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An Electronic News Magazine of PIA Mindanao

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Page 1: One Mindanao - July 11, 2012
Page 2: One Mindanao - July 11, 2012

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESEDITORIAL BOARDExecutive Editor …….. EFREN F. ELBANBUENA Cluster Head, Southern, Western and Central Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Region XI

Managing Editor …….. ABNER M. CAGA Cluster Head, Northern and Northeastern Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Caraga Region Officer-in-charge,PIARegionX

Associate Editors …… NOEMI B. EDAGA Regional Director, PIA Region IX

OLIVIA T. SUDARIA Regional Director, PIA Region XII

Regional Desk Editors Jocelyn P. Alvarez, PIA Region IX Elaine O. Ratunil, PIA Region X Rudolph Ian G. Alama, PIA Region XI Danny E. Doguiles, PIA Region XII Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region

Copy Editors Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region Nora C. Lanuza Molde, PIA Caraga Region

Layout Artists ……… Victoriano B. Villacruz, Jr., PIA Region IX Zener R. Dumaguing, PIA Region X

Senior Layout Artists Gerie Mae G. Coco, PIA Caraga Region Richard D. Atillo, PIA Caraga Region Editorial Advisers :

ATTY. JOSE A. FABIADirector-General

Philippine Information Agency

SEC. HERMINIO “Sonny” B. COLOMAPresidentialCommunicationsOperationsOffice

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephoneno.(062)215-1480/925-0038Cellphoneno.0908-8843404E-mail:[email protected]@yahoo.comBlogspot:www.piazampen.blogspot.comFacebook:PIAWesMinInfoBliz

Northern MindanaoGraces’Building,AntonioLunaStreetCagayandeOroCity9000TelefaxNo.(08822)72-66-83Telephoneno.(088)856-8178/729-594Cellphoneno.0928-52043050917-3084969E-mail:[email protected][email protected]:www.pia-10.blogspot.com

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)2/FKantoMotorsBldg.,QuimpoBlvd.,NewMatinaDavaoCity8000Telephoneno.(082)297-0991/301-8580Telefaxno.(082)297-0992/304-2044Cellphoneno.0917-7053606/0918-9202950E-mail:[email protected]

Central Mindanao (SOCCSKSARGEN) Provincial Capitol Compound Bautista Bldg., Zulueta St.KoronadalCity,SouthCotabato9506Telephoneno.(083)520-0249Telefaxno.(083)228-9736/228-9739/520-0100Cellphoneno.0921-6873373/0928-5204307E-mail:[email protected],[email protected]

Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga)ViceMayors’LeagueofthePhilippinesBldg.,J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan CityTelephoneno.(085)341-5285/360-1239Telefaxno.(085)341-2370Cellphoneno.0917-7188834Email:[email protected],[email protected],phBlogspot:www.piacaraga.blogspot.comFacebook:PIACaragaUpdates,PIAAgusandelNorte, Pia Agusan del Sur, Pia Surigao del Norte, Pia Surigao del Sur

Page 3: One Mindanao - July 11, 2012

Cover Story

Davao City’s Black taxis, among PH most modern

Rudolph Alama Southern Mindanao

Today’s issue... Wednesday, July 11, 2012 Vol. 1 No. 298

page 4

Government to implement performance-based system of giving bonuses to workers – DBM Secretary Abad 9

Fryan E. Abkilan, Caraga Region24 DA chief to visit Surigao Norte anew

31 Northern MindanaoPMA to hold entrance exam in CdO on Aug. 26

DepEd to prioritize planting of bamboo trees328 Koronadal villages considered dengue hotspots40

Rutchie C. Aguhob, Northern Mindanao

Apipa P. Bagumbaran, Armm17 Voters’ registration in Lanao Sur normal - COMELEC

21 Jennifer P. Gaitano, Caraga Region

PhilHealth benefit package launched in Bislig City

Dani Doguiles, Central Mindanao

City gov’t to distribute 385 computers to public schools in Gensan 42 Pops Gumana -Fruylan, Central Mindanao

Felipo David G. Malcampo, Western Mindanao27 38th Nutrition Month Celebration focuses on

vegetable consumption

7 11 15 19

25 29 35 39

Dan Hill holds concert for Tagum’s chairs program37 Louie Lapat, Southern Mindanao

Page 4: One Mindanao - July 11, 2012

4 Wednesday, July 11, 2012ONE MINDANAO

Cover StoryDavao City’s Black taxis, among PH most modern

A25-unitfleetoperatedbytheDavaoCity-basedMabuhayTaxi, theunits are individually equipped withsatellite Global Positioning Systemand a Point-of-Sale (POS) systemwhich enables each taxi passengerto pay their fares using their debitor ATM cards and in theworks is asystem that can also process creditcardtransactions. ThisfeatureputsMabuhayBlackTaxisaheadofitscounterpartnotjustinthecitybutalsointherestofthecountryaswell. PierreRyanTansayshisinspirationfor their Debit/ATM processing taxiswastheultimateridingconvenience.“Therewasonepassengerwhoasked

t h ecab driver to go to the

nearestATMmachinesoshecanpaythefare.”Tanrecalls. It is for passengers who don’thaveenoughcash-on-handtopayfortheirfares,they’lljustusetheirATMordebitcardforpayments.ThecardsmustbeBancnetorMegalinkcardsforittobeprocessed.Tansaidthat they don’t issue service chargeor have no fixed minimum charges.“Even if your fare is just one peso,youcanswipeitwithyourcard.”Tanadded. Other problems which will besolved by the cashless feature will

Fhey are sleek and elegant connoting class and style,

Davao City’s Black Taxis are becoming the rave in the city nowadays owing to its mixture of riding comfort and digital technology.

by Rudolph Alama

Page 5: One Mindanao - July 11, 2012

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 ONE MINDANAO 5

includethe driver not worrying abouthaving the exact amount of changeparticularlyifthepassengerpaysupwithbillsoflargedenomination. It’s aWin-Win solution for thepassenger and the taxi driver, saysTan about the POS featurewhich ispartnership between the MabuhayTaxi Company and China BankingCorporation(ChinaBank). Currently there are about anaverage of 10 ATM/Debit card taxifaretransactionsbeingmonitoredbythecompanydaily. Another feature aside from thePOS equipped taxis is their GlobalPositioning System. GPS-equippedtaxis provide unrivalled safety andconvenienceforpassengers. In this set-up a prospectivepassengercallsthecentralcallcenterwhichismanned24hoursaday,sevendaysaweekevenduringholidays.Thecall centermonitors the locationsofthetaxisthrutheGPSandmessagesthenearesttaxiunit,thedriverthenreceivestheaddressofthepassenger

tobepickedup. UnlikeDavaoCity’sGPSequippedpolicepatrolcars,TansaidthatBlackTaxis GPS system have real-timemessaging features to relay to thedriverstheexactaddressesofwaitingpassengers. The device can relaymessages,relayadvisoryandprovideefficientdispatch. Another advantage for GPSis when a passenger accidentallyleaves his or her belongings inthe cab. Provided the passengerremembersthetaxinumbertheGPScanexpeditiouslylocatethetaxiandrelay a message of the passenger’sleftitem.

