LGUs, NGO conduct 4-day disaster risk reduction planning workshop for high risks barangays

SORSOGON CITY, (PIA) – A four-day live-in Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction Contingency Planning/ Workshop for members of Barangay Development Council/Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Committee has formally started at El Retiro Brgy. Cabid-an, this city, on March 21 and is set to finish on March 24, Thursday.

Sorsogon Provincial Disaster Risk Management Office (SPRDMO) Information Officer Von Labalan said that the planning-workshop was organized by the provincial government of Sorsogon through the PDRMO in partnership with the Green Valley Development Program/World Vision, an active combined non-government forces that have long been partners of the government in its disaster response efforts.

“Some 70 participants from ten barangays that are considered vulnerable to various hazards including Embarcadero and Binanhuan in Juban town, Timbayog and Sumalot in Casiguran, Pili and Hubo in Magallanes, San Eugenio and La Espreranza in Santa Magdalena, and Gimaloto and Cabarbuhan in Sorsogon City including their respective Municipal Information Officers joined the said planning-workshop to make themselves equipped with well-built capacities, preparedness and strategies appropriate in giving response every time calamities occur,” said Labalan.

Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member and Climate Change Adaptation Chairman Honorable Benito Doma in his opening message assured the participants of the availability of the government to assist affected communities. “However, nothing is best but for each community to know how to stand independently every after a calamity and not at all times dependent to the government,” he stressed out.

Phivolcs Bicol resident volcanologist Ed Laguerta also shared his expertise and ardently discussed the importance of early warning to avert further damage to life and properties. He also presented the Philippine Vulnerability Map showing the geographically prone areas to typhoons, volcanic activities and tsunamis including active faults and trenches specifically in the Bicol region and discuss as well, important facts about earthquakes and its destructive effects.

Laguerta also explained why there are areas that are hardly hit by volcanic explosions and the scientific details of Mt. Bulusan’s recent activities, as well as the necessary precautions that affected residents must do.

Jun Pantoja of Juban DOST-Pagasa synoptic station, meanwhile, said that bad weather condition is but a natural phenomenon. “It will happen and no one can stop it, but we can prepare for it,” he added.

Pantoja discussed the Science of Meteorology that explains weather and climate. “And due to the continuous La Niña episode, it is normal that the country will experience wet summer,” he said.

He also explained to the participants how to forecast weather and the weather causing phenomena such as thunderstorms, lightning, tornado, hail, inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ), cold front, tropical cyclones, south-west and north-east monsoons, low and high pressure weather systems, storm surge and the necessary precautions that should be done.

Issues on global warming and climate change were also discussed by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office through its representative Dante Bonos. “Weather and climate are affected by greenhouse gases and the global warming which is said to be caused by human activities triggers various calamities and disasters, which are now experienced elsewhere in the world,” he said.

At the end of the planning-workshop, participants are expected to make a hazard map and craft a Barangay Disaster Preparedness and Contingency Plans with a clear emergency preparedness, communication and strategic evacuation. (PIA Sorsogon/mal)

LGUs enjoined to observe Earth Hour
…targets repeat of cities and towns record-breaking fete in 2010

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional office here has directed all its attached offices and local government units (LGUs) nationwide to observe the Earth Hour on Saturday (March 26).

DILG Bicol Regional Director Blandino Maceda said the offices and LGUs are expected to switch off their lights and electrical appliances for at least 60 minutes starting at 8:30 pm on Saturday in support of Earth Hour, a global initiative promoting environmentally sustainable actions.

Blandino’s directives came after DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo issued Memorandum Circular 2011-41, which enjoins all provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, punong barangays, and DILG regional directors to observe Earth Hour on the said date and time.

According to the memorandum, due to the success of last year's observance, the agency is once again encouraging all local chief executives to organize their own Earth Hour events within their jurisdictions by undertaking electricity-saving activities.

In 2010, a record-breaking 1,076 Philippine cities and municipalities joined the rest of the global community in making a symbolic call for united action against climate change, the directive read.

The directive, according to Maceda, also encourages the announcement of the Earth Hour during flag raising ceremonies and hanging of banners, streamers, and tarpaulins in order to generate awareness of the event.

