NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority has announced availability of 2,500 scholarships for call center agents training. TESDA Provincial Director Lorena T. Yunque said the finishing course for call center agents National Certificate II is a 100-hour course which includes communication skills and customer service training and is funded under industry-based training for work scholarship program (I-TWSP) and co-managed with the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP), Call Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) and the Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for Information Technology (BNEFIT) in response to the need for more call center agents in Negros Occidental.

'Gabay Linya' 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA) — Over 70 member-consumers of Capiz Electric Cooperative (Capelco) in Brgy. Amaga, Sigma attended the recent kick-off activity of a series of anti-pilferage information campaign. The drive, dubbed “Gabay Linya,” is a joint effort of the electric cooperative and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and covers barangays in the province serviced by NGCP transmission lines which is about 100 km. Other barangays scheduled for the information drive are Mi-anay, also in Sigma; Bolo and Lawaan, Roxas City; and Tuburan in Maayon.

Trees Program 

SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) — The General Leandro Fullon National School in Fabrica, Hamtic Antique recently conducted a tree planting activity with fruit and timber seedlings provided by the Community Environment and Natural Resource Office-San Jose and the Municipal Agricultural Office of Hamtic. The activity, dubbed ‘PNoy 1B Trees Program,' was in support of the Aquino administration’s National Greening Program. School prin¬cipal Merlinda E. Alvior said the activity also helps preserve and protect the environment in the upland town of Hamtic where the school is located.

Penalties Deferred 

CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has deferred to October 8 or 10, 2012 the imposition of penalties for late submission of required monthly sales report of taxpayers using cash register machines (CRMs), point of sales (POS), and other invoice or receipt-generating machines. BIR Deputy Commissioner Nelson M. Aspe of the Operations Group, and Deputy Commissioner Lilia C. Guillermo of the Information Systems Group issued the deferment on the imposition of penalties via a memorandum order issued last July 13, 2012 to revenue district offices and concerned chiefs of Large Taxpayer Service, and Taxpayer Service Sections.

N.D.P.R. Marked 

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte (PIA) — The Department of Public Works and Highways-Leyte conducted several activities to mark the recently-concluded 34th National Disability Prevention Rehabilitation (NDPR) week themed “Mainstreaming Persons with Disabilities in Economic Development.” The DPWH is mandated to inspect if constructed buildings implement the Accessibility Law for Disabled Persons. DPWH–Leyte, 4th Engineering District head Engr. Lino Francisco C. Gonzalez said aside from the display of streamers, persons with disabilities (PWDs) were invited and entertained at the agency’s office and were oriented on the functions and services extended to PWDs.