Watershed council to conduct verification re issuance of ECC
by Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, April 5 (PIA) – Members of the Taguibo Watershed Management Council (TWMC) on Monday agreed to conduct on-site verification prior to the decision of the council of whether to approve or not the application of Tricom Agro-industrial Multi-purpose Cooperative to have the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
During the meeting of the council members held at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), regional technical director Musa Saruang asked the consensus of the council regarding the application of the said cooperative to conduct mining operation in the area.
Considering that the area is near the Taguibo Watershed, members of the council agreed that a technical working group must be created to verify if the operation will not affect the vicinity of the watershed.
With these developments, DENR will spearhead the conduct of the site visitation within this week with members of the council composed of representatives from the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police (PNP), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) tasked to conduct the activity.
Meanwhile, RTD Saruang who acted as the presiding officer instructed the group to submit their report a week after. This will serve as the council’s basis for coming up with a decision of whether or not the ECC application of the company will be endorsed to the DENR for approval.
Tricom Agro-industrial Multi-purpose Cooperative covers small-scale mining project at Sitio Pinanjukawan, Kanjipang, Brgy. San Antonio, municipality of Remedios T. Romualdez (RTR) in Agusan del Norte. Part of the Taguibo Watershed is situated in this municipality, it was learned. (PIA-Caraga)
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DILG orients newly-elected brgy. Officials
by Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, April 5 (PIA) – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is continuously orienting all newly-elected barangay officials of Caraga Region.
In an interview with Atty. Rene Burdeos, DILG-Caraga regional director, the orientation is aimed to inform these officials especially the neophytes of their responsibilities as well as teach them the implementing policies and barangay ordinances for the welfare of their constituents.
Burdeos said the officials must also be informed about transparent governance, the present administration's mantra.
President Benigno S. Aquino III’s Social Contract with the Filipino People envisions a country that has achieved inclusive growth and is characterized by rapid, sustained, and broad-based economic growth that is focused on creating more jobs and new opportunities to achieve full employment, and on significantly reducing poverty. (PIA-Caraga)
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DOH launches nationwide Iligtas sa Tigdas ang Pinas
BUTUAN CITY, April 5 (PIA) - The Department of Health (DOH) launched Monday (April 4) its month-long, nationwide, door-to-door measles vaccination campaign dubbed “Iligtas sa Tigdas ang Pinas” which is targeting about 18 million children nine months to below eight years old.
“The main objective of the campaign is to reduce the number of susceptible children that have piled up since we last conducted a nationwide campaign last 2004,” Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona explained, adding that vaccination is the best way to prevent measles and German measles.
From April 4 to May 4 expect vaccination teams or “Bakunadoors” to be knocking at your door to give free measles and German measles vaccines to targeted children.
The health department advises that parents submit eligible children for vaccination even if they had measles vaccinations or if they had measles before. Aside from vaccines, some local governments will also be giving out free capsules of Vitamin A which is an important micronutrient for good eyesight, strong bones, and healthy immune system.
From January to March 19 of this year, there were 2,075 measles cases nationwide recorded by the DOH National Epidemiology Center; five deaths have been recorded. Ages of cases ranged from eight days to 85 years old.
“It is alarming to know that there are still children dying from measles even if measles vaccination is free and available nationwide at all health centers,” Ona said.
Most of the cases came from the National Capital Region (311), Central Luzon (298), Bicol Region (277), CALABARZON (238), Davao Region (197), Ilocos Region (174), and Zamboanga Peninsula (163). At the National Capital Region, most cases came from Manila (101), Quezon City (50), and Caloocan (36).
Nationwide mass immunization campaigns such as this have enjoyed a better coverage rate than regular implementation of the Expanded Program of Immunization. Previous measles campaigns conducted in 2004 and 2007 both reached 95 percent coverage, a level never achieved by the regular programs. This prompted the DOH to implement the nationwide door-to-door strategy to fight off the threat of measles.
The door-to-door campaign was made possible through partnership with the local government units that mobilized vaccination teams as well as, partners from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Measles is a highly contagious disease which can be fatal. It is spread by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact, or direct contact with infected nasal or throat secretions. Immunity against measles is developed following vaccination.
Likewise, German measles, also known as rubella, is a highly contagious mild disease characterized by flu-like symptoms followed by a rash. Immunity against German measles is also developed following vaccination. However, the primary danger with rubella is the infection of pregnant women as it poses a serious threat to the life of the unborn. It may cause miscarriages, premature delivery, and serious birth defects, including heart problems, hearing and sight problems, cognitive impairment, and liver or spleen damage.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), measles-rubella vaccine is safe, effective, and inexpensive.
“It costs between P500 to P15,000 to treat a child with measles but preventing measles through vaccination is free. Let us have our children vaccinated against measles. Let us prevent deaths due to measles and its complication”, Ona concluded. (DOH-13/PIA-Caraga)
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Final assessment of damages wrought by floods bared
by David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, April 5 (PIA) - The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center (PDRRMC) has finally came out with final assessment of the damages brought by the two floods that hit Agusan del Sur on January 3 and February 17, 2011.
