FIRST PIA OFFICE OUTSIDE METRO MANILA TO RISE IN BAGUIO PCOO, DOH HAND OVER UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE KITS TO MIPAGA TS

First PIA office outside Metro Manila to rise in Baguio

By Dionisio Dennis, Jr. and Liza Agoot

GROUNDBREAKING. Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary and Philippine Information Agency Director General Ramon Cualoping III (left) leads the laying of the time capsule of the P26 million PIA-Cordillera regional office in Baguio City on Monday (May 31, 2021). It will be the first PIA building outside the National Capital Region and is one of the four buildings the agency will build this year. (PNA photo by Redjie Melvic Cawis)

The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) will construct the first Philippine Information Agency (PIA) office outside the National Capital Region here. to the Filipino public, with the final goal of seeing the quality of their lives improved and empowered to participate in the country’s democratic processes.

“The essence of information is always by telling of the truth. And this is the foundation by which the PIA has stood for in its entire existence.

PIA is one of the agencies under the PCOO that is mandated to disseminate information about government programs, projects, and services Most importantly, the strength of our national communications system is the professionalism and integrity of the women and men of the work desk of the agency and that is where the structures of the facility that will rise shall serve the Cordilleras,” PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar said in a video message played during the groundbreaking activity in Barangay DPS

on Monday.

Andanar said the PIA is a communication source and mechanism vital for the government and the people.

“It is the interactive medium that connects the data of government services and other programs that are downloaded to the remotest communities in the country. The rapid growth of development is best served when the needs of our people are served,” he said.

PCOO Undersecretary Ramon Cualoping III, the PIA Director General, said it is the first PIAowned building outside Metro Manila. “I think this is the success of the entire PIA Cordillera team. This is history for the 35th year of PIA,” he said in a speech at the event. The building worth PHP26 million is one of four PIA buildings to be constructed this year.

“Sa ilalim ni Pangulong [Rodrigo] Duterte, sa ilalim ni Sec. Andanar at sa tulong ni Senator (Christopher Lawrence) Bong Go na rin sa legislation sa budget, magpapatayo ng apat na building this year (During the term of President Duterte, under the leadership of Secretary Andanar, and with the help of Senator Bong Go who legislated the budget, four buildings will be erected this year). I think it is a very good birthday gift for the PIA for the 35 years,” Cualoping said. The other building in the Cordillera will be in Tabuk City, Kalinga.

The PIA building in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan will also break ground this week while it will be the turn of the Region 9 office in Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur within the month.

Cualoping assured that the PIA, together with the People’s Television Network, Radyo Pilipinas, and the Philippine News Agency as well as other media outfits, will continue to perform their functions to provide information amid challenges.

“We will not stop working 24/7 together with our colleagues in the private media to provide information that will equip the people with the correct knowledge which is very important especially during the pandemic,” he said. (PNA)

PCOO, DOH hand over universal health care kits to Mipaga TS

By Claire R. Gigje

Almira Ali Racman, a resident at Bahay Pag-asa - Phase 2, shows her universal health care kit from the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and the Department of Health (DOH) after emotionally expressing her gratitude for the continuous overwhelming support given by the government in their area. (PIA-ICIC)

As part of the observance of the week-long Marawi Week of Peace and the continuous battle against the coronavirus disease (COVID) - 19, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) together with the Department of Health (DOH) distributed universal health care kits to internally displaced persons (IDPs) at Bahay Pag-asa - Phase 2, a transitory shelter in Brgy. Mipaga, Sunday, May 23.

PCOO Director Ma. Florinda Princess Duque shared that the initiative was to extend awareness to the people in distant places about the government’s programs and efforts, especially with regards to this time’s health crisis.

“Talagang pumupunta kami sa mga barangay para ipahiwatig kung ano po ba talaga iyong ang mga ginagawang nating programa lalong lalo na nilalabanan natin ang COVID-19 na pandemyang ito… Maraming programa si President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at nais naming ibahagi iyon sa inyo, ishare sa inyo kasi para sa inyo ang programa ni President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” she said.

[We really go to barangays to explain what really are the programs we push especially now that we are fighting against this COVID-19 pandemic… President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has lots of programs and we want this to share with you because the programs of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte are all for you.]

PCOO Asec. Jusan Vincent Arcena then stressed that what the office is doing through its Laging Handa program is an intensified information education campaign that

every Filipino needs.

“Hanggang sa mga kanayunan, hanggang sa mga liblib na lugar ay dinadayo po ng PCOO at gumagawa kami ng mga information education campaign materials para iparating sa lahat ng ating kababayan ang mga dapat nilang malamang mga impormasyon, mga vital, relevant at importante po sa inyong pagdedesisyon,” he emphasized.

[PCOO visits the countryside, the remote areas and we make information and education campaign materials to convey to all of our fellowmen the information that they need to know, those that are vital, relevant and important in their decision-making.] Inside the universal health care kit were a shirt, mug, notebook and IEC materials. Further, Laging Handa calendars were also given to extend knowledge to the receivers on the proper precautions whenever they are in an emergency situation and the proper way of wearing a face mask.

Meanwhile, beneficiaries of the kits conveyed their gratitude for the conducted community extension.

“Maraming salamat sa kanila kasi hanggang nandito kami, nandito rin sila. Hindi natatapos ang pamimigay nila sa amin. Kahit paano naiibsan ang aming nararamdaman sa ground zero,” Almira Ali Racman, a resident at Bahay Pag-asa - Phase 2, emotionally expressed. According to them, the effort only proves that the government never forgets about them.

“Maganda po ito kasi nasa puso niyo pa po kami… Tuloy-tuloy po [ang tulong ng gobyerno],” stated Linang Macaumbos, a resident of the visited transitory shelter.

[This is wonderful because we are still in your hearts… [The help from the government is] still continuous.]

The distribution of healthcare kits to the IDPs in Brgy. Mipaga was also joined by Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) - Social Healing and Peace (SHAPE) Department Director Vanessa Pallarco, 12th CivilMilitary Operations (CMO) Commanding Officer LTC David Taqueban, and 55th Engineer Brigade Civil-Military Operations (CMO) Officer Lt. Keeley Joy Betino.

The Army Engineers also facilitated the transport of the kits from Laguindingan Airport to the distribution venue. (CRG/PIA-ICIC)

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte presides over a meeting with the InterAgency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members prior to his talk to the people at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on May 31, 2021. ROBINSON NIÑAL/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Duterte places NCR Plus, other areas under GCQ in June

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has extended the general community quarantine (GCQ) “with heightened restrictions” enforced in National Capital Region (NCR) Plus from June 1 to 15 to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The NCR Plus is composed of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.

President Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) during a meeting with pandemic task force officials on Monday, May 31, at the Malacañang Golf Clubhouse.

In his weekly public address, the President also placed 13 areas under GCQ for the whole month of June. These are Baguio City, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Abra, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Batangas, Quezon, Iligan City, Davao City, Lanao del Sur, and Cotabato City.

Meanwhile, 12 areas will be under the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from June 1 to 15 due to higher number of COVID-19 infections.

These areas are the City of Santiago in Isabela, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Puerto Princesa City, Iloilo City, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Cagayan de Oro City, Butuan City, and Agusan del Sur.

The rest of the country is under the least strict quarantine classification, modified GCQ (MGCQ) for the entire month of June. As of May 31, the Philippines has logged 6,684 new COVID-19 cases, putting the number of active cases to 54,290, according to the Department of Health (DOH). The country has recorded a total of 1,155,045 recoveries and 20,966 deaths. PND