PHILHEALTH BARES P820 MILLION HOSPITALIZATION BENEFITS IN 2010
By Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) regional office here reported that they paid out a total of P820,576,648 million for the medical expenses of some 126,943 members who were hospitalized for treatment of their ailments last year.

Dr. Veronica T. Mateum, Officer-in-Charge of PhilHealth regional office 5, said that the figure was 16 per cent higher than in 2009 where the health insurance agency shelled out a total of P706,937,517 million for some 116,330 members or up by P113,739,131 million.

She said that the average value paid out to PhilHealth accredited hospitals per member treated in 2010 was P6,464.00 or was slightly higher than the 2009 figure which averaged only P6,077.00 or P387.13 more.

Mateum added that the bulk of the payout to hospitals and doctors were made for sponsored members which reached P352,978,656.56 for some 52,115 sponsored members.

While the second highest payout were made for government employee members which reached a total of P206,954,796.04 for some 30,136 members.

She added that the third highest were made for private employee members who were hospitalized which reached P152,159,847.56.

Mateum pointed out that the figures shows that the poorest of the poor whose membership were sponsored by local government units, congressmen and the Aquino government DOH sponsored membership has made universal coverage possible in the next three years.

She said that PhilHealth coverage in Bicol has reached 93 percent in 2010 covering some 5,381,182 of the 5,758,872 total population of the region. (EDLeon/PIA Albay/mal)

DEPED ALBAY TO CONTINUE WITH EARLY REGISTRATION,
ADVISES SCHOOLS OF AUSTERE GRADUATION RITES
By Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – Even if the early registration was conducted last Saturday of January, the Department of Education in Albay continue with the early enrolment for pre-school, incoming Grade 1 including possible first year high school students.

This listing will continue until the enrolment set before school year 2011-2012 starts in June, according to Asst. Superintendent Maria Luisa Samaniego when interviewed over PIA radio program Aramon Ta Daw last week.

The January 29 early registration is part of the department’s annual family mapping activity in coordination with barangay officials to locate potential enrollees for pre-school, grade 1, high school freshman, and returning pupils and students including out-of-school youths who quit school in past school years.

Pre-school listing is for those aged five while potential grade 1 pupils are six year-olds.

The data will be used in preparing for the oncoming school year in terms of manpower, school building, books and related needs, added Samaniego.

She reported that around 50-60 per cent of potential enrollees joined the pre-enrolment activity explaining that some parents would rather register their children during scheduled enrolment days.

Samaniego, though, encouraged parents to visit any school nearest their residence for listing from Monday to Friday.

Meantime, DepEd Albay has come out with a division memorandum calling for austere graduation in both elementary and high schools. This is in line with DepEd memorandum no. 4 signed by Sec. Armin Luistro.

Same memo also set graduation rites be held any day during the first week of April.

Samaniego said that schools utilized as evacuation centers during the heavy rains experienced in January have already extended during week-ends as make-up classes in order to complete the number of school days required by the department. These schools are found in Manito, Sto. Domingo, Malilipot and Jovellar.

DepEd Albay, too, will be conducting advocacies on the K+12 scheme which will start this school year 2011-2012 with the pre-school children. Samaniego said that the campaign is focused to parents so to eliminate doubts or negative feelings if there are. (PIA V/Albay)

ALBAY DIVISION LEADS IN PALARONG BIKOL ATHLETIC RACE;
By Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – Though Department of Education Albay division modestly declined to admit that it tops in the on-going athletic heap, Albay province has already earned 23 medals after two days of sports competition.
The medal harvest, which according to Asst. Superintendent Malette Almayda is unofficial, is distributed to 6 gold, 8 silver and 9 bronze.

Dr. Almayda, made the announcement during this morning’s PIA radio program Ugnayan sa Bikol.

The medals earned were from archery, swimming, ball games and gymnastics. Albay’s gold medalist in gymnastics has been declared to represent Bicol in Palarong Pambansa in Dapitan City, said Almayda.

However, reports reaching PIA today, the media tally has Albay at the forefront of the 13 competing delegations with, 12 gold, 15 silver, and 13 bronze; followed by Camarines Norte with 5 gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze.

