Monday, August 19, 2024

FEATURE STORY: QC SK Council shines at 5th Philippine Sanggunian Kabataan Awards

 

                                                                          PHOTO CREDIT: QC Government/Manila Bulletin

The Quezon City’s Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Council won multiple accolades at the 5th Philippine Sangguniang Kabataan Awards (PSKA) on August 12 held at the Boracay Newcoast Convention Center in Boracay, Malay, Aklan.

According to the city government, the city's SK Council was recognized as one of the top five Outstanding SK Councils in the Federation Category, alongside other distinguished cities such as Pasig City, Santiago City, Isabela, Carmona City in Cavite, and Laoang in Northern Samar. Several QC SK projects were also recognized in the National SK Project in Barangay Category.

The award-winning projects include:

‘Sineskwela’ of Barangay Batasan Hills; ‘Bida Kabuhayan’ of Barangay Sta. Cruz; ‘Reskyusi’ of Barangay Commonwealth; ‘Project C.A.R.E’ of Barangay Sauyo. READ MORE

Barangay in Manila, where Carlos Yulo grew up, in a festive mood as he returns home. Before his roaring success on the biggest stage in sports, Carlos Yulo was once a young aspiring athlete, growing up in the streets of Barangay 711 in Leveriza, Manila where his pathway to gold and glory started.

And for those who first witnessed him dream big — his neighbors in their barangay — they are thrilled to see the Filipino gymnast achieve what he has always been working for.

"Imagine-in niyo po yun kapitbahay na po namin. Ngayon po, siya na 'yung nagrerepresent ng Pilipinas," one of Yulo's neighbors told GMA Integrated News' Jonathan Andal. READ MORE

Congress proposes 6-year term for barangay officials. House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and other ranking lawmakers have proposed setting a fixed term of six years for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials to ensure continuity and projects and to protect them from politicking.

Romualdez, during the Liga ng mga Barangay National Congress in Pasay City on Tuesday, announced that they have filed House Bill (HB) No. 10747, or the proposed Act Setting the Term of Office of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Officials to Six Years.

According to the Speaker, he and House lawmakers decided to set a fixed six-year term for barangay officials to do away with confusion brought by recent term extensions, poll suspensions, and other laws. READ MORE

Surigao Del Sur residents vote for creation of new barangay.  Over 1,400 residents in Surigao del Sur voted for the creation of Barangay Guinhalinan in the municipality of Barobo, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Sunday.                                                                                                                                                            

In a statement, the Comelec said there were 2,574 voters in the province, but only 1,459 individuals voted. Of this figure, 1,434 voters answered “yes,” while 14 said “no” to the formation of the barangay under Republic Act No. 11986, which was approved last March 21.

According to Comelec, the officials of Barangay Guinhalinan will be chosen by the Barobo mayor. READ MORE

Speaker Romualdez eyes SSS coverage for barangay officials. Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday told thousands of barangay officials throughout the country that they may soon become members of the Social Security System (SSS), which will be funded by the national government.

At the same time, he informed members of the Liga ng Mga Barangay holding its National Congress at the World Trade Center (WTC) in Pasay City that he authored a bill in the House of Representatives that would grant barangay officers a fixed term of office for six years.

He said he has already met with the president of SSS on his advocacy of making barangay officials as members of the pension fund, so they could be covered by life insurance and enjoy lifetime pensio
n. READ MORE

Davao City strengthens coordination with barangays. The City Government of Davao continues to strengthen its coordination with all 182 barangays through its caravans and an open line of communication with the barangay captains. 

To further ensure that the concerns of every Dabawenyo is being catered to, barangay captains are urged to reach out to the City Mayor’s Office (CMO) for the problems, concerns, and projects of their barangays.

If you have needs and concerns in your barangay, do not hesitate to reach out to our office so that we can allocate the funds in the government),” Mayor Sebastian Duterte said during his 2nd State of the City Address (SOCA). READ MORE

AFP Report:  Projects completed in rebel-cleared barangays in Regions 6 and 7.  The 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (3ID) reported on Tuesday that a total of 584 projects funded under the support to barangay development program (SBDP) were completed in Central and Western Visayas from 2021 to 2023.

