CITY OF SAN JOSE DEL MONTE–This first component city in Bulacan gears to be the third highly urbanized city (HUC) in Central Luzon, next after Olongapo City and Angeles City through a plebiscite set during the Oct. 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

San Jose del Monte, which became a component city, in 2000 will need a majority number from the turn in of votes from the 2,099,914 registered voters in the province, according to Commission on Elections (Comelec) assistant regional director Elmo Duque.  

Mona Ann Campos, Bulacan Provincial Election Supervisor (PES) said on Sunday that the plebiscite is manual and has a separate ballot.

Voters need to write “yes” or “oo” if they approve the conversion into HUC and “no” or “hindi” for rejection on the question in the ballot, “Pumapayag ka ba na ang Lungsod ng San Jose del Monte, Lalawigan ng Bulacan ay gawing isang Highly Urbanized City alinsunod sa Proclamation No. 1057 na naging ganap na batas noong Disyembre 4, 2020?” (Do you agree for the City of San Jose del Monte, Province of Bulacan to become a Highly Urbanized City in line with Proclamation No. 1057 which had been made into law on December 4, 2020). 

Former President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law the said Proclamation No. 1057. 

Section 452 of Republic Act (RA) No. 7160 or the “Local Government Code of 1991, cities or municipalities with a minimum population of 200,000 inhabitants and with the latest annual income of at least P50 million shall be classified as HUC. 

The City of San Jose del Monte has met the first two requirements. It has a total population today of 651,813 and surpassed the P50 million worth required annual earnings. Its registered voters are now at 277,650 and the largest in the province.

Before Duterte issued and signed Proclamation No. 1057, the Sangguniang Panglungsod of San Jose del Monte issued Resolution No. 2019-059-09 humbly requesting him to issue a presidential proclamation for the conversion of the City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan from component city into an HUC. 

San Jose del Monte which is adjacent to Quezon City, Caloocan City and Rodriguez Rizal is now branded as the Rising City of Bulacan. It is the first municipality in the province which became a component city. 

The city is also known as the relocation capital of the country because of a series of numerous national government housing projects for Metro Manila Informal Settlers (IFS) that began in 1963 and 1964. 

Around 20,000 families were relocated to Barangay Sapang-Palay during that time. To date, there are about 10 flagship national government housing projects in the city. 

The city has now 156,871 households. 

San Jose del Monte is the 18th most populated city in the country and the largest local government unit in Bulacan and Central Luzon, according to Mayor Arthur Robes.  

During the election period, the city whips the winning votes in the province’s top posts.  

City of San Jose del Monte Lone District Rep. Florida Robes, the proponent of the HUC conversion said the continued increase in their population today requires the component city to become an HUC to meet the growing basic needs of the people. 

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija — The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, General Romeo S. Brawner Jr. cited the 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, Philippine Army’s campaign dubbed as Kaugnay ang Laang Kawal: An Interoperable Force of 7ID on the 44th National Reservist Week Celebration with the theme: “AFP Reserve Force: Moving towards Resilient Force Posture” at Lapu-lapu Grandstand, AFP Headquarters, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City on September 30, Saturday.

Said 7ID’s effort was in line with the intent of the Commander to strengthen the interoperability of the regular and reserve force in its Area of Responsibility by mirroring the skills training and capacity enhancement programs of the regular with the reserve force as part of its Territorial Defense Operations.

“Noong huling dalaw ko sa 7ID, this was one of the accomplishments of the 7ID led by its Commander na si MGen. Costelo, sa ating Assistant Division Commander for RRA na si Col. Pascua, at sa lahat ng bumubuo ng staff ng 7ID. I am very happy dahil maganda ang naging direksyon ng ating reserve force,” Gen. Brawner said.

During the 44th National Reservist Week Celebration culminating program, the 7ID regular and reservist singers along with All Star Aurora performed the Kaugnay ang Laang Kawal theme song/jingle at Lapu-lapu Grandstand as one of the highlights of the program.

