Surigao City health office hastens control of
measles cases
By Venus L. Garcia
SURIGAO CITY, May 6 (PIA) – This city’s Disaster
Risk Reduction Management Council has formulated on Sunday an Incident Command
System (ICS) for measles outbreak in response to the confirmed increasing
number of individuals, mostly children, who are infected by highly-contageous
measles.
The ICS for measles outbreak has two operation
centers (OpCen) stationed at Luneta Kiosk and Nueva Gym. Each OpCen composed of
physician, nurses, vaccinators, sanitary inspectors, safety personnel,
information and admitting personnel, medtech, nutritionist, and barangay health
workers (BHW) has operationalized with open access to free medical consultation
and screenings.
The members of ICS for measles outbreak convened
on Monday morning for a special briefing on its second day operation. They were
ensuring an appropriate support for medical services and for communication by
providing handheld radios to keep the members on the loop, relayed city
information officer Annette Villaces.
As of May 5, 2014, a total of 133 cases of
measles have been recorded at the Incident Command Post.
Meanwhile, in a meeting presided by city health
officer and incident commander Dr. Emmanuel Plandano, observations and recommendations
were discussed and addressed.
Accordingly, measles vaccines were made
available in barangays to protect the community from acquiring this potentially
serious viral disease and to eventually prevent its spread.
Surigao City has zero case of measles in
previous year. The city government however is currently conducting a massive
vaccination to all suspected patients. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
57 individuals finish incident command system in
Surigao City
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, May 6 (PIA) – Fifty seven
individuals have successfully completed the Incident Command System (ICS) Basic
Course Training Workshop conducted on April 28 to 30, 2014 at the City Cultural
Center, this city.
The said participants who successfully completed
the ICS basic course are the members of the City DRRMC, Barangay DRRMC
chairpersons and city department heads. They will be constituted as the core
member of the soon to be organized Incident Management Team (IMT).
City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council chair and City Mayor Ernesto T. Matugas, in his message delivered by
CDRRM Officer Atty. Manuel G. Coro commended the patience and efforts of all
the participants for staying and surviving the very tough and rigid seminar, he
also commended the effort of the very competitive and knowledgeable resource
speakers for sharing their knowledge and skills.
“May I remind all of you who have successfully
completed the ICS basic course that you are now the city government’s frontline
responders of any incidents, calamities, and other adversities, and please
always bear in mind that safety and protection of our constituents will always
be our number one priority,” Matugas said.
The three-day ICS training workshop was
spearheaded by the city government of Surigao through the City Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council in cooperation with the Office of Civil
Defense (OCD) Caraga Region. (SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Palarong Pambansa 2014 kicks off in Laguna
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
LAGUNA, May 6, 2014 (PIA) – The 2014 Palarong
Pambansa also known as "2014 Palaro" joined by around 11,200
student-athletes from 17 regions throughout the country formally kicked-off
Monday held at the Laguna Sports Complex, Barangay Bubukal, Sta Cruz, this
province.
This year’s event is anchored on the theme,
"Sports is a way of Life." The athlete-students will compete from 17
sports events plus three demonstration sports.
It was learned that Caraga Region has 635
delegates composed of technical officials and student-athletes with Department
of Education (DepEd) Caraga regional director Alberto Escobarte leading the
region's delegation.
The event was made momentous by the
participation of those who were affected by typhoon Yolanda.
“We have survived. Thank you for your help,”
said the banners carried by student-athletes, together with their coaches and
other school officials during the opening parade.
Now on its 57th year, the Palarong Pambansa is
an annual event showcasing and promoting sportsmanship of Filipino
athlete-students.
Meanwhile, swimmer and actor Enchong Dee,
Olympian figure skater Michael Martinez, and basketball players Jeron and Jeric
Teng led the torch relay during the grand opening ceremonies. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao
del Sur)
SurSur Health Office keen on promoting healthy
lifestyle, 100% smoke-free environment; launches campaign
By Greg Tataro, Jr.
SURIGAO DEL SUR, May 6 (PIA) – The Provincial
Health Office (PHO) here formally launched on Monday the “Healthy Lifestyle and
100% Smoke-free Environment” campaign at the Capitol lobby during the flag
ceremony program.
PHO chief Dr. Algerico Irizari linked their
initiative to the Department of Health (DOH) Red Orchid Awards Program and
other international and domestic endeavors that aim to do away with unhealthy
manner of living particularly cigarette smoking, citing important issuances,
republic acts (RAs), administrative orders (AOs), and Civil Service Commission
(CSC) memorandum circulars (MCs) that seek to promote such program.
