VOL. 2 l NO.14 l June 6, 2012
Almost 700 individuals in C.Visayas register with PhilHealth online By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, June 4 (PIA) -- More than three months after the launch of the PhilHealth’s electronic registration system, 689 individuals in Central Visayas have already availed of the online registration facility. PhilHealth introduced its e-Registration and Amendment System (eRAS) on its 17th anniversary in February as a convenient alternative for enrolling into the National Health Insurance Program. The online registration program is especially useful for individuals based or assigned in places where the nearest PhilHealth office is still some distance away or those currently based outside the country. The web-based facility caters to individual transactions and accommodates applications for registration of individually paying members (IPM), Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), lifetime members and employees. Use of the system is free of charge, but enrollees must have their own e-mail address to be able to transact. Supporting documents needed to process the application for registration may also be submitted online or sent via post. Once the registration process is complete, the member’s PhilHealth identification number (PIN), which shall be used for all PhilHealth transactions, will be sent to the member through email. Interested enrollees may visit the PhilHealth’s official website at www.philhealth. gov.ph. Look for Online Services and then
Negros Oriental Provincial Police D i r. P / S S u p t . Edward Carranza being interviewed by Dumaguete media after the turnover of two bomb-sniffing dogs to the provincial police office from the provincial government. The two K-9 dogs - a yellow Labrador and a Belgian Malinois were earlier requested by the PNP provincial office to augment their anti-crime and antiterrorism drives. (LJD/ PIA NEGOR)
Electronic Registration. Click these options to lead you to the online application form. Upon submission of the online application form, the registrant will receive an email containing the transaction number and instructions on the next steps to complete the registration process.
If the registrant opts to send supporting documents via post, the email printout should be attached or the transaction number should be written on the supporting documents. All documents must be received by PhilHealth within 30 days from registering online to complete the application. (FCR/HFG/ PIA-7/PhilHealth)
Metro Cebu Police ready to secure 1st day of classes today By Fayette Rinen CEBU CITY, June 4 (PIA) -- With slightly over 150 public and private schools including tertiary college institutions and universities in Cebu City, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is strengthening its police visibility in nearby school premises as public schools open today. P/Supt. Arnel Banzon of the Cebu City Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) said they have covered all schools and that police personnel with security augmentation from the Barangay Peace Action Team (BPAT) are being deployed in every school. “We are ready to ensure the safety of students as public schools begin their classes today,” said Banzon. Banzon said there are some policemen assigned at the piers and the Cebu South Bus Terminal with the continuing surge of students’ arrival from nearby provinces. “Not only are we after their security
but the police is always ready to give assistance to our students,” he added. Banzon said that they are strengthening police visibility to make sure that everything is smooth when classes in both public and college level begin. Tertiary educational institutions are set to open classes next week In Mandaue City, around 62 police personnel have been deployed today but the number is being augmented by the BPATs as the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) is working closely with school authorities on the security aspect. P/Supt. James Goforth of the MCPO said they have established 46 public assistance centers (PACs), 33 of which are placed in public schools and 13 in private. “There are 121 schools in Mandaue City; most of which are public schools with 71 and 50 classified as private schools. We are in close coordination with school authorities to ensure the safety of students with school opening in the public level starts
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today,” said Goforth. In Lapulapu City, P/Supt. Jonathan Abella declared that police personnel have their own assignment already with regards to their deployment under ’Oplan Balik Eskwela.’ “We are also being augmented by our force multipliers in every barangay to make certain that all would be smooth when public schools open today,” said Abella. Police beat patrol, mobile patrol and continuous intelligence monitoring are just part of the security measures adopted by all metro police offices to ensure a peaceful opening of classes in all public schools, this is said. S/Supt. Orlando Ualat, regional chief of the Directorial Staff of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 said that based on the Letter of Instruction from Cramp Crame on the ‘Oplan Balik Eskwela’ Program, even during the first week of May, all police offices have been told to draft their security preparations in time for the opening of classes. (PIA-Cebu)
