Bacolod City, BFAR launches artificial reef project
BACOLOD CITY, September 27 (PIA) — The artificial reef project of the city government, in cooperation with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, was launched recently at Barangay Punta Taytay in Bacolod City.
The launch was attended by officer-in-charge of the Negros Occidental Fisheries Office Carlito Delfin, Bacolod Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez, chair of committee on agriculture and fisheries, Dino Rafael of BFAR R-6, Erwin Ilaya, OIC, CRM section, BFAR R-6, Barangay Captain Rufino Alcala and other barangay officials.*(PIO/CAD/JCM/PIA6)
Naval holds people’s day
NAVAL, Biliran, Sept 26 (PIA) -– The municipality of Naval in Biliran province held a People’s Day at the municipal grounds as one of the highlights in celebration of the 151st Pueblo Day of the town on Monday, September 26, 2011.
Part also of the activities of the People’s Day was the free haircut for the Navaleños who went to the town’s grounds to enjoy the celebration, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hair stylists involved in this activity did not only perform hairstyling and haircut, but they also demonstrated, and gave instructions to on-lookers who were interested to learn the skill.
Likewise, free manicure and pedicure were offered at the People’s Day. Men and women swarmed the venue where the activity was conducted, to avail of the free service.
The session hall at the 2nd floor of the Naval town hall was used for those who availed of the free body massage done by blind masseurs. Although the body massage was free, but donations were welcome as a help to the association of the group of blind masseurs in the area.
The suman festival and the suman eating contest were also part of the People’s Day fun, where different styles of preparation of the balintawak suman were on display at the agro-industrial fair for sale at low price.
The participants to the suman eating contest were delighted to eat as many suman as they could consume during the contest. The winners were given prizes and certificates of participation.
The activities of the 151st Pueblo Day celebration of Naval will be capped with the Employees and Barangay Night dubbed as “Pueblo Night” at 7:00 o’clock tonight at the Naval gymnasium. (FJ/PIA 8 Biliran)
Philhealth implements new case rates
by Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, September 20 (PIA) — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is now implementing the new case rate packages for selected medical conditions and surgical procedures in institutional health care facilities accredited by the health insurance corporation.
Agraviador explained that with this new program of PhilHealth, it benefits all members, providers and the corporation as it is much simpler to administer, and it potentially is more transparent in terms of prices for interventions.
This also serves to keep members within the PhilHealth system as well as to encourage those people who are prospective members to join the social health insurance fund, Agraviador added.
She further explained, through this mechanism, members will be able to predict how much PhilHealth would be paying for each of the services provided.
The new case rates shall be new reimbursement rates for all cases specified such as for medical, dengue 1 (dengue fever and DHF Grades I & II) is P8,000; dengue II (DHF Grades III & IV) is P16,000; pneumonia I (moderate risk) is P15,000; pneumonia II (high risk) is P32,000; essential hypertension is P9,000; celebral infarction (CVA I) is P28,000; cerebro-vascular accident (hemorrhage) (CVA II) is P38,000; acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is P6,000; Asthma is P9,000; typhoid fever is P14,000 and newborn care package in Hospitals and lying in clinics P1,750.
For surgical cases, these are the following; radiotherapy is P3,000; hemodilaysis is P4,000; maternity care package (MCP) is P8,000; NSD package in level 1 hospitals is P8,000; NSD package in levels 2 and 4 hospitals is P6,500; caesarian section is P19,000; appendectomy is P24,000; cholecystectomy is P31,000; dilatation and curettage is P11,000; thyroidectomy is P31,000; herniorrhaphy is P21,000; mastectomy is P22,000; hysterectomy is P30,000 and cataract surgery is P16,000.
In addition to case rate payments and with the thrust of the Government to attain Universal Health Coverage in 3 years by providing optimal financial risk protection for all its members, especially to the poorest of the poor, the Corporation adopted a “No Balance Billing” policy (NBB) for the most common medical and surgical conditions experienced by the member clients.
This new policy applied to all PhilHealth Sponsored Program members and/or their dependents for the specified cases and as along as the patient is admitted to government facilities or hospitals.
Agraviador said, this new policy means that no other fees or expenses shall be charged or paid for by the patient-member based on the mentioned package rates.(PIA-7/HFG)
LGus told to put up residual storage facility to address garbage
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, September 19 (PIA) — Instead of using sanitary landfill, local government units should construct a residual storage facility to address their piled-up garbage problem, according to the Environment Management Bureau (EMB).
