MANILA, Philippines - The new general instructions (GI) on the Election Automation Law – considered the bible for all candidates, poll watchers, lawyers and other practitioners in the campaign and election exercises – has recently been released by Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The Center for Global Best Practices invites all candidates and stakeholders who need to protect their ballots in this election exercise to a pioneering one-day seminar entitled “New General Instructions on Automated Election: 2013 IRR on voting, counting, canvassing, transmission, protest mechanisms and Continuity Plans for Board of Election Inspectors, Board of Canvassers and poll watchers,” scheduled on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel, Mandaluyong City. For details and a complete list of seminars, you may log on to www.cgbp.org or call (02) 842-7148/59 and 556-8968/69; Cebu lines (032) 512-3106 or 07 or Baguio line (074) 423-5148.
In any question of law and procedure, the official reference for this election exercises will be the GI. This special one-day seminar is the only and most comprehensive program that will lay down its entire blueprint and will provide the complete guide on its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on the poll automation law.
Listen and learn from the authorities who crafted and are implementing the GI and IRR regarding its interpretation especially on voting, counting, canvassing, transmission, protest mechanisms, continuity plans and other very important issues that everyone must know. This seminar will feature lawyer Ferdinand T. Rafanan, director IV, head of the law department and concurrently the planning department of Comelec. He will be joined in the panel by lawyer Rene V. Sarmiento, commissioner of the Comelec from 2006 until Feb. 2, 2013. He played a central role in the crafting of the general instruction for automated election for 2013.
Ignorance of the law and its IRR can cost a lot of votes. Attend and empower yourself and your poll watchers, lawyers and people on the ground in the May 2013 election. Interested participants are encouraged to avail of the early bird and group discounts. This is a limited-seats-only event and pre-registration is required.
With the expected drop in enrollment starting in 2017 due to the government's K-to-12 basic education curriculum, Catholic school leaders are concerned over the possibility of manpower displacement, even as they are searching for ways to cope with the effects of the new program.
"[Layoffs] are possible kasi mawawalan ng First and Second Year [levels]," Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) president Fr. Gregorio Bañaga said in a telephone interview with GMA News Online on Sunday. Bañaga is also president of Adamson University.
Earlier, Department of Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro, FSC, said colleges and universities can implement a senior high school program that will serve as the Grade 11 and Grade 12 or the two additional years of the students.
However, Bañaga said while CEAP is considering adopting the senior high program it will not be able to absorb all the affected professors.
"'Yung mga professor kasi, mayroon silang specialized [field], at 'yung sa [senior high school] program kasi, puro general subjects lang," he said.
"Halimbawa na lang 'yung mga mechanical engineers," he said... "unless magturo sila ng Math."
Asked how long the effects of the transition to the new curriculum will be felt, he said, "around 10 years."
Bañaga said they are looking at other possibilities to retain professors in the universities and colleges.
"We can retrain professors to get TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) certification so they can teach grade 11-12," he said. "We can also employ them to do research for the university."
In an article posted Saturday on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines website, Bañaga said CEAP members may come up with a list of proposals to cope with the drop in the number of students, which by his estimate could go as high as 50 percent.
Bañaga said private school administrators are strategizing together on how to address the financial challenges that their schools will face given the expected decrease in enrollment starting 2017.
Under the government's K-to-12 system, students can forgo going to college after undergoing two more years in senior high school.
Technical and vocational skills will be taught to students to help them land a job or engage in entrepreneurial endeavors after graduating from high school.
As a college degree will remain an option for selected students, freshman enrollment may generally decrease, with the drop more felt by private schools than state universities.
Still supporting K to 12
The CBCP article, however, said the CEAP’s 1,345 member schools nationwide are still supporting the shift from the previous 10-year basic education program to the new 12-year curriculum.
CEAP members in Luzon held a conference on K to 12 transition last January 21 and 22, while the Visayas leg of the conference was held Feb. 11 to 12 at the Sarabia Manor Hotel in Iloilo City.
The Mindanao leg was scheduled February 21 to 22 at the Ateneo de Davao University (Jacinto Campus).
CEAP said the conferences were organized to address critical issues of the coming K to 12 transition, including the labor and legal implications, and the senior high school (SHS) curriculum. — with Amanda Fernandez /LBG, GMA News
MANILA, Philippines - Filipino Enzo Pastor, whose racing monuments stand upon the battlefields of Europe and the US, sets out for a new challenge, the Euro NASCAR Touring Series, which zooms off March 30 in Nogaro, France and visits Clark in November.
"I haven't felt this excited going into a race in a long time," said Pastor before his departure for France, the first of 12 stops he is competing in over the next 10 months.
For the first time in nearly 10 years, Pastor, who has raced on various tracks, goes up against foreign competition in a race that requires one-make cars for participants, eliminating the advantage in power and technology which had made him an underdog in international racing.
"I've never had the best car or anything like that. My past few stints in Macau would see me always being down on power or technology-wise."
In NASCAR racing, homologated cars level the playing field, putting premium on skill and experience.
"Everyone has the same equipment," says Enzo. "If there are any disadvantages, they are very minimal."