Department of National Defense Secretary, Gilberto Teodoro who served as the Guest of Honor and Speaker during the program said that the DND is in the process of re-deciding a reserve force based on the means of the times and not based on all dated paradigms or plans that may not be valid anymore.

“We have asked J9, supervised by  Undersecretary Lorenzo and Assistant Secretary Robinson here to decide on future reserve force based on two things. One is to complement the regular force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and to have surfaced the civilian business process continuity so that replication of function, functional replication, and not duplication of functions. Second, in tapping the special skills that every one of you brings to our service, technical skills, lawyering skills, medical skills, and the like,” Teodoro said. 

Meanwhile, Gen. Brawner, in his speech, expressed his deep appreciation to all AFP Reservists for their dedication to protecting the people and securing the country.

“You have been instrumental in responding to national disasters, providing humanitarian assistance, and supporting internal security operations and territorial defense operations. Your surreal performance stands as a testament to your dedication and resolve in the name of duty as a force ahead in our mission to safeguard our nation and our people. Furthermore, start with my guidance as surging sun to expedite the reserved force development it is most to have witnessed the valid capability of the AFP reserve force,” Gen. Brawner said.

Among those who attended the culminating activity were Deputy Chief of Staff for Reservist and Retiree Affairs, J9, AFP, MGen. Joel Alejandro S. Nacnac; top key Reservists Officers of AFP; Col. Harold Anthony F. Pascua MNSA (INF) PA, ADC for RRA, 7ID; and celebrity reservists from the three branches of the Armed Forces.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva led the groundbreaking and capsule laying ceremony of the Sta. Maria Stadium at the Municipal Covered Court in Sta. Maria, Bulacan. Villanueva, a proud Bulakenyo, commended the local government unit and the residents of Sta. Maria for their contribution in the continuous progress of the municipality.

Together with Villanueva are Sta. Maria local government officials led by Mayor Bartolome Ramos and Vice Mayor Pablo Juan and Department of Public Works and Highways officials. Representatives from different sectoral groups were also present during the event. 

The Social Security System (SSS) extended in selected areas the payment deadline for the June 2023 contribution of business employers and the second quarter contributions of household employers, coverage and collection partners (CCP), and individual members from July 31, 2023 to October 2, 2023.

According to SSS Circular No. 2023-005 (https://bit.ly/CI2023-005) signed by SSS President and CEO Rolando Ledesma Macasaet, the said applicable month and quarter were extended until September 30, 2023, but since it falls on a Saturday, the deadline was further extended to the next working day, which is October 2, 2023.

“We understand that these calamities have affected the ability of some of our members, covered employers, and CCPs in selected areas to pay their contributions on or before their original schedule. For consideration, we are giving them more time to pay their SSS contributions so that payment gaps or late payments can be avoided,” Macasaet said.

The extension applies to employers, CCPs, and members in areas declared under State of Calamity by various local government offices due to the Southwest Monsoon enhanced by Tropical Cyclones Egay and Falcon, such as the provinces of:

• Ilocos Norte,
• Ilocos Sur,
• La Union,
• Pangasinan,
• Cagayan,
• Bataan,
• Bulacan,
• Nueva Ecija,
• Pampanga,
• Tarlac,
• Cavite,
• Rizal,
• Occidental Mindoro,
• Abra,
• Apayao,
• Benguet,
• Ifugao, and
• Mountain Province.

The said extension also covers other areas that may be declared under State of Calamity by local government units, local disaster risk reduction management offices, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, or the national government.

Likewise, employers with approved installment proposals must deposit their post-dated checks that fall due in June and July 2023 on or before October 2, 2023.

However, no contribution paid retroactively by individual members will be used in determining their eligibility to any benefit arising from a contingency wherein the date of payment is within or after the semester of contingency.The original contribution payment deadlines and guidelines in the said areas will resume starting with the applicable month of July 2023.

Hiniling ni Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, principal sponsor ng Increased Social Pension of Indigent Senior Citizens Law, sa Department of Budget and Management (DBM) na siguruhing may nakalaang pondo para sa dagdag na buwanang social pension ng mga indigent senior citizen. 

