NVizcaya DTI warns public vs fake Christmas lights
“Let us be vigilant and careful not to be easily swayed and encouraged to buy these materials. Please report those who are selling them in our office,” said Lucy Guerrero, DTI supervising trade and industry officer.
According to Guerrero, cheap and imported Christmas lights are now being circulated for selling in the province and in the region as well by unscrupulous traders preying on innocent consumers and buyers.
She advised consumers to buy their needed Christmas products and requirements instead from accredited business establishments in the province.
“In this way, we can be assured of the safety and quality of the products that we are buying,” she said.
Guerrero also said that most fire incidents have been found out to have originated from uncertified Christmas products because of their poor quality.
She made the warning before the members of the ConsumerNet who have attended the Consumer Welfare Month celebration culminating program at the provincial health office here Thursday. (bme/PIA NVizcaya)
NVizcaya PNP braces for All Souls, Saints Day
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (October 23) — The Philippine National Police(PNP) here is now coordinating its operation plan among partner organizations in the province in preparation for the All Souls and All Saints Day next month.
Police Supt. Pedro Danguilan, Jr., police provincial director said they are now mapping out plans for the peaceful and safe journey of well wishers to various cemeteries in the province who will be spending their time with their loved ones.
“We have advised our men in the field not to allow liquor inside public cemeteries to prevent possible misunderstandings and trouble,” he said.
Danguilan said that in the past observance of All Souls and All Saints Day, drunkenness inside cemeteries has been found to be the key factor in the commission of crimes and other public disturbances.
He said they are also coordinating with various radio communication groups in the province inorder to provide sufficient traffic assistance to well wishers during the holidays.
“Radio groups can also provide us the necessary information which we can use in preventing crimes and other peace and order concerns and problems,” he said.
Danguilan also advised the public not to bring deadly weapons inside the cemeteries to ensure the peaceful observance of the All Souls and All Saints days. (bme/PIA NVizcaya)
PhilHealth donates P10 million to DOH
In a resolution unanimously passed by its board of directors, PhilHealth has approved the transfer of the said amount in response to the Health Department’s call to augment health and medical assistance to the needy aside from the relief goods that have been constantly pouring in from various sectors of society.
“This amount will be used by DOH to buy medicines necessary to address the different health problems of families affected by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng,” said Dr. Rey B. Aquino, PhilHealth President and CEO.
“Our hopes are high that this donation will substantially contribute to the overall government effort in providing relief and assistance to our affected kababayans,” Aquino added.
For his part, Health Secretary Dr Francisco T. Duque III acknowledged the donation and commended the PhilHealth leadership “for the swift and timely response which augurs well with its mission of making health care services accessible especially to those who need them most.”
Recent reports have underscored a looming health crisis as situations in evacuation centers deteriorate which can lead to illnesses such as upper respiratory tract infection, skin infections, dengue and diarrhea.
“Being seen by a doctor would not be enough especially for the children that is why ensuring adequate supply of essential medicines, including vaccines, is very important to make them well and protected,” explained Aquino, who also sits as Vice Chair of the PhilHealth Board. (PhilHealth)
PhilHealth pays for leptospirosis
Manila (21 October) — Confinements due to leptospirosis are compensable.
Noting that leptospirosis icterohemorrhagica may be classified as Case type C, Aquino said that PhilHealth members who might be admitted in Levels 3 and 4 hospitals may avail themselves of allowances for hospital room and board fees of up to P800.00 per day and allowances for drugs and medicines of up to P28,000 per single period of confinement.
“They may also avail of as much as P21,000 for supplies, x-ray and other laboratory exams that may be administered during the entire period of confinement,” he said.
The PhilHealth Chief added that members may also avail of allowances for the professional fees of attending physicians at P700.00 per day, for a maximum of P5,600.00 for daily visits of specialists.
Patients requiring dialysis are similarly entitled to additional allowance of P560.00 for the professional fees of nephrologists, and about P1,200.00 per session for the use of the hemodialysis room.
Aquino stressed that availment of these benefits is subject to medical evaluation and existing policies on claims payment.
He advised employed and individually paying members (IPMs) to have at least three (3) months premium contributions within a six-month period prior to the month of availment to be able to avail of these benefits.
On the other hand, sponsored and overseas worker-members may avail themselves of the special package within the validity period of their PhilHealth coverage as reflected in their PhilHealth cards and enhanced Member Data Records (MDRs) respectively.
“They must have a copy of their MDRs attached to their claim documents,” Aquino emphasized.
