Camiguin lost a great man

Mahinog, Camiguin, April 24, 2013 - CAMIGUIN Congressman Pedro P. Romualdo passed away early morning April 24 due to pneumonia. He was 77 years old.

Mahinog Mayor Alex R. Jajalla said the municipality was deeply saddened by the loss of a great man and father of Camiguin’s progress and development.

"Today is a truly sad day for Camiguin. We mourn the loss of a great leader, a great man, who was doing great things for Camiguin,” Jajalla said.

“Congressman Romualdo will always be remembered for bringing unprecedented progress for Camiguin and improving the quality of life for every Camiguingnon,” he added.

“Our province owe the late congressman an enduring debt of gratitude for the wonderful development that we enjoy in the province today,” he said.

Romualdo was running for a third and last term as congressman in the coming May 13, 2013 polls.

Romualdo’s candidacy will be substituted by his grandson Atty. Xavier Jesus Romualdo, the office of the Governor announced in a memorandum signed by OIC Governor Leo G. Lasacar.

Romualdo served as congressman representing the Lone District of Camiguin from 1987 to 1998, and from 2007 to his death.

From 1998 to 2007, he was elected governor of the province.

Romualdo, a lawyer, was a delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention.

In the municipal hall, the Philippine Flag is flown at half-staff, by order of the mayor. (HRJ)

Mahinog National High School to be renamed Sixto A. Abao National High School

Late Mayor Sixto Abao

THE Mahinog Municipal Council has unanimously voted to pass a resolution endorsing the renaming of Mahinog National High School in barangay Hubangon after the late mayor Sixto A. Abao.

This after Camiguin Representative Pedro P. Romualdo filed House Bill No. 6915 known as an "Act Changing the name of Mahinog National High School in barangay Hubangon, Municipality of Mahinog, Province of Camiguin to Sixto A. Abao National High School."

Romualdo said the present Mahinog National High School was established through the efforts of the late mayor Sixto A. Abao who is known for his deep concern and passion in education. 

It is the clamor of the residents of Mahinog that in order to perpetuate the memory of the late Sixto A. Abao,  the Mahinog National High School in barangay Hubangon be renamed in his honor, Romualdo said in the bill’s explanatory note.

During the creation of Mahinog as a town in July 1, 1948 by virtue of Executive Order No. 122 of President Manuel L. Roxas, then mayor Sixto A. Abao had shown us the importance of education in his own barangay when he chose the Mahinog High School, the first secondary public school in the island of Camiguin, to be established in his native barangay of Hubangon instead of the town hall and seat of government of Mahinog to be established in his barangay, the members of the Municipal Council said in their resolution endorsing the bill.

Through the effort of then mayor Sixto A. Abao, the family of Cabeza Celedeno Abao, his close relative, agreed to an exchange of property where the said school was established and that the house made of hardwood owned by the latter became the original structure of the school, the resolution added.

“Firstly, we honor the late Sixto A. Abao for his outstanding achievement and exemplary work as the first Mayor of the town of Mahinog.”

“Secondly, we honor this man for his burning passion for education and commitment to public service that led to the establishment of the first secondary public school in Camiguin now known as Mahinog National High School in barangay Hubangon,” the resolution said.

Once HB No. 6915 becomes a law, the newly established Mahinog National High School II in barangay Poblacion will be automatically renamed Mahinog National High School. (HRJ)

President Aquino signs into law Mahinog National High School II

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has signed into law a bill establishing a national high school in barangay Poblacion in the municipality of Mahinog, province of Camiguin to be known as Mahinog National High School II.

Camiguin Congressman Pedro P. Romualdo, the principal author of the new law, said the Chief Executive has inked Republic Act 10234 or Mahinog National High School II law last October 29, 2012.

He said the new law responds to the clamor from parents and community leaders to provide free public secondary education to our young students in Mahinog and in the peripheral barangays of Guinsiliban as well as Mambajao.