Likewise, barangays are also urged to run their own Earth Hour events; local officials to tell the world through social media about it; encourage employees to sign up at www.earthhour.org and share stories of their actions that benefit the planet; and continue using compact fluorescent lamps instead of incandescent bulbs in all government installations.

The memorandum of Robredo also said all regional directors should also cause the widest dissemination of said office order to all local authorities within their respective jurisdiction. (MALoterte, PIA Albay)

CamSur PESO opens employment opportunities anew for residents
By Lizel S. Macatangay

PILI, Camarines Sur (PIA) – Pursuant to its mandate to provide employment opportunities for the province’s constituents, the Camarines Sur Employment Center (CSEC) announces job vacancies for job seekers, here and abroad.

CSEC team leader Rodresia Torallo said Pioneer Asia Manpower International, Inc., one of the most trusted placement agencies of the province, is in need of factory workers and caretakers for deployment in Taiwan and Hongkong.

Torallo said for factory workers, qualified to try their luck are male ages 23-35 years old, at least 5”7” in height and female with age range from 20-30 at least 5”2” in height. Applicants must have finished at least a 2-year course. Gross salary is pegged at Php 26,000.00.

Applicants for caretaker jobs in Taiwan , should be female, , 23-38 years old and at least 5” in height. Applicants who already have a local or an overseas experience as caregiver or domestic helper is an advantage.

They must be able to speak English and have the capacity to understand English. High school graduates can try their luck. Gross salary is Php 23,000.00.

For domestic helpers to be deployed in Hongkong, they must be at least 5” in height and with age ranging from 23-38 years old with proportionate weight. Applicants should be at least high school graduate, local or overseas experience as caregiver or domestic helper and capacity to understand and speak English is an edge among other applicants. Gross salary is marked at PHP20, 000.00.

Interested applicants may come at CSEC office at the capitol main lobby on April 7 and 8, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm for pre qualification interview and screening.

They should bring with them comprehensive resume w/ detailed job description w/ 2x2 photo in decent attire, 2 pcs 2x2 & 1x1 pictures, original & photocopy of school credentials/ records, certificate of employment(if available), NSO and local copy of birth certificate, NBI clearance, valid passport, SSS id or SSS certification, PhilHealth card.

CSEC continuously provides job opportunities by conducting recruitment activities. Through this activity, the jobseekers could explore various employment openings and seek the assistance that they need.

CSEC facilitates activities that could ease-up the complexity of finding jobs that match their qualifications. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)

DOH Calls for measles eradication before 2015
By Lizel S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, (PIA) -- “WE need to conduct a high quality immunization campaign that will target elimination of measles and accelerated control of rubella through the use of a cost-effective quality MR vaccine.”

This was the core message of DOH in line with its battlecry “ Iligtas sa Tigdas ang Pinas” pursuant to the measles –rubella immunization campaign that they will soon launch in various parts of the country in the upcoming months of April and May 2011.

Dr. Evy B. Sarmiento, DOH CHD- Bicol Non Communicable Cluster Head cited the high incidence of measles in far flung areas where packets of susceptibility to measles are mostly found.

“Camarines Sur occupies the top most position with the highest number of measles instances accounting to 211 cases out of 233 measles incident in other provinces. We will be requiring a 95% immunization coverage in all areas,” Sarmiento added.

Measles is a highly infectious viral disease caused by a measles virus and might cause serious complications, especially for those who haven’t had a measles shot. It is common and often fatal in developing areas and is characterized by the classical symptoms of fever, maculopapular rash, the three C’s which is cough, coryza characterized by a runny nose and conjunctivitis or red eyes. It is transmitted through contact with respiratory secretions or aerosols.

Commonly known as “German measles”, rubella on the other hand is a contagious viral disease, which occurs most often in children usually occurring with mild, low fever, nausea and a transient rash. Infection during early pregnancy may cause fetal death or congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).

CRS infection may affect all organs and may lead to fetal death or premature delivery. Based on findings, almost 85% of the infants inflected during the gestation period or during the first trimester of inception are certain to get the infection.

