ILOILO CITY, Iloilo — The provincial government of Iloilo has appealed to the Commission on Elections (Comelec-6) to grant its exemption request to give financial aid during the election ban. Last February, Dr. Neneth Pador, chief of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), sent a request to Comelec-6 for the province to continue the disbursement of aid to individuals in crisis situations (AICS). However, Comelec-6 regional director Renato Magbutay denied the request of exemption. Magbutay cited Section 1 of Comelec Resolution No. 9585 that when local campaign period starts on March 29 and until May 13, no public official can disburse any public fund. (Tara Yap)
4PS PAYOUT
ILOILO CITY(PNA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office 6 will be making the last payout to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries before the March 29 local election campaign starts. Jonathan Anteza, DSWD Regional Project Coordinator for 4Ps, said in adherence to the election ban which will also start on March 29 they will be releasing the payout for January and February of the beneficiaries before that date. He said that the payout for the months of March to June will already be released to beneficiaries after the election which will be on June.
STAFF TRAINING
DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental — The Region 7 office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recently conducted a three-day staff training for the special validation of those households in Central Visayas affected by typhoon “Pablo” in December, 2012. Close to 100 new staffers underwent training in this city which was also in line with the conduct of the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR). The goal of the training was to understand and articulate the importance of NHTS-PR and the conduct of the special validation for the newly hired field staff. (Phoebe Jen Indino)
HOSPITALS’ REHAB
ILOILO CITY, Iloilo — The Iloilo provincial government will soon award the contract to winning bidders on the P200-million rehabilitation of its eight district hospitals. This was announced by Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. He said the rehabilitation is intended to improve the health facilities in the province, thus improving the delivery of health services to the people, especially the poor. Included in the P200-million allocation are Aleosan District Hospital in Alimodian town, Dumangas District Hospital, Federico Roman Tirador Memorial District Hospital in Janiuay town, Dr. Ricardo Ladrido Memorial District Hospital in Lambuano town, Don Valerio Palmares Sr. District Hospital in Passi City, Dr. Ricardo Provido Memorial Hospital in Calinog town, Barotac Viejo District Hospital, and Jesus M. Colmenares Memorial District Hospital in Balasan town. (Tara Yap)
SAMAR ROAD
CATARMAN, Northern Samar — A multi-million-peso road rehabilitation project was recently inaugurated in Mondragon town, the governor reported yesterday. Northern Samar Gov. Paul Daza informed reporters in an interview at his office here that a road rehabilitation costing P7.7 million leading to Makiwalo National High School in the municipality of Mondragon has been finished and inaugurated recently. (Restituto A. Cayubit)