RDC approves 5 loops for Samar island, says Sarmiento

Calbayog City – Calbayog City Mayor and Region 8 Regional Development Council (RDC) Chairperson Mel Senen Sarmiento said that RDC-8 has approved 5 loops for the island of Samar and that the same projects are geared to towards providing the most reliable network of highways that will connect the island’s various economic and urban centers and different towns.

Mayor Sarmiento said the statement in his speech being the guest speaker of the Good Governance Forum sponsored by the College of Accountancy students of Christ the King College (CKC) last Thursday (Jan. 21) in celebration of their annual ‘college days’.


According to Sarmiento the network of highways includes the Calbayog-Allen Road, Catarman-Calbayog via Lope de Vega Road, Laoang-Catubig-Las Navas Road, Laoang-Arteche Road, and Las Navas-Matuguinao-Gandara Road.

“We really have to build those roads,” Sarmiento said referring to those projects that still in need of fund for implementation that include the Las Navas-Matuguinao-Gandara Road. “Our RDC had already submitted (project proposals) for possible funding, though it will take time but we have to lobby very hard,” he said adding further that RDC-8 had been able to successfully access foreign banks to finance the construction of Laoang-Arteche Road which he hopes to commence construction soon.

While Catarman-Calbayog via Lope de Vega Road is already done and now being used by motorists, Allen-Calbayog Road however is now on its construction phase, Sarmiento said.

As he answered reactions from students, Mayor Sarmiento expressed with high hopes the prospect of economic development which soon will benefit the people of Western Samar, as Las Navas-Matuguinao-Gandara Road project will connect the people of Northern Samar to the Port of Catbalogan and the sea and airports of Calbayog City. The same will spur economic activity in this part of the island, Mayor Sarmiento said further.

During the forum Mayor Sarmiento did not only discuss to the students the regional development scenario but also his 2015 development agenda for the city of Calbayog that includes the expansion of the city proper and the construction of major economic infrastructure like the Public Market-Transport Terminal Complex in Bagacay area of Ramon Magsaysay Blvd and the conversion of the present Land Transport Terminal Building in Brgy. Capoocan into the Calbayog City Convention Center. (Ike Macasa/CMO)

NwSSU formally inaugurated

(This news item appeas in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

TACLOBAN CITY - The second state university in Samar province was formally inaugurated yesterday with no less than the chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education, Secretary Emmanuel Angeles, leading the occasion.

Among the highlights of the inauguration of the Northwest Samar State University was the installation of its first state university president, Dr. Socorro Bohol.

Those who witnessed the elevation of the then Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology (TTMIST) into a state university was Samar Representative Reynaldo Uy who shepherd for the passage of a law creating the second state university in Samar province.

The province’s first state university was the Samar State University in Catbalogan.

Aside from Angeles and Uy, those who witnessed the milestone were Calbayog city officials led by Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento and Vice Mayor Ronaldo Aquino, state university presidents in the region and members of the NwSSU board of regents that includes Regional Director Buenaventura Go-Soco of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

In his message, Uy said that his happiness over the conversion of the TTMIST into a state university was a fulfillment not only for himself but the entire people of Calbayog and Samar province.

"Being now a university, more challenges and bigger tasks lie ahead for NwSSU. All these in the name of extending better service to our constituents, of extending quality education for everyone. With our cooperation and dedication, capacity and integrity of our friends from the NwSSU, there is no doubt that we will succeed", the Samar solon said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law the creation of the NwSSU last October 14 as contained under Republic Act 9717.

Mayor Sarmiento said that the inauguration of the NwSSU was a “step towards the path which leads us to extending quality education to the students of Calbayog and of Samar.”

“And I call on the NwSSU to do their share in achieving that,” he said, reminding the university’s officials and educators.

At present, the NwSSU has a total student population of 4,800 who are enrolled to its 35 courses which include education, engineering, hotel and restaurant, and Graduate studies.

The new university has about 105 regular teachers with another 60 working as part time teachers.

The first president of the NwSSU, meantime, vowed to provide quality education to the people of Samar province.

“With confidence, we look forward the challenge of the ideals that lie ahead. With confidence, we look forward to being able to achieve and perform the state universities and colleges mandates along instruction, research, extension and production, all in the name of relevant quality education,” she said.

