Congressman Diasnes gets endorsement for bill to create Raele Integrated School

 

Barangay Raele is well on its way to having its own Integrated School that will accommodate both elementary and high school students. In the deliberations held on August 18, 2009 conducted by the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture, Congressman Diasnes defended his bill (HB 5222) which seeks the establishment of a Raele Integrated School.

 

After the Congressman’s defense, DepEd Undersecretary Sunga informed the legislators that there is already a yearly appropriation included in the department’s budget for the creation of integrated schools. In response, Congressman Diasnes questioned the necessity of passing through legislation the establishment of integrated schools if an amount is already earmarked for this purpose, adding that DepEd can readily implement the creation of schools and that all they need to do is inform Congress of the availability of the funds.   He also called for the amendment of RA-9155 so that legislators need not make repeated proposals, requests or bills when they see the need to establish integrated schools.

 

Nonetheless, the committee endorsed HB 5222.

Congressman Diasnes takes lead in curbing

the continuing problems that skilled medical workers face

 

 

On September 9, 2009, the House Committee on Health deliberated on HB 5223, which seeks to institutionalize the Human Resources for Health as a structure to support human resources for health development in the Philippines. Congressman Diasnes introduced the bill to empower the Human Resources for Health Network (HRHN) which was created on October 25, 2006 to spearhead the undertaking of “appropriate health power development.” 

 

Because of the increasing threat of migration of skilled doctors, nurses and other medical workers, the Congressman sees the enactment of the bill as a solution to the problem of migration.  Our health workers are not adequately protected and the passage of the bill will provide them an efficient structure that will help in their development.

 

The committee recommended that Section 10 (Budget Appropriation) of the Bill state the exact appropriation of P20 Million.

BCS COMFORT ROOM

 

Millions of pesos have been poured by Congressman Diasnes into the construction/repair/rehabilitation of school buildings and classrooms. He also funded the purchase of instructional and learning materials- from computer sets to interactive learning devices. However, a school falls short of delivering real service if it cannot provide its clientele holistic development that includes the promotion of health and sense of well-being. Basco Central School has 857 enrolees; Batanes National Science High School has 675.  These are astounding numbers. The growing population necessitates the provision not only of new classrooms and learning materials but also comfort rooms. 

 

In a report by teachers and parents, it was revealed that a number of female students suffer from urinary tract infection (UTI). In general, one of the urinary tract infection signs and symptoms include a strong, persistent urge to urinate. These girls are in fact advised to drink plenty of liquids, especially water. They are also advised to empty their bladder as soon as they feel the urge. Parents report that according to their children, they wait for recess or dismissal time to run home and use the bathroom since the school CRs are not usable. This situation obviously calls for action which is the construction of comfort rooms. The Congressman made sure the comfort rooms are functional and aesthetically good, and that they invite responsible use by students. After all, our students deserve no less. (Please see photos.)

 

“Why are the comfort rooms so expensive?” asks one reader.

 

On 26 May 2008, Governor Telesforo Castillejos issued Executive Order No.05 or Executive Order directing the immediate cessation of quarrying activities in… Basco.  Prior to this, on 04 July 2007, he issued a Revocation Order which authorizes the governor to “immediately” “suspend[ed] and revoke[d] any time…all existing or valid quarry permits.” On 13 September 2007, he issued Executive Order 15 which streamlines the procedures in processing quarry permits.  In this Order, he gives permission only to private persons or small-scale [users] to quarry.

 

The implication of these Orders is that the cost of construction in Batanes skyrockets. And to implement our projects such as repair and construction of roads, school buildings, classrooms, water work system, etc., the contractors must buy sand, gravel and all other quarry resources from the mainland- Ilocos region or Central Luzon area.  These materials are transported to Manila where they are loaded onto the boats that ply the Manila-Basco route. 

 

Before any fund is released, a Program of Work (POW), which contains the materials, cost and other details of a project, is prepared by the DPWH or Municipal Engineer. The projects are implemented “by administration” or awarded to accredited contractors through bidding. Hence, the basis of the appropriation for the construction of the BCS comfort rooms is the POW.

 

We are committed to the principle of transparency in all our projects.  This is partly the reason we’ve been posting tarpaulins proclaiming to all and sundry the exact cost of each project.

 

It must be noted that all the construction materials, as well as the bathroom fixtures- bowls, urinals, sinks, faucets, tiles, lighting, etc.- had to be procured in Manila.  

 

Anything worth doing is worth doing well.

Batanes welcomes Navy ship on humanitarian mission

 

At 5:00 am on September 20, 2009, the grey figure of the ship loomed in the misty horizon.  Several Ivatans who had known of the ship’s arrival waited with exhilaration and delight for in it were 70,000 liters of diesel that would bring back 24 hours of electricity to the province.

Besides carrying diesel, the ship also brought 10 units of wheelchairs and 1,000 kilos guywires, paint & needed parts of Radyo ng Bayan-Batanes transmitter.

 

The following Ivatans were taken in as civilian passengers:

 

                  

FERNANDEZ,    Jerbie      

DELATADO,       Felicidad y Estrella                    

PEREYRA,         Elena y Estrella              

BALLADA,          Carlos 

VALONES,         Jerry                     

LIBRERO,          Dave Kurt                        

VERACRUZ,      Sonny      

 

      

 

 

 

 

On behalf of the people of Batanes,

Congressman Diasnes wishes to thank

VICE ADMIRAL FERDINAND S. GOLEZ,

Flag-Officer-in-Command of the Philippine

Navy, for his expeditious action to the

Congressman’s request to send BRP Quezon,

the only remaining patrol ship of the Phil Navy,

to Batanes on humanitarian mission.

The mission was led by Captain Dennis

Rommel G. Quines PN, Commanding Officer

of the crew.  Assisting him was Captain Nodolfo

V. Tejada PN, Commander Naval Task Group. 

                    

 

 

 

 

 

Cpt. Nodolfo V. Tejada PN (GSC ), Commander Naval Task Group 10.1 with Vice Gov. Willy Agsunod

Hauling of diesel containers, each holds 4,500 liters

PS 70 getting ready for departure

welcome dinner for the 120 crew members