KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA-COOPERATION equates to inclusive progress, a statement best described the ongoing knowledge sharing of both experts from Malaysia and the Philippines as well as other neighboring ASEAN countries about Tropical Diseases and Tropical Medicine, according to the recent interview with Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Charles Jose on
http://www.dzmjonline.net/dpk/dzmj-online-at-phil-embassy-in-kl/
Sa nasabing panayam nabilang ang nasabing katanungan na unang naitanong kay Ambassador Jose dahil sa nakaraang pakikipagtulungan ng Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia sa Kagawaran ng Agham at Teknolohiya sa Pilipinas ukol sa mga inobasyong ginagawa sa mga maituturing na pinakamababang antas ng lipunan na na may kaagapay na agham at teknolohiya.
Jose says that in tropical countries like Malaysia and the Philippines there are a lot of commonalities when it comes to diseases and combatting such need strategic cooperation. Meanwhile as the interview progresses, sources says that Health Ministers convene at the same city but on a different venue with the topic on Tropical diseases and how to manage it or eradicate.
Paniwala ni Jose na makabubuti para sa bansa ang pagtutulungan sa bahagi ng agham at teknologiya katunayan ay kanilang pinaghahandaan ang isang Memorandum of Understanding sa pagitan ng Department of Science and Technology ng Pilipinas at Ministry of Environment Science and technology, Energy and Climate Change ng Malaysia.///abdul malik Bin ismail, +639333816694, abdulmalikbinismail6875@gmail.com
DOST:
Chris Tiu named as DOST ambassador
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has found a new ally in
promoting science, technology, and innovation (STI). Television host, entrepreneur, and former basketball player Chris Tiu is now the DOST’s brand ambassador, bringing with him his many achievements, credentials, and positive influence, especially among the youth.
Tiu was launched as Brand Ambassador of the DOST during the opening program
of the 2019 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) on 17 July at the
World Trade Center (WTC) in Pasay City. At the press conference for the NSTW, Tiu thanked the DOST for choosing himto be the Department’s brand ambassador. “I hope that I can help you out in your advocacies in promoting science and technology especially among the youth,” Tiu said.
“My role is to help encourage the youth to love science or to pursue a
career in science, or at least consider it,” added Tiu. He also expressed hope that the youth can channel their interest in social media in creating content related to science. “I want to help the youth to realize that science is cool and it is for everyone and benefits us all,” Tiu explained.
Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña also expressed hope that with Tiu on
board as the DOST ambassador, more people will be aware of how science and
technology can help them. “We had a long list of names to choose from as DOST ambassador and I am very glad that we eventually chose Chris Tiu to be the face of DOST. His interest and knowledge on science will be beneficial for all us,” the
Secretary said.
Chris Tiu or Christopher John Alandy-Dy Tiu graduated with a degree in
Management Engineering from the Ateneo de Manuila University. He first made
a name for himself when he played for the Ateneo Blue Eagles basketball
team in the UAAP. From there, he went on to play professionally for the
Philippines’ national team and the Philippine Basketball Association.
After retiring from professional basketball, Tiu explored the world of show
business as television host for several shows, including his current show,
iBilib on GMA 7. The show features scientific experiments and explores
scientific facts and theories surrounding everyday events.
Aside from hosting, he is also a commercial model and products endorser,
and has also served as Sangguniang Kabataan Chair of Barangay Urdaneta in
Makati City. At 33, he owns or partly owns and manages several business
enterprises.
With all his achievements so far, he has been awarded with several
recognitions including the Ten Outstanding Young Men Award in 2013.
Tiu was one of the top choices among several celebrities that were
identified as possible endorsers or influencers for the DOST in a
commissioned survey done in the last quarter of 2018.
The NSTW is held annually and features the latest technologies and
innovations in the fields of agriculture, enterprise development, industry,
emerging technologies, health and nutrition, information and communication
technology, and disaster preparedness.
