Riding a horse to reach outstations

Photos from the book The Odyssey of an Igorot Mission Girl.
FOR a woman who formally entered school at age 10, Esperanza Daliwa Somebang of Nadatngan, Mountain Province, travelled far and wide, a great believer in education and in the spirit of service to humankind.

Somebang grew up in a culture where , “girls were expected to stay home to help in the fields, get married and raise a family.” It was something she was prepared for since she was the family baby sitter.

But Somebang had a mother, Mauricia Badasan Suyen, who had the perspicacity to tell her before she went off to study at St. Mary’s in Sagada, “We are very poor; the only thing we can offer you is to allow you the opportunity to have an education in our mission school. We are glad to make the sacrifice, whatever it will take.”

The Odyssey of an Igorot Mission Girl (published by Igorot Heritage Press in Lyme, Connecticut) traces Somebang’s childhood, a rural idyll on hills “abundant with wild fruit, especially black berries, salmon berries, pinit (a small raspberry) and other edible plants.” She knew what it was like to have little but not to feel deprived.

She writes in this memoir, considered “a pioneering contribution to a growing body of literature about the Igorot people from an autobiographical perspective” by anthropologist Albert S. Bacdayan, “We had no store-bought toys whatever. Even if my parents had heard of them, they had no money to buy them. Father made wooden tops for the boys, but we girls played with them, too. We made our softballs out of any material available—worn-out clothes, paper and dried grass, shaped into a ball and bound with twine…Our bats were branches. It was hardly a baseball game by the rules but we played until the ball went to pieces.”

At the Girls’ School of the Mission of St. Mary the Virgin, she was determined not to disappoint her parents, although the nuns in white wimples and long blue robes at first looked “like goddesses out of story books.” She quickly learned how to read. So proud was she of this that she once left school and dormitory without permission to walk several miles to her village to show her parents a book so she could read aloud to them.

Somebang acknowledges the sacrifices of many so she could move forward. Before she left for nursing school in Manila, an American, Janet Anderson, had the foresight to buy vegetables from Somebang’s mother who put aside the money for the education kitty. They and a school nun pitched in to buy the requirements (shoes, stockings, watch).

Read the rest of the post at Vera Files is put out by veteran journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. Vera is Latin for “true.” (15)

Last Friday, Facebook confirmed that it has released data related to national security requested by law enforcement agencies.

A statement by Ted Ullyot, Facebook General Counsel revealed that “For the six months ending December 31, 2012, the total number of user-data requests Facebook received from any and all government entities in the U.S. (including local, state, and federal, and including criminal and national security-related requests) – was between 9,000 and 10,000. These requests run the gamut – from things like a local sheriff trying to find a missing child, to a federal marshal tracking a fugitive, to a police department investigating an assault, to a national security official investigating a terrorist threat. The total number of Facebook user accounts for which data was requested pursuant to the entirety of those 9-10 thousand requests was between 18,000 and 19,000 accounts.”

“With more than 1.1 billion monthly active users worldwide, this means that a tiny fraction of one percent of our user accounts were the subject of any kind of U.S. state, local, or federal U.S. government request (including criminal and national security-related requests) in the past six months. “

Facebook said,”Requests from law enforcement entities investigating national security-related cases are by their nature classified and highly sensitive, and the law traditionally has placed significant constraints on the ability of companies like Facebook to even confirm or acknowledge receipt of these requests – let alone provide details of our responses.”

They assured that they don’t release data indiscriminately. “We’ve reiterated in recent days that we scrutinize every government data request that we receive – whether from state, local, federal, or foreign governments. We’ve also made clear that we aggressively protect our users’ data when confronted with such requests: we frequently reject such requests outright, or require the government to substantially scale down its requests, or simply give the government much less data than it has requested. And we respond only as required by law,” the statement said.

For Facebook users, it’s a good reason to be discriminating with one’s posts.

The concern over FB’s release of information about their members comes after the Snowden expose.

Early this month, American Edward Joseph Snowden, 29 years old, shared with the UK-based Guardian and The Washington Post, classified material on top-secret National Security Agency programs including the PRISM surveillance program and orders under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Snowden had access to those materials as an infrastructure analyst for NSA in Hawaii under Booz Allen Hamilton, a strategy and technology consulting firm.

