The eMagazine of Philippine Information Agency 10
FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2016
Till the lands for sustainable dev’t , says city exec
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – As the Higalaay Garden Show and Agri Fair opened on August 2, the city government of Cagayan de Oro encourages more individuals to take part in cultivating more lands for agriculture that will ensure the city’s sustainable development.
Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno stressed that in spite of the rapid urbanization that is taking place in the city, the farmlands should not be forsaken since the sector contributes a lot in strengthening the city’s being the trading center of the region. Moreno also hopes that the program will help in enhancing relationships between the farmers, fisher folks, city and national government. Aside from holding the garden show and trade fair targeted to benefit farmer groups and strengthen cooperatives that involve farmers’ organizations, the city government is also up for constructing farm-tomarket roads to entice more people
to till the lands. The Higalaay Garden Show and Agri Fair is held in Gaston Park and it showcases the agricultural products of the farmers’ organizations and the farming communities of the city. It also displays the agriculture-related programs and projects of the local government. The agriculture fair is aimed to serve as a venue for the farmers to earn extra income from the sale of their agricultural products. The Garden Show, which is also held in Duaw Kagay-an Park, exhibits garden plants and landscaping artistry from the local and Mindanao-based gardeners and plant enthusiasts.(RTP/PIA10)
Dads ask university, schools for collaboration on policy science CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The 18th City Council, in its 4th Regular Session, passed a resolution requesting Dr. Isaias S. Sealza, Dean of Graduate Studies, Xavier University, and other local colleges and universities offering graduate programs in public administration for possible collaboration in the field of policy science between the Office of the City Council of Cagayan de Oro and their respective graduate school of public administration through their masteral and doctorate students who may assist in researches, in aid of legislation, and analysis on the effectiveness or non-effectiveness of approved ordinances as well as in legislative performance assessment.
As the proponent of the resolution, Councilor Ian Mark Q. Nacaya said he had initial discussions two weeks ago with Prof. Dixon Yasay of XU Graduate School of Public Administration with the latter expressing the willingness of both his masteral and doctorate students to assist the City Council and that he would want them to have an exposure to its functions and cooperate with its research activities for each and every committee as well as the collegial body’s functions. He also mentioned that there are several theses in any of the universities and colleges in Cagayan de Oro City that are worth noting and taking into consideration for the furtherance of their intentions to deliver better public service and better legislations. That is why, Nacaya said, he proposed the resolution for the City Council to have a partnership with Xavier University graduate school. For his part, Councilor Teodulfo E. Lao, Jr., though he considers the move as laudable, admitted that he himself has limitations as regards to legislative works, stressing the idea
of other experts are but helpful to them. He, however, inquired from the proponent if there would be any monetary involvement on this collaboration. In answer to his query, Nacaya pointed out that there shall be none and in fact the students themselves will only be engaged to this function within a two-semester period. The city government will not spend anything as the students will just come and assist the City Council as part of their curriculum activities in the university, he stressed. Nacaya manifested that the resolution is only an initial move and that any other additional details like a Memorandum of Agreement will come later once the schools will have favorable actions on the request. Councilor Nadya Emano-Elipe suggested that aside from Xavier University, the body should also ask other schools citing that “more heads are better than one.” (JAO/CDO Legislative Information)
Adhoc body to study establishment of mental facility in Cag de Oro CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Responding to the need, the 18th City Council is now looking into the proposal to establish a mental facility in Cagayan de Oro city.
The committee on social services created an adhoc committee to further study the proposed project, its composition and function in the city. The proposed mental facility will provide services for the care and treatment of people who have mental illness and disabilities, and the abandoned elderly. The Adhoc Committee on Mental Health Facility is chaired by Dr. Andresa Beñas, NCDJ mental health regional coordinator of the Department of Health (DOH-10), with Dr. Benson Go, chief of the Treatment and Rehabilitation Center as the vice chair. Members are JRBGH executive officer Dr. Ramon Neri, chief of hospital Dr. Evelyn Perez, Dr. Fe Bongcas and Dr. Rachel Dilla of the City Health Office, Dr. William D. Bernardo, OIC of the City Health Insurance Office (CHIO), acting CSWD officer Teodoro Sabugaa, city budget officer lawyer Percy Salazar, city accountant lawyer Beda Joy Elot and city information officer Maricel Casiñ0. The adhoc committee is tasked to study and recommend the establishment of a place where people with severe mental symptoms can rest and recover, without physical or mental abuse, shock or the unnecessary administration of drugs. It shall, likewise, study and recommend standard procedures for the successful, safe handling and helping of people with severe mental symptoms, among others.
NEED During the meeting, Dr. Go said the city really needs a mental facility but it should be an “Acute Care Facility.” This facility, he said, is not an institution. Although the city has a hospital to cater to psychotic break, suicidal or very depressed persons, these persons will also be confined at the proposed Acute Care Facility. Once already resolved, they will be sent back to their families, he added. “This is where the social services now will come in where we have to train the family as well as the health centers to handle cases like this,” Dr. Go stressed. Go informed the committee that the DOH has started training nurses at the City Health Office. According to Dr. Go, the city does not need to provide rehabilitation centers as there is already a facility provided by the DOH. It only needs to be expanded by the DOH, he said. Referring to the “Oplan Tokhang” operation, Dr. Go said the plan is to train people to assess those who need rehabilitation and those who can be treated for outpatient rehabilitation. www.win2.cCouncilor Daba said the adhoc committee will convene in one month with concerned doctors and other concerned personalities involved to discuss the proposal.(JBD/CDO Legislative Information)