COUN. ENTING ELIOT A Certified Mediator Conciliator

by : Evelyn Eliot-Perez

The passage and approval of Republic Act No. 9285 formally institutionalized the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system which serves to promote the speedy and impartial administration of justice. The landmark of this RA 9285 has given more relevance to the mediation function of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), which provides for the recognition of cooperative conciliator-mediator as well as the recognition of ADR trainer in order to have a broader participation among cooperators and other cooperative in the implementation of this noble ADR system. The significance of this mediation is aimed at helping bring the spirit of mediation to every human being who wants to learn how mediation can work. It brings new hope and aspiration; thus enhance more cooperative to be empowered, imbued with values that encourage them to preserve, to get involve and be innovative. The City Cooperative Development Council headed by the newly elected Chairman Coun. Vicente “Enting” Eliot participated in and successfully passed the written and practical assessment of the Three Level Certificate Course on Basic Mediation for Practitioners in Cooperative sector convened and conducted by Phil-IDEAS in coordination with the Cooperative Development Authority - Offices of the Secretary and the ADR Program Oversight Committee. This was co-facilitated by Faculty Members & Mediation Practitioners of Philippine Mediation Center (PMC) –Philippine Judiciary Academy (PhilJA) of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. The facilitators assessed and evaluated the participants and determined who were qualified to participate in Level II and so on. To become a Cooperative Mediator/Conciliator duly recognized by the CDA, one must have successfully completed an eighty (80) hour-credits representing the 3 Level Courses under CDA MC 2007-09. It is done on ladder to suit the need of primary & secondary coops; coop councils and local legislators on cooperative. The 1^st level requirements of a 24-credit hours was held last April 3-5, 2009 at the Eagle’s View Hotel, this city. The 2^nd level requirement was done last April 18-19, 2009 at T’boli Hotel, General Santos City. And to complete the Basic Course, the 3^rd level was held at Kapalong Cooperative last April 25-28, 2009. The said course conducted the following topics: for Level 1: Module 1-3 Basic Appreciation on ADR-Mediation on Focus, Mediation Communication & Mediating & Managing Negotiations; Level 2: Module 4-5 Handling Disputes (inputs, case studies & exercise) & Assessment (written & practical exam) and the Level 3: Module 6 Internship Program. After which the Joint Culmination cum Graduation ceremony of graduates of Regions XI & XII was done last May 3, 2009 at Grand Ballroom, Crown Regency, Davao City. This memorable endeavor was graced by no less than the CDA board of Administrators Chairperson Lecira V. Juarez.The Pledging of Commitment to the Mediation Service also highlighted the event.Coun. Eliot is very grateful that he is now a certified mediator conciliator in our locality. He expressed his utmost gratitude to the Local Chief Executive Hon. Rey T. Uy for his never-ending support to the City Cooperative Development Council.

PAG-AMPING SA KINAIYAHAN…

By: Francis Xavier Miranda

Parish of Christ the Eucharistic King Lectors’ Group conducted tree-planting activity last June 20, 2009 at the New City Hall vicinity

Niadtong gabii sa Marso 28 niining tuiga, gipahigayon ang usa ka oras nga pagpapalong sa mga suga sa mga lumulupyo sa siyudad sa Tagum. Gisubay kini sa gitawag nga Earth Hour 2009, kung diin ang tibuok kalibutan nagkahiusa sa panawagan sa pagpalong sa suga sa sulod sa usa ka oras. Ang maong panawagan gipaagi sa usa ka Resolusyon nga giduso ni kagawad Remitar nga naga-awhag sa tanang Tagumenyo sa pagsuporta sa usa ka mahinungdanong paagi sa pag-amping sa atong kinaiyahan. Ang pagpalong sa suga adunay dakong kalambigitan aron mapaubos ang pagbuga sa Greenhouse Gas sa atong kalibutan nga maoy hinungdan sa pag-usab-usab sa atong panahon karon, nga gitawag nila’g Climate Change.

Ang maong buhat gisugdan niadtong tuig 2007 sa usa ka siyudad sa Sydney, nasud sa Australia pinaagi sa ilang mga programa aron sa pag-amping sa k
inaiyahan. Kini nakapukaw sa atensyon sa tibuok kalibutan og niadtong tuig 2008, Tres Siyentos Sitenta’y Uno (371) ka mga siyudad sa trenta’y singko (35) ka mga nasud ang nagpahigayon og pagpapalong sa ilang mga suga para sa nagkahiusang panawagan nga maghimo og mga lakang para tubagon ang problema sa pausab-usab nga panahon og pagtipid sa enerhiya.