Tourism Feature Black Taxis Tan said werepatterned after black-colored luxurycar taxis found in other developedcountries. Wewantourblacktaxistobesetapart from the rest; the black colordenoteseleganceand

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formalityTan said. But unlike other

blackluxurytaxisabroadwherethereis much higher flag-down and tariffrates,DavaoCityBlackTaxishavethesameratesasregulartaxis.Tan said that Black Taxis providecomfort, convenience and safety topassengers. Black Taxi Drivers havestricter dress code, beingmandatedtowearblackpants(nojeans,fadedpants) and black leather shoes (nocolored rubber shoes) they alsoundergo training tohandle the taxisuniquehigh-techfeatures. On the works is a partnershipbetween theDepartmentofTourismand the Mabuhay Taxi Company tofeatureIt’sMoreFuninThePhilippinesadssimilartotheBlackTaxisinLondonEngland. It is hoped to be finalizedand featured during the KadayawanFestivalinAugust. Tan said that he has receivedreportsthatpassengersprefertoridethe Black Taxis. He cites a taxi linewhere waiting passengers would letotherpassengersboardothertaxisso

thattheycanridetheBlackTaxis.

History PierreRyanTanwasthena14-yearoldteenagerwhenhedreamtofa owninga taxi fleet. Togetherwiththe combined savings of his sistertheywereable topurchasea singleunitoftaxi.Theirfather,ManuelTanM.D.boughtmoreunitsandin1994MabuhayTaxiwasborn. “Iwasateenagerthensoitwasmyfatherwhomanagedthebusiness.”Tan said. Through the years theirbusinessgrewtobecomeoneofthebiggesttaxicompaniesinthecity.At34,Pierreisoverseeingthegrowthofhisnewtaxibaby.HesaysbynextmonthhewillbeseeingBlackTaxistobea40-strongfleet. Tan says he is working onintroducingnewinnovationsforhistaxifleet,whichhedeclines toelaborateclassifying itas tradesecretsbuthesayswillbeusingultra-moderndigitaltechnologytobringunrivalledluxuryandconveniencetoDavao’staxiridingpublic.

Page 7: One Mindanao - July 11, 2012

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ACROSS THE NATION

In a press briefing inMalacanangon Tuesday, Budget SecretaryFlorencio ‘Butch’ Abad said that theproposed 2013 national budget was

crafted in consideration of five keyprinciples toensure that theAquinoadministration’s priority programtargetswillbeattained.

Department of Budget and Management announces proposed 2013 budget

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has announced the completion in terms of preparation of the proposed P2.006-trillion ‘Empowerment Budget’ under the National Expenditure

Program (NEP) for fiscal year 2013 to support the Aquino government’s unyielding efforts to fulfill its commitment to achieve poverty reduction and sustainable economic development.

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“Thisbudgetwascraftedguided by five principles,thefirstoneisthePresident’s

Greater and Deeper commitmentto the Aquino Social Contract, thesecond is Accelerated Completionof Priority Program Targets, thirdStronger Government AccountabilitytoPerform,fourthisTransparencyforFasterBudgetExecutionandClearerResults, and last but not the leastis Greater Stakeholder Participationin Preparation and Execution,” Abadsaid.“Wewantthisbudgettoaccelerate

the completion of priority programtargetso, towardsthisendwehavedesignatedtheDepartmentofPublicWorksandHighwaysastheprincipalinfrastructure agency, meaning allconstruction activities will now beundertaken…thedesign,costing,theprocurementorthebiddingaswellasthesupervisionbytheDPWHsothatthe other agencies can concentrateontheircoremandates,”headded.The proposed 2013 NEP, Abad

furthernoted,willbeanchoredonthetheme “Atas ng Bayan” which aimstodeliverwhatthepeople,especiallytheunderprivilegedsector,hasbeenaskingfor.

“I will present to you thebudget that we will submit onJuly 24 to Congress… the day afterthePresidentdelivershisSONA,angtema po ng budget for next year[ay] ‘Atas ng Bayan’. Last year ourdefinition of ‘Paggugol ng Matuwid’was spending that had direct,immediateandsubstantial impacttothepeople,”Abadsaid.“This year we define ‘Paggugol

ng Matuwid as something that thepeople, especially the poor hadbeen asking for or in short ‘Atas ngTaumbayan’.. we’ll be calling it anempowermentbudgetbecauseeverygovernmentpesothatisspentinthis

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Government to implement performance-based system of giving bonuses to workers – DBM Secretary Abad

In order to prod government workers and institutions to

perform their respective mandates above par, the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III will implement a performance-based system of bonuses that will be included in the 2013 General Appropriations Act, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said on Tuesday.

budgetismeanttobenefitthe people especially thepoor and in that way we

feel thatweareempowering them,”hestressed.In a separate statement, the

DBM chief underscored the people’sinstructions to President Benigno S.AquinoIII.“MalinawpoangAtasngTaumbayan

kay Pangulong Aquino: Igugol nangmatuwidandbawatpisosakabanngbayannangmaydirektangpakinabang

sakanila”,Abadnoted.“With this, the Aquino

administration designed the 2013expenditureplanasanEmpowermentBudget: a budget that seeks tounshackle the poor from povertyand invest in their capabilities toparticipate meaningfully in theeconomy. It is also a Budget thatdeepens reformbyenabling citizensto participate in governance and tohold government accountable tothem,”hesaid. (JCL)

