Castriciones gets CA’s nod

Members of the Commission on Appointments confirmed the appointment of Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones during its deliberations on Wednesday, May 30 held at the Senate in Pasay City. (Public Assistance and Media Relations Service, Department of Agrarian Reform)

QUEZON CITY – The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary John R. Castriciones.

Senator Grace Poe, who presided over the CA’s committee on agrarian reform said the decision to approve Castriciones’ appointment was reached in an executive session.

Poe said a secret voting was made and 13 members of the panel voted to approve the DAR chief’s nomination and only two objected.

The senator added she would report the panel’s recommendation to the CA plenary on Wednesday.

When she endorses the recommendation on the floor, Poe said she would remind Castriciones to address the concerns raised by those who opposed his nomination.

Castriciones first entered DAR when he was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte in December last year, taking over the post of Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano whose nomination was rejected by the CA.

For more than 23 years, Castriciones was a law practitioner who appeared in inferior and superior courts throughout the country. During this period, he also served as legal counsel for several corporations and top government officials in controversial and precedent-setting cases.

In 2009, he served as Director for Investigation, Security and Law Enforcement Services (ISLES) of the Department of Transportation and Communication, and as assistant spokesman and deputy chairman of the Task Force Gabay of the Tagapagligtas sa Karagatan.

At the beginning of the current administration, he served as undersecretary for operations for the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) until his recent appointment at DAR.

He also serves as the national president of Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC) and founding the senior partner of the Castriciones Legal Consultancy, where his children, who are also lawyers, practice their profession.

In the previous hearing, the CA bypassed his appointment after several lawmakers questioned his experience and track record. ### (Public Assistance and Media Relations Service, Department of Agrarian Reform)

 

Monsanto PH conducts financial literacy training for Pangasinan farmers

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Monsanto Philippines recently conducted a seminar on financial literacy for 200 corn farmers in Urbiztondo, Pangasinan, with the goal of broadening farmer’s knowledge on managing farm income and finances. The event was organized in partnership with the local government of Urbiztondo, a third class municipality, through its Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO).

The training was facilitated by financial consultants from the International Marketing Group-Wealth Academy (IMG-Wealth Academy). The 200 farmers who attended the training were selected from each of the corn farming barangays of Urbiztondo.

In his opening remarks, Mayor Martin Sison II highlighted that trainings like this are beneficial especially to farmers. He requested the “attendees to share the knowledge that they have gained from the seminar to their fellow farmers and neighbors so that everyone can benefit from it.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Charina Garrido-Ocampo, Corporate Affairs Lead of Monsanto Philippines, stressed the importance of broadening financial literacy in the rural parts of the country. “According to the 2015 survey of Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Ratings Services, Philippines is one of the 30 least financially literate countries in the world, and only 25% of Filipino adults are aware of the basics of managing their finances,” Ocampo said.

During the seminar, the farmers were trained how to manage their income and were taught some strategies on how to save money. The financial consultants from IMG gave a lecture on how to build a solid financial foundation. “When it comes to securing and saving for their future, many people fail. They don’t set out to fail, but they do because they failed to plan and manage their personal finances. They lack financial education,” said Mr. Budz Oblena, one of the speakers from IMG- Wealth Academy.

This is the third financial literacy training which Monsanto conducted. The first one was held in Bukidnon where they trained 300 farming families on financial and digital literacy, followed by a seminar in Cagayan where they reached out to 200 government employees and underprivileged college students.

In her closing remarks, Vice Mayor Marilyn Sison expressed her gratitude to Monsanto Philippines for helping the farmers in Urbiztondo. “Our focus in on agriculture– most importantly our farmers. We are happy that Monsanto reached out to us and we appreciate that they have chosen our Municipality to be a beneficiary of their activity,” she articulated. # (Monsanto Philippines/TN)

Monsanto Philippines, in partnership with the local government of Urbiztondo, recently conducted a seminar on financial literacy to 200 corn farmers.

494 DAR employees savor long-awaited promotion

 

 

QUEZON CITY – AGRARIAN Reform Secretary John R. Castriciones became the toast of the DAR community on Friday, May 25 following the oath-taking of 494 newly promoted and appointed employees from the central office to the field offices in various parts of the country, the culmination of the five-year rationalization plan that was marked with confusion and uncertainty.

