DOH-6 to TB patients: Avail free treatment
ILOILO CITY, March 25 (PIA) — The Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 has urged tuberculosis (TB) patients all over the region to avail of the free treatment offered by the government.
She said that of the 277 patients detected in 2011 only 55 patients were able to avail of the treatment.
The government’s free treatment program, or the Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) may be availed of in the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City, in Riverside medical Center, Inc. in Bacolod City, and the City Health Office of Roxas City.
The 12 reported to have come from Iloilo province and another from Capiz, dropped out of the program after a six-month treatment believing that they have been cured.
Gimotea said they are still considered to be carriers as they exhibit risky behaviour, hence, may infect others.
Gimotea, meanwhile, said that even if those without TB, they should make it a habit to cover their mouths with hankies.
DOH-6 records showed that there are 1,145 morbidity cases in 2010, 160 per 100,000 population, and 150 deaths, which is 21 cases per 100,000 population in 2011, taking the region’s population to be 7,159,800.
The observance of World TB Day, carried the theme, “Stop TB in my lifetime.” (JCM/ESS-PIA6 Iloilo)
“Earth Hour 60+” as a way of life
BACOLOD CITY, March 21 (PIA6) — Organizers of the “Earth Hour 60 +” urges the public to view the event as a way of life that takes into account preserving the environment and conserving the resources that man has.
This year’s celebration will focus on what one can do beyond the 60 minutes ceremonial switching off of light.
With the theme “I will if you will,” more than 135 countries joined by 98 million people across the globe will voluntarily switch off their non essential lights on March 31 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. to send the message of conservation of power and the preserving the planet Earth.
Excessive use of fossil fuel like gasoline and coal, use of toxic gases and clearing of forests have contributed to a greenhouse effect or heating of the world that contribute to climate change, according to Galvez
Climate change, she added, results to, among others, extreme weather conditions, sea level rise, salt water intrusion, coral bleaching and decline in agricultural production that will eventually cause hunger.
Galvez said WWF calls on Filipinos to reforest, use CFL instead of incandescent light and practice carpooling and whenever possible walk if one intends to go to a close distance.
She said smart decisions must be made on a long–term basis because “at the end of the day, we will all be affected.” (PIA6-JCM/LOL)
VP Binay graces 49th ESSU Commencement Exercises
BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, March 21 (PIA) — The heavy rains did not deter Vice President Jejomar Binay to report to his pre-scheduled engagements in Eastern Samar today. From San Julian town he hurried to the campus of the Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) where he was welcomed by hundreds of students, parents, professors, and local officials.
In his talk, he asked the 713 graduates to serve the people with passion because according to him, there is no greater joy than to serve the country and people.This is not easy to achieve but it can be done, he said, through unity and cooperation.
“Ang ninanais natin na pag-unlad ay hindi madaling makakamit pero makakaya natin sa mahabang malasakit at pagtutulungan,” Binay said. (The progress that we aspire for is not easy to achieve, but we can do it through compassion and by helping one another.)
Vice President Binay was bestowed with the Honorary Degree for Good Governance by University President Reynaldo Lombrio with the other college deans.
He is also scheduled to lead a series of medical missions in five towns of E.Samar: Hernani, Guiuan, Borongan, San Julian and Can-avid.
Having been in “silent mode,” Binay surprised the Eastern Samarenos when he leaped to the top among other vice-presidential bets during the 2010 national elections. Can-avid town is Makati’s sister-city.(EOPT/AEN-PIA 8, Eastern Samar)
Former Chief Justice is Silliman University’s graduation speaker
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 18 (PIA) — Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno will address this year’s graduating class of Silliman University (SU) as the commencement speaker.
The former chief justice will speak before SU’s 974 total graduating students during the 99th University Commencement Exercises today.
SU Office of Information and Publications (OI) Director Mark Raygan Garcia, in a statement, announced that the university will also confer on Chief Justice Puno the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, during the graduation ceremony.
“An honorary degree is the highest form of academic recognition accorded an individual of national and international stature by the University. A Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, is given for demonstrated exceptional achievement in the pursuit of social order and development,” said Garcia.
Silliman is honoring the former chief justice for being a person of “high competence, untarnished character, and unflinching Christian faith, making him a model citizen and Filipino.”
“He has consistently proven the value of integrity and solid moral convictions in the practice of the legal profession and the administration of justice,” added Garcia.
Puno started his professional practice in 1962. Nine years after, he was appointed Solicitor in the Office of the Solicitor General.
At age 32, he was designated Acting City Judge of Quezon City Branch II, concurrently as Solicitor; two years after, he became Assistant Solicitor General; and then at age 40, he was appointed Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals.
In 1993, under the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos, he was made Associate Justice of the Supreme Court (former Philippine President Ramos also received an honorary degree from Silliman).
In 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed him as the 22nd Chief Justice of the Philippines.
Puno obtained his degrees of Bachelor of Science in Jurisprudence and Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines in 1962.