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In a press briefingat Malacañang, Abad

said this “innovation” of awardingbonusestodeservingemployeesandinstitutionsisinlinewithPresidentAquino’sdirective toharmonizeallperformance-based managementsystemsingovernment.“…wehopetostrengthenalsothe

accountabilityofpublic institutionsand public servants to performtheirmandatesand,therefore,wecontinue to deepen performance

budgeting and harmonize allperformance-based managementsystems in government,” Abadsaid.He added that the additional

bonus is different from the usualproductivityenhancementincentivegiven to governmentworkers andinstitutionseveryyear.“But one innovation that we

are going to introduce next yearis a system of performance-based bonuses which can range

from 5,000 to35,000pesosperemployee on topoftheproductivitye n h a n c em e n tincentiveofabout5,000 that theywillbereceiving,”Abadsaid.He said that

more details onthe incentiveprogram will begiven at a laterdate. (rck)

Page 11: One Mindanao - July 11, 2012

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Deles says ‘time for peace is now’; cites P-Noy’s efforts and ‘whole-of-government’ approach for peace in Mindanao

The time for peace is now,” Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles declared, emphasizing the

‘whole-of -government’ approach of the P-Noy administration in pushing for peace.

In her speech during the Moro Leaders’ Assembly held over the weekend in Camp Darapanan, Secretary Deles cited the clear directives from President Aquino to all departments and agencies to contribute to ongoing efforts to fast-track peace and development in Mindanao.

In what was probably the most emotional and inspiring moment of peace advances in southern Philippines, thousands of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members with their families and other Moro leaders repeatedly chanted in unison their “takbirs” of “Allahu Akbar!” (God is the

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Greatest), as Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles defined government’s efforts in its relentless quest for lasting peace in the south.

“Patuloy ang pagsisikap ng ating Pangulo para itulak ang pag-uusap sa lamesa (‘Our President is continuously persistent in moving the peace talks forward’),” she stated.

The peace adviser mentioned how the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police have been carrying out their functions in support of the peace process. She also said that the GPH Panel has been diligently consulting all government agencies and departments on the agenda of power and wealth-sharing, and governance which are being discussed with the MILF on the peace table.

“The Panel does not bring empty or false promises to Kuala Lumpur. Following the President’s instructions, the Panel ensures that the appropriate departments and agencies have been properly consulted and have come on board. The Panel goes to KL for every meeting with a fresh mandate from the President,” she stated.

Further, she emphasized that regular consultations are being done with Congress and Senate. “I tell you the feedback has been positive from the leadership of both Houses of Congress,” she said adding that dialogues with retired Supreme

Court justices and members of the 1987 Constitutional Commission are set to be conducted.

Consultations with local government units and civil society organizations, as well as business sector and the academe are also continuing in line with P-Noy’s directive for transparency in the negotiations.

Deles stressed President Aquino’s tuwid na daan (straight path) principle, which is also upheld by the Islamic principle alsirat al mustaquim and his hands-on leadership in securing permanent peace in Mindanao within his term. “Sa tuwid na daan, ang salita ay sagrado. Sa ilalim ni P-Noy, siya mismo ang diretsong namumuno, gamit ang buong kakayanan at resources ng gobyerno, pati na ang kaniyang sarili, para sa paghanap ng kapayapaan para sa buong bansa.”

She recalled the President’s move to personally meet Murad in August 2011 in Japan where they agreed to fast track the peace negotiations and the stand he made against the outcry for an all-out-war in October of last year, which he silenced with his call for “all-out-justice.”

“P-Noy has been tried and tested in the search for peace. Nasubok na po si P-Noy at siya ay tapat na nanindigan. He has passed the test,” she said.

Deles graced the kick-off of the Moro assembly which ended yesterday with other key government

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officials, chief negotiator Marvic Leonen; peace panel members Miriam Ferrer, Yasmin Busran-Lao, Senen Bacani and Hamid Barra, 6th Infantry Division’s Major Gen. Rey Ardo, Government of the Philippines (GPH) ceasefire chief BGen. Gilberto Jose Roa, senior military adviser BGen. Leo Cresente Ferrer and senior police adviser SSupt. Noel Delos Reyes.

Also in attendance were Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) representative Tahir Akmad Saif, Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato’ Ghafar Tengku bin Mohamed, members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), foreign dignitaries and local government executives and representatives.

Joint security efforts for a historic and peaceful assembly

The peace adviser’s compelling

message reinforced the MILF Chair Murad Ebrahim’s declaration that he “sees a flickering light at the end of the long tunnel,” referring to a possible breakthrough in the GPH-MILF peace process.

“Kami ay narito dala ang pagkilala at pagpupugay ng national government sa inyong tuwirang pagsisikap na buuin at patingkarin ang suporta at pakikilahok ng Bangsamoro para sa nangyayaring usaping pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng gobyerno at MILF,” Deles said. (“Our presence here signifies the national government’s recognition of your sincere efforts

to gather support from and ensure the participation of the Bangsamoro for the ongoing peace talks.”)

“Saludo po kami sa inyong (We salute your) show of unarmed force in support of the peace process,” she added conveying the national government’s recognition and appreciation to the MILF leadership’s initiative to hold the public assembly.

Deles also took note of the successful collaboration of government security forces and the MILF in ensuring the safety and security of the participants to the four-day Bangsamoro Leaders’ Assembly.

New leadership spells the difference

She related that it was not her first time to be in Camp Darapanan. She attended the Bangsamoro People’s Consultative Assembly here back in 2005 barely a month and a week before she resigned as Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process during the Arroyo administration.

“In 2005, together with Secretary

Silvestre “Yongyong” Afable, I brought the message of hope, solidarity, and persistence in pursuit of peace,” she recalled, adding that she brings the same, but at the same time, different message. “The difference is the change of leadership under P.Noy. Ngayon dala ko ang mensahe na sinsero si

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P.Noy, seryoso si P.Noy, sa kaniyang paghangad at pagsisikap para sa kapayapaan at kaunlaran dito sa Mindanao.”

The peace adviser told of reliving

the heights of energy, hope and commitment for peace that she experienced. “Now I have returned, filled with joy and hope once more as I sense how strong your drive is to attain peace.” she said.

The peace adviser concluded with an expression of new hope and commitment from the government.