 

Calling them the “heroes of the country’s land reform program,” Castriciones presided the oath-taking of the newly promoted employees at the DAR Gymnasium in Quezon City.

 

Castriciones urged them to carry on with their tasks of distributing farm lands and delivering support services to agrarian reform beneficiaries to the best of their abilities to uplift the farmer-beneficiaries’ standards of living and spur rural development.

 

He also implored them “to be selfless and be not afraid to sacrifice and even put their lives on the line, if necessary, in our efforts to address the social ills and injustices in the countryside.”

 

“Being the catalysts of change, the instruments of justice and the servants of the Filipino people, the more you should be motivated to carry out your sacred duties and obligations without fear or favor as mandated under the country’s agrarian reform law,” the DAR chief stressed.

 

Undersecretary for Finance, Management and Administration Emily Padilla called it a “D-Day” and a “milestone in the lives of the newly promoted and appointed DAR employees” for their dedication and patience, giving their all despite the misgivings brought about by the aborted rationalization plan (RatPlan).

 

“For the longest time, they have waited for this very moment when their dreams (finally) become a reality,” Padilla said.

 

The DAR’s RatPlan actually commenced in August 2013 after having been suspended due to uncertainties brought about by the then near expiration of the five-year Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reform (CARPer) Law.

 

The law eventually expired in June 2014 and, as if serving as a portent of what to come, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) rejected the DAR’s RatPlan a month later for setting aside the Memorandum Circular No. 3, which calls for the placement of affected personnel to comparable positions before undertaking any promotions for deserving employees.

 

Leo Mabansag said he is grateful to the new administration of Secretary Castriciones and to President Duterte for making their dreams come true. Mabansag was promoted to municipal agrarian reform program officer (Marpo) for the clustered towns of San Julian and Sulat, Eastern Samar.

 

“It took us five years, all in all, before our prayers were answered. But it’s worth it. I would say that the invalidation of our promotions brought pains to me and fellow DAR employees, but it only made us even stronger in our resolve to fulfill our duties and obligations to our clientele, both the farmer-beneficiaries and the landowners and other agrarian advocates,” Mabansag said.

 

Samuel Sesio, who was also promoted to Marpo for the clustered towns of Balangkayan, Maydolong and Llorente also in Eastern Samar, admired the strong political will of the administration of Secretary Castriciones for doing in only five months what his predecessors had failed to do for years – the long awaited promotions.

 

“Finally, the waiting is over. Now, we can go back to work and work with peace of mind,” Sesio said.

 

Lucille Mabanua-Busud was also ecstatic with her promotion from senior agrarian reform program officer to chief agrarian reform program officer of Isabela, serving as one of the deputies of the provincial agrarian reform program officer (Parpo) II.

 

“I’m very happy that finally we got our long overdue promotions. Hopefully, this is it, that this will not be recalled again as what had happened in the past,” Busud said. ###

ANG PAGBABALIK NG GUARINTISADONG SERBISYO SA BARANGAY PAYATAS

NANUMPA SA KATUNGKULAN si Manuel L. Guarin sa harap ni Atty. Pearlito B. Campanilla, Counselor at Law ng Campanilla and Associates Law Office ngayong araw. Ito ay bunsod sa mga banta sa buhay at pagkapanalo ni Guarin sa nagdaang eleksyon ng Barangay dahil sa hindi matanggap na pagkatalo ng kapatid ng isang Konsehal ng Quezon City. Sa botong 17,158 na inani mula sa mga naniniwala kay Guarin, di hamak na halos kalahati ang lamang sa sumunod na kandidato na umani lamang ng 9,175. Sa pagbabalik sa panunungkulan ni Guarin, asahan na ipagpapatuloy ang garantisado at tunay na serbisyo para sa mga taga-Payatas. (MG Press Relations Officer, Anatolia Ibañez)

PANALO TALAGA ANG GUARINTISADONG SERBISYO PARA SA PAYATAS

(Center L-R) Comelec Chairperson of Melencio Castelo Elementary School Noel E. Jomadiao, Barangay Captain Candidate Manuel L. Guarin, and one of the Guarin Legal Councel Atty. Jan Louenn Lumanta. PANALO TALAGA. Sa kabila ang kaliwa’t kanang paninira nanaig pa rin ang katotohanang si Manny Guarin ang gusto ng mga taga-Payatas. Sa botong 17,158 na inani mula sa mga naniniwala kay Guarin, di hamak na halos kalahati ang lamang sa sumunod na kandidato na umani lamang ng 9,175. Sa pagbabalik sa panunungkulan ni Guarin, asahan na ipagpapatuloy ang garantisado at tunay na serbisyo para sa mga taga-Payatas. (MG Press Relations Officer, Anatolia Ibañez)

