Rep. Pulong wants pay hike for public social workers

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Davao City First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte is spearheading the passage of a bill that will increase the pay of public social workers as recognition for their indispensable role in assisting the poor and other vulnerable sectors of society.

Duterte, together with Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Edvic Yap, filed House Bill (HB) 7573, which pro- posed that the entry-level pay of public social workers be increased from Salary Grade 10 or

Rodriguez family goes to SC, files TRO vs Samal-Davao Bridge Project

A petition for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) has been filed by the Rodriguez family before the Supreme Court to stop the construction of the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Project.

Lawyer Ramon Edison Batacan, lead counsel of the Rodriguez family, bared on Tuesday that the petition was filed on March 16, 2023.

Batacan told Edge Davao that the nature of the petition is “continuing mandamus and prohibition.”

The petition maintained the contention that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) committed brazen violations of the law “to the utter prejudice of the environment and the rule of law, and without regard to the protected area status of the Samal Island Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve, chief of which are the lack of a valid Protected Area Management Board (“PAMB”) Clearance from the PAMB explicitly mandated by Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act, as amended by the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act before the issuance of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for the SIDC Project; and the project implementation without the requisite permits and clearances DPWH undertook to secure as reported in the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Project—Environmental Impact Assessment Report (Final 5 October 2020).

“The manifest disregard for the law undercuts the very foundation of our environmental laws and the EIA process, especially the legal safeguards instituted to preserve the country’s protected areas. Petitioners’ efforts before the Executive Branch to correct the defects of the ECC have failed through government indifference and inaction,” Batacan said.

FRODRIGUEZ, P6

Pre-disaster assessment for long dry spell set today

The Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office is set to lead this week a pre-disaster risk assessment to ensure preparation for the long dry spell as there is a chance that localized thunderstorms may not continue at the height of the El Niño phenomenon, which was projected to start June 2023 and will end in the first months of 2024.

CDRRMO head Alfredo Baloran, in an interview on Monday, said that they will gather the response clusters – the concerned offices – on May 17, to conduct a half-day assessment for their preparations. The clusters will be asked about their response preparations to ensure that even with the upcoming dry spell, the food security of the city will be ensured.

He said that joining the pre-disaster risk assessment are the City Agriculturist Office and the City Social Welfare and Development Office, in case there will be areas that will face food shortages. The City Engineer’s Office (CEO) was also invited to share engineering measures and to also help the CaGRO.

“[We will check] kung kaning mga areas nga makasinati og drought pwede ba nato siya mapadal-an og tubig, or [iimprove] ang irrigation (We will check if these areas that will be hit by the drought can be sent water or improve their irrigation),” Baloran said.

On the petition for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) has been filed by the Rodriguez family before the Supreme Court to stop the construction of the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Project:

While the number of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2010) cases are going down, such is not the case of those infected with HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome).

While the overall trend of HIV incidence and AIDS-related deaths are declining globally, an increase in new cases was reported to the HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP) in the recent decade.

In 2012, there were only approximately nine new HIV cases every day,” wrote Dr. Louie Mar A. Gangcuango and Patrick C. Eustaquio in their collaborative report, “The State of HIV Epidemic in the Philippines: Progress and Challenges in 2023.” “In 2023, however, there were 46 cases reported daily, a stunning 411% increase in daily incidence in 10 years.”

Populations disproportionately affected by HIV are classified into key populations and vulnerable populations.

Key populations comprised 92% of the new infections in 2022, according to Gangcuango and Eustaquio. Key populations include males having sex with males (MSM), transgender

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

CAN HIV/AIDS STILL BE CURTAILED?

women, sex workers, trafficked women and girls, and people who inject drugs (PWID).

Vulnerable populations include migrant workers, people with disabilities, people in enclosed spaces, and female partners of key populations.

Now, the bad news: In Davao Region, Davao City ranked on top of the report for highest incidence of HIV cases for same sex partners, reports EDGE Davao’s Maya Padillo. Her source of information was the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP).

During the recent Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao, it was disclosed that HIV cases among MSMs – described as those in the “productive age” (25-35 years old) – “continues to increase.”

“Why cases of MSM so high?” asked Herminigilda Escalante, spokesperson of FPOFDavao. “The reason, in our opinion, is there is selling of bodies. These young people are now in their inquisitive level. Those who are engaged in sex for fee are not only for simple pleasure. In our observation, there is prostitution among young males in selling their bodies.”

Data from the Department of Health (DOH) in January

2023 showed that approximately 70% of all HIV cases were among males who have sex with other males, and 17% were among males who have sex with both males and females.

A “looming disaster.” That’s how a national paper columnist described the situation of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines.

Dr. Rafael R. Castillo, who writes a regular column for Philippine Daily Inquirer and editor-in-chief of Health and Lifestyle, urged the government to take a hard look at the alarming statistics “and make a serious and willful effort to curb” the alarming situation. If nothing is done, the Philippines may wake up one day as the “epicenter of a growing HIV epidemic in the region,” according to Dr. Edsel Salvaña, the director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the National Institutes of Health at the University of the Philippines.

“If we’re not vigilant, we just might be a few mutations away from a resurgence of the AIDS virus which can cause pandemic spread of the disease,” warned Dr. Salvaña, a molecular epidemiologist who’s one of the few scientists in Asia doing advanced biomo-

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

“There are no facts, only interpretations.” - FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE.