NEGROS ORIENTAL
INFOBYTES TOPSTORIES
DepEd reiterates zero-collection rule for public schools By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, June 5 (PIA) -- As preparations for the opening of classes next month kick into high gear, the Department of Education (DepEd) in Dumaguete City said it will strictly enforce zero collection policy among public schools here. Dr. Ramir Uytico, Dumaguete City Schools Division superintendent, explained that said policy prohibits the collection of fees from kindergarten up to Grade 4 pupils in public schools throughout the school year. “We can only start collecting the prescribed fees from Grade 5 until 4th year high school students in the month of August, which is the time when the parents and teachers associations are organized,” said Uytico in a recent forum held Wednesday by the Philippine Information Agency here. Based on DepEd Order No. 19 series of 2008, the fees authorized to be collected on a voluntary basis are contributions for organizations such as the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Girls Scouts of the Philippines, Red Cross, Anti-TB Fund, Parents Teachers Associations (PTA), and school publications, among others. “These prescribed fees are voluntary in nature. Students or their parents should not be forced to pay them if they do not want to or cannot afford to,” said Uytico. He also warned against withholding school records of students who fail to give contributions. Public school principals and teachers are also restricted from being involved in the collection of said fees. According to Uytico, the zero collection policy applies to public schools as “private schools have the discretion to adopt this or not since they have their own school policies." He is, however, encouraging parents of students in public schools to submit their contributions if they have the means. “If you can afford to pay the fees asked by the PTA, then please give them,” he said. The public is urged to report to DepEd the schools or teachers in Dumaguete City who violate the zerocollection policy by calling DepEd’s Oplan Balik Eskwela Information and Action Center hotlines: 421-2473 or 225-7247. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo (3rd from left) turns over to Provincial Police Dir. Edward Carranza (2nd from left) a yellow Labrador, one of the two K-9 dogs - the other a Belgian Malinois - recently acquired by the provincial government. The bomb-sniffing dogs were bought to augment the anti-crime and anti-terrorism drives of the provincial polie force. (LJD/PIA NEGOR)
CEBU
Cebu LGU intensifies health services, reaches remote areas CEBU CITY, June 5 (PIA) -- The city of Naga in the southern part of Cebu intensified its services and obligations to the people by coming up with initiatives that will bring its services closer to the people, particularly in far-flung areas where access to medical services is difficult. One of these initiatives is the provision of doctors who will regularly visit barangays every month, a move initiated by Naga City Mayor Valdemar M. Chiong. The mayor said he believes it is more practical to send health practitioners to the villages rather than come up with medical missions in the remote areas of the city. Chiong said that starting this year, all the city’s villages, except Barangays East and Central Poblacion, will have their own medical doctors who will visit the residents twice a month on specific dates. The City Health Office will handle Barangays East and Central
Poblacion. The doctors will conduct thorough assessments on the medical needs of the residents and determine their health problems, recommend and provide medicines, and find ways of enhancing the delivery of health and sanitation services. This move is seen to boost the city’s medical program intended for the poor since the presence of these doctors in the brarangays also beef up the work of midwives and nurses assigned in every barangay. “This is our way of touching base with the residents by bringing the doctors right at their doorsteps, so to speak, to ensure our immediate medical response, detection and prevention of disease,” Chiong said. T h i s y e a r, t h e C i t y Government of Naga earmarked at least P28.5 million for its health and medical programs. (rmn/AS /PIA-7, CEBU with PR from Arnulfo Omani Naga City PIO)
BOHOL
INFOBYTES COMMUNITYNEWS DOE challenges biofuel detractors to show proof By Rey Anthony Chiu TAGBILARAN CITY, May 30 (PIA) -- The Department of Energy (DOE) said detractors should show proof that biofuel blends in car fuel are harmful to car engines. “You can not just cast accusations without showing proof of your allegations," Renewable Energy Management Bureau Director Mario Marasigan told nonadoptors of the blended fuels, during the recently concluded Information Education Communication Planning Workshop of the National Bio Fuel Board held on May 21 to 25, at the Bohol Tropics Resort, Tagbilaran City. The REMB director also pointed out that since the introduction of the alternative fuel blends in diesel and gasoline in 2007, “five years have lapsed and even the old taxis are still running,” he noted. Marasigan further explained that the Philippine National Standards (PNS) tests and certifies the suitability of the fuel blends and the entire mix for brand new cars and old or used vehicles and there have not been