“I have dared to return to government and I face you again today with new hope and commitment because under our current President, under P.Noy – sa daang matuwid – al sirat al mustaquim – we can dare to hope again. With you we say – the time for peace is now.”

Goal is for signing of peace pact this year

Chief government negotiator

Dean Marvic Leonen conveyed the same sincerity and commitment from the government. He also underlined the urgency that a peace pact with the MILF should be signed soon.

“Our final agreement should be simple but meaningful and it should be signed within this year so that there is an opportunity to

implement and assess and learn some more,” Leonen explained that by signing it this year both parties will have ample time to adjust the agreements.

“We know that our national government, who we represent at the negotiating table is poised and ready to invest technically, politically, and financially to achieve all these,” he added.

Leonen also pointed out the importance of building trust in the negotiations. “As the President reminded me time and again: It is not the complexity of the agreement that will ensure its implementation or the achievement of its aims—it is the trust that is built in the process of negotiation and in the process of assessing its implementation. At the end of the day, we build on each other’s sincerity and we do this while we are implementing programs and projects than just simply talking for that perfect peace agreement at the negotiating table,” he said.

“We negotiate for more than peace. We negotiate that we can live in a society that not only aspires for justice but also painstakingly tries to achieve it,” he stressed.

Leonen also lauded the MILF peace panel for being able, patient and wise in the peace negotiations. “To negotiate with your panel and your leaders is indeed a lifetime honor that we will cherish,” he told the participants.

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ARMM holds general registration caravanby Apipa P. Bagumbaran

The regional government conducted a general registration caravan last July 8, a day before the start of the general registration of voters in the Autonomous Region in Muslim

Mindanao (ARMM).

Carrying the slogan “Isang Tao, Isang Rehistro, Isang Boto,” the caravan kicked-off early morning in the Office of the Regional Governor in Cotabato City, passing through some towns in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur provinces, and ended at the Provincial Capitol Gym here where a simple program was held.

ARMM Executive Secretary Anwar Malang, who represented ARMM Acting Governor Mujiv Hataman, said the caravan, which calls on voters to register only once, aims to push for honest and clean registration. “We wanted to erase the notion that ARMM is the cheating capital of

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the country,” he said. According to Malang, a clean registration is the first step towards real reforms in the region. Provincial Governor Mamintal Adiong called on the civil society organizations and members of the media in the entire region, specifically in the province to take an active part in ensuring the conduct of clean and honest registration. He also urged everybody to unite and help in

cleansing the region through this electoral reform. Provincial Election Supervisor Nasib Yasin advised that complaints should be filed at his office or at the designated areas of the four monitoring teams organized just for this registration.

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Voters’ registration in Lanao Surnormal - COMELEC by Apipa P. Bagumbaran

The first day of the general voters’ registration in the province was normal except for isolated problems on clustering and locations of the registration centers, according to Commission

on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner Armando Velasco in a press conference held on July 9 in Marawi City.

He said a number of the parties were not satisfied with the present location of the registration centers. The reasons are mostly attributable to “rido” (family feud) and political rivalry, Velasco said. According to Velasco, some claims that before they could go to designated registration centers they had to pass through the territory of political rivals while others could not go to the centers because of family feud. The commissioner, however, assured that they are trying their best to lessen the questions on clustering, emphasizing that aside from the convenience of registrants, they also consider its security aspect. As per Comelec report, there are 253 registration centers and 309 voters registration machines in the province. The other problem encountered

were glitches in the voters registration machines in some areas but these had already been addressed by the Comelec. Velasco also said that the four regional directors of the Comelec assigned here moved around the province conducting ocular inspections and observing the conduct of the registration. Col. Daniel Lucero, commanding officer of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, said almost 99 percent of the

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forces are now deployed except for a contingent going to Upper Tagoloan as they are still waiting for the availability of the chopper that will ferry them from Cagayan de Oro City to the area. “There is also a high possibility of violence in the municipalities of Tugaya and Kapai, however, appropriate actions have been taken to prevent or avert such incidences there and that CCTV cameras were installed in the areas,” he further said. Lucero added that forces designated to secure Butig arrived in the municipality at around 8:30 a.m. and no violent incident was reported in the area.

No other registration-related violence was also reported in other areas during the first day of registration.

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www.piacaraga.blogspot.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/PIA-Caraga-Updates/165374590187484

[email protected][email protected]

The Department of Health (DOH) is intensifying its campaign against dengue by tapping the communication

support of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the government’s information arm.

DOH intensifies anti-dengue campaign thru info strategiesby Robert E. Roperos

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This was developed after theconsultativeworkshopconductedinMetroManilaregardingtheimplementationofDOH’snationwideanti-denguecampaignwherethelatterrequestedPIAtohelpitscampaignbyusingoftheagency’stwoelectroniccommunicationchannels-theinboxnewsandtextblastoperation. PIADirectorGeneralJoseA.Fabia,inamemorandumsenttoPIAregionalofficesnationwide,directedtheregionaldirectors and officers-in-charge of the16regionstoaddand/orcompletethedirectory of PIA inbox news and textblastrecipients. Fabiareiteratedthatinordertobesuccessfulinthiscampaign,allbarangaydengue warriors and barangay healthworkersinthecountrymustbeincludedasrecipients. ThePIAchiefalsodirectedconcernedofficials of the agency to group theirdatabase per barangay or communityfor easier and more convenient textblasting of information to concernedareasduringtheimplementationofanti-denguecommunicationactivitiesintheirrespectiveareasofresponsibilities. Fabia said the text blasting perbarangayisbeingpilot-testedinRegions3 and in the National Capital Region(NCR) for two weeks, after which anassessmentofthetextblastactivitywillbedonetoidentifygapsbeforeitwillbeimplementedinregionsandprovincesinthecountry. Inbox news are electronic newsmagazines produced by four majorclustersoftheagencysuchastheiStar

of the Southern Luzon Cluster, OneLuzon of the Northern Luzon Cluster,OneVisayasfortheVisayasCluster,andthepioneeringe-newsmagazineoftheagency,OneMindanao. Among the recipients sectorsregularly receiving news from theagency are the local tri-media, localgovernmentunits,nationalgovernmentagencies, government-owned and-controlled corporations, governmentfinancing institutions, military, police,religious,academe,judiciaries,business,labor, agri-workers, non-governmentorganizations,andcivicorganizations.