Reconstitution of task force to facilitate appointment of DAR employees

 

QUEZON CITY – Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary John R. Castriciones announced on Friday the reconstitution of the Task Force on Selection and Promotion (TFSP) to facilitate the signing and issuance of appointment papers to deserving employees of the department.

 

Castriciones made the announcement in a dialogue he called with the Co-Terminus with the Incumbent (CTI) employees amidst the growing uncertainties expressed by said personnel on the status of their employment.

 

The secretary also assured the 102 CTI employees of spots in the second phase of placement that is being implemented by the agency.

 

“Stop being historical and hysterical,” the secretary told the staffs, as he made certain that a mechanism is already in place to process the status of their employment.

 

The reconstitution TFSP was materialized through the issuance of Special Oder No. 159, series of 2018 dated May 15, 2018, that appointed Undersecretary David D. Erro of the Policy, Planning and Research Office (PPRO) as chairperson.

 

“You will have a place in the second phase of placement here at DAR,” he emphasized.

 

CTI employees were those affected by the implementation of Executive Order No. 366 or the government’s rationalization scheme that was implemented at the DAR in 2013.

 

EO 366 phased out or abolished functions and scaled down programs and projects of government agencies as part of cost-cutting measures.

 

It also mandated government agencies, including DAR, to remove employees holding redundant positions.

 

Affected employees were given the option to either retire or continue to work with the department in a co-terminus status.

 

Castriciones emphasized that DAR, through the reconstituted TFSP will ensure that all documents submitted to the Office of the Secretary (OSEC) are compliant to the provision of the Omnibus Rules on Appointments and Other Human Resource Actions (ORA OHRA).

 

He added that TFSP will assist the OSEC on questions of law and CSC regulations relative to the issuance of appointments, recommend the proper course of action on issues or concerns and exercise such other functions as may be directed by the secretary on the appointment process. ###

Globe Sets Its Sights on Creating a New Stage for Fashion in PH

Deadline for submissions to the Designer Mentorship Program extended

After its major announcement of entering the esports and gaming business, Globe Telecom together with SAGA Events, Inc., is now set to create a new platform for the local fashion industry by introducing “stylefestph”.

Joe Caliro, Globe Senior Advisor for Creative Marketing and Multimedia Business, said that fashion is the next frontier for the company. “Globe has always believed in the talent of the Filipino people with our programs in music, content, gaming, arts, theater, food, and recreation. We hope to generate business opportunities for designers and allow them to showcase their creative and entrepreneurial project to both the local and international markets and let their passions grow in the digital space,” Caliro revealed.

One of the highlights of stylefestph is the Designer Mentorship Program where eight (8) aspiring designers will be mentored by some of the country’s notable names in fashion and beauty, or also known as, the “stylecouncil”.

 

The style council is composed of fashion designer Inno Sotto, fashion stylist Pam Quiñones, ZALORA Philippines co-founder and CEO Paulo Campos, professional make-up artist Jigs Mayuga, fashion and lifestyle editor Sarah Santiago, Globe Lifestyle head Leah de Guzman, and  Fashion Exchange International co-founder Carmina Sanchez-Jacob.

Robby Carmona, CEO of SAGA Events Inc., said that it has always been a privilege to work with Filipino designers and brands as a fashion director and show producer.  “We at Saga Events Inc. take pride in supporting Filipino talents and this is very much apparent in our many endeavors to propel the Philippine fashion scene forward, ” Carmona added.

The stylefestph’s Designer Mentorship Program will culminate in a 3-day event happening on September 7-9, 2018 featuring the capsule collection of the five (5) winners named “Emerging Designers” and the three (3) winners dubbed as the “Future of Design”. The winners will have their collections sold at ZALORA Philippines and 0917 Lifestyle, respectively, and will also receive a cash prize.

