Legazpi City bags anew DOH Red Orchid Award for anti-smoking campaign

by Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, June 2 (PIA) -- The smoke-free program of Legazpi City has notched anew the Red Orchid Award from the Department of Health (DOH) during the observance of World No Tobacco Day on Tuesday (May 31) for an efficient implementation and popularly supported no-smoking campaign.

Mayor Geraldine Rosal of this city said this is the second consecutive year that the city bagged the Red Orchid Award, citing the city’s multi-sectoral group Smoke-Free Coordinating Council, led by Rose Olarte-Orbita, working with the city government in the successful implementation of the program.

Rosal also said the city's smoke-free campaign will be continuously pursued by her administration with more improvements and specifically on the enforcement aspect of the program that will make the city a smoke-free place indeed.

Orbita of the non-government organization Adventist Community Team Services (ACTS), who initiated, supervised and assisted in the implementation of the campaign, has expressed elation for the new award.

It can be recalled that former Mayor Noel Rosal approved the Comprehensive Smoke-Free Ordinance of Legazpi on August 12, 2005 but after five years of implementation, he admitted there are still a lot of things to be done as the strategies will have to be improved.

The revised smoke-free ordinance (007-2009) provides that the City Health Office of Legazpi is the lead agency in its enforcement and implementation. A Smoke-Free Unit was already established at the City Hall Compound.

Rosal meanwhile said the city was among the 34 awardees out of 89 government offices, hospitals and local government units.

The basis of the health agency in choosing the awardees include enforcement of tobacco control policies, provision of information and education to warn people about the hazards of smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke, delivery of smoking cessation services, among others, she said.

Rosal furthered the task force will focus on helping the authorities in the enforment aspect, noting that the authorities should serve as role models to the public on keeping the city compliant with the anti-smoking law.

“A good ordinance needs a good implementation and that is only possible with a community of trained and preserving volunteers,” she said.

It can be recalled that some 100 Army reservists belonging to the Bravo Company of the 5th Regional Community Defense Command (RCDC) were trained and later deputized to help the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Public Safety Officer (PSO) enforce the city’s Smoke-Free Ordinance No. 0007-2009.

The lady chief executive furthered credited the success of the smoke-free campaign to multi-sectoral unit pursuing the campaign relentlessly and the support and cooperation of the Legazpeño people. (MAL, PIA Albay)

World Vision sets follow up meeting for fun run mechanics

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, June 2 (PIA) -- The Green Valley Development Foundation Inc.- World Vision, Philippines has its 3rd follow up meeting held at Casa Dominga, here last Friday so as to update partners in the process and conduct of the fun run for a cause with the theme:" Fun Run Save: One's Life ; Lungs."

Leo C. Legaspi , city development officer for World Vision Community Immunization Mobilization - Social Mobilization Tuberculosis Project (CIM -SMTP) presented the sample draft of the T-shirt that will be used by the 750 identified participants who will join in the fun run comprising of invited people coming from the national office of the GVDF, guests and other contending participants to the 5-km fun run.

He said that some of the members of the GVDF-WVP suggested to lessen the length of the run since it might be too taxing for the runners since this is only a fun run.

He also requested the different members of the identified committees to have some brainstorming as to the manner of how each committee will function and will put the idea into action.

The fun run has organized 12 committees headed by an Executive committee that will become the coordinating body in the implementation of suggested recommendations.

The GVDF-WVP has been in partnership with the local government of the city of Sorsogon in the Tuberculosis Social Mobilization Project and the said program will commence this year.

The reduction of tuberculosis falls under goal number 6 of the Milleneum Development Goal targets meanwhile partnering with non-governmental orgnizations to strengthen government servicess and access to global funds falls under the MDG's goal number 8.

Legaspi also disclosed that the partnership they are developing in the province of sorsogon has been well-received as shown in the participation of different government agencies and other entities in the conceptualization of the fun run that basically will advocate the saving of lives by having a healthy lungs.

The follow up meeting also provided the different committees the chance to provide members updates on the where now is project heeding aside from the needed funding to pursue the fun run.

The Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection and the local government of the City of Sorsogon were assigned to do the ocular inspection of the area where the fun run will be held, identified as from bacon district

GVDF-WVP chairs the solicitation and funding requirement for the event, for the communication committee, the Philippine Information Agency- Sorsogon chairs with the media community as members together with the identified personnel the GVDF.

The fun run will invite Derek Ramsey as its official endorser in the advocacy of promoting a healthy living and taking care of one's lungs. (IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

CSC to stir Filipino patriotism thru “Kuwentong Kabayanihan” video contest

by Joyce M. Mejillano

LEGAZPI CITY, June 2 (PIA) -- In an effort to bring out the hero in very Filipino and move the spirit of patriotism within their hearts, Civil Service Commission, in partnership with the Kabayanihan Foundation, a non-stock profit organization launches a video contest dubbed as “Kuwentong kabayanihan: The CSC-Kabayanihan Foundation Video Contest.”

With the theme “Every Filipino is a hero. Every Filipino is part of the solution,” the contest emphasizes the SCS’s R.A.C.E (Responsive, Accessible, Courteous and Effective) public service.

CSC is looking for videos “that will move ordinary Filipinos to act on the most pressing concerns in their immediate fields/circles/areas of influence.” It should also “stir every Filipino to do something concrete for the country.”

The contest is open to amateur groups and individual filmmakers. There is no limit as to the number of entries per individual or group and there will be no registration fee required.

The video, according to CSC, should be strictly 30-40 seconds long and must be the contestant’s original material. The entry may be an animation, documentary or commercial video and should be clear, intelligible and not offensive to common law decency.

The entries will be judged according to subject relevance, video quality and audience impact.

There are corresponding amount of cash prizes for winners. First prize will get P20,000; second prize is P10,000 and P7,000 for the third prize. There are also special awards to be given

Submission of entries will be on May 18 to October 15, 2011. CSC advised interested individuals or groups to contact their office at (02) 358-3333, 0917-842-7111 or through email at info@kabayanihan.org. (JMM, PIA V)