Admission to the event is free and the exhibits are open to the public. The
2019 NSTW will run 17-21 July at the World Trade Center, Gil Puyat Avenue,
Pasay City. *(Sheila J. de Luna, DOST-STII)* #2019NSTW #ScienceForThePeople
Chris Tiu, the first Brand Ambassador of the Department of Science and
Technology, says that his role is to “help encourage the youth to love
science or to pursue a career in science, or at least consider it.” With
him are the winners in the #HulaWHO contest of the 2019 National Science
and Technology Week (2019 NSTW) Facebook page. John Michael Bricia, Marron
Payosalan
<https://www.facebook.com/marron.payosalan?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARBbXHDbmIpwtMzkFhPvWV7SeIDF-ligL2bSmDL7y2Vg0guCD58G7ThkxjAC2ztxYP174vOzgOxg5Phq&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARD82f234GejfNR_Bkh-Pta1yHlgdUWy-f2b2iGzkA0vXIyuoZIg3FtFQaiYxR52UvfOGjSsWfwA9izNOk69FjR3V4GLHSmQzsdcxJWdKKlftBZrucWfEn-Gm5wPWpKcW0ggS74qfbhv_Sb5rEl71DSMYr_NTqKkWdsAKzkHdieN_3yvA1ovrwZ2afKDGiB25GfaDhG4U8SW9gYZAjwBC6TEMxpouTZzof1-_bXjr1HtVsaeR1tmj4MwPesBekPEkj6_G90EFSRPqKCwRmYJ4hyLQtZPhC2P6XXhxBp23i8V4tBJJ5tru4WsO6U3ENckw81bELcLBXiBlCHjaVCbnVPC9R-e>,
and
Angela Nalda were the first to comment the correct answer that Chris Tiu is
the DOST’s Brand Ambassador, earning the three students a special time with
Chris Tiu on the NSTW opening day at the World Trade Center in Gil Puyat
Avenue, Pasay City. To be held 17-21 July, the NSTW is open and gives free
admission to the public. *(Text by Framelia V. Anonas | Photo by Kimverlyn
C. Sayson, DOST-STII)*
thru technologies, innovation
The National Science and Technology Week (NSTW), an annual celebration of
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), focuses on how
developments in science, technology, and innovations will help achieve the
Philippines’ commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs).
At the opening of the 2019 NSTW, DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña
talked about the SDGs and how innovations and technologies are paving the
way for the attainment of the country’s SDG goals.
“This year’s NSTW focuses on how science and technology are helping us
achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Sec. de la Peña. “With our
NSTW experience, I can say that there is hope in the Philippines because of
science and technology.”
The Secretary described the eight clusters in the exhibit area at the NSTW
which displays the latest technologies and innovations, programs, and
advocacies of the different agencies of the DOST.
President Rodrigo Duterte, the keynote speaker for the NSTW, was
represented by Department of Education Secretary Leonor Briones, who
commended the President for his support to the establishment of the Senior
High School program. Sec. Briones believes that the integration of STEM
education in the senior high school program will provide a strong science
and technology foundation among the youth who will be scientists,
researchers, engineers, and mathematicians in the future.
Sec. Briones also acknowledged how science and technology has helped
improved the way science is being taught these days. “Science and
technology developments are helping our teachers improve the way we teach,”
said Sec Briones.
Incoming chair of the Science and Technology Committee at the Senate,
Senator Francis Tolentino, also graced the opening of the NSTW and shared
how excited he is to chair the S&T Committee and learn new things about
science and technology and how it will help improve the lives of Filipinos.
The event also saw the launching of Chris Tiu as DOST brand ambassador to
help spread awareness on science and technology especially among the youth.
“My role is to help encourage the youth to love science or to pursue a
career in science, or at least consider it,” said Tiu. He added that with
his following, especially in social media, he can help encourage the youth
to love science or go into science.
“Hopefully, the youth can also channel their interest in social media and
incorporate science in their content,” Tiu said. He added that he himself
hopes to create content on social media that is focused on S&T to help
change the minds of the youth about the field.
The 2019 NSTW will run 17-21 July at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
Admission to the exhibits are free and open to the public.
–30-
DOST launches ‘nuLab’ to discover future scientists, innovators
By the bus, this is the Department of Science and Technology-Science
Education Institute’s (DOST-SEI) latest strategy in discovering the next
breed of Filipino scientists and innovators.