Beforehand, he raised the 10 leading causes of
mortality in Surigao del Sur that are said to be ill-effects of unhealthy
lifestyle and smoking by pointing out,
in particular order, pneumonia,
cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cardiovascular accident (CVA), cancer (all
types), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), renal failure, and accidents (vehicular).
Quoting a campaign slogan, Dr. Irizari stressed
that such maladies are preventable since “a healthy lifestyle is a choice!”
(NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
PAT members conduct Search for Best Performing
Barangay
By Brian Jay Ceballos
BUTUAN CITY, May 6 (PIA) - The Agusan del Norte
Provincial Assessment Team (PAT) which comprises of personnel from the PNP –
Agusan del Norte, DepEd, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
and the provincial government of Agusan del Norte recently started the search
for Best Performing Barangay 2014 in the province last May 5.
The regular implementation of the Search for the
Best Performing Barangay is an effective program for the realization of the
provincial government’s thrust in empowering the barangay units with the end in
view of Accelerating to New dimension in Good governance and Excellence in
Local leadership.
Currently, the province is composed of ten
municipalities and a component city, with a total of 167 barangays all over.
The mayors from all municipalities/city were
advised to submit one nominee barangay for Rural Category and one nominee
barangay for Urban Category. Each nominee for each category will be the
official entry which will compete for the first, second and third place.
The criteria for this years search is - 30% for
the Executive/Administration/Legislative Function, 40% for the Environmental
Protection/Clean and Green, 15% for the Resourcefulness/Initiative in Programs,
Project, Activities (PPA) Implementation and 15% for Community Mobilization.
The adjudged Best Barangay for this year will be
awarded with recognition and cash incentives and will be proclaimed come June
2014 in the province’s upcoming founding anniversary. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan
del Norte)
TESDA launches Specialista Desk
By Gervacio C. Dauz, Jr.
BUTUAN CITY, May 6 (PIA) – The Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Caraga Region recently
launched the TESDA Specialista Reception Desk on May 1, 2014 at the Lingkod
Pinoy Center of the Robinsons Place here in synch with the Labor Day
celebration.
The launching cum opening program was witnessed
and attended by City Councilor and Committee Chair for Labor and Employees
Welfare Ferdinand Nalcot, Regional Consultative Committee members under the
banner of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and other guests.
TESDA Agusan del Norte provincial director
Rodrigo G. de Villa believed that the extension office will definitely keep
TESDA’s services closer to the people and will enhance the image of the office.
On the other hand, TESDA Caraga regional
director Florencio F. Sunico, Jr. added that with the opening of the reception
desk, “We are therefore scaling up our services in order to serve the public
better.” Definitely enthused, he remarked: “What a fitting way to celebrate
Labor Day!”
He also announced that they will be conducting
free training on Barista NC II exclusively for members of the RCC and some city
officials courtesy of TESDA Agusan del Norte.
Further, Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE) Caraga regional director Atty. Johnson G. CaΓ±ete believed that the
launching itself is part and parcel of the overall activity for the Labor Day
celebration, wherein the major part of the celebration is the Jobs Fair
activity being held at the Atrium Activity Center of Robinsons Place here.
Nalcot welcomed the launching activity as it
will be a good venue for advocacy and information drive under his
committee. He requested that a bulletin
board will be put in place at the TESDA Specialista Reception Desk where job vacancies
coming from the Public Employment Service Office of the city government will be
posted. In addition, he made mention
that the city council has already proposed an ordinance guaranteeing a free
movie entry, but every Monday only, for senior citizens.
Denver Bandiala, Robinsons Place representative,
welcomed the development, saying that “our world class mall even opened up in
advance at 8:00am” if only to accommodate the influx of job applicants seeking
for employment here and abroad. He
likewise shared that “our venue aims to be a one-stop shop mall” and it is for
said reason that “we welcome even government offices to be here with us” at the
Lingkod Pinoy Center.
Meanwhile, TESDA had likewise spearheaded the
conduct of free massage and beauty care, particularly manicure, pedicure, and
facial massage, in collaboration with the Butuan City Manpower Training Center
of the city government here and the Agusan del Sur School of Arts and
Trades. Clients who availed of free
services for beauty care and massage were 37 and 85 respectively based on the
tally.
