VOL. 2 l NO.8 l February 23, 2012
DOH-7 sends psychosocial, sanitation teams to assist quake victims in NegOr By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, February 20 (PIA) --- The Department of Health (DOH) is sending teams of professionals to help survivors of the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in the northern part of Negros Oriental. DOH-7 regional director Susana
Madarieta explained that two types of teams will be sent to affected communities: 1) the Water and Sanitation Team, which will assist the victims on sanitary measures to prevent diseases; and 2) the Psychosocial Team, which will help in debriefing
PHIC 7 urges public to avail of low premium rate until June By Juju Manubag-Empuerto
family victims for them to recover from the traumatic experience they had. The Water and Sanitation team is composed of doctors and nurses from DOH-7 and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), Madarieta added. To date, the medical team is still stationed in the areas to conduct consultations and provide medicines to those who are still in need. The common illnesses that affect the patients in the area are coughs and colds, fever, hypertension and headaches. Madarieta also advised the people to boil or purify the water before drinking. They also distribute hydrosol solution to help purify drinking water in the evacuation centers and in the quake-hit areas. On the other hand, the Cebu provincial health team will leave for NegOr anytime this week to give support to the earthquake victims. (mbcn/hfg/PIA-7)
MEDICAL MISSION. PhilHealth @ 17: PhilHealth-Region 7 Accreditation and Quality Assurance Section chief Dr. Jennifer Gomez attends to her little patient in a medical-dental mission at the Gawad Kalinga site in Brgy. Budlaan, Cebu City on Saturday, February 18. The regional office always marks its anniversary with corporate social responsibility. (PIA-7/contributed photo)
CEBU CITY, Feb. 21 (PIA) -- The Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PHIC) 7 has called on PhilHealth non-members to avail of the low premium contribution payment before the implementation of the new increased rate on July this year. PhilHealth 7 Information Officer Atty. Karina Agraviador said that starting July 1, all PhilHealth premium contributions will increase by 100 percent. The increase is based under PhilHealth Circular No. 22 signed by Philhealth President Eduardo Banzon. Instead of paying P1,200 per year, the premium contributions will now be raised to P2,400 per year beginning July, Agraviador said. Agraviador advised all who want to become PhilHealth members and who are under the categories of Individual Paying Members and Self-Employed to advance their premium contribution payment before July so they can still avail of the P1,200 per annum rate. “Members under said categories are given until June 30 to pay the annual contributions to avail of the incentives,” Agraviador said. Agraviador added that it is a special offer or promotional gift to those who want to become members as well as existing members that they can still pay the old rate even good for two years or to include 2013. Annual premium contribution for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on the other hand, will likewise be increased from P900/annum to P2,400 per year beginning July 1, this year. Agraviador also bared that Philhealth is working for the inclusion of the out-patient and regular maintenance medicines for hypertension and diabetes to be included in the health insurance coverage. This is in line with President Benigno S. Aquino III’s health agenda of Universal Health Care that primarily aims to provide access to quality health care services to all Filipino families. As of December 31 last year, Agraviador stated that Central Visayas already has 1.98 million members. Cebu Province has the largest volume of membership at 1.3 million or about 66 percent, Agraviador added. Agraviador stressed their agency’s ultimate objective is for 100 percent coverage among Filipinos to become members of Philhealth. (FCR/JSME/PIA-Cebu)
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NEGROS ORIENTAL
Gov't, NGOs provide over P40.6M relief assisitance to quake-hit Negor By Rachelle M. Nessia
NEW NBI BIOMETRIC MACHINE FOR BOHOLANOS: Boholanos will now be spared from the trouble of going to Cebu just to secure an NBI clearance as Gov. Edgar Chatto turned-over this morning the newly purchased biometric machine and other necessary equipments to NBI Reg'l. Dir. Atty. Ed Villarta. The machine is automated and specially designed to fit with the system used by NBI Manila through online. Also present during the turn-over held at the Governor's Mansion are (from L-R) PNP-Bohol PSSupt. Constantino Barot Jr., DILG Prov'l. Dir. Ma. Loisella Lucino, Bishop Leonardo Medroso and Prov'l. Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II.