any industry repercussions, he said. “Of course, we have high-end manufacturers who refuse to use biofuel blended diesel or gasoline for their vehicles, but what we know is that the international association of car manufacturers have green lighted the vehicle’s adaptability to bio-fuels, even without the necessary engine modification,", Marasigan added. Since passing the Biofuel Act of 2006, the law has mandated adding 1% to 2% biodiesel to diesel fuels in pumps all over the country in the first two years after the effectivity of the law. The same also mandates that the blend would be gradually increased to 5% in 2016. For gasoline, the DOE has regularly spot-checked gasoline stations to monitor compliance of the 10% bioethanol content supposedly present in gasoline. The law is in response to the need to wean the country from expensive imported fossil fuel and map the country’s direction in developing, testing and promoting the bio-fuels as indigenous energy resource. Blending bio-fuels to diesel or gasoline reduces the amount of diesel or gasoline used, while producing the same performance from the car’s engines, according to Marasigan. The over-all plan is to make the country buy lesser fossil fuel by 2030, DOE’s Undersecretary Jose Layug Jr. said. By that time, the country’s biofuel industry would be making available 85 percent biofuel blends in gasoline and 20% blend in diesel, which should be substantial, Layug said. Aside from being called indigenous fuel source, biofuels are also good for the environment as it causes lesser gas emissions aggravating climate change, this is learned. Biofuels sourced out from biomass also tends to help farmers earn more income as instead of discarding farm wastes, these can be used for the bio-fuel process, thus alleviating them economically, representatives from the Philippine Coconut Authority and the Sugar Regulations Authority added. (mbcn/rahc/ PIA-Bohol)
Athletes from all over the country participate in the opening ceremony of the Philippine National Games hosted this year by Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental. More than 5,000 national athletes, coaches, and sports officials nationwide are taking part in the ongoing games that kicked off on May 25. (LJD/ PIA NEGOR)
Loay local income doubles in last five years By Rey Anthony Chiu TAGBILARAN CITY, June 2 (PIA) -- Loay town charted an unprecedented 100 percent increase in its local income in the last five years. Local observers attributed this to the leadership and administration of its town Mayor, Rosemarie Lim Imboy, who led the local government away from over dependence on national government revenue allotments. Focusing on the town’s money makers and instituting critical reforms led to efficient revenue generation resulting in over P9.6 million city revenues in 2011 from P4.9 million in 2007. “We need to get the people into thinking there isn’t anybody helping us except ourselves,” said the mayor who came up with the catchy slogan Abante Loay. “We need to creatively seek other sources of income to help bankroll our infrastructure and support the town’s facelift, so we have to bite the bullet,” she added. Asked how they managed to achieve the phenomenal increase in generated local revenues, Imboy said they focused on the operation of the town’s economic enterprises. According to the lady mayor, who used to lead Bohol mayors in the local league, Loay has successfully sought funds for the construction and operation of its Fish and Commercial Port, a facility that can be seen at the mouth of the Loboc River. Loay fish and commercial port has netted P233,399.20 in 2011, a far cry from the almost nil revenues the facility generated for the government after
commercial boat trips from Loay to Nasipit and Cagayan de Oro, on wooden boats ceased in the late 1970, she pointed out. A town with a freshwater river cutting across it, Loay ironically had a tough time accessing potable water even as the local waterworks system laid out its infrastructure. Under the present administration, Loay Waterworks started earning P1.9 million in 2007, a figure that has long been surpassed when the town has earnings amounting to P3.7M as collected in 2011, the mayor said. With a town market still undergoing rehabilitation, the mayor expects more of the market’s income coming in after the construction is completed. Even then, Loay market has earned almost half a million in 2011, a figure almost similar to its past income generation as noted. As the town enjoys the visually beckoning scenic Loboc River which has been a center for eco-tourism activities, Loay also opened its eco-tourism activities centered on the river to help decongest Loboc and at the same time, present work opportunities to its people. From P.4 million income in 2007, Loay has garnered P1.5 Million plus in 2011, from its town bankrolled eco-tourism activities. Other than those, leaders also noted more than a hundred percent increase in its business tax collection, a fact that can be attributed to the Imboy instituted reforms. Moreover, the town’s miscellaneous fees and permits collection also doubled to 1.3million from .6 million in 2007, records show. (mbcn/rahc/PIA-Bohol)
INFOBYTES COMMUNITYNEWS
SIQUIJOR
DTI, LTO warn motorists of strict helmet law starting August By Rizalie A. Calibo
