much needed by consumers.

Furthermore, Congressman Gonzalez seeks the cooperation of the farmers to continuously apply the skills they have practiced during the training to attain a more sustainable production of vegetables in the city.

Last 29 May 2015, Ligao City also held the first commencement exercises for Dressmaking, another BUB Program and SLP implementation, with 34 newly trained dressmakers. These capability-building programs, according to Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua were implemented to help the local residents develop skills and provide them with resources to start or enhance their livelihood.

Written by Lala Peñafiel