DILG, OPAPP implement CLIP in Caraga
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, July 23 (PIA) – The Department of
the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Caraga reported the status of the Comprehensive
Local Integration Program (CLIP) implementation in Caraga region, held on
Wednesday during the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting in one of
the local convention centers here.
“The implementation of the CLIP is based on the
Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2014-01 dated May 15, 2014 wherein DILG and
the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) have signed
it to institutionalize its implementation for the former New People’s Army
(NPA) rebels,” bared Luth Edmund Apresto, Local Government Operations Officer
II of DILG-Caraga.
Apresto disclosed that the CLIP seeks to
contribute towards achieving the goal of permanent and peaceful closure of all
armed conflicts with non-state armed groups.
“The CLIP aims to facilitate the mainstreaming of former rebels as
productive citizens and to enhance capacities of local government units and
national government agencies in the implementation and sustainability of the
project,” he said.
As to who can avail of the said program, Apresto
explained that the following can avail of the CLIP: regular members of the NPA
who have expressed the desire to abandon armed violence; NPA who surfaced in
2011 and those who have not received full assistance under the defunct Social
Integration Program (SIP); and former rebels’ spouses, partners, children
(whether legitimate or illegitimate), parents or siblings.
Also, Magdalena Barrios, Area Manager for
Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) of OPAPP reported that there
were former rebels in the region that have availed of the program.
"In Agusan del Sur, 96 former rebels were
profiled. The provincial government has provided each of the former rebel
financial assistance in the amount of P5,000, which two of them came from
Surigao del Sur. The turned-in firearms were also enrolled under the AFP Guns
for Peace Program," announced Barrios.
Barrios added that the DILG in the respective
provinces of Caraga will soon release the reintegration assistance of 29 former
rebels from Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.
“Under the CLIP, those rebels who will surrender
to the government with firearms will be given monetary assistance amounting to
P15,000.00 and P50,000.00 for livelihood assistance. Among other assistance for
the rebels include the additional training or educational support for them and
their dependents,” Barrios emphasized.
Meanwhile, Barrios further revealed that their
next step is to fulfill the following: Creation of the CLIP Committee;
Strategic Planning Workshop for CLIP Committee; Orientation of CLIP for all
agencies concerned; and Ceremonial Signing (convergence). (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
AgSur blood coordinating council collects 1,747
bags
By David M. Suyao
PATIN-AY, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, July 23
(PIA) - The Provincial Blood Coordinating Council (PBCC), thru its technical
blood program team (TBPT) has collected a total of 1,747 bags of 500cc blood
from various donors provincewide from January to June this year, according to
reports by the TBPT to the PBCC.
In a meeting conducted on Tuesday, a total of
1,565 bags were taken from field donation during the mobile blood donation
conducted by the BPT in barangays who volunteer to donate blood. Replacement of
used blood by patients of the D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital reached 56 bags, 90
bags from the walk-in donors and another 36 bags from patients directed to
produce donors in order to get the needed blood especially when the type of
blood needed by the patient is out of stock at the hospital’s blood bank.
Usage of the blood collected by the PBCC does
not only limit in the D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital although it registers the
highest usage with 1,137 bags since January until June this year. San Francisco
Doctors Hospital ranked second with 217, while the Bunawan District Hospital
ranked third with 103 bags. Hospitals as far as Davao City, Tagum City, Butuan
City, Agusan del Norte, Compostela Valley province and Surigao del Sur also
availed the blood collected by the PBCC in times of their needs.
Darwina Ligan, Philippine Red Cross Agusan del
Sur Chapter also reported that as of June 2014, the blood program in Agusan del
Sur under the PBCC operations has already spent P2,508,700 for blood reagents
alone. While the provincial government’s unique support budget amounting to
P1.8 million was already expended, Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza added P309,600 from
his discretionary fund while each municipality’s annual aid to the blood
program worth P50,000 each totaling to P399,700 was also spent in order to cope
up with the required amount until June.
According to Vilma Mabras of the Provincial
Budget Office, another P700,000 was allocated starting July until December this
year from the supplementary fund to cover the cost of the reagents while the
rigid collection of the municipal financial aid worth P50,000 each is enforced.
It can be recalled that the provincial
government has set aside fund to support the blood program of Agusan del Sur in
the amount of P1.8 million to cover the cost of the reagents but due to rising
demand of blood, supplementary funds are needed.
