PONDO NG PLEBISITO INILABAS NG DBA
Danny Estacio

LUCENA CITY- Inilabas na ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) ang
Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) para gamitin
sa gaganaping plebisito sa Quezon base sa kahilingan ng Commission on Election (COMELEC) na nagkakahalaga ng P38 milyon.
Ang SARO na may bilang 08-08496 ay nilagdaan ni DBM Usec. Mario L. Relampagos
na iniisyu noong Oktubre 16, 2008 alinsunod sa Republic Act 9495, para sa paglikha ng Quezon del Sur.
Ayon sa DBM " release of allotment to cover expenses for the holding of
plebiscite in Quezon Province pursuant to RA 9495".
Ang nasabing pondo ay magmumula sa Calendar year 2008 budget.
Si COMELEC commissioner Jose Melo ay humiling sa DBM para pondohan ang nasabing
plebisito.
Ayon sa sulat ni Melo kay DBM secretary Rolando Andaya na may petsa Setyembre
25, 2008 " we are respectfully requesting that your good office provide the
said amount necessary for the conduct of the plebicite.Considering that numerous
petitions for recall have already been filed with the Commission".
Ayon pa sa sulat ni Melo na ang COMELEC ay
walang sapat na pondo para sa
plebisito " the COMELEC does not have the funds to conduct the plebiscite
for the division of Quezon province. The amount appropriated for the conduct of
unscheduled political exercise, such as referenda, plebiscite, recall and
initiatives for the Fiscal Year (FY)2008 budget of the COMELEC is only
P5,000.00. The current year's budget of COMELEC is just enough to cover its
operating expenses up to December 31, 2008.
" The estimated ezpenses for the conduct of the said Plebiscite is
P37,957,800.00", ayon sa ulat ni Melo.
Nauna rito, sumulat muna si Quezon 3rd district Cong. Danilo Suarez noong Marso
2008 kay DBM director Luz M. Cantor na humihiling ng nasabing pondo para sa
gaganapin plebisito.
Ang araw ng plebisito ay depende sa en banc resolution na itatakda ng komisyon.






FORUM ON RIGHT OF REPLY , IKAKASA NG QPA
Belly M. Otordoz,
QPA-Secretary

LUCENA CITY: Sa pangambang tuluyang maipapasa sa Kongreso at Senado ang dalawang ‘killer bills’ patungkol sa press freedom, ikakasa ng bagong tatag na Quezon Publishers Association ang isang forum na may layuning imulat ang mga miyembro ng lokal na pamamahayag sa Lucena at Quezon hinggil sa isyu ng House Bill 1001 at Senate Bill 2150 – ang Right of Reply Bill.

Ayon kay Billy Andal, Editor in chief ng Monday Times at nahalal na pangulo ng QPA, nakakaalarma ang naturang dalawang bill dahil diktadurya ito sa malayang pamamahayag kaya’t nararapat na agad silang kumilos upang hindi ito maaprubahan sa Kongreso at Senado, bagama’t ito ay nasa final reading na.

Nakapaloob sa Right of Reply Bill na may karapatan ang sinumang pinuna o binatikos ng isang media practitioner na i-publish/i-ere ang kanyang sagot sa mismong bahagi ng pahayagan/programa kung saan siya pinuna.

Inuutusan din ng bill na ito ang publications/TV/Radio stations na kung ano ang haba ng pagpuna sa taong sangkot ay ganoon din ang habang dapat ipagkaloob dito sa kanyang sagot na pahayag.

Kung mabibigong gawin ito ng media entity na sangkot, magmumulta ito ng hanggang P200,000.00 at maaring mabilanggo ng hanggang anim na buwan,

Dagdag pa ni Andal, malinaw na ginagawang ‘tanga’ ng bill na ito ang mga media practitioners dahil nag-uutos sa aspetong matagal nang isinasagawa ng mga mamamahayag dito – ang pagsusulat/pagbo-broadcast ng lahat ng panig sa isang news story.

Kaugnay nito, nagdesisyon ang buong kasapian ng QPA na maglabas ng isang “pooled editorial” upang ipakita ang matinding pagtutol nito sa panukalang tila balaraw na nakatarak sa puso ng mga mamamahayag.

Nanawagan din si Andal sa lahat ng mga individual, may-ari ng mga publication,stasyon ng radio at telebisyon ganon din ang mga organisasyon na nasa industriya ng pamamahayag na makiisa upang tutulan ang mapaniil na panukalang batas na isinusulong nina Cong. Monico Puentevella at Cong. Bienvenido Abante.



