COMMUNITY BRIEFS

ARTS AND EDUCATION TRAINING SET

The DCCA Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture and Pacific Resources for Education and Learning will present the Standards-based Art Education institute “Weaving Pacific Art into Classroom Training” on Rota on July 15-16, 2004, and on Saipan on July 17, 2004. Educators, artists, museum educators and other interested individuals may register by calling the Arts Council at 670-322-9982/3.

OWWA OPEN ON SUNDAYS

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office would like to inform the Filipino community that starting this month, the OWWA office will be open on Sundays from 10am to 5pm to be able to better serve OFWs in Saipan.

NMC ENGLISH PLACEMENT TESTS

Following is the schedule of our upcoming English Placement Tests:

Thursday July 29 Room D-1 1pm-4pm

Friday July 30 Room D-1 5:30pm-8:30pm

Thursday November 4 Room D-1 1pm-4pm

Friday November 5 Room D-1 5:30pm-8:30pm

There is a $25 fee for the English Placement Test that must be paid in advance at NMC’s Finance Office (M-F, 9am-4pm). Students will not be admitted to the testing room without proof of payment-a receipt for either the placement test fee or the NMC application fee.

All students seeking a degree and/or certificate are required to take the English placement test.

RESIDENTIAL, BIZ INSPECTIONS IN KAGMAN II VILLAGE

The Division of Environmental Quality and the Bureau of Environmental Health would like to inform the residents of Kagman II village that On-site Disposal System and premise compliance inspections would be conducted on residential and business facilities. The inspections has been ongoing since April 21, 2004 and will continue to be conducted every Tuesday and Wednesday.

Kagman II residents are requested to cooperate with inspectors in keeping their dog(s) on a leash, for the safety of the inspectors. Both BEH and DEQ inspectors are required to wear their respective uniforms and photo identification during all inspections.

For additional information on the OSDS inspections, contact the BEH office at 664-4870/2 or the DEQ office at 664-8500/1.

PAG-IBIG REFUNDS AVAILABLE

Pag-IBIG overseas program members from 1996-to January 1998 can now apply for a refund of their total contributions plus the 3-percent dollar interest tax-free.
“Just fill out a refund application form and you will receive your refund in U.S. dollars. After getting your refund, you can be a member again by submitting a new pop membership form and contribute a minimum of $5.00 per month,” according to a Pag-IBIG statement.

For a minimum contribution of $5 a month, former members can also activate their Pag-IBIG membership also in the Philippines using the same Pag-IBIG ID number.

“Your contribution will be converted into Philippine pesos using the current conversion rate and it will earn a 7.5-percent peso interest. After 25 to 30 years from your initial contribution, you are entitled to a refund in Philippine peso of all your contribution including interest tax-free,” the agency said.

For more information, call the Pop Saipan Office at 235-4749 or visit the Pop Office at the ground floor of the Nauru Building in Susupe and look for information officer Lynell F. Fulgencio.