RA 10234 shall take effect 15 days after its publication in any newspaper of general circulation. The new law is already posted in the Official Gazette. http://www.gov.ph/2012/10/29/republic-act-no-10234/

Earlier, the Municipal Council of Mahinog passed Municipal Ordinance No. 2011-136 to acquire or whenever necessary expropriate the private properties owned by Grace & Josefina C. Kempis, Luz Densing and Prudencia Vivares all located in Poblacion to be used as school site for the proposed Mahinog National High School II.

Under the new law, the Secretary of the Department of Education was directed to include in the Department's program the operationalization of the Mahinog National High School II and the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Senate passes bill creating Mahinog National High School 2 on second reading

Camiguin Congressman Pedro P. Romualdo

THE Senate on June 06, 2012 approved on second reading a bill which would establish a national high school in barangay Poblacion in the municipality of Mahinog.

The approval came after the Senate Commitee on Education, Arts and Culture chaired by Senator Edgardo J. Angara and Committee on Finance chaired by Senator Franklin M. Drilon submitted its joint committee report recommending its "approval without amendment" on the bill.

In his sponsorship speech of House Bill No. 547, Camiguin Congressman Pedro P. Romualdo said the clamor for a national high school in the Poblacion came from parents, community leaders and young students in the past years.

“Many families were not able to send their kids in the past years to pursue high school education due to dwindling and limited family income,” Romualdo said.

“With the establishment of a Mahinog National High School II in barangay Poblacion, it is expected that more students will be given a chance to go back to school,” the solon added.

Romualdo told local officials that he hoped this bill will be approved on third reading during the third regular session of the 15th Congress.

The measure was approved by the Committee on Basic Education during the 14th Congress but was not taken up due to lack of time in the plenary.

New bridge to open, to be named after JICA

MAHINOG, Camiguin - IN a few days, motorists can already pass over the new Hubangon-Bugwak bridge.

After a year of reconstruction, this bridge which was badly damaged by typhoon Nanang in 2001, is about to open.

This project is part of the P495 M Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) assistance to the Philippines for the reconstruction of damaged Hubangon bridge and construction of two Sabo dams in barangay Puntod.

In grateful recognition of Japan's aid, the Municipal Council recently passed a resolution to request Congressman Pedro P. Romualdo to file a bill in Congress to name the new Hubangon-Bugwak bridge as “JICA Bridge.” The resolution was authored by councilor Rey Lawrence K. Tan.

Municipal officials said JICA's financial grant is the single biggest assistance given by the Japanese government to the Philippines to assist the province of Camiguin cope with disaster after the 2001 typhoon Nanang that killed more than two hundred people in this island province.

Naming this bridge for JICA, according to the same official, symbolizes how much the people in Camiguin recognize the long standing friendship between the Philippines and Japan and the greatest financial contribution Japan gave to the province of Camiguin in addressing disaster risk reduction and environmental issues.

Teachers, parents thank Cong Romualdo for seawall extension project

by Lucita B. King

Contributor

Ms. Lucita B. King

THE construction of seawall along Benoni Elementary School has been completed and thanks for the support of Congressman Pedro P. Romualdo in making this project possible.

This seawall project which started in August 2009 and completed in May 2010 with the release of six million pesos through the congressional initiative of Camiguin Representative Pedro P. Romualdo stretches along the shorelines of Benoni Elementary School.

This project, which we have requested since I assumed as head teacher, will protect the school and ensure the safety of the children.

On behalf of Benoni Elementary School teachers and parents, we thank Congressman Pedro P. Romualdo for all the support he extended to the school.

Reply from the Office of Cong. Pedro P. Romualdo on "Solon urged to support bill exempting sr. citizens from EVAT," Mahinog Trumpet, January 22, 2010

22 January 2010

Dear Sir Homer:

Good Greetings!

For the information of the Sanggunian Bayan of Mahinog, Cong. PPR is already a co-author of the proposed amendments of the Senior Citizens Act.