As for the Jobs Fair spearheaded by DOLE in
collaboration with 22 local and 12 overseas recruitment agencies, it was
learned that at least 1,700 prospecting applicants were able to register their
intention to look for jobs, with at least 198 applicants hired on the spot,
nine of which were accepted for foreign jobs, with the remaining 1,007
applicants still to undergo additional screening for exam and final interview.
Earlier, during the Labor Day opening ceremony
at the Atrium Activity Center, Regional Director CaΓ±ete, in behalf of the DOLE
Caraga Region, released a total of P4,046,196.85 as livelihood assistance for
five registered organizations, while the remaining P415,836.85 of the total
amount was earmarked for the Nego-Karts as starter kits for identified peddlers
in Butuan City. He likewise awarded
Certificates of Compliance and Tripartite Certificate of Compliance to
Compliant Companies, including the recognition of DOLE partners.
National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB)
Caraga officer-in-charge Atty. Ligaya R. Lumbay, recognized her agency’s
partners, likewise with TESDA Caraga Regional Director Sunico who gave a
fitting recognition to winners of the recent 2014 Philippine National Skills
Competition held in Luzon. (TESDA-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
DOST-ICT to hold series of Rural Impact Sourcing
Workshops
MANILA, May 6 (PIA) - The Department of Science
and Technology (DOST), through the Information and Communications Technology
Office (ICT Office), will be holding a series of Rural Impact Sourcing
Workshops beginning this May to November. The first leg of the workshops will
kick off on May 30, 2014, in Daet, Camarines Norte.
Carrying the theme “Digital Employment through
Rural BPO for Inclusive Growth,” Rural Impact Sourcing is considered as
outsourcing which focuses on providing meaningful jobs and other related
opportunities in socio-economically disadvantaged areas, mostly rural areas of
the country where there is high population but low employment due to lack of
investors. Formerly known as “Socially Responsible Outsourcing,” Rural Impact
Sourcing looks to generate economic and social impacts in these mentioned
areas. Through the use of ICT, the program pushes forth the access to digital
markets and Rural BPO’s as tools for job creation.
The Rural Impact Sourcing is part of a thrust by
the ICT Office to contribute to the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016’s
pursuit of inclusive growth. The program supports Philippine government’s
commitment to produce 1.3 million traditional IT-BPM jobs by 2016. According to
Accenture’s “Exploring the Value Proposition of Impact Sourcing,” the global
Business Process and Technology Outsourcing sector will grow to $674 billion by
2016 and Impact Sourcing is predicted to make up 11% of the BPO market in 2016.
As the Philippines have seen rapid growth and
development of the IT-BPM industry in the last few years, it is in correlation
that the industry has also become the country’s top career provider. With all
the country’s growth and development however, there continues to be a growing
disparity in opportunities between the country’s top cities and the untapped
rural areas. Taking this in consideration, the Rural Impact Sourcing Program
focuses to deliver these opportunities and take advantage of its human
resources not just in the country’s known key cities but to its untapped rural
areas as well.
The Rural Impact Sourcing takes on the challenge
to train and develop its supply of potential Impact Sourcing workforces to
ensure constant quality for the service that they can provide. On the other
hand, it is also geared up to generate the demand for more outsourcing
companies by striving to create an ecosystem within the prospect area that
would provide benefits to such companies. DOST - ICT Office’s Executive
Director Louis Napoleon Casambre states “The ICT Office continues to build on
its efforts broadening the impact that the ICT industry presents. Rural Impact
Sourcing presents to investors the benefits of having their operations in these
strategic areas.” He adds, “This would generate more opportunities in these areas.
Not only would it increase employment, it would also mean that the people from
these areas no longer need to relocate to get employed. Instead, Rural Impact
Sourcing brings the jobs directly to them.”
The workshops are set to be held in Daet, Koronadal,
Kalibo, Surigao, and Calbayog. These workshops aim to boost awareness in these
areas and provide the people knowledge on Rural Impact Sourcing. The first part
of the Rural Impact Sourcing workshop in Daet will feature career talks from
Presidents and CEOs of Impact Sourcing Providers namely Bert Barriga of
Digisource Inc., Butch Valenzuela of VisayaKPO, and Jorge Azurin of
Freelancer.ph. The second part will be a half-day workshop led by Online Job
University’s founder, Genisis Reonico. The workshop will consist of topics such
as general tools and applications to get you started with the skill sets to be
offered and developed. (DOST/PIA-Caraga)
Philippines: Six months after Typhoon Haiyan,
major long-term recovery needs remain
MANILA, May 6 (PIA) – Six months after Typhoon
Haiyan (Yolanda) devastated the Visayas region, millions remain in a precarious
situation. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, one of the
few organisations to deliver humanitarian assistance across all affected
islands, has now launched an ambitious plan geared towards supporting the
long-term recovery of survivors.
