All The WOW News in Cordillera

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Palace: 2nd tax reform aims to double salary of Filipino school teachers

President Rodrigo Duterte presides over the 21st Cabinet Meeting at the Malacañan Palace on January 8, 2018. Photo: Presidential Communication.
Cordillera - Philippine president Rodrigo Roa Duterte has ordered members of his cabinet to find ways to increase the salary of all Filipino school teachers during a cabinet meeting on Monday. 

According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., the president gave the directive to increase the teachers's basic pay. 

Roque said President Duterte ordered the Department of Budget and Management and other agencies to include provision in the second tax reform package to fund the said initiative. 

"[The President] says that there will have to be tangible results of any implementation of the second tax reform package. And he said that should be the increase in teachers's salary," Roque said. 

Asked how much the possible salary increase for teachers, Roque said the president "did not say how much... But judging by what he wanted for the (PNP) Philippine National Police and the (AFP) Armed Forces of the Philippines, it could also be that the is also aiming to double the entry salary for teachers. 

The starting salary of public school teachers in the country is at P19,000 per month but may total P23,000 when benefits or allowances are included. 

If the plan of doubling the salary by the president will push through, a public school teacher would take home about P40,000 minus tax. 

source || PTV news

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Sunday, January 7, 2018

President Duterte added two more Cordillerans to join his cabinet

Two Cordillera presidential appointees. Photo Credits: Magalong twitter || Abrenian Fb page.
Cordillera - President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed two more Cordillerans to assume government post in a new appointment papers released by Malacanang on Friday. 

Duterte appointed retired police director Benjamin Magalong of Baguio city as Board of Director of the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC). 

He will serve the unexpired term of Bruce Conception until June 30, 2018.

Magalong was a former chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group or CIDG. 

He led the police investigation of the botched Mamasapano operation in 2015 in which 44 elite police troopers of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) were killed during an operation to capture international terrorists Bin Hir and Basist Usman.

Meanwhile another Cordilleran from Abra was appointed by President Durterte to join his cabinet. 

San Juan town mayor Marco Bautista of Abra was appointed as Undersecretary of the Department of Tourism. 

Bautista was a candidate for Congress in 2016 and also the former GM of ABRECO. 
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Saturday, January 6, 2018

WATCH: Baguio Bardilleranz earns first golden buzzer on PGT 2018 Season 6.


Baguio City, - Street workout enthusiasts and calisthenics experts from the city of Baguio and Benguet Province get the first golden buzzer and standing ovation on the first episode of the popular talent show "Pilipinas Got Talent - 2018" Season 6 on Saturday. 

All the judges and audience were impressed and entertained at the group's incredible talent and performance. 

"Sobrang kahanga-hanga ang talent niyo. I find it really impressive and entertaining," judge Vice Ganda said. 

Another judge Angel Locsin felt excited at the performance jokingly said, "Pwede palang maging talent ang pagtambay sa gym."

"This is the first time I saw this kind of act," judge FMG said. 

Earning the golden buzzer from the judges would take them straight to the semi-finals. 

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How Baguio housewives are turning trash into cash and export them to major countries such as South Korea and Europe

The Bardilleranz is a fitness group based in the Cordillera region focused on enlightening people from all walks of life, of all body types, to be confident and become healthy through workout programs with the need of a gym.

The group was established in Baguio way back in 2014 and has now about 100 members with its permanent training area in Pico, La Trinidad. 

Real Also: 
Baguio-raised girl selected deputy commander of the DLA Distribution Puget Sound in the U.S.

In 2016, the group landed third overall winner during the 2016 National Calisthenics "Hari ng Baras" competition held at the Sparta Calisthenics Academy Gymnasium in Mandaluyong City, Manila. 
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Wednesday, January 3, 2018

First in the country: BENECO's 24/7 Call Center to open soon in 2018


Cordillera - Do you have any concerns, reports, inquiries and issues regarding the services of the Benguet Electric Cooperative or BENECO that you want to be resolved immediately? Or just want to report a fallen tree that affects electric lines? Well, soon you can be able to directly communicate with BENECO regarding those matters as the cooperative is set to establish its own call center early this year.

Armed with well-trained call center representatives, the BENECO call center will be able to provide customers' information regarding numerous electric distribution systems and the cooperatives numerous services.

BENECO's call center will be the first in the country to implement such 24/7 call service that is tasked in responding to customers' inquiries, reports and concerns.

Non-network and Revenue Services Department Manager Delfin Cachin said the call center is tasked to respond to customers' concerns immediately anytime of the day and any day of the week.

"BENECO decided to set up its own call center so it can respond immediately to the concerns of our customers. At the same time, the call center will allow us to conduct a survey among our customers by asking them how our people in the field performed their job," Cachin said.

Cachin explained that the call center works similar to how Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company run and it will be equipped with the same facilities and equipment like what those BPO firms have.