Sa forum na pangungunahan ng QPA, mag-iimbita ang grupo ng mga resource speakers mula sa Philippine Press Institute at iba pang national media organizations upang magpaliwanag ng mga probisyon na nakapaloob sa Right of Reply Bill.

Itinakda ang forum sa Nobyembre 14 kung saan iimbitahan bilang participants ang pangulo ng iba’t-ibang media organizations sa Lucena at Quezon gaya ng Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, NUJP-Quezon, Quezon Tri-Media Group at Camp Nakar Press Corps at iba pang media organization sa Quezon.

Mag-iimbita rin ng mga personalidad na may kinalaman sa legal practice .

Ang Quezon Publishers Association ay muling binuhay na organisasyon ng mga court-accredited publications sa Lucena at probinsya ng Quezon.



Child-Friendly Malls

This October, SM Supermalls takes the lead in celebrating the National Children’s Month through the launch of nationwide activities that would promote and protect a child’s rights, as well as ensure their safety and convenience inside the Mall.

SM City Lucena together with the SM Supermalls Children’s Council, SM Breastfeeding Committee, UNICEF, DSWD, DOH, PNP and the Council for Welfare of Children (CWC), have conducted a re-orientation program entitled A Kid’SMall: Caring for Children for SM Mall employees, tenants, security guards and janitorial personnel.

In addition to training seminars, SM City Lucena have also incorporated child-friendly facilities that would assure families of a safe and fun “malling” experience.

“Kiddie” waterless urinals and baby diaper changers have been installed inside the Mall’s comfort rooms. Likewise, buzzers/chimes can be found near comfort rooms, for the handicapped/children requiring assistance. Protective railings and child-friendly reminders have also been installed at Mall escalators. Selected public payphones are made accessible. Lower drinking fountains and top quality children’s high chairs are also available at the SM Foodcourt for a secure and convenient dining experience. Similarly, breastfeeding stations were made specifically for infants to feed in a clean and comfortable, private area, while toddlers can use kiddie carts, to make malling both convenient and enjoyable for the whole family. The Mall also offers various specialized children’s shops and services, such as a kid’s salon, kiddie dental clinic, infant boutiques, children’s library and numerous “edutainment” play centers, which create a fun and learning environment for children of all ages.

The latest innovation of your favorite child-friendly Mall is a “Safe-for-Kids” program @ Cyberzone, duly recognized by UNICEF. Cyberzone houses gaming, gadgets, and i-cafe stores in the Mall.

Celebrate United Nations Day by joining the Costume Parade on Friday, October 24, 2008 at 1PM at SM City Lucena. Enjoy and have fun on October 26 with the Jollibee Kids Club on their Halloween Party. Childrens of 12 years old and below can join the Trick and Treat for FREE. Be dressed in colorful costumes and bring along Pumpkin Pails and look for the trick and treat signages of participating stores.

With all these activities and new innovations, there’s no doubt each visit to the SM Supermalls, will leave wider smiles and bring out the child in you! Happy Children’s Month!



LUCENA PTA FEDERATION

Isang matagumpay at tahimik na election ng PTA Federation Officer ang naganap sa West 1 Elementary School nitong nakaraang biyernes Oct 24.

Ito’y dinaluhan ng mga magulang at guro mula sa limang distrito ng Lucena na binubuo ng West, South, North, East at Highschool o secondary.

Ang bumubuo ng PTA Federation Officer sa Lucena ay pinangunahan ng mga Board of Canvasser at ni City Councilor Felix Avillo.

Ang naging President ng nasabing Pederasyon ng mga magulang at guro ay si G. Marvin Fuentes ( West), Vice President Gil Rivera ( secondary) Treasurer Liezel Dagos (teacher-South ) at Adelina Quimson ( parent –East) Treasurer Flora Sarmiento (North) Auditor George Sta. Ana (West ) Business Manager Maximo Monsarrat (East) P.R.O.s Vicente Gaetos Jr. (secondary) at Jet Claveria-Lacza (secondary) Board of Directors: Mary Jane Jatico (East) Reynante Luistro ( North) Ruben Villania (West) Jimmy Oliva (North) Cezar Cuasay (South) Leopoldo Origenes (South).

Ang pagbuo ng nasabing pederasyon ng PTA mula sa elementary at highschool ay bilang pagtalima sa isang resolution No.1-4-225 mula sa Sangguniang Panlunsod.Ito’y nagsasaaad ng pagbibigay sigla upang buuin ang district level hanggang division level.