DOH-CHD 13 strengthens implementation of RIACEH
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, April 8 (PIA) -- To safeguard and
make the environment conducive to the improvement and maintenance of the health
of the people, the member agencies of the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on
Environmental Health (RIACEH) Caraga region strengthened the implementation of
its functions and responsibilities.
During the orientation of RIACEH stakeholders on
April 4-5 in Butuan City, it was learned that because of the establishment of
industries operating in the region like that of mining, palm oil and banana
plantation, and other industrial establishment, the development of
environmental health issues is expected as it operates along the way due to
exposures with chemicals, pollution, improper waste disposal and contamination
of water, there is a need for the RIACEH stakeholders to strengthen its
functions and responsibilities and help determine practical ways & its
application in protecting our environment & lives from the environment
health problems.
Stakeholders were required to identify proposed
actions in order to solve the environmental health issues brought about by the
industries/plantations. Some of the identified proposed actions include the
strengthen monitoring and enforcements of Republic Acts/Memorandum Order and
the like to the local levels.
Engr. Luis F. Cruz of DOH Environmental and
Occupational Health Office recalled that an Inter-Agency Committee on
Environmental Health was created under Cabinet Resolution No. 3, Series of
1987, and institutionalized by an Executive Order No. 489 known as "Institutionalizing
the Inter-Agency Committee on Environmental Health" dated Nov. 22, 1991.
Cruz said that pursuant to Department Memorandum
0rder 113, Series of 2007, or the Amendment to the Function of the RIACEH,
functions were included to be done by its member agencies.
Also, according to Dr. Valeriano V. Timbang of
DOH Environmental and Occupational Health Office Manila, the functions of its
members are to: oversee the implementation of national policies, guidelines and
programs relative to environmental health protection at the regional level;
Coordinate, monitor and evaluate environmental health programs and development
projects initiated by the government and private agencies to achieve
environmental health protection; disseminate public information and issue
advisories on environmental health hazards and their prevention and control;
coordinate, assist and/or support in the conduct of researches and relevant
studies for environmental maintenance and protection; provide technical
assistance to local government units (LGUs) on environmental health concerns,
particularly during emergency situation; issue resolution to
direct/facilitate/recommend actions to be undertaken that required multi-agency
participation and cooperation concerning environmental health problems; perform
other tasks as may be necessary to carry out the purpose for which the
committee has been established.
With all these functions and responsibilities of
the stakeholders, there is also a need to strengthen its sub-sectors, namely: Solid
Wastes, Water, Air, Toxic Substances, Occupational Health, Food Safety,
Sanitation (SWATOFS) and Climate Change in order to make the committee capable
of addressing issues and problems related to environmental health.
Engr. Dioscoro Navarro, Jr. of DOH-CHD Caraga
stressed that a permanent and alternate agency representatives on for the
RIACEH should also be observed and regular meetings of stakeholders must be
conducted.
RIACEH is chaired by the Department of
Health-Caraga Region. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
Cebuano News: Palasyo mitaho nga sitwasyon sa
Korean Peninsula pabilin nga normal
Ni Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Abril 8 (PIA) – Sumala sa
Malakanyang ang sitwasyon didto sa Korean peninsula nagpabilin nga normal ug
walay rason nga moisa og alert level ang gobyerno sa Pilipinas aron maseguro
nga luwas ang mga Filipino didto sa South Korea.
Matud ni Deputy Presidential Spokesperson
Abigail Valte niadtong adlawng Sabado nga ang Department of Foreign Affairs
kanunay nga nagmonitor sa sitwasyon og matud nila nga nagpabilin nga normal ang
sitwasyon mao nga walay angay kabalak-an.
Matud pa niya, nga ang DFA pinaagi sa embahada
niini didto sa South Korea nagahimo og inadlaw-adlaw nga assessment sa maong
sitwasyon ug andam kini nga mohimo og mga contingency measures kon ugaling
mahimong delikado ang sitwasyon sa maong rehiyon.
Sumala ni Presidente Aquino adunay mokabat sa
50,000 ka mga Filipino ang nagpuyo ug nagtrabaho didto sa South Korea, ug
mokabat sa 15,000 ka mga Filipino ang duol sa demilitarized zone diin maoy
unang maapeektuhan kon ugaling adunay giyera nga mahitabo.
Dugang pa niya, kon ugaling motumaw ang kadaut,
ang gobyerno sa Pilipinas andam mokuha sa mga Filipino didto sa South Korea.
Ang C-130 cargo plane sa Philippine Air Force u gang naval ship sa Philippine
Navy ang naka stand-by na aron maoy mohakot sa mga Filipino nga maapektuhan sa
maong kagubot. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)