Patients from Agusan del Sur who are in need of
blood no longer pay for the processing fee worth P1,500 per bag because of the
support given by the provincial government. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
7.8 MW power plant inaugurated in SurSur
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, July 23 (PIA) - A
7.8-megawatt diesel-fired power plant aimed at augmenting the province’s peak
power demand was inaugurated on Monday, July 21. The power plant is owned by
King Energy Generation Incorporation (KEGI) situated at Sitio Panubigan in
Barangay Telaje, this city.
First district representative Philip Pichay
hailed the power plant as a welcome development for the province, which could
curtail the power shortage in the province and making it friendlier to
business.
“The establishment of the first power plant in
Surigao del Sur was realized thru a collaboration effort and hard work of the
Surigao del Sur Electric Cooperative (SURSECO II) management, and the local
officials in order to address the power shortage in the province,” said SURSECO
II President Reynaldo Sindo.
Sindo said brownouts have extremely affected the
business and the people in this province that previously experienced daily
fluctuation for several hours during dry season.
“The good thing with KEGI is that there will be
no more fluctuation in this province,” said Rep. Pichay.
With the 10-year-five-megawatt deal that SURSECO
II was able to forge with KEGI, the latter is obliged to provide the
electricity needed in case of power breakdown.
SURSECO II spans its service coverage to the
entire first district of the province with 12 municipalities including Tandag
City. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
2015-2016 DOST scholarship now open
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, July 23 (PIA) - The Department of
Science and Technology (DOST) Caraga is now accepting applicants to the 2015
DOST-Science Education Institute (SEI) Undergraduate scholarship for Republic
Act 7687 and Merit Programs, says regional director Dominga D. Mallonga.
According to director Mallonga, the selection of
scholars will be conducted through a written examination to be held nationwide
on September 21, 2014 in the seven testing centers in the region to include the
DOST regional office in Butuan City; Patin-ay National High School in
Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur; Surigao del Norte National High School in Surigao
City; Jacinto P. Elpa National High School in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur;
Bislig National High School in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur; Don Ruben E. Ecleo
Sr. National High School in the province of Dinagat Islands, and Dapa National
High School in Siargao, Surigao del Norte.
Also, DOST senior science research specialist
and DOST Caraga scholarship coordinator Norma Alli said, their agency is also
requesting additional testing venue -
the Roxas National High School in San Isidro in Siargao Island, Surigao
del Norte.
Alli said, the scholarship is open to all
qualified graduating high school students from public and private high schools
nationwide, said director Mallonga.
“DOST offers two types of undergraduate
scholarships, the RA 7687 for qualified applicants who belong to families with
low socio-economic status and MERIT for qualified applicants regardless of
their families' socio-economic status," Alli added.
To be eligible to take the scholarship
examination, an applicant must possess the following qualifications:
Eligibility for RA 7687 Undergraduate
Scholarship
1. natural-born Filipino citizen;
2. poor, talented, and deserving student who
belongs to a family whose socio-economic status does not exceed the set values
of certain indicators;
3. top five percent (5%) of the regular high
school graduating class; or
4. member of the graduating class of a DOST-SEI
identified or DepEd recognized science high school;
5. resident of the municipality for the last
four years as attested by the barangay;
6. of good moral character and in good health;
and
7. qualifier of the 2014 S&T Scholarship
examination.
Eligibility for Merit Undergraduate Scholarship
1. natural-born Filipino citizen;
2. top five percent (5%) of the regular high
school graduating class; or
3. member of the graduating class of a DOST-SEI
identified or DepEd recognized science high school;
4. of good moral character and in good health;
and
5. qualifier of the 2014 S&T Scholarship
examination.
Director Mallonga also said that passers of 2015
DOST Scholarship exam will have the following privileges: tuition and other
school fees (P8,000/semester for RA7687 and Merit); book allowance of P5,000
per year; PE uniform allowance of P500 for the first semester of the year; and
transportation allowance stipends.