Agi’g paghinumdum, niadtong Hunyo 7 tuig 2008 unang gipasa ang usa ka Resolusyon pinaagi ni Kagawad Remitar aron sa pag-awhag sa mga residente sa tibuok siyudad sa Tagum sa pagpalong sa mga suga subay sa pag selebrar sa “World Environment Month” og sama sa maong tumong gihimo pud ang maong panawagan dili pa dugay niadtong Marso 28, 2009 subay pud sa “Earth Hour 2009”

Kahinumduman sa tibuok siyudad sa Tagum nga pipila lang ang misuporta sa maong kalihokan sa unang higayon niadtong tuig 2008, apil niini ang maihap nga dagkong establisyemento sa komersyo, gobyerno, relihiyoso, og sa pribadong sector. Sama sa maong tumong, sa ikaduhang higayon niadtong Marso 28, 2009, mapasalamaton kaayo kita kay ubay ubay pud ang misalmot sa maong tawag og maingon nga nahimong malampuson ang maong panawagan.

Usa sa mga importanteng buhaton sa tawo aron maampingan ang kinaiyahan mao ang pagtanum og mga kahoy. Pinaagi niini suyupon sa mga kahoy ang mga dautang element nga makadaot sa tawo ug nagadaot sa atong kahanginan. Busa niadtong Hunyo 20, 2009, sayo sa kabuntagon, gipundok ni Kagawad Remitar ang grupo sa mga magbabasa (Lectors’ Group) sa Parish of Christ the Eucharistic King, diin usa siya sa mga miyembro, diha sa dakong luna kilid sa ginahimo nga New City Hall sa siyudad sa Tagum aron sa pagtanum og mga kahoy. Kini gihimo agi’g pagtabang sa kinaiyahan bisan sa ginagmay nga pamaagi, para mapanalipdan ang pag-grabe sa polusyon sa atong kahanginan nga mao unya ang magdala sa atong tanan sa kaalautan kung kita dili magpakabana niini.

Gawas niini, adunay plano si Kagawad Remitar nga awhagon ang ubang nagkalain-laing relihiyosong pundok aron sa pagbuhat usab sa nasugdan na nga pagpananum, aron unya puhon, kun dili man nato mapaayo ang kahimtang sa atong kinaiyahan, sa atong mga pagpaningkamot, ato man lang mapataas pa ang kapuslanan niini.

KALINGA NG GOBERNADOR AT LIGA NG MGA BISE MAYOR NG DAVAO DEL NORTE

by: Jalmaida L. Jamiri, MPA

For the past two years, the partnership of the Office of Governor Rodolfo del Rosario and the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines Davao del Norte Chapter remains steadfast as more and more programs and activities are initiated and increasing numbers of constituents from the eleven Local Government Unit in the entire province of Davao del Norte are benefited on these numerous endeavors collaborated and spearheaded by the two offices under the Kalinga ng Gobernador at Liga ng mga Bise Mayor ng Davao del Norte Program. Brigada Eskwela 2009 did not just come and go without some form of support being proffered to the schools coming from the Kalinga ng Gobernador at Liga ng mga Bise Mayor ng Davao del Norte Program. For the City of Tagum, Vice Mayor Allan Rellon ensures that these supports are actually received by the intended beneficiaries.

GALLONS OF PAINTS FOR SCHOOLS

During the FPTCA Meeting on May 12, 2009, not only did the 38 public schools in the City receive school supplies for their indigent pupils, but they also brought with them at least a gallon of top brand white latex and/or enamel paint. Budget of which was sourced out from the Office of Governor del Rosario under the Aid to VMLP Program. 52 gallons of paints were turned over by Governor Rodolfo del Rosario himself assisted by Vice Mayor Allan Rellon and the public officials present, for the beautification and maintenance of schools during the weeklong Brigada Eskwela. On his message, Governor del Rosario expressed his pleasure that VMLP was able to initiate this endeavor for the Kalinga ng Gobernador at Liga ng mga Bise Mayor ng Davao del Norte Program and told the rest of those present that he is glad to be a partner of the schools in this common endeavor, the Brigada Eskwela 2009 for that matter. He further assured the school administrators that this will not be the last time that a support will be given from his office and VMLP. The governor stayed until the end of the meeting and principals and administrators were indeed given the chance to talk to him personally and discuss several issues concerning them.