Pastor will be guided by legendary former Formula One visionary Ted Toleman, who discovered and guided the career of Brazilian champion Ayrton Senna.
"He said I'm his last protégé," Enzo shares. "Everyone knows Ted in the industry and I don't think he’d be wasting his time on promoting and helping just anyone."
Even as Pastor prepares for the Nogaro race, he can't wait to race in the November stage where he will be showing his skills in front of his countrymen at the Clark International Speedway.
For the first time in Asia, and through the efforts of the Philippine Formula Autosport Foundation, Inc. (PFAFI), Clark is hosting the Asian leg of the Euro Racecar NASCAR Touring Series.
Supporting Pastor in the series is the Department of Tourism, which, together with Petron, Resorts World, and Fox Sport, will serve as co-presentors for the first Asian-Philippine NASCAR leg.
Cong. Antonio “Anton” F. Lagdameo, Jr. of the 2nd District of Davao del Norte, inaugurated yesterday two (2) major projects in the Municipality of Carmen namely the Road concreting project connecting Carmen’s National High School, Public Market and Public Terminal, and the Association of Barangay Council’s (ABC) Building worth 5 and 6 Million, respectively.
Lagdameo personally joined his constituents in the blessing of the two projects. With him were Carmen’s Mayor Marcelino Perandos and Vice Mayor Alberto Sarin along with Sanguniang Bayan officials, barangay captains, media and local townspeople. Lagdameo said that “these 2 projects are my advance valentine gift to the people of Carmen for your collaborative dedication to make this place progressive. The said projects are part of the congressman’s centerpiece program, Barangayanihan.
The road concreting project proves to be a major catalyst for the municipality’s rapidly growing economy as it traverses three major public structures of the town. Many stalls are also sprouting beside the street which adds to the town’s local revenue.
Mr Jovencio Mahumot, a trisikad driver and a ranking official of the locality’s trisikad driver and operator’s association expressed his elation of the project and said “because of Cong. Lagdameo’s road concreting project, our income has significantly increased since we deliver our passengers faster and with less stress. The number of passengers is also increasing as the public market expands further into the road connecting the terminal.”
For the newly finished ABC Hall, Liga ng mga Barangay President Resty Salaysay could not contain his feelings of appreciation to Cong. Lagdameo’s project for their association since this is a dream come true. The town’s barangay chairmen were once conducting their meetings anywhere within the municipal hall complex since they did not have an office to stay, much more, a room to house the officials from its 20 barangays for a meeting.
The local officer of the Department of Interior and Local Government was also mentioned as one of the occupants of the new building.
Mayor Mar Perandos articulated his deep appreciation for Cong. Lagdameo’s efforts and contribution in transforming the town into a bustling and progressing municipality. He mentioned all the projects that were realized under his administration were funded by the young legislator such as the construction of the Municipal Health Center. renovation of the municipal gym and complex, livelihood center, mini-ambulance in all its barangays and now the ABC Hall and School-Market-Terminal Road Concreting. The mayor also revealed that Cong. Lagdameo has also worked for the recent implementation of a 75 Million Desilting and Dike Protection project that is on-going under implementation by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).
Carmen’s new ABC Hall is just one of Cong. Lagdameo’s pet project for the barangay leaders. Another ABC Hall is being completed in Peñaplata, Island Garden City of Samal for the said city’s barangay officials. (30)
Davao del Norte 2nd District Anton F. Lagdameo, Jr. expresses his desire for a peaceful election as the election period for the May 13, 2013 National, Local and ARMM Regional Election started this January 13, 2013 and will end on June 12, 2013.
In a prepared press release provided by his office, Lagdameo said that “I personally enjoin all our candidates especially in Davao del Norte to lead a fine example to all our neighboring provinces especially here in Mindanao and the entire country that election can be done peacefully devoid of coercion, mud-slinging, vote buying and other illegal practices.”
He added that “It is important that we abide by the rules set by the Commission on Elections and the enforcement of the Philippine National Police and the military for us to arrive at a fair and violent-free election.”
Davao del Norte Election Supervisor Atty. Gay Asuncion-Enumerables earlier announced that based on resolutions from the Comelec National Office, there will be a total gun ban for all candidates and private gun owners. Only regular members of the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies of the government who are duly deputized in writing by the Commission for election duty may be authorized to carry and possess firearms during the election period.
Davao del Norte has so far been one of the most orderly and peaceful area during elections.
When asked what his strategy is in the coming political debacle, he said that “perhaps the most hardworking, qualified and sincere candidate would win the election. We just have to double our effort in campaigning since as incumbent officials, we were already given ample time to show our competence, sincerity and efficiency as public servants when we assume our respective posts for 3 years. The myriad projects and programs that I was able to successfully implement for my people in the district thru my Barangayanihan Programs will speak for itself .In the end, It will be up to our people and the Lord Almighty to choose who’s best.”
Cong. Lagdameo is gunning for his 3rd and last term of tenure as Lower House Representative of the 2nd District of Davao del Norte.
Lagdameo, a scion of the influential Floirendo-Del Rosario Family, is a high ranking member of the National Unity Party in Mindanao and currently also, is the Provincial Chairman of Kusog Baryohanon, a duly registered local political party in Davao del Norte.