*******

It gives you a sense of relief - and comfort I may add - when you hear and read of the DBM praising the country’s economic performance on a season where inflation - commonly seen in the price increase of onions - is not waning.

Sometimes, you can call it a contradiction of sorts because the poor Juan dela Cruz and family continue to reel from the seemingly non-stop increase in the prices of commodities in the wet market and in the groceries and supermarkets.

DMB chief Amenah Pangandaman aired her satisfaction after the Philippines posted a 6.4 percent GDP (gross domestic product) gerowth in the first quarter of 2023.

In a statement released to the media, Pangandaman said: “With lecular or genomic studies to determine the mutation of the HIV.

These days, however, being infected with HIV is no longer a death sentence. “HIV is not and should not be a death sentence anymore,” pointed out Dr. Gangcuangco in an interview. “If HIV is detected early and if the patient takes antiretrovirals early, the virus can be controlled.”

However, in order to be treated, you need to know if you have HIV. And you will only find out if you undergo HIV testing. “Testing for HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections is strongly advised for all people exposed to any of the risk factors,” said the World Health Organization (WHO) in its website. “This way people learn of their own infection status and access necessary prevention and treatment services without delay.”

However, all HIV testing services must follow the 5 principles recommended by WHO: consent (informed), confidentiality, counselling, correct test results, and connection (linkage to care, treatment and other services).

In Davao City, there are three facilities where people can go to be tested for HIV:

Southern Philippine Medical Center in Bajada, Davao Doctors Hospital in Quirino Street, and Davao Reproductive Health and Wellness Center in Emilio Jacinto Street. In Tagum City, they can go to Davao Regional Medical Center in Apokon.

“HIV testing must be made accessible to everyone,” Dr. Gangcuangco urged. “The Philippines must develop the infrastructure to facilitate HIV self-screening using homebased kits. This would entail a telephone hotline for anyone who has questions about HIV or among those who might test positive using the screening test.

“Clinics must also be able to expand to accommodate HIV testing after office hours and during weekends,” he suggested. “Free HIV testing must be made available and accessible to those who could not afford it.”

According to Dr. Gangcuangco, knowing one’s HIV status is not just a right but also a responsibility. “People with HIV can live normal and productive lives as long as they take their medications and follow-up regularly with your doctor. Getting tested is not only for yourself, but also for your loved ones,” he said.

DBM: PH ECONOMIC GROWTH OUTSTANDING

all these data coming in, I can say that the Philippines is actually outstanding. It would be excellent if it reached 7 percent, but 6.4 or even 6 percent, is already outstanding.”

The government’s overall target for this year is from 6 to 7 percent and the first quarter resuylts already mirrored that the GDP forecast may very well be realized.

Pangandaman said this development augurs well for the expansion of the economy which she called “dynamic.”

Hers are very brave words.

She added: “This means that even if the regional and global economic environement woul;d worsen, ours has its momentum and own dynamism to sustain growth.”

Compared to other countries that have released available GDP growth data from January to March 2023, Pangandaman said the Philippines “grew the fastest” among major emerging economies in the region, followed by In- donesia (5%), China (4.5%) and Vietnam (3.35).

“I think we are doing better,” the DBM chief declared. Pinoys should welcome this positive declaration, coming as it is from the department that handles and manages taxpayers’ money and government expenditures.

Pangandaman stated that the first quarter GDP is an indication that the Philippines is moving forward to garner its initial high trajectory growth which emboldens the government to project a higher 6.6 to 7.5percent growth from the second quarter on to a 7.1 percent full year growth.

Wow, this is an amazing story that is not difficult to understand and absorb.

Pangandaman said the growth target is not unattainable even if there are “various risks posed by geopolitical and trade tensions, possible global economic slowdown, and weather distrubances in the country.”

She reassured Pinoys that the government under the administration of PBBM remains committed to the implementation of priority programs and strategies in line with the 8-point Socio-economic Agenda and the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 that will attain an inclusive and sustainable growth for the country and the Filipino people.

Of all the DBM executives who handled this Cabinet portfolio, I must say that Pangandaman is the only one I heard and read actively discussing in public the relationship of DBM and the economic status of the country.

In the past, many only assumed that the DBM functions as the agency that approves and releases the budgets and monetary needs of all government agencies.

Ministerial tasks, you may say.

Still, this corner is hobbled by the alarming increases in the price of onions, a spicy commodity that is an integral ingredient of our food language.

The helpless DA is suggesting to impose an SRP and efforts to dismantle hoarding of the bulbs remains just an idea.

Countless number of sitdown meetings with the farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) are not producing anything substabtially positive because cartels continue to ply their trade right under the very noses of DA officials.

SINAG president Rosendo So has said the retail price of onions at P200 per kilo is already ovepriced because the farmers producing the bulbs only sell it at P60 per kilo.

He added that the reasonable retail price of onions should only range from P130 to P140 per kilo.

There is a great disparity between what DA is telling the public and what SINAG is revealing to us. What gives?

The increased price of onions inevitably increases the price of other food items. Will this inflationary trend not affect our GDP?

(Email feedback to fredlumba@ yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!