Before that he was “systems engineer, systems administrator, senior adviser for the Central Intelligence Agency, solutions consultant, and a telecommunications informations system officer.”

PRISM, according to reports that were not denied by the US government, provides the NSA and FBI with the ability to siphon data directly from the servers of major Internet companies such as Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo.

Snowden is currently in Hongkong and is resisting extradition requested by US authorities.

Snowden said his intention in exposing PRISM was not to destroy the US.”If I had just wanted to harm the US? You could shut down the surveillance system in an afternoon,” he said in the interview with The Guardian.

“I do not want to live in a world where everything I do and say is recorded..The government has granted itself power it is not entitled to. There is no public oversight. The result is people like myself have the latitude to go further than they are allowed to … My sole motive is to inform the public as to that which is done in their name and that which is done against them,” he said.

Snowden fears that “Some new and unpredicted threat, we need more authority, we need more power.’ And there will be nothing the people can do at that point to oppose it. And it will be turnkey tyranny.”
(16)

Thanks to Yahoo for photo.

I thought I was the only one who could not connect the glowing assessments of multinational financial firms and day- to- day realities.

I thought I and my friends are the only ones who have not been showered with the financial blessings the government is boasting of.

Then even as international financial firms continue to hail the Philippines as “s the strongest performing economy in Asia today, “reports came out of a Triple whammy: Exports and Foreign Direct Investments down and unemployment up.

ABS-CBN’s Coco Alcuaz reported that “Unemployment rose to a 3-year high as the total number of employed persons dropped, contrary to a government claim that employment is rising just not as fast as the workforce. The jobless rate rose to 7.5% in April, the highest since April 2010.”

“At the same time, exports fell again in April, as declines in sales of chemicals and some manufactured products…. offset a steadying in electronics. The National Statistics Office reports exports dropped almost 13% to $4 billion.

“Also, foreign direct investment was negative in March, meaning foreigners pulled out more than they put in. In March, they put in $56 million and withdrew $73 million, a net withdrawal of $17 million.”

This triple whammy I can very well understand. My pocket understands.

Results of the latest labor force survey by the government’s NSO showed that unemployment rate as of April 2013 was 7.5 percent , up from 6.9 April last year.

How many Filipinos are jobless at 7.5 percent unemployment rate? NSO put the population of 15 years old and over at 64,028,000. Seven point five percent equals 4,802,100 jobless Filipinos.

NSO said the increase in the number of unemployed were significant among two groups: “ These were the farmers, forestry workers and fishermen whose number decreased to approximately 4.960 million in April 2013 from 5.398 million in April 2012, or a decrease of about 438 thousand workers; and the laborers and unskilled workers whose number dropped by approximately 384 thousand. “

These are numbers that represent Filipinos who have to eat three times a day, with children who have to go to school. God forbid if they get sick.

What happened then to the upbeat credit ratings?

University of the Philippines Former Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the Aquino government is so “obsessed with achieving credit ratings upgrade at the expense of real, jobs-generating growth.”

International credit companies give the country good credit ratings because it has reduced its borrowings and expenditures. No spending on infrastructure like roads, airports which should have helped perk up the economy.

The lack of infrastructure resulted in decrease in foreign investments (why would foreigners invest in a country where airports, roads, transport are bad and inefficient?). Lack of foreign investment equals fewer jobs. Less jobs means more poor Filipinos.
But we have good credit ratings, the government boasted. Makakain ba yan?
(24)

Admiral Locklear being received by President Aquino

In Bangkok last week, the commander of the United States Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Locklear, said the usual line that their Asian allies expect from visiting American officials: we will oppose China’s expansionism.

“We will oppose the change of status quo by force of anyone,” Locklear said referring to the situation in South China Sea where China is reported to be positioning in Ayungin Reef, just 25 miles away from Mischief Reef, 130 miles away from Palawan, that China occupied in 1994.

But just like other American officials, Locklear did not commit that the US will fight China if the latter gets embroiled in violent confrontation with any of the countries in this part of the world. That’s because, in truth, the US will not because it values relations with China.

