GOVERNANCE/POLITICS

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. enjoined Filipinos to embody the spirit of solidarity and contribute to development as he joins the nation in welcoming the new year.

Marcos said every new beginning is a time for reflection on past accomplishments, to move forward with the lessons learned, and to reinforce on the unity forged as a people.

“As a nation, we bid farewell to the challenges and triumphs of the past year and embrace a new dawn of opportunity and hope that heralds another fresh start for all,” the President said in his message released Sunday.

KORONADAL CITY = A total of 548 different programs under the supervision of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA-12) are now 21st Century Skills Integration Compliant after the four days of the Unified TVET Program Registration and Accreditation System (UTPRAS) Caravan conducted in different provinces in the region.

The UTPRAS Caravan was led by TESDA 12 Regional Director Rafael Y. Abrogar II which aims to maximize the registration of different TESDA programs and to evaluate if they adhere to the new curriculum of TESDA.

TACURONG CITY - About 500 youth volunteers from different municipalities, state universities, and colleges in Region 12 have gathered for the first time to support the SOCCSKSARGEN Youth Volunteer Forum which focused on the discussion of the importance of voluntarism in the region.

Regional Director Teresita Soccoro Ramos of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA-12) led the discussion of different topics in front of the hundreds of youth volunteers.

COTABATO CITY --- The provinces of Sulu and Lanao del Sur got five brand new speedboats costing P12.5 million for rescue and relief missions, acquired through the efforts of five members of the Bangsamoro parliament.

The speedboats, powered with outboard engines made in Japan, were procured through the 2021 Transitional Development Impact Fund allocations of the offices of Members of Parliament Hadji Nabil Tan, Abraham Burahan, Musa Diamla and Eduard Guerra, via Transportation and Communications Minister Paisalin Tago.

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday assured the victims of the magnitude 6.8 earthquake in Mindanao that they would get assistance from various government agencies, led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Marcos said rebuilding efforts would not be done immediately as aftershocks are still being experienced in parts of Soccsksargen, which covers South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City.

MANILA – Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Wednesday reminded youth officials to serve as examples of good governance.

The DILG chief's statement was released after the nationwide mandatory training for newly-elected Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials nears full completion.

KORONADAL CITY - The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has launched the Electronic Certification for all TESDA’s National Certificate (NC) amid allegations of “NC for sale” in social media.

Deputy Director General for Operations Anecito John Bertiz III led the launching activity together with Executive Director for Certification Office Maria Susan Dela Rama, TESDA 12 Regional Director Rafael Y. Abrogar II, and TESDA 12 provincial directors.

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao del Norte  – Military authorities have initiated separate dialogues with stakeholders of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE 2023) in a bid to help for the peaceful conduct of political exercises.

On Thursday, Brig. Gen. Nasser P. Lidasan, 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division assistant commander, also appealed for everybody’s cooperation to establish an environment conducive to the democratic process of electing local leaders in the communities.

MANILA – Senator Grace Poe requested on Friday concerned agencies and telecommunications companies (telcos) to make "selfies" a requirement in the subscriber identity module (SIM) registration.

To prevent more fraud and scamming, Poe said selfies or one's photograph taken by oneself, should be part of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 11934 or the SIM Registration Act.