Sorsogon province is ranking third with 3 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze. Taking the fourth place is Camarines Sur with 2 gold, 1 silver and 4 bronze.

Almayda, too, commented that their preparations for the athletic events have paid off.

Albay delegation has the biggest contingent with 819. Some 6,000 athletes, coaches and chaperones are participating in the week-long regional meet.

Meantime, the Naga City delegation is expecting Secretary Jesse Robredo to be present in today’s swimming events as youngest daughter Jillian Therese is a leading tanker of the contingent.

The young Robredo has been competing in swimming in past athletic meets. Aside from being an athlete Jillian Therese is a gold medalist in 2009 Mathematics International Competition held in Singapore. (PIA V/Albay)
Registration of potential 4Ps ongoing in CamNorte
By Rosalita Base-Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, (PIA) — The community assembly and the registration of potential beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is ongoing in this province.

Provincial Social Welfare and Development officer Lorna de Claro said that last week, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) registered some 2,772 potential beneficiaries in the town of Paracale; 3,115 in Sta.Elena last Feb. 6-11; 404 in San Lorenzo Ruiz last Feb. 4-5 and 3,485 in Mercedes last Feb. 5-12.

She said that they will be conducting another set of community assembly and registration in the town of Jose Panganiban with 2,868 potential beneficiaries; Labo with 2,290 potential beneficiaries; 3,136 in Vinzons, 2,455 in Basud and 511 in San Vicente.

Earlier the DSWD had disbursed more than P24.7 million to some 2,237 beneficiaries from the towns of Capalonga, Sta. Elena, Mercedes and San Lorenzo Ruiz in December 2010 and last month.

It will be recalled that the 4Ps is a poverty reduction and social development strategy of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education particularly children 0-14 years old.

A household with three qualified children will receives a subsidy of P1,400 per month during the school year or P15,000 annually as long as they comply with the conditionalities. (PIA CamNorte)

Brgy Bagsakan of Sn Miguel wins 2010 Gawad Saka Natl award
by Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, (PIA) — The Barangay Bagsakan project of San Miguel town has been adjudged as the National Outstanding Barangay Bagsakan (LGU- operated category) in Gawad Saka 2010 Search for Outstanding Achievers in Agriculture and Fisheries.

The Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council (PAFC) of Catanduanes nominated the project to the Regional Gawad Saka Search Committee as the province’s entry and won earning a plaque of recognition and P50, 000 award from the Department of Agriculture regional field unit last December 16, 2010 at Pili, Camarines Sur.

The municipal government of San Miguel headed by Mayor Edna Bernal is set to receive the Presidential Award and project funding worth P350, 000 from President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III and top officials of the Department of Agriculture in Manila this week.

The Barangay Bagsakan is essentially a barangay-based food depot where there is a continuous supply of fresh food such as meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, and other household commodities are accessible and affordable.

As part of the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program of the national government, it aims to establish an agri-based trading depot to service the food needs of the residents. The Department of Agriculture provided the LGU of San Miguel a chest freezer, chiller, meat showcase, and other equipment. The LGU was also given NFA rice worth P50, 000 for retail at the Barangay Bagsakan.

The Gawad Saka National Technical Search Committee conducted the field evaluation last October 27-29, 2010 and what made the Barangay Bagsakan project standout was the LGU’s allocation through Sangguniang Bayan Resolution of P50, 000 for each barangay council as financial assistance for the establishment of barangay Bagsakan project in their respective barangays, serving as satellite food center to better serve their constituents. (PIA Catanduanes)

17 guns surrendered as police try to locate thousands more
by Ernie A. Delgado

MASBATE CITY, (PIA) — After being warned of raids and arrests, 10 gunowners gave up their loose firearms to the police last week.

Pooled reports police said a total of 17 firearms, largely shotguns, were surrendered to the police stations in the towns of Dimasalang, Aroroy, Claveria, and Monreal.

Police said they were not filing cases against gunowners who voluntarily gave up their loose firearms. But those arrested for illegal possession of firearms would have to face charges, according to Senior Supt. Henry Rañola Jr., commander of a joint police and military task force running after private armed groups.

There are about 8,000 loose firearms provincewide, and authorities are struggling to locate them after a peace forum last year blamed the proliferation of firearms for the deteriorating security situation in the province.