The scholarship qualifiers can enroll in state
universities and colleges and other higher education institutions recognized by
the Commission on Higher Education as Centers of Excellence or Centers of
Development, wherein they can take up priority science and technology courses
such as Agriculture, Agricultural Biotechnology; Agricultural Chemistry;
Agricultural Engineering; Applied Mathematics; Applied Physics; Biochemistry;
Biology; Ceramics Engineering; Chemistry with Applied Computer System;
Chemistry with Materials Science and Engineering; Chemistry Engineering;
Chemistry; Civil Engineering; Computer Engineering; Computer Science;
Electrical Engineering; Electronics and Communications Engineering;
Environmental Science; Fisheries; Food Technology; Forestry; Geology; Geodetic
Engineering; Industrial Engineering; Information Technology; Manufacturing
Engineering; Materials Engineering; Mathematics; Mechanical Engineering;
Metallurgical Engineering; Mining Engineering; Molecular Biology and Biotechnology;
Physics; Physics with Applied Computer System; Physics with Material Science
and Engineering; Science/Mathematics Teaching and Statistics.
The DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarship Program
is the Department’s response to its mandate of accelerating the pace of
knowledge-driven development in accordance with the S&T human resource
growth potential in the country, director Mallonga said.
Application forms are available at the DOST
Caraga Regional Office, Caraga State University Compound, Ampayon, Butuan City
and DOST Provincial Offices in Patin-ay, Agusan del Sur, Surigao City , Bislig
and Tandag City and can be downloaded at http//www.science-scholarships.ph,
director Mallonga added.
Deadline for submission of application form and
supporting documents is on August 22, 2014.
For inquiries, please visit or call DOST-Caraga
at telephone number (085) 341-9551. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
Science chief reports on two-year performance of
Project NOAH; 5,060 barangay flood hazard maps done through LiDAR technology
MANILA, July 23 - Two years after the launch of
the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards or Project NOAH in July 6,
2012 in Marikina City, the program has considerably made significant milestones
in the area of disaster preparedness and mitigation.
After the directive of President Benigno S.
Aquino III for government to implement a comprehensive disaster preparedness
and mitigation program that would allow warning agencies to deliver information
on weather through early warning for early action, the Department of Science
and Technology (DOST) created the Project NOAH.
“It is the aim of Project NOAH to provide
accurate and timely weather information that will allow us a six-hour lead time
and rainfall forecast to give the people enough time to evacuate and do the
necessary actions to prevent damage to properties and loss of lives,” Secretary
Mario G. Montejo said.
During the 2nd anniversary celebration of
Project NOAH at the PAGASA Main Lobby Sec. Montejo also disclosed that Project
NOAH was created made using local technology and developed by Filipino
scientists for the Filipino people.
“We are able to harness Filipino talent in
Project NOAH particularly in the hydromet sensors we have installed all over
the country. The Advanced Science and Technology Institute of the DOST is the
one responsible for the local fabrication of almost 1,000 automated rain
gauges, water level sensors and weather stations installed in the 18 major
river basins,” Montejo said.
Also in attendance was the DRRMO Head of
Marikina City Dr. Val Barcinal who gave his testimony on how NOAH was
instrumental during the habagat episode and succeeding typhoon events in
achieving zero-casualty in the city.
“The Project NOAH website is one of the
information dissemination platforms designed by the government to mitigate and
prevent disaster. These benefits were obtained from Project NOAH. Like in the
Book of Genesis, it was a saving grace for the City of Marikina,” said Dr.
Barcinal.
With the Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment
for Mitigation or DREAM project under the Project NOAH, all the 18 major river
systems have been surveyed and data collected to create flood hazard maps. To
this date, 5,060 barangays have already flood hazard maps out of the 18,000
barangays covered by the LiDAR data gathering.The flood hazard maps will help
barangays pinpoint the specific areas in their locality that are safe and
unsafe for evacuation and relocation sites.
Another project under NOAH, called Weather
Information-Integration for Systems Enhancement or WISE, now provides 7-day
weather forecast enhanced from data gathered from PAGASA. NOAH WISE committed
to soon come up with seasonal forecast six months in advance.
“With the 7-day forecast we are able to provide
valuable information to the public that will be very useful in the everyday
life of Mang Juan and Aling Maria. Later when we can do seasonal forecasts, our
farmers will be informed of what crops to plant and when is the best time to
plant, thereby increasing agricultural productivity,” Montejo stated.
(DOST/PIA-Caraga)
DA releases P266.5 million for agri projects in
Caraga
By Emmylou T. Presilda
BUTUAN CITY, July 23 (PIA) - The Department of
Agriculture Regional Field Office (DA-RFO 13) has released a total of P266.543
Million that financed various agriculture related projects in the region in
2013 under the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB).
