contents

NOVEMBER 2007

2 Tiñga, businessmen vow

to make Taguig RP’s No. 1
City! WELCOME
to the maiden issue of
Frontpage-Taguig!
IN THE past seven years, the City of Taguig
6 Nations unite to change has successfully revolutionized itself from
the way people live in once a rustic and rural municipality to a
Taguig bustling urban center.
Today, Taguig is a perfect picture of
progress – booming business, thriving
community, improved quality of life, and
of course, modern technology.
Shoreline project to For its first-ever issue, Frontpage-Taguig
7 launch anti-snob zoning takes a peek at what’s in store for this City
of Great Promise. We tell you the local
government’s plans to sustain the city’s
growth through its upcoming projects.
We also tell you how the local
Taguig District Hospital administration carries out its vision of
8 changing the way people live in Taguig.
services improved to
benefit the poor We invite you to experience our city.
Come and explore Taguig!

Remember to tell your friends about

Water services in Taguig Frontpage-Taguig. For those interested,
9 please let us know your e-mail address,
near completion
so we can furnish you with a copy.
We also invite you to be a part of
Frontpage-Taguig. You may share with
us any news and special event that you
would like to be published here. Kindly
10 Diploma offered to out-of-
send your news and/or photo releases to
school youth
frontpage.taguig@yahoo.com

10 City Hall employees learn

computer skills
 TIÑGA, BUSINESSMEN VOW TO
MAKE TAGUIG RP’s NO. 1 CITY
MAYOR Freddie R. Tiñga called on the business city – the Integrated Service
Information Software (ISIS) and the
community to help make Taguig the country’s premier Taguig City Card.
city by cooperating and sharing with the local ISIS is an online system that links
government’s social development initiatives. business establishments directly to the
city government, putting together and
“The local government direction where the city is going. He making available online all
continues to explore ways in making is a visionary leader, and if his plans government-related transactions.
Taguig more business-friendly push through, Taguig is really on its “With ISIS, there is no need for
through lowered tax rates and other way to become a premiere city by businesses to go to the city hall for such
incentives. We, on the other hand, the year 2020,” Megaworld transactions. There is no more
ask you to do your part by helping President Andrew Tan said. bureaucracy and red tape, and
us improve the quality of life here. During the meeting, Tiñga reduced government intervention
Taguig is not just our city – it is also revealed the “Taguig Development and regulation,” Tiñga said.
your city,” Tiñga said during the 3rd Formula”, and stressed the key role The Taguig City Card, on the other
Taguig Business Council (TBC) of the business sector in achieving hand, the city’s Unified Identification
annual stakeholders’ meeting last development and social balance in (ID) Card System will serve as access
Sept. 13. the city. point to value added services and will
ensure that basic services are properly
delivered to the constituents.
Tiñga challenged the
businessmen to be involved not just in
the city’s economic progress but also
in the promotion of social welfare.
“As part of the city, the business
community also has the social
responsibility in giving a better life to
our constituents,” Tiñga said.
Tiñga cited partnerships with the
private sector for projects aimed at
promoting social development: St.
Luke’s Medical Center for the
renovation of and improved services
at the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital;
ONE FOR TAGUIG: Taguig Mayor Freddie R. Tiñga (3 rd from various business groups for the
right)discusses with members of the Taguig Business Council the city construction of more Family
government’s social development initiatives. In photo are (from right Townhomes units with Gawad Kalinga
and Habitat for Humanity; and the
to left) Megaworld’s Andrew Tan, Boni West’s Carlos Rufino, Ayala
High Desert Group for providing
Group’s Jaime Ayala, Robinsons Land’s Frederick Go and Shang livelihood opportunities for select
Properties’Andres Bautista. Taguig residents.
TBC members who attended According to Tiñga, the Taguig Meanwhile, business leaders who
the meeting were the Ayala Development Formula is the attended the meeting expressed their
Group’s Jaime Ayala, Philippine realization of the city’s three goals – support for Tiñga and his new
Stock Exchange President Francis improved delivery of basic services, programs.
Lim, Megaworld’s Andrew Tan, SM more economic opportunities, and “We believe in Taguig’s potential
Group’s Tessie Coson, Robinsons increased people participation. as the next central business district in
Malls’ Frederick Go, High Desert Inc. These, he said, sans political factions the country. We already have existing
(HDI)’s Brandon Chia, Boni West’s and social divisions will make Taguig projects with the Taguig local
Carlos Rufino, and Food Terminal the number one city in the country. government, and we are looking to
Inc.’s Bueno Castillo. Tiñga also introduced two expanding this relationship in the
“What Mayor Tiñga presented in electronic innovations that will future,” said Brandon Chia of High
this meeting clearly sets the facilitate business transactions in the Desert Group.

2
Taguig City is poised to become one of the
Philippines’ top tourism destinations with the
construction of a 66-story mixed-use building
to house a 350-room five-star hotel in Fort
Bonifacio.
“Taguig is an ideal President said.
tourism destination in Already touted as the
Metro Manila. This will country’s next business
complement our efforts in district, Taguig is now
promoting Taguig as a home to various
‘total package’ city and institutions and
will put us in the country’s c o m m e r c i a l
tourism map,” Taguig establishments.
Mayor Freddie Tiñga said. “This is exactly what
The 66-story structure we have envisioned for
to rise on a 27-hectare lot Taguig, particularly here in
in the North Bonifacio Fort Bonifacio– a place
district will feature five-star where people can live,
hotel facilities and work, and enjoy in one
residential and community. And this is
commercial units. now coming true, with the
Spearheading this big- help of our private sector
ticket project is Federal partners,” Tiñga said.
Land Inc., a property unit Federal Land
of the Metrobank Group. revealed that the entire
“Choosing Taguig as complex would
the location of our next approximately cost P20
trailblazing project was an billion. The Metrobank
easy decision to make. Group already owns 10.6
With its rapidly growing hectares of lot where the
development as a result of property is set to rise. The
forward looking urban remaining 16 hectares
planning schemes, Taguig belongs to state-owned
City is the next financial Bases Conversion and
center of choice,” Mr. Development Authority
Alfred V. Ty , Federal Land (BCDA).
THE TOWERING TRIUMPH OF TAGUIG: This 66-story build-
ing (right), set to be the country’s tallest, will soon rise in
a mixed-use complex in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. Spear-
headed by Federal Land Inc., of the Metrobank Group,
this P20-billion project will house five-star hotel facilities
and residential and commercial units.

EAGLE OF EXCELLENCE AWARD

TAGUIG Mayor Freddie R. Tiñga (right) receives the “Eagle
of Excellence”, the highest award given to excellent
performing local government units (LGUs) in the country
from Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
Regional Director Rodolfo S. Feraren (left) during the
Executive Briefing on Taguig’s State of the Local
Government Report (SLGR) at the Taguig City Hall. The
DILG also recognized Taguig City as one of the most
empowered LGUs in the National Capital Region along
with Las Piñas and Marikina.
3
THE local business community
heeded the call of Taguig
Mayor Freddie R. Tiñga to
prioritize the city’s local
suppliers in their operations to
help in generating more
employment and sustaining a
more robust local economy.
The call was made during Taguig
Buisness Council (TBC) meeting last
Sept. 13. Formed in 2004, the TBC is a
body composed of members from
the business sector and city
government to implement a THE BONIFACIO HIGH STREET is all set to become the city’s, if not the
workable business development plan
country’s, top shopping and leisure destination.
for Taguig.

LOCAL BUSINESSES EYED

“Patronizing our local suppliers/
contractors is a win-win situation for
our private sector partners. It means
more cost-effective business
operations and more employment
generated for our people,” he said. TO BOOST CITY GROWTH
“Patronizing our local suppliers/contractors is a win- said, circumvent the rules of the Local
win situation for our private sector partners. It means Government Code and the Taguig
Revenue Code.
more cost-effective business operations and more The above laws provide that
employment generated for our people.” - Mayor Tiñga outside-based suppliers need to pay
proper taxes due to the local
Tiñga stressed the importance of disputes, as far as taxes are government which has jurisdiction
this move, as big ticket projects, such concerned. By lowering our tax rates,
over the resident business that they
as the construction of high-rise Taguig has done its part in
transacted with.
buildings in Fort Bonifacio, continue encouraging the business community
Tiñga said there is no reason to
to come into the city. to deal with taxes properly. And we
Meanwhile, he called on outside- expect the same from the private avoid paying proper taxes in the city,
based suppliers to practice good sector,” Tiñga said. because Taguig has one of the lowest
corporate governance through The mayor said many outside- tax rates in Metro Manila.
responsible tax reporting . based suppliers, which transact with “To enable the local government
“Good corporate governance Taguig-based businesses, do not to vigorously pursue development
necessitates transparency in secure necessary permits from the plans for Taguig, cooperation from
reporting, prompt payment of dues, local government and do not pay our partners in the private sector is
and appropriate settlement of proper taxes. These suppliers, Tiñga highly crucial,” he said.

TRANS TERMINAL OF THE FUTURE

TAGUIG Mayor Freddie R. Tiñga (seated, 4th from left)
led the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement
with HDI Holdings Chairman Peter Chia (3rd from left)
to conduct a feasibility study for the proposed
FutureTrans project, an inter-modal transport
terminal that will connect Taguig to various parts of
Metro Manila. The project seeks to establish Taguig
as a “true gateway to the Philippines.” Also in photo
are Taguig City administrator Wilfredo Villar (extreme
left), HDI Director Brandon Chia (2nd from left) and
HDI Vice President & General Manager Darmo
Castillo (extreme right).
4
 TIÑGA BULLISH OVER
PSE’S MOVE TO TAGUIG
TAGUIG City Mayor Freddie R. Tiñga said he is optimistic
that the transfer of the Philippine Stocks Exchange (PSE) to
Fort Bonifacio will open up more opportunities to the city
that will ultimately benefit the country’s economy.
“We are excited that the trading property near the HSBC building in
community will finally have a single Fort Bonifacio, Taguig by the first
home here in Taguig. Although our quarter of 2010.
current trading system is already Currently, PSE operates two
unified, physically merging and trading floors in Metro Manila - Ayala “I believe Fort Bonifacio Taguig is the
housing it in Taguig gives our trading Avenue in Makati City and Ortigas best home for the unified Philippine
partners a sense of oneness and Center in Pasig City. Stocks Exchange. With modern infra-
security,” Tiñga said. “I believe Fort Bonifacio Taguig is structures in place and businesses
He said that housing the the best home for the unified gravitating towards it, Fort Bonifacio
country’s trading system will not only Philippine Stocks Exchange. With will become another financial district
offer employment prospects to modern infrastructures in place and of the Philippines in the very near fu-
Taguigeños but will also encourage businesses gravitating towards it, Fort ture,” said Eusebio H. Tanco, PSE
other players to eventually move Bonifacio will become another Member.
their businesses in the city. financial district of the Philippines in
“This move opens up more doors the very near future,” PSE Member Aside from the PSE, two foreign
for Taguig which has now become Eusebio Tanco said embassies – Great Britain and
a key investment city in the As one of the rapidly progressing Singapore – have already set their
metropolis. But more than the cities in the metropolis, Taguig is now transfer to the Fort.
opportunities that it offers our city, becoming a potential alternative to “The transfer of PSE to Fort
this move will eventually benefit our the central business district. Bonifacio is a testament of the
country’s economy,” Tiñga said. The emergence of Fort Bonifacio continuous growth and
Shareholders of the PSE Global City has opened Taguig to development of Taguig. We are
approved the transfer of a unified various commercial opportunities, optimistic that we can capitalize on
bourse to a modern headquarters luring big ticket investments and key the opportunities being by this
office in a 5,000 square meter players. business move,” Tiñga said.

TAGUIG SECURES
CHILDREN’S WELFARE
TAGUIG Mayor Freddie R. Tiñga
(center) led the signing of a
Memorandum of Agreement
with Thelsa P. Biolena, NCR-
Regional Director and
Chairperson of the Regional
Council for the Welfare of
Children (2nd from left) and Ma.
Elena S. Caraballo, Deputy
Executive Director of the Council
for the Welfare of Children (2nd
from right) to pursue and
fasttrack the three-year
development plan of Taguig’s Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program. Also in photo
are Vice Mayor Atty. George A. Elias (seated, extreme left) and Taguig City Health Officer Dr. Rolando
Paac (seated, extreme right). In the background to witness the event are the city councilors, barangay
officials, department heads and other stakeholders working for the benefit of children.

5
 NATIONS UNITE TO CHANGE THE
WAY PEOPLE LIVE IN TAGUIG
TAGUIG has started a new “global” trend in public
housing, bringing into the city people of different races
that share Mayor Freddie R. Tiñga’s vision of working
together to build homes for the underprivileged.
The past three months
saw the influx of foreign
nationals into the city – a
myriad of students,
businessmen, naval forces
and dignitaries from different
countries, armed not with
their usual school, office and
army stuff, but with house-
building tools.
And their ultimate goal:
to build more Family
Townhomes units for Taguig’s
homeless residents.
Mayor Tiñga said the city
is grateful to volunteers from
all over the world who come
to Taguig to help realize their
vision of providing shelter for
his constituents.
“This is more than what
we have envisioned for the
city. We’re not only building
homes for the poor to
change the way people live,
but we are also promoting
friendship among these
foreign nationals. For us,
sharing the same vision and
working together to attain it
is what’s important,” he said.
Last Sept. 25, foreign
students from Macquarie
University in Sydney, Australia
wore hardhats and helped
build units at the Food
Terminal Inc. (FTI)
Compound.
Also recently, US
Ambassador to the
Philippines Christie Kenney
BUILDING HOMES, BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE:
(Above) Foreign nationals continue to pour
into the city to help build houses for the poor.
(Below) Taguig Mayor Freddie R. Tiñga and
US Ambassador to the Philippines Christy
Kenney join naval forces from the USS Chung-
Hoon and USS Milius as they conduct
volunteer work to contribute to this worthy
cause.
led naval forces from the USS Chung-Hoon and
USS Milius in conducting volunteer work for a
Taguig-Gawad Kalinga project in Pinagsama, Brgy.
Western Bicutan.
“Taguig is a great place, and the key, as the
Mayor tells me is to make progress reach everyone.
We’re doing precisely that – helping fellow citizens
and other people. Giving people, who are in need,
a little bit of dignity and a better place to live in
and we look forward to being partners in this
mission,” Ambassador Kenney said.
It was August last year when the city
government launched the Family Townhomes
program. This public housing initiative has become
a success since, earning partnership from housing
advocates such as Gawad Kalinga, Habitat for
Humanity, and the Coalition for the
Homeless Foundation.
Private partners such as the Rotary
Club Makati-West, Poveda School, Fuji-
Xerox Philippines, the Society of
Philippine Surgeons in America, and the
JG Summit Holdings, Rotary Club of
Manila extended their support to the
project.
Now, Family Townhomes has
earned the interest of the people the
world over.
Foreign students from Univeristy of
Myong-Ji in Seoul, Korea; Lutherian
School of Missionary in Australia; Kandai
University in Osaka and Kyoto University
Foreign School both from Japan; and
University of Presbyterian Church in
Seattle, Washington, have all endured
the heat of the sun and immersed
themselves in house-building work.
“I have been here in the Philippines
three times and we were very impressed
by the kindness and hospitality of the
Filipino people. So far, this has been my
best experience because we were able
to help the poor people of Taguig,” Eun
Mok Cho, leader of delegates from
Myong-Ji University of Seoul, Korea said.
Even businessmen from the “Open
Team Filippigen” of Amsterdam, The
Netherlands all dressed down to working
clothes and tried a blue-collar job.
Foreign dignitaries such as Diana
Negroponte, wife of Former US
Ambassador to the Philippines John
Negroponte, also visited the country to
help build homes for Habitat for
Humanity in Taguig.
But while foreign nationals continue
to pour into the city to help build houses
for the poor, Filipinos in and outside the
country also contribute to this worthy
cause.
Students from Rizal Technological
University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng
Makati, Assumption College and
Poveda took part in house-building
activities. A niece of Sen. Jamby
Madrigal, Alexandra Madrigal-Eduque
celebrated her birthday by doing
volunteer work with her schoolmates
from the International School of Manila.
Employees of the Taguig City Hall
and companies such as the 7-11 Corp.,
Fuji-Xerox, JG Summit Holdings and
Universal Robina Corp. rendered
services for the project.
Tiñga believes that the Family
Townhomes project still has a long way
to go in finally achieving its goal to build
30,000 of these low-cost housing units
in the next 10 years.
6
TAGUIG’S SHORELINE PROJECT TO LAUNCH ANTI-SNOB ZONING
Taguig City’s Laguna Lake Shoreline Project will adopt the anti- Palafox and Tiñga said, will
snob zoning in an effort to veer away from “gated help alleviate the imbalance
communities”, Taguig Mayor Freddie R. Tiñga revealed. created by social segregation
by providing equal housing
The Anti-Snob Zoning, also Palafox, Jr. of Palafox Associates opportunities to households of
known as Inclusionary Zoning, is together with the Laguna Lake all income classes in one
a growing residential Development Authority (LLDA). community.
development trend that seeks
to provide equal housing
opportunities to all social
income classes. This trend,
which started in Massachusetts,
promotes higher density, multi-
family, mixed-use, mixed
income and cross-generational
communities around the world.
“We believe this is a very
ideal community that we are
planning for our Lakeshore
Project. And this is our very own
vision –- a thriving and peaceful
community that is devoid of “We are very happy to help This would require
social and economic Mayor Tiñga achieve his vision, developers to simultaneously
segregation and we thank him for his political will build affordable homes when
discrimination,” Tiñga said. to improve the quality of they build “market-rate”
He said that the city people’s lives and by starting homes.
government is currently working with the poorest,” Meloto said. “With the Anti-Snob Zoning
with a Lakeshore Development Meloto added, “We are and Mixed-Income Housing,
Team made up of people of hopeful that the first-world city we seek to integrate our
stature who will rise above their (community) we dream for fragmented communities,
own interests in helping Taguig will be a template for particularly here in Taguig. We
develop and realize this distinct others to realize and an believe that there is no perfect
concept. They include Gawad inspiration to Filipinos abroad time and venue for this
Kalinga’s Antonio Meloto, that we can rid our country of opportunity than our Laguna
leading property developer poverty if we work together.” Lake Shoreline Project,” Tiñga
and urban planner Archt. Felino The Anti-Snob Zoning, both said.

“I’M IMPRESSED!”
- SENATOR MACDONALD
AUSTRALIAN Senator Sandy Macdonald
(extreme left) inspects a scale model of
Family Townhomes together with Taguig City
Administrator Wilfredo C. Villar (extreme
right) and Lightomorrow Foundation
Executive Director Mrs. Kaye C. Tiñga (2nd
from left). During his site visit in Brgy.
Western Bicutan, Macdonald said he is
impressed with the way Taguig Mayor Freddie
R. Tiñga is handling the city’s housing and
other poverty-alleviation programs. Also in
photo is Habitat For Humanity Philippines
President Bert Hugo (2nd from right).
7

TAGUIG DISTRICT HOSPITAL SERVICES
IMPROVED TO BENEFIT THE POOR
TAGUIG Mayor Freddie R. Tiñga vowed for the continuous
improvement and upgrading of hospital services and
medical facilities at the Taguig District Hospital (TDH), as it
undergoes major physical and organizational changes for
the benefit of thousands of Taguigeños.
“We have emphasized the
importance of healthcare as a basic
service that needs to be delivered
efficiently to our constituents. Now we
are reaping the fruits of the devolution
of the hospital to the city government
because we ensure better hospital
services, particularly to the
underprivileged,” Tiñga said.
City Health Officer, Dr. Rolando
Paac said the TDH will implement a
consultancy program which will beef up
the hospital’s manpower and
departmentalize vital medical
specializations such as Pediatrics,
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Surgery,
and Internal Medicine.
Last Sept. 14, Tiñga led the signing
of a memorandum of agreement
(MOA) between the hospital
administration and the consultant
(RIGHT) SURGEONS’ STEADY
HANDS: Fil-American doctors
from North Carolina, USA,
perform a vital operation on a
patient during their medical
mission at the Taguig-Pateros
District Hospital that benefited
poor residents of Taguig. (ABOVE)
An artist’s rendition of the new
Taguig District Hospital as
provided by the United
Architects’ of the Philippines - Fort
Bonifacio Chapter.
doctors. Under this MOA, TDH has
contracted the services of the doctors
to head and supervise the operations of
each specialization.
Doctors from Medical City, St.
Luke’s Medical Center and Cardinal
Santos Medical Center have agreed to
render free services.
“The consultancy program ensures
that these departments are given proper
attention and priority. This improves the
quality of service delivery because each
department will now be properly
supervised and monitored,” Paac said.
To date, TDH has only two existing
departments - Pathology and
Radiology with complete manpower
requirements.
Aside from organizational changes,
a modernization program is also in place
to expand and improve hospital facilities
and upgrade medical equipments. A
hospital annex is being constructed to
house the doctors’ clinics, more hospital
rooms and a chapel.
Mayor Tiñga revealed that various
organizations and private sector
partners have committed to support
the hospital’s modernization program.
For one, the United Architects of the
Philippines Fort Bonifacio Chapter
provided a blueprint of the new TDH,
upon which renovations and
expansions are based.
St. Luke’s Medical Center, set to rise
in Fort Bonifacio next year, agreed to
improve TDH’s wards, emergency room,
and outpatient unit and to help
upgrade facilities such as the intensive
care unit, X-ray, nursery and
laboratories.
The hospital administration with the
help of Taguig’s Consultant for Health,
Dr. Romeo Santos, also partnered with
the Medical City for its Lakbay Aral
program.
The hospital’s doctors and staff, with
the city government’s architectural and
engineering team visited Medical City
to study its state-of-the-art structural and
operational systems as a model for
TDH’s modernization plan.
Tiñga also secured the assistance
of the Society of Philippine Surgeons in
America (SPSA), an organization of
Filipino expatriate doctors based in
Norfolk, Virginia. SPSA has committed to
establish inside or near the hospital a
headquarters for the Gawad Kalinga
(GK) Healthcare Coordinating Council.
Some Filipino-American surgeons
from North Carolina teamed with
doctors from TDH for a medical mission
in the city. They performed surgeries –
from simple excision to thyroidectomy
and herniorapphy – on select indigent
residents.
8
 WATER SERVICES IN TAGUIG NEAR COMPLETION
BY July next year, deep wells in Taguig City will be a thing and private property road network
issues” he said.
of the past. Sevilla noted that Manila Water
This was assured by both the city government of Taguig is four years ahead of its schedule
and the Manila Water Company, as they confirmed that with the original target for complete
water service coverage by year
water service coverage in the city as of the end of August
2012. He attributed this success to
has reached 93%, serving 87,090 households in 18 the city government’s support to the
barangays. water company’s various
installation activities.

