Tambuling Batangas Publication June 27-July 03, 2018 Issue | Page 3

BALITA Hunyo 27- Hulyo 03, 2018 Gabi ng parangal para sa mga child development workers idinaos Linggo ng Child Development Workers 2018 Kin of political prisoners demand freedom, resumption of peace talks Human rights group Karapatan deems the suspension of peace talks as “another indication of the Duterte regime’s disinterest in pursuing and committing to reforms that benefit the Filipino people and in meeting its obligations to release political prisoners.” By ARNETH ASIDDAO MANILA – Violi Morillo, wife of political prisoner Norberto Morillo, had hoped Duterte meant his promise to release all political detainees two years ago. Norberto, a farmer and volunteer for a rights group, was arrested and falsely charged with 19 counts of murder in 2008. Violi joined relatives of other political prisoners in a protest action outside the Department of Justice, June 20, to urge the release of all political prisoners amid the recent suspension of the formal peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines’s (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) upon orders of President Duterte. Human rights alliance Karapatan denounced the GRP’s unilateral decision to halt peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), calling it “another indication of the Duterte regime’s disinterest in pursuing and committing to reforms that benefit the Filipino people and in meeting its obligations to release political prisoners.” Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan, said, “This administration just doesn’t want to talk about the country’s primary problems because it will get exposed as the leading perpetrator of human rights violations.” On June 14, Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary Jesus Dureza said during a press briefing that the formal talks is suspended “to engage the public… and get their support.” The group, however, said the public has been clamoring for the resumption of the peace talks so that “issues of landlessness, landgrabbing, low wages, dismal social services” can be addressed. “In truth, Duterte and his cohorts wanted to deny the more than 503 political prisoners their freedom from incarceration. They wanted to perpetuate the practice of illegally arresting political dissenters, activists, and development workers based on trumped-up charges,” Palabay added. Of the 503 political prisoners, 173 were arrested during the Duterte administration. Crackdown across all sectors Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) Secretary General Antonio Flores said farmers who fight for their right to land are being arrested and killed because of the government’s lack of commitment in resolving land issues, which he considers as the country’s main problem. According to Karapatan, 123 farmers were killed since Duterte came to power until March this year. Last February, five farmers from Ilagan City, Isabela were arrested by soldiers. According to Karapatan’s documentation, the victims were subjected to “intense interrogation” and were slapped with trumped-up charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. The following month, six youth organizers from KMP were also arrested in Negros Oriental, including UP Cebu graduate Myles Albasin. “The problem is landlessness, why is the government intensifying military operations in the countryside? Why are they arresting farmers?” The labor sector said they are experiencing the same repression under the Duterte administration. “Workers just want to have secure jobs, benefits and fair wages but the government’s response is to kill and illegally arrest them,” Kilusang Mayo Uno added. Former political prisoner Sharon Cabusao- Silva of Gabriela, on the other hand, reiterated that joining the struggle for genuine social change is not a crime. “Women political detainees are not criminals. They are your mothers, siblings, and wives who chose to fight for the future of their children in a country ensnared by poverty, oppression, and foreign exploitation,” Silva said. According to latest Karapatan data, there are 45 women political prisoners in the country. Silva decried the inhuman treatment political detainees experience in jails, including not being given enough food and medical attention. Aside from harsh prison conditions, Silva also slammed the “rotten” justice system that political prisoners have to put up with and said that it is no longer surprising for the “macho- fascist” Duterte administration to subject women to abuse and mistreatment. “Duterte likes to target women who resist and fight for their rights.” No change Violi said the situation has even become worse under