Some of the documented complications arising from measles include blindness due to corneal scarring, encephalitis among older children and adults, chronic disability, diarrhea and pneumonia, which is the common cause of death among the fatalities.

Yet in arresting the rising case of mortality, there are ways to prevent the occurrence of complications. This is through a live attenuated virus vaccine which could provide a lifelong immunity from the aforementioned complications.

The immunization activity is also in support of the Millennium Development Goal which calls for the reduction by two-thirds of the mortality rate of children under the age of 5 years by 2015. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)

SC junks Comelec ruling on congressional disqualification issue

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) - The Supreme Court (SC) has junked the petition of the Commission on Election (COMELEC) en banc resolution, saying it acted with grave abuse in disqualifying and canceling the certificate of candidacy of Albay 3rd District Representative Fernando V. Gonzalez for being an alien.

Last March 8, the SC granted the petition of Rep. Gonzalez annulling and setting aside the resolution of the Comelec Second Division on May 8 last year and Comelec En Banc Resolution on July 23 last year for raising citizenship issue against Gonzalez and disqualifying him as the duly elected representative of the third district of the province.

The court, in dismissing the Comelec petition for disqualification of Gonzalez, however, referred the case to the House of Representative Electoral Tribunal (HRET) saying that “without prejudice to the filing of a proper petition before the HRET in raising the same question on the citizenship qualification of Gonzalez.”

The SC decision declared that no authority under any law can impose upon and compel people to accept a loser as their representative or political leader stating that “the wreath of victory cannot be transferred from the disqualified winner to the repudiated loser.”

The SC ruling said the Comelec clearly acted with grave abuse of discretion in disqualifying Gonzales to run as member of the House of Representative and ordering the proclamation of former House Representative Reno Lim who lost by a wide margin of 29,292 votes, after the provincial board of canvasser declared Gonzalez, the winning candidate in the May 10 local election.

Gonzalez, in a phone interview, said the high tribunal ruling is an indication that “justice had been done and the rule of law had been exercised to the fullest.”

He pointed out that SC decision clearly found that the Comelec has indeed infringed the law by gravely abusing their discretion by issuing a disqualification resolution against him.

Based on the results of the counting and canvassing of votes, Gonzalez emerged as the winner, having garnered a total of 96,000 votes while Lim ranked second with 68,701 votes.

On May 12, 2010, the PBOC officially proclaimed Gonzalez as the duly elected Representative of the 3rd district of Albay. Gonzalez took his oath of office on the same day. (MALoterte, PIA Albay)

Chiz condemns culture of impunity in the military

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – “How can we call for an end to the culture of impunity among our government agents dealing with people in government custody when they also do it to their very own men?” Senator Francis Escudero asked.

Escudero posed this question after the so-called torture video found its way to the net, showing men in uniform beating up a group of recruits with sticks and ropes. In the video, the trainees, obviously in excruciating pain, could be heard in screaming.

According to Escudero, chairman of both the committees on justice and human rights and the national defense and security in the Senate, this clearly calls for reforms on moral and ethical trainings in the military and police.

“This culture of impunity does not make a loyal, disciplined, obedient and fierce soldier. The recruits undergo training, and rigorous it should be for them, but the design should be geared toward molding their characters into warriors who can follow lawful orders. The training showed they are being to become fierce animals without reasons.” Escudero said.

Escudero stressed that such acts had no place in a civil and democratic society like ours and was clearly a violation of the anti-torture law the senator sponsored in the Senate.

“The law was crafted precisely to stop the culture of impunity which has been found prevalent not only in government institutions nowadays but also in facilities on the other side of government. It is a law that should uphold every aspect of human rights,” he said.

Escudero challenged the present military leadership to conduct a thorough review of its policies and programs to improve the quality of its graduates not only in terms of their physical training and abilities, but also in terms of the overall makeup of the soldiers it produces.

“Our military trainers should bear in mind that discipline is not acquired only through physical and mental stress. The primary training that should be instilled in the trainees’ minds is the privileged position they are in for having the duty and honor to serve their country and their people” Escudero said. (Office of Sen. Escudero/PIA Albay/mal)