The then Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology started as a vocational school way back until it was elevated into a tertiary level offering various courses. It was named after a former member of Congress. (JOEY A. GABIETA/LITO ABALA BAGUNAS)

Migara National High School granted permit to operate

(This news item appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

CALBAYOG CITY – City Schools Division Superintendent Editha Paculan recently announced the official approval of Migara National High School, this city, by the Department of Education to operate from first year to fourth year levels effective school year 2009-2010.

Pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act 9155, otherwise known as the “Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001", the Migara National High School in Brgy. Migara, Calbayog City, was granted a permit to operate 1st Year to 4th Year levels Secondary Education curriculum.

Upon the recommendation of Samar 1st District Congressman Reynaldo S. Uy and of the Office of Calbayog City SDS Paculan, a DepEd regional team evaluated the school. As of this writing, Migara National High School has a total enrolment of 186 students, and 7 teachers headed by the Teacher In-Charge Rolando Lacbo.

Paculan also informed that City Mayor Mel Sarmiento provided the school with school buildings and furnitures.

Migara National High School which started operations in 2005 produced its first set of graduates on March of this year (For a related post, please check this link). The school is located 12.5 kilometers northeast from the city proper.

Mrs. Paculan also said that another public high school will be opened in Brgy. Tabawan, as an integrated high school of Migara. So far, there are 13 public schools in the city.

As this developed, the office of Mrs. Paculan has been receiving text messages about alleged anomalies of school administrators demanding payments for transfers of teachers and promotions. Observers said that teachers are now courageous and brave to report about this alleged corruption by some school administrators.

Reacting to this complaint, Paculan said her office is open to any investigation. “For evils to triumph, let good men do nothing,” Paculan was quoted as saying. (Henry Puyat / Manding Toleza)

messages for the NwSSU inauguration

The Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU) will be formally inaugurated tomorrow. Here are the messages (greetings) of Mayor Mel Sarmiento and Congressman Reynaldo Uy in line with tomorrow's affair.

The message of Congressman Reynaldo Uy:

"I deem it a special privilege to greet everyone during the inauguration of the Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU).

As I congratulate the NwSSU community, my fellow Calbayognons and the people of the First District of Samar, I say thank you to Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo, Senator Mar Roxas, Mayor Mel Sarmiento, CHED Chairperson Emmanuel Angeles and especially to my fellow Calbayognons and the people of Samar for their active support as we took the challenges of converting then TTMIST into a university.

The hard task is not over. Being now a university, more challenges and bigger tasks lie ahead for NwSSU. All these in the name extending better service to our constituents, of extending QUALITY EDUCATION for everyone. With our cooperation and the dedication, capacity and integrity of our friends from the NwSSU, there is no doubt that we will succeed.

As I bid you all welcome to the Inauguration, I extend my congratulations to Dr. Socorro Bohol on her installation as the 1st NwSSU President.

Once again, Congratulations to NwSSU, to my fellow Calbayognons and to our constituents in the First District of Samar!"


REYNALDO S. UY, M.D.
Representative, Samar First District

=============================

The message of Mayor Mel Sarmiento:

"I am pleased to greet my fellow Calbayognons and our esteemed guests as we gather for the inauguration of the Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU).

I join the NwSSU community in expressing our gratitude to all those who have helped make this day possible: President Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo, Senator Mar Roxas, Congressman Reynaldo Uy, Secretary Emmanuel Angeles, and most importantly to all Calbayognons and the people of Samar for their support in making this dream a reality.

There is another dream that needs to be fulfilled - extending QUALITY EDUCATION for everyone. Today’s inauguration is a step towards the path which leads us to doing just that – extending quality education – to the students of Calbayog and of Samar; and I call on the NwSSU to do their share in achieving that.

It is along that line that I also greet Dr. Socorro Bohol on her installation as the 1st NwSSU President.

As I have always told the various stakeholders of the City of Calbayog, the task to put in place a progressive Calbayog is a never-ending one. Padayun kita pagka-urosa ug pagkiwa para san mas progresibo pa nga Ciudad san Calbayog!"


MEL SENEN S. SARMIENTO
Calbayog City Mayor
Chairperson, RDC-8
Secretary-General, League of Cities of the Philippines

A new School building for Brgy. Guin-on

The Samar Integrated Community Advancement Project (SICAP) on Friday (June 5, 2009) turned-over to the DepEd a two-classroom school building for the Guin-on Elementary School. The said school building is a joint project of SICAP and the City of Calbayog. SICAP provided funds amounting to approximately 400,000 pesos, while the LGU provided 100,000 pesos, material and labor. The officials and barangay folks also provided labor in the form of pintakasi for the construction of the said building.