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PhilHealth benefit package launched in Bislig Cityby Jennifer P. Gaitano

An estimated crowd of 500convenedattheBisligCityGymnasiumand witnessed the event with thepresenceofBisligCityMayorLibradoNavarro,otherofficialsandguests. In her speech, Local HealthInsurance Office Chief Ms. JulietGolez of PhilHealth Bislig City saidthat Bisliganons are lucky enoughthat PhilHealth has chosen this city,wheresaidprogramisfirst launchedinCaragaregion. “Bisliganons especially themarginalizedshouldbeready,informed

and empowered right before anysicknesshitthem,andPhilHealthwillbetheretoassistthem,”emphasizedGolez. “Healthprogramshouldbeoneofthemostpriorityprogramsofallthelocalgovernmentunitsinthecountrybecausewithgoodhealth,wecanallenjoylifeandperformourjobswell,along alsowith a quality education”Navarrosaid. Navarro added that one of hispriorities is to have all Bisliganonsregistered and be members of the

BUTUAN CITY – To upgrade the health care benefits of members, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Thursday launched its Primary Care Benefit 1 (PCB1) Package at Bislig City, Surigao del Sur.

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PhilHealth. He alsocongratulated the CityHealthOfficeforthewellimplementation of theHealthCareprograms. Based onPhilHealth records,Bislig City, Surigao delSur has 40,208 totalmembers registered toPhilHealth. Also, Dr. LeizelLagrada, Primary CareBenefit 1 Team Leaderof PhilHealth briefedthe Bisliganons on the‘Primary Care Benefit1 Package’. She saidthat this is one of thepriority programs ofPres.BenignoS.AquinoIII which is aimed toachieveuniversalhealthcaretoallFilipinopeoplewho are members ofPhilHealth. “PCB1Packageisthenewsetofbenefitsentitles members tobasic, quality healthcare services throughaccredited publichealth care providersnationwide. It allowsprimary health careproviders greaterflexibility in the range

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of services they canoffer to their enlistedPhilHealth clients,” saidLagrada. Included in thePCB 1 Package areprimary benefits suchas consultations,regular blood pressuremonitoring and helathpromotionlikeeducationon breastfeeding,counseling on lifestylemodification andsmoking cessation. Medicines forcommon diseases like asthma andacutegastroenteritis(AGE)withnoormild dehydration, upper respiratorytractinfection/pneumoniaandurinarytract infection are also included andexpected to be provided by theprovidersofthispackage.

Meanwhile, Dr. Banzon withRegl Vice Pres. Sychua and otherPhilHealth officials handed over thePhilHealthCapitationFundCheckstogocalgovernmentunitsofBisligCityandLingig,SurigaodelSur.BisligCityreceivedtheamountofP915,600.00forthe4thquarterof2011tofunditshealthserviceswhileLingigreceived

P927,600.00. A ceremonialp e r f o r m a n c ecommitment &memorandum ofagreement (MOA)signing betweenPhilHealth andthe institutionalhealth careproviders in BisligCity, and nearbymunicipalities inSurigao del Surwasalsoheld.

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DA chief to visit Surigao Norte anew

SURIGAO DEL NORTE -- Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala arrives Today, July 11 in Surigao City for a three-day visit in the province.

by Fryan E. Abkilan

Provincial agriculturist GromykoGeraldino said upon arrival at theSurigaoCityAirport,Alcalaalongwithhis undersecretaries and all regionaldirectorswillproceedtoSiargaoIslandforanexecutivecommitteemeeting. Geraldino said they will beexpectingaround120guestsfromDAtogetherwithheadsof itsattachedagencies,suchasPhilippineCoconutAuthority, Bureau of AgriculturalStatistics, Agricultural TrainingInstitute,andBureauofFisheriesandAquatic Resources, among others,toproceedtoSiargaoIsland. Alcala will also see the statusof some identified agri-fisheryprojectsintheislandandmeettheagricultureandfisherystakeholdersto respond and act on the issues

and concerns that they may raise.“Rightaftertheirexecutivemeetingon July 12, Sec. Alcala will gracethe Farmers-Fisherfolks Forum atGen.Luna.At3p.m.,thesecretarywill then visit our demonstrationfarm at Brgy. Cancohoy in DelCarmen to lead the launching andgroundbreaking ceremony of ourorganicagriculture,demofarmandwarehouse,”Geraldinoadded. Thelastdayofthesecretary’svisit will be capped with a pressconferenceinSurigaoCity. It was learned that Alcala’svisitwill be his second time in theprovince.HisfirstvisitwasinJanuarylastyearwherehemetwithfarmers,local chief executives, NGOs/POsandthelocalmedia.

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The activity, which was spearheaded by the provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Dipolog Consumers’ Watch Group, Inc., sought to thresh out some issues raised by the consumers against

certain business establishments and utilities in the city. One of the issues tackled in the consumer assembly was on the tap water supplied by the Dipolog City Water District (DCWD) which is allegedly dirty, rusty and with

Consumer assembly held in DipologBy Franklin P. Gumapon

As a sequel to the consumer assembly held here last June 8, representatives from the different business establishments and utilities have turned up to answer

the issues raised by the consuming public in a gathering yesterday.

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too much chlorine. In his answer to this concern, DCWD manager Pablito Paluca admitted that some of DCWD’s deep wells draw off water with high iron content thus discoloring the water. He, however, explained that the water distributed to the subscribers is safe. Paluca also disclosed that the DCWD is now using chlorine dioxide, a healthier chemical, in treating its water. “This chemical has no smell,” he said. Another issue raised in said gathering was on the poor signal

experienced by subscribers of SMART Communications these days. The SMART representative told the participants that the company is now in the process of upgrading its equipment to provide better signal and services to its subscribers. In a related development, the assembly has also elicited a common sentiment among drugstore owners involving the granting of 20 percent discount on medicines purchased by senior citizens. Dipolog Pharmacists Association President Evelyn Atillo said that the

law granting the senior citizens 20 percent off when buying their drugs must be reviewed by our lawmakers as this has adversely affected small drugstores.