GPB, formerly known as Bottom-Up Budgeting or
BuB, is an approach to formulating the budget proposal of national government
agencies, taking into consideration the development needs of poor
cities/municipalities as identified in their respective local poverty reduction
action plans that is formulated with strong participation of basic sectors and
civil society organizations (CSOs).
In Caraga Region where 45 percent of the
communities are into farming and fishing, the implementation of GPB in 2013 has
opened opportunities for the local government units (LGUs) and CSOs to avail of
financing for their identified livelihood or infrastructure projects.
A total of 43 LGUs with corresponding 73 CSO’s
has received financing according to their proposed agri-related projects. These include: production inputs such as
seeds, fertilizers, vermicast; construction/rehab of production facilities;
livelihood projects on crops, livestock, and fisheries; construction of
farm-to-market roads; construction of trading post; and, provision of post
harvest facilities. Recipients of the
said interventions were also trained and capacitated to ensure project
sustainability.
Regional Director Edna M. Mabeza said that the
DA Regional Office is pinning high hopes on the success of the different
projects being implemented by the LGUs/CSOs under the GPB.
“We are requesting for cooperation from all
stakeholders for the mutual benefit of all concerned which ultimately redound
to the attainment of objectives of this noble project – inclusive growth and
poverty reduction,” Mabeza added.
This year, DA will continue to implement around
half a billion worth of agri-related projects approved under GPB to 64 LGUs
with corresponding 428 subprojects. (DA-13/PIA-Caraga)
TESDA advocates craft 2nd Sem ComPlan
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, July 23 (PIA) - To ensure smooth
implementation of the agency’s advocacy and promotions, regional information
officers of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
attended the two-day Communications Planning workshop held recently at TESDA Women’s
Center, Taguig City.
The activity, which was originally scheduled for
three days, was conducted in two days because of typhoon Glenda that hit Metro
Manila on July 16, 2014.
“We will have to squeeze the topics scheduled
for three days into two days but we have to make sure that everything will be
taken up smoothly so that you can internalize all what we are going to
discuss,” said Carlos Munda, Lighthouse Communications Group President who was
invited as guest speaker.
The participants have crafted the second
semester’s communication plan for every region following the TESDA message
house which highlighted the two outcomes of the agency: 1. Filipinos with
competencies and life skills to pursue economic opportunities and, 2.
Leadership, Management, Innovation.
In her message, TESDA Linkages and Partnership
Office and Public Information Office Executive Director Marta M. Hernandez
emphasized the need for the agency to create Communications Plan that will
serve as a guide in implementing the advocacy and promotions campaign of the
agency.
“So that all our efforts in disseminating news
and information to the general public will be rewarded, we have to come-up with
a system where all of us must follow to ensure that we are in one direction,”
Hernandez said.
Hernandez added, “in this way, we can achieve
wider reach of disseminating the programs of our agency, empowering the
Filipino people of acquiring first-hand information of any developments that
our agency have."
Hernandez further said in order to achieve the
agency’s outcomes, there is a need expand access to quality
technical-vocational education through scholarship programs such as the Private
Education Students’ Financial Assistance (PESFA), Skills Development Program
under the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB), Mobile Training
Laboratories, Skills and Livelihood Training in Yolanda-affected areas, and
implementing the Special Training for Employment Program (STEP).
When asked on how TESDA can develop workforce
competencies required in key growth areas, Hernandez said, this can be attained
through the implementation of Institution-based Training Programs, Training for
Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), Enterprise-based Training Programs, Labor
Market Information, Competency Assessment and Certification, Quality Assured
Tech-voc system, and the Philippine Qualification Framework.
To implement good governance system, Hernandez
said the public must be informed that TESDA has good governance certification
after the agency has been internationally certified by ISO 9001:2008. “They
must also be informed that TESDA has ICT-enabled systems through the TESDA
on-line programs and Tech-Voc information system," she said.
Lastly, Hernandez said one way to engage industry
in the provision of tech-voc services is to involve industry representatives in
the development and implementation of standards and curricula.
Meanwhile, Munda discussed the Use of Social
Media as Promotional Tool for every organization. He pointed out that with the
adverse of technology that is utilized at present, there is a need to level up
the communication strategies that every organization must adopt “may it be
private or public organizations.”
However, Munda said there is a need for every administrator
of social networking sites to observe proper posting of information because
this will “make or break” the reputation and integrity of the organization that
is being promoted.