The PNP defines the number of loose firearms to include those that were previously licensed, hence reflected in its database, but whose licenses were not renewed after they expired.

Data culled from the PNP Explosives and Firearms Office in Quezon city showed there are 1,555 guns in Masbate with expired licenses.

Porous ports, largely unregulated by the government, allow a steady stream of smuggled firearms of all calibers and models to filter into Masbate, security experts explained.

As policemen and soldiers poised to search for firearms in houses of holders of guns with expired licenses, 10 gun owners stepped forward to surrender their weapons. All but an unlicensed shotgun from Claveria had expired licenses.

Chief Insp. Elmo P. Guevarra, acting community relations office chief, identified the gun owners who surrendered firearms as personnel of the municipal government of Dimasalang, who turned over eight shotguns; Masbate Electric Cooperative board president Elpidio C. Lim, .38 revolver; Rolando Bonagua Jr. of Poblacion, Aroroy, .45 pistol; Rolando Bonagua Sr. of Aroroy, shotgun; Edgardo Villaruel of Aroroy, shotgun; Joselito B. Abada of Aroroy, .45 pistol;

Alvin Chavez of Aroroy, .45 pistol; Barangay Kagawad Juan C. Rom of Barangay Poblacion District 2, Claveria, .38 revolver; Rommel D. Garamay of Barangay Poblacion District 1, Claveria, shotgun; and Freddie T. Yusi of Barangay Famosa , Monreal, .45 pistol. (PIA Masbate)

Police bust private armed group
by Ernie A. Delgado

MASBATE CITY, (PIA)—A threat to kill a resident of Uson town, Masbate led to what is believed to be the first busting of a private armed group after the recent election season in a town with a long history of electoral violence.

Policemen were responding to a report of the presence of rifle-wielding men in front of the house of one Henry M. Valdez in Barangay Quezon in Uson when they caught one Leo C. Ubay and Eric U. Ortega with firepower.

Ubay, a 33-year-old native of Sto. Tomas, Batangas and Ortega, 28, a native of San Jacinto, Pangasinan, and both temporary residents of Barangay Armenia, Uson, were unable to present the necessary documents for the three firearms and scores of ammunition that were uncovered.
The suspects were immediately taken into police custody.

Charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition were being prepared against Ubay and Ortega.

In the report released by Camp Bonny Serrano, police community relations chief Elmo P. Guevarra said police had received a report that Valdez had been threatened by Ubay and Ortega for a still undetermined reason.

Responding policemen moved to arrest the suspects when they tried to conceal the firearms under the bushes.

Police confiscated a baby Armalite rifle and a .9mm GLOCK 17 pistol and various ammunition.
Armed goons employed by politicians were common in the town but which one Ubay and Ortega were working for remained undetermined.

This is the first time that an armed group has been identified. (PIA Masbate)

Sorsogon: LGU of Juan to receive P250K per barangay thru OPAPP
by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, (PIA) – In the one-day Sorsogon Consultation and Planning on PAMANA (Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan) conducted by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) just recently, USec Luisito Montalbo said that the local government of Juban will be receiving a P250,000 assistance per barangay through the OPAPP, this being one of the recipients and implementor of the KALAHI-CIDDS program in the province of Sorsogon.

“With 25 barangays, the local government will receive a total of P6,250 million,” according to USec Luisito G. Montalbo of OPAPP.

Mayor Jimmy Fragata of the municipality of Juban was overwhelmed with the pronouncement of OPAPP USec Montalbo.

“This is a great help to my municipality and constituents especially to alleviate our economic and physical condition due to the devastation caused by the flooding in several of our barangays. The continuous rains have affected our rice fields, agricultural crops, road components and other infrastructures. The sensitivity of the Aquino Administration to urgently address our situation is a very indicative sensitivity of intervention of government to respond immediately to the needs of our constituency,” Mayor Fragata expressed emotionally after the pronouncement of USec Montalbo.

Fast tracking of the release of funds has been facilitated already by the OPAPP. (PIA Sorsogon)

CSC Statesman bags 14 awards in Luzonwide journalism contest

VIRAC, Catanduanes, (PIA) — The CSC Statesman, the official student tertiary student publication of the Catanduanes State Colleges reasserted once more its track record when it garnered 14 major awards in the group and individual writing contests in the recent 2011 Luzonwide Higher Education Press Conference in Baguio City.