Noting that the cases of leptospirosis were mostly in areas heavily affected by typhoon Ondoy, Aquino added that the government agency has made benefits availment easier by temporarily doing away with the Affidavit of Loss usually required from members requesting for replacement of their Member Data Records or Number Cards.
From January to June this year, PhilHealth has paid about P2.3 million in benefits for the confinement of members and their dependents due to leptospirosis. The amount represents payment for about 324 claims, with each claim averaging P7,377.00. (PhilHealth)
Lapus acknowledges private sector for helping typhoon-hit schools
Pasig City (21 October) — Department of Education ((DepEd) ) Secretary Jesli Lapus thanks the department’s Adopt-A-School partners from the private sector who have readily expressed interest to help public schools that were hit by Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.
“This is bayanihan at work in our education system. What our donors have done is an example of active community participation in education, which will help our schoolchildren and teachers survive this crisis,” said Lapus.
National Bookstore Foundation is currently repacking school supplies that will be distributed among public schoolchildren, while the National Power Corporation (Napocor) pledged to donate materials and contribute manpower to help clean affected public schools.
Amway Philippines will donate cleansers and disinfectants, while public schoolchildren in some affected areas can expect school supplies from the Alfonso Yuchengco Foundation, Jollibee Foundation and UnionBank have also expressed their desire to help affected public schools, and many individuals have donated used books and cash for the victims of the typhoons.
Lapus noted, “The community – including the private sector – is our most important ally in rebuilding our schools. Everybody can do something to help our students and teachers recover from this calamity.”
To effectively align available private sector resources with the needs of typhoon-hit public schools, Lapus ordered the department’s Physical Facilities and Schools Engineering Division and the Adopt-A-School Program to closely monitor affected DepEd divisions and get the specific needs of typhoon-hit public schools.
As he continues to mobilize the department’s employees to fast track the delivery of relief goods to victims of the recent typhoons, Lapus reiterates his call for more support from other private sector companies and individuals who have the capacity to help.
Lapus added, “I continue to call on other stakeholders in the private sector to join the bayanihan that is responding to the needs of our schoolchildren and teachers in affected schools. We at DepEd are tirelessly engaging the community to get everyone involved in bringing the physical condition of our public schools back to normal.”
By virtue of Republic Act 8525 – or the Adopt-A-School Law – the Adopt-A-School Program is a venue where the private sector can help bring the needed resources to public schools. In recognition of their goodwill, donors may avail themselves of 150 percent tax incentive.
More than 400 private sector individuals and companies have helped the department in the delivery of quality educational services to public schoolchildren since Adopt-A-School was relaunched by Lapus in 2006. (DepEd)
PGMA leaves for 15th ASEAN Summit
Manila (21 October) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will leave on Friday (Oct. 23) to attend the 15th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits at the seaside resorts of Cha-am and Hua Hin in Thailand on Oct. 23 to 25.
Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said the President will join her ASEAN counterparts in announcing the establishment of an ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights.
She said the ten countries that make up AICHR will appoint a commissioner each to serve for three years.
Fajardo added that other issues on the agenda include the recommendation to establish a free trade agreement between South East Asia and East Asia.
The ASEAN member countries include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The ASEAN leaders will likewise meet with the six dialogue partners: China, India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea.
The President together with the other ASEAN leaders are also expected to sign the Cha-am-Hua Hin Declaration on Strengthening Cooperation on Education to Achieve an ASEAN Caring and Sharing Community, the ASEAN Declaration on Climate Change, to reaffirm ASEAN position on the negotiations under the United Nations Frameworks Convention on Climate Change.
ASEAN Foreign Ministers will also sign The Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of ASEAN.
Apart from the 15th ASEAN Summit, related meetings at the summit level include the 12th ASEAN-China Summit, the 12th ASEAN-Japan Summit, the 12th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit, the 7th ASEAN-India Summit, the 12th ASEAN Plus Three Summit (with China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea), and the 4th East Asia Summit (with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia, and New Zealand).
Fajardo said the President will fly back to Manila on Sunday, October 25. (PIA)
PGMA orders inclusion of veteran families in emergency employment program
Manila (21 October) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the inclusion of family members of Filipino veterans, especially those veterans whose eligibilities for payment are still being determined, in government’s emergency employment program.
US President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on Feb. 17, 2009, authorizing the release of a one-time, lump-sum payment to eligible World War II (WWII) Philippine veterans. These payments are to be made through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from a $198 million appropriation established for this purpose. Applying for this benefit will not affect other existing veterans benefits.
