San Carlos City Holds Joint LCPC and CIACAT-VAWC Meeting

The San Carlos City government held a joint meeting of the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) and City Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Their Children (CIACAT-VAWC) today, Feb. 26, at the City Administrator’s Office.

Sangguniang Panlungsod Member and Women & Family Committee Chair Victoriana C. Cabili presided over the meeting attended by representatives of the various concerned agencies.

For LCPC, the agenda includes the upcoming Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) functionality re-orientation and child representative quarterly meeting, revision/update of the Children’s Code, review of the LDPC workshop for CY 2024-2026 output, and reconstitution of LCPC members.

CIACAT-VAWC and LCPC Secretariat Lavern Rigor said that City DRRM Officer Joe Recalex Alingasa Jr. would allocate P1M for the children's emergency plan in exchange for annual work and financial plan submission.

She also said the LCPC would also submit a proposed resolution for the integration and adaptation of the children's plan to the local DRRM. On the other hand, the CIACAT-VAWC agenda includes the Provincial Opening Celebration of Women’s Month on March 6, local Women’s Month celebration on March 21, Safe Space Act orientation at the barangay level, B-VAW desk functionality by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Gender Sensitivity Training for city officials, updates on the proposed additional monthly allowance to B-VAW desk officers, update report, and reconstitution of CIACAT-VAWC members.

Meanwhile, City Legal Officer Atty. Peter Parco shared that the proposed additional monthly allowance for B-VAW Desk Officers was already recommended based on the local government code.

San Carlos City Children and Women’s Affairs Inc. vice president Ma. Novah Sollesta and Philippine National Police (PNP)- San Carlos Women and Children Protection Desk Officer Ma. Angelie Operio also reported the total number of VAW victims.

SP Member Cabili also invited everyone to participate in Women's Month activities this March.

Source: LGU

Most provinces, top cities had economic growth in 2022

Nearly all provinces and highly urbanized cities (HUCs) reported growing economies in 2022, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

The Provincial Product Accounts (PPA) indicator had Aklan as the fastest growing of all provinces and HUCs with 22.5% in 2022, accelerating from 3.4% in the prior year.

In terms of share of national gross domestic product (GDP), Laguna led with 5% in 2022, followed by Cavite (3.7%) and Batangas (3.1%).

The combined GDP of the 82 provinces and 17 HUCs, according to the PPA, was P13.68 trillion as of November 2023, accounting for 68.6% of national GDP, the PSA said.

The PSA was publishing the PPA results for the first time for 16 regions outside Metro Manila, which include 82 provinces and 17 HUCs.

The PPA compiles the GDP at the subnational level.

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Ban tricycles, pedicabs on highways, LGUs told

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Tuesday urged local government units to strictly enforce the prohibition of tricycles and pedicabs on national highways.

Abalos issued the statement following an accident involving a tricycle and a passenger bus on a national highway in Labo, Camarines Norte on February 4.

"Unfortunately, many LGUs have not been strictly implementing such regulations which often result in traffic congestion and accidents," Abalos said, noting that while tricycles and pedicabs provide accessible and affordable modes of transportation, the safety of the riding public must not be set aside.

Abalos cited several directives prohibiting tricycles and pedicabs on national highways, including DILG Memorandum Circular 2020-036 issued in February 2020 and Memorandum Circular No. 2020-145, which reiterated the previous order.

Memorandum Circular 2023-195 was also released for the reorganization of the Tricycle Task Force and Tricycle Route Plan of each LGU.

In cases where there are no alternative routes available, the LGU through its local legislative body could issue an exception.

Data from Metro Manila Accident and Reporting System said that in 2022 alone, 2,829 road accidents were recorded involving bikes, e-bikes and pedicabs.

A total of 2,241 accidents involving tricycles were recorded during the same period.

Source: Manila Times