VOL. 2 l NO. 7 l February 16, 2012
GSIS allocates P164M emergency loans for NegOr quake victims ByJennifer C. Tilos DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 15 (PIA) – The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is allocating P164 million for emergency loans to government employees affected by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Negros Oriental the hardest. GSIS Dumaguete City Branch Manager Cecile Tenaja said the new emergency loan (EML) offer is in response to the urgent needs of members in times of calamities and is part of its agency’s corporate social responsibility. “We requested for the reopening of the EML grant for qualified employees who have not yet availed of the previous emergency loan offer especially those coming from the quake-affected areas,” said Tenaja. Tenaja said this is an extension of the EML previously granted but was stopped on January 20due to typhoon Sendong. However, those who have already availed of the previous EML as Sendong victims may no longer be eligible to loan. The insurance agency, on the other hand, has already disbursed more than P220 million in emergency loans to 11,866 members in the province affected by Tropical Storm Sendong. Qualified members can avail of the P20,000 emergency loan from Feb. 8 to March 9 in any of the 11 GSIS
EARTHQUAKE IN NEGROS ORIENTAL: A house rooftop in Tayasan, Negros Oriental collapsed. (PIA/DX/jct) kiosks deployed throughout Negros Oriental using either their Unified MultiPurpose ID (UMID) card or temporary card. Tenaja said the interest rate for emergency loan is only six percent per
annum payable in three years. There are still more than 8,000 GSIS members who have yet to avail of the EML as Tenaja called on them to avail of the new calamity loan offer. (FCR/JCT/PIA-NegOr)
Cebu ports to establish special lane for senior citizens, pregnant women, physically-challenged By Fayette Riñen
CEBU CITY, February 15 (PIA) -- Senior citizens, pregnant women and the physically-challenged will no longer have to queue for long at the passenger terminals of Cebu ports as a special lane dedicated for them will be established soon. Cebu Port Authority (CPA) - Port Security Safety and Environmental Management Department Manager Oscar Lopez said the creation of separate frontline services reserved for senior citizens, pregnant women and the physically-handicapped is part of their move to continually upgrade customer services. “This is part of our continuing improvement of customer services in our port terminals,” Lopez declared. CPA also plans to have a parking area solely reserved for physically-challenged individuals for them to easily disembark, Lopez bared. “We need to always consider the special needs of certain passengers so that it wouldn’t be difficult for them when they go out from the taxi or private vehicle,” the CPA official said. Lopez also said that automated access system will be implemented within the year. “As a primary port in the Philippines, the CPA wants its ports to have automated systems in place in line with providing efficient and world-class services,” Lopez said. “Not only do we seek to continually improve our services for passenger safety and convenience but likewise, with cargo handling operations as well,” the CPA official disclosed. Lopez said the port plays an important role in the economic progress of Cebu. (PIA-Cebu)
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NEGROS ORIENTAL
EDC assists quake victims in NegOr By Jennifer C. Tilos
PNOY WITH NDRRMC: Briefing. Pres. Benigno Aquino III encourages members of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) to prioritize road network access to towns affected by the earthquake. (PIA-7/hfg)
TESDA allots P5M to train NegOr quake victims By Minerva B.C. Newman
DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 16 (PIA) -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has a P5 million scholarship fund for constructionrelated training to benefit the earthquake victims in badly hit areas in the first district of Negros Oriental. TESDA Provincial Director Toni June Tamayo said the program is intended to help fast track the rehabilitation and repair efforts of essential infrastructures damaged by the strong quake such as roads and bridges and even houses. Tamayo made the announcement during the ANOPIO (Association of Negros Oriental Public Information Officers) briefing. He added that the TESDA Central Office has designed the services and qualifications for the said scholarship program. In Guihulngan City, at least two teams composed of experts in welding and metal fabrication services and home repair services were immediately dispatched to the affected areas and provide services to those in need. More groups will be organized if the need arises, according to Tamayo. The sch olarship slots available are for the following areas: Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC II (200); Carpentry (50); Masonry (50); Plumbing (25); HEO Payloader (25); HEO Backhoe (25); Commercial Cooking (50); and, Enterprise Information Management (50). The TESDA, meanwhile, issued an advisory for the immediate inspection of TESDA schools and training centers in Central Visayas particularly those that are being used as evacuation centers. The same advisory also covered all private technical and vocational institutes (TVIs) with registered programs with TESDA in Regions 6 and 7. There are 225 TVIs in Region 6 and 268 in Region 7. TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva also called on TESDA specialists to band together and offer their services in the continuing repair and rehabilitation efforts in Negros Oriental. "We condole with the victims of the earthquake. We hope these scholarships will give them hope and encourage them to rise above this calamity," said DG Villanueva. (FCR/JCT/PIA NegOr)
DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 16 (PIA) -- Geothermal leader Energy Development Corporation (EDC) has donated P1 million worth of relief goods to victims of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that rocked Guihulngan, Tayasan and Jimalalud, Negros Oriental last February 6. “Employees from our Southern and Northern Negros sites lost no time in helping the earthquake victims. A day after tragedy struck these areas, they already volunteered to pack and distribute bags which contained rice, canned goods, bottled water, blankets and flashlights so we could begin distributing as early as February 08,” said Engr. Dwight Maxino, EDC Vice President for its Southern and Northern Negros Geothermal Production Fields. EDC has distributed another batch of relief goods on succeeding days after packing are being done. The distribution is in coordination with ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya with its TV station in Bacolod City became the headquarters of EDC’s relief operations. The company would have done it in their Southern Negros office in Valencia but roads leading to the three towns were impassable due to typhoon Sendong so they opted to get help from their Northern Negros office in Bago City. EDC’s corporate social responsibility program (CSR), the Community Partnerships has been a cornerstone program for EDC. With health, education, livelihood and environment as its CSR modules, EDC aims to uplift the lives of the residents in its host communities in areas where it operates. Notwithstanding, the company still reached out to the earthquake victims in Guihulngan, Tayasan and Jimalalud, Negros Oriental through its relief operations. (mbcn/Jct/PIANegOr)
BOHOL
INFOBYTES COMMUNITYNEWS
Completely lighting all Bohol sitios by 2013 By Rey Anthony Chiu TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Feb. 16 (PIA) -- Bohol governor Edgar Chatto bared that by 2013 the remaining 271 sitios in Bohol will be completely lighted. Chatto said that President Benigno S. Aquino III promised to Bohol 100 percent electricity to all sitios without
electric lights within 2012-2013. The program calls for energizing 162 sitios of Bohol’s 2nd and 3rd districts in 2012 and 109 sitios in 2013. “We are grateful to President Aquino who has been true to his promise to energize all sitios in the province within 2012-2013,” Chatto said during his State of the Province Address on February 17 at the Sangguniang
LET THERE BE LIGHT. Light is set to permeate all sitios over Bohol by 2013, with the presidential commitment to energize all sitios in Bohol as sought by Chatto. The news he revealed at the SOPA held at the SP Session Hall Friday. (PIABohol/RAC)
Panlalawigan session Hall. To date NEA administrator Edith Bueno directed iBOHECO II general manager Carlos Itable to submit the project requirements not later than February 24, so implementation can proceed immediately before the end of this quarter, Chatto told Boholanos. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e g o v e r n o r, BOHECO-I will undertake additional line extension in already energized sitios under its Share-A-Light Program for lighting villages. “There are 271 unlighted sitios and with 162 to be completed this year that leaves a very achievable target of 109 sitios for next year,” the governor smiled. Visibly elated with the development, Governor Edgar Chatto has earlier said that energizing the sitios means increase productivity. “Not to mention the comfort every child gets and the ease of studying under brighter lights compared to the shady glow of gas lamps and candles,” the governor stated. Bohol has long embarked on an ambitious 100% sitio electrification rate to assure every school its internet connectivity. Local leaders added that this is the only way to ensure the children will be technologically competent and globally competitive. (mbcn/rahc/PIA-Bohol)
Bohol needs safe, accessible, ample blood supply By Rey Anthony Chiu
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, February 16 (PIA) -- Bohol needs easily accessible, safe and ample blood supply and in the long run blood banks and blood screening centers. Bohol Provincial Blood Coordinating Council (BCC) board member Cesar Tomas Lopez said his main mission is to make safe blood supply easily accessible for Boholanos. In a Kapihan sa PIA recently, Lopez stated that the Blood council’s initial step is to correct the flawed system in the local blood supply network. Lopez cited cases of poor patients from far flung towns practically helpless in cases when there is a doctor’s request for blood transfusion. Presently, requests for blood transfusion can be granted but the patients have to find a suitable blood replacement donor so the local stocks are not depleted. The tough situation is compounded by the lack of blood center in Bohol. In such cases, blood units collected and typed in Bohol Blood
Service Facilities and recognized blood collection centers including Mobile Blood Donations are sent to Cebu for blood screening and extracting other blood components for specific use. A blood center is a blood service facility that has the capability of blood screening for infectious diseases, one that can practically declare a blood unit safe for transfusion, Lopez explained. Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital and the local Philippine National Red Cross are the only DOHaccredited Blood Service storage facilities in Bohol. Their screened blood supply are coming from Cebu Blood Center. According to Lopez who is also a physician by profession, this process entails at least a day of screening making the blood not readily available for immediate use. When the blood units are already available patients will have to pay for the blood processing that runs up to thousands of pesos making it prohibitive to the indigents, Lopez said. Lopez asserted that the