Although the US would like to contain China’s power, it would not want make an enemy of the Asian behemoth. That’s being wise. It goes without saying that it would also not want to be embroiled in a war between the Philippines and China.

Last year, a month after the standoff with China in Bajo de Masinloc (also known as Scarborough or Panatag Shoal) was broken, the cabinet agreed to send back the Bureau of Fisheries and Acquatic Resources ship because three Chinese ships remained in the area.

When the US Defense officials learned of the cabinet decision, they advised Philippines officials against it. They knew the danger of having ships of both countries in the disputed area. What happened in Balintang Channel last month where Philippine Coast Guards shot and killed a Taiwanese fisherman demonstrates the risks.

China policy is “We will not attack unless we are attacked; but we will surely counterattack if attacked.” We would not dare imagine the scenario if Chinese ships were involved.

Locklear, the wire reports said, advised compromise in the South China Sea conflict. He said the US would not take sides and stressed the importance of a code of conduct that would govern activities in the South China Sea.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has approved the elements to be included in the COC. What is needed is for China to agree to sit down and begin the talks on the COC.

The Philippines has brought the issue China’s expansionism to the United Nations where it asked the Arbitral Court to declare as illegal China’s nine-dash-line map. The decision is expected in three to four years time.

Meanwhile, what can the Philippines do to stop China from moving into disputed islets in West Philippine Sea?

Given that the we cannot match China might, retired Ambassador Lauro Baja, Jr., who was the Philippines’ permanent representative to the UN, advised that the Philippine should not exclude the option of engaging China.

He said: “We must re-examine our position against bilateral approach to dialogue on West Philippine Sea issues, especially those are really bilateral in context and where other countries have no dog in the dogfight.

Baja said the Bajo the Masinloc is a classic bilateral case. Only the Philippines and China are involved unlike other islets in the Spratlys that are claimed also by Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

We have seen it that lip service is the only support other countries would give the Philippines in a direct conflict with China. The Philippines should wise up and learn more mature ways in dealing with China.
(57)

MTRCB Chair Eugenio Villareal in a dialogue with TV5

On July 17, the Movie and Television Review Classification Board will conduct a Child and Family Summit at Balay Kalinaw at the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

Participants will be parents and other family members including kasambahays. A workshop will be held and the output will be presented to networks and movie and TV producers.

This activity is in line with the pro-active role that the current MTRCB leadership is undertaking. It actually started under the term of now Senator-elect Grace Poe which Chairman Eugenio “Toto” Villareal is continuing.

Villareal, a lawyer, sees the role of MTRCB as not just as regulatory but developmental as well.

“We want to create a culture where contemporary values are upheld and maintained, “ he said.

He said in the discussion among members of the 30-man MTRCB board, they asked themselves, “Why don’t we teach these values and build a culture with these values in media and entertainment so that we lessen if not totally eradicate cases of violations .”
He added that our society should develop a culture “which is promotive of human dignity.”

That summit aims to empower members of the family and kasambahays to understand very well the MTRCB rating system. Like, what’s the difference between R-16 and R-18 classifications for movies? (R-16 – Only viewers 16 years old and above can be admitted while R-18 are only for viewers 18 years old and above.) The restrictions is MTRCB’s way of advising parents and supervising adults that the film may contain themes, language, violence, nudity, sex, horror, and drugs that may not be suitable for children below the specified ages.

Villareal said they have color coded the TV and movie ratings (Green for General Audience, Blue for Parental Guidance, Yellow for R-13, Orange for R-16 and Red for R-18) so that it would be understandable even for those who are not so literate.

In the wake of the controversy caused by the comedy bar jokes of ABS-CBN talent Vice Vulgar with GMA7 broadcast journalist Jessica Soho as subject, MTRCB has started meeting with TV network executives on the migration of comedy bar materials, which are strictly for adults, to television. He stressed the importance of self- regulation by networks.

“MTRCB is always interested for the good of the industry. We wrote ABS-CBN and relayed to them the complaints that we have been receiving. In MTRCB, we teach a child “galangin ang matatanda, huwag apihin ang may kapansanan, don’t embarrass anyone.’ If they are watching this type of (comedy) humor in TV, then there would already be a contradiction, at the very least confusion in the minds of children,” Villareal said.