He completed his Master of Comparative Laws as valedictorian at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, USA in 1967, on a full scholarship from the Academic of American Law.
He earned his second graduate degree, Master of Laws, at the University of California at Berkeley, USA in 1968, on another full scholarship from the Walter Perry Johnson Foundation.
Married to the late former Supreme Court Clerk of Court Atty. Luzvminda D. Puno with whom he has three children, the former Chief Justice is also a lay preacher of the United Methodist Church and member of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Bible Society, World Vision and International Red Cross, Asia Pacific Region. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental with reports from SU-OIP)
Guimaras cites milestones in women empowerment
ILOILO CITY, March 11 (PIA) — In addition to being gender sensitive, a Guimaras officer said the provincial government has seen to it that its women are empowered to participate in local governance.
Guimaras Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Elena Baylon said its women legislators and wives of local officials have organized themselves to help the Guimaras Women Crisis Center by involving themselves in counseling of battered women and victims of abuse.
Moreover, Baylon said, they also train these women for income generating activities to make the women productive and not just depend on men to survive.
Just last March 8, the provincial government has signed a memorandum of agreement for a program that provides free annual executive check-up not only for women but for all its employees to monitor their health.
Baylon added that for the whole month of March and even thereafter, a series of activities will be undertaken, like tree planting to hammer the important role of women in addressing climate change, as well as hold a Women’s Congress to discuss climate change issues.
On-going all throughout the year, as part of its Gender and Development (GAD) thrusts, the province’s GAD focal team conducts advocacy and information dissemination, especially on the Magna Carta for Women, and Gender Sensitivity trainings (GST).
“We hope to finish our GST for 2012 by June this year, to include sessions for rank and file employees and casuals who are our front line workers, and the persons with disabilities and the senior citizens,” Baylon said.
On top of these continuing milestones, is the recent approval and launching of the GAD Code of the province, after public hearing and refinement, Baylon added.
She also said that the provincial government will be calling the national government agencies to synchronize their GAD activities with theirs.
“This will make our plans more responsive to the needs of our constituents and for more empowerment for our women,” she said. (JCM/ESS-PIA6 Iloilo)
PNP-8 to conduct trainor’s training on disaster preparedness, rescue and relief operations
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Mar 9 (PIA) — True to its commitment and support to the national government’s campaign plan in addressing natural disasters and calamities, the Philippine National Police Regional Office 8 will be conducting a trainor’s training on March 9-13, 2012 dubbed, “Disaster Preparedness, Rescue and Relief Operations,” designed to prepare police rescue units for possible disaster response and deployment in search and rescue operations.
This was learned from Police Superintendent Lito T. Bigoy, acting chief of the Regional Police Community Relations Division in a press release sent to the Philippine Information Agency.
The five-day activity, which will be attended by some 100 participants coming from the different provincial and city public safety companies, will be conducted by the Directorate for Police Community Relations, National Headquarters at the Regional Special Training Unit 8 (RSTU), Camp Kangleon, Palo, Leyte.
Included in the training are drills simulating hypothetical emergency scenarios that require practical application of rescue skills in first aid, basic life support, boat-handling, knot-tying, deployment of life-saving buoys and devices, high-angle rescue, and removal of debris and breeching in collapsed structures.
The PNP continuously updates its own enhanced action plan contained in Letter of Instruction “Saklolo” to satisfy the requirements for disaster preparedness capability of public safety services as provided under Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010. (PIA-8/PNP-8)
CSC offers 5-day special leave for calamity-hit gov’t workers
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 9 (PIA) — Government workers in Negros Oriental directly affected by the recent earthquake that hit the province may avail of a special emergency leave issued by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
CSC in a memorandum circular issued Feb. 16, 2012 said that the five-day special emergency leave is granted for affected state employees in areas that have declared a state of calamity due to natural disasters.
“The leave will not be deducted from the employee’s leave credits,” read the circular issued to national government, local government units, government-owned and/or controlled corporations and state colleges and universities.
The leave may be availed of in five straight working days or on a staggered basis, within 30 days from the first day of an official calamity declaration.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) here passed Resolution No. 152 placing the province under a state of calamity on Feb. 14, eight days after Negros Oriental was jolted by a 6.9-magnitude earthquake.
However, the resolution does not specify a date of effectivity for the calamity declaration.
“In the absence of an effectivity date specified in the resolution, it will take effect upon the approval or signature of the governor,” said Jofralito Lorico, provincial director of Department of Interior and Local Government (DOLG) here, in an interview with Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
A copy of said resolution obtained by PIA showed that Gov. Roel Degamo signed the resolution on Feb. 24, 2012.
Atty. Farah Fortich of the CSC Legal Office in Cebu City also echoed Lorico’s statement, saying that resolutions usually take effect upon the approval of the governor.
CSC’s emergency leave also covers government employees affected by Typhoons Pedring, Quiel, and Sendong and other natural calamities that struck after Typhoon Ondoy.