 Sa 2024 National Expenditure Program, naglaan ng P49.80 bilyon para sa P1,000 kada buwan na social pension ng mga indigent senior citizen. 

Subalit, iginiit ni Villanueva na sa taong 2023, nananatiling P500 kada buwan ang social pension ng mga indigent senior citizen, kahit na naipasa ang batas na nagdodoble sa halaga nito noong nakaraang taon. 

 “Maawa naman po tayo sa ating mga senior citizens. Ibigay na po ang dagdag pension na dapat ay natatanggap na nila,” sabi ni Villanueva.

 “Bakit po ang flood control program na mayroong budget na P1.074 bilyon kada araw, ngunit hindi nararamdaman ang epekto, ay madali pong napopondohan, pero itong ayuda na kailangan na kailangan ng ating mga lolo at lola ay hirap na hirap po tayong hanapan ng pondo?” dagdag niya.

 Sa ilalim ng 2023 General Appropriations Act, P25.30 bilyon ang inilaang pondo para sa social pension ng mga indigent senior citizens. May inilaan ding P25 bilyon sa ilalim ng unprogrammed funds para sa dagdag pensiyon. 

 Mandato ng Republic Act No. 11916, inisponsoran ni Villanueva noong 18th Congress, na dagdagan ng 100 porsiyento ang buwanang pensiyon – P1,000 mula sa dating P500 – ng mga indigent senior citizen, na tinatayang nasa 4.1 milyon sa kasalukuyan. 

 Inamiyendahan ng batas ang Republic Act No. 7432, ang unang Senior Citizens Act. Sa budget briefing sa Senado, sinabi ng DBM na wala pang pondong nailabas mula sa unprogrammed funds para sa dagdag na pensiyon, na nangangahulugang wala pang indigent senior citizen na nakakatanggap ng dagdag pensiyon sa taong ito.

 “Our elderlies are pinning their hopes on the release of the unprogrammed funds to get their pension,” ani Villanueva. 

 “Sa mahabang panahon ng paglalaan ng lakas sa kanilang pamilya at sa bansa, bigyan naman po natin sila ng kaunting ginhawa,” dagdag pa niya. 

CITY OF MALOLOS—Lawyers, the police, the military, the Commission on Human Rights, (CHR), the academe, and the church led other community sectors  who joined the Central Luzon Media Citizen Council (CLMCC) to help resolve complaints against erring members of the fourth estate in the region both for their protection and interest and the community sectors hey have aggrieved.

OIC-Governor, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Central Luzon Atty. Maria Imelda Quiambao-Tuazon canceled an earlier commitment and graced the event held on Friday, Sept. 29 at Oasis Hotel in Clarkville, Balibago, Angeles City.

She commits membership to the Council as part of an organization that will serve the community.

IBP Pampanga President Alejandro Buan with member Angelo Lopez III took oath with the officers and members of the Council. Atty. Julius Victor Degala from Bulacan IBP and Jo Clemente of IBP Tarlac who were unable to attend because of earlier commitments sent their pledges and their membership to the CLMCC.

Police Major Aileen Rose Stanger, Public Information Office (PIO) chief of Police Regional Office 3 and Major Jimson Masangkay, Division Chief, Public Affairs Office of the 7^th Infantry Division of Philippine Army based in Nueva Ecija also took oath as members.

CLMCC, just like all the rest of the Media Citizen Councils in the country the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) and the International Media Support (IMS) group have initiated to be established, is a multi-sector community-based group which will address abuses, malpractice and any other wrong doings of media members in our region with an aim to rather resolve the issue within the council to avoid resorting to other means against the media members while maintaining to uphold press freedom and harmony between and among all members of the community.  

Ariel Sebellino, Executive Director of the PPI said the council stands on five Core Values: “What is your sense of purpose, is it a felt need, how will it serve your community, is it beneficial to media, its stakeholders and the citizenry and how will it enable media accountability and self/co-regulation?”.

Similar councils were formed and are continuously being established in other regions and provinces in Luzon Visayas and Mindanao. CLMCC is the second regional council established this year.

