Dumaguete turns over Cittadini school facilities to DepEd

By Roi Lomotan

Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo (front) and DepEd- 7 Regional Director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez (2nd row, 2nd from right) inspect one of the classrooms inside the former Cittadini School. (RAL/PIA7-NegOr)

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — The Dumaguete City local government has turned over the facilities of the former Cittadini School to the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 7, which will soon be used by students and faculty of the City Central Elementary School and Calindagan Elementary School. 

Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo said the classrooms, halls, and courts will provide a conducive learning atmosphere for students and a suitable venue for their extra-curricular activities. 

Remollo announced in May that the Ursuline Sisters of  Somasca, a congregation of nuns operating the former Catherina Cittadini School, agreed to sell the entire 1.8 hectare property in Barangay Calindagan to the city government for P175 million payable in installment basis. 

City Public Information Officer Katherine Aguilar said the Somascan sisters decided to sell their property because they trust the current administration will continue their legacy and mission of educating young people. 

The mayor said the city government’s purchase of the property is timely because they are looking for a relocation site for the City Central Elementary School (CCES). 

CCES is currently located at the City Hall compound, which is not a suitable place for a campus. 

Remollo added that the city government also decided to relocate the students of Calindagan Elementary School (CLES), which is the nearest public elementary school in the area. 

The turnover of the facilities to DepEd-7 on June 6 was attended by Remollo, DepEd7 regional director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, vice mayor Maisa Sagarbarria, and city administrator Lilani Ramon. 

DepEd7 will occupy the facility on a usufruct agreement with the city. 

Jimenez thanked the city government as the current location of CCES is no longer conducive for learning due to congested traffic and the number of people passing by the school to transact at the City Hall. 

Staying at the current location would also result in limiting the number of enrollees since DepEd can no longer build additional classrooms in the area. 

“We see to it that the basic education that has been produced by DepEd shall also be of quality. We can only have quality if all other components are present and one of them is a conducive learning place and away from disturbance. I see and observe that this Cittadini School which will become a public school soon is a place to be,” Jimenez said.

The facilities inside the former Cittadini School include dozens of standard size classrooms, a gymnasium, laboratories, cafeterias, chapel, road network with adequate parking space, playground, grotto, among others. 

Remollo also reiterated the city government’s commitment to provide adequate learning facilities to the students.

“Whatever you need, we have a buffer of P3 million that would have been used to refurbish Calindagan Elementary School can now be used to do some connective works or do whatever you see fit to be done in this facility,” Remollo said. 

The mayor also instructed the City Engineer’s Office to provide three access gates on the western side of the campus facing the Dumaguete City National High School to accommodate the students and teachers while avoiding traffic congestion at the national highway.

Both Jimenez and Remollo assured that the classrooms will be ready before the start of classes in July. 

102-year-old farmer receives land title from PBBM

By Roi Lomotan

Pres. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. congratulates Simeon Academia, a 102-year-old Agrarian Reform Beneficiary (ARB) from Tamisu, Bais City, for acquiring his land title from the Department of Agrarian Reform. Academia is the oldest ARB to receive a land title during the mass distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Award on May 20, 2024 at the Lamberto Macias Sports Center, Dumaguete City. (RAL/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — For 42 years, Tatay Semion Academia has been tilling his 1.5-hectare land in Tamisu, Bais City. 

The tract of land he is cultivating is in the upland area of Barangay Tamisu where he grows sugarcane, banana, and corn.

Now 102 years old, Tatay Semeon finally received his land title from no less than Pres. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr and Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III.  

He is relieved and deeply thankful that he is now the legitimate owner of the land that he would like to pass on to his 12 grandchildren. 

“Gihatag na sa tag-iya namo. Kami na lang ang nagtikad. Daghan salamat na hinatagan ko og luna na ako pinangabuhi,” said Tatay Semeon.

(The land was turned over to us by its previous owner and I took over tilling the land. I am thankful that I finally got this land which gave me my livelihood.) 

Tatay Semion plans to cultivate more root crops, other varieties of bananas, and even lumbang plants to enhance their family’s income.

Pres. Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. (2nd from right) turns over a Certificate of Land Ownership Award to an Agrarian Reform Beneficiary during the mass distribution of land titles in Negros Oriental held on May 20, 2024 at the Lamberto Macias Sports Center, Dumaguete City. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)

Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries

Academia was one of the 2,144 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) who received their land titles from the President during the distribution ceremony of Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) held on May 20 at the Lamberto Macias Sports Center. 

The recipients came from Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Tayasan, Bindoy, Manjuyod, Mabinay, Bais City, Pamplona, Tanjay City, Amlan, Sibulan, San Jose, Valencia, Bacong, Dauin, Zamboanguita, Siaton, Sta. Catalina, and Bayawan City.

The CLOAs cover a combined area of 2,318 hectares of land. 