Over P383M estimated cost of damages to infra in quake-hit NegOr By Minerva B.C. Newman
CENTRAL VISAYAS, Feb 20 (PIA) -- The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) in its latest update reported over P383,059,000M million estimated total cost of damages to roads and bridges, public buildings and flood control structures in Western and Central Viasyas due to the 6.9 magnitude earthquake and landslides that hit the Visayas on February 6. NDRRMC reported that as of February 19, two bridges in Negros Oriental remained impassable due to the collapsed span of Martilo Bridge in La Libertad and collapsed center span of Pangaloan Bridge in Jimalalud. One road section along the Dumaguete North road remains inaccessible due to cracks, cuts, rockfalls, landslides and road slips. Restorations on the road networks are on-going while the Bailey panels from other District Engineering Offices are scheduled for use in the construction of detour bridges. NDRRMC updates also reported that the National Grid Corp. of the PHL (NGCP) has restored power transmission services in parts of Negros Oriental affected by the earthquake. As of February 11, normal operations of the Negros sub-grid was restored after completion of repairs and re-energization of the Bindoy-Guihulngan 69-kV transmission line and some portions of La Libertad and Jimalalud were energized on February 9. Said electricity was being tapped from Bindoy Sub-Station located at Bindoy, Negros Oriental, NGCP said. Port operations in Negros oriental were back to normal except for Guihulngan Port. An alternate port going to Guihulngan thet Bolodo Port, some 10 km from the city proper was used for transporting goods and relief assistance, the NDRRMC update said. ď‚ As reported earlier, Guihulngan City water supply system was totally damaged but electric facilities were already restored to date. As of February 10, water and electricity in Ayungon and Tayasan towns had been restored and NGCP line crew continues to mobilize parts of power line to energize locations without electricity still. Smart and Globe telecom operations were back to normal in the quake stricken areas with Smart Communications setting up Libreng Tawag Centers in areas badly hit in Negros Oriental while company personnel were deployed in Guihulngan National High School and City Hall to assist in relief and rescue efforts. Fund raising among TV outlets were conducted in Cebu City for the victims in Negros Oriental and the Philippine Amateur Radio Association (PARA) Emergency Services provided HF communications assistance using their ham radio equipment in the NDRRMC Operations in the area. (MBCN/PIA-7)
NDRRMC Updates CENTRAL VISAYAS, Feb 19 (PIA) -- Combined resources from the NDRRMC, DSWD, DOH, LGUs, and NGOs have provided over P40,641,280-million worth of relief assistance to the affected population in Negros Oriental due to the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that hit the towns of Guihulngan, La Libertad, Tayasan, Vallehermoso, Bindoy, and Manjuyod on February 6. Based of latest NDRRMC updates as of February 19, there were 320,165 persons or 63,899 families within Central Visayas affected by the earthquake and landslides; these families come from 180 barangays, nine towns, two cities, and two provinces. According to the same report, 4,790 families or 23,490 persons are housed in 74 evacuation centers while 32,788 affected families are in their respective places all of whom were given relief and financial assistance. To date, there are reported 51 dead; 24 from Guihulngan; 9 from Jimalud; three from Tayasan; one from Bindoy; two each from Manjuyod and Ayungon; and 10 from La Libertad. Missing persons recorded at 62, 26 of whom come from Guihulngan and 36 from La Libertad. Injured persons totaled 112. Seven injured persons come from Negros Occidental and 105 from Negros Oriental covering the towns of Guihulngan-85; La Libertad-6; and Tayasan-13. Damaged houses were recorded at 15,787 of which 6,352 and 9,435 were totally and partially damaged respectively. As of 9:00 a.m. February 18, PHILVOCS seismic station in Maasin, Southern Leyte recorded a total of 1,741 aftershocks, 105 of which were felt in the Visayas area, NDRRMC update read. (MBCN/PIA-7)
BOHOL
INFOBYTES COMMUNITYNEWS
Bohol formulates core messages to boost tourism