CLASS RECORDS AND LESSON PLAN FOR TEACHERS

If the indigent pupils have their school supplies and the schools have paints for their beautification and maintenance, our beloved teachers are not forgotten for they too have something from the Kalinga ng Gobernador at Liga ng mga Bise Mayor ng Davao del Norte Program. Class Records and Lesson Plans were distributed to all public elementary and secondary school teachers in the entire province of Davao del Norte. For the City of Tagum, Vice Mayor Allan Rellon himself went to the 38 public schools and turned over bulks of lesson plans and class records intended for the teaching force of each school. Even teachers of Public Preschools and Day Care Centers also received the same items. There is a total of 1, 178 public school teachers and 82 Day Care Center Teachers who all received a piece of Class Record and Lesson Plan. The items may not cause much but words of thanks and appreciations coming from the teachers were enough to conclude that it’s not the cost that counts but rather the fact that they were remembered.

VOLUNTARY MANUAL LABOR

Aside from the school supplies, paints, class records and lesson plans that were distributed, Vice Mayor Allan Rellon also spearheaded in organizing groups of volunteers coming from the Army Reservists of 1102 Community Defense Center and BSP Rover Scouts of Tagum City who actually perform manual labor during the duration of Brigada Eskwela on May 18-23, 2009 in several schools in the City.

Army Reservists Vice Mayor Allan Rellon, being the Battalion Commander of 1102 Community Defense Center, 1^st (DAV) Ready Reserve Battalion, 11^th Regional Community Defense Group of Army Reserve Command of Philippine Army, organized and led the 40 uniformed army reservists who, in the spirit of volunteerism, got actively involved in the weeklong Brigada Eskwela by helping in various maintenance works in several schools such as repainting of classroom walls, roofs, benches, and hall stage; repair of broken furniture and armchairs; cutting stubborn grasses; construction of pavements, among others.

Even the Group Commander of 11^th RCDG, COL FLORANTE O ISLES INF (GSC) PA shared in the same intention and joined the group throughout the entire duration of voluntary work and claimed and performed his share of workloads side by side with CAPT ALLAN RELLON. Together with City Councilor and ABC President Alfredo R. Pagdilao, COL ISLES assisted Vice Mayor Allan Rellon in the distribution of school supplies to indigent pupils in Rizal I Elementary School. The sight of army reservists working together with civilians for a common goal is something new that our schools can now look forward to for the Brigada Eskwela in the coming years. It will also be a good avenue to change the negative impressions of civilians towards military men who are usually associated with war and danger. The volunteer army reservists of 1102 CDC were not able to go through the entire week of Brigada Eskwela since their assistance were requested to help in the control of the crowd and retrieval of victims of the landslide in Pantukan, Compostela Valley on May 19, 2009.

BSP ROVER SCOUTS

Being the 1^st Council Vice Chairman of the BSP Tagum City Associate Council, Vice Mayor Rellon initiated the organization of Rover Scouts to make an active participation in the Brigada Eskwela 2009. He called for a coordinative meeting to all Rover Scouts on May 5, 2009 at SP Session Hall to orient them on their participation in the upcoming event. Team leaders were delegated and school assignments were identified as well as the tasks that would be performed on these schools. Vice Mayor reiterated once again, that being scouts are not just about wearing their uniforms and participating in jamborees or camps but rather it is about going out to the community and living out the spirit of volunteerism….making an active participation on a common endeavor for the good of the general public.

There were a total of 65 Rover Scouts who were scattered in nine schools in the city and helped out in various school maintenance works such as painting of fences, trimming of grasses, cleaning the classrooms, among others. Some of the scouts did not only volunteer in one school but in several schools as well…so much for the spirit of volunteerism. Brigada Eskwela is not just about preparing the schools for the opening of classes in June but it also unites the community to share and give out something for a common purpose… for the betterment of our students. It provides an avenue for the community to carry out and live out their social responsibility and as such become an active partner in the development of the community. With the Brigada Eskwela, it once again upheld the spirit of Bayanihan… which we Filipinoes are known for…setting a good example before the eyes of the new generation.

VICE MAYOR RELLON FULL SWING SUPPORT TO BRIGADA ESKWELA

by: Jalmaida L. Jamiri, MPA

Being an educator himself, the unmitigated support of Vice Mayor Rellon to the education sector could not be questioned nor debated. The City Vice Mayor has always been consistent in providing assistance or backing up, in his capacity, endeavors initiated for the development and welfare of our students and advancement of the education system in the locality, in general.