The official tertiary student publication of the Catanduanes State Colleges contributed the biggest wins for Region V delegation, thus steering Bicol in the seven competing regions in Luzon, including the guest region Central Visayas.
Some 700 regional winners vied for the Top 10 places in 12 journalism categories.
The CSC’s winners are John Elmar B. Templonuevo (BSE) - 4th, Editorial Writing English and 4th Copyreading and Headline Writing English; Jonathan V. Tulod (BSCE) - 3rd, Sports Writing English; Elvin Randolph R. Jubay (BSA)- 4th Poetry Writing Filipino; Cyril Patrice O. Bernardino (BSBio), - 3rd, Feature Writing English and 9th, Poetry Writing English; Dave S. Tolentino (BSE)- 2nd, Feature Writing Filipino; Bren Garette Z. Rivera (BSBio) - 4th Place photojournalism Filipino; and Jobert C. Angelo Toledo (BSIT)- 9th Place, Comics Strip Illustration.
In the group competition, the CSC Statesman Magazine was also proclaimed among the Top 10 winners – Best News Page, 6th; and Best Cover Design, 4th while the CSC Statesman Newsletter was adjudged Best in DevCom Page, 9th; Best in Editorial Page, 6th; Best in Sports Page, 8th.
Two hundred thirty-one (231) publications from various government and private colleges and universities also vied for the Top 10 places in the group contests.
The CSC Statesman acknowledges the CSC administration for making possible their participation in the competition as well as Dr. Charlene Cantar, Prof. Amelia Armea, Prof. Esperanza San Juan, Raissa G. Tan, the Office of CSC Administrative Officer V, PR and Information Services and Engr. Fernan A. Gianan of Catanduanes Tribune for their valuable support and technical assistance.
The biggest intercollegiate campus press competition, which is now on its 10th year, was jointly conducted by Association of Luzonwide Tertiary Press Advisers and the Commission on Higher Education – Cordillera Autonomous Region on February 2-5, 2011 at Teacher’s Camp in Baguio City. (EABagadiong, PIA Catanduanes/CSC)

PSHS BICOL GARNERS 1st AND 2nd PLACES, MORMS
IS 3rd IN THE 11th CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — In the recently conducted 11th Regional Chemistry Olympiad, two students of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS)-Bicol Region Campus, Goa, Camarines Sur, Christopher Jan B. Landicho and Lizette S. Mella garnered the first and second places, respectively and Carlo Nikko A. Mar of Marcial O. Rañola Memorial School (MORMS), Guinobatan, Albay came as third.

Cash prizes were awarded to the regional Olympians as follows: 1st – P4,000; 2nd – P2,000 and 3rd – P1,000.

The advisers of the regional Olympians are Ms. Alpha Rowena Pimentel, PSHS Bicol Campus (1st and 2nd places) and Mr. Ramon Oyardo, MORMS (3rd place). They too, received cash prizes: 1st – P2,000; 2nd – P1,000 and 3rd – P500.

Winners in the 11th Regional Chemistry Olympiad will represent Region V during the Philippine National Chemistry Olympiad in April 2011 at the University of San Carlos, Cebu City.

This year’s Regional Chemistry Olympiad was one of the highlights in celebrating the 2011 Chemistry Week on January 31 – February 4, 2011 and the International Year of Chemistry with the theme “Chemistry – Our Life, Our Future”.

The Kapisanang Kemika ng Pilipinas (KKP) Bicol chapter, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region V and Bicol University College of Science, Department of Chemistry and the Chemical Science Society (CheSS) jointly sponsored the 11th Regional Chemistry held last February 3-4, 2011 at BU College of Science Auditorium and participated in by 44 high school students currently taking High School Chemistry.

DOST V conceptualized the Regional Chemistry Olympiad and became a major activity of KKP-Bicol chapter in 1990 under the S&T Promotion program. Since then, DOST V continuously supports this competition toward S&T awareness/education thereby inculcating a science culture among Bicolanos especially the youth. (POLucena, DOST V/PIA Albay/mal)