Called ‘nuLab’, this customized bus was launched Wednesday, 17 July, at the
World Trade Center in Pasay City during the opening of the 2019 National
Science and Technology Week (NSTW) celebration.
Installed inside the nuLab are modern audio-visual and educational tools
and equipment, laboratory facilities, and various learning materials useful
in introducing concepts and developing skills. It can accommodate 24
students in one session and can hold two sessions per day.
The bus, according to DOST-SEI, would allow the Filipino youth to discover
their potential in the various fields of Science, Technology, Education,
and Mathematics (STEM) and eventually pursue courses and careers along
these lines.
At the end of every session, students are encouraged students to apply for
the undergraduate scholarship program through a strategic campaign called
“#Push4science : Maging DOST Scholar Ka!”
Dr. Josette T. Biyo said that 98 percent of the municipalities all over the
country have already at least one DOST scholar. This is a testament that
many young Filipinos are interested in pursuing S&T careers, she said.
“As the nuLab hits the road, it is our way of reaching out to every young
Filipino in different sides of the country. It is also our way of providing
them access to various advanced learning tools in the field of science and
technology,” said DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña.
nuLab is the second mobile learning facility of DOST-SEI after the success
of the Science Explorer project which has served 32,000 students in more
than 100 municipalities.
Scientists and former DOST scholars, namely astrophysicist Dr. Rogel Mari
Sese, marine biologist Dr. Aletta Yñiguez, entomologist Dr. Aimee Lynn
Dupo, Engr. Myra Ruth Poblete, Engr. Angelo Javier, Charmaine
Villanueva-Villamil, Pamela Tolentino, Ana Jamille Restubog, Jomar
Rabajante, Gilbert Zamora, Nico Mendoza, Garry Jay Montemayor, Seymour
Sanchez, Timothy James Dimacali, Shaira Panela, among others, designed the
modules for the NuLab sessions.
GREEN THUMB COALITION:
GREEN THUMB COALITION STATEMENT ON THE SPATE OF KILLINGS IN NEGROS
The Green Thumb Coalition (GTC), the largest network of organizations
engaged in issues of the environment, climate, human rights, and
people-centered developments, express concern over the successive killings
and the apparent climate of impunity prevalent in Negros Island.
Since 2017, citizen watchdogs have recorded at least 84 political killings
in Negros alone. Just last week, at least 15 were shot with some killed by
masked gunmen in their own homes. In July 25 alone, as many as seven people
killed in a single day. The killings persisted even with the enforcement of
Oplan Sauron by state actors responding to President Rodrigo Duterte’s
Memorandum Order No. 32, signed on November 22, 2018, aimed at suppressing
“lawless violence” in the provinces in Negros, Samar, and Bicol “in order
to prevent further loss of innocent lives.”
Negros Island has been at the forefront of many positive developments in
the environmental sector. Both Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental have
declared their provinces to be coal-free provinces and are ramping up their
initiatives to increase renewable energy in their territories. These
developments were achieved largely due to the strong environmental movement
made up of civil society organizations, legal advocates, and grassroots
communities.
Despite these developments, many deeply-ingrained problems in the Island
have marginalized many sectors, including indigent farmers and coastal
communities. These sectors, unfortunately, are the very sectors who consist
many of the victims in the string of killings that plague Negros. Members
of civil society, as well as legal defenders of these sectors, have also
been the target of harassment and violence by both state actors and
so-called “anti-communist” militias.
The series of these inhumane killings create an atmosphere of fear and
impunity which stifles the pursuit of positive and progressive developments
in the Island. What is worse, however, is that the experience of Negros is
representative of the experience of environmental advocates in the entire
Philippines. Most recently, Global Witness has reported that the
Philippines is the most murderous country in the world for people defending
their land and environment, topping the annual list of advocates murdered
in 2018.
In this atmosphere, advocates for the environment and human rights are
discouraged to air voices of dissent and criticism to LGUs and the national
government. With numerous “development” projects in the pipeline
threatening biodiversity, ecological harmony, and the climate, not to
mention their implications on the health, livelihood, and rights of the
people, impunity in the succession of killings will only yield to impunity
in other forms of injustice and marginalization.