By Rey Anthony Chiu TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Feb. 20 (PIA) --- “Bohol: Heart of the Islands,” and “Bohol has it all, and it’s all in Bohol.” Bohol governor Edgar Chatto unrolled the new tourism banner marketing for Bohol. “These are the core messages that we are sending out to the world through a strong, sustained tourism promotion and marketing program,” Chatto said during his State of the Province Address delivered before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on February 17. When he was vice governor, Chatto orchestrated the crafting of a province-wide vision and mission and identified eco-cultural tourism as among economic engines for Bohol’s holistic development. Chatto then cited that Bohol’s rich natural resources, high biodiversity and gentle friendly people make it an ideal magnet for tourists. Hailed as the place where the friendliness is so eloquently shown by the Sandugo: first recorded international treaty of friendship and consequently the place where the seed of the United
Nations was sowed, Bohol’s hospitable people makes the island a destination because of its people. “We want tourists and visitors to realize that Bohol is “Authentically Philippines,” and with our pristine environment and emphasis on local arts and culture, through our Center for Culture and Arts Development, they will see what is “authentically Filipino,” Chatto said. Chatto added, Bohol Tourism thrust is all about recognizing what Bohol truly is – the heart of the Philippine Islands – both geographically and culturally. The governor wants the world to understand that much more than the ‘trifecta’ of Loboc, Chocolate Hills and the Tarsier, we have the five pillars of tourism and we want Bohol to be discovered and rediscovered annually by tourists, eventually becoming a perennial destination. Chatto explained the marketing program is an outcome of the Tourism Summits conducted through the Bohol Tourism Office (BTO) that aimed to ensure sustainable growth in the tourism industry and unify the tourism marketing of [our] municipalities with one voice. (mbcn/rahc/PIA-Bohol)
HELPING STEER LOCAL TOURISM CAPABILITY. The PIA and tourism sectors, international ship captain Gaudencio Dumapias (back toward the camera) partnered with Batuan Colleges in a series of activities that enhance capability of local tour guides in Batuan last Feb 20-21. (PIABohol/RAC)
Bohol registers P1.3B new investments in 2011 By Rey Anthony Chiu TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Feb. 20 (PIA) -- Bohol governor Edgar Chatto in his ‘State of the Province Address’ recently reported that there are P1.3 billion worth of investments in Bohol in 2011 that came from the 2,197 registered new business. Chatto ascribes the new investments uptrend with the enabling business environment the government and the private sector put up to entice investments. Chatto cited the Bohol Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) as a crucial innovation that made the economic jumpstart easily noticeable. Bohol Investment Promotion Center head Maria fe Dominise said, potential investors find applying a business permit and licenses too much of a hassle that somehow pushes them to avoid the mainstream. The solution was the establishment of the BOSS in 2009. It sets up under one roof a one-stop-shop for business permits and licenses and gathers all regulator agencies involved in legally setting up a business identity in one location. That way, the investor does not have to go across the city to go to another regulatory office and lose steam in the process, Dominise explained. At the BOSS, legal business name and license processing is relatively cut short, and gathering of data becomes easy, added Blair Panong, investment specialist at the local DTI. “Today, the Bohol BOSS, lodged at the Bohol Investment Promotion Center (BIPC), has achieved a record increase in investments,” Chatto, who was the chief legislator when BIPC was institutionalized, shared. “Investments posted for 2011 surpassed all expectations. Total investments amounted to P1.3 Billion from 2,197 new enterprises, greatly exceeding our target, and posting a very impressive 64% increase over last year’s total investments,” Chatto told the Boholanos at his SOPA. In addition, the governor said BIPC noted more women micro entrepreneurs, at 52 percent of total and these enterprises have generated employment for thousands of Boholanos. “This is further evidence of the increasing number of entrepreneurs who are confident about Bohol’s business enabling environment, he noted. Already, 26 out of 47 municipalities have installed business process and licensing systems, Chatto pointed out. (mbcn/ rahc/PIA-Bohol)
INFOBYTES COMMUNITYNEWS
SIQUIJOR
