PILAR, Bataan - In a bid to bring its services closer to the public, the Land Transportation Office here has been conducting what it called “Outreach program”, bringing its services to various towns in the province.

Ronald S. Dabu, chief of LTO’s Licensing section, said that hundreds of tricycle drivers and operators have been benefitted from their services as he and his staff had launched their outreach programs to the towns of Limay, Dinalupihan, Mariveles and others.

“Kami na mismo ang pumupunta sa mga bayan-bayan para hindi na mahirapan pa ang mga tricycle operators and drivers dahil medyo malalayo ang mga lugar na ito, makakatidpi sila sa oras at gasolina,” pointed out Dabu.

Rep. Abet S. Garcia and Mayor Ver Roque lauded the move of the LTO, saying this will benefit their constituents who composed mostly of lowly-income tricycle drivers and operators.

Under the scheme, Dabu said that every Saturday they are launching the outreach program by bringing their services, such as registration  of motor vehicles, smoke emission test, seminars, among others.

Only last week, hundreds of motorists were benefitted by the LTO outreach program in Limay after Mayor Roque requested Dabu to also bring their services to his town. (Mar T Supnad)

Medicine Distribution

UNISAN, Quezon- House Minority Leader and Quezon 3rd district Rep. Danilo E. Suarez formally launched “Botika sa Munisipyo”  (municipal drugstore) by way of distributing P5 Million worth of medicines to 12 municipal mayors and municipal doctors, here, yesterday.

Suarez said that the Bondoc Peninsula is the only district, so far, to implement the program in the country of which indigent patients can avail free medicines from the municipal government thru the rural health unit (RHU) clinic.

The Botika sa Munisipyo can dispense ethical and non-ethical medicines for the poor patients by presenting health coupon issued by the village chiefs and municipal mayors prior the patients’ consultation whether government or private doctors with prescribe medicines, the health coupon is funded by the provincial government.

This program is a form of transporting the basic services to the poor of the poorest residents showing that the government is delivering health program for them, Suarez said.

The Quezon solon hope that other districts will follow of what he did, most specially towns that are far from the hospital.

Bondoc Peninsula towns are Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Unisan, Pitogo, Gen. Luna, Macalelon, Catanauan, Mulanay, San Francisco, San Narciso, San Andres and Buenavista. (Danny Estacio)

Social Program

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union–The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) clarified the implementation of  Core Social Protection Programs as  strategies in poverty reduction  and  not the main solution  for poverty.

With  this  program the Local Government Units and the National Government meet to empower the poor families to become self-propelling, according to the DSWD1 Director Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo.

DSWD is in coordination with PGLU in providing social welfare and development efforts to 16,357 underprivileged families through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps.

He said, it has been  the goal of 4Ps of  breaking the intergenerational poverty by focusing on children’s health and keeping them in school is a long term developmental challenge for the DSWD.

And to achieve transformation of values and practices on health and education, family solidarity, and empowerment among the poor, the DSWD has partnered with local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), faith-based groups, and other regional-line agencies.

The  DSWD also strictly implements  in all the beneficiaries in compliance with the conditionalities of the 4Ps program such as 85 percent attendance in school, regular check-up of children and pregnant women/mothers, and attendance of parents to the Family Development Sessions being conducted by the agency and partners. (Leslie Basa Inigo)

Albay Population

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA)-The National Statistics Office (NSO) reported that population of Albay province has reached 1,233,432.

Based on the result of the Census of Population and Housing, conducted from May to June 2012, there has been an increase of about 143,000 individuals over the last 10 years.

NSO 5 Regional Dir. Cynthia L. Perdiz said among the province's three cities, Legazpi posted the largest population at 182,201 persons. The city is followed by Tabaco with 125,083 and Ligao with 104,914.

For the municipalities, Daraga was the most populated at 115,804 while Jovellar was the least populated at 16,899. Daraga was followed by Sto. Domingo with 32,414 and Manito with 22,819.

Taysan in Legazpi City listed 11,418 in population and was the only barangay with more 10,000 persons. Taysan was followed by Anislag in Daraga with 9,445 and Upper Bonga in Bacacay with 7,468.

Perdiz said the province of Albay registered a 1.23 percent annual population growth rate in general.

“The population of Albay increased at the rate of 1.23 percent annually during the period 2000 – 2010. This means that from 2000 to 2010, approximately 12 persons are added per year for every population in the province,” she added.

Helmet Stickers

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, (PIA) -- Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 3 started accepting Friday applications for Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers of motorcycle helmets.

DTI regional information officer Wilfred Carbonell said, “Section 6 of Republic Act 10054 otherwise known as the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009 mandates DTI determine the quality of helmets in the market.”

Under the law, all riders including backriders are obliged to wear ICC-marked helmets in order to curb the rising number of deaths in motorcycle accidents that is frequently caused by substandard protective gears.

RA 10054 does not cover tricycles and pedicabs.

Based on the law’s implementing rules and regulations released recently, all helmets sold beginning 2012 must bear the ICC mark.

Carbonell added, “Motorcycle riders whose helmets were purchased prior to 2012, are required to go to the nearest DTI office to obtain the ICC sticker.”

DTI will be processing ICC sticker applications for free until September 30.

Land Transportation Office will begin to implement the new measure on August 1 where stiffer penalties await violators.