Ribbon-cutting. Mayor Mel Sarmiento (3rd from the left) with (l-r) Guin-on Punong Barangay Ramon Salibio, Calbayog District 2 Supervisor Adelma Rabuya, Calbayog City Schools Division Superintendent Edita Paculan, SICAP Administrator Rev. Daniel Kim and DepEd Math ES 1 Ramon Miano. (Photo by Vaughn Calvara).

In a related development, this school year saw the opening of at least three new (independent) high schools in Calbayog. The Migara High School which produced its first set of graduates on March of this year is now independent from the Calbayog City National High School. It will now open as the Migara National High School serving high school students in the Happy Valley area of Calbayog district.

The Calbayog City Night High School is now open as a separate entity. It used to be under the Cabayog City National High School.

The Gadgaran Integrated School has opened. It aims to serve the students from Gadgaran, Acedillo, Navarro and Buntay. The operation of the said school de-congests the San Policarpo National High School.

20IB troopers join US Navy, LGU at Calbayog Brigada Eskwela

Tacloban City (May 24) -- "What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal."

With this quotation as their guiding principle, troopers of the 20th Infantry Battalion based at Tinambacan, Calbayog City, joined the local government officials of Calbayog City and the US Navy contingent from the USS John S. McCain, in spearheading the Brigada Eskwela in Calbayog City.

In coordination with the Department of Education officials and employees in Calbayog City, the participation of the 20th IB to the Brigada Eskwela 2009 was realized when Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento, 20th IB Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Francis B. Cabugon and Asst. Attache of the US Embassy Hon. Qasim Majied met to chart the activities of the visiting US Navy Contingent having an exercise dubbed as "CARAT 09" or Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training, in Calbayog City.

Mayor Sarmiento who chairs the Regional Development Council of Eastern Visayas thought that the ready pool of manpower of the 20th IB and the US Navy will be a great help to the week-long Brigada Eskwela.

He then proposed the spearheading of the Brigada Eskwela activities by the LGU, the 20th IB and the US Navy.

With the city government of Calbayog providing the materials for the one-day activity, 50 troopers of the 20th IB led by Lt. Col. Cabugon and 40 US Navy men led by Capt. Choi Heedong, went into a day-long painting of school fences and school cleanliness drive.

Mayor Sarmiento lauded the community service of the Army troopers and the US Navy contingent, as a model in instilling the value of Bayanihan spirit among all the stakeholders which is the true noble objective of the Brigada Eskwela.

The following day, resolved on finishing what they have started, some seventy troopers of the 20th IB continued the painting and cleanliness drive in other schools in Calbayog City.

Such noble soldiers, the 20th IB troopers are. They are the real ones who could say, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." (Rolito Sorila/PIA 8)

High School Graduation in Barangay Migara

Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento was in Brgy. Migara early Friday morning for a graduation program. He was on hand for the First Commencement Exercises of the Migara High School (or officially the Migara Campus of the Calbayog City National High School).

It was no ordinary commencement exercises. The campus is located in a barangay that is considered "interior" as it is located in the Lower Happy Valley area of Calbayog District. Opened in 2005, the Migara High School produced 58 graduates headed by the Class Valedictorian Caroline Dumpit.

With Mayor Sarmiento were Calbayog City Schools Superintendent Editha Paculan and the Migara High School teaching staff headed by Karen Yu.

If plans will materialize, the said campus will be independent from the Calbayog City National High School by June 2009.

The Class Valedictorian Caroline Dumpit with her fellow graduates

Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento as he delivered his message.

Ms. Editha Paculan delivering her message.

Art Exhibit at TTMIST

As a support to local artists, Mayor Mel Sarmiento today visited the DAGAW Art Exhibit at the TTMIST AVR.

The exhibit dubbed as "TTMIST Dagaw, the Artist's Reflection" opened yesterday and has on display paintings done by student artists of TTMIST.

During his visit, Mayor Sarmiento was received by Ms. Sunta Bergado, Ms. Catherine Rodriguez, Ms. Marianie Joy Lacaba and some Dagaw artists.