Affected employees whose leave credits were previously deducted may request for its restoration subject to the approval of their head of office.
Prior to the issuance of Resolution No. 152, Negros Oriental was still under a state of calamity under SP’s Resolution No. 855, which was issued after Typhoon Sendong pummeled the province with heavy rains and flooding on Dec. 17, 2011.
“The said state of calamity was not yet lifted since the province is still in the process of rehabilitation due to the devastation caused by the tropical storm,” the latter resolution said.
Government workers in Negros Oriental were also offered a P20,000 emergency loan by state-run Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) following the deadly earthquake that collapsed houses and infrastructure facilities in the province. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
2,000 to join parade for Int’l Women’s Day celeb in Cebu
CEBU CITY, March 7 (PIA) — In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, around 2,000 participants from various women’s organizations in Cebu City and other government offices and the private sector will join the parade tomorrow morning to highlight the annual observance in Cebu.
Camila Santina of the Cebu City Women’s Welfare and Family Affairs said the parade which also serves as the kick-off activity of Women’s Month every March will start at 6:30 a.m. at the vicinity of the Department of Health (DOH) 7 compound.
From the DOH 7, the participants will proceed to Plaza Sugbo fronting the Cebu City Legislative Building for a short program.
Santina said wellness and healthcare services will be provided for the first 100 women on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Free screening tests on cholesterol level, anemia, bone density, kidney stone and ultrasound will be provided at the Plaza Sugbo courtesy of a private pharmacy who will be bringing along three doctors to conduct the various examinations,” Santina declared.
The Cebu City Health Department will also provide triglyceride level test, pneumonia examination and free OB-gynecology consultation.
Information and education materials on family planning and reproductive health will be given to raise awareness on the importance of promoting health among women for optimum health care.
Santina said the Perpetual Succour Hospital has also committed to provide discounts for laboratory exams for the whole month of March to women as their support to the celebration.
“The hospital will be giving 20 percent discounts on mammogram screening, x-ray, CT scan and MRI test and 10 percent on room and board to women 18 years old and above,” Santina added.
Exempted from the discount however, are senior citizens that already have existing 20 percent discount based on law and GSIS members as well.
Santina said the activities of Women’s Month in Cebu is a partnership between the public and private sector that aims to empower women of their rights in all aspects of life may it be economic, political, and social.
This year’s celebration carries the theme ‘Women Weathering Climate Change: Governance and Accountability, Everyone’s Responsibility.’ (PIA-Cebu)
COMELEC sets satellite registration in Roxas City
ROXAS CITY, Capiz, March 7 (PIA6) — About 400 voters in Barangay San Jose here benefited from the Commission on Election’s (COMELEC) satellite registration last week as part of the on-going voter’s registration and validation of records for the 2013 national and local elections.
“We need to conduct the satellite registration because there are about 38,000 who have not validated their records with our office,” said COMELEC – Roxas City Election Supervisor lawyer Jomar Betita in an interview over RMN – Roxas City.
Betita added that Punong Barangays must send a request to the COMELEC in order to check availability of schedule.
“Not all barangays will be given a chance for satellite registration especially those within the city proper,” he stressed, adding that COMELEC is open every Saturday to accommodate office workers and students, among others.
The COMELEC official said that voters who are already registered may also apply for validation of their registration record to ensure that they may be able to vote in the next elections.
Those who have reached voting age (18 years old and above) may file their applications for registration as new voters.
Applications for correction of entries, change of name and transfer of registration records will likewise be accepted.
Voters’ registration will run until October 31, 2012. (JCM/AAL/PIA 6 Capiz)
TESDA –Samar receives ISO certificate
CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Feb 28 (PIA) –The Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Samar received the International Standardization Organization (ISO) certificate last week at the central office.
According to Cleta Omega, provincial director, they received the certificate during their management conference.
“This is the product of a long and arduous process,” Omega told PIA.
This means that TESDA Samar passed the international standard set forth by “TUV SUD PSB” the country’s leading multi-national certification and inspection body that provided the inspection, certification, valuation, validation, training, and testing services.
Together with TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva, Omega received the certificate from the Malaysian official of the TUV SUD PSB Philippines.
“This certification does not only earn us quality standard but challenges us to maintain it,” Omega said.
Omega said that it took them three years to start the documentation process and another year to effect the physical re structuring.
“Even LGU Samar helped us provide funding to do some restructuring in the office to achieve world class standard in our organization’s ability to meet and improve Quality Management System.”
The certificate stated that TESDA Samar Office has established and applies a “Quality Management System for Unified TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) UTPRAS and Philippine TVET Qualification and Certification System(PTQCS).”
Omega said that the certification will boost their commitment to improve the service to the Samarenos enrolled in the various TESDA courses to help ease the country’s unemployment problems.
The certificate is valid until 2015, according to the certificate issued to TESDA-Samar. (PIA 8-Samar)
