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NEDA-7 optimistic over CV economic recovery
DepEd-7 logs 78% enr ollment rate weeks before opening of classes (PIA) - -With less than a month before classes start on Aug. 24, 2020, the Department of Education (DepEd-7) in Central Visayas has recorded a total of 1,709,663 enrollees in public and private schools in the region, or 78.87 percent of the total enrollees of the previous school year. During the “Straight from the Source” interview hosted by the Philippine Information Agency here, DepEd-7 Regional Director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez said that they are happy over the high turnout of enrolles this school year despite the COVID-19 health scare. “Makalipay na makita nato nga atong mga ginikanan ug atong guardians, naay pag value sa education (It’s pleasing to see that the parents and guardians are giving value to education). More so, they trusted the Department of Education to deliver the kind of learning that our parents or guardians want to have for their children,” said Jimenez. Out of the 19 total schools divisions under DepEd in Region 7, Dumaguete City has the highest enrollment rate to date with 110.75 percent, followed by Naga City with 104.43 percent, Talisay City with 102.4 percent, Bogo City with 101.32 percent, and Carcar City with 99 percent. Cebu Province, the biggest schools division in Central Visayas, has an enrollment rate of 91.86 percent or 504,095 enrollees. On the other hand, Cebu City recorded 140,060 enrollees, or 78 percent. Jimenez explained that the drop of enrollees in Cebu City can be attributed to the private schools having fewer enrolles compared to last year. As of this writing, only 91,001 students enrolled in the private schools this year, or 28 percent of the total enrolment last school year. However, the DepEd-7 regional director remains positive that enrollment would still go up in the coming weeks. “Usually for private schools, a week before the start of classes, mag start ang enrollment, based on the trend of previous years,” he said. With most jobs having been affected in the past months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jimenez said DepEd recognizes the struggles that parents currently experience to continue sending their children to school.
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in Central Visayas is optimistic the region’s economy will recover gradually amid the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. NEDA-7 Regional Director Efren Carreon said that Central Visayas’ economic recovery must be anchored on the infrastructure buildup under the Duterte administration to make the region more attractive to investors post-crisis era. “Our positive outlook continues to be there,” Carreon said during the Mugstoria Ta aired on the Facebook page of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV). “We will rebound with our infrastructure projects in place and the plan for mass transport system, which should enhance our attractiveness to foreign companies.” “Our Build Build Build program should pump prime our economy,” the NEDA official further said. Being centrally located in the country, the region is in a great position to attract more investments from abroad, especially those leaving China post-pandemic, Carreon said. “We have a modern airport. Metro Cebu Expressway is on the pipeline. Our new container port is about to commence later this year. Other airports and seaports in the region have also been upgraded,” he said. TOURISM Domestic tourism will also likely start to recover by the end of this year or early 2022, Carreon pointed out. Tourism has been one of the most gravely affected industries in the region by the current crisis. Carreon estimated the tourism sector incurred losses of about P12.5 billion in the first quarter of 2020 alone due to travel restrictions and mass quarantine measures. Accommodation facilities, including hotels and resorts, recorded the biggest foregone revenue at P5.5 billion, followed by restaurants at P4.7 billion, retail at P1.9 billion and transport at P876 million. While the services sector has took a backseat during the economic downturn, Carreon projected that it will continue to dominate the regional economy. However, he sees “more focus” on the agriculture sector, which has proven to be very essential during this crisis as more people rely on farm products to survive. “That’s the opportunity there. Our agri fishery sector currently contributes about 5 percent to our economy. But there’s so much potential. We need to invest more into the sector to increase production,” he said. While the Central Visayas economy is poised to start its recovery path in the second half of the year, Carreon said growth might not be as robust as it was in 2019./PR (NEDA Region VII) As such, he said schools continue to accept enrollment of students even after the deadline set on July 15, 2020. “We acknowledge the reasons of the parents especially during the pandemic. We will accept until possibly first week of September,” he said. Meanwhile, Jimenez shared that the respective schools division offices in the region have started preparing and conducting simulations
infobits
The Provincial Government of Siquijor has created a database system to track down Siquijodnon LSIs in Cebu and facilitate their return to their respective residences in the province. -------ooo-------ooo------ The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and DOLE conducted a joint post audit monitoring for 58 business etsblishments provincewide broken down as follows: Siquijor - 8, Larena-16, San Juan 14, Lazi - 14, and Maria - 6. The activity was done to monitor if business establishments in the province, specifivally barbershops, salons, dinein and retail edstablishments, follow the guidelines on minimum health protocols set by DTI, DOLE and DOH like wearing of face masks, provision of foot bath, frequent handwashing, social distancing, etc. -------ooo-------ooo------The Provincial Government received 30 sacks of Commercial Rice and 1,270 pieces of canned goods from JT International Philippines Inc. as its Bayanhian effort for the province. -------ooo-------ooo----- The Siquijor Provincial Task Force COVID-19 discussed on coming up with