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“Our markup price on drugs is only three percent. If a senior citizen buys medicines worth P2 thousand, he/she would have a discount amounting to P400 as provided for by law. Now, the profit from the P2 thousand worth of drugs is only P60. What will happen to our capital? This is why even the drugstores operated by certain groups of senior citizens have closed shop,” Atillo explained. Yesterday’s consumer assembly was attended by representatives from the water districts of Dipolog and Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte

Electric Cooperative (ZANECO), SMART Communications, Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Pharmacists Association, major business establishments in the city, media practitioners, barangay officials, consumers group and other stakeholders. Dipolog Consumers’ Watch Group President Michael Malacca said the gathering has provided objective responses from the concerned establishments and agencies to the issues and concerns raised by the consumers. (FPG/PIA9)

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The country is celebrating Nutrition Month (July) putting focus on encouraging the Filipino people to increase vegetable consumption and to make vegetable a regular item in every meal of the family.

38th Nutrition Month Celebration focuses on vegetable consumption

National Nutrition Council Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator-Ma. Del Pilar Pamela Tarroza during the kick off activity held recently said “the 38th year of celebration of Nutrition Month

is focused on vegetables and is anchored on the theme “Pagkain ng gulay ugaliin, araw-araw itong ihain!”” Tarroza said this year’s nutrition month activities are aimed at

By Felipo David G. Malcampo

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increasing awareness on the benefits of eating vegetables; to promote vegetable consumption as part of a healthy diet to address micronutrient deficiencies and non-communicable diseases; promote vegetable gardening as a source of additional food and income; and increase demand for vegetables to help local vegetable farmers. Tarroza explained “eating vegetables is very essential to our health because vegetables are packed with nutrients and dietary fibers,” she said. “Green leafy and yellow vegetables such as malunggay, saluyot, kangkong and kamote tops are particularly rich in beta-carotene which are converted to Vitamin A in the intestinal wall and liver though requiring dietary fat for better conversion and utilization,” Tarroza explained. “Moreover, fresh and lightly cooked leafy greens are good sources of Vitamin C as well as iron, calcium, folic acid, vitamin E and other phytochemicals while the non-leafy vegetables such as eggplant, string beans, sayote, upo, and ampalaya not only contribute dietary fiber and variety to our meals but also provide additional iron and B complex

vitamins,” She further shared. Based on the results of the Food Consumption Survey, Filipinos on average are eating less and less vegetables per day in the last three decades. “The World Health Organization recommends consumption of 400grams of fruits and vegetables every day, but from 1998 survey the average Filipino consumption is only 145 grams and in 2008 this is even down to 110 grams,” Tarroza informed. The Nutrition Officer encouraged the public specially the parents to make vegetable consumption a part of their daily lives because eating veggies can help prevent major non-communicable diseases and can help prevent micronutrient deficiencies. She also called on the public to grow vegetables or have a vegetable garden in their homes, in schools and offices. “Having vegetable gardens in the households can increase supply and availability of vegetables for families,” Tarroza said. Nutrition Month is being celebrated by virtue of Presidential Decree 491 the Nutrition Act of the Philippines of 1974 by the late President Marcos. (JPA/FDM/PIA-ZBST)

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Senior citizens get a day treat around Camiguin

More than 4,000 senior citizens joined the “Suroy sa Camiguin (Stroll around Camiguin)” activity initiated by Governor Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo as a treat to the said

sector.

Set in a three-month schedule that started last April to June, the trips this year were grouped by barangays, depending on the number of elderly on each locality.

Provincial Senior Citizen Affairs focal person Zenaida M. Cainglet said it aimed on giving senior citizens opportunity to see the province major tourist attractions.

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“Most of our elderly here have not actually seen the island’s prided attractions. The activity likewise orients senior citizens on some added infrastructure improvements around the province as most of them barely go out in the comfort of their homes,” she said. Cainglet said food and transportation are provided for by the provincial government, and that the governor has specially allotted P1 million fund for this activity alone.

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PMA to hold entrance exam in CdO on Aug. 26CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City - The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Office of the Cadet Admission will be conducting an entrance examination at 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, Philippine Army Gymnasium, Camp Evangelista, Patag, Cagayan de Oro City on August 26.

It requires all applicants to be set on specific qualifications: he or she must be a natural born Filipino Citizen, physically fit, single and never been married; must be at least 17 years old but not a day older than 22 years on April 1 of the year following the date of examination; a high school graduate with a general grade average of 85 percent or higher; and, a minimum of 5 feet 4 inches tall for male and 5 feet 2 inches tall for female. The PMA Cadetship Application form will be distributed nationwide and it can be downloaded from the PMA official website, http://www.pma.ph. All interested and qualified applicants must complete the

information in the application form with other requirements. The form filled shall be mailed back with data to the Office of Cadet Admission, Philippine Military Academy, Fort del

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DepEd to prioritize planting of bamboo treesby Rutchie C. Aguhob

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental - Regional directors and division/city schools superintendents of the Department of Education (DepEd) have been directed to prioritize planting bamboo trees during tree-planting activities in their areas of responsibility.

Pilar 2602, Baguio City, not later than two weeks before the scheduled examination date. The entrance examination covers algebra and geometry, grammar and composition, reading comprehension, verbal and numerical reasoning and pattern analysis. Examination permits are sent through mail to the address reflected by the applicants in their application forms and also can be verified at the venue during the examination. All cadets of PMA are granted full scholarships receiving salary and allowances while studying for four years, earning a degree of Bachelor of Science and a chance to study abroad after graduation. Also after graduation from the academy, cadets are directly commissioned as regular officers in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, joining any of the three branches of service of their choice, the Army, the Navy or the Air Force. “We encourage you, especially those coming from the island of Mindanao to take advantage of this opportunity and eventually become a cadet of PMA who will be receiving not only full scholarship but also assured

of stable job upon graduation,” MGen. Victor A. Felix, Commander, 4ID said. For more information and clarifications you may contact the Office of the Cadet Admission or the Public Information Office, Philippine Military Academy, Fort del Pilar, Baguio City, and PMA Liaison Office, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. (4ID)

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Education Secretary Armin Luistro, in DepEd Memorandum No. 102 issued June 18, made as basis for such issuance the Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 30, s. 2012, from the Office of the President, a copy of which has been enclosed in the DepEd memo. Described to be self-explanatory by Secretary Luistro, MC 30, entitled “Directing the Full Implementation of the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development (PBID) Program,” was signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr. May 30. MC 30 enjoins all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the national government, state universities and colleges, government-owned and controlled corporations, and local government units to support the full implementation of the PBID Program. DTI has intensified the campaign to plant bamboo trees as a way to adapt to climate change and because of the benefits it brings to the environment, as these cannot be easily uprooted and carried away by the flashfloods because the roots are deeply anchored to the ground. In Misamis Occidental, DTI and DepEd has signed an agreement for a bamboo-planting program, wherein DepEd will encourage school pupils to plant bamboo

t r e e s

and DTI to process bamboos

in the production of school furniture and fixtures, such as cabinets, school desks, tables, book shelves, and many more. These furniture and fixtures will be used by DepEd.