SIQUIJOR, June 5 (PIA) -- Starting August this year, the helmet law will be strictly implemented in the province. This means all motorcycle drivers including backriders are mandated to wear standard protective helmets while riding, said both the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in a forum held Wednesday at the Capital Square, Siquijor, Siquijor. "The law is not created to bring discomfort to the riders but to protect them and promote safety," said DTI Provincial Director Nimfa Virtucio as she noted the prevalence of
head injuries among motorists resulting from the non-use of standard helmets. Supervising Transportation Regulation Officer Gerald Dominguez likewise said the LTO and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Siquijor have been intensifying their drive on the use of protective helmet regardless of what standard it is, but starting August this year, they have to comply with the DOTC-DTI joint memorandum order that prescribes the use of standard protective helmets while driving. Dominguez said LTO is mandated to enforce specific violations on drivers of motorcycles with the corresponding fines and penalties: first offense is P1, 500, second
Groundbreaking for the 1.2 million-peso coastal resource management learning center to be built in Larena town, Siquijor province. The building is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US Department of State, Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) or German Development Service (DED) and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. (PIA-7, Siquijor/DARFU-7, Siquijor)
offense, P3,000, third offense, P5,000, and succeeding offenses, P10, 000 and confiscation or suspension of driver's license. The LTO will coordinate with DTI in the proper identification of standard protective helmet markings for roadside enforcement purposes, he also said. Virtucio, on one hand, said drivers who possess non-standard helmets should secure ones that bear Product Standard or PS mark for locally produced helmet, and Import Commodity Clearance, or ICC marks, for the imported ones. “You still have two months to save and buy new ones,” Dominguez and Virtucio said. Virtucio said the DTI has been conducting mandatory inspection on all helmet suppliers and dealers to ensure and promote the use of standard helmets. She also encouraged buyers to be responsible and report immediately to DTI the sellers of fake or non-standard helmets. Under the law, helmet manufacturers and importers need to secure a PS license or an ICC mark before selling and distributing their products, she said. The forum was attended by motorcycle and habal-habal drivers, PNP personnel, Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and representatives from the two media outlets in the province. (rmn/RAC-PIA 7, Siquijor)
DOST moves to fast-track mosquito trap distribution By Rizalie A. Calibo SIQUIJOR, June 5 (PIA) -- There is an upsurge in dengue cases in the country and government is addressing this problem with the help of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) which has come up with a mosquito trap technology that is proven to be effective, said DOST-Siquijor Provincial Director Mario E. de la Pena. However, de la Pena said science teachers, district supervisors, and principals should first undergo training that will enable them on the School-based Roll-out of the Ovicidal Larvicidal (OL) mosquito trap before getting the technology. He said the school-based roll-out of the OL trap program aims to distribute the DOST OL mosquito trap to approximately 900,000 classrooms in pre-elementary, elementary, and high schools nationwide. To date, DOST has already distributed OL traps in other regions. "But I hope Siquijor would be the first to avail in Region 7," he said, noting that OL traps are now available at the DOST regional office. He said there are 534 classrooms in the elementary and 148 in secondary schools in the province hoping that all of them would avail of the OL. A training was held in Cebu last February but another division-level training should be undertaken as soon as possible to fast track the distribution of OL trap in the province, he said. De la Pena said he expected the Department
of Education to finish with the training in May so that they will be ready to distribute OL mosquito traps in June, the start of the rainy season. In a DOST press release, entomologist and University of the Philippines Manila public health professor Dr. Lilian de las Llagas, who facilitated the training, said it is important to understand the behavior of Aedes mosquito for the application of necessary control measures like the DOST OL trap. “Only female mosquito bites. They suck blood from the victims from sunrise to sunset. This makes the OL mosquito trap significant in the school because most of the children, the most vulnerable dengue victims, are in school
during this span of time,” Dr. de las Llagas added. “The DOST OL mosquito trap is proven effective, but how we use it makes a big difference. That is why training is very important," stressed Dr. de las Llagas. She emphasized the role of the regional focal person as key advocacy partners of the programs in the region. “As trainers, understanding the basic concepts is crucial because you cannot train the teachers if you don’t have enough knowledge and understanding about the technology,” explained Dr. de las Llagas. (rmn/RAC-PIA 7, Siquijor)