Related to this, Villareal revealed that up for review in the next few weeks is ABS-CBN’s comedy show “Going Bulilit” as they have received some complaints about “For Adults only” jokes being portrayed by children.

He said, “We have the Best Practices conference last year.They have come up with some solutions. We will now evaluate.”
***
A blogger ,Alsan820, commented on my column last Wednesday , “Does MTRCB have a say on pay-per-view?”

His view: “I think pay-per-view may be considered private and therefore may be beyond the jurisdiction of MTRCB. If a person wants to spend money to view a ‘vulgar show’, that is his or her business.

“However, I believe that money is not the only consideration here, although that is the main goal of ABS-CBN and Vice Vulgar, to make much money from the concert. The vulgar concert went beyond the boundaries of good taste and standards of propriety. Weighed against these standards (and possibly against the Magna Carta of Women), I think this show should be banned for showing for all types of media. ABS-CBN should be faulted for allowing itself to be a party to such vulgarity.

“The network should be ashamed to use the word ‘kapamilya’. Without ABS-CBN and the sponsors (again the source of revenue for the network and the vulgar vice), Vice Vulgar would be relegated to comedy bars, where he rightfully belongs.” (76)

“Members affected by the new policy must file an ‘Application for Voluntary Payment of Contributions for Members Aged 65 and Over’ within the prescribed period so they can complete their 120 contributions and be eligible for retirement pension,” de Quiros said. “Otherwise, they can only receive a lump sum benefit instead of the lifetime SSS pension.”

Under the Social Security Law, members aged 60 and above must have at least 120 months contributions to qualify for retirement pension. Those with less than 120 will be entitled to a lump sum retirement benefit equal to the total amount of paid SSS contributions plus interest.

“With these new rules, members facing technical retirement can continue to pay contributions to be eligibile for pension benefits. At the same time, this allows SSS to keep the fund viable by ensuring that retirement pensions are funded by the requisite contributions,” de Quiros said.

The new guidelines also state that members who will turn 65 years old on or after April 1, 2013, shall be allowed to continue paying contributions to qualify for retirement pension, provided that the member must have been covered by SSS at age 55 or earlier, and must have at least 80 monthly contributions by age 65.

De Quiros said those who have not been covered before age 55 cannot complete the 120 contributions. Also, they must file the same application form within the month following their 65th birthday if they intend to complete the required 120 contributions before filing their retirement claim.

“As an example, the deadline of application for a member who turns 65 on May 1, 2013 will fall on June 30, 2013. We want to emphasize that failure to file the application form on or before the deadline will bar the member from completing the 120 contributions,” de Quiros said. “In effect, their retirement benefit will be in lump sum instead of a monthly SSS pension.”

Upon approval of their application, members must pay the contributions continuously every month or quarter based on their last monthly salary credit (MSC) bracket until they reach the required 120 contributions. A decrease in MSC bracket will mean stoppage of the contribution payments, while those who pay above the approved MSC will get a refund for their excess payments.

“No contributions shall be applied retroactively nor shall payments be accepted beyond completion of the 120 months. As for members who are currently getting SSS pensions for partial permanent disability, they can start paying contributions in the month after their disability pension has ended,” de Quiros said.

Application forms for voluntary payment of SSS contributions may be downloaded from the SSS website (www.sss.gov.ph). For inquiries, members can contact the SSS Call Center at 920-6446 to 55, which is open from 7:00 am on Mondays all the way to 7:00 am on Saturdays. (77)

NHCP Executive Director Ludovico Badoy said the theme for this year is “Kalayaan 2013: Ambagan Tungo sa Malawakang Kaunlaran” (Independence Day 2013: Pitching in Towards Inclusive Growth).

Among the activities set for this year are: “Sinekalayaan”, a film showing of outstanding Filipino films in the Open Air Auditorium, Rizal Park, Manila from June 8 to 10.

A fire truck parade, “Parada ng Pag-anyaya”, will also be held in Metro Manila on June 11 which aims to invite the public to attend the Independence Day activities.