He likewise emphasized that the use of
traditional media is still effective nowadays. “There is still a need to create
or strengthen linkage with the tri-media personalities in your respective areas
because they are our information dissemination multipliers, thus, they must be
our partners in this effort,” Munda said.
Munda also stressed the reason why information
officers exist not only because they need to write press releases regularly.
“Most importantly, we always have to strengthen our coordinative efforts with
them to ensure long-time partnership,” Munda said.
This undertaking is in support to the Philippine
Development Plan particularly in informing the Filipino people of what the
government has been doing, ensuring the reliability, integrity and dignity of
government information. (TESDA-13/PIA-Caraga)
Solid financial performance brings SSS asset
level to P415-B
MANILA, July 23 (PIA) - Building on its solid
financial performance since the start of the year, the Social Security System
(SSS) saw its total assets expand by eight percent to P415 billion as of May
2014, showing a growth of over P30 billion in just five months from its P385
billion asset level as of December 2013.
May Catherine Ciriaco, SSS Vice President for
Management Services and Planning, credited the increase in assets to the six
percent growth in investment level, which stood at P401 billion as of May 2014,
compared to P371 billion as of end of last year. Ninety-seven percent of SSS
assets are in the form of investments.
“The growth in assets augurs well for SSS’ drive
to improve the system’s long-term viability and regain a perpetual fund life of
70 years, in line with international social security standards,” noted Ciriaco.
Based on results of the latest SSS actuarial valuation, SSS funds are currently
projected to last until 2043, with four years recently added to its fund life
as a result of the 0.6 percent contribution rate hike and the new P16,000
maximum monthly salary credit effective January 2014.
Total revenues reached P64 billion during the
first five months of 2014, up eight percent from P59 billion for the same
period last year. Contribution collections, representing 77 percent of
revenues, surged 16 percent to P49 billion, with the bulk of payments coming
from the employed sector. Combined contributions from regular and household
employees jumped by 16 percent to P42 billion; self-employed workers by 10
percent to P2 billion; and voluntary members by 23 percent to P4 billion.
Ciriaco said SSS investment and other income
surpassed the P9 billion target for the five-month period by 59 percent
primarily accounted for by equity earnings.
On the expenditure side, P41 billion or 93
percent were attributed to benefit payments, which went up by 16 percent due to
streamlined claims processing -- particularly for death, disability and
retirement (DDR) that normally comprise majority of benefit payouts. For the
first five months of 2014, DDR payments totaled P38 billion, or 93 percent of
benefit releases for the period.
Benefit payments during this five-month period
also covered the six months’ worth of advanced pension disbursed to pensioners
affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda.
Meanwhile, operating expenses (opex) posted a
modest increase of four percent to P3 billion, utilizing only 49 percent of
allowed charter limit. The higher opex can be attributed to other initiatives
such as conducting information campaigns, and expanding and relocating SSS
office spaces to provide better facilities for members. (SSS/PIA-Caraga)
International forum seeks to strengthen human
resource in EAGA
DAVAO CITY, July 23 (PIA) - Aiming to revive and
strengthen the human resource linkages within the BIMP-EAGA, a Technical and
Vocational Education and Training (TVET) forum is pursued to encourage
multi-sector collaboration in technical education, training, and vocational
industries within the sub-region.
Organized as a side event to the upcoming 2nd
BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT Trade Fair and Business Leaders’ Meeting, the forum which
is slated on October 22 at the Seda Hotel here in this city, will gather more
than 50 leaders and human resource enablers from EAGA-member countries.
“We cannot stress enough the significant
contributions of a skilled and globally competitive human resource in economic
development, and we hope to facilitate open exchanges of ideas on how to
further strengthen the TVET sector in BIMP-EAGA during this forum,” said TVET
Forum organizer Joji Ilagan-Bian, who is also the founding chair of the
Mindanao TVET Association.
Bian added that a new and strengthened
collaboration among BIMP-EAGA’s TVET leaders will further expand the employment
opportunities for Mindanao and Palawan’s TVET graduates. The two key islands
are Philippines’ focus areas for BIMP-EAGA.
“More than a decade ago, we had a BIMP-EAGA
Human Resource Development working group, solely focusing on enhancing the
competencies and income of the sub-region’s workforce. We are confident that
this forum will revive that initiative,” said Janet Lopoz, executive director
of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).