During the time of Cong. JJ M. Romualdo, he was one of the principal authors of the Senior Citizens Act and his bill was incorporated in the substitute bill which was signed into law.

The bicameral conference was held yesterday and hopefully, this measure will be passed into law soon.

Thank you for your continued interest in legislations of national interest.

Best regards.

As always,

Emie

(Emie G. Patalagsa is the Chief Political Affairs Officer, Office of Cong. Pedro P. Romualdo, House of Representatives, Quezon City - HRJ)

Solon urged to support bill exempting senior citizens from EVAT

Mahinog, Camiguin – The Municipal Council presided by Vice Mayor Rogerio C. Acle passed on Monday a resolution urging Congressman Pedro P. Romualdo, Representative of the Lone District of Camiguin, to file or support a bill exempting senior citizens from the 12-percent expanded value-added tax (E-VAT) on goods and services they buy.

Under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003, senior citizens are entitled to a 20 percent discount on their purchase of goods and services like medical and dental care, transport fare, among others.

Councilor Liberato E. Babanto, principal author, lamented that since 2006 the discount has been effectively reduced to only 8 per cent since seniors were also required to pay the 12 percent E-VAT in their purchase of medicines, goods and services.

"The exemption of senior citizens from the 12% EVAT is long overdue since the 20% discount is not fully enjoyed by the senior citizens due to the imposition of 12 % E-VAT on goods and services they buy," said Babanto, chair, SB committee on family relations and social services.

He said most of our senior citizens after retirement have no stable means of income and the enjoyment of 20 percent full discount on medicines and other benefits as provided for by law would really ease their financial burdens.

Several bills were filed in both houses of Congress seeking to grant additional benefits and privileges for senior citizens. A bicameral conference committee was created to craft a common version of the measure when Congress resumes session in January, it was learned. (Homer R. Jajalla – Municipal Information Office)

Mahinog gets new fire truck

Mahinog, Camiguin – A brand new fire truck will be delivered soon to this municipality to augment the Bureau of Fire Protection's (BFP) firefighting capability.

This was announced by Mayor Alex R. Jajalla and Vice Mayor Rogerio C. Acle at the LGU Christmas party on Friday.

The fire truck will be delivered before the end of this month if there are no changes in the delivery schedule to the BFP from their supplier, it was learned.

Mayor Jajalla said the provision of additional fire truck to Mahinog has been made possible through the congressional initiative of Congressman Pedro P. Romualdo.

At present the municipality, the gateway to Camiguin, has one unit fire truck.

Jajalla and Acle expressed their gratitude to Congressman Romualdo and BFP for helping the municipality boost its fire fighting capability.

"This new fire truck will really make a big difference in our fire prevention preparedness measures," Jajalla said.

Acle, for his part, welcomed the development as this will address the municipality's needs for fire fighting equipment.

Romualdo, in his letter to the mayor, expressed hope that this equipment will be put to good use and will be maintained well by the municipality.

"This is part of my commitment to our constituents to be fire and disaster-ready at all times," Romualdo said. (Mahinog IO)

Congress approves salary hike of local government workers starting January 1, 2010

by Homer R. Jajalla

THE BICAMERAL conference committee approved Monday the reconciled version of the House and Senate bills upgrading the salaries of all 1.1 million government workers effective July 1, 2009.

The measure also authorizes local governments to upgrade their salary grades, salary rates, grant of allowances, benefits and incentives starting January 1, 2010.

First class cities can increase the pay of their officials by 100 percent and first class municipalities, by 90 percent.

On the other hand, sixth class cities and towns can have a higher pay of their officials and employees by not more than 75 percent and 65 percent, respectively.

Under the new salary hike scheme, all bonuses should now be based on performance and not on savings. The so-called year-end bonus is also scrapped.

Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate panel, said this provision would correct the ongoing “anomaly” where government agencies misdeclare some funds as “savings” to be distributed to employees as bonuses.

“From now on, bonuses will be given only for exemplary work of government employees,” he stressed. (Mahinog Municipal Information Office)