Kalayaan Booksale, Agri-Aqua Fair Exhibit; Diskwento Caravan, NFA Rolling Store, free distribution of seedlings, AFP/PCG Static Display, Silent Drill, Sky Diving and Band Exhibition; Drum & Bugle Exhibition, Games Exhibition of the National Team, Labs Kita, Sabado “A Twist of Summer OPM, Likhang Pinoy Sariling Atin, Job Fair; free medical & dental services, Concert at the Park, and Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal: Light & Sound Presentation, a 30-minute dramatization of the poignant moments of Rizal’s final hours through 8 monumental sculptural clusters.In Rizal Park, Manila, from June 11 to 12.

On June 12, the public can avail of free LRT and MRT rides, specific hours of free rides will be given by the LRTA and DOTC in the coming days.

According to NOC, there will be simultaneous flag-raising and wreath laying ceremonies on the Independence Day (June 12) at the following sites: Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila; Rizal National Monument, Rizal Park, Manila; General Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine, Cavite; Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine, San Juan; Pamintuan Mansion, Angeles City, Pampanga; Barasoain Church, Malolos City, Bulacan; Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion, Manila North Cemetery; and Bonifacio National Monument, Caloocan City.

Participating government agencies for the Independence day celebration are Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Civil Service Commission (CSC), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Agriculture (DA), National Youth Commission (NYC), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Tourism (DOT), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), National Statistics Office (NSO), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHILHEALTH), Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Department of Finance (DOF), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine Information Agency (PIA) under the Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO).

Each participating agency will offer their respective services on Independence day at the Rizal Park, in Manila.

Ma. Alaine P. Alanigue/Emver P. Cortez
Philippine Information Agency-National Capital Region
929-4521

For more information, Please contact, Emver Cortez or Alaine Allanigue at 929-4521 (76)

The subject is still under discussion, says Chairman Eugenio “Toto” Villareal of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.

The issue’s relevance has become urgent with the controversy caused by comedian Vice Ganda (who should appropriately be called Vice Vulgar), whose May 17 concert was made available to TV cable subscribers through pay-per-view.
In that concert, Vice Vulgar made tasteless jokes on Soho’s weight and said that if she were a boldstar, it would have to be gang rape.

Villareal said late last year, long before the Vice Vulgar’s offensive joke on respected broadcaster Jessica Soho, he met with officials of cable companies. They were asked to submit their inputs to help guide the government agency on whatever decision or regulation they will release. “We want to come out with something that is fair for the audience and fair for media,” he said.

Pay- per- view is a new thing for MTRCB. It used to be that pay- per-view was associated only with sports events like Manny Pacquiao’s boxing matches. Vice Vulgar’s concert was only the second for ABS-CBN. The first was the concert of Daniel Padilla.

Many are opting for pay-per-view instead of going to the concert site because for P399, as ABS-CBN’s press release touted, the subscriber can “share laughs with your family and friends….”

That’s where the problem is because MTRCB is mandated by law (Presidential Decree 1986) “ To screen, review and examine all motion pictures …, television programs, including publicity materials such as advertisements, trailers and stills, whether such motion pictures and publicity materials be for theatrical or non-theatrical distribution, for television broadcast or for general viewing, imported or produced in the Philippines, and in the latter case, whether they be for local viewing or for export…”

The concert of Vice Vulgar brought out one disturbing development: the migration of comedy bar humor to television.

“It is a concern to us,” said Villareal, who recognizes the role of MTRCB in the molding of values of children and society.
Villareal is pursuing the program started by his predecessor, now Senator-elect Grace Poe, Matalinong Panood Para SA Pamilya ni Juan at Juana, “to empower the public and to protect the welfare of the viewers especially the children, women, PWDs, and elders as regards the media and entertainment they see.”

Villareal said usually comedy bar humor “hinges on ukrayan. You ostracize. It’s insult top to bottom. “

Comedy bar humor relies on spontaneity, he said adding that “because of the intimate and exclusive audience, there’s a lot of sexually- charged jokes.”

MTRCB has no jurisdication over the Araneta Coliseum concert but it was shown on TV via pay- per- view. If it’s decided that MTRCB has jurisdiction over pay- per- view shows, can the board make Vice Vulgar and ABS-CBN accountable for violation of the Magna Carta of Women (Republic Act 9710)?