3ID commander Maj. Gen. Marion R. Sison, during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas, said the SBDP comes after a barangay (village) cleared from insurgency has undergone the retooled community support program where issues and concerns affecting the community are identified.

Of the completed projects, he said 392 are in Western Visayas, which since 2021 have been allocated PHP4.32 billion worth of projects. READ MORE

Two new cell towers completed in remote Cebu barangays. In a significant stride towards bridging the digital divide, Globe has installed new cell towers in three remote barangays in Cebu province. This initiative brings reliable connectivity to long-underserved areas, fostering both economic growth and social inclusion.

“As we continue to expand our network, we remain committed to providing equitable access to digital services across the Philippines so that Filipinos can participate fully in the digital economy,” said Joel Agustin, Globe SVP and Head of Network Planning and Engineering.

Brgy. Ilihan in Tabogon, Brgy. Poblacion in Compostela, and Brgy. Simala in Sibonga have historically faced challenges in accessing reliable connectivity due to their geographical location and limited infrastructure. READ MORE

'Turista sa Barangay Program’ launched in Iloilo. The Iloilo provincial government, under the leadership of Governor Arthur R. Defensor Jr., officially launched the “Turista sa Barangay” program on August 13 through Executive Order No. 168, Series of 2024.

This initiative, part of the broader MoRProGRes (Movement for a Robust, Progressive, Globally Competitive, and Resilient Province of Iloilo), aims to transform local barangays into vibrant community venues for tourism events and activities, aligned with the Provincial Tourism Development Plan.

“The barangay is recognized as the frontline LGU in developing the tourism industry, serving as the community venue for tourism events and activities, as well as the established point of care for tourists of the Province,” the executive order states.  READ MORE

New guidebook to help barangay nutrition scholars fight malnutrition. Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients.

 According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 37 million children under the age of five years are overweight, while some 149 million are stunted.

To address the ongoing issue of malnutrition in the Philippines, experts from the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) and the National Nutrition Council (NNC) are developing a new guidebook for barangay nutrition scholars (BNS). READ MORE 

Laguna confirms cases of African Swine Fever in 5 barangays. The provincial government of Laguna has confirmed cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) in two cities and one town.

According to the Provincial Veterinary Office in Laguna, the LGUs affected are the following: San Pablo City (1); Calamba City (2); Nagcarlan (2).

In response, the Provincial Government of Laguna is now distributing disinfectants to the areas affected.

"'Yung population naman natin dito sa Laguna, hindi naman ganoon kadami compared to 'yung ibang probinsiya dito sa CALABARZON," Dr. Mary Grace Bustamante of the Provincial Veterinary Office-Laguna, said. READ MORE 

Kabataan Party List questions unfinished 2024 Barangay Development Projects. Not one of the 885 Barangay Development Projects (BDP) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) for 2024 has so far been implemented, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) told a House budget deliberation on Thursday.                                                     

DILG Undersecretary Marlo Iringan made the response during the questioning of Kabataan party-list Representative Raoul Manuel, who noted that the NTF-ELCAC is notorious for delayed implementation of BDP, which takes at least three years before full implementation.

The proposed 2025 national budget has earmarked P7.8 billion for the NTF-ELCAC for its implementation of BDPs. The DILG, however, oversees the implementation of the BDPs since local government units that receive BDP funds are under its jurisdiction. READ MORE 

Solar-powered system now supplies water to 200 families in Albay upland barangay.  At least 200 families from an upland village in Sto. Domingo town, Albay province, now have free access to clean and safe  water from a solar-powered water system provided by the the Ako Bicol (AKB) Party-List. 

In an interview during the inauguration and turnover ceremony of the facility on Thursday, Barangay Lidong chairperson Lany AƱonuevo said the project will address the water problem in their village. 

"We are very glad for the project that was given to us. Before, our residents needed to travel more than 500 meters just to get water. This is not just an infrastructure that was built to help us but a way to make our lives more comfortable and easier," AƱonuevo said in Filipino. READ MORE