We condemn the climate of impunity and the culture of violence presently
existing in Negros Island. We also decry the failure of state actors to
prosecute and punish those behind the killings. We implore state officials
to exercise caution and respect the Constitutionally-guaranteed rights of
citizens against unjust searches and seizures, and to observe due process
in mitigating tensions in the Island.
We extend this call to President Duterte, with whom the buck stops in
overseeing the operations of Oplan Sauron. No peace or security can be
guaranteed in an environment of fear and impunity. We enjoin members of
civil society, peoples’ organizations, and individuals from all sectors in
the Philippines to express solidarity with the victims of this culture of
violence, and urge the government to stop the killings and defend Negros.
-30-
Environment group urges President Duterte** to prioritize Filipino people
and the environment
Environmental accountability watchdog, Green Thumb Coalition, today
expressed its take on the forthcoming State of the Nation Address of
President Rodrigo Duterte, particularly for the environment. Green Thumb
Coalition is a broad network of civil society, church, and academic
organizations.
“We are afraid that President Duterte’s SONA would yet again be a platform
to rally his supermajority in Congress around anti-environment and
anti-people policies and projects,” warned Atty. Aaron Pedrosa,
Secretary-General of Sanlakas. “With marching orders to railroad charter
change, the worse is yet to come. Under Duterte’s Cha-cha, corporations and
political elites are expected to be the real winners as our national
patrimony, our national resources will be up for grabs in the name of
profit,” he pointed out.
It is widely known that President Duterte has been actively pushing for
Federalism and charter change since running for the presidency in 2016.
During a recent meeting with the three congress speakership aspirants,
Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco
and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, the president was quoted as issuing the
directive, “If you want to change the Constitution, do it now.”
“As it is, communities currently under attack by a deluge of destructive
projects like mining and coal plants will suffer more under a free for all
regime guaranteed by Duterte’s Cha-cha. This means more blood will be
spilled as affected peoples resist and stand their ground. This will only
further entrench the Philippines as Asia’s deadliest place for land and
environmental defenders. Duterte’s development agenda in the last three
years has been out of touch with people’s realities as it caters to
businesses and moneyed interests leaving people, local communities and the
environment out of the equation. It is our duty to resist and challenge
this State-sponsored aggression,” Pedrosa lamented.
For his part, Jaybee Garganera, National Coordinator of Alyansa Tigil Mina,
further elaborated that, “Any attempt to amend the 1987 Constitution will
drive our risk of losing altogether protection afforded by Article II, Sec.
16 that says, ‘The State shall protect and advance the right of the people
to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony
of nature,’ — which is the fundamental foundation for almost all
environmental laws of the land. If this happens, aside from local
environmental criminals, we run the risks of opening up to foreigners the
destructive exploitation of our environment and natural resources. This
should be opposed. ”
*On Climate*
Recently President Duterte blasted the United Nations (UN) climate
conferences for doing nothing about the climate crisis as he called for
accountability for disasters wrought by climate change on poor nations. He
even floated the idea of stopping our country’s participation in climate
conferences.
“On the occasion of President Duterte’s Third State of the Nation Address
(SONA) let us raise our voice in demanding for this government to address
our increasing climate-related problems beginning with preparing our most
vulnerable communities to adapt in this climate emergency,” stated Ian
Rivera, National Coordinator of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice.
“The urgency of the necessity for all environmental and development on
adaptation is made more pronounced by the severity of the climate emergency
that we are now facing.”
“And we cannot afford to aggravate the climate crisis by insisting on
carbon intensive development – we should be stopping all coal and fossil
energy plants, and be aggressive in our transition to clean, renewable
energy. It is now upon us to radically change the system. And this means
now,” added Rivera.
*On Energy *
Nonetheless, a few days ago, DENR-EMB gave its approval on the construction
of a new coal power plant in Palawan.