Section 19 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Magna Carta of Women is “Non-discriminatory and Non-derogatory Portrayal of Women in Media and Film.”

Section A states that “The dignity of women and their roles and contributions in all spheres of private and public life shall be promoted. The portrayal of women in a discriminatory, demeaning and/or derogatory manner in advertisements, shows and programs is not allowed. It shall not induce, encourage and/or condone violence against women in any form and/or the violation of their human rights. The PCW, in coordination with concerned agencies and media organizations, shall formulate media guidelines to protect women against discrimination in media and film.”
(84)

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros, Jr. said almost a hundred farmers and fisherfolk from Brgy. San Remegio in Kaputian from the Island Garden City of Samal have already started their AlkanSSSya savings during the program’s launch on May 29.

De Quiros said many farmers and fisherfolk from Brgy. San Remegio expressed their willingness to become covered SSS members, but they are often hindered by the lack of accessible banks and payment facilities.

“Having few cemented roads in their area also makes it hard for them to go to our offices. But now, with the AlkanSSSya, the SSS will instead go to them once a month to count and collect their accumulated savings for SSS contributions,” he added.

The new AlkanSSSya participants are members of the San Remegio Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SARBEMCO) and the San Remegio Fisherfolks Cooperative (SARFISHCO), which account for a combined total of 322 regular members and associates. Out of the total 200 members of SARBEMCO, 55 are now AlkanSSSya participants, while SARFISHCO has already enrolled 43 out of its 122 members and associates.

“AlkanSSSya members remit monthly premiums at least of P312, which has a corresponding monthly salary credit of P3,000. Just by saving about P10 to P12 each day, farmers and fisherfolks can already look forward to a secure future as active SSS members,” de Quiros noted.

SSS Assistant Vice President for Southern Mindanao Division Emmanuel Palma, SSS Davao City Branch Head Jove Colasito, SARBEMCO President Joel Mamac and SARFISCO Chairman Ronie Aque signed the AlkanSSSya memorandum of agreement on May 29 to formalize the new partnership.

The AlkanSSSya unit for SARBEMCO and SARFISHCO, which is installed at the SARBEMCO office for easy accessibility, is a cabinet-like metal structure containing mini-compartments. Each member is assigned one slot in the AlkanSSSya unit, in which they can drop their daily SSS savings until the required amount for the SSS monthly contribution is completed.

“Majority of SARBEMCO and SARFISHCO members have never experienced being an SSS member,” de Quiros said. “Others were already covered by SSS but have stopped paying contributions due to economic reasons. But the AlkanSSSya program now makes it possible for them to become active SSS members once again and to secure their and their families’ future.”
(96)

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros, Jr. said that contribution collection in Southern Mindanao had a five percent jump from P1.18 billion for the first quarter in 2012.

“The bulk of the contributions came from the employed sector amounting to P21.95 billion, which is 7.2 percent higher than P20.47 billion collected in 2012. Voluntary payments also increased by 19.4 percent to P2.24 billion, while self-employed collection slightly decreased by 0.5 percent to P1.39 billion of the total collection contribution in 2013,” he noted.

Total benefit disbursements, on the other hand, showed a 2.1 percent decrease during the first quarter at P21.19 billion, down from P21.64 billion in 2012. Southern Mindanao’s benefit disbursement also dropped by two percent to P1.29 billion from P1.32 billion last year.

SSS’ investment income in the first quarter of the year reached P10.49 billion, exceeding its target of P9.32 billion by 12.6 percent. However, the amount fell short by 9.3 percent when compared to its P11.56 billion investment income in 2012. SSS operating expenses also showed a decrease from P1.86 billion in 2012 to P1.74 billion in 2013.

De Quiros and other SSS officials are in Davao City from May 27 to 30 to launch six AlkanSSSya units for various workers’ groups in the cities of Davao, Samal, Tagum and Panabo, as well as meet with branch heads in the Southern Mindanao region.

SSS branches in Southern Mindanao are located in Bislig, Davao, Digos, Mati, Tagum, Toril, Cotabato, General Santos City, Kidapawan, Koronadal and Tacurong. SSS Davao serves as the agency’s division headquarters in the region.
(94)