Joyce Panares, managing editor of Manila Standard and PPI Training Director said the basic thrust and principle of the council is to have the aggrieved parties from the community sector to sit down first and talk about the mistakes the media members have committed before bringing them in court.

Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Correspondent of Philippine Daily Inquirer in Bulacan and publisher of News Core Bulacan print and online news and also the immediate past president of the Central Luzon Media Association (CLMA) who heads the CLMCC with Vic Vizcocho Jr., the newly elected CLMA president and now vice president of the Council and all the media and community sector officers and members of the group took their oath and commitment before journalists in the region.

“We do solemnly swear before you that we  will do our tasks, duties, obligations and responsibilities in helping addressed complaints that warrants legal actions against our rank that are brought to our attention by sectors in our community who were aggrieved from our news and articles in print, radio and or TV and online platforms so that it may rather result and be settled amicably and peacefully both for them and our protection and interest,” the oath said.

Estrope said the CLMCC is not a selective but an inclusive organization that will also be a platform to help resolve concerns or complaints of media members against their news sources and the community sectors both for the interest of the two parties.  

She added the Council being a self-governing body will not close its doors in also trying to address issues and bickering between media clubs and within their respective members. “We will render this function in any peaceful, harmonious and legal way possible that we can,” she said.

Others who took oath as media Council officers and members were Erick Silverio, of Manila Times from Bulacan, print; Billy Nuqui of Bulgaran newspaper, Tarlac, print; Neth Carlos, Nueva Ecija, print; Alma Ochotorena of News Syndicate Digest, Pampanga, print; Jude Briones, Tarlac, print; Mel Ciriaco of DWNE, Nueva Ecija, broadcast ; KBP—Rogie Pangilinan of Newsline Central Luzon 103. 1 FM, Pampanga and KBP — Aileen Cuevas-Sanchez, station manager of Radyo Bandera, Zambales-Olongapo, represented by reporter Yshmaela Abrera.

Council members Fred Fausto of Tarlac Weekly Post and Jason De Asis of Radyo Singko and RTV Baler 92.1 FM were unable to attend.

Semi-Media representative in the region, Dyan Grace Crespo- faculty and Head for Print Media, Media Affairs, Bulacan State University (BulSU) took her oath. Mark Anthony Mianda, faculty Wesleyan University of the Philippines and president CLMA Nueva Ecija Chapter, another semi-media representative of the region however failed to attend due to tight engagements.

Crespo also represented the academe sector.

Other officers and members who took oath were Masangkay, Stanger, Police Major Randy Gomez, chief of Tarlac Provincial Police Office Public Relations Office who represented Tarlac Provincial Police Director PCol. Erwin Sanque; Louis David, Regional Information Officer of the National Commission for the Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Region 3 office headed by Regional Director Atty. Roland P. Calde and Atty. Hanna Rosario from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Region 3 office under Atty. Leorae Valmonte.

CITY OF MALOLOS—Bulacan Fifth District Rep. Ambrosio C. Cruz Jr. and League of Municipalities of Bulacan (LMP) President, Bocaue Mayor Eduardo Villanueva Jr. including other local chief executives dispelled collection of pass through fees and expressed support to the order of President Marcos Jr. to halt the demand for “pass-through” fees in all national roads and highways to help ease the transport of goods in the country.

Cruz and his daughter, Mayor Agatha Cruz said that Guiguinto does not implement “pass-through” fees and they fully support the President’s order.

“Guiguinto has no pass-through fees and I support the President’s Executive Order No. 41 banning such fees to reduce the cost of transport thereby reducing cost of commodities notably agriculture products,” he told News Core on Sunday.

Mayor Cruz also said that the municipal government of Guiguinto has no existing ordinance to collect pass through fees and that she supports the order of the President.  

Executive Order No. 41, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Sept. 25 mandates all LGUs to stop collecting such fees to motor vehicles in all national highways and other thoroughfares not funded by the LGUs to improve the transport of goods in the country.

Villanueva said that Bocaue does not collect pass-through fees.