From April 24 to May 25, 2018, interested designers can download their application form at www.stylefest.ph. The event will also feature a fashion and beauty expo as well as talks from various industry leaders. For updates, follow stylefestph on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. ### (Yoly C. Crisanto, SVP, Corporate Communications Globe Telecom, Inc.)

 

Tanggapan para sa mga kooperatiba, nais itayo ni Belmonte

Itutulak ni Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte ang pagtatayo ng isang tanggapan sa City Hall na susuporta at magpapalakas ng mga lokal na kooperatiba.

Sa pakikipagpulong sa mga kasapi ng Tatalon Transport Service Multi-Purpose Cooperative (TTSMC) sa Barangay Tatalon, binigyang diin ni Belmonte ang pagkakaroon ng hiwalay na departamento na magsusulong ng interes ng mga kooperatiba.

“I’m all for cooperatives. I’ve been a supporter of cooperative movement. Ang isang cooperative ay isang pamamaraan para puede nating iangat ang antas ng ating kabuhayan,” pahayag ng bise alkalde sa mga opisyal at kasapi ng TTSMC.

Aniya, ang mga kooperatiba ay nagtuturo sa mga tao na tumayo sa sarili nilang paa.

Kinalungkot ni Belmonte na walang ahensya o tanggapan sa City Hall na nangangalaga sa mga kooperatiba kahit aniya ang Quezon City pa naman ang may pinakamaraming kooperatiba, na tinatayang nasa 500, sa Metro Manila.

“Since we have no such office, umaasa tayo sa CDA,” ani Belmonte. Tinutukoy niya ang Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), ang ahensiyang namamahala sa mga kooperatiba sa bansa.

Ayon pa kay Belmonte, itutulak niya ang pagpasa sa nakabinbing ordinansa sa Sangguniang Panglungsod na nagsusulong sa pagtatayo ng cooperative development office sa City Hall.

“We really have to encourage the people to form their own cooperatives. To do this, we have to have a special office that will help them organize and provide training support, especially in terms of efficient management of resources,” paliwanag ni Belmonte.

Dagdag pa ni Belmonte, naniniwala siya sa prinsipyo ng kooperatiba – solidarity, democracy, empowerment of the members: ‘Yung pagkakataon na lahat tayo sabay-sabay na umaangat. Magagandang values ito, values we need para lahat tayo umasenso.”

Mahalaga rin aniya ang mga kooperatiba sa pag-unlad ng ekonomiya ng bansa. Base sa 2014 datos ng CDA, may 24,652 na kooperatiba na nakarehistro sa Pilipinas na may kabuuang miyembro na 7,675,283.

May combined assets ito na P248,539,541,100.83, ayon pa kay Belmonte.

“There is so much room for growth – if only people would recognize the potential of cooperatives,” pahayag ni Belmonte. -30-

DAR Chief declares war vs. graft and corruption

QUEZON CITY – Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary John Castriciones has declared war against graft and corruption within the office, saying that “heads will roll” in pursuit of his “no-holds-barred” campaign for a graft-free department.

“There will be no sacred cow in this campaign,” Castriciones said as he sent a strong message to all DAR officials and rank-and-file employees to resist the lure of graft and corruption.

 

Castriociones issued the warning as a gesture of reassuring President Rodrigo Roa Duterte that the DAR would never again be dragged in any corrupt activities as in the past when it was linked to multi-million scams involving the Malampaya Fund and the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

 

In a speech during the distribution of certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) to 386 farmer-beneficiaries last May 2 in Mulanay, Quezon province, President Duterte said he is all out in support for the second phase of the country’s agrarian reform program which he considers as vital in getting the agriculture industry back on its feet.

 

“I want to resume land reform because it is really needed,” he said.

 

The President emphasized the possibility of converting idle and forest lands into productive agricultural areas for the farmers in the country.

 

“Bitawan na natin lahat ngayon. Wala namang silbi ‘yan. So it is not productive. It’s not being used for anything. Why do we not embark of another second phase land reform?” he declared further.

 

The President personally addressed Secretary Castriciones to work on the prospect of taking on measures to turn public and idle lands productive.

 

“Sabi ko kay Secretary John Castriciones, ‘bakit hindi mo na lang i-reform lahat pati yung bukid? Totoo. Wala namang silbi ‘yang mga gobyerno na lupa,” he said.