the final health and safety protocols for the dirvers and helpers of transporting cargoes within the territorial jurisdiction of the province. -------ooo-------ooo------ The Department of Health and the Office of Civil Defense donated to the Provincial Government 4 thermometer, 200 pcs. of laboratory googles, 6,000 pcs of shoe cover, 5,000 pcs. of head cover, 2,000 pcs. of surgical mask, 1,000 pcs. of apron, 1,000 pcs. of islation gown, 2,000 pcs of coverall, 5,000 pcs. of faceshields, 3,000 pcs. of KN95 mask, other PPEs and 500 test kits. -------ooo-------ooo------ The Provincial Government of Siquijor has released last week the financial assistance for drivers of Lazi and Enrique Villanueva towns. These towns were not included in the first batch due to the LGUs’ delay in submission of certification and final lists of drivers. -------ooo-------ooo------ Governor Zaldy S Villa signed and executed the Executive Order No. 029, Series of 2020 : An Order Placing the Entire Province of Siquijor under Modified General Community Quarantine from 01 July 2020 and shall remain to be effective until lifted, repealed or replaced. -------ooo-------ooo------ The Provincial COVID-19 Task Force was convened today on June 29, for the Public Hearing of the Proposed Ordinance entitled “An ordinance requiring all persons to wear face mask At all times in public places within the province of Siquijor to abate the spread of COVID-19.” for the opening of classes. “Each division will conduct a dry run based on the modalities. This is to ensure that in case there will be issues, it can be addressed with the proper solutions,” explained Jimenez. The regional director also praised the support of the local government units (LGUs) and other stakeholders in the region in ensuring that delivery of quality education will not be hampered amid the COVID-19 health crisis. (poc/PIA7)
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THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH and the DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.DOST.GOV.PH VOL. 08| No. 23 JULY 17-24, 2020
DOST-7, SSC ink MOA for community empowerment project by Engr. Joelline Ann D. Ates, SRA & IO Designate, DOST Siquijor SIQUIJOR (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST 7) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Siquijor State College (SSC) on for the fund release for the project “Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) for Selected Farmers in Enrique Villanueva Siquijor.” The signing was led by Siquijor Provincial S&T Director Engr. Mario de la Peña and SSC President Dr. Ma. Imogen Quilicot with Project Leader Dr. Philna Palongpalong and Project Team Member Edgardo Anhao. The project is a twin commodity project composed of two prime commodities: peanut and vermicompost production facilities. It will be implemented through the Bitaug Small Coconut Farmers Association (BISMACOFA) of Brgy. Bitaug, Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor, a farmer-beneficiaries association composed of 65 active members registered at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). The project is expected to capacitate the farmer beneficiaries in Brgy. Bitaug through technology and skills development training and workshops on peanut and vermicompost production and other innovative means. It will also provide Sustainable Community-based AANR-Livelihood Enhancement and Development (SCAANRLED) S&T interventions on peanut and vermicompost production to provide commodities and services that are directly relevant to the needs of the farmer-beneficiaries for the construction and establishment, operation and management of the peanut farm and vermicompost facility. If successful, the project can provide continuous supply of peanut raw product to local processors/consumers and external market and also the continuous supply of organic-vermicompost fertilizer for the local farmers/community beneficiaries producing peanut and other high-value crops. (rac/PIA7Siquijor/JADAtes/DOST Siquijor PSTC)
Signing of MOA at Siquijor State College for fund release for community empowerment project at Brgy. Bitaug, Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor with (LR) Dr. Philna Palongpalong, Project Team Leader; Dr. Ma. Imogen Quilicot, SSC President; Engr. Mario de la Peña, Siquijor Prov’l S&T Director; Edgardo Anhao, Project Team Member. (DOST-Siquijor)
17 Siquijor PPMC members complete DILG M&E workshop SIQUIJOR (PIA) -- At least 17 members of the Siquijor Provincial Project Monitoring Committee (SPPMC) completed the seven-day Training-Workshop on Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning on Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation on July 13-17 and 2021 through face-to-face meeting at the Office of the Provincial Governor or online via Microsoft Team. Facilitated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the workshop is based on the findings of the National Program Implementation Review of the Conditional Matching Grants to Provinces (CMGP) that there is limited capacity of most provincial project monitoring committees in the conduct of outcome and impact evaluation. As recommended, the capacity of the Project Monitoring Committee and the Monitoring and Evaluation teams in the province of Siquijor must continue to be strengthened. The training-workshop adopted the
synchronous online learning sessions of five days and asynchronous learning activities of two days which started with a refresher session on the fundamentals of Result–based Monitoring and Evaluation(RBME), and asynchronous learning session where participants were grouped according to structure/mechanism, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework, M&E System and Processes, and practices and tools. Following discussions on the techniques and tools on outcomes and impact evaluation and other important topics based on the quide questions and the guidance on the performance of tasks and work assignments, presentation of results of performance tasks, action planning and sharing of insights and feedbacks were made. Generally, the participants said, the training is very helpful in the performance of their duties and functions as members of the SPPMC. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor)