USAID Job Opportunities in the Philippines

DEVELOPMENT OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID/Philippines) has an immediate need for a Development Outreach and Communications Specialist (DOC Specialist). The Specialist, who serves as the Outreach Team Leader, is the USAID/Philippines staff member with overall responsibility for all Mission public outreach and information efforts.  These efforts, both for the Philippines and for American consumption, educate and promote a better understanding of USAID programs.  The Specialist provides leadership in developing and implementing the Mission's communication strategy and operational guidelines, and implementing outreach and information activities such as: developing and packaging new information outreach activities and products; cultivating relationships with the media; promoting press coverage of USAID assistance; overseeing the Mission website; managing public outreach events and high-level visits; branding; and, developing and packaging routine and special reports and briefing materials.  S/He serves as the primary point of contact and liaison for USAID/Philippines with local and international media.

The DOC Specialist serves as the principal USAID/Philippines communications liaison with all Technical Offices and implementing partners.  S/He collaborates closely with U.S. Embassy Manila, particularly with the Front Office, Public Affairs Section, U.S. military representatives, and assigned control officers (e.g., for VIP visits) to ensure that Embassy personnel are always aware of USAID/Philippines public activities and projects.  The DOC Specialist also serves as the primary liaison with the USAID Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs in Washington, DC for activities regarding communications and outreach.  S/He also ensures that all outreach responses to USAID/Washington, the U.S. Congress, the State Department, other U.S. Government agencies, implementing partners, and customers are of the highest quality and accurately reflect the latest Mission vision and accomplishments, as well as USAID guidance.

She/He is responsible for collecting, investigating, managing, and distributing information associated with the USAID foreign assistance program in the Philippines.

The candidate must meet the following Evaluation Criteria:

* Education (10%) -  Minimum of Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism, Public Relations, English, economic development, or a related field is required. A master's degree in a related field is preferred. 

* Work Experience (10%) -  A minimum of five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations, or journalism is required.  This experience should provide assurance that the DOC Specialist is skilled in disseminating information to a variety of target audiences.  Previous work in U.S. Government or other international development organizations is highly desirable.  Experience in managing an outreach team is required.

* Job Knowledge (25%) - Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of a variety of approaches to information outreach, and demonstrated skills and hands-on experience in public relations and/or media, e.g. journalism, publishing, television, etc., including the development and packaging of information, and presenting and/or disseminating this for maximum impact and reach.  Knowledge of standard principles, methods, and practices of communication and information management are required, in order to design and implement public affairs events and outreach materials.  And, the work requires a broad understanding of issues related to international development.  An understanding of the landscape of Philippine media players is preferred.

* Skills and Abilities (30%) – Demonstrated leadership to carry out the functions of the position in a largely independent manner, based only on general guidance and broad strategic/policy direction  Must have the ability to quickly analyze, synthesize, and clearly and creatively communicate complex information; demonstrated ability to think critically and analytically about the comprehensive portfolio of responsibilities; and, exhibit the leadership ability to plan, develop, and implement outreach and information strategy. The Specialist must have a high degree of creative ability, in order to produce effective outreach and information materials; and, the ability to serve as the primary point of contact and liaison for USAID/Philippines with local and international media, senior U.S. Embassy Officials and staff, USAID/Washington senior management and technical officers, Chiefs of Party for USAID, representatives of other donors, representatives of the U.S. and Philippine private sectors, high-level U.S. Government visitors, and representatives of other U.S. Government Agencies.  The Specialist must have the ability to handle interactions with high-level dignitaries and officials with maturity and confidence; the ability to travel throughout the Philippines in order to organize and implement outreach events and visit program/project/activity sites; have excellent computer skills, including MS Office, MS Outlook, MS PowerPoint, and Word; and have the ability to supervise a team of four staff members and contractors.

* Communication (25%) – The DOC Specialist position requires outstanding written and oral communication and editing skills.

Must have the ability to compose and edit executive level speeches and presentations.

Based on the successful candidate's salary history, a maximum annual salary of PhP 1,709,080.00 is offered. The compensation package includes mid-year and year-end bonuses, health and life insurance, and a supplementary retirement plan.

If Bob Dylan Lived in Davao

THERE IN YOUR HAND
If Bob Dylan Lived in Davao


How many slides must our people endure before a hill is called unsafe?
Yes 'n' how many floods must our people accept, be-fore you make them flood-free?
Yes 'n' how many slides must one hill have before it is forever banned?
The answer my friend is there in your hand, the answer is there in your hand.

How many times must the Council look up, to see and then to understand?
Yes 'n' how many years must one Council have before it can hear people cry?
Yes 'n' and how many deaths with take 'til they know, that too many people will die?
The answer my friend is there in your hand, the answer is there in your hand.

How many times must boulders crash down, roll and go crashing to the ground?
Yes 'n' how many tears must our people shed before they're a loud enough sound?
Yes 'n' how many petitions will it take 'til they know what is obvious and clear before their eyes?
The answer my friend is there in your hand, the answer is there in your hand.

How many years can Shrine Hill exist before it is washed to the sea?
Yes 'n' how many years can some people exist and still not be flash-flood-free?
Yes 'n' how many times can the Council turn it head, pretending it just doesn't see or understand?
The answer my friend is there in your hand, the answer is there in your hand.

 
J. Stacey Baird

IT Jobs in the Philippines

IT Jobs in the Philippines

Positions offered are contract or permanent

JAVA (35 vacancies)
Mid to Senior/Project Coordinator - SA/AP
 •3+ years experience in object-oriented programming
 •Experience in any of the following : J2EE, SQL, JSF, Webservices, VB, Hibernate, Spring, EJB, C/C++, Crystal Reports Generation
 
Apply to: ann@ticmanila.com, melvel@ticmanila.com

BUSINESS

ANALYSTS
(10 vacancies)
 •3+ years of business systems analysis and design
 
Apply to: ann@ticmanila.com, melvel@ticmanila.com

TECHNICAL

ARCHITECT
(5 vacancies)
 •10+  years IT experience
 •Knowledgeable in different SDLC methodologies
 •Technical expertise should include: OOP, SOA, J2EE, DB Design, PRPC Design, BPM Tool
 
Apply to: ann@ticmanila.com, melvel@ticmanila.com

PROJECT

MANAGERS
(11 vacancies)
 •6+ years project management (end-to-end) or application/ solution development experience.
 •Experience in SDLC and web applications.PMP/PMI certified an advantage
 
Apply to: ann@ticmanila.com, , melvel@ticmanila.com

 

Do not catch migrating birds

by Bong Pedalino

Do not catch migrating birds, and don't even dare eat them, for they may be carrying the avian flu virus.

This was the warning aired by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as it expected the surge in the arrival of these flocks of birds in flight looking for warmer places from their cool environments from the United States, China, and Australia.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Ricardo Tomol issued the alert yesterday during a gathering of heads of government agencies at the office of Rep. Roger Mercado, saying that these birds may reach Olango Island in Cebu and later fly to the mangrove areas in the city and the province as soon as they get overpopulated in the said island.

Tomol feared children roaming around the mangrove habitat areas may be tempted to shot these passing birds with slingshots, and cooked those they may catch for dinner.

Jonas Brothers Makes Charice Pempengco Music Video

Na-release na nga ang music video ni Charice na One Day sa ilalim ng AOLMusic.
Nai-tweet na ni Charice ito at sinabing excited na siyang magawa ang kanyang latest
music video na ang song ay sinulat ni Nick Jonas ng pamosong group ng Jonas Brothers.
Sobrang tuwa nga si Charice dahil pumayag si Nick na isulat siya ng isang kanta na
akmang-akma sa kanyang personality na dumaan sa maraming pagsubok at panlalait bago niya
marating ang kanyang kinalalagyan ngayon.
"Being a teenager as well, I can totally relate to them and I want them to realize that they
shouldn't listen to anybody, just be proud of yourself, be confident and nobody's gonna bring
you down. You just have to go for it, you just have to do it," sey pa ni Charice sa isang behind-
the-scene interview during the shoot of One Day.
Ipinagmamalaki ni Nick na nagkaroon siya ng chance na makatrabaho ang Pinay teen na
noon pa niya nababalitaan ay isang talented na singer from the Philippines. Bilib nga si Nick sa
Filipino talent dahil nakatrabaho na niya si Lea Salonga sa anniversary ng Les Miserables sa
London kamakailan.
"What I really love about her is the fact that she is just normal girl and she really shines
because of her vocal talent."
"I was so blessed to be able to produce her vocal because she is so talented in that
respect. It's amazing to see this big voice come out of her, especially on the song we did,
because it really does require a really vocal talent ad she really did a great job," sabi pa ng
American singer.

Art Contest in the Philippines

Davao High Schools
AIESEC Junk Art Contest
"Putting Art Back Into Earth"
NCCC Hall Thursday-Friday August 31 - September 1, 2011
Entrants Include Davao City High School, Ma-a High School, Santa Anna High School and two additional

Amelia Baird, a 3rd year Ateneo University student, is leading and directing the Petition Drive to help the Barangay Ma-a Environmental Watch Committee advocacy.  Amelia is  member of the local AIESEC*, group that is sponsoring the environmentally based Junk Art Contest.

The sub-theme of the contest is Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

More than 444 signatures were obtained Thursday, the first day, for our Save Davao Shrine Hills Open Letter petition action.

Efforts will continue all day Friday.  Many more signatures for our 10,000+ drive are expected.

The idea of the contest is to used old plastic and glass bottles, bottle caps, paper, wires, pins etc. to create "objects de art.  They obtained the participation of five Davao City High Schools and NCCC Mall.  No cash prizes will be awarded - Recognition only.

Petition Signatories were provided with the Petition Letter in both English and Bisaya.  Our brochure "Danger From Above" was also used and well received.

Thanks to all participants!

*AIESEC (pronounced "eye-sek", originally an acronym for Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales) is a global youth organisation that develops leadership capabilities through their internal leadership programmes and engaging students and graduates in international student exchange and internship programmes for profit and non-profit organisations.

Its international office is in Rotterdam, Netherlands. As of November 2010, the AIESEC network includes over 64,000 members in 110 countries and territories, making it the largest youth-run organisation in the world. It is present in over 2,100 universities across the globe, provides more than 10,000 leadership experiences to its members and sends students and graduates on 16,000 international exchanges yearly.

Consumer Protection Law in the Philippines

by Stacey Baird

 

House of Representatives recently passed a New Car Lemon Law. The Lemon Law provides, in part, that new cars with factory defects can be returned for replacement or a full refund, including incidentals such as title and license registration fees.
 
Have you had bad experiences with a subdivision?  Bad experiences that turned out as a geohazard or flood zone or did not provide the PROMISED amenities such as drainage, roads, water supply, swimming pool, telephone or cable or other things?
 
If you are living in Davao City, or at least a Filipino, what would you say about a Consumer Protection law /  SUBDIVISION LEMON LAW  to protect consumers from Developers who build subdivisions in areas subject to Landslide and Flooding or do not keep promises?
 
1) Would a Lemon Law requiring Refund or other penalties be a good thing?
2) Could it help discipline and punish erring developers?
 
VOTE: Would you LIKE such a Consumer Protection / Lemon law?

Suggestions for Davao Mayor Sarah Duterte-Carpio

I personally strongly support and compliment our good Mayor Sarah Duterte's many efforts to improve the City's environmental, subdivision approval and city planning activities.   In further support I would respectfully make the following eight brief suggestions:

1) Fully rezone and convert most of remaining Shrine Hill to a Forest Preserve and Park.

2) Obtain recognition of proposed "Green Zones" & Bicycle Paths throughout the city proper.

3) Significantly increase penalties for violations of Davao City Building Code of 1996, such that fines would pay for legal actions and a little more.

4) Active Criminal and Civil prosecution of violators of Presidential Decree 957 covering HLURB standards & Presidential Decree 705, known as the Forestry Code.

One of the Forestry code prohibitions forbids subdivision and other development on  steeply sloped forested hills of greater than eighteen (18%) percent of the vertical.

4) Require Environmental, Building Code and Development Permit Performance Bonds for all subdivision developments, regardless of the size of the developer.

5) Require repair & remediation of illegal subdivision development sites or Fines sufficient to pay for such as part of a new building code.

6) Require GeoHazard Disclosures of flood plain and landslides in all Sales, Deeds of Sale, and Mortgage Documents.

For enforcement, Notarization of Documents, and Registration of Deeds without signed Disclosure Receipt by buyer would not be allowed.

7) Subdivision real estate purchases to be buyer rescindable (cancellable) for up to three years for failure to disclose hazardous conditions by Developers.

8) Disallow sales financed, "Progressive Completion," subdivision developments.
by JS Baird

Guindulman Fisherman Turned-World Class Painter

Guindulman Fisherman Turned-World Class Painter
Staged Homecoming Art Exhibition

by Atty Julius Gregory Delgadao

    Samuel Penaso, a fisherman from Sawang Guindulman, Bohol, left Bohol to try his luck in the big city. Working as assistant of his uncle's silkscreen printing business in Manila, Penaso funded his education and took up Fine Arts in Technological Institute of the Philippines. Penaso's paintings catched the eyes of Gallery owners in Manila and he started to win in national art competitions. Penaso has done numerous solo and group exhibitions local and abroad notably in the countries like Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Germany, Luxembourg, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Austria. Penaso has also done art exhibitions side-by-side Philippine greats and National Artists like Imao, Bencab (Ben Cabrera) and Orlina.

    But Penaso's greatest dream was to stage an art exhibition in his own province. It was realized last week when the Association of Young Boholanos in Metro Manila, Inc. ("AYBM") in partnership with the Bohol Provincial Government, Bohol Chronicle, DYRD-Kiss FM, sponsored "Sam Penaso: The Homecoming – An Art Exhibition for a Cause from 22-24 July 2011 at the Island City Mall.

    The art exhibition was opened with formal cocktails at the Prawn Farm Restaurant attended by politicians, businessmen, lawyers, media, artists and civil society to honor one of Bohol's finest painters ever produced. The ribbon-cutting was led by Atty. Doy Nunag, Provincial Tourism Council Chairman, Hon. Fe Añana-Piezas and Hon. Eden Hohman, Mayor and Vice-Mayor of Guindulman, respectively. During the program proper, Ms. Mary Catherine Biliran of Sycip Gorres Velayo, Chairman of the AYBM, welcomed the guests. Atty. Julius Gregory Delgado of Villaraza Cruz Marcelo Angangco (The Firm), President of the AYBM, formally introduced the artist to the Boholano community. Penaso, a man of few words, thanked those who attended the event and encouraged young Boholano artists to follow their dreams.

    Professor JPaul Manzanilla of the University of the Philippines, Art Critique and Curator of the Exhibit, gave his critique and deconstruction of the artist and his works. The crowd was then serenaded by balladeer Alexander Delgado of the Holy Name University who sang the classic song "Vincent" in a Josh Groban version. The song with opening lines which goes "Starry Starry Night" is about the French painter Vincent Van Gogh who during his lifetime only was able to sell one painting. Van Gogh's paintings now are priceless and in top museums in the United States and Europe. The emcee, Ms. Ethel Mae Manlupig of Sycip Gorres Velayo, Finance Committee Head of the AYBM, urged the community to support budding Boholano artists and let not Sam Penaso be another Van Gogh.

    Guindulman Mayor, Hon. Fe Añana-Piezas, gave an inspiring speech and told the crowd how proud they are of the artist who hails from their town. The Mayor gladly told the crowd that their Sangguniang Bayan has passed a resolution commending Penaso and told the audience that Penaso will be feted and honoured during the fiesta of the town in September. To serve as icing of the cake, the Mayor announced to the crowd that she will be buying one of Penaso's obra maestras.
    The crowd was further entertained by a violin performance, a piece from Johann Sebastian Bach, by Boholano violinist Architect Nigell Cabrera Abarquez who performed during the 2007 Asean Summit in Cebu. The art exhibit opening program ended with a raffle with the following persons winning paintings from the artists: famous Boholano journalist Leo Udtohan, General Leo Olegario (Ret.) of Valencia, IBP-Bohol Director Atty. Ted Lagang. It was a lucky night also for Atty. Menedio Thaddeus Bernido, also a member of IBP Bohol, and his beautiful wife Vanessa Mae, winning a painting each.

    The art exhibition went on for two days for the public viewing beside the National Bookstore with one professor from the Fine Arts Department of the University of Bohol requiring the students to take a look and the paintings and submit a reaction paper and critique. With the successful staging of his homecoming exhibit, Penaso promised to stage another one next year during the Tigum Bol-anon Tibu-ok Kalibutan (TBTK) festivities.

Environmental Issue in Davao City, Philippines

SUBDIVISION LOCATION ASSUMPTIONS MUST CHANGE

Approvals or applications for subdivision development assume a certain level and frequency of rainfall and a certain "acceptable" level of risk to those nearby. Those assumptions, in light of experience and accelerating Climate Change are no longer valid.  Anything can happen and likely will.

 

When huge rains are no longer absorbed by trees and ground cover, they will still find their way to the sea - drowning cars, homes, roads and people.  Similarly, Nacilla village in Ma-a experienced large landslides in June and is reported in great danger.  Nacilla is a harbinger, a bringer of warning, of the future of Shrine Hills.

 

Worse, flood and earth movements are often caused by human activities which have weakened hills above or their support below.  If we look at past landslide disasters anywhere in the world, we see much the same thing.

 

Even an apparently harmless application by a prominent developer for its proposed subdivision and nine-golf course between Quimpo Boulevard and Time Beach / Matina Aplaya Road near Queensland appears not to have fully taken into account what will happen when its outflows are added to run-offs from other older prior developments and heavy rains concurrent with high tides and rising ocean levels.  It may mimic the overflows of Ma-a Creek when heavy rains meet high tide and storm driven river levels.  Certain Councilors seem quite concerned by this very issue.  Don't let loose of it!

 

How will the 13.6 hectare property on grass and wetlands  drain rapidly enough to prevent flooding, even if surrounded by canals when the tides are high? It seems that concentrated on-rushing outflows will hit high tides, slow down, back up and spread out laterally above.

 

Will the proposed subdivision's Street sewage, motor oils, trash and other contaminated outflows rush out to further dirty our beaches and pollute our Gulf waters, area outflows that are now filtered by grass and wetlands?  What are the solutions that must be implemented?

 

Similarly, should unauthorized subdivisions or unauthorized buildings be approved after-the-fact for "Humanitarian Reasons" or should they be denied for Humanitarian Reasons?  In the case of erring Developers, humanitarian reasons must be translated as financial reasons, important but hardly as important as human lives

 

Should the lives, livelihoods and amenities of neighboring communities be traded for the financial reasons of erring Developers?  Not in our backyard, not without a fight and, hopefully, not in yours. .  Turn-downs will discourage Ignorance as tool of obtaining approvals at the expense of the greater good.

I am very glad to see the recent actions and comments by Mr. Roberto Alabado, CPDO, as well several councilors that Subdivision approvals must become much more rigorous and strict.  I would also advocate the following:

1) Significant increase in car or motorcycle transport provided to Engineering and Inspection Staff at the City Engineer office and City Planning office so that the limited staff can do more and with greater energy.

2) The City should require multi-million Peso Performance Bonds from Subdivision Developers so that Developer promises can be enforced more quickly and without Lawsuit.  Requiring performance bonds is available to the City through HLURB and DENR rules.  Find out how existing Bonding Requirements might be adapted for City use.

3) The City, as a matter of law, Banks and Local Home Insurers should require detailed (but uncomplicated) Flood Hazard / Flood Plain and Landslide Hazard Disclosure Statements, as determined by the DENR, MGB, Environmental Management Bureau and HLURB and signed by Buyers, well in advance of actual purchase.  Such signed disclosures should be part of any Cash or Time Payment arrangement Closing and paperwork.

The purchase would be rescindable (cancellable) at any time by the Buyer, even years later, for failure to disclose required facts.  No more of the "As is, Where is, At Buyers Risk, Buyer Beware" disclaimers in such contracts.  The Seller is in a much stronger more knowledgeable position compared to the Buyer.  There is simply too much at stake for the prospective buyer, community and "downstream" disaster and other costs to the City, not to require such written disclosures, acknowledged by buyers.

Otherwise, it is the CITY itself that is guaranteeing the subdivision safety by virtue of its approval processes.  Let the Seller (the one with the most to gain) be the Guarantor by virtue of Open Disclosure and Performance Bonds.   The Philippine precedent for this are the Cancer and other Health Warnings required on simple packages of cigarettes.  What less should be done for subdivisions that might kill whole families and cost taxpayers billions in Disaster Recovery costs?

In addition, such requirements would likely cause Developers themselves to be more self aware and needful of detailed geohazard studies before they themselves purchase property for development.  It would help them stay out of the same type of corner they currently push on to buyers.

Would this discourage the real estate and Subdivision Development process?  Only the bad kind.  And after the details are worked out, these protections would become a matter-of-course protections and expectations of Buyers.  Savings on Disaster recovery could go to upgrading schools and infrastructure, including repair of old existing drainage problems.  Let's find a way out of the hole, not dig it deeper.

Sincerely with best regards,

Stacey Baird

Ten year resident

Spring Village, Ma-a