The BIMP-EAGA sub-economic cooperation serves as
a test-bed for ASEAN protocols and is seen as a significant building block
towards achieving ASEAN Integration in 2015.
Through the Mutual Recognition Arrangements for the services sector,
ASEAN member-countries commit to recognize the education or experience
including licenses and certifications granted by the Philippine Government to
its overseas workers.
Among the expected results of the forum are
joint-venture agreements on TVET initiatives within the BIMP-EAGA particularly
on student and faculty exchanges, trade skills competitions and the mutual
recognition of skills standards among EAGA-member countries.
“We must in a way be able to respond to the
various competing labor demands, which will likely emerge within the next 20
years, both here and abroad,” Lopoz said while adding, “the international forum
could also facilitate increased socio-cultural exchange in BIMP-EAGA.”
The 2nd BIMP-EAGA & IMT-GT Trade Fair and
Business Leaders’ Meeting is slated from October 23-26 at the SMX Convention
Center, SM Lanang Premier, Davao City.
BIMP-EAGA stands for Brunei Darussalam Indonesia
Malaysia the Philippine East ASEAN Growth Area while the IMT-GT stand for
Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Growth Triangle. Top business leaders from these
five countries are expected to converge during the four-day event, with the
overall goal of promoting trade, investment, and tourism within the ASEAN
region. (MinDA/PIA-Caraga)
Rubber production training benefits farmers in
AgNor
By Aimee Battad Sienes
BUTUAN CITY, July 23 (PIA) - The Sangguniang
Panlalawigan of Agusan del Norte was grateful to the Department of Agriculture
(DA) and JCA Rubber Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (JARBEMCO) for the
successful conduct of training on rubber production and tapping system that
benefited the farmers of the municipality of Las Nieves, this province.
In its Sanggunian Resolution No. 159-2014,
authored by Provincial Board Member Virgilio R. Escasinas, Jr., the body
expressed its gratitude to the DA and JARBEMCO for imparting knowledge and
skills in tapping and the proper harvesting for quality production of cuplam
from rubber trees and to secure a higher price in the market.
A group of farmers from Barangays Casiklan,
Durian, Ibuan and Maningalao, including also punong barangays and kagawads
attended the 4-day live-in training just recently. Rubber-based farming is a
growing industry in the municipality of Las Nieves and an increasing hectares
of lands in the area are now cultivated along with the intercropping of cash
crops like coffee, cacao, corn and others.
It is also one of the primary high value crops
the DA is promoting considering its marketability and the adaptability of Las
Nieves land areas and its climate that favors rubber farming. With this training,
the rubber-based farmers will now be guided in their rubber-based farming
endeavors. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Tandag City seeks media, public support against
dengue
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, July 23 (PIA) – The city government
here led by Mayor Roxanne Pimentel has sought the help of media to drum up its
campaign against dengue.
Through former mayor, now city administrator
Alexander Pimentel, the local government unit (LGU) has appealed to radio
stations to announce “as frequently as possible” the anti-dengue campaign
slogan contained in the “info-education-communication (IEC) material” of the
Department of Health (DOH).
According to Pimentel, dengue cases have been
alarming in recent months, citing the Adela Serra-Ty Memorial Medical Center
(ASTMMC) report for the period March 3 – July 3, 2014 which indicated “92
‘suspected’ cases’” based on “actual hospital admission.”
“The spike, which was first noted in April (14
cases), sharply registered 41 cases in June,” he wrote in a communication
letter dated July 17.
Pimentel bared that in the city alone, 13 out of
21 barangays have already made it to the list of dengue-hit areas, where Telaje
tops them all at 24 cases.
Other barangays mentioned in descending order
based on the number of cases are: Bagong Lungsod – 14; Mabua – 12; Dagocdoc –
10; Bungtod – 8; Buenavista – 7; Rosario – 5;
Bioto – 3; San Agustin Norte, San Agustin Sur, and Quezon – 3 each; and
Maticdum and Salvacion – 1 apiece.
“The City Government of Tandag has once again
rolled out its anti-dengue campaign to avert the increasing trend in the
short-term, and to prevent further cases in the long-term,” he continued.
“Knowing the enormity of the problem, the
anti-dengue campaign is designed to involve as many stakeholders as possible,”
Pimentel added.
Early this month, Assistant Provincial
Administrator Tomasito Pareja has already warned the public against the
increasing number of dengue cases. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