As of now, BENECO has hired10 people and will be hiring more additional workers who will be trained as call center agents, according to BENECO General Manager Gerardo Verzosa.

Verzosa explained, however, that there will be no forced termination of employees because the existing personnel will be trained to acquire additional competence and will be realigned to other departments.

source | | Baguio Midland Courier
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Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Team Lakay's coach Mark Sangiao - among the top 5 head coaches in Asian Martial Art

Photo Credit: Onefc
Cordillera - Believe it or not, behind the triumph of every champion out there in the world were their coaches who stayed focus, motivated and willing to impart not only their skills but their time to hone the skills of their boxers.

Team Lakay of Cordillera, the most well-known martial arts team in the Philippines has been successful in producing several of the most talented and skilled fighters in the Mixed Martial Arts arena and now making the country shines as the home of the best boxers in the world.

The success of a fighter and a team could not be realized without the coaches who work almost none-stop just to get to the plan done and finish the goal as much as possible in a positive manner.

In a featured article by One Championship, it listed the top 5 coaches in Asian Martial Arts, one of whom Mark Sangiao was listed as number 2.

Here is the excerpt from the article:
" A Filipino martial arts pioneer, Mark Sangiao established Team Lakay many years ago building its home base in the mountains of Baguio City to provide his fellow countrymen with a platform on which to unleash their martial arts greatness.
Along the way, Sangiao has developed martial art superstars who continue to inspire Asia and the world, including former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard "Landslide" Folayang, former Featherweight World Champion Honorio "The Rock" Banario, and several world title contenders.
It is mission accomplished for Sangiao, who set out to dominate the Philippine martial arts scene through the art of wushu, and showcase homegrown Filipino talent for all the world to see. Today, Team Lakay is the most well-known martial arts team in the country.
More than just a martial arts coach, however, Sangiao is looked up to as a father figure who genuinely cares for the students under his wing. This has resulted in a bond that extends far beyond the reaches of the cage, and has shaped wonderful human beings who are also true martial artists."
 Among the the top 5 head coaches featured was Fari Salievski who took the number one spot.
Salievski is the head coach of Martin "The Situ-Asian" Nguyen who made a stunning victory in 2017, grabbing two world-title belts in different divisions.

Nguyen shocked the world by defeating Folayang in a well-executed counter punch that led the former champion lying on the canvass.
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Baguio-raised girl selected deputy commander of the DLA Distribution Puget Sound in the U.S.

Photo Credit: DLA Distribution Sigonella
Baguio City - Susan Bautista-Lucio has been announced to serve as the deputy commander of the DLA Distribution Puget Sound in Washington. 

Puget Sound is the U.S. Navy's second largest shipyard and intermediate repair facility and the only one of its kind on the West coast. 

Bautista-Lucio was born in Manila and raised in Baguio City, Philippines. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communication from Saint Louis University in Baguio, and earned her engineering licensure in 1992. She holds certifications in Lean Six Sigma and Life Cycle Logistics. 


She joined the Defense Logistics Agency in June 2006 as an information technology technician. She also served as the distribution manager for DLA Distribution Puget Sound, Washington from 2008 t0 2011. 

Prior to her new job location, Bautista-Lucio has served as the deputy commander of the DLA Distribution Sigonella, Italy and served also as the radiation protection officer and quality assurance officer during that time. 

She has received numerous civilian awards such as the DLA Meritorious Civilian Service Award and two Superior Civilian Service Medals. She was nominated for the Jerry R. Taylor Award and was instrumental in making DLA Distribution Sigonella, Italy the Michael Yost Medium-sized Distribution Center of the Year.

DLA Distribution Puget Sound, Wash., is located in Bremerton, Washingtion and served as a forward distribution point for DLA and Service-owned material. It has more than 180,000 line items valued at more that $860 million stored in warehouses and various open air storage locations across three geographically separate location at Brementon, Bangor and Everett, Wash. 

source: Puget Sound and dla.mil
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Wednesday, December 20, 2017

How can OFW win Condominium, Toyota Vios and Gift Certificate worth Php200,000 for FREE

Manila - Have you heard of the new program by the Department of Tourism which allows Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) including expats to win amazing prizes such as 7-Million worth of condo unit, a brand new car,  Php200,000 worth of gift certificates and a chance to win a trip to top tourist destinations in the country?

The Department of Tourism just launched its Bring Home A Friend (BHAF) program, which aims to give Filipinos working and residing abroad rewards and incentives when they invite their foreign friends to come and visit the country. 

The DOT said, it will give overseas Filipinos opportunity to participate in a raffle draw that  can have them the chance to win attractive prizes. 

"In order to entice Overseas Filipinos to participate in the program, we will appeal to their sense of nationalism and love of country while providing them the chance to win attractive prizes in the raffle draws for the Sponsoring Overseas Filipinos and their Invitees/Foreign friends," DOT said.

The program has already been started last October 2017 and will run up to April 2018. 

