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13 SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2020 The Mindanao Daily Mirror PEP MILG launches '41 Programs' for LGUs in BARMM MARAWI CITY - The Bangsamoro Government’s Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG- BARMM) officially launched its ‘Forty-one (41) Programs’ on Thursday, May 14. Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, MILG Minister, led the launching through a webinar held in Cotabato City. He said these programs aim to guide and prepare Local Government Units (LGUs) in the Bangsamoro region to assume more responsibilities in collective efforts to build a stronger autonomous government. “These programs will capacitate and transform LGUs to becoming at the forefront of the quality service delivery to the Bangsamoro people,” Sinarimbo added. He said he is privileged to launch the ‘41 Programs’ of MILG amidst the emergency response during this crisis brought about by COVID-19. The Minister also stressed that this undertaking is a commitment to professionalizing local leadership and governance, thus promoting a more resilient and progressive Bangsamoro community. The 41 Programs are: Internal Leverage for Employee’s Advancement & Development (I-LEAD) Public Financial Management System Continuing Legal Minister Naguib Sinarimbo of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government launches through a webinar ‘Forty-one (41) Programs’ for LGUs in the Bangsamoro region. These programs aim to guide and prepare LGUs to build a stronger autonomous government. BANGSAMORO GOVERNMENT Assistance to MILG & LGU Officials Retooling Program for Senior LGOOs LGOO Induction Training Seal of Good Local Governance Performance Assessment Scorecard System (PASS) Localizing E-governance on Accelerated Provision of Services (LEAPS) Local Government Functionality Assessment (LogFA) Policy Audit Compliance Tracking System Barangay Facilities and Workers (BFAWs) Monitoring Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (DRR/CCA) Bangsamoro Community Resiliency and Peace (B-CoRP) Program Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) Strengthening Local Peace and Order Councils (LPOCs) Local Special Bodies (LSBs) Strengthening Local Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (LADACs) Barangay Governance Performance Management System (BGPMS) Engaging the SK, Empowering the Youth (ESKEY) Bangsamoro Local Economic Support Services (BLESS) Program Local Government Facility Development Program (LGFD) Newly-Elected Officials Orientation Program (NEO) Technical Assistance on Planning, Budgeting and Local Legislation Tamang Alituntunin at Hakbang Alay ng Responsableng Kaagapay (TAHARA) Program Harnessing Orga- nizational Proficiency and Effectiveness (HOPE) Program Revenue Enhancement Assistance for LGUs (REAL) Project Construction/ Rehabi- litation of Barangay Halls Ustadz Hashim Salamat Leadership Excellence Awards (UHSLEA) Program Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentive Awards (LTIA) Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) LGU Grant Assistance for Innovative Practices Purchase/Provision of Fire Trucks Rehabilitation of Municipal Police Station Rehabilitation of Jail Facilities Financial assistance to MILG family Acquisition of Disaster Preparedness Facilities and Equipment for READI- BARMM Basic Incident Command System (Level 1-IV) Training Capacity Development on Search and Rescue (SAR) Quick Response Fund (QRF) Project TuGON PIA ICIC Health safeguards in place as NegOcc bus trips resume May 18 BACOLOD CITY – The Vallacar Transit, Inc. (VTI), operator of Ceres Liner and Tours buses, is implementing health safeguards to protect passengers and bus personnel once it resumes trips in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, on May 18. Jesideth Marquez- Seballos, legal and media relations officer of VTI, said on Thursday that all bus units have been checked for road- worthiness and are ready to travel on Monday. “Our president and chief executive officer, Leo Rey Yanson, wants to ensure the safety of all passengers. Necessary measures and strict policies will be implemented to help combat COVID-19 ,” she added. The VTI halted the operations of Ceres buses here on March 30 after all forms of public transport were suspended in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City as part of the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine. As community quarantine measures will be eased after May 15, bus trips can already resume trips from Bacolod to other parts of the province. As part of the safety measures, Ceres buses will only pick up passengers at the terminals, where infrared body temperature scanning will be implemented. Pickup points will be set up for passengers who are far from the terminals. “A passenger found to have a fever, or who has a high temperature will not be allowed to board the bus,” Marquez-Seballos said. The bus firm will also impose the “no face mask, no ride” and “no standing” policies, and will place a footbath on the stairs of every bus unit. Hand washing areas will be established at the terminals and pick-up points. “We will require the riding public to wash their hands and wear a mask before boarding the bus,” she added. Marquez-Seballos said they would also require passengers to write their names, address, and contact numbers in the manifesto in case of need for contact tracing. At the terminals, passengers will be asked to sit on the bench one seat apart from one another. Meanwhile, for the safety of drivers, the driver’s side or the front area of the bus will be closed to passengers. Drivers and conductors will be given personal essentials to protect themselves. The number of passengers on each bus will be limited to ensure observance of social distancing and bus seats that should not be occupied will be marked with a red “X”. Marquez-Seballos said passengers could expect a slight increase in fare rate due to social distancing, adding that the new fare matrix would be posted inside the buses. The new fare rate provided by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in its Memorandum Circular 2020-017 took effect last May 1. “We hope for cooperation from the riding public. While we respond to the transport need of Negrenses, their safety is also the company’s top priority,” she added. PNA
