PSA: Walang Kuryente

Student Leaders to observe good governance at LGU Mangaldan for Nat'l Youth Week

Being an active student leader in elementary and high school, I always wanted to observe how governance works outside the realm of the school during those times. Albeit, in my four years in high school there were only two scenarios when I got to go inside the Sangguniang Bayan Hall and the Municipal Hall- when we solicited for financial assistance and when we were commended upon winning a national contest.

Together with the officers of the Supreme Student Government
of Mangaldan National high School with their
adviser Ma'am Jocelyn  Pascua during the Brigada Eskwela. 

That is why I brought with me this dream as a former student leader and now as a councilor: what if the current student leaders represented by their student government president with his or her adviser, go and visit the municipal hall and the Sangguniang Bayan and observe how their government works for its people. 

The Philippine Constitution clearly provides that the State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social-well-being. Furthermore, the State shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.  

Together with my co-officers when I was the president of the
SSG in MNHS and our advisers and principal. 

Moreover, Section 30 of Republic Act No. 10742 or the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015 states that every barangay, municipality, city, and province shall conduct an annual activity to be known as the Linggo ng Kabataan on the week where the 12th of August falls to coincide with the International Youth Day. 

After the flag raising ceremony last Monday, knowing that our mayor fully supports activities and programs of the youth sector, I asked Mayor Bona if we could conduct an activity in line with the International Youth Week and Linggo ng Kabataan (Youth Week) in cooperation with the Local Youth Development Coordinator Sir Noel De Guzman, and the mayor immediately approved the activity without any hesitation. 

With the officers of the Supreme Student Government of
Gueguesangen Integrated School with their adviser Ma'am Donna Clata
during the Brigada Eskwela.

This is why last Tuesday during the regular session, I passed Sangguniang Bayan Resolution Number 2017-105 which enjoins Honorable Mayor Bona Fe De Vera Parayno in inviting all Supreme Pupil Government and Supreme Student Government President in all public and private schools and their adviser in the municipality to attend the flag raising ceremony, municipal hall education tour, and the regular session on Monday, August 7. 

Together with SSG Officers of David National High School and their
principal Sir Jeremy Maningding during their Brigada Eskwela
closing program.

We opted to choose the Supreme Student Government as it is as defined by the Department of Education, the umbrella organization in schools- meaning that it is the highest governing student organization in school. However, we are hoping that in succeeding activities we could also invite other school organizations. 

The objective is clear, for the student leaders to have a clear picture on how good governance works at the Local Government Unit of Mangaldan by visiting every department offices, to be acquainted with worker in the government, be informed of their services, to have a courtesy call and interact with the mayor. The last activity will be the observance in the regular session of the Sangguniang Bayan. Students will be able to observe how Parliamentary Procedure is conducted. 

I am so excited for these young student leaders in our town to be exposed in such activity. I am also hoping that they could apply whatever learning that they could get out of the said activity on Monday.  We do not know if one of these young student leaders will be next department heads, councilor, vice mayor, mayor, or even the president of the Republic. 

Mangaldan LGU welcomes its new doctor

Cool and brilliant. This is how I would describe Doc Larry, who happened to be our doctor when I was still a news reporter in ABS-CBN News Regional Network Group. It was during this time when I first met him as a doctor and introduced himself as a Mangaldanian, which made me very proud.

Honorable Mayor Bona Fe De Vera-Parayno inducts Dr. Larry Sarito
as the new Municipal Health Officer of LGU Mangaldan on Tuesday.
Photo courtesy of Mangaldan Sweethearts updates.

During the flag raising ceremony of the Local Government Unit of Mangaldan, Doc Larry was officially inducted by Honorable Mayor Bona Fe De Vera-Parayno. Doc Larry will replace the position of one of the best and most compassionate doctors I know Dr. Ophelia Rivera who is now the City Health Officer of Dagupan City.

Doc Larry Sarito faces the members of the Sangguniang Bayan during
 the regular session held yesterday.

During the Sangguniang Bayan session held yesterday, the members of SB got the opportunity to meet and ask some questions to Doc Larry.

Being in the office for the first three days, I asked him on what he thinks is the main concern he would like to address as the new health officer. He answered that he would like to address health care delivery system wherein he plans to go to various barangays health centers and conduct check-ups thereat. He also said that he plans to conduct inventory of medicines to check what are other medicines that could be added into the current medicines that we have in the Rural Health Unit.

As a youth and chairman of the Committee on Youth in the Sanggunian, I asked him on his plan in addressing some health issues concerning the youth sector in the municipality such as the increasing number of teenage pregnancy. Doc Larry said that he plans to address it through education, particularly on informing the youth on the effects of teenage pregnancy and even the bad side of abortion.

When Councilor Atty. Joseph Cera asked Doctor Sarito if the RHU offers some contraceptive pills, the good doctor answered that he have not conducted inventory yet on the supply of medicines available in the RHU.

Doc Larry Sarito poses with the members of the Sangguniang Bayan
 headed by Vice Mayor Atty. Jojo Surdilla and the
SB Secretary Madam Dominica Marayag
 during the regular session held yesterday.

I am definitely sure that the health of our kabaleyans is in good hands, especially that our chief local executive Mayor Bona is also a health professional. She is actually the leader who activated the 24-hour Birthing Clinic in our municipality and has improved the services of the RHU in her first term. Currently, the RHU Building is under renovation for various improvement and to facilitate more clients, more kabaleyans. That is why I am so honored to be working with visionary, competent, and compassionate leaders in our town.

There are more accomplishment in the health sector of our good mayor, and that deserves another blog entry here on this site. I am more than excited to be working with this good doctor, too!