Category: News and Current Affairs

Some 43 disadvantaged learners in La Trinidad received tablets, school supplies, health kits, and grocery items from the Department of Education Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd-CAR) through its ‘Salaknib Tan Nanmnama’ project.

This aims at giving hope to learners belonging to the vulnerable sector of the society.

Some 43 disadvantaged learners in La Trinidad received tablets, school supplies, health kits, and grocery items from the Department of Education Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd-CAR) through its ‘Salaknib Tan Nanmnama’ project on June 4, 2021.The learner-beneficiaries are from Benguet National High School (BNHS) and Puguis Elementary School being the pilot schools for the said project along with Buguias National High School with 20 beneficiaries. The Buguias recipients got their assistance last June 3 in Buguias, Benguet.

Governor Diclas recognized the effort of Director Cariño for initiating the said program which will be of great help while he continues to provide support to Education as part of his political thrust HEALTHIER Benguet.

The governor said he hopes DepEd and the Provincial LGU with assistance from other stakeholders will continue to work together to provide a brighter future for young children especially those who are in need.

The funds used for the project came from the collective savings of the different Regional Office Functional Divisions and the agency’s regular funds for health and nutrition.

Other items were bought using the funds collected from the raffle-for-a-cause conducted during the DepEd-CAR’s 33rd Founding Anniversary celebration where Governor Diclas was a sponsor.

Director Cariño thanked the governor and hopes the Provincial LGU will continue to support the project for its continuous implementation.

She also encouraged the parents to continue guiding the learners as they aspire to achieve their dreams.

Lorna Yaco, a teacher and a project coordinator of the said project said Salaknib Tan Namnama was first organized by Director Cariño in Region II where children under armed conflicts are the beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed between DepEd Regional Office, DepEd Benguet, Benguet NHS, and Puguis Elementary School together with the parents and learners for the said project. PIO-PGO

With reports that there may have been a greater chance of CoVID-19 transmission in public utility vehicle transportations for the failure of passengers and drivers/conductors to observe the minimum public health standards inside PUVs, the NO FACEMASK, NO FACE SHIELD, NO RIDE POLICY in all modes of public transportation is hereby strictly being imposed.

Governor Dr. Melchor Daguines Diclas convened the members of the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force for CoVID-19 today, June 3, 2021, to discuss responses to address issues and concerns while the province is placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ).

Governor Dr. Melchor Daguines Diclas issued Executive Order No. 2021-16 announcing June 18, 2021 as a SPECIAL NONWORKING public holiday in the Province of Benguet.

MECQ status of Benguet retained despite appeal
Benguet is placed by the National Inter-Agency Task Force under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) classification from June 1, 2021 to June 15, 2021 despite the appeal letter from Benguet Governor Dr. Melchor Daguines Diclas addressed to Secretary Francisco Duque III, chairperson of the IATF for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The letter which was sent on May 28, 2021, contains the request of Governor Diclas to revert the community classification of the province back to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with the declining Average Daily Attack Rate (ADAR) in the province for the past weeks.

“We are poised to recover from a three-week MECQ status and an additional two weeks of MECQ will [have a great] impact on the local economy,” said Governor Diclas in the letter.

Governor Diclas explained that there has been a decreasing trend in the number of new confirmed cases of CoVID-19 in the province leading to the declining bed occupancy in isolation facilities.

“The number of cases admitted in the hospital decreased compared to the previous two weeks when no beds were available for admission,” said Governor Diclas in the letter. “At present, there are 112 available beds in hospitals for CoVID-19-related cases and only five ventilators are being used while there are still 11 available.

“CoVID-19 testing has also been ramped up in the province with a 121% increase in May 2021.

Further, among the LGUs in the Cordillera, the Province of Benguet has a relatively high vaccine utilization rate of 96% based on allocation. The municipalities in the province have also requested 12,000 doses from the DOH this June 2021 as the demand for the vaccination has been increasing.

Meanwhile, even if the request from the Provincial LGU was not given a favorable response, the public is highly encouraged to strictly comply with the health protocols and all the restrictions provided under the MECQ guidelines. – PIO-PGO

Benguet Governor Dr. Melchor Daguines Diclas released funds worth P480K for the implementation of Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program of the Provincial Local Government of Benguet.
Some 120 individuals in the Province were employed through this program.
Each worker received P4,000 for a 10-day work.
The workers were assigned to their respective barangays for social community projects. Some of the workers were assigned at Agrotourism sites of the Provincial LGU to help in the improvement of the sites.
This TUPAD program aims to help displaced workers especially during this time of the pandemic.

LIVELIHOOD. Governor Dr. Melchor Daguines Diclas last May 3, 2021, shared a message of encouragement with some 77 students as he signed their contract as the second batch of students employed by the Provincial Government of Benguet through the Special Program of the Employment of Students (SPES).

Each student worker will be paid more than P14,900 for a 30-day work. They will be assigned at the different government offices from June 1 to July 13, 2021.
Governor Diclas said this is a good opportunity for the students to gain experience working in public offices and to improve leadership skills and personal development.
He also reminded the students of the importance of complying with health protocols while performing their job at their respective workplaces.
This SPES program aims to augment the family’s income of poor but deserving students.
Under this program, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provides 40% of the salaries of the student workers while the PLGU shoulders the remaining 60% of which Governor Diclas allotted 1.5 million pesos.
Governor Diclas expressed his gratitude to the Benguet PESO headed by Ms. Julie Tabcao and DOLE for making this program successful.

47th BGEMPC Annual General Assembly canceled

Due to to the Covid-19 Pandemic, IATF issued Memorandum Circular No. 2021-03, series 2021, dated February 9, 2021 which gives the cooperatives registered with the authority to either conduct or cancel their general assembly with accordance to the guidelines. With more than One Thousand Two Hundred members, the Board of Directors of BGEMPC concluded into unanimous decision to cancel the 47th BGEMPC Annual General Assembly for the Calendar Year 2021.

WORKSHOP ON THE LOCALIZATION OF NATIONAL ACTION PLAN (NAP)

Workshop on the localization of National Action Plan (NAP) Phase II for Covid-19 Pandemic Response in the province with the the different local government units, national line agencies and other concerned offices.

KAPANGAN CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OPEN GYMNASIUM RIBBON CUTTING AND TURN OVER CEREMONY

Governor Melchor Diclas leads the ribbon-cutting and turn-over ceremony of the newly constructed Kapangan Central Elementary School Open Gymnasium with board members Hon. Roberto Canuto, Hon. Ruben Paoad, Hon. Neptali Camsol, Hon. Jim Botiwey, Hon. Robert Namoro, and Hon. Nestor Fongwan Jr.