CRYSTAL CLEAR AND CLEAN WATER: Mayor Freddie R. Tiñga and stu-
dents of EM’s Signal Village Elementary School (right photo) test and
taste the potable water provided by Manila Water Company. The wa-
ter company reported that water coverage in the city has reached
93% by the end of August. Complete water coverage is expected by “One of the most important
next year. factors that facilitated the early
“For a city that once depended installed a total of 49,973 service completion of our various projects
on deep wells and water rationing, connections in Taguig since it took is the continuous support of the
Taguig is now assured of stable over the Metropolitan Waterworks Taguig City Government. For one,
delivery of safe and potable water. and Sewerage System (MWSS) in it has helped in implementing our
And this is exactly what we have 1997. He said they are targeting to sustainable development initiatives
been working for in the city increase their coverage to 98% by projects like “Tubig Para Sa
government – ensuring continuous second quarter of 2008. Barangay” and other Lingap
and effective delivery of basic To date, Manila Water has yet projects,” Sevilla said.
services to our constituents,” Taguig to service a total of 6,543 households In April, the Manila Water, as
Mayor Freddie R. Tiñga said. or 7% of the city’s population. inaugurated by Pres. Gloria
Before Taguig residents relied on “We have ongoing pipelaying Macapagal-Arroyo and Tiñga,
deep wells as their main source of activities and mainline extension opened the Manila South Septage
water. Another source is through projects in Barangay Signal, Treatment Plant, touted as the
delivery trucks that supplied water Maharlika, Upper and Western largest septage treatment plant in
at a high price per barrel or Bicutan, and Bagong Tanyag, which Asia. The water treatment plant
container. will increase coverage to 98%. services Taguig and neighboring
Manila Water Corporate Negotiations are currently towns and cities such as Pateros,
Communications Manager Jeric underway to cover the remaining San Juan, Pasig, Mandaluyong and
Sevilla said the water company has 2%, which mostly have right-of-way Makati.

9
 THOUSANDS of out-of-school youths will have a chance to youth out of school. This program will
give them for free the diploma
continue their stalled education with the city government’s
which will help them further their
implementation of the Accreditation and Equivalency Test education to high school and
(AET), Taguig Mayor Freddie R. Tiñga announced. college or help them find
The AET, a program under the
Alternative Learning System of the
city government and Department
DIPLOMA OFFERED TO
of Education (DepEd), is a terminal
test given to out-of-school youths
OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH
who have discontinued or failed to
finish their primary and secondary
education. Those who pass the test
will be given an elementary or high
school diploma.
“We have always emphasized
the importance of education in our
youth. Through this accreditation
test, we are giving the
underprivileged, particularly those
who stopped going to school due
to poverty the opportunity to prove
that they deserve an elementary
or high school diploma,” Tiñga said.
Under the program, applicants years old and must be more than employment that requires at least
must be a resident of Taguig City, 16 years old for high school. a high school diploma,” Tiñga said.
but should not be enrolled in any Applications must be submitted The Taguig Local School Board
school, public or private, for the to the Office of the Local School sets the Accreditation and
current year. Elementary diploma Board under Ms. Tess N. Umali. Equivalency on the last Sunday of
applicants must be more than 11 “Poverty has driven many of our February 2008.

CITY HALL EMPLOYEES employees 100%-computer literate

by the end of 2007.
“Computer has become a

LEARN COMPUTER SKILLS powerful and essential tool in a

person’s career. Our city hall
employees need to learn at least its
EMPLOYEES of Taguig City Hall recently received their lessons in
basic applications. We need to
computer training as Mayor Freddie Tiñga encouraged them to equip them with this basic learning,
upgrade their computer skills through the city government’s if we want to help them achieve
Employees Computer Literacy Course (ECLC) program. growth in their careers,” Tiñga said.
According to Isis-Jennifer
The ECLC, initiated by the Vasquez, officer in charge of the IT
Taguig City Hall’s Information and Office and overall in charge of
Technology (IT) Office, intends to program, the ECLC program targets
provide city hall employees only city hall personnel who have
fundamental computer by giving zero to very little knowledge of
them hands-on, one-on-one computer applications. She said
training. It aims to make the that each employee will have a
pre-assessment to determine
eligibility in the program.
The program, which runs from
Through the ECLC program, city July to December 2007, features a
hall employees with zero five-module course which consists
knowledge of computer of: PC Operation, working with user
applications received free interface, working with programs,
hands-on training from the IT basic word processing and basic
department. spreadsheet.
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