Around 16 million people were affected by
Typhoon Haiyan, with thousands losing family members, homes and incomes. While
the greatest intensity of need is in the eastern Visayas, people in other more
remote areas also need help. The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement recovery
plan pledges to help 775,000 of the most vulnerable people to recover and
improve their resilience to future disasters.
“Affected communities have shown remarkable
strength and many are on the road to recovery. However, high levels of
pre-existing poverty are holding people back and in some areas basic services
have not been re-established”, says Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine
Red Cross. “Our recovery work will focus on restoring shelter, livelihoods and
access to health care, to help affected communities overcome the hardships of
the past six months and become self-reliant again.”
Since the disaster struck, the Philippine Red
Cross, together with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and over
50 national societies from around the world have between them distributed emergency
relief, including food, shelter items and cash, to more than one million
people. Thousands more received medical attention from Red Cross emergency
facilities.
“We are very proud of the solidarity and good
cooperation the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has
demonstrated, mobilising quickly and effectively to respond after Haiyan,” says
Gwendolyn Pang, secretary general of Philippine Red Cross, adding “Our most
unique asset is our volunteer base. Over 8,000 Red Cross volunteers have been
at the forefront of the emergency response, alongside the hundreds of
international and national staff deployed to the affected area.”
The recovery plan, amounting to 320 million
Swiss Francs will run over the next three years. As well as helping survivors
to rebuild their lives, it will enhance the Philippine Red Cross’ capacity to
respond to future disasters through targeted skills training for volunteers and
strengthening expertise in disaster management and disaster risk reduction.
Meanwhile, work to rebuild damaged health care
facilities and water networks in affected areas is well under way, as are
livelihood support programs delivering cash grants, training and asset
replacement.
In the aftermath of the disaster, the Red Cross
and Red Crescent Movement distributed cash grants to 75,000 households and met
25 percent of the emergency shelter needs of survivors, providing tents,
tarpaulins and other materials to almost 140,000 households. Support has
already begun to roll out to help families build more durable homes, together
with projects involving the construction of shelters.
Typhoon Haiyan Emergency appeals launched by the
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement have collectively raised 315
million Swiss Francs (USD 357 million) so far. (PRC/PIA-Caraga)
LGU SurSur bares MOA with Tandag Water District
By Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG CITY, May 6 (PIA) – Due to the growing
concern of water supply shortage in the city, the provincial government of
Surigao del Sur and Tandag Water District (TWD) have mutually agreed to enter
into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) during the latter part of the first
quarter of this year, 2014, effective immediately.
Edgar Valentin, Provincial Environment and
Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) confirmed that both parties have come up with
specific commitments that will bind them to get their acts together for the
conservation, protection, and rehabilitation of the denuded portion of the 786
hectare-Ihawan Spring Watershed located in Barangay Awasian.
Reportedly, the said watershed area, which is
made up of 433 hectares of open access public forest as well as 353 hectares of
Alienable and Disposable (A & D) lands, is the main water supply source of
TWD.
According to the MOA that was signed by Governor
Johnny Pimentel and General Manager (GM) Engr. Ruben Elpa as major
party-representatives of both camps, the said LGU and water utility shall have
the obligation to honor their respective commitments as partners in executing
the same to attain their objectives, including matters relevant to
reforestation and agro-forestry program.
Over a month ago, TWD Board of Director (BOD)
Annie Ty admitted before a meeting of the Provincial Micro- Small and Medium
Enterprise Development (PMSMED) Council which she co-chairs with Gov. Pimentel
that said water utility is faced with the problem of dwindling water supply.
Ty also bared the prospect of going into Tago, a
neighboring town, just seven kilometers down south, to make a “tie-up” with the
LGU, which she described as rich in water resources. (NGBT/Radyo ng
Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
4th Balangay Football Festival set
BUTUAN CITY, May 6 (PIA) - As part of the city’s
month-long celebration of the Balangay Festival, the 4th Balangay Football
Festival is set to be held on May 24-25, 2014 at the Butuan City Sports Complex
in Brgy. Libertad, said Agusan del Norte First District Representative Lawrence
“Law” Fortun who is also the President of the host Butuan-Agusan Norte Football
Association (BANFA).
