Philhealth Sabado II on June 25

by Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, June 21 (PIA) -- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) regional office here has called on eligible family members of public school students, especially indigents, among others, to enlist with the health and medical insurance program of the government.

Philhealth Bicol operations division chief David Escandor said in an interview at the PIA “Ugnayan sa Bicol” radio program, the agency has set anew a registration day on June 25 in selected cities and towns across the region.

Dubbed “Philhealth Sabado, Part II”, the event intends to encourage other eligible individuals to register in the individually-paying program, educate members about the benefits, rights and responsibilities and enjoin partners in mobilizing resources and ensuring universal health care coverage.

“All eligible family members of public school pupils, Philhealth non-members, government and non-government stakeholders are invited to attend the activity to gain access to an affordable and accessible quality health care for all Filipinos,” Escandor said.

Synchronized provincial launching of the event will be held in Albay Central School and Daraga National High School in Albay; Basud Central School and Labo National High School in Camarines Norte; Rinconada National Technical Vocational Scholl, Ocampo National High School and Sipocot North Elementary School in Camarines Sur; Catanduanes National High School and J. M. Alberto Elementary School in Catanduanes; Masbate National Comprehensive High School and J. Zurbito Elementary School in Masbate; Cumadcad National High School and Sorsogon South Central School in Sorsogon.

“Philhealth Sabado, Part II” is led by the Department of Health (DOH) and Philhealth, in cooperation with Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine Information Agency (PIA) regional offices in Bicol, and local government units.

“Siguraduhing Pasok ang buong Pamilya sa Philhealth, Magseguro, Magparehistro,” has been aptly chosen as the theme of the “Philhealth Sabado, Part II”. (MAL, PIA V/Albay)

Sorsogon water district upgrades, installs new facilities

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, June 21 (PIA) -- Heeding the call of consumers to be provided with a clean, potable and abundant water supply,the Sorsogon City Water District (SCWD) is in the process of acquiring two more units of Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) to be installed in its pumping stations, according to the agency's top management official.

Engr. Ronaldo Borbono, general manager of SCWD, said that for 2011, the agency will be installing VFDs in pumping stations at the Imperial Subdivision (PS#4) in Barangay Pangpang and in Barangay Pamurayan (PS#9).

"We have already scheduled this year the installation of VFDs in all our pumping stations, geared towards improving SCWD water supply and its quality while at the same time affording a more stable and cost effective pumping station operation", Barbono said.

He explained that the scheduled installation of VFDs in Imperial Subdivision and Pamurayan pumping stations is a study conducted that showed the efficiency of the use of the VFD to induce high pressure capability based on the identified locations.

He also said that the use of the VFD, which has an ideal pump motor size, is a good prerequisite to attain a stable water supply of 15 liters per second.

"We are scheduling the immediate installation of these VFDs this second quarter and as soon as these VFD arrives." Borbono explained.

A 30-HP VFD will be installed at the Imperial subdivision and will actually generate 15 liters per second (lps) and will be operating for 17 hours a day supplying the barangays along the national highway from Barangays Pangpang, Tugos, Piot down to the general vicinity of Sorsogon City business district.

The 15HP VFD will be installed at the Pamurayan water pumping station and will produce 10 llps and will be operating for 14 hrs a day to supply the outskirts of barangay Gimaloto, Pamurayan, Penafrancia and Cambolaga.

According to Borbono after the installation of these two VFDs , SCWD will again conduct a study of the water flow of its systems to identify the efficiency of their pumping stations where these were installed.

The management's priority project for this year is really to have 5 VFDs to be installed in SCWD major pumping stations according to Borbono.

"We have also targeted the installation of another VFD at Bacon district on the third quarter of this year".

"Hopefully with this innovation, SCWD will increase its efficiency, will be cost effective in its maintenance and operation and primarily provide the basic needs of the city of Sorsogon for a clean, safe and abundant water supply", he said. (MAL/IAG, PIA-Sorsogon)

DepEd’s fun run collects, increases supplies for public schools

by Joyce M. Mejillano

LEGAZPI CITY, June 21 (PIA) -- At least 24 schools in this city benefited from the ‘Fun Run for Education’ of the Department of Education –Bicol held on Sunday. This is part of the nationwide fun run activities of the department as ordered by Sec. Armin Luistro.

In an interview over Ugnayan sa Bikol of Philippine Information Agency V, Education Program Superviser Francisco Bulalacao of DepEd Regional Office V said that the event was a success since they were able to collect and increase school supplies and other items that will be useful especially for less fortunate schoolchildren.

Government agencies and other private organizations and companies joined the almost 3 kilometer run. These agencies gave their share of supplies like books, pencils, uniforms and others that were distributed to the chosen public school beneficiaries.

Bulalacao said that aside from the helping schools, the participants also helped the environment since they planted trees along the way.

The fun run is also part of the celebration of the birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal and likewise, according to the memo of Sec. Luistro, to “raise awareness that education is for all and no Filipino child should be left behind. ”

Also, it aims to “provide an opportunity for community stakeholders to unite and manifest love for country through concern for education.”

The activity was participated in by DepEd headed by Director Orfelin Tuy, the local government of Legazpi headed by Mayor Geraldine Rosal and other government and private agencies.

Same activities were also conducted in different parts of the region. (MAL/JMM, PIA V)

Energy corporation distributes school supplies to 5,300 pupils in 14 host communities

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, June 21 (PIA) -- The Energy Development Corporation has distributed last week sets of school supplies mounting to at least P900,000 to 5,300 elementary school pupils in 14 host communities of the Bacon-Manito Geothermal Power Plant in this city and Manito, Albay," according to the corporation's community partnership program official.

Eduardo Jimenez, chief of the EDC community partnerships department (EDC-CPD) said in an interview the project forms part of corporate social responsibility of the power firm to provide pupils, including day care and kindergarten, with school supplies and other needs.

"We have distributed the school supplies as early as June 6 during the opening of the school classes this year. Only this week we have completed the distribution to all the pupils in our 14 host communities comprising of the elementary schools of Tublijon, Rizal, Bucalbucalan, Benita Delgado Jesalva Memorial Elem School, Capuy and ,Ticol all of the West District here", he said.

"In Bacon District, we also distributed the school supplies to the elementary schools of Tiris, Gajo,Osiao,Gayong and Sto Nino. While in Manito, Albay the schools in Nagotgot, Manito and Inang Maharang 's distribution were already done also".

EDC is about ready to distribute the 4,200 school bags but this will be given primarily to the elementary school pupils only, Gabad explained.

The company will also shoulder the miscellaneous fees of all these elementary school pupils which will total to almost P1 million according to Gabad and will be paid this July.

"All the miscellaneous fees of these pupils will be paid by EDC which include Parent - Teacher Fee (PTA), Red Cross and Boy /Girl Scouts contributions ", according to Gabad.

Last summer of this year, the company has also conducted here the yearly summer camp which is now on its 7th year of implementation. It has a batch of 90 young adults who graduated and again benefited from the education advocacy of the company.

"Hopefully, EDC will be providing these children in our host communities additional benefits next year. Our company intends to give them the equal opportunity to good education and also lessen the burden of parents when school year begins" Engr. Liberato S. Virata , plant manager and vice president of EDC also expressed

"It is always a pride and joy that our company heeds the call of partnering in making education the basic thrusts of our company and providing our host communities through their children, the essence of our CSR" Virata stressed. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)