PNP organizes 1st Siquijor Bike for Peace
By Rizalie Anding Calibo SIQUIJOR, Feb 20 (PIA) -- Siquijor province recently held its first “Bike for Peace” organized by the Philippine National Police (PNP). Provincial Director Police Senior Superintendent Ernesto Agas said the activity aimed to raise public awareness, involvement and responsibility in the
PNP’s various peace initiatives. The event saw the participation of first time bikers of the PNP who are yet to be organized as Siquijor PNP Bikers Association. With at least six bikers each from the six Municipal Police stations, Siquijor Public Safety Platoon and from the Provincial Headquarters, 45
personnel initially joined the activity. Twelve biking enthusiasts in Siquijor led by Board Member Arthur Chan, a former Governor of the province also participated in the activity. The 41-kilometer stretch biking covered the towns of Enrique Villanueva, Larena, Siquijor and San Juan where its police stations were also inspected by officials during the stop-over. (mbcn/rac/ PIA-Siquijor)
Automatic weather station now in Siquijor By Rizalie A. Calibo
BIKE FOR PEACE: Behind a cup of coffee, Provincial Director PSSupt. Ernesto F. Agas of the Siquijor Police Provincial Office briefed the bikers (PNP and civilian) the route and total kilometers stretch prior to the send off of the BIKE FOR PEACE. (Bottom) PRO-7 Regional Director PCSUPT Marcelo P. Garbo Jr. with the bikers at the gate of Salagdoong Beach Resort. ready for the send off. (PNP/PIA-Siquijor)
Siquijor hosts triathlon anew By Rizalie A. Calibo
SIQUJOR, Feb 20 (PIA)—The island of Siquijor has once again hosted the second leg of the Summit Triathlon Team Championship Series at Salagdoong Beach Resort, Maria, Siquijor recently. In an earlier press release, Race director Benjoe Gimenez of Sugbu Triathlon said the last time Siquijor hosted a major sporting event was for the Carrera Habagat, a multi-discipline adventure racing, in early 2000. This year, Gimenez said, Siquijor Governor Orlando Fua and provincial board member Joan Albito aggressively pushed to make the island a sports tourism destination. ”They believe this can help a lot in promoting the local tourism within the region and the place is ideal for this kind of event, Gimenez said. Siquijor is located in Central Visayas and is known for its beaches that are ideal for triathlon competitions, Gimenez added. Gimenez further said said Siquijor boasts of its 102-kilometer coastline of pristine white beaches, caves and waterfalls, and they also have a Bandilaan Natural Park and butterfly sanctuary. The race featured age categories 19-Under; 20-29; 30-29; 40-49 and 50 and above for the men’s division and the female open. It also has a tandem/relay category. (mbcn/rac/PIA-Siquijor)
SIQUIJOR, Feb 20 (PIA)—An automated weather station (AWS) is now in place in Siquijor, Siquijor and has been part of a major television network's weather report since December 2011. Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Siquijor Provincial Director Mario de la Pena said that the AWS provides reliable information on weather or climate occurrences by measuring wind velocity, wind direction, atmospheric pressure, atmospheric temperature, and amount of rainfall with gadget attached to measure solar radiation. De la Pena said that Kuya Kim of TV network ABS-CBN has used the AWS in his primetime weather forecast since December last year. The installation of AWS in the province is based on the request of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) that was approved by the DOST-Philippine Atmospherical Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) sometime in September 2011, said de la Pena. He added that PAGASA has allocated some P1 million for the foundation of the 10-meter tower, raingauge, solar panel and three anchorages for the guy wires, with other accessories such as Sensor (Temperature, Pressure, and Humidity), Solar Radiation Sensor, Wind Instrument and Lighting Arrester. The Provincial Government has also allocated some P300 thousand for the perimeter fence to secure the site. Started on November 5 and was completed on November 11, 2011, the AWS now stands at the Department of Education Athletics Compound in Pulangyuta, Siquijor will be maintained by the provincial government. A memorandum of agreement (MOA) was executed between the DOST-PAGASA and the province of Siquijor for the province to serve as the caretaker with its assigned provincial engineers to ensure, among others, maintenance and protection of the equipment. (mbcn/rac/PIA-Siquijor)