Fortun said this year’s football festival
promises to be bigger compared to the previous holding as it has gained
prestige and popularity in the football community.
“We are expecting at least 100 teams coming from
all over Mindanao and hopefully from the Visayas who will participate in the
2-day festival,” added Fortun.
He also revealed that with the number of players
that will be coming over for the tournament, this will be a boost to the effort
of the city government to promote tourism in the city as they will also get to
witness the celebration of the Balangay Festival.
The football festival will feature categories in
consonance with the grassroots development thrust of the Philippine Football
Federation (PFF) for which the festival is sanctioned, namely: under 6 years
old (mix), under 8 years old (mix), under 10 years old (mix), under 12 years
old (mix), under 14 years old (boys), under 16 years old (boys and girls),
men’s and women’s open, and 35 years old and above. (LAWig/PIA-Agusan del
Norte)
Tagalog News: Dating Senador Francis Pangilinan
itinalagang bagong gabinete, nakatakdang manumpa sa harap ni Pangulong Aquino
bukas
Ni David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Mayo 6 (PIA) - Itinalaga ni
Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III noong Lunes si dating Senador Francis
Pangilinan bilang Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural
Modernization, sabi ng Malakanyang.
Ang posisyon ni Pangilinan ay nasa rango ng
gabinite at siya ay nakatakdang manumpa ng kanyang katungkulan sa harap ng
Pangulo sa Music Room ng Palasyo sa hapon ng araw na ito.
Ito ay inanunsiyo ni Presidential Communications
Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. para kompirmahin ang
ulat na lumutang noong katapusan ng nakaraang linggo tungkol sa bagay na ito.
Sabi ni Coloma, ang katungkulan ni Pangilinan ay
kapareho ng kay dating Senador at ngayon ay Presidential Adviser on Rehabilitation
and Recovery Panfilo Lacson, “kaya siya ay hahawak din ng titulong Secretary.”
Mula noong nakaraang taon, bukas si Pangulong
Aquino sa kanyang plano na kunin si Pangilinan sa kanyang gabinite kasunod ng
kanyang 12 na taong paninilbihan sa Senado ng Pilipinas.
“Si Kiko sa partikular ay may maraming aspeto ng
sektor ng Agrikultura na gusto niyang tutukan. Isa siyang kasama sa partido.
Naitalakay na niya ang kanyang mga ideya kay Agriculture Secretary Proceso
Alcala at gusto niyang subukan ang kanyang pagkasangkot para sa benepisyo ng
sector ng Agrikultura,” sinabi ito ni Pangulong Aquino noong kapanayamin niya
ang media noong Marso, 2013. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Tagalog News: Nasa ERB na ang pagpasya na
tumingin sa dividend-sharing ayon sa ulat ng Meralco, sabi ng Palasyo
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Mayo 6 (PIA) - Sinabi ng
Malakanyang noong Lunes na ipinaubaya na sa Energy Regulatory Board (ERB) ang
pagtingin sa ulat na pinamahagi ng Manila Electric Company (Meralco) ang P7.3
bilyon na halaga ng dividends sa kanyang mga kasosyo.
“Parte ng tungkulin ng ERC ay kilalanin ang
katiyakan ng paggastos sa ginawang pamamahagi ng may kapangyarihan tanggapan
kagaya ng Meralco,” sabi ni Presidential Communication Operations Office
Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., sa kanyang pakipanayam sa media.
"Inatasan din ang PRC na siyang magpasya
kung makatuwiran ang bayarin sa koryente at ang pagsaayos ng singil nito,”
dagdag nito.
Alam niya na ang pamahalaan ay determinandong
ipagtanggol ang kapakanan ng mga mamamayan at segurohing ang singil ng koryente
ay nabalanse ng mabuti para hindi magiging pabigat sa mga tao.
Ang napaulat na dividend-sharing ay dumating sa
panahong inanunsiyo ng Meralco ang planong magpatupad ng mataas na singil sa
koryente.
Ayon sa ulat, ang Meralco ay naghahanap na itaas
angsingil ng koryente sa buwang ito ng masmababa sa P1 hanggang sa P1.72 per
kilowatt-hour (kWh). (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