reorganization of the Blood council in Bohol also signals the formation of a team that is sworn to make blood within the reach of indigent patients. Lopez then bared the plan to set up a mechanism to make a reliable inventory of blood units in key areas in the province and a monitoring system that minimizes the loss of blood due to un-use. Lopez who also serves as the Blood council vice chair explained the rationale of the newly reorganized council that pushed for the enabling ordinance to rejuvenate it for service to Bohol and to humanity. He also campaigned for voluntary blood donation to prop up the local blood supply inventory for easier access to Boholano patients in need of immediate blood transfusion. “And in the long run, setting up of more blood banks and perhaps a blood screening center for Bohol,” the legislator physician added. “Blood is life, and like an engine, a body that does not have ample supply of blood will eventually conk out,” Lopez concluded. (mbcn/rahc/PIA-Bohol)
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SIQUIJOR
Siquijor readies disaster risk management plan
By Rizalie Anding Calibo
SIQUIJOR (PIA) -- With some P14M calamity fund allocation in 2012, Siquijor prepares for its disaster risk management plans and programs that includes the series of trainings and inventory of needed equipment for quick response to any disaster and calamity. During its meeting recently Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) said the plans and programs and purchase
of equipment need endorsement from the Provincial Development Council (PDC) and approval by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Siquijor. Provincial Board Member and PDRRMC executive officer Arturo Pacatang said that of over P14.6M calamity fund, 70 percent or P10,287,075.79 can be programmed for disaster preparedness and mitigation while the 30 percent or P4,408, 746.77 is allotted as standby quick response
BIKE FOR PEACE: The Bikers for Peace while in route to Siquijor from Larena Police Station (PNP/PIA-Siquijor)
fund. Among the activities and programs lined up are training and seminar on Water and Safety Rescue (WASAR) with a budget of P700,000 for the whole module with equipment needed for the Basic Life Support, Standard First Aide, Life Guarding, and Water Search and Rescue trainings. Other sets of training are the Incident Command System with a budget of P50,000; Mountain Search and Rescue (MOSAR), P500,000 for the three modules: Basic Life Support, Standard First Aid, and Mountaineering; Mass Casualty Incident Training, P50,000; and Stress Debriefing, P50,000. Some P100T is also allotted for Contingency Planning as recommended by Assistant Regional Director of the Office of Civil Defense Welino Gubuan. Also included in the program is the purchase of a rescue vehicle complete with equipment worth P3M. Meanwhile, a provincial disaster operation center at the Provincial Capitol site is set for completion in April this year, says Pacatang. The center which was funded out of the 2011 calamity fund will also house the Capitol’s fire station, he said. Among the equipment and materials acquired from last year’s fund are two units repeater, hand-held radios, heavy duty underwater flashlights, underwater camera, rain boots, hard hats, raincoats, breathing apparatus and folding beds for the provincial hospital. "All these are being readied in case of emergency," he said. (mbcn/rac/PIASiquijor)
LTO recommends nationwide implementation of random drug testing among PUV drivers ByFayette C. Riñen CEBU CITY, February 17(PIA) – Land Transportation Office (LTO) assistant secretary Virginia Torres mulled on recommending random drug testing among public utility vehicle drivers nationwide. To r r e s w i t n e s s e d t h e effectiveness of the said LTO-7 program in ensuring road safety. She was in Cebu last week to observed first-hand how LTO-7 conducted the random road drug testing among PUV drivers. LTO 7 regional director Raul Aguilos said that out of 50 PUV drivers tested last week, five yielded positive of illegal drug use. Those found positive were three taxi drivers, one bus driver and one public utility jeepney driver,
Aguilos said. “The licenses of the PUV drivers that initially yielded positive from the random drug test will be confiscated. The results, however, will still be subjected to confirmatory tests in Manila,” Aguilos declared. In case the confirmatory exam again yielded positive of illegal drug use, the license of the drivers will be revoked which means their driving privileges will be suspendede, Aguilos said. Unless the drivers concerned subject themselves to a six-month rehabilitation in a center accredited by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), drivers can no longer drive again, this is said. The LTO 7 chief also said
drivers have to pay P15,000 penalty fee. Since 2009, over 1,000 PUV drivers have been subjected to the random drug testing and more than 100 of them yielded positive to illegal drug use or about 10 to 15 percent, Aguilos further said. So far, not one of the over 100 drivers apprehended came back to get their license, this is learned. “We are also regularly checking on the authenticity of the license of drivers because some might resort to bogus licenses,” Aguilos said. He added that the conduct of the random drug testing which was first done in Cebu City is part of road safety measures. (mbcn/ fcr/PIA-Cebu)