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Accelerated growth and reforms have spurred Davao del Norte’s

appeal to national and foreign fundings. As the province keeps up with the break-neck pace of mod-ernization, official development assistance (ODA) resources help fuel the progressive drive of Gov-ernor Rodolfo del Rosario’s devel-opment agenda P.E.O.P.L.E. The governor’s strategy

stands for People empowerment, E d u c a t i o n , O p t i m u m health and social services, Publ ic-pr ivate partnership, Link to the world, and, E m p l o y m e n t and livelihood opportunities. Transparency, reforms and the availability of counterpart funding from the provincial

government has ensured the smooth and trouble-free implementation of ODA projects that have been pivotal in enhancing the human capital and productive capacities of the province in supporting education, health, livelihood, and infrastructure development. The flurry of external resources was made possible through the efforts of Gov. del Rosario, who

National, Foreign support key to DavNor’s growth

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prominent positions, especially as President of the Confederation of Local Chief Executives in Mindanao (CONFED), and Executive Vice President of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) for Mindanao, among others.

World Bank-funded MRDP

The province was able to secure a total of P273 million through the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) of the World Bank and the Department of Agriculture. This is for the 27 rural infrastructure projects, such as farm-to-market roads, bridges and water systems jointly undertaken by the Provincial and City/Municipal LGUs, as well as the 132 community livelihood projects undertaken by registered People’s Organizations in the province. With the adjustment of LGU counterpart funding scheme, the provincial government put up the

ten percent equity required from the LGUs for projects under the MRDP. Gov. del Rosario is now hoping the World Bank will pour in additional P6 billion for the expansion of the MRDP in order to help attain lasting peace by improving the incomes of poor communities in Mindanao.

Dairy Development Project fromUDA

Seeing its promising program on animal health and propagation, the US-based NGO Land O’lakes (LOL) chose Davao del Norte to be its partner in developing its P23-million dairy project in New Corella town. This has become a testament to the public-private partnership thrust of the governor. The US Department of Agriculture-funded project aims to improve the income of rural farmers while providing poor communities access to nutritious fresh milk. Some 157 dairy cows were given to initial

76 farmers from the barangays of Carcor, New Cortez, New Bohol, and San Jose. More cows are coming as Gov. del Rosario is very much hopeful that New Corella town will quality to become dairy zone. The National Dairy Authority requires 300 heads of milk cows for a certain area to be

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recognized as such. LOL Country Manager Qazi Yawar Naeem said the dairy project will not only benefit the present recipients but the potential future farmers who will be joining the loan scheme of repaying the cow loans. The cows were given as loans to the farmers, who need to return a pregnant cow as payment in certain number of years. But, Naeem clarified the repayment cows will not be taken anywhere but will be given to the next set of farmer-beneficiaries. With the newly-completed P3.6-million dairy processing plant put up as counterpart by the Provincial Government, the project will soon handle the over a thousand liters of milk produced by the farmers daily.

Improvement of Provincial Roads by AusAID

The Dabaonons will soon enjoy the benefits of upgraded provincial roads that will significantly cut transportation costs and increase access of the poor to basic services, with the implementation of the Provincial Roads Management Facility (PRMF). After fully achieving its incentive targets for the program, the province is set to receive more than P40 million as initial grant from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). The program primarily funds road rehabilitation and maintenance in the province. However, a substantial sum is

allocated for local governance reforms to improve the quality and efficiency of public service delivery to the communities. The five-year, Php 4.3 billion (A$100 million) - PRMF program, which helps provincial governments upgrade and then maintain their core road network earlier started in seven partner provinces to include Bohol, Guimaras, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and Misamis Occidental. After showing early results, Australia decided to extend the program to another three provinces, to include Davao del Norte, Lanao del Norte and Aklan. The province also availed funding from the Philippine-Australia Human Resource and Organizational Development Facility (HRODF) to strengthen resource development and management, administration competencies and organizational capacities of the province. The facility has sent six scholars from the province to various universities in Australia in order to enhance the effectiveness of specific program areas. Availing these ODA funds reflects the healthy aid absorptive capacity of the province. The provincial government resolves to act on its commitment, kindled by its sense of ownership of the aid projects, as it speeds up a new era of inclusive growth that focuses on human development.(Noel Baguio-PGO Info DavNor)

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Dan Hill holds concert for Tagum’s chairs program

TAGUM CITY- Thousands of Tagumeño fans trooped to this city’s new city hall atrium to wit-ness the one-night concert-for-a-cause of Grammy Award-winning International Artist and Composer Dan Hill last July 6, 2012 which benefited the Local Government of Tagum’s “Care for School Chairs” (CFSC) Program. Saying that he was humbled and inspired the 58-year old Canadian singer expressed admiration of the program initiated by Mayor Rey T. Uy whom he paid a courtesy call at the Fabrication Section of the Tagum City Motorpool in the morning of the day of his concert. “The future for all of us around the world is the children’s generation and their education and anything that we can do to facilitate their education helps all of us,” stressed Hill in an

exclusive interview with the Tagum City Information Office.“The biggest message is love, connection and to always think of other people, that your greatest happiness, as the mayor has so brilliantly demonstrated, your greatest sense of fulfillment and happiness is in helping other people.”During the courtesy call, the singer joined Mayor Uy and the volunteers in painting chairs

which he described as “incredibly fun.During the concert, the singer elicited cheers and applause from the audience when he sang his hit songs “Sometimes When We Touch,” “In Your Eyes,” “Why Do We Always Hurt the Ones We Love,” “Never Thought” and “I Do.”The said concert was organized by the City Government of Tagum and the Rotary Club of Tagum Golden L.A.C.E.S.The CFSC is a brainchild of Mayor Uy that makes use of confiscated logs by fabricating it into school chairs which are later distributed to schools not only in Tagum but also to schools in Davao Region and other areas in Luzon and in Visayas.As of June 30, 2012, the CFSC was able to distribute 51,893 pieces of school furniture since August 2011. (Louie Lapat of CIO Tagum)