“Three years into the Duterte presidency, we have yet to see any
significant push to drastically increase the share of renewable energy in
our energy mix. In fact, 10 years after the enactment of the Renewable
Energy Law, the share of coal in our energy mix has regrettably increased
to 51 percent,” bemoans Gerry Arances, National Coordinator of Center for
Energy, Ecology and Development. “Despite the well-established negative
effects of coal to the people’s health, the environment, and electricity
prices in the country, the President has even lent support to the quick
approval of dirty energy projects through Executive Order 30. EO30
effectively enables corporations to circumvent many required processes to
secure permits, including those which require public consultation and
approval,” added Arances.
“We continue to push for the ramping up of government policies to support
renewables and a clear policy direction from the administration shifting
away from the dominance of coal. We call on the government to strengthen
the implementation of the RE Law to realize the promise of a Philippines
run entirely on clean, affordable renewable energy, and to overhaul our
power sector to prevent corporations to prioritize profit over the climate
and our rights as citizens and consumers,” he concluded.
*On Fisheries*
Meanwhile, illegal fishing has been another hot environmental topic under
the Duterte administration. Recently, USAID revealed that the country
loses nearly P68.5 billion annually to illegal, unreported and unregulated
fishing, and this is aggravated by the fact that China has been entering
our exclusive economic territory for their fish supply.
“We urge the president to require a very strong monitoring, control and
surveillance system for our fishing grounds and waters to fight illegal,
unreported and unregulated fishing,” expressed Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos,
Oceana Vice President. “With two thirds of our fishing grounds on the
verge of collapsing, a no-nonsense enforcement of our Fisheries Code, as
amended, is a must,” she continued.
-30-
ATM Press Statement
Ang mga tagapagtaguyod ng kalikasan at mga tagapagsulong ng karapatang
pantao ay sinusuportahan ang pakikibaka ng Didipio Earth Savers
Multi-purpose Association, Inc. (DESAMA) at Didipio-Watch laban sa mapanira
at iresponsableng pagmimina sa Nueva Vizcaya.
Noong nakaraang Hulyo 1, 2019, ang mga magsasaka at mga katutubo mula sa
barangay Didipio, sa bayan ng Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya ay nag-organisa ng
barikada ng mga tao upang ipatupad ang pagnanais ng mga mamamayan na
ikansela ang permiso at iligal na operasyon ng OceanGold Philippines Inc.
(OGPI). Ang kontrata ng OGPI (Financial and Technical Assistant Agreement
#1) ay nawalan na ng bisa noong ika-20 ng Hunyo, ngunit hanggang sa ngayon
ay patuloy parin ang kanilang iligal na operasyon.
Upang ipakita at iparamdam ang aming suporta sa pakikibaka sa pangunguna ng
DESAMA, Didipio-Watch at iba pang mga organisasyon sa Didipio, Kasibu,
Nueva Vizcaya, ito ang aming mga panawagan:
1. Agarang ipa-kansela ni Pangulong Duterte ang kontrata ng OGPI at
magbaba ng utos na ipatigil ang lahat ng iligal na operasyon ng OGPI. Dahil
wala nang bisa ang kanilang kontrata at bigong mag pasa ng panibagong
kontrata, walang karapatan ang OGPI na mag pataw ng banta o anumang
ikasisira ng kagubatan at katubigan sa Nueva Vizcaya.
2. Bawiin ng DENR ang kaniyang paborableng pag endorso sa kahilingan ng
OGPI para sa FTAA renewal.
3. Kilalanin ng Pambansang Pamahalaan ang pagsasarili at kalayaan ng mga
lokal na pamahalaan na apektado ng pagmimina ng OGPI. Nagkulang ang DENR na
siguraduhin na ang mga palatuntunan ay maayos na nasusunod sa pagsusuri at
pagtatasa ng mga kontrata.
4. Marapat na ang National Commission of Indigenous People (NCIP) ay
magkaroon ng komprehensibong kondukta sa isang malinaw, inklusibo, at
partisipatibong konsultasyon, field-based na imbestigasyon at negosasyon
para sa* free, prior and informed consent *(FPIC) sa lahat ng mga katutubo
sa mga apektadong lugar, kasama ang mga dayuhang katutubo na naninirahan na
sa lugar higit sa apatnapung dekada.
