by Lito Dar

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is looking into the possibility of the NCCA helping in addressing the cultural dimension of the country’s social problem in support to the good governance vision of President Benigno Aquino III.

According to NCCA executive director Maria Lourdes "Malou" Jacob, PNoy’s administration has been very supportive to the cause of NCCA. It does not dictate and really upholds artistic freedom which could be a big help in really promoting the cultural industry for our Filipino artists,” she said.

Jacob explained that what they are trying to do now is to convince the government that art could also play a big part in pushing the country forward. “If during the time of Jose Rizal the artists are important on the birthing of a nation, now artists are important on the development and upliftment of our country,” Jacod said.
Filipino artists, Jacob continued, should realize their significance, not only for their self but also for the community and to the country as a whole. According to Jacob, artists have different ways wherein they can express themselves -- some of them want to be left alone which we should also respect, but there are also those who want to be part of the community, this is where the NCCA can help by providing the opportunity and avenue to do so.

“It is always a true artist’s role to provide the people new insights and provoke people into action and change of attitude. Artists should look for a new and different way to encourage people to really participate in promoting a really proud Filipino identity,” Jacob said.

Jacob was the guest of honor during the 2nd Tam-awan International Arts Festival, which was successfully held from May 13 to 15, through the partnership of Chanum Foundation Inc., Tam-awan Village, and the NCCA. *(JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

by Lito Dar
The Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) Cordillera Regional and Baguio City chapters join the International Council of Nurses (ICN) in its effort to enjoin all nurses worldwide to help close the gap on access and equity to health care services.

In a press conference here Friday, PNA Regional head Ruth Thelma Tingda said that in line with the ICN- led International Nurses Week celebration from May 6 to 12, the PNA adopted the theme, “Access and Equity to Health Services for a safer and healthier Philippines”, in recognition of the significant role nurses play on the delivery of health care services, not just for the people here in Cordillera but to all Filipinos.

Meantime, PNA – Baguio chapter President Norenia Dao-ayen stressed that aside from programmed activities, the PNA also continuously provides activities and programs that promotes the welfare of the Filipino nurses.

Dao-ayen said they conduct monthly seminar which not only aims to upgrade the knowledge and skills of nurses, but also to familiarize them with the various monthly health activities of the Department of Health and the City Health Office as well.

According to PNA adviser, Dr. Erlinda Castro – Palaganas, the PNA in its almost 88 years of existence, is still very much wanting of really trying to do its share in closing the gap in as far as at access and equity to health care services are concerned.

Palaganas affirmed that there still a lot of things needed to be done though she also assured that nurses would really be a force to reckon with. As a huge human resource body, nurses have the voice and force to put into form certain policy that would really make health care accessible.

In the same press conference, Caridad Binwag, a PNA member who heads the Human Resource and Management Division of DOH-CAR, gave a briefing on the Aquino Health Agenda of Universal Health Care, a focused health reform program which primarily aims to provide all Filipino families especially the poor financial risk protection through enrollment to Philhealth and access to affordable and quality health care facility and services. *(JDP/LD -PIA CAR)

by Maritess B. Beñas

BANGUED, Abra-Social Security System (SSS) members with delinquent loans are reminded to settle their arrears on or before June 30, 2011, the period within which the penalties of delinquent loans are condoned.
Abra SSS Branch manager . Benedicta Garcia explained over the local radio here that the loans covered by the special program are the short-term loans such as salary loans.

However, only the penalties are condoned. The principal of the loans are still subject to repayment.
Garcia enjoined SSS members with applicable loans to take advantage of this rare opportunity because such programs usually come only after every 10 years and there is even no assurance that it will be implemented again.

She stressed that unsettled loans continue to accumulate interests. She cited the possibility that when retirement age comes, the accumulated interests on their delinquent loans might even become more than the total amount that is due them upon retirement.

Garcia likewise clarified that this special program on penalty condonation is only for employees and does not cover the self-employed and voluntary members.

It can recalled that there had been a similar program for the self-employed and voluntary members in the past year. Those who failed to avail of the program especially implemented for them can no longer avail of the penalty condonation.

Garcia suggested that since the interests on their loans continue to accumulate, they start paying their loan amortizations now. She further advised the members concerned to consult the SSS office and make arrangements to facilitate their repayments. *(JDP/MTBB-PIA CAR,Abra)

Prompted by perennial requests received from various local government executives especially after every election, the CSC has issued the guidelines in determining primarily confidential positions as contained in CSC MC No. 12, s. 2011

The nature of the function of the office determines whether a position is primarily confidential. A primarily confidential position shows that the nature of the functions of the offices has “close intimacy” between the appointee and the appointing power which insures freedom of intercourse without embarrassment or freedom from misgivings of betrayals of personal trust or confidential matters of state.”

The CSC declares the following positions as primarily confidential: Executive Assistant I-V, Private Secretary I-II, Security Agent I-II, Security Officer I-V and Personal Driver/Chauffer. Positions bearing generic career service titles and were classified as primarily confidential under CSC MC No. 22, s. 2007 shall be retitled as follows: Administrative Aide with parenthetical title (Driver) to Driver, Administrative Assistant with parenthetical title (Secretary) to Private Secretary; and Administrative Officer to Executive Assistant.

Appointments to Administrator, Legal Officer and Information Officer positions in municipalities, cities and provinces, all of which are co-terminous with the appointing authority, shall comply with the qualification standards and concurrence by the concerned Sanggunian, otherwise, they will be disapproved.

It is important that a reversal or retitling of positions is made with a Sangguniang Panlalawigan /Panlungsod/ Bayan Resolution, as the case may be, to be submitted to CSC Regional and Field Offices. www.csc.gov.ph.
The complete details of the new guidelines are contained in CSC Memorandum Circular No. 12, s. 2011 downloadable from the CSC website www.csc.gov.ph. *(CSC-CAR/PIA CAR)