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CARAT 2012 exchange of plaquesGENERAL SANTOS CITY, July 11 - Philippine Navy Commander Lued Lincuna and US Navy Commander David Welch exchange plaques at the closing ceremony of CARAT Exercise 2012 (Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training) Tuesday, July 10, at SAFII compound. Looking on are (from left) Capt. Robert Empedrad, deputy commander of Naval Forces Eastern Mind-anao (NFEM); Commodore Marfenio Tan (Res.); Commodore Philip Cacayan, commander of NFEM; and Capt. George Ursabia, commander of Coast Guard District South Eastern Mind-anao. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE).

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Koronadal City co-ops cited for their contribution to local economyBy Aida Agad

KORONADAL CITY -- Cooperatives in this city are considered development players that propelled the local economy.

In his state of the city address (SOCA) July 9, Koronadal City Mayor Peter B. Miguel underscored the contributions of the 70 cooperatives

accredited by the city cooperative office to the city’s economy.

Miguel said the city government has also extended support to these cooperatives in

the form of trainings and seminars, technical assistance, as well as loan assistance.

The mayor also commended the cooperatives for paying

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8 Koronadal villages considered dengue hotspotsBy Dani Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY-- Eight of the 27 barangays here have been consid-ered dengue hotspots, an official of the City Health Office here said.

City health officer Dr. Jean Genevieve Aturdido said identified these barangays as General Paulino Santos (GPS) , Zones 2, 3, and 4, Sta. Cruz, Sto. Nino, Morales and Carpenter Hill, where they have concentrated intensified anti-dengue campaigns.

“These barangays are now actively involved in regular cleanup of possible mosquito breeding places as well as in house-to-house campaign to remind

villagers of the dangers of dengue as well as means to prevent its spread,” she said.

Last week, two children succumbed to the mosquito-borne

disease, the city health office reported.

Clustering or presence of three or more cases in four consecutive weeks has been reported in

their loans extended by the city through the Cooperative Support Fund for Quality Massive Economic Development.

Eleven accredited cooperatives have availed itself of a loan assistance in 2011

and have already fully paid their loan, Miguel reported.

The city cooperative office also reported an increase of 54 percent in loan assistance fund, from P830,000 in the previous year to P1.8 million as of the 1st

semester of 2012.The office was

accredited last year as cooperative training provider and became a nominee for the nationwide “Gawad Parangal CDA.” (DED/ACA-PIA 12)

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barangay GPS.Aturdido warned

parents to monitor their children’s conditions and to seek medical attention if their children have fever that lasts more than one day.

She added that with almost daily rain, the number of dengue cases could rise further.

“During the last week of June we monitored 69 cases; this week the number could reach 80,” she said, adding that they are closely monitoring dengue admissions in hospitals here.

Report from the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) of the Department of Health (DOH) 12 said cases in Soccsksargen Region as of July 7 has already reached 1,907, an increase of 24 percent as compared to 1,532 cases in the 27th week last year.

Most dengue cases were reported from North Cotabato with 940, followed by

South Cotabato (314), Cotabato City (243), General Santos City (204), Sarangani (114), and Sultan Kudarat (94).

Sharp increases were reported in Cotabato City at 109 percent and North Cotabato at 94 percent.

Same RESU-DOH 12 report indicated that 15 persons have already died from dengue this year: five each in General Santos City and North Cotabato, three in South Cotabato , and two in Sarangani.

However, the two deaths in Koronadal City have not yet been included in the DOH 12 report since these were only confirmed over the weekend, thus, increasing the number of deaths in South Cotabato to five and the entire Soccsksargen Region to 17.

South Cotabato Provincial Health Officer Dr. Rogelio Aturdido noted that although the total number of dengue cases in the

province this year has remained 16 percent lower than the figures at the same time last year, the number of deaths has more than doubled from two in the 27th week last year to five as of this weekend.

“There seems to be slackening in the public’s compliance with the second reminder of the 4S approach, which is to seek early consultation,” he observed.

DOH’s 4S Kontra Dengue strategy consists of Search and Destroy, Seek early consultation, Self-protective measures and Say no to indiscriminate fogging.

He also reminded the public to re-activate the 4 o’clock habit of cleaning mosquito breeding areas such as gutters, tires, drums, vases, flower pots and other places with stagnant water.

Other measures being implemented include intensification of “bayanihan” at village level,

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information campaign especially in schools and distribution of chemica l ly-treated nets.

This week, the South Cotabato Schools

Division has started organizing Little Dengue Brigade (LDB) in public elementary schools.

Led by classroom officers in Grades

5 and 6, the LDBs conduct activities that would ensure that their school environs are kept free of dengue carrying mosquitoes. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)

City gov’t to distribute 385 computers to public schools in GensanBy Pops Gumana -Fruylan

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The local government here announced last week the distribution of 385 more computers to public elementary and secondary schools in the city.

Report from office of the SHEEP-Computer Literacy Program (CLP) disclosed that Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio recently approved the budget to purchase additional brand new computers to complete the computerization of all 96 public schools in Gensan.

“Two hundred fifty-five more computers will be given to the remaining 27 elementary schools in the city while 130 units will be distributed to

12 secondary schools,” said SHEEP-CLP head Percival Pasuelo.

Mayor Custodio earlier disclosed that the computerization of all public schools in Gensan through the SHEEP-CLP is one of her administration’s programs to improve the quality of education in public schools of the city to make them globally competitive.

She said the goal of the program was to make sure that public school students here will not be left out in terms of

information technology in preparation for their future local and global engagements.

Selected public secondary schools in Gensan conducted last week a simultaneous test run of all brand new computers donated by the city government from April to June this year.

Exhibits on caricature, robotics and business English proficiency were also showcased during the event. (PGFruylan/PIA12-Gensan)

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