5. Ang DENR ay dapat na manghingi ng bago at na-update na *Environmental
Impact Assessment *(EIA) mula sa OGPI at mag labas ng bagong *Environmental
Compliance Certificate *(ECC) upang maging parte ng mga kinakailangang
dokumento para sa renewal ng FTAA.
Dep Ed:
DepEd underscores need for training and development programs for close to a million teachers, personnel
PASIG CITY, August 17, 2019 – Amid reports of alleged extravagant and unnecessary trainings and seminars and other planning and assessment activities being conducted across the country, the Department of Education (DepEd) stood firm on its commitment to provide its approximately 900,000 teachers and 65,000 personnel with the needed training and development programs for their personal and professional growth.
While DepEd’s resident auditor stated in its observation report that around P312.1 million was spent on trainings, conventions, and seminar workshops hosted by DepEd Central Office from January to December 2017, the Department underscores that the amount is equivalent to only 7.5% of its P4B annual budget for training and development programs.
The Department likewise responded to the report that the said activities were “conducted in lavish resorts and tourist spot locations,” emphasizing that DepEd strictly adheres to the allowed daily training budget for each person which shall not exceed P2,000. The amount already includes board and lodging, training fees, cost of handouts, supplies, materials, meals/snacks, and all other related training expenses.
“Budget estimates are strictly in accordance with existing budgeting, accounting, procurement, and auditing rules and regulations,” DepEd pointed out in its response.
The said training programs are conducted in various locations all over the country to cater to the Department’s teaching and non-teaching personnel from its 47,000 schools in 223 schools divisions and 16 regions.
“The report concluded that all training activities were done in lavish venues when the location or venue of the activity happened to be in a tourist destination,” Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones mentioned.
The selection of venues and facilities is approved only when it adheres to existing policies and guidelines on procurement, and with consideration to the need for prudence and economy in government service, suitability to the nature of activity, accessibility to the participants, and safety and security in the proposed location, among others.
Finally, the Education chief also issued Office Order No. 2018-093 dated October 2018 entitled, “Venue of Activities of the Department of Education Central Office,” which directs all DepEd units to exercise prudence, economy, and reasonableness in choosing venues for trainings/workshops.
The order further instructs all units of the Central Office to conduct internal office activities within the Central Office premises only. If not feasible, conduct of such activity in another venue shall require strong justification.
-30-
Briones clarifies reports on undistributed textbooks, bares efforts towards more responsive system
PASIG CITY, August 16, 2019 – Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones clarified that the reported “unutilized” textbooks are buffer stocks in case of calamities and increased enrollment. She likewise shared the initiatives of the Department to a more proactive system of delivering textbooks.
The responses to the Commission on Audit’s (COA) 2018 Annual Audit Report were presented in a meeting with the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts, and Culture, attended by committee chair Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, and members Senator Pia Cayetano and Senator Nancy Binay on August 14.
The said report itself noted that “DepEd has an alarming number of undistributed instructional materials amounting to P113,708,595.00 as buffer stock from CYs 2014 up to 2017.”
“Buffer stock refers to the efforts of the Department that whenever there are natural calamities, whenever there are earthquakes, whenever books are destroyed, then we have stocks on hand,” Briones explained.
As stipulated in DepEd Order no. 46, s. 2010, or the Policies and Guidelines on the Allocation of Textbooks and Teacher’s Manuals, a buffer stock shall be provided for textbooks (TXs) and teacher’s manuals (TMs) equivalent to 10% of the projected enrollment of the school year when these will be delivered. The buffer stock shall answer for replacements for losses and/or damages of TXs, for increase in enrolment, and for meeting the requirements of newly established/created schools.
Briones cited instances when buffer stocks were sent immediately, such as when a school in Dumaguete City was burned and when there was a report about a far-flung school that did not have textbooks.
The latest inventory of DepEd’s Bureau of Learning Resources (BLR) showed that there are 137 titles, which are in mother tongue, with buffer stocks in the warehouse. By simple average, the buffer stock for each title is just close to 25,000 pieces per title. The actual inventory of buffer stock for each title ranges from 10 pieces to 179,000. Briones said that if the simple average cost per unit is taken based on the amount of P113.7 million and 3.4 million pieces, this amounts to a unit cost of only P33.34.
