SSS members secure future, 

Earn benefits, retirement 

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, July 27 (PIA)—For a setting aside a mere 3.63% of one’s monthly salary which is paid in monthly contributions to the Social Security System (SSS), one can earn retirement benefits, but retirement is just not about all of it. 

According to the SSS through Bohol Officer In Charge Aleta Basubas, aside from the monthly pension most people in the private sector are looking forward to for their monthly contributions, there are still more benefits from the fund that you probably did not know. 

The SSS offers sickness benefits. 

Getting sick or injured can never be more stressing when you are the breadwinner. But SSS can help through a daily cash allowance for the number of days you are absent. 

However, SSS clarifies: this applies if you are at home or in a hospital for at least four days and have consumed all company allowable leaves, gets a doctor’s certification and has contributed at least three months within the last 12 months, Basubas said. 

How much would one get? About 90% of the daily salary credit, that is what SSS said. 

Then the SSS also gives maternity benefits. 

Birthing mothers who can’t work yet, or those who had miscarriage may get the SSS daily cash allowance equal to 100% of the member’s average daily salary credit for 60 days for normal births or 78 days for ceasarian deliveries. 

This can be had however, as long as the claimant has put in at least three-month’s worth of SSS contributions within the last 12 months. 

And SSS members can have disability benefits too. 

If one has partial or totally disability, he can get an SSS’s disability benefit, and can choose whether it is through a monthly pension or a lump sum amount, SSS through their information officer Michael Ian Mission explained. 

The benefit however can only be had by members who had at least a month’s contribution before the semester of accident leading to disability. 

Members who had 36 monthly contributions at least, qualify for a monthly disability pension ranging from P1, 000 to P2, 400, depending on you years of service and another P500 monthly supplemental allowance, Mission added. 

On the other hand, SSS also implements the government’s employees compensation program, which is a cash benefit for employees who became sick or injured due to work-related causes leading to permanent disability or death. 

However, if the accident or injury was due to intoxication, negligence, or self-harm, the benefit is voided. 

The benefit for the qualified includes medical services, supplies, and rehabilitation services and can be claimed together with other SSS benefits. 

And for primary beneficiaries of a dead SSS member, one can even claim monthly death pension, as long as the member had 36 monthly contributions. 

By primary beneficiary, SSS means a spouse and dependent children, who can get pensions from P1,000 to P2,400 depending in the deceased years of service, a 13th month pension and for dependent minor children, hey get P100 at least or 10% of the member’s supposed pension. 

And the SSS also provides for a funeral cash benefit to the one who paid for the burial expenses of a deceased SSS member, according to Basubas. 

The benefit which is automatic for members who are covered by their employees, can be had by any member who has at least a contribution, if membership is voluntary or self-employed or OFW. 

The cash benefit can go as high as P20,000 to P40,000, based on the member’s contributions and years of service. 

And there is the salary loan. 

In times of tight financial binds, SSS members can get short-term credit, with only at least six months of contributions within the last 12 months, depending on number of contributions. 

As to the amount, the SSS computes the average salary credits of the member in the last 12 months, says the SSS. 

All of these, to a member who regularly pays his contributions, which is only a little over 3.63% while his employer pays the 7.37% for him to earn these benefits. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

SSS Bohol OIC Aleta Basubas details the SSS benefits that a member can also get apart from the retirement he can claim upon his golden years. For a mere 3.63% deducted from a worker’s salary, and his employer paying for 7.37%, the worker can avail of benefits that include sickness, maternity, disability, employee compensation, death, funeral and salary loans. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

FEATURE 

‘Green thumbing’ for food, 

nutrition on the fingertips 

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, July 27 (PIA)—As the lure of cities continue, shrinking urban space, increasing urban poverty, consequent food insecurity and malnutrition that goes with it and the need for aesthetics in ornamental plants, what would you do? 

Here, over ornamentals, agriculturists would rather push for food gardening in the urban setting to respond to the issue. 

In the Philippines, there is a continuous movement of the people from the rural to urban areas. 

But just as efforts to slow down the exodus are starting to get in place, urbanization continues, heightening urban poverty, food insecurity which breeds a host of complex social problems, according to the Agricultural Training Institute in Region 7 (ATI-7), now based in Bohol. 

But, ATI sees urban agriculture as a solution. 

Urban agriculture offers a complementary strategy to counter the rise of urban poverty and food insecurity, according to the ATI in Bohol. 

Urban agriculture transforms cities to food generators instead of just consumers of food and other agricultural products, ATI through its Information Services Section said. 

When cities become producers, they contribute to sustainability, improved health and nutrition and poverty alleviation, ATI said. 

The ATI proposal also gets closely linked with the National Nutrition Council’s call to make growing plans as a habit, to harvest better nutrition. 

