Health care services in Albay pursue social accord

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, March 1 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office here is pursuing a social tripartism accord in one of the most important sector in the region – the health sector.

DOLE 5 regional director Nathaniel V. Lacambra said in an interview that the goal of just pure harmony and cooperation between labor and management is an aspiration, not only for the agency but also for stakeholders that will be realized very soon and now already nearing completion

DOLE 5 and the Albay Health Care Services ITC (AHCS-ITC) already succeeded in coming up with an agreement on the final draft of the social accord projected to be signed within the month.

Some 18 establishments, represented by 13 from the management and 11 from the workers sector not only agreed on the substance of the social accord but also recommended the crafting of a Voluntary Code of Good Practices (VCGP) to be adopted by the sector.

The Industry Tripartite Council (ITC) in the health care services in Albay province was formed by DOLE provincial field office here on December last year after DOLE’s declared the sector a priority for tripartism activities .

The response of both management and workers sectors was overwhelming that in its succeeding dialogue the idea to form a social accord emanated.

The AHCS-ITC is an association of health care providers in the Province of Albay.

“Health care services is always a priority. We must secure this sector to ensure a dignified health services for the Bicolanos. Hopefully, we could do the signing 2nd week of this month,” Lacambra observed. (MAL/PIA-5)


Fire Prevention Month celebration kicks off in Naga City

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, March 1 (PIA) -- The simultaneous blowing of horns of all the fire-fighting equipment of the Bureau of Fire Protection-Naga early this morning signalled the beginning of the celebration of the Fire Prevention Month this March.

With the theme “Sunog at Sakuna, Paghandaan, Kalikasan Pangalagaan nang Matamasa ang Pag-Unlad ng Bayan, BFP Naga Fire Chief Inspector Rachel R. Verbo led BFP personnel in a unity walk dubbed “Lakad Tungo sa Kahandaan upang Sunog ay Maiwasan” during this morning’s kick off activity.

The walk was also participated in by LGU-Naga officials and barangay officials, Public Safety Office (PSO) personnel, representatives from the Naga City Central Fire Station, Naga White Fil-Chinese Volunteer Firefighters, Chin Po Tong Volunteer Fire Brigade and other stakeholders.

Verbo said that BFP Naga will continuously drumbeat fire safety campaign this month to ensure that the community is given and disseminated with the proper information, particularly regarding fire safety.

“We have an exhibit, as part of our Open house activity at the Naga City Central Fire Station this morning. We will also hang various streamers in different establishments here in Naga City and we will be emphasizing the importance of fire safety through various TV and radio exposures,” Verbo said in an interview.

Meanwhile, BFP Naga is set to jumpstart its Barangay Fire Brigade Training and Pre-Fire Planning with the 27 barangays in Naga City these coming weeks. This activity aims to emphasize the role of Barangay Fire Brigade Member. The participants will also undergo fire suppression drill using bucket relay, hose throw, hose carries and coupling connections technique.

The bureau will also closely collaborate with the Naga City Price Coordinating Council (NCPCC) to monitor Fire Extinguisher dealers and Fire Protection Installers in the city area.

As a deviation to its usual inspection tasks, BFP has scheduled Drawing, poster and essay writing contests on the 3rd week of March, targeting Class, Grade, School, District and division levels as categories for the participating stakeholders. They are also scheduled to conduct fire and earthquake drills in different schools and re-inspection of various schools, colleges and universities in Naga City .

On the 4th week of the month, BFP is set to conduct a meeting among the Company Fire Brigade team leaders, training of Company Fire Brigade and re-inspection of hotels, hospitals, restaurants and mercantile occupancies.

The month-long affair will culminate on March 27 with the conduct of Company Fire Brigade Fire Fighting Olympics which will be participated in by competing teams coming from private companies and organizations. (MAL/LSM/PIA-5)


DOH alerts LGUs, health officials vs dengue

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, March 1 (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) regional office here has alerted local governments in the Bicol Region on the rising cases of dengue and urged them to take prevention and control measures.

In an advisory, DOH Bicol urged local governments to keep watch of areas in their respective localities with suspected dengue cases.

The agency also cautioned the same authorities against classifying diseases with dengue-like symptoms as dengue, the likes of “chikungunya,” which is also a mosquito-borne disease that has symptoms similar to dengue.

Dengue can cause death while Chikungunya is not fatal.

DOH Bicol reported that at least 330 dengue case suspects were monitored by the Regional Epidemiological and Surveillance Unit (RESU) of the DOH-CHD (Center for Health and Development) from its sentinel site.

Health records indicated that Albay had 116 cases; followed by Camarines Sur with 92; Catanduanes, 68; Sorsogon, 27; Masbate, 23, and Camarines Norte, four cases.

There are no reported outbreaks, according to DOH Bicol, and the number excludes those from private hospitals.

DOH 5 regional director Gloria J. Balboa said Provincial Health Teams (PHTs) of the DOH-CHD Bicol are doing rounds reminding local chief executives and health officials to take action based on the surveillance data on dengue which are being provided to them by the DOH.

Through the surveillance data done on a weekly basis, according to Balboa, they can deduce or infer trends or patterns, if there are any, on the frequency of occurrence of dengue and take action.