Department of Environment and Natural Resources -EMB-7 Regional Solid Waste Program Coordinator Engr. Amancio Dongcoy said budgetary constraint is the reason behind the low compliance of RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 which mandates LGUs to establish their own sanitary landfill.
“The construction of a sanitary landfill costs about P10 million per hectare, which is why most LGUs cannot afford to put up with one,” Dongcoy said. “In my conversation with some mayors, they said they would rather prioritize basic health services with the huge amount.”
Dongcoy said since the law was passed 11 years ago, most LGUs still have to put up their own sanitary landfill while the piled-up garbage are only deposited in open dumpsites which harms the environment and eventually affects public health.
“There are only six operational landfills operating in the whole Central Visayas while other LGUs dumped their wastes in open dumpsites which are now ordered strictly prohibited effective 2006,” Dongcoy revealed.
Four of the operational landfills are in Cebu but these are substandard. These are in Cebu City, Talisay City and the Municipalities of Dalaguete and Asturias. Negros Oriental has two landfills located in the cities of Bayawan and Bais, said Dongcoy.
Dongocy said there are also two privately-operated sanitary landfills in Cebu in the towns of Consolacion and Compostela.
Dongocy urged members of Cebu Association of City and Municipal Public Information Officers (CAOCAMPIO) recommend to their respective mayors that it is more practical to go into composting and diversion before placing the wastes into a residual storage facility.
Dongcoy said biodegradable wastes should be composted and reduced to its minimum level before placing inside sacks while non-biodegradable wastes or those that cannot be composted and recycled must likewise be placed inside sacks then put inside the residual storage facility. (PIA-Cebu)
Dumaguete tourism office holds “smoke-free” poster-making contest
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, Sept. 19 (PIA) — To raise more awareness on the city government’s advocacy for a smoke-free city, the Dumaguete City Tourism Office recently held an on-the-spot poster making contest on the theme: “Dumaguete: A Smoke-Free City.”
Thirteen high school students participated in said contest held Sept. 13 at the Quezon Park on wherein Fell Kenyo Flores from Herminigilda F. Gloria Memorial High School emerged as the first place winner.
Jessica Layumas of the City Tourism Office said the theme aims to promote the city government’s advocacy of promoting health and wellness by discouraging smoking among the Dumaguete populace, especially the youth.
“The winning posters will be printed in many copies to be placed in schools and other public places with credits to the artists,” Layumas said.
Peter Paul de Arca of Piapi High School landed second place while Mark Eugene Anoya of Negros Oriental High School, third place.
Chairman of City Tourism Council Bebie Amasola handed the following prizes to the winners: first place, P3,000; second place, P2,000; and third place P1,000. Consolation prize winners received P500 each. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental with reports from CPIO)
CAPSU gets 10 PC units
by Alex A. Lumaque
ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Sept. 19 (PIA) — Ten units of personal computer (PC) were recently turned over by the provincial government to Capiz State University (CapSU) – Mambusao town campus.
Dr. Roman V. Belleza, CapSU campus administrator, said that the new computers will be used in the university’s computer laboratory.
“For now, downtime troubles which give headaches to students on the computer laboratory will be minimized, thanks to the new units given by provincial government,” Belleza disclosed.
The distribution was led by Capiz Gov. Victor A. Tanco, Sr. to further prepare the students in the field of information technology.
In 2008, CAPSU also tied up with the provincial government in the implementation of Mobile Technology School (MTS) to provide quality and relevant education that can also help Capiceños acquire knowledge and skills for gainful employment
The School was converted into a university in 2004 with the ceremonial signing of Republic Act 9273 or an Act the Panay State Polytechnic College (PSPC) into CapSU in 2004 at the Provincial Capitol here.
It envisions itself as an institution of higher learning, imbued with the ideals committed to quality research, extension and entrepreneurship geared towards the attainment of academic excellence, sustainable development and global competitiveness. (JCM/AAL/PIA 6 Capiz)
Cabucgayan joins tree planting activity
by Lanie Pitao-Tupaz
NAVAL, Biliran, Sept. 18 (PIA) -– Four hundred fifty nine (459) heads joined in the tree planting activity as mandated under the National Greening Program (NGP) initiated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) at Brgy. Baso, Cabucgayan, Biliran.
Forester Berlina Corzon of DENR-Biliran informed that participants came from Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) College, DepEd CNSAT, barangay and municipal LGU, Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of National Defense (DND, and DENR.
Corzon added that some 7,500 seedlings of Mahogany and Narra trees were planted in 15 hectares of denuded forestland at Sitio Kanumay, Brgy. Baso.
The tree planting in Brgy. Baso is the third activity initiated of the DENR in compliance to the NGP mandate.