In July when the country celebrates Nutrition month, the NNC picked “Ugaliin’g magtanin; sapat na Nutrisyon ay aanihin,” as guiding theme. 

Urban gardening, also the more socially acceptable term for agriculture, means growing plants and the raising animals within and around cities by integrating them into the urban economic and ecological system. 

In fact, in the age of recycling, urban gardeners have presented recycled materials as perfect ideas for planters, seed bed and compost. 

Empty plastic bottles, toilet paper rolls, egg trays, paper coffee cups, discarded tires, empty pallets, plastic bags, even egg shells filled with compost from kitchen left-overs, can grow vegetables for food, agriculturists said. 

Before starting a garden, ATI advised: Identify the purpose if the garden and determine the available spaces for plants or for plant containers. 

Then, determine the right kind or type of vegetables to be raised, so one can suit up and find the right containers. 

And then, one needs to prepare a seed box for growing seedlings, ATI said. 

And if one needs to know more about how to do urban gardening and learn of some ideas, ATI said they just have the perfect module for that. 

A course called Basics in Urban Gardening is available from www.e-extension.com/elearning, according to Doris Isabelle Racho, ATI Information Officer. 

At the current cost of living in Tagbilaran and faced with the challenge of food security and care for the environment and its protection, growing a garden in the city might just be a good hobby which can potentially help one save and eat better food. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

PET bottles become perfect containers for herbs and vegetables, making sure that families can save money allocated for food, get better fresher food and help put up recyclable materials to good use. (PIABohol/photo: hawk-haven.com)

Nutrition improved 

among Boholanos 

TAGBILARAN CITY, July 26 (PIA)—There is a noted improvement in the nutritional situation of Boholano kids from zero to 60 months, according to the Provincial Nutrition Council here. 

And if things turn out right as the trend continues, it might not be long before Bohol could significantly lessen its malnutrition rate, one it had been addressing for some time already. 

According to PNC nutritionists who are tracking the malnutrition state among Bohol kids, there is a noted improvement in underweight prevalence in the last three years. 

Nutritionist Ardin Abrea reported during the recent Kapihan sa PIA that they noted a slight decrease in underweight children relative to their ages, in the last three years. 

In 2015 for example, nutritionists tracking the effects of government feeding programs and other interventions, noted a 4.61 percent underweight prevalence or about 5 in every 100 kids zero to sixty months old. 

By 2016, the underweight prevalence moved further down to 4.23 % and by 2017, it went further down to 3.9 %of all kids in the mentioned age group. 

As to height to weight ratio, Honey Lyn Danila bared that in 2015, 3.57% of kids from day old to 30 weeks old do not come up to the desired height as to their normal age. 

In 2017, lesser kids display disparity in height to weight because the nutritional statisticians see a decrease as only 3% of the kids that age do not have the right height to weight proportions. 

And while stunted growth is a pervasive issue in the region, in Bohol the prevalence rate of stunted growth in kids in 2015 is 14.59%. 

The number shrunk to 12.96% in 2016, Danila continued. 

By 2017 however, the figure they shared was 12.7% of those between 0 months to 30 months who are showing stunted growth. 

Simply said, in every 100 kids aged 1-3 years, about 13 of these are short for their age. 

The problem of stunted growth becomes a big problem, according to Josephus Torrefranca, because this problem’s solution should have been provided during conception. 

He explained that the moment a sperm cell develops in a woman’s womb, if there are not enough nutrients, stunted growth is most likely to occur. 

How could have Bohol done it? 

Nutritionists claimed that the government folic acid fortification program has worked its way. 

The government has been making sure that the first 1000 days and up to two years old, an infant has to be directly supervised, and the way pregnant women and mothers are obliged to co to prenatal at health centers has made medical authorities help women properly prepare for child birth. 

“Our Barangay Health Workers go out to seek for these pregnant women, find them and bring them to the health centers for us to be able to respond to their challenges in nutrition,” Torrefranca said. 

The government also has Nurses Deployment Program, where nurses go to communities to educate the young and old go with the right nutrition. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

The conditions are improving and if Boholanos continue to take part in helping address the gaps in nutrition, malnutrition and stunted growth might just be a thing of the past, sums up nutritionists during the Kapihan sa PIA in July. (PIA-7Bohol)

Bohol can be showcase 

to the world– Nograles 

TAGBILARAN CITY, July 22 (PIA)—“Bohol can really be a showcase to the world.” 

Davao City’s First District Congressman Karlo Alexei Nograles announced this speaking during the public opening of the inaugural exhibits at the National Museum Field Office in Bohol. 

Nograles, who was guest speaker during the 164th Bohol Day which celebrated its separation from Cebu as independent province along with Siquijor, over a century and a half years ago, said if done properly, Bohol has so much potential. 