Connecting Calbayog's National High Schools

You are looking at pictures of some students from the Tarabucan National High School. The first one shows the usual classroom scene (something quite common in every school there is). The other picture has students in front of the computer, not just to encode assignments or projects but they were connected to the world via the internet. No big deal, you might want to say, but not for the schools in the left and right river areas of Calbayog. As of today, 8 National High Schools in Calbayog are connected. These schools are:

• Calbayog City National High School (with 10 PCs)
• Mag-ubay National High School (with 10 PCs)
• Oquendo National High School (with 10 PCs)
• Pilar Agricultural High School (with 20 PCs)
• Rafael Lentejas Memorial School of Fisheries (Tinambacan) (with 20 PCs)
• San Policarpo National High School (with 44 PCs)
• Tarabucan National High School (with 20 PCs)
• Trinidad National High School (with 31 PCs)

On the list of schools still to be connected are San Joaquin and Malaga National High Schools. Both schools are located in Tinambacan District (which many also refer to as the "along the coast" area).

This project was made possible through the tie-up between the City Government of Calbayog and Gearing up Internet Literacy and Access to Students (GILAS) Program of the Ayala Foundation.

Last Friday (January 23, 2009), Mayor Mel Sarmiento joined the representatives of Ayala Foundation and some DepEd officials for the program dubbed as "Celebration of Gilas milestone in Calbayog City: Connecting 100% of Connectible Public High Schools". The said program was held at the DepEd Calbayog Confrence Hall. After the messages were delivered, the GILAS School Recepients represented by Lolita Alera gave a message of commitment. Guests then proceeded to the Calbayog City National High School for a Tele-Conference with some teachers and students from the National High Schools in Pilar, Tarabucan and Mag-ubay. The same schools were visited by the guests after the Tele-Conference.

Mayor Sarmiento (partly hidden) talks with a student surfing the net from Brgy. Mag-ubay.

For more pictures, you may check this link.

A Symposium and Rally to Uphold Human Rights and the Right to Life

The "Uphold the Human Rights and The Right to Life Symposium and Rally" will be held tomorrow at the Christ the King College Campus from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

The activity is spearheaded by the Diocese of Calbayog and Christ the King College in coordination with The Alliance of Concerned Samarnons.

Events for the day include Preliminaries where Bishop Isabelo Abarquez and CKC President Fr. Prisco Cajes, ofm will deliver their speeches.

The Symposium Proper will consist of three talks to be delivered by Dr. Ligaya Acosta and Dr. Joseph Bullecer, both Directors of Human Life International; and Fr. Reu Jose Galoy, ofm, Dean of Franciscan School of Theology; and Director of the Human Resource Development Office of the San Pedro Bautista Province in Quezon City.

The activity will be capped by a covenant-signing, rally and conclusion-dispersal at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral.

The CKC - Jose Gomez Orchestra in Concert

12 December 2008
Matinee 3:00 pm / Gala 6:30 pm
Frs. David and Leopold (CKC) Auditorium

The Civil Registration Quiz Bee

In celebration of February as Civil Registration Month, the LGU thru the Local Civil Registry Office conducted the Civil Registration Quiz. I was a member of the panel of judges which included DepEd's Edita Paculan, CTIO's Linda Calesa and DYOG's Eleen Lim.

The activity was participated in by 13 students from from the various High Schools of Calbayog, namely: San Policarpo National High School (SPNHS), San Joaquin National High School (SJNHS), La Milagrosa Academy, CKC Boys' High School, Calbayog City National High School, CKC Night High School, Mag-ubay National High School (MNHS), CKC Girls' High School, Pilar National High School (PNHS), Trinidad National High School (TNHS), Rafael Lentejas Memorial School of Fisheries (RLMSF)and Tarabucan National High School (TNHS).

Declared as 1st-placer was Julia Frea Catorce (CKC Girls' High). Ronelo Suzara and Angelie Ann Anollado of SPNHS and TNHS respectively, tied for the 2nd place. Ms. Catorce will be Calbayog's representative to the Provincial level.

Let me share some pix I took during the event. (my apologies I used a different phone which explains for the dark shots)

The winners and their coaches with the panel of judges

The contestants with the panel of judges

High School student honored

The City Government of Calbayog today honored Caryl Araiz Gerarcas, a graduating student from the Calbayog City National High School.

