The eMagazine of Philippine Information Agency 10
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2016
DND pushes for P650 million veterans’ hospital in Northern Mindanao
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Veterans in Northern Mindanao and neighboring regions will soon benefit from the establishment of veterans’ hospital to be built at the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority (PIA) Estate in Misamis Oriental-Special Economic Zone.
In his message during the Veterans Event 2016 held in Cagayan de Oro, Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana said its department has included in its 2017 budget for the construction of a 250-bed hospital at the PHIVIDEC which will primarily caters to veterans and retirees of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) residing in Northern Mindanao including those in Southern Mindanao, Central Mindanao and Southern Visayas. However, Sec. Lorenzana said, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has not included this in 2017 but still they have included it in the proposed 2017 budget and submitted to the Congress’ Committee on Appropriations for consideration. PHIVIDEC Board has approved in 2014 the donation of a five-hectare parcel of land for the establishment and construction of veterans’ medical center. Lorenzana likewise reported DND-PVAO with the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) initiatives in improving the lives of the veterans for their welfare and well-being. According to him, DND, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) and the Department of Health have forged an agreement in 2014 to revitalize the Veterans Hospitalization and Medical Care Program (VHMCP) to benefit half a million beneficiaries nationwide. “The agreement aims to improve your access to quality healthcare, including your qualified dependents,
especially majority of you reside in the provinces,” said Lorenzana. He also said the VHMCP is DND’s initiative that leads to ‘no veteran should pay for their own medicines adding that “Dili mo magkuha sa inyo bulsa bayaran na sa gobyerno (You don’t have to pay with your own pocket. The government will pay it.” “The VHMCP is seen as immediate and temporary solution to concerns of veterans and their families. ‘Kay sa ato pa kung naa ka sa probinsiya ang atong usa ka problema nga…ang para sa’ (if you reside in the province one of your problems is on) medical attention. So ‘kini gitukod sa’ (this was conceptualized by) DND with the PVAO and VMMC so that ‘kamo dili na malisdan’ (so you would not have a hard time) especially those who are residing in the provinces for convenient access to the VMMC,” the secretary said. He further said it is being implemented in partnership with 70 hospitals under DOH and 531 government hospitals under the local government units. At present, select private tertiary hospitals have also been designated. Meanwhile, the overall budget of VHMCP has increased to P50 million in 2016 General Appropriations Act (GAA). For 2017, DND has proposed an additional amount of P20 million for a total P70 million for the program. Lorenzana also said PVAO statistics says that as of October 2016, there are about 8,769 living World
War II veterans with 45,676 living spouses; and there are 32,036 post World War II veterans with 52,286 living souses and an estimated 12,754 minor pensioners who are entitled to avail of hospitalization. For the Total Administrative Disability (TAD) of PVAO, Lorenzana reported that a total of P4.773 billion fund was released on Sept. 13, 2016 for the veterans as directed by Pres. Duterte to cover the payable TAD arrears of 21,683 surviving widows of World War II veterans and 4,232 Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) retirees who are 80 years old and above. As of end of Sept. 2016, P2.247 billion was already remitted to 13,847 beneficiaries of deceased World War II veterans and 4,232 AFP retirees. Lorenzana said members of the AFP who had served the AFP for at least six years or more, upon reaching age 65, are entitled to a monthly
pension of P5,000. Those who reach age 70 and above receive an additional P1,700 as they are considered totally “administrative disabled.” Their widows are entitled to the same benefits. Generals and enlisted men receive the same amount of monthly PVAO pension. DND-PVAO joined the veterans in the region in celebrating its Veterans Day, an annual event spearheaded by the PIA to honor veterans and to provide venue for their fellowship. Lorenzana graced the event as the guest of honor and led the awarding of five oldest veterans in the region: Manuel Cunada, 93; Sulpicio Cabasan, 94; Aligondo Dagondon, 94; Marciano Avila, 99; and Marcelino Polonio, 104. The event was highlighted with a medical outreach mission wherein PVAO put up a help desk and distributed ambulatory and reading devices to veterans. (EOR/PIA)
City to donate lot for school site CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The proposed Deed of Donation to be executed by the city government of Cagayan de Oro in favor of the Department of Education City Schools Division was favorably endorsed by the City Council committee on education to the committee on laws and rules for appropriate action.
The Deed of Donation covers a parcel of land under Tax Dec. No. G-177643 owned by the city government identified as Lot 20866-A with a total area of 12,080 square meters located in Barangay Tuburan. The subject lot will be used as the school site of Tuburan National High School. It was learned that the Barangay Council of Tuburan requested the city to donate a portion of the said parcel of land for the purpose.
It may be recalled that the committee endorsed the request of the barangay council to the City Legal Office for the draft of the Deed of Donation and for its legal opinion. Atty. Donald Delegencia of City Legal Office said for the Deed of Donation to be in good order, the City Council should approve the same and enact the necessary ordinance allowing the donation and granting the city mayor the authority to execute and sign the Deed of Donation. (JBD)
Implementation of FMR projects seen CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The implementation of more farmto-market road projects in Cagayan de Oro city is now being fast tracked by the City Council. The committee on public works headed by Councilor Zaldy O. Ocon met last week and took up, among others, the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by and between the city and Department of Public Works and Highway, 2nd District Engineering Office for the implementation of farmto-market-road projects for CY 2016 in the 2nd District of Cagayan de Oro. Also discussed was the request for the enactment of an ordinance authorizing the city mayor to sign the proposed MOA. It was learned that a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO)
dated March 4, 2016 was issued by the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways to Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Engineering Office (CDO II DEO) in the total amount of P45,000,000 for various infrastructure projects in the barangays of Agusan, Tablon, Indahag, Macasandig, Puerto, Cugman, Bugo and Balubal, all of the city. These FMR projects shall be implemented under counter-parting scheme, in which the city shall provide a counterpart of not less than tenpercent of the project cost or in the amount equivalent to P4.5 million. Under the MOA, the DPWH-CDO
II DEO shall prepare the Program of Works (POWs) and Detailed Engineering Design (DED), noted by DA in accordance with existing guidelines and applicable rules and regulations on the matter. Furthermore, it shall, likewise, issue official receipt to the local government unit (LGU)CDOC upon receipt of the 10% counterpart for the implementation of the FMR projects, among other responsibilities. For its part, the city shall issue the Certificate of Availability of Funds (CAF) to the DPWH-CDO II DEO
for the necessary counterpart fund amounting to P4.5 million, signed by the Local Finance Committee (LFC) and this shall be downloaded by the LGU-CDOC to the DPWH-CDO II DEO upon approval of the Memorandum of Undertaking (MOU), among others. This matter was referred to the LFC for the issuance of the Certificate of Availability of Funds (CAF) and to the committee on finance, budget and appropriations chaired by Councilor Edna Dahino for appropriate action. (JAO/SP)