Duterte. “Because more people are getting detained, jails become too crowded. The food and water are not enough,” Morilla explained. Despite the dismal conditions of political prisoners in the country, Violi still believes in the power of collective action in pushing Duterte to meet their demands. “Mass actions are important because it is a way to pressure the president. We need to move. We victims and families of illegal arrests think that it is the most effective way to help them get their freedom back,” she said. BATANGAS CITY Idinaos ng City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) ang Gabi ng Pagdiriwang ng Linggo ng Child Development Workers 2018 noong June 22 bilang pagkilala sa papel na kanilang ginagampan bilang tagapagturo, tagapagalaga at tagapaglinang ng total development ng mga batang edad 0-4 taon. Ito ay may temang “Sa Pagpapaunlad at Pagbabago ng Kabataan, Child Development Worker na may Malasakit ang Kailangan”. Sa mensahe ni Mayor Beverley Rose Dimacuha na binasa ng kanyang kinatawan na si Eric Sanohan, hepe ng Local Economic Investment Promotion Center, sinabi niya na “ang gabing ito ay selebrasyon para sa ating mga child development workers, saludo ako sa inyong lahat, at dapat lang kayong ipagmalaki dahil hindi basta- basta ang inyong inakong responsibilidad. Nasasalamin sa inyo ang pagkakaroon ng kabutihang loob at tunay na dedikasyon sa pagbibigay ng kalinga sa mga batang nasa inyong pangangalaga.” Umaasa rin ang Mayor na mahusay na magagabayan ng mga child development workers ang mga bata na magkaroon ng magandang asal at lumaking mabuting mamamayan. Tinanghal bilang pinakamahusay na Child Development Worker (CDW) 2018 si Marilou Barte ng SoroSoro Ibaba Child Development Center dahil sa ipinakita nitong dedikasyon at sipag sa trabaho at tagal sa serbisyo kung saan siya ay naglilingkod na ng 15 taon. Ilan sa mga naging criteria sa pagpili sa kanya ay ang creativity/resourcefulness, punctuality, accomplishment and records, knowledge/skills/ attitude as worker, at interpersonal relationship. Napili namang Pinakamahusay na Child Development Center ang San Jose Sico CDC dahilan sa learning materials na ginagamit dito, kalinisan, kaayusan at pakikilahok ng mga magulang sa matagumpay na operasyon nito. Si Lorena Rosales ng Tinga Itaas ang ginawaran ng parangal para sa pinakamahusay sa pagpapatupad ng programa ng Early Childhood Care and Development. Binigyan din ng pagkilala ang 10 CDWs na nagsanay sa programa ng Early Childhood Care and Development ng National Council. Sila ay sina Gina Antes, Maria Bobadilla, Josefina Bueno, Marilou Barte, Ester Endaya, Jasmin De Castro, Gemma Frane, Felicita Maranan, Criselda Manansala at Morena Untiveros. Ang San Isidro CDC ang pinakamahusay bilang Disaster- Friendly Child Development Center. May anim na CDCs ang binigyan ng pagkilala sa paglahok sa pagpili sa Disaster- Friendly Child Development Center. Ang mga ito ay ang Mahabang Parang, Tinga Itaas, Pinamucan Proper, Bilogo, Banaba South at Barangay 24. Binigyan din ng pagkilala ang mga CDWs na naglingkod sa tanggapan ng 15- 19 taon, 20-24 taon, 25-29 taon at 30 taon pataas. Pinagkalooban ng Batangas City Child Development Workers Association si City Social Welfare and Development Officer (CSWDO) Mila Española ng plake ng pagkilala dahil sa mahusay nitong pamamahala ng Early Childhood Care Development at paggabay sa mga child development workers. Sa kasalukuyan ay may 104 CDWs sa lungsod. (PIO BATANGAS CITY) National Resilience Month ngayong Hulyo ipinagdiriwang BATANGAS CITY- Ipinagdiriwang ngayong Hulyo ang National Resilience Month kung kayat nagkaroon ng isang motorcade sa pangunguna ng City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council kaninang umaga simula 7:30 upang magkaroon ng public awareness sa kahalagahan ng paghahanda sa kalamidad. Ang motorcade na nagsimula sa Batangas City Sports Coliseum ay nilahukan ng mga kinatawan ng Batangas City PNP, Philippine Coast Guard, DEpEd, Batangas Emergency Rescue Team, Philippine National Red Cross Batangas Chapter, St Patrick at Jesus of Nazareth Hospitals, Meralco, mga departamento ng pamahalaang lungsod, non- government organizations at iba pang partners sa private sector. Ayon kay John Philip Serrano, LDRRM officer II, Research and Planning Section chief, ilan sa mga nakalinyang gawain ng kanilang opisina sa pagdiriwang na ito ay ang pagbibigay ng seminar at training sa mga barangay tulad ng family disaster management at disaster response management, coastal clean up, at pagkakaroon ng earthquake, tsunami at flood drill sa mga paaralan at barangay. Magkakaroon din ng updating ng mga contingency plans para sa mga identified emergency hazards. (PIO Batangas City)