Caryl is one the 21 fourth year students (out of 1,223,465) who made it to DepEd's elite "Club 99+" after taking the National Assessment Career Examination (NCAE) last August 28, 2007. These students obtained ratings of 99%plus in all domain areas namely: general scholastic aptitude, technical-vocational aptitude and entrepreneurual skills.

As per DepEd updates, members of this year's Club 99+ are mostly products of the public school system. Of the 21 studetns who made it to the exclusive club, 8 came from national high schools, 4 were from regional science / science high schools and 1 was a product of a state university laboratory school. 8 students were from private schools.

According to DepEd Scretary Jesli Lapus, the NCAE was developed to assess the aptitudes of 4th year high school students and guide them in choosing an appropriate career path after graduation. Unlike the NCEE which was discontinued in 1994, the NCAE is used entirely for recommendation purposes in career guidance.

NCAE is currently on its second year. On the third year of implementation test results are envisioned to serve as prerequisite for enrolment in any four or five-year degrees in colleges and universities as well as two-year vocational or technological courses. An enabling law is needed to make the test an admisiion prerequisite.

Below are pictures I took during this morning's simple ceremonies:

Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino as he read the SP Resolution congratulating Caryl

Caryl as she received the resolution from Vice Mayor Aquino and a 5-thousand peso cash gift from Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento

Caryl's mom saying a few words of thanks

The CKC Jose Gomez Orchestra launched today

The CKC Jose Gomez Orchestra was officially launched today. Christ the King College President, Fr. Prisco Cajes, spearheaded the launching during the Concelebrated Mass at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. The mass was said in celebration of the Feast of Christ, the King of the Universe.

In his message, Fr. Cajes stated the following details:

In Celebration of the grace of our origins of the Franciscan Movement in this part of the world wherein the Franciscan Missions, thru San Pedro Bautista, pioneered the first school of Music after 1578;

In memory and tribute to your very own, the late Maestro Jose Gomez, who captured the souls of every people of Samar and composed them into music;

In the spirit of championing the cause of humanity of which Christ the King College has untiringly offered to you;

In gratitude to the benefactors and patrons thru the initiatives of Mr. Walter Rhumor and Mr. Tony Gomez;

To honor Dr. Francisca P. Santos in her 50 years of service to CKC.

And for the greater glory of GOD as we celebrate this Solemnity of Christ the King…

We now present to you the CKC Jose Gomez Orchestra!

(VISION)

The CKC Jose Gomez Orchestra envisions itself as a musical organization that promotes the musical heritage of the people of Calbayog City, Samar Island and Region VIII, and develops their love of music and their natural musical talents, especially by encouraging people to appreciate and learn music through formal education and playing, itself, this music for the people in public. It acts as an agent affirming the past musical compositions and in evolving the culture, specifically the music of the people in this part of the Philippines.

(MISSION):

The mission of the Jose Gomez Orchestra is the establishment and furtherance of a professional symphony orchestra, the advancement of music appreciation and music playing among musicians in Samar Island, the enrichment of the community through music, the encouragement, development and support of musicians, the performance and promotion of the music compositions of Jose Gomez and other local musicians, and the promotion and support of the musical productions and special events in Calbayog City and surrounding area.

(OBJECTIVES):

The Jose Gomez orchestra commits itself to organizing musicians including its members; to collecting pieces of musical compositions from great musicians in Region VIII, like the great Jose Gomez and others; and to learning these musical compositions and playing them for public. It will exert efforts in promoting these musical compositions in concerts and other occasions. Hence, it will help develop the culture and music of the City and Region through formal education in music, in coordination with Christ the King College and through other means as well as. Therefore, the CKC Jose Gomez Orchestra will act as agent for the cultural and musical development of the Calbayog City, Samar Island and Region VIII.

(For some pictures of the celebration and that of the members of the orchestra, please check this link: Feast of Christ the King.)

The City Mayor receives Region 8 SUCs Presidents

The Presidents of the various State Colleges and UNiversities (SUCs) participating in the SCUAA Meet 2007 paid a courtesy call on the City Mayor this morning. Due to the ongoing repairs at the Mayor's Office, Mayor Mel Sarmiento received his callers at the CBO Conference Call.

A good number of topics were discussed during the meeting, among these was the positive results the city is getting from its partnerships with various schools and other private institutions in the city. The City Mayor also clarified his stand on the citihood of some municipalities in region 8.

