by Ma. Roxanne Fatima S. Rolle

“Napagtanto ko na ako ay kailangan para sa matalinong pagpili at sa malinis, mapayapa, at maayos na eleksyon”. This line echoed last April 18 in the lecture hall of the College of Development Communication (CDC) as 80 volunteers from Laguna pledged to help keep the May 2016 election secure and fair by proactively practicing citizen journalism.

This activity is part of the one-day Training-Workshop on Multi-media Reporting for the 2016 Election Coverage.  The workshop is under the umbrella of Bantay Halalan 2016, a collaborative project among schools, civil society organizations, and media organizations in Laguna.

Role of the youth and election reporters

Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr., chair of the UPLB sa Halalan 2016 Committee, graced the opening program with an overview of UPLB’s election-related initiatives. Dr. Camacho urged the youth to be vigilant in keeping the elections credible, fair, and just. “Let us encourage our fellow students to take part in this 2016 elections. [Let us ask] what can we do to make this country one that we can be proud of”, he shared.

In her closing remarks, CDC Dean Dr. Ma. Theresa H. Velasco focused on the role of election reporters; to “(help) educate the voters so they can make informed choices on May 9”.

#BH2016 launch

Bantay Halalan 2016 Committee Chair, aProf. Lester P. Ordan, introduced the project to the volunteers. He also officially launched the partnership with the following units: Laguna University,  Malayan Colleges Laguna, San Pablo Colleges, University of Perpetual Help System-Dalta, UPLB College of Development Communication Alumni Association Inc., DZJV, DCG FM, Community Cable Vision Corp., DZLB Partners, and  Los Baños Times. Representatives from senior citizens’ organizations and interns from Laguna State  Polytechnic University (LSPU-Sta. Cruz)  also attended.

Meanwhile, aProf. Sherwin Felicidario and aProf. Winifredo B. Dagli discussed how the volunteers and partners can participate in the Bantay Halalan 2016’s menu of activities.

Voters’ education videos were also launched. This includes the AVP for the song Para sa Bayan, an original composition of BS Development Communication students, Caleb Gasilao and Jennifer Milante.

Sessions on multi-platform election reporting

During the morning session, Commission on Elections (COMELEC)-Los Baños Election Officer Randy P. Banzuela talked about the guidelines and tips on reporting before and during election period.

In the afternoon, the participants were divided into four parallel sessions. One session tackled News Reporting for Bantay Halalan 2016 which focused on writing techniques and story topics before and after the elections. This was handled by aProf. Pamela Joyce M. Eleazar of CDC’s Department of Development Journalism.

Another breakout session, Writing and Reporting for Radio, was facilitated by Daniel Castro, Head of the News and Public Affairs of DZJV.

Participants who were more inclined on Writing for TV and Audio-visual Production took the session of Dr. Mildred O. Moscoso of the Department of Educational Communication in CDC.

Those who wanted to leverage on social media to provide live updates during the day of the election took aProf. Elaine D. Llarena’s session entitled Election Reporting using Social Media. aProf. Llarena is from the Department of Science Communication in CDC.

Bantay Halalan 2016

Bantay Halalan 2016 is spearheaded by the UPLB College of Development Communication. It aims to develop media platforms for communicating issues and concerns in the community; promote voters’ education in Laguna;  form a network of community journalists/broadcasters in the province, and provide media coverage of the local election through cable TV , radio stations, community newspaper, website, and social media platforms.

For more information, you may reach us through:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: bantayhalalan.net
• Facebook: facebook.com/BantayHalalanLaguna
• Twitter: @BHLaguna2016
• Phone: (049) 536 2433

by Zenaida Escobin, Los Baños Times Collaborator, and Administrative Officer of the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA)

The Los Banos Federation of Senior Citizen Inc.(LBSCFI) in coordination with the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) will hold a leadership training for the fourteen (14) senior citizen association presidents on April 9. Details of the venue are still being finalized.

The seminar aims to equip the said association heads with leadership skills to better manage their organizations. For inquiries, please contact OSCA at 530-9143 or visit their office at the OSCA building in Brgy. Baybayin. Los Baños, Laguna.

by Miguel Alfonso P. Sta. Ana

Last April 15, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) office of Los Baños conducted Operation Baklas, a campaign against prohibited election campaign paraphernalia.

Two teams comprised of local police officers, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) representatives, and barangay personnel inspected different parts of Los Baños. These include the posts along national highway, subdivisions, and lanes in the following barangays: Bambang, Batong Malake, Bayog, Baybayin, Malinta, Mayondon, and Putho-Tuntungin.

The teams were authorized to take down posters, tarpaulins, and other election materials that violate the standards set by the COMELEC in R.A. 9006 or the Fair Election Act. The act stipulates that candidates are allowed to put up poster areas in public places such as barangay centers, markets, and plazas. The size of these areas should not exceed 12 ft. x 16 ft. for party-list groups, and 4 ft. x 6 ft. for independent candidates. The size of each poster that may be posted on each area should not exceed 2 ft. x 3 ft. Materials may also be posted in private places, provided there is consent from the owner.

Elino Batalon, COMELEC-LB election assistant, urges candidates to take note of these rules, especially the one concerning common posting areas.

Candidates are discouraged from posting directly into walls and other surfaces for easier clean-up after elections. Batalon suggests putting up plywood boards on intended spaces and posting election materials on those boards.