President Arroyo gave the directive to Cabinet members present in the 65th Commemoration of the Leyte Gulf Landing, including Presidential Adviser Gabby Claudio, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral, and Labor Secretary Marianito Roque.
The government’s Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) is a nationwide effort intended to protect the country’s most vulnerable sectors — such as the poor, returning expatriates, workers in the export industry, and out-of-school youths — by providing emergency employment and by funding and supervising livelihood projects.
She added that since she assumed office, she has been fighting for more veterans’ benefits that would be given by the United States government.
In Leyte alone, there are 2,000 applicants for the US government’s veterans’ benefits program. (PIA)
Rebel camp seized anew in Catanduanes
by MA Loterte
Legazpi City (20 October) — Government soldiers seized Monday another rebel encampment in sitio Taprang-Taprang, barangay San Miguel in Panganiban town in the island province of Catanduanes, an official of the Philippine Army (PA) said.
Capt. Razaliegh Bansawan, 901st Army Brigade spokesman, said the scout platoon of the Army 83rd Infantry Battalion, led by 1st Lt. Alex Parohinog, discovered the New People’s Army (NPA) camp around 10:00 am with the help of concerned residents in the area providing information to the troopers on the presence of the campground.
Parohinog bared in his report that the camp appeared newly abandoned by the communist rebels, who now fled to the hinterlands following a series of tactical offensive launched recently by the military in the province.
The government troopers accounted from the camp five big huts, a comfort room, a kitchen and a conference area, a couple of guard houses. More or less 30 individuals took shelter in the site.
He added the camp was used by the communist guerillas in their Batayang Kursong Panlipunan lectures for the new recruits.
Lt. Col. Romeo Basco, 83rd Infantry Battalion commander, said persistent reports on sightings of NPA rebels in Bagamanoc and Panganiban towns prompted the military to conduct anew military operations.
Bansawan, meanwhile, said the series of military operation in Catanduanes already led to the discovery of the fourth guerilla camp in the island province since the deployment of military troops in the area intensifying counter insurgency campaign. (PIA V)
Preparation for typhoon ‘Ramil’ heightened in La Union
By Jennilyne C. Role
San Fernando City, La Union (20 October) — The La Union Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) heightened preparations and pre-emptive measures among stakeholders in time for the advent of super typhoon ‘Ramil’ over the week-end.
PDCC Vice chair and La Union Police Provincial Director, Col. Noli Taliño earlier met all chiefs of police in the province alerting them of immediate or even force evacuation in areas that are vulnerable to floodings and landslides.
“I have already ordered all chiefs of police in the province, being the vice-chair also of the local disaster coordinating councils in their area to convene and coordinate with the barangay officials who could be tap in the evacuation and rescue operations,” Talino said during the emergency meeting of the PDCC here yesterday.
Taliño stressed that the barangay officials play vital role during critical times in order to facilitate immediate response to their area of responsibility, considering the bulk of rescue request vis-à-vis manpower and limited equipments/resources of the higher disaster councils, they have to be on guard.
“These barangay officials are also reliable sources of determining high risk areas in their respective barangays and could help in mapping out vulnerable areas in time for the preparation of a high risk map of the province,” Taliño added.
Relief goods, medicines and other essential needs were pre-positioned and evacuation centers were readied.
Massive information dissemination about updates on the path of the typhoon was requested tapping the tri-media to caution and guide the people to avoid any untoward incidents. (PIA-RO1/La Union)
PGMA orders ‘pre-positioning’ of relief goods in calamity-prone areas
Manila (20 October) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the “pre-positioning” of relief goods and medical supplies in calamity-prone areas in case typhoon “Ramil” (international codename: Lupit) hits the country.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson and Presidential Assistant Lorelei Fajardo said the President issued the order to ensure that medicines, food, service and personnel are readily deployable in the event of an emergency.
“Emergency medical services, soldiers, policemen, choppers, volunteers and rescuers are already in calamity prone areas such as Regions 1, 2, 3 and CAR (Cordillera Autonomous Region),” Fajardo said.
She said that even before Ramil entered the Philippine area of responsibility, communications between the national and local government and the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council “at each municipality” have been ongoing to ensure that they will be given (typhoon) alerts or warnings from time to time.
“She (President Arroyo) wants to ensure that there are relief goods, medicine and personnel ready to respond to any emergency at any moment’s notice,” Fajardo said. (PIA)