The first was in Brgy. Libtong of Naval where the participants planted some 3,000 trees in June 29 this year. Next was in Sitio Barantayan, Brgy. Villaconsuelo of Naval where 5,000 trees were planted last September 6.
In an earlier interview with Joselito Eco, NGP coordinator and chief of Reforestation and Aforestation Unit of DENR-Biliran, he said that DENR is mandated to plant some 385,000 trees in public lands in the entire province of Biliran for this year.
Students and employees are mandated to plant 10 trees each year and non-government organizations and private citizens to be encouraged to join in the activity.
The National Greening Program is aiming to plant some 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares of public lands all over the country to help mitigate the worsening effect of climate change. # (LPT/PIA 8 Biliran)
NegOr, Siquijor GSP encampment all set
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Sept. 14 (PIA) — The 29th Council Junior/ Senior/ Cadet Encampment of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) Negros Oriental and Siquijor Council opens tomorrow at Camp Lily I. Gamo Sibulan, Negros Oriental with the theme: “GSP Saves Planet Earth.”
The camp’s opening ceremonies will be on September 15, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. with Governor Roel Degamo as their guest speaker.
The two provinces of Negros Oriental and Siquijor expect to gather 1,500 Girl Scouts delegates for the four-day encampment.
According to local GSP Executive Officer Rosario Rosales all sets for the conduct of the encampment assisted by different committees on physical arrangements, health and sanitation, security and safety, transportation, publicity and promotions headed by over-all chairperson and Negros Oriental –Siquijor Council President, Dr. Profetiza Lim.
The campers will be divided into the Junior or elementary level, Senior or high school level and Cadet or the college category.
The young scouters are expected to learn some skills to be responsible, progressive, dynamic and patriotic through outdoor activities.
Some of the activities lined up during the event are geared towards responding to the challenge of environment, economic self-sufficiency, family life, and emergency preparedness which include adventure games, disaster preparedness, first aid, earthquake drill, waste segregation, tree planting, among others. (PIA NegOr/JCT)
Bloodletting in island barangay of Naval postponed
by Flor Jackson
NAVAL, Biliran, Sept. 14 (PIA) – The blood letting activity scheduled by the Naval Municipal Health Office (MHO) and its partner agencies tomorrow, Wednesday, September 14 in the island barangay of Higatangan in the municipality of Naval was postponed to next Wednesday, September 21, 2011.
This was disclosed by Esterlita dela Peña, nurse of MHO-Naval to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Biliran Provincial Information Center in an interview.
She said the postponement was requested by Dr. Fernando Montejo, Municipal Health Officer of Naval himself due to his official travel to attend a training in Cebu, in line with his work as MHO of Naval.
She added that the postponement of the blood letting activity was also requested because some members of the medical team in charge of extracting blood from donors are out of town on official business.
It was learned that the barangay officials of Brgy. Higatangan, an island barangay of Naval have been preparing since last week to get more volunteer blood donors in the area for the scheduled blood letting activity supposedly to be held on September 14, 2011.
The blood donors have already been informed of the schedule and were prepared and briefed by the Barangay Health Workers in said barangay for the interview and body examination to be conducted by Dr. Montejo himself.
The interview and body examinations are done before the actual extraction of blood from the volunteer donors.
The medical team from RHU-Naval and the Provincial Health Office (PHO) expect more blood donors from Brgy. Higatangan.
Part of next week’s schedule of the blood letting activities in the barangays of Naval is the September 20 schedule in Brgy. Catmon where more blood donors are also expected to voluntarily donate blood.
The series of blood letting activities in the barangays in Naval, Biliran is jointly undertaken by the Naval MHO, Biliran PHO, PIA and other partner organizations. (FEJ/PIA 8 Biliran)
Negros policemen undergo criminal investigation course
BACOLOD CITY, Sept.12 (PIA) — Forty-seven policemen in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental underwent a 32-day Criminal Investigation Course seminar at the city police headquarters recently, a press release from the Bacolod police said.
The seminar aimed to upgrade the intensity of skill and expertise of police field investigators.
A survey conducted by the PNP in 2010 showed that 40 percent of police investigators in the field have no formal training on crime investigation.
Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol Jr. Police Regional Office 6, regional director, in his message and read by regional police deputy director, Senior Supt. Manuel Felix during the opening ceremony, stressed that investigators play a great role in solving crimes and it is a must that they are ready for every situation.
The directorate for investigation and detective management’s investigation capability project addressed this concern resulting in the holding of the criminal investigation course. (BCPO/CAD/JCM/PIA6)