For interested participants, just access the BHAF official website https://www.bringhomeafriend.online/, go to the mechanic tab and follow the instructions given. 

Winners will be selected through electronic raffle draw from the electronic randomizer housed at the DOT IT Department to be witnessed by DTI and DOT. 

The grand raffle draw will be held in April 2018.

Winners in the grand raffle draw will be notified by the DOT through email and SMS. List of winners will also be posted on DOT website and social media accounts.

For more information about this program, please visit the official website of BHAF at www.bringhomeafriend.online.

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Monday, December 18, 2017

New attraction in Botanical Garden: 5-feet tall elephant statues from Thailand

Philippines-Thailand Friendship Garden - Elephant statue. Photo Courtesy: PIA Cordillera
Baguio City - The local government of Baguio city under the leadership of Mayor Mauricio Domogan and the Ambassador of The Kingdom of Thailand to the Philippines, H.E. Thanatip Upatising finally opened the elephant statues during the official hand-over ceremony at the Botanical Garden on December 18th.

The sculpture which was donated by the Thai government and designed by Thai sculptures shows an elephant family with four members. The construction that was started in July this year was originally composed of three elephants but it was changed to four.

Thai elephant is the official national symbol of the Kingdom of Thailand. Elephants are animals known for their power and strength which symbolizes endurance, prosperity and good luck. In Thailand, elephants have been an important figure in their culture for centuries. 

In the blockbuster film "Ong Bak" of Thailand, elephant plays an important role in the movie. 

Called The Philippine-Thailand Friendship Garden, the five feet tall elephant sculpture symbolizes the good bilateral relation between the Philippines and Thailand. The design of the garden emphasizes the elements of a close family relationship in which Filipinos and Thais can call themselves brothers.

A stroll in this serene place in the heart of Botanical Garden will bring one to appreciate the long-lasting friendship between the Philippines and Thailand. 

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Sunday, December 17, 2017

Jollibee Foods Corporation to open its first store in Tabuk, Kalinga

Cordillera - Philippine biggest fast food chain Jollibee Food Corporation announced today the opening of its new store on February 18, next year in Tabuk City, Kalinga.

During the flag raising ceremony at the City Hall, Franklin Papala of North Luzon Ultimate Foods Corporation said that a local recruitment activity (LRA) is scheduled today at the Public Employment Service Office to hire 200 potential service crew. 

He said that the LRA will also orient interested applicants of their expected work and compensation. 

He revealed that service crew are paid P290.00 daily or 36.25 per hour for a maximum of eight-hour working schedule.

Papala said that as part of their selection criteria, service crew should at least be high school graduate or college undergraduate. He said that the store sets no age qualification as long as the applicant is flexible, can work for long hours, willing to work in shifts, competent and honest.

He also mentioned the possibility that additional store managers will come from the newly-selected service crew themselves.

Papala told that the first batch of service crew and store managers hired by Staff  Search Asia Service Cooperative in July 2016 who already underwent training at Jollibee Roxas and Tuguegarao City branch and Manila respectively will still be interviewed, oriented and trained.

The two-storey Jollibee Tabuk which is a company-owned and not a franchise of any Jollibee will rise in Bulanao operating from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM to feature a drive thru, catering and party, dine in-take out and big order.

(By Darwin S. Serion/CIO) via Tabuk City Kalinga FB page.

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Friday, December 8, 2017

No Dengvaxia vaccine recipient in Cordillera - DOH-CAR


Cordillera - Parents, students and concerned citizens in the Cordillera region has nothing to worry about the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine as the Department of Health Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) said it has not conducted mass vaccination to children with Dengvaxia.

Dr. Alexie Marrero, DOH-CAR Medical Officer IV expressed confidence the region will not be faced with problems because it has not conduct mass vaccination among the students due to low incidence of dengue in the region.

The mass vaccination program by the Department of Health only qualifies those regions with the higher incidence of dengue, according to Dr. Marrero.

The Department of Health has created a task force to manage problems caused by the controversial Dengvaxia vaccines which recently been found out to be harmful if given to  those without a history of dengue. 

On November 29, Sanofi Pasteur, the pharmaceutical company that manufacture the vaccines admitted that Dengvaxia is not recommended for people who have no prior dengue infection. Otherwise, they may develop more severe forms of dengue after the cycle of vaccines shots runs its course, according to PhilStar.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III yesterday said, they are demanding the refund of the P3.5 billion spent by the Philippine government for the purchase of Dengvaxia vaccine to be used to "cover the hospitalization and medical treatment for all children who might have severe dengue".

Duque III also said PhilHealth is ready to cover the expenses of any child who may have been hospitalized for severe dengue. Under PhilHealth's Medical Case Program, dengue case rate can cover up to P16,000 which includes hospitalization and doctor's fee.

"We will continue to be vigilant in monitoring our children for any adverse event following immunization and will strengthen the readiness of our public hospitals in attending to any severe dengue cases that my occur," Duque said.


Photo: AFP pic
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