City of Baliwag Mayor Ferdinand Estrella and San Miguel Mayor Roderick Tiongson also said that they do not collect pass through fees in their respective city and municipality.

Mayor Arthur Robes of City of San Jose del Monte said over the weekend that he and concerned heads of the city government will sit down today, Monday to talk about the order of the President for full compliance.

However, he did not elaborate when asked of the year the collection of pass through fees started.

The City of San Jose del Monte is adjacent to Caloocan City, Quezon City and Rodriguez, Rizal. It straddles along Quirino Highway.

Julius Degala, head of the Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) of the provincial government said that BENRO does not collect pass-through fees. He said he will meet with the Provincial Legal Office to check if the province implements pass-through ordinance.

Last week, Degala posted on social media the more than P100 million worth of mining and quarry permits, fees and taxes BENRO collected from January to September, the highest collection of the province in 32 years.

BENRO monitors and regulate the quarrying and mining including timber poaching and illegal logging in the mountainous towns of the third and sixth districts, San Miguel, Dona Remedios Trinidad (DRT), San Rafael, San Ildefonso, Angat, Norzagaray and Sta. Maria and the transport of these products.

The other collections of BENRO are sourced from waste management and pollution control.   

Under EO 41, all LGU’s must submit to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) within 30 days the copies of their respective ordinances on the collection of the pass-through fees.

The order also “strongly urged” the suspension of fees “such as, but not limited to, sticker fees, discharging fees, delivery fees, market fees, toll fees, entry fees or mayor’s permit fees that are imposed upon all motor vehicles transporting goods and passing through any local public roads constructed and funded by … local government units (LGUs).”

By Jason De Asis

BALER, Aurora-As part of interoperability between the regular force and Army Reservist, the Officers and enlisted personnel from 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion, Philippine Army, Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) Active Auxiliary (CAA), and the 307th Community Defense Center (CDC), Aurora Ready Reserve Infantry Battalion participated in stabilizing technique, stress reduction interventions management training to help them on operational stress management held at its headquarter, Barangay Calabuanan, here on Saturday, September 30, 2023. 

Lt. Col. Julito B. Recto, Jr., commander of 91st IB said in an interview that a total of 100 personnel participated in the training. Of the said figures, the 91st IB has 40 personnel, 30 from Reservist and 30 CAAs who undergone the training. 

Meanwhile, there were 53 individuals participated in the Ear Acupuncture and Ear Seeds Acupressure. 

Recto said that the training is part of the program of the 7th Infantry “Kaugnay” division, Philippine Army “Kaugnay ang Laang Kawal” and also in connection with the 44th National Reservist Week celebration in the country. 

“It is very helpful to our reservist and regular force to provide them a goal-directed resilience and psychological interventions for their mental health conditions. They will be able to manage and prevent combat stress especially to our soldiers. We can now mitigate stress to protect our soldiers,” Recto said, explaining that similar activities are coming for better mental health programs for the troops. 

The battalion commander emphasized the importance of providing a directed resilience training and psychological interventions for the soldiers. 

2nd Lieutenant Megg S. Cortez, Deputy Director of 307 CDC, Reserve Command, Philippine Army expressed her sincerest thanks and gratitude to the 7th ID and 91st IB for the continues support to the organic and Reservist. 

“The stress management is a great help for us, we can apply it now in our work in the office and even in our personal lives,” she said. 

On the other hand, Doctor Charissa M. Rañeses, Psycho Trauma Therapist said that the activity is important to the participants to balance their body and mind. 

“In case of crisis or stress the participants will be able to handle it, they can apply the portable therapist to cure themselves,” she said. 

7th ID commander Major General Andrew D. Costelo said that aside from the “Kaugnay ang Laang Kawal” program, the activity is also part of the Kaugnay health program intended for the regular force, CAAs and Reservist to help in their mental health condition in partnership with the Psycho Trauma Therapist. 

“I also joined in the ear acupuncture and ear seeds acupressure, it’s a good experience of relaxation, refreshing our well-being…It’s my first time,” he said.