The recently concluded Brigada Eskwela 2009, an annual nationwide endeavor organized by the Department of Education in preparation for the opening of classes in June, which was conducted from May 18-23, 2009 has not gone without Vice Mayor Rellon interjecting an act of support to the schools in the City of Tagum. Even before the requests for support from various schools reached the table of the City Vice Mayor, he has already allocated a portion of his SRA MBN Allocation and has planned out initiatives to lend a hand prior, during and after the conduct of Brigada Eskwela in the 38 public schools in the city.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR INDIGENT PUPILS

Considering the financial crisis that the world is facing today, which so affects even those who are abundant in life… the daily struggle of our less fortunate constituents to keep abreast on the demands of their daily needs would indeed be considerable. As such, a total of Php 108, 113.10 from the Vice Mayor’s SRA MBN Allocation were spent to procure school supplies for the indigent pupils in the entire City of Tagum. A total of 2, 085 indigent pupils were able to avail of these free school supplies given in various occasions.

IDENTIFIED BY SCHOOLS

Last May 12, 2009, in preparation for the upcoming Brigada Eskwela 2009, the Regular Monthly Meeting of the Federation of Parents Teachers Association held at DepEd Conference Hall, Energy Park, Tagum City embarked upon the preparations to be made of every school for the Brigada Eskwela 2009. The said meeting was attended by school administrators and principals, PTA Officials, Barangay Officials, Brigada Eskwela Coordinators and various stakeholders for the upcoming activity.
In line with the “Tabang Eskwela Project of Vice Mayor Allan Rellon”, a total of 1, 455 sets of school supplies were distributed to 31 public elementary schools and 7 public secondary schools in the City of Tagum. Recipients of these supplies were pupils from all grade and year levels identified as indigent by the school administrators. School Administrators, PTA Officers and Brgy. Officials were beaming with smile as they received the school supplies being turned over to them by the Vice Mayor himself together with no less than the Provincial Governor Rodolfo del Rosario and City Councilors Maria Lina F. Buara, Raymond Joey D. Millan, Reynaldo Salve and Francisco Remitar, also gracing the said occasion.

In behalf of the PTCA officials and school administrators, Engr. Gilbert S. Mambulao, FPTCA President, was most gracious as he extended his warmest thanks and appreciation to the Elected Officials for being present in the meeting and for the assistance given to the schools.

These supplies were augmented with the school supplies being sponsored by the City Councilors were was also distributed on the same occasion.

WALK-IN INDIGENT PUPILS

The distribution of free school supplies did not just end on what was distributed during the PTA meeting. As the start of classes was approaching, walk in indigent pupils coming from the different puroks in the City, accompanied by parents or just by themselves, marched and walked up the stairs of the SP Building, even during weekends, with anticipation that they would be carrying notebooks or papers or ball pens when they go down the building.
Some were still panting and obviously were from a days hardwork when they entered the office of the City Vice Mayor. Anticipating this scenario, the City Vice Mayor prepared for this wave of constituents and indeed, was able to distribute supplies to a total of 355 walk in indigent pupils. The school supplies being distributed may just be minimal but the smile and gratitude seen in the eyes of these pupils and on some parents were priceless as they say their words of thanks especially to the City Vice Mayor upon receiving the items.

SULONG DUNONG SCHOLARS

A total of 72 packs were also distributed by the City Vice Mayor to his Sulong Dunong Scholars. Sulong Dunong Scholars are pupils from elementary and secondary schools coming from the 23 barangays of Tagum City who are identified as indigent by the Barangay Officials and deemed qualified to be sent to school and whose school expenses are shouldered by the Office of the City Vice Mayor through its SRA-MBN Allocation - Sulong Dunong Scholarship Program.

These Sulong Dunong Scholars also receive counseling and tutorial from the Office of the City Vice Mayor to further help them advance in their schooling. In return, some scholars allocate several hours of voluntary service to help out on some office programs and activities and even in office operations.


ASSISTANCE TO VARIOUS SECTOR

School supplies were also distributed to a total of 203 recipients when several Barangay Officials and Community Leaders sought the Office of the City Vice Mayor to be a partner and/or sponsor on their activities in their respective communities or sectors.

These recipients include the 39 Iskolar ng Barangay of Brgy. La Filipina, 50 pupils of Brgy. San Isidro, and 61 Madrasah pupils in Prk. Masagana, Brgy. Magugpo West. 20 participants of Seminar Workshop for Customary Law and Mansaka Dictionary Data Gathering and Reproduction and and 33 participants Parish Leadership Seminar-Workshop were also able to avail of these free supplies.

To widen the scope of assistance that could be provided and extended to the schools in the City during the Brigada Eskwela, the City Vice Mayor together with several offices and groups joined hands for a more active participation during the Brigada Eskwela.