The young Nograles, who believes that if the development of a country starts in the provinces, it would spread out, pointed out that Bohol is already leading the way. 

“Una na lang mo, mosunod ra mi,” (you can go ahead, we will just follow suit) the Davao representative said. 

In the last 2 decades, Bohol has trail-blazed its own way to progress, leaping from among the poorest provinces in the country to those among the economic leaders in present times. 

When Governor Edgar Chatto assumed the top seat in Bohol, he pushed for the adoption of the over-arching development framework in the InSPIRED HEAT IT Bohol, which means Infrastructure, Social Well-being and Shelter, Peace and Order, Interconnectivity, Reforms in governance, Interconnectivity, Equitable Economic growth and Environmental Sustainability, Disaster resilience and Climate Change Adaptation (InSPIRED). 

Also in the framework is Health and sanitation, Education and skills development, Agriculture and food security, Tourism and livelihood and Information Technology (HEAT-IT). 

In the spirit of convergence, Bohol local government and national government agencies pick their development priorities in line with the framework and strategically address the development needs of the communities bringing the development to Bohol in general while responding to each agency’s mandates. 

“Tan-awa ang Bohol karon, tungod sa inyong paghiusa, pagtinabangay ug pag-ampo,” (Look at Bohol now, because of your unity, cooperation and prayers…) Nograles, who also shared about the Bohol Day homily on the religiosity of the people, pointed out. 

As Davao City Congressman and House Committee on Appropriations Chair, Nograles heaped praises for Bohol as the people responded with exploding applause during the 164th Bohol Day Commemorative Program inside the capacity filled Bohol Cultural Center. 

Detailing his commitment to Bohol, he said he is putting his support to the big ticket budget items as the P124 billion Cebu-Bohol link, the P96 billion Bohol-Leyte link and the P4.1 billion Bohol Northeast Basin Multi-Purpose Dam and the P1.9 B additional works for Panglao airport. 

Other major Nograles commitments for Bohol include priority budgets for roads leading to tourism sites, the pilot implementation of free wireless fidelity in public spaces as well as facilitation in the local government proposed establishment of the Information Communication Technology hub the abandoned airport complex in Tagbilaran. 

The initial works however need to be arranged yet by the local authorities from the land-owners. 

The Davao Congressman also committed to the expanded feeding program for a minimum of 120 days for health, and the social pension for over 60 years old indigent senior citizens for social well bring. 

When the government only funds the social pension of 75 years old then, now, Congress is bringing the age of beneficiaries to include 60 year-olds. 

On peace and order, he announced that while police and military are getting their pay increases, even with the salary standardization at the thresholds, still the move to continue with the pay increase of government employees continues. 

He also added that in Bohol, would be piloted the national identification system for 18 years old and above as the country pushes of more equitable economic growth and development. On disaster response, Bohol’s experience inspired us, Nograles said. 

After Bohol experience, the government has put up P750 million emergency and resiliency fund, this can be used to fix power infrastructure without pass-on rates to consumers during post-disaster restoration. 

In health, poor Filipino families including over 20% of Bohol’s poor get 100% PhilHeath coverage in 2019, while the government implements no tuition fees and no miscellaneous fees in state colleges continues, Nograles said free irrigation which started in 2017 would continue to help poor farmers increase their take home incomes. 

For Bohol’s ICT, he said that the government would prioritize the offer of a free wireless fidelity (WIFI) in all public areas and spaces in Bohol. 

Nograles was guest of honor for the celebrated milestone, came in like a real Boholano, when he endeared himself to the hundreds inside the venue with his mentioning the “Republic of Bohol” joke. 

The young son of then House Speaker Prospero Nograles, Karlo would know of the Boholano leadership traits, as he confessed that he has Boholanos as political campaign leaders who could not be dissuaded from homing every election season because it is fiesta in Bohol. 

Although treated by many as a joke, history would also tell that the Gobierno de Canto de Bohol before the 1898 turn of administration from the Spaniards to the Americans, had in fact, Bohol independently surviving as attested by the Aguinaldo cognizance of the local independently-ruled island. 

The leadership, Nograles however did not question. 

Nograles reminded everyone that Bohol is now leading the pack of local government units when it earned back to back the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), a highly prestigious award for the country’s LGUs. 

He cited that in the country’s budgets for its priorities, Bohol accordingly tops in the increased allocation for health, which he attributed to the leaders’ and the constituents’ identification of such as a top matter of concern. 