DAR distributed 32 farm machineries and equipment across Central Visayas amounting to P17.5 million benefitting 3,268 beneficiaries in the region.

Julio Vargas, another ARB from Bayawan City, also thanked the President for this development.

“Dako kay ko pasalamat sa ato presidente sa atoang secretary sa DAR na nadawat na gud namo ang among titulo. Lami feeling na nakuptan na namo ang titulo. Ako gyud palambon. Ako ipadayon sa pagpananom sa Lubi,” said Vargas, who is tilling almost two hectares of land. 

(I am very grateful to our President and to our DAR secretary. The feeling of getting the land title is wonderful. I will further develop this. I will continue to plant coconut in my land.)

From tenants to landowners. Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries in Negros Oriental proudly show their Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOA) which they received during the mass distribution of land titles held on May 20, 2024 at Lamberto Macias Sports Center, Dumaguete City. (RAL/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

Farm equipment 

Pres. Marcos also turned over farm equipment worth P7.3 million to ARB associations in the province.

The equipment is composed of five units of 45-horsepower tractors and one unit of food dehydrator machine. 

The recipients are the Kauswagan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association, Zamboanguita Coconut Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Matobato Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association, Cantilo Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association, Kalumtukan Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and Hosana Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association.

In his speech, the President emphasized that all these interventions which the government is extending to ARBs aim to uplift their lives. 

“Marami po sa inyo ay matagal nang nangangarap at nagsisikap upang magkaroon ng sariling lupa para sa inyong hanapbuhay. Heto na po at tinutupad po natin ang pangarap na iyon. Sa ating paglipat ng pagmamay-ari ng lupang ito sa inyong mga kamay muli nating pinagtibay ang ating pangako na itataguyod ang karapatan at kapakanan ng ating magsasaka at manggagawa,” he said. 

(Many of you have dreams and are working hard to own land for your livelihood. We are here and we are fulfilling that dream. As we turn over the ownership of the land to your hands, we are solidifying our commitment and promise to uphold the rights and welfare of farmers and workers.)

Farm-to-market roads

DAR was able to fund the construction of farm-to-market roads (FMRs) spanning 5.0625 kms in Negros Oriental. 

These FMRs worth P100 million are located in the municipalities of Amlan, Ayungon, Bais City, Dauin, Bindoy, Tanjay City, and Tayasan, which will benefit 3,100 beneficiaries. 

Estrella added that they are also coming up with a scholarship program for the children of ARB families. 

“Magkakaroon na rin ho ng sapat na pondo ang agrarian reform para mabigyan ng scholarship ang mga anak ng ating mga ARBs. Iyon hong utos ninyo Mr. President ay ginagawa po natin at marami na rin pong natulungan ARBs,” Estrella said in his speech during the ceremony. 

(We are also coming up with funds for a scholarship program for the children of our ARBs. We are complying with your directives, Mr. President, and we have helped a lot of ARBs.)

Negros Oriental PPOC pushes for ‘SIPS Seal’ award for mayors who helped prevent resurgence of CTGs

By Jenifer Catan-Tilos

Brigadier Gen. Joey Escanillas (far right), commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army (right), passes a resolution recognizing mayors as SIPS Seal awardees in a Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting on May 8, 2024 at the Provincial Convention Center in Dumaguete City. With him are (l-r) DILG provincial director Farah Gentuya and Lt. Col. Marshal Yanguas of NOPPO. (PIA Negros Oriental)

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — The Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) here has passed a resolution recommending that the local chief executives be recognized as Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) Seal awardees.

Brigadier Gen. Joey Escanillas, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, said this award will be presented by the PPOC or provincial government to local government units (LGUs) that have demonstrated strategies in counteracting communist terrorist group’s (CTG) actions in their respective areas.

“The SIPS Seal is more or less the same with the Seal of Good Local Governance of DILG awarded to outstanding municipalities and cities for their accomplishments. This is recognizing the mayors’ efforts in preventing the resurgence of CTGs in their area,” said Escanillas.

The province will be formally declared with SIPS status on June 5 during the next PPOC meeting, which will be attended by all mayors in the province.

In November last year, local officials signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the military and police in a bid to step up the campaign against insurgency in the province.

The MOU also called on mayors and barangay officials to monitor the presence and activities of suspected urban-based communist groups and report to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police; initiate the filing of cases against persons financing terrorism; and work with the security sector in verifying groups that may have links to the rebel groups.

Escanillas recalled that under the MOU, the LGUs have to submit a monthly report to the PPOC on their initiatives to prevent the resurgence of CTGs in their area.

The reports would also include rebels who surrendered in their area, and how the LGU prevented or monitored and provided assistance to the surrenderees.

The SIPS focuses only on CTGs and the report has to be aligned on that effort, the army official said.

Mayors who are compliant in sustaining the SIPS status in their respective municipalities will be awarded with the SIPS Seal.

The mayors will be evaluated quarterly based on the parameters set in the MOU.