 

Not only devoted to rice and corn, President Duterte also emphasized that farmers should also engage in the production of high-value crops such as coconut and rubber.

 

“And even if it is really a mountain or a hill, tatanim ninyo coconut  at rubber. And that is my experience in Mindanao,” he added.

 

He also pointed out that funding would not be a problem as the country’s economy is growing fast.

 

President Duterte, however, stressed that the government should get rid of corruption since it remains as a major stumbling block to the success of his administration’s many poverty alleviation programs.

 

“If we just save money, walang corruption. At ‘yung pera talaga nagastos mo, ito gastusin mo, aabot talaga doon sa intended beneficiary or objective. I do not see any reason bakit hindi natin magawa,” the President said.

 

Castriciones made an assurance that farmers will primarily benefit from the proposal of the President, not only through land distribution but also on the continuing support programs and services of the department.

 

Some DAR officials had been linked to various multi-million scams in previous years.

 

Among the most controversial are their involvement to the P200-million agribusiness program in 2007-2008; the 900-million Malampaya Fund for the rehabilitation of farmers devastated by typhoons in 2009; and the 230-million budget insertion in 2010 involving fake non-government organizations.

 

Among those charged with violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act before the Sandiganbayan were: DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, Undersecretary Narciso Nieto, finance director Teresita Panlilio, budget officer Ronald Vinancio, and chief accountant Angelita Cacananta.

 

Castriciones said his leadership will institute appropriate measures for DAR to get rid of graft and corruption and proceed with the proposal of the President for the implementation of the next phase of agrarian reform program in the country. #

 

 

 

Belmonte: Pumili ng karapat-dapat na kandidato

Ilang linggo bago ang eleksyon sa barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), nanawagan si Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte sa mga botante na gamitin nang maayos ang balota sa pagpili ng karapat-dapat na lider at palitan ang hindi nila gusto.

Ayon sa bise alkalde, ang eleksyon ang isa sa mga mahahalagang pagkakataon sa mga mamamayan upang maiparinig ang kanilang boses lalo na’t ang kinabukasan nila at ng kanilang mga anak ang nakataya.

 

“Use the ballot para piliin ang mga leaders natin. Kung hindi natin gusto ang ating mga pinuno, ‘di tayo nagtitiwala sa kanila, ‘di maganda ang serbisyo nila sa atin, then we will use the ballot,” pahayag ng bise alkalde sa 300 community leaders sa Barangay Roxas.

 

Kung hindi naman aniya papalarin ang kanilang mga napiling kandidato, mas mabuting makipagkaisa na lang upang matulungan ang lokal na pamahalaan:

 

“Hindi dapat tayo maghiwala-hiwalay. Isipin niyo na lang kung lahat tayo mag-aaway-away, wala tayong mapapala.”

 

“In unity, there is strength. In unity, there is power. In unity, our voices can be heard,” pagdidiin pa ni Belmonte.

Pinangako rin ni Belmonte na hindi niya sasayangin ang pondo ng lokal na pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatupad ng mga proyekto na hindi naman lubos na mapapakinabangan ng mga tao.

“I will always ask you. I will also consult you. What are your needs? What are the services you want the city to fund? I’m a consultative leader. I really believe in participatory government. ‘Yan po ang ating gagawin,” sabi pa ng anak ng dating mayor, House Speaker, at ngayo’y Quezon City 4^th District Rep. Sonny Belmonte, Jr.

Mula pa noong unang mga araw niya bilang bise alkalde noong 2010, direkta nang kinukunsulta ni Belmonte ang publiko sa pamamagitan ng kanyang programang“People’s Day” sa City Hall.

 

Tuwing Martes, mula alas-9 ng umaga hanggang alas-5 ng hapon, bukas ang tanggapan ni Belmonte sa publiko. Dito ay direktang pinakikinggan ng bise alkalde ang lahat ng hinaing at paghingi ng tulong ng mga mamamayan.

Ang tradisyong ito ay sinimulan ng kanyang ama noong Hulyo 1, 2001 hanggang Hunyo 30, 2010 at kanyang ipinagpatuloy dahil sa adhikain niyang consultative/participative governance.

Sa mga walang oras na pumunta sa City Hall, maaari ring tawagan ang kanyang tanggpan sa mga numerong 921-77-11 at 988-42-42 local 8205. -30-