In a report by Roberto Natividad, PDRRMC chief to the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), 24 persons died, where the January 3 flood claimed 20, and another four during the February 17 flood. Fourteen of the casualties died by drowning, seven by acute gastroenteritis due to intake of unsafe water, two were electrocuted, and another one by hypothermia. Six were also injured during the January 3 flood.
Reports also reveal that of the 318 barangays in the province, 209 barangays were affected with 79,117 families or 398,855 persons. Among the affected families, 19,134 were served by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development PSWD) and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).
Reports also reveal that the PSWD released 40 sacks of rice while the National Food Authority (NFA) gave the PRC 66 bags of rice. The municipality of San Francisco got 360 bags from NFA; Rosario, 100 bags; Trento, 30; Veruela, 250; and Prosperidad, 380 bags.
A total of 283 houses were totally damaged while partially damaged houses reached 190. A total length of 457 kilometers of national, provincial, and municipal roads were damaged that amounted to P817 million. Reports also say that damages on agriculture reached up to P278 million.
At the height of the flood, Natividad said that members of the search and rescue of Agusan del Sur (SARAS) were closely monitoring the situation and getting updates from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC). They also dispatched rubber boats and rescue vehicles manned with trained personnel to the municipalities that called for their assistance.
The army’s 52nd Engineering Brigade, 401st and 402nd Brigades also dispatched 10 of their vehicles and personnel for the search and rescue operation while around 17 police cars and vehicles were deployed to the affected municipalities.
The DPWH maintenance section, meanwhile, also dispatched a rescue team, dump trucks, and service vehicles while conducting on-the-spot towing of stranded vehicles and putting up signs. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)
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DA turns over P2.5 million worth of checks to 9 POs
SURIGAO CITY, Apr. 5 (PIA) – Turnover of checks worth P2.5Million marked the launching of a program by the Department of Agriculture- Rural Field Unit XIII. Nine people’s organizations received the check as beneficiaries of the Mindanao Rural Development Program - Community Fund for Agricultural Development (MRDP-CFAD) Sub-Projects.
Local officials present during the ceremony included DA Caraga Executive Dir. Ricardo Regis City and Legal Officer Atty. Manuel Coro, who represented Surigao City Mayor Ernesto Matugas. The city government and the PO beneficiaries also signed a Sub-Project Agreement.
The CFAD Sub-Projects is one of the major components of the MRDP aimed to give disadvantaged and vulnerable sectors in Mindanao opportunities for increased income from agriculture and fishery production. These opportunities include allied value-adding activities that make use of appropriate and sustainable technologies preferred and selected by the target groups. (Annette Villaces, PIO-Surigao City/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
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Cebuano News: Admistrasyong Aquino seryoso pagtabang sa mga biktima sa drug trafficking
By: Susil Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Apr. 5 (PIA) - Si Presidente Benigno S. Aquino III mipasalig sa publiko nga himoon sa iyang administrasyon ang tanan aron pagsalbar sa mga Pilipino nga nag atubang sa death penalty dili lamang sa China og Middle East, lakip na usab sa ubang nasod nga adunay susama nga mga kaso.
Ang Presidente mibutyag niini atol sa iyang pakighinabi sa media niadtong biyernes didto sa Iloilo Provincial Capitol Building, og kabahin kini sa iyang reaksyon sa pangutana nga kon aduna bay plano ang gobyerno nga moapila gihapon sa nasod sa China human gikumpirma sa Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) nga laing Pilipino na usab ang nag-atubang sa death penalty didto sa na-asoy nga nasod.
“Ang administrasyong Aquino magpadayon sa pag-apila og mohimo sa tanang lakang aron maluwas ang mga Pilipino nga nag-atubang sa death penalty,” asoy sa Presidente.
Ang Presidente miingon nga ang gobyerno wala lamang magtutok sa nasod sa China og Middle East apan lakip na usab ang laing nasod nga adunay mga kaso nga susama niini.
Aron mapakusgan sa gobyerno ang anti-drug campaign, ang Presidente mibutyag usab nga iyang gitahasan si Justice Secretary Leila De Lima aron motudlo ug permanente nga undersecretary nga maoy motrabaho sa pag rebisa sa mga kasong droga nga nakapila sa korte sa atong nasod.
Dugang pa sa Presidente nga ang maong opisyales nga matudlo mao usab ang mo imbestigar niadtong pipila ka mga provincial prosecutors nga kono mipabor sa mga suspetsadong drug trafficker.
“Ang mga provincial prosecutors anaa na karon ubos sa imbestigasyon ug paingon na ngadto sa haom nga proseso ug kon siya mapamatud-an nga sad-an, siya pagasilutan sa tanang angay nga isilot kaniya, kini aron pagpakita ug pagpamatuod sa katawhan nga ang gobyerno seryoso gayod sa pag atubang batok niining problema sa droga,”matud sa Presidente. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)
