Editorial

Paging DSWD, CSWDs and MSWDs!

ITS back to school for the kids. Of course, its that yearly activity that parents and
their kids dont need to be reminded about.

But its an important reminder for the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) and city/municipal social welfare offices in Pangasinan!

We need to call their attention to the increasing dropout rate of children from school
whose families are beneficiaries of the 4Ps -Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program,
yet, the children have no reason to drop out because the government is providing
their parents monthly subsidy to ensure that their children go to school.

This dropout data is borne out by an article made by Bitstops Wilson Chua: Big Data
Analytics: Improving 4P outcomes (Parts1-3) and published in his column at the
Manila Bulletin in January this year.

We call on the social welfare offices to finally strictly monitor compliance of parents
with the terms of the 4Ps program. It has been observed by non-government
organizations that many parent beneficiaries have seen either gambling away or
supporting their drug addiction with the monthly subsidies intended for their
childrens education. Still some routinely loan off their ATM cards to loan sharks for
the chance to advance the subsidy for purposes other than for the education of their
children.

The kids parents playing bingo, tong-its or pusoy dos daily or feed on shabu
should be immediately disqualified as 4Ps beneficiary and the subsidy intended for
the children be endorsed to an accredited NGO for proper disposition and
management for the kids education.

Genuine reflex

PRESIDENT Duterte has declared martial law in Mindanao to quell a rebellion.

Whats wrong with that? Marawi was under siege from terrorists bent on wreaking
havoc on the mountain city. Mr. Duterte countered quickly, ordering an all-out
military offensive against the invaders. Isnt that leadership in its truest form? While
many presidents before him loved to dilly-dally when a crisis struck, make Digong an
exception. He goes to action at the slightest provocation, which is a genuine reflex of
one who truly loves his country and people. Fifteen of our 23 senators had approved
of the Presidents martial law declaration because they know it was in conformity
with the Constitution, which says that martial law is justified in the event of
rebellion or an invasion. Did not the Maute and Abu Sayyaf, both terrorist groups,
attack Marawi in a blatant assault at the citys souvereign will and security? Very
elementary, my dear.

PANGASINAN VS. TERRORISTS

PNP: No sanctuary for fleeing Maute terrorists

THE police in Pangasinan are prepared to respond and stop any terrorist
escaping from troubled Marawi City and other parts of Mindanao to seek refuge
in the Moro communities in the province.

This was bared by P/Chief Inspector Norman Florentino, chief of the police-
community relations office of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) even
as he expressed doubt the trouble in Marawi City could spill over to Pangasinan
because of the presence of Moro communities in province.

Florentino said Pangasinan police is in full alert and have established checkpoints
along the highways, especially at night, to ensure that no fleeing terrorist can set
foot in any of the peaceful Moro communities.

Majority of the Moro population in Pangasinan consist of the Maranaws from

(Marawi and Lanao) and the Tausugs.

On the possibility that there are sympathizers of the Maute group, he said the
Moros in the province are known to be peace-loving and close coordination has
been established by the police with the leaders of the Moro communities.

He conceded, however, that some are suspe