Victorias City Rescue Team Undergoes WASAR Training

The Victorias City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office underwent Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) and Rubber Boat Operation and Maintenance (RBOM) Training at the Victorias City Sports and Amusement Center last May 12-17.

The water safety rescue and survival training, under the supervision of Victorias City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office headed by Eduardo De La Paz, Jr., aims atmitigating the hazardous effects of flood through drowning of the residents in the affected barangays in the City.

The City’s immediate responders in the flood prone barangays and the Rescue personnel underwent a six-daywater safety rescue and survival training to enrich necessary knowledge, skills, attitude physical and mental capability to assist the persons in distress during the occurrence of floods including those in the open water.

Upon completion of the course these barangay immediate responders and Rescue personnel were able to appreciate water safety, perform water rescue effectively and acquire the ability to self-rescue, skills in shallow water working basic boat handling and basic rope work.

Coast Guard District of Western Visayas CommanderAtheloYbanez, Coast Guard District of Bacolod City Asst. Station Commander CPO JomarAzuelo and company conducted the training and were present during the closing ceremony.

CDRRMC Chairman Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca awarded the certificates signifying the participants’ completion of the WASAR training and he gave an inspirational message at the end of the training.

City SPES Program Helps 188 College Students of Victorias

                                               By Jameson Baguio

Victorias City through its summer Special Employment of Students (SPES) Program has benefitted 188 college students. The program ran from April 14 to May 14.

An orientation headed by PESO Manager Armen Tabligan kicked off the summer job program and Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca along with City Councilors Sulpicio Montinola, Jr., Blandino Galinato, Vincent Marie Roa and Ronilo Sarito were present.

The SPES beneficiaries joined several community development activities including the summer remedial reading classes under the Developmental Reading in Progress Project of the City.

                They also attended seminars on drug addiction and proper solid waste segregation conducted by Chief of Police P/Supt. Santiago Rapiz and Solid Waste Management Office Head Lara Ann Garcia, respectively.

                During the culmination, the SPES beneficiaries showcased their talents in singing, dancing, and acting, among others.

This program which helps support the students’ educational expenses is under Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca and PESO Manager Armen Tabligan in coordination with the Department of Employment (DOLE) and Public Employment Services Office (PESO).

The summer job workers rendered eight hours of clerical work in the different offices and departments at the Victorias City Hall for 20 days.

They received P5,000 of which 60 percent came from the City and 40 percent from DOLE with insurance, employment and termination contract.

The summer SPES program qualifiers are legitimate residents of the City with ages 15 to 25 years old, preferably second to fourth year college students, belonging to low income families and has no failing grades.

Victorias City Receives Two Flatbed Dryers From Department Of Agriculture

                     By Samson Garzon, Victorias City Agriculturist

                The City of Victorias availed two units of Flat Bed Dryer (FBD) facility from the Department of Agriculture (DA). 

One FBD was turned over by the City Officals, headed by the Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca, to farmers of Hda. Mimi, Brgy. X last May 13, while the other one was given to farmers of Barangay  XI last May 20 and was established at Purok Cingko in Gawahon.

 Each unit has the capacity to load 120 cavans of palay for the duration of 8-12 hours drying time.  

According to Wilmer De La Cerna (DA-RFU VI Farm Mechanization Coordinator for Negros Occidental), the cost of two units FBD have totaled to more than P 1.5 Million project grant from the Department of Agriculture. 

The project is expected to help improve rice quality of farmers’ produce as the facility is equipped with temperature gauge and moisture tester to ensure proper drying of palay.

Farmers of Hda. Mimi and Gawahon have expressed gratitude to the present administration for facilitating the establishment of said facilities in their areas because they are often visited by heavy rainfall which usually lasts for weeks and destroy their harvested palay. 

FBDs are very useful for harvest especially during rainy season (usually on the months of November to January). 

These facilities will surely help farmers save their palay from spoilage and eventually ensure good quality rice for Victoriahanons. 

Victorias City Inks Agreement Of Education For Sustainable Development Project

                The City of Victorias signed a memorandum of agreement with Ikaw-Ako Japan-Negros Partnership for Environmental Protection, Barangay Estado National High School and Victorias National High School (VNHS) - Gaston Extension relative to the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) through the promotion of organic farming in the City of Victorias at the Public Plaza last May 5.

                Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca, Ikaw-Ako Japan-Negros Partnership for Environmental Protection Director Yorihisa Goto, Brgy. Estado National High School Teacher In Charge Mark Lester Sim, and Doctor of Rural Development – Principal of VNHS signed the MOA.

                Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Jerry Jover, Ikaw-Ako Foundation Project Manager Mari Kurata, Brgy. Estado National High School Teacher I Rila Abellar and VNHS - Gaston Extension Teacher In Charge Sandra Garzon signed as witnesses to the MOA.

                Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca and Director Yorihisa Goto both expressed their strong commitment to the ESD Project during the MOA signing.

                As stipulated in the MOA, the project aims to establish an educational model in a rural public high school, which allows students to develop love of hometown, encourage more youth to engage in agriculture/farming, contribute in decreasing school drop out rate and assist in the sustainable development of the community.

                Ikaw-Ako Foundation will provide financial and technical assistance including education programs, seminars and evaluation in coordination with the partner organization for the successful implementation of the project.

This ESD Project of the Ikaw-Ako Japan-Negros Partnership for Environmental Protection will run from April 2014 to March 2016.

The two targeted project sites, Estado National High School and VNHS-Gaston Extension along with the City and the Foundation will work together for the successful implementation of the ESD Project given their specific roles and tasks.