The City Mayor with (l-r) Dr. Delia Combista (PIT), Dr. Aida Tobes (SSCAF), Dr. Editha Henson (NIT), Dr. Socorro Bohol, Dr. Jose Bacusmo (VSU), Atty. Mar De Asis (UEP), Dr. Simon Babalcon, Jr. (SSU) and Dr. Reynaldo Lumbio (ESSU)

4th Lamiraw Workshop Slated

The Arts, Social, and Cultural Affairs Office of TTMIST invites all writers in Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) to join the 4th Lamiraw Creative Writing Workshop on November 8-10, 2007 at Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology in Calbayog City, Samar.

Interested fellows are required to submit 3 poems or 1 short story or 2 essays written either in Waray, Cebuano, Hinabaknon, or English as pre-qualification requirements.

This activity is a joint project of TTMIST and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). 20 slots are at stake for this region-wide workshop and those who will qualify will be free of registration, travel allowance, and board and lodging.

Deadline of submission is October 15, 2007. For inquiries, please email at lamiraw@yahoo.com or text 09162527995.

TTMIST tops among region 8 SUCs

CALBAYOG CITY – Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology (TTMIST) topped among State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the whole island of Samar. That is based on the latest evaluation made by both Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).


Dr. Socorro O. Bohol, TTMIST President said this during a live interview in the radio program “Hulagway san Ciudad: The Chief Executive Report” broadcast over Radyo Natin FM in Calbayog City

Region 8 has a total of 11 SUCs excluding UP Tacloban which is part of the University of the Philippines System.

Dr. Bohol said that the result is contained in the latest CHED Memorandum Circular No. 1-B soon to be released to all SUC’s in the Philippines.

“TTMIST is now in the limelight, TTMIST ranked fourth among all SUCs in Region 8 in an evaluation taken from the various aspects of SUCs operations like instructions, research, and management of resources,” Dr. Socorro Bohol said.

She said that from Level I, TTMIST is now in Level III-A, just a few points away from the highest level which is Level III-B.

The region’s top performing SUCs in the recent evaluation include Visayas State University (formerly Leyte State University and VISCA) in Baybay, Leyte, in the number 1 slate; Leyte Normal University (LNU) and Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) both in Tacloban City for number 2 and 3 slates, respectively, and fourth is TTMIST.

By placing fourth in the region, TTMIST got the highest rank so far that any SUCs in Samar Island got in the evaluation that included University of Eastern (UEP) in Catarman, Northern Samar, Samar State University (SSU) in Catbalogan, Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) in Borongan, Eastern Samar; and Samar State College of Agriculture and Fisheries (SSCAF) in San Jorge, Samar.

“Of the evaluation areas included in the survey, TTMIST got the highest in the field of instruction,” Dr. Bohol said. “Pero sa research hitaas liwat an na-achieve naton, imagine the highest score obtained by any SUC in the whole Philippines is 15 and TTMIST got 13 points,” she added.

Asked why a level in the evaluation is important for an SUC, Dr. Bohol emphasized that such move is being done by DBM and CHED because of the “normative financing” now being implemented in all SUCs nationwide. Since 2005 Maintenance and Other Operational Expenses (MOOE) given by the national government to SUCs reduces by 25 per cent every year and the Level of Evaluation that any SUC enjoys is one of the factors being considered in determining the budget, she further said.

Aside from that, Dr. Bohol added that, “When our graduates apply for a job anywhere in the Philippines some of the employers verify at the CHED what level of evaluation the school of the applicant is enjoying so it is always important for any SUC to achieve the highest evaluation level possible.”

During the said interview, Dr. Bohol commended all employees of TTMIST especially those in the instructional force who strove hard and thus caused TTMIST to get its latest achievement in the evaluation.

With the current financing scheme employed by the national government to all SUCs, Dr. Bohol, appealed to all parents and guardians of their students to understand their policy on the tuition fee prompt payment requirement during time of examinations since the fund that school gets from it is now being used to finance the school operations like the payment of salaries of all casual employees performing important functions, and payment of bills of various utilities like water and electricity.

According to Dr. Bohol proper financial planning among SUCs is very necessary as time is coming soon that what the national government will provide would only be for the salaries and wages of the employees and personnel, other operational expenses will taken from their income like the tuition fees, rental of their facilities and other possible sources.



(News report courtesy of Mr. Ike Macasa of Samar Sunday Star)