by Mari Cruz

Nanawagan ang Confederation for unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) sa lahat ng mga kawani ng pamahalaan sa lungsod ng Baguio at iba pang lalawigan sa rehiyong Cordillera na makiisa at suportahan ang panawagang dagdag sahod ng mga naglilingkod sa pamahalaan.

Sa isang panayam sa Radyo ng Bayan kay COURAGE national president Ferdinand Gaite, hinikayat nito ang lahat ng kawani ng pamahalaan na magbuo ng mga union o samahan kung wala pang nabubuo sa kanilang tanggapan, at kung mayroon naman aniya ay maging aktibo sa layunin ng COURAGE na maisulong ang P6,000 na dagdag na minimum pay sa lahat ng mga kawani ng pamahalaan.

Binigyang diin ni Gaite na mas magiging malakas ang laban sa dagdag sahod ng mga manggagawa at kawani sa pribado at pampublikong sektor kung mahigpit ang ugnayan nito sa pakikibaka ng dagdag suweldo.
Sa kasalukuyan aniya ay umaabot sa 50,000 ang kanilang mga pirmang nakalap na sumusuporta sa dagdag sahod at may 20 kongresista na ang nangakong tutulong upang maisakatuparan ang naturang adhikain.
Idinagdag pa ni Gaite na kabilang si Saranggani Congressman Manny Pacquiao at maging si Senator Bong Revilla ay sumusuporta sa nasabing adhikain ng COURAGE.*(JDP/MC-PIA CAR)

by Juliet Saley
BESAO, Mt. Province- A duly signed certificate of pre-marriage counseling is an integral document for a civil marriage to be officiated here. Failure to comply with the requirement could be a ground to delay the marriage.

Executive Order No. 2008-10 prescribes the rules and procedures in the conduct of its civil marriages cognizant to the sanctity and significance of a marriage ceremony.


The EO requires that couples regardless of age to undergo pre-marriage counseling to be conducted by a team of accredited pre-marriage counselors from the Municipal Health Office, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, Municipal Agriculture Office, and from the religious sector.

Qualified to apply for marriage license are those 18 years old and above. Applicants aged 18 to 21 are required to present proof of consent of their parents; 22 to 24 years old applicants are required to present a written advise from their parents or guardians; and 25 years old and above are required to submit a certificate of non-marriage (CENOMA) which will be issued upon request by the National Statistics Office.

For applicants who are elementary or secondary drop outs, they are required to present a certification issued by an Alternative Learning System (ALS) Coordinator.

Application of marriage license could be secured at the Local civil Registrar Office after paying the necessary fees at the Municipal Treasury Office, after having complied with the needed requirements, and after the completion of the publication period of 10 days.

Municipal mayors are authorized to officiate civil marriages in their area of jurisdiction as provided for in the New Civil Code of the Philippines, Republic Act No. 386 Article 56 Series of 1973 and the Local Code of 1991. *(JBS/PIA CAR-Mt. Province)

by Joseph B Zambrano

 Apayao remains the most peaceful province in the Cordillera region.

Based on the crime volume in the region from January to May this year, Baguio City registered the highest number of crimes committed followed by Benguet, Abra, Mt Province, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Apayao in that order.

In the same report, no shooting incident was recorded in Apayao while Abra had the most number in the entire region.

Overall, Apayao is the safest province in the region with 1.11 percent crime volume compared to Baguio City with 63.09 percent.

Although records from the police regional office Cordillera (PRO-COR) show a total of 5,056 crimes for the period January to May this year, compared to last year’s figure of 4,763 or an   increase of 293 cases, crime solution efficiency (CSE improved by 53.72 percent as compared to last year with 7.67 percent).
According to Chief Superintendent Villamor A. Bumanglag, PRO-Cordillera regional director, most crimes against person and property happened in the capital towns and central business area. Pickpocketing and snatching were rampant in the streets of Baguio City especially in jeepney terminals, overpasses, market, and along Session road.

Meanwhile, Apayao Governor Elias Bulut Jr affirmed that his area is indeed a safe place. "I don’t have any bodyguards to protect me, all our politicians as well do not have security personnel that shows really that our province is safe," he said.

“Our people are law-abiding citizens and peace loving. You walk the street with no fear being attacked by anyone. Our houses do not have iron grills to protect us from burglars or “akyat bahay gang,” Bulut said.
"Police don’t need guns to do foot patrol in our province. We are for a gunless society, firearms are to be kept in the police stations and can be use only in given a situation," he added.

Bumanglag emphasized that community support and enhanced police service are two important ingredients in the prevention and solution of crimes.

Bumanglag encouraged the public to report any crime prone situation that may threaten the safety of the citizenry and peace and order in the community to the nearest police station.* (JDP/JBZ-PIA CAR)

by Gigi Dumallig
TABUK CITY, Kalinga- The city government here is set to implement its ‘Cash for work, Cash for Training’ farmers’ assistance program with the approval of its list validation by the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) regional office.

Tabuk City Social Welfare and Development Officer (CSWDO) Susan Daluping said that 24 out of the 42 barangays were given the go signal to implement the program. The beneficiaries were identified through the National Household Targeting System (NHTS) and validated by the concerned city or municipal SWDO with the assistance of their respective municipal agricultural office.

Tabuk City agriculturist Gilbert Cawis Sr. said they will be helping the CSWDO especially in the preparation of their documents to ensure a smooth flow in the implementation and reporting process.

During a recent consultation in the province, DSWD CAR regional director Leonardo Reynoso directed the local government units in the province to immediately validate the listed beneficiaries and submit their proposals on how the program will be implemented in their area.

Projects he said should be agriculture related to benefit the poor farm laborers who are also beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program (4Ps).

All the municipalities of Kalinga were covered by said farmers’ assistance program. (JDP/GGD-PIA CAR Kalinga)