From 2016 to 2018, DepEd delivered 81,892,080 textbooks of various titles nationwide. The 3.4 million buffer stock cited by COA constitutes just 4.2% of the total deliveries.
As part of DepEd’s continuing efforts to make systems on textbooks more responsive, Briones approved the authority to procure the hauling and delivery of a large portion of these inventory of buffer stocks to the Division offices and to preposition them nearer to places of need as early as end of February this year. This is to also avoid logistical constraints that hampered DepEd to immediately deploy buffer stocks in times of calamities in the past.
Finally, Briones said that aside from prepositioning buffer stocks locally, DepEd will also allocate a portion of these buffer stocks for the Last Mile Schools Program.
Textbook bottlenecks
Briones likewise acknowledged that bottleneck on the provision of textbooks will require legislation to effectively be addressed.
She shared the legal note on the issue, submitted by Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan and Atty. Ma. Golda Gigi Miñoza, which stated that the combination of laws, particularly of Republic Act 8047 (Book Publishing Industry Development Act) and Republic Act 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act), implementing issuances, and agency practice resulted to lengthened processes that caused major delays in the manuscript development, printing, and delivery of textbooks.
In response to these stringency, DepEd considers pushing for legislation to: “re-establish an Instructional Materials Council, to provide high-level, policy guidance to the concerned bureau on textbook standards; recover for DepEd the authority, concurrent with the private sector, to develop manuscripts of textbooks and other learning resources; specify various procurement approaches or modalities for textbooks and learning resources, including through procurement of consulting services, the current procedure under Resolution No. 01-2010, or Volume 5: Manual of Procedures for the Procurement of Manuscripts for Textbooks and Teacher’s Manuals, or the procurement of books as goods; and include an additional modality hereby DepEd is authorized to pre-select titles based on transparent standards and procedures, and procure these competitively or through alternative modes, as applicable.”
These proposals, Briones said, will be discussed at the DepEd executive committee (ExeCom) level, with inputs of other ExeCom members and their strand directors duly considered.
In a communication sent by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, requesting to be furnished with the responses and clarifications of the Department on the audit observation, he offered his support should legislation be part of the reform. DepEd also agreed to develop with him a bill that would address the textbooks bottleneck.
-30-
National summit on early pregnancy kicks off August 22
PASIG CITY, August 16, 2019 – Following the directives of the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the Department of Education (DepEd)–Office of the Secretary (OSEC) and Bureau of Learner Support Services (BLSS), and the Department of Health (DOH), shall convene a summit to discuss and understand the education, health, and development dimensions of early pregnancy in forging multi-stakeholder consensus on ways forward.
To be carried out in cooperation with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA); Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA); and Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), which form part of the steering committee, the summit entitled “Kapit-kamay: Empowering the Youth to Make Informed Choices” shall take place on August 22, 2019 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
The summit aims to share information and data on early pregnancy, and understand its education, health, and development dimensions; understand the risks and contributory factors to early pregnancy; identify common ground and existing interventions; and formulate platforms or movement with diverse identities for stakeholders to continue policy advocacy and program implementation to address the concern. The participants of the event are youth, program implementers, and duty bearers.
Prior to the summit, DepEd and DOH, together with the steering committee, conducted a series of consultative meetings with faith-based organizations, civil society organizations (CSOs), youth groups, and key implementers, especially the students and parents, to be fully engaged and aware of the current dilemma.
The highlight of the summit will be the link of early pregnancy to education, health, and development. DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III, and NEDA Secretary Ernesto Pernia will share their views, plans, and programs on the pressing concerns.
Other partner agencies and organizations are: National Youth Commission (NYC); Commission on Higher Education (CHED); Likhaan Center for Women’s Health; YPEER Pilipinas; Save the Children Philippines (SCP); United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF); United States Agency for International Development (USAID); Reach Health Philippines; Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health (VYLH); and Center for Health Solutions and Innovations (CHSI).