“Hotspots or clustering of cases can be inferred from data including the possibility of an outbreak. Whatever action they take, the DOH-CHD Bicol will always extend assistance whenever necessary,” she added.

Arnel Santiago of the DOH-CHD RESU explained that identification of hotspots and clustering of cases are used in dengue monitoring and response.

“There is clustering when there are two or more cases in a barangay during a specific morbidity week,” he explained.

A hotspot on the other hand, he furthered, is one where there are two or more suspected dengue cases for two successive weeks also in one barangay whereas an outbreak is one where there is an excess number of cases in a given period than what is expected. (MAL/PIA-5)


Catanduanes to bid for next year’s Bicol Meet

By Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, March 1 (PIA) -- Catanduanes province is mulling to bid anew for the Palarong Bicol (Bicol Sports)next year after successfully hosting this year's just recently concluded palaro.

Congressman Cesar Sarmiento of the lone district of Catanduanes disclosed that next year’s regional sports event will coincide with the completion of improvement projects on the athletic complex including the rubberized track and other facilities.

He also stated that this would likewise prepare the province in deciding to bid for the privilege of hosting the Palarong Pambansa either in 2015 or 2016.

In terms of accommodations, division officials and local officials are considering schools in Virac, San Andres, Bato and San Miguel, as well as the Catanduanes State University and private schools which will accommodate all the 17 delegations for the National Meet.

Meanwhile, Catanduanes Governor Joseph C. Cua also expressed the province’s desire to host 2014 Palarong Bicol and eventually Palarong Pambansa for the second straight year.

He said that hosting the region’s biggest sporting event will contribute not only in the island’s sports development programs but also in boosting the province’s tourism and local economy.

The 2013 Palarong Bicol was held in the province from February 23-28. (MAL/EAB-PIA5, Catanduanes)


DENR 5 targets 1.2 million native trees for 2013 greening program

LEGAZPI CITY, March 1 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Bicol has tasked the Ecosystem Research and Development Service (ERDS) to produce some 1.2 million indigenous tree seedlings for the implementation of the National Greening Program’s (NGP) this year.

Regional Executive Director Gilbert Gonzales said the measure will complement on the national target of planting 25 million native trees in the course of the greening program.

“We are abiding with the directive of DENR Sec. Ramon Paje to up the ante on shifting to indigenous or native species instead of exotic ones to give the program a truly Filipino Character,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales emphasized that this pivotal role that the ERDS would be beneficial to Bicol forests to be rehabilitated, wherein native tree species thrive in it.

Based on the regional target 750,000 indigenous tree seedlings will be allotted to protection forests, 113,000 native species allocated to protected areas, and 337,000 seedlings to timberlands.

An ERDS report stated that indigenous species of seedlings may include any of the following species sambulauan, kupang, bagras, kalumpit, bagalunga, malapapaya, banaba, molave, bitaog, narra, batino, dao, lamio, akleng parang, lumbang, baguilumbang, white lauan, bagtikan, red lauan, almon, mayapis species and other dipterocarps/indigenous species whose seeds are available for collection.

Last year, native trees raised by DENR-ERDS totaled 807,000 indigenous species, a significant part of the NGP accomplishment pegged at 5,901,432 seedlings.(RLM-DENR5/MAL/PIA-5)


DOE spearheads Energy Efficiency and Conservation seminar

NAGA CITY, Mar. 1 (PIA) -- The Department of Energy (DOE) spearheaded on Thursday, Feb. 28, a confab on Energy Efficiency and Conservation to create more awareness among users and stakeholders the need and implications of saving energy and reducing cost.

The interfacing, under DOE's Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP), formed part of the agency's continuing Communication Campaign for Efficient Lighting (CCEL) basically to help households save energy and reduce cost through doable measures.

Representatives from various government offices and private organizations, and the general public attended the whole day event.

Consumer Welfare and Promotion Office (CWO) senior science research specialist Norita C. Froilan discussed the different household energy saving concepts and tips, particularly referring to the common household appliances.

Choosing a refrigerator with high “Energy Efficiency Factor” or EEF is one of the valuable measure to save energy and cost.

“High EEF has more efficient motor than the one with lower EEF and consumes less electricity. It is also advisable to defrost refs and freezers regularly. More than ¼ inch ice build- up of frost puts up an extra load on the compressor motor,” Froilan explained.

During preparation of meals, stoves should also be turned off before cooking time is up. The heating element will stay hot just enough to finish the job without using more electricity. Small pans should never be placed on large heating elements, particularly on electric stoves or big burners. Flame or heat that exceeds the diameter of the pan is lost in the air.

Froilan also shared LPG Consumer and Safety Tips knowing too well that almost all of the households are using the said commodity.

“When buying LPG, check if the security seal is intact and firmly affixed to the valve,” Froilan added.

In case of gas leaks, it is strictly advisable not to use the telephone or operate any electrical switches. Do not reconnect the gas cylinder until all necessary steps have been taken to prevent gas from escaping again.

Ronald Tajanlangit, senior science research specialist of the Lighting and Appliance Testing Laboratory (LATL) also shared his thoughts on Energy Appliance labeling and energy saving devices while CWPO senior science research specialist Federico Domingo Jr tackled transport energy saving concepts, including tips on efficient driving, carpooling and the discussion of the efficient transportation alternatives like MRT, Electric vehicle among others. (MAL/LSM-PIA 5)