Batalon said that a relatively smaller number of materials were taken down this year compared to the previous years. “Nung mga nakaraang [eleksyon], yung isang dump truck ng munisipyo, halos umaapaw [sa laman na mga nabaklas]. Nitong huli nating pagbabaklas, tingin ko hindi pa nangangalahati [yung dump truck]”, he describes.

This is the first Operation Baklas conducted by the COMELEC-LB this year. Further operations would be done if the COMELEC-LB Election Officer Randy Banzuela deems it necessary.

ni Arman Esteban ng Brgy. Timugan, Los Baños Times Collaborator at LBMDRRM volunteer

Isinagawa ng Los Baños Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LBMDRRMO) ang Lakbay Alalay: SUMVAC 2016 noong ika-20 hanggang 27 ng Marso.

Ang nasabing proyekto ay naglalayon na gabayan ang mga residente at turista na dumayo sa Los Baños kasabay ng bakasyon at ng kwaresma. Layon din ng naturang proyekto na malapatan ng paunang lunas ang mga bisitang naaksidente habang nililibot ang Los Baños.

Sa pamumuno ng LBMDRRMO, nagpulong ang iba’t-ibang mga organisasyon sa munisipalidad kabilang ang KABALIKAT, UROCOM, COPS, LOBSET, ALERT, at RED CROSS-Los Baños. Kasama rin sa mga tumulong ang mga kinatawan ng mga sumusunod na barangay: Anos, Bagong Silang, Batong Malake, Lalakay, Timugan.

Ayon kay Kagawad Fredilino Parabuac ng Brgy. Timugan, “mahigpit na [ginabayan] ng mga miyembro ng Sangguniang Barangay ng Timugan ang mga tao na pumunta sa lugar na sakop ng Makiling Forest Reserve (MFR) [bilang bahagi ng SUMVAC 2016]”. Ang mga outpost ng Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystem (MCME) sa Magnetic Hills ay binantayan ng mga tanod ng Brgy. Timugan kasama si Brgy. Capt. Florencio D. Bautista. Dagdag pa ni Kag. Parabuac, “humigit kumulang sa 300 katao ang pumunta sa iba’t-ibang lugar na sakop ng MFR”. Kabilang sa mga binisita ng mga residente at turista ang National Arts Center, Grotto, at Boy Scouts of the Philippines Jamboree site.

Ayon sa ulat ng LBMDRRMO, walang naganap na malaking sakuna. Ilan sa mga naitalang aksidente ay mga residente at turista na nasugatan, napilayan, at nahilo habang umaakyat sa Bundok ng Makiling na siya namang nalapatan ng agarang paunang lunas.

by Ricarda Villar

More than 5,000 participants from various parts of Laguna took part in the Board of Election Inspectors Certification Training for Laguna last March 1 to 22 at Splash Mountain Resort in Brgy. Lalakay, Los Baños.

According to Elections Officer Randy Banzuela of the Los Baños Commission on
Elections (COMELEC) office, around 180 election inspectors from Los Baños took part in the training scheduled last March 9 to 10. The Los Baños election
inspectors were composed of public school teachers, civil servants, and private
citizens.

The election inspectors from the different municipalities and cities
of Laguna underwent the two-day certification training in preparation for the
upcoming May 9 elections.

The first part of the certification training was an orientation about the
election procedures, as well as updates on the operation of the new vote counting
machines (VCM) which will be used in place of the Precinct Count Optical Scan
(PCOS) machines that were used in the 2010 and 2013 elections. During the
certification training, participants underwent an examination conducted by
representatives of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Banzuela explained that the Board of Election Inspectors Certification Training
for Laguna is one of COMELEC’s efforts in ensuring efficiency and orderliness during the
May 9 elections.

ni Lorelie Liwanag, miyembro ng Los Baños Federation of Persons with Disabilities at focal person ng Los Baños Office for Persons with Disabilities

Apat na amputees mula sa Los Baños ang mabibigyan ng libreng prosthesis sa darating na Mayo bilang bahagi ng Regalo, Handog sa Magandang Kinabukasan na proyekto ng iba’t-ibang Rotary Club (RC) chapters sa CALABARZON. Kabilang dito ang RC-Los Baños, Cabuyao Circle, Lipa-West, at Sariaya.

Noong March 22, sinukatan para sa kanilang libreng prosthetic legs ang apat na beneficiaries na sila Marilyn Latuga ng Brgy. Bambang, Alberto Artisola ng Brgy. Malinta, Oliver Maningas ng Brgy. Mayondon, at Trisha Opena ng Brgy. Putho-Tuntungin. Ito ay ginanap sa Brgy. Sala Basketball Court, Cabuyao City, Laguna. Kasama nila ang mga napiling amputees mula sa CALABARZON na hahandugan rin ng RC ng prosthesis.

Aksidente sa motor ang sanhi ng pagkapilay ni Latuga habang diabetes naman ang sanhi ng kay Artisola. Nasagasaan ng tren ang paa ni Maningas kung kaya siya ay naging amputee habang si Opena naman ay may cancer sa buto na sanhi ng kaniyang pagkapilay.

Nakipagtulungan ang Los Baños Federation of Persons with Disabilities (LBFPWD), Inc. sa Rotary Club ng Los Baños sa pamumuno ng kanilang presidente na si Dr. Donald Padua upang mabuo ang listahan ng beneficiaries sa bayan ng Los Baños. Ang tulong na mabigyan ng libreng prosthetic leg ay pagbibigay din ng pag-asa para sa mga beneficiary.