And for this, as a key official tasked in putting in place funding support for the country’s development programs, Nograles assured automatic approval of whatever Bohol local officials put in the 2019 budget, as the Congress tackles the 2019 Budget in a hearing anytime soon. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

Davao Representative Karlo Alexei Nograles feels Bohol has it all to take the lead for the entire country to emulate. Rep Nograles added: the museum and galleries that opened in Bohol are just some of the things that are common in European countries, not much in the Philippines. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

NM opening exhibit features 

Bohol art, culture, hardwork 

TAGBILARAN CITY, July 22 (PIA)—In what appears to be a present that did not come wrapped, the National Museum (NM) Satellite Office here spread five exhibits celebrating Boholano artistry, culture, resilience, hardwork and nature from the heritage building declared an important cultural property, on its inaugural opening to the public in time for Bohol Day, July 22. 

A museum that opened from the earthquake damaged 1855 Provincial Capitol Building as Bohol’s leading examples of adaptive re-use, the museum accepted the public with its ground floor and second floor galleries’ exhibits. 

“You’ll only see something like this in the cities of Europe, it’s very timely that we have something like this,” Congressman Karlo Alexi Nograles shared as he cited that it was in his father’s term that Congress enacted the Cultural Heritage Act. 

“I am impressed that we built something like this from the ruins, now tourists can understand Bohol language, culture and heritage, which they in turn, can share to others, Nograles, who was Bohol Day guest,” added. 

Leading the inaugural day exhibit is Pagpauli: the works of National Artist for sculpture, Napoleon Abueva and his private collection from his homes in Duero and Quezon City and which his family loaned to the NM, shared Amihan Abueva, daughter of the artist who recently died. 

The exhibit is an NM partnership with the Abueva family and features his significant works and how his hometown shaped his artistry and values to be hailed as the father of Modern Philippine Sculpture, the youngest national artist when conferred and the first national artist from Bohol, NM Assistant Director Angel Bautista. 

On the small gallery at the right side of the newly opened to the public museum is another exhibit: that of the Pagbanhaw: the National Museum restoration and conservation efforts of the heritage structure of Bohol and the Visayas, which were affected by the 7.2 magnitude October 15 earthquake. 

Pagbanhaw presents a comprehensive and accurate documentation of the protection, preservation and conservation of significant tangible immovable and movable cultural properties of Bohol and Eastern Samar after the 2013 earthquake and the subsequent calamities that hit the region, summarizes NM information office Emmylou Palacio-Noel in a press statement. 

The exhibit details meticulous procedures the government has to do to ensure proper preservation and conservation of the cultural properties and fortify them to withstand future disasters. 

Also on exhibit at the second floor of the restored military tribuna and military quarters turned Provincial Capitol is Mga Selyo’ng Pamana: the Philippine Postal Corporation’s philatelic exhibit of the Philippine history, in stamps. 

For the keen history buff, the stamps exhibit is an interesting window to provide an understanding of the period political climates, present a static illustration of how it was living in the Philippines, its milestones, the catholic traditions and how this etches into the life and polity of the Filipinos “shaping and reshaping” the culture and the heritage of the country. 

The stamps exhibit also highlight the colonial heritage churches in the Philippines and Bohol feature is the church of our Lady of the Assumption in Dauis, a national treasure, among the features of the 2018 Heritage Month Philippine Colonial Churches issue of the Philpost, said Boholano Postmaster General Joel Otarra, during the day of the exhibit opening. 

Also in the second floor gallery is another exhibit: that of the Tigum [sa mga] Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan’s (TBTK) Ten Outstanding Boholanos around the World (TOBAW). 

On exhibit are the TOBAW awardees who have made Boholanos proud as they excelled in their different fields of expertise from education, politics, law, public service, engineering, agriculture, medicine, science, arts, social development and many more fields across time. 

Also on the side gallery on the second floor is the Audio-Visual exhibit of the rich marine life of Bohol and highlights the botanical and zoological treasures of the island province. The underwater video was shot in Balicasag Island off Panglao. 

The exhibit shows Bohol’s importance and its potential contributions to zoology, botany, history owing to its significant archaeological finds which are fast defining the national reference systems, NM Bautista bared. 

Diocese of Tagbilaran Bishop Albert Uy officiated the blessing and the ribbon cutting along with guest Davao Congressman Karlo Alexi Nograles, Philpost’s Otarra, Cong. Rene Relampagos, NM Angel Bautista and Bohol cultural deputies, guests and the general public. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

 Local leaders Bohol Rep. Rene Relampagos, Governor Edgar Chatto, PhilPost Postmaster General Joel Otarra, Davao Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, Tagbilaran Diocese of Bohol Bishop Alberto Uy and NM Assistant Director Angel Bautista during the ceremonial ribbon cutting opening the new Bohol Field Office and galleries of the National Museum July 22. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

Diocese of Tagbilaran Bishop Alberto Uy officiates the blessing of the newly opened galleries of the Bohol Area Field Office of the National Museum where exhibits like of national artist Napoleon Abueva’s works in Pagpauli remain open for public viewing. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)