BFP Sorsogon City observes Fire Prevention Month, intensifies public’s fire safety awareness

By Benilda A. Recebido

SORSOGON CITY, March 5 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) station here has beef up awareness and fire prevention campaign in time for the observance of this year’s Fire Prevention Month with the theme “Sunog at Sakuna ay Paghandaan, Kalikasan ay Pangalagaan ng Matamasa ang Pag-unlad ng Bayan.”

City fire marshal S/Insp. Walter Badong Marcial said that the bureau has lined up a series of activities this March to uphold fire safety awareness in the community.

“Prior to the launching on March 1, streamers bearing this year’s theme were hanged to promote fire safety consciousness among the residents,” he said.

The bureau spearheaded a Unity Walk in Sorsogon City dubbed, “Walk for a Fire-free and Fire-safe Nation.” This was supported by various agencies to include the Philippine National Police, Coast Guard, Fil-Chin Volunteer Fire Brigade, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, DepEd, and incoming officers of Sorsogon College of Criminology (SCCI).

An inspiring yet challenging message from Marcial formally marked the opening of the observance of Fire Prevention Month in Sorsogon City.

City Councilor Mike Go meanwhile urged the agency to ardently perform their duties of securing public safety. He further encouraged the public to be vigilant in order to prevent the occurrence of destructive fires.

Provincial Fire Marshal CInsp Achilles Santiago commended the untiring support of the local government and the relentless staff of Fil-Chin Volunteer Fire Brigade led by Engr. Joseph Jao to the BFP particularly on the aspects of fire safety. He also specifically mentioned the importance of the role of media in informing the public of the tormenting case of fire incidents especially during the month of March.

Meanwhile, BFP Sorsogon City Public Information Officer FO1 Maria Gracia L. Ebio released to the public the City BFP’s line up of activities for March 2013 such as: March 1 – Unity Walk Kick Off ceremonies, and Radio program (Bumbero sa Radyo); March 4-6 – Inspection/Repainting of Fire lane & Hydrants, Fire safety Re-inspection of Abuyog Elementary School, Company Inspection and Ugnayan sa Barangay; March 7, 2013 – Tree planting at Balogo Elementary School, and Fire safety Re-Inspection of Abuyog National High School; March 8 – Ugnayan sa Barangay (Burabod), Fire Drill at Villanueva Institute in Bacon District, and Fire Drill and Feeding activities in Abuyog Elementary School; March 11-12 – Company Inspection; Fire safety Re-Inspection at Buhatan Nat’l High School, and Clean Up Drive at Abuyog Public Market; March13-14 – Open House, and Beach Resort’s inspection; March 15 – Ugnayan sa Barangay (Salog); March 18-19 – Company inspection, and Fire Safety Re-inspection; March 20-22 – Ugnayan sa Barangay in Bacon and in Talisay; March 23 – Clean Up Drive in Bacon (in preparation for Summer Vacation); March 25-27 – Lakbay Alalay; March 28-29 – BFP Assistance during Holy Week Processions; and March 30 – Oplan Baywatch.

“The BFP Aims to promote awareness of the public on the hazards of fire so as to be vigilant, and we appeal for their support and cooperation to our fire prevention advocacy towards the attainment of a zero fire incident this year. The success of this campaign will certainly help the city’s economic growth and consequently of the country as well,” said FO1 Ebio. (BAR-PIA 5, Sorsogon)


PRC lauds blood donors


By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Mar 5 (PIA) -- In celebration of the Blood Donation Month, the Philippine Red Cross –Camarines Sur Chapter spearheaded a total of eight blood-letting activities in various parts of the province, covering the January and February period and was able to collect 240 units of blood.

“In behalf of the PRC Camarines Sur Chapter we would like to sincerely extend our appreciation to the numerous donors who positively responded to our call to donate and share a part of themselves so that others may live,” said Tony Macatangay, PRC-Camarines Sur Blood Services Program chair.

The PRC, as part of its mandate, spearheads a program on Comprehensive Blood Services. It includes donor recruitment, collection and storage of blood, blood testing, processing and provides additional supply to other hospitals in accordance to the provision of Republic Act 7719 otherwise known as the National Blood Services Act of 1994.

The law specially mandates the provision of safe blood to the needy through its active role in the advocacy particularly in the promotion of blood donation, donor retention, and care.

Macatangay emphasized that it is PRC’s mandate to provide blood assistance to both the affluent and the less fortunate clients. The big chunk of the payment goes to the processing and laboratory tests to ensure that the blood is fit for transfusion and is guaranteed clean and safe.

The address the problem of expensive, safe, and quality blood, PRC- Camarines Sur Chapter has launched its Blood Samaritan Program. It aims to assist patients who can not meet the blood requirements of a hospital due to the inability of the patient to pay. Under this circumstance, the patient will be assisted by this Red Cross project.

Under this project, indigent patients who need blood transfusion will be assisted by the Chapter. To sustain this, the PRC also looks for kind-hearted donors, either individual or organizations, for a financial donation to support the health care needs, specifically the blood requirements of indigent patients.

PRC Camarines Sur Chapter Administrator Nanette Rodrigazo said that the program relies on the voluntary act of kindness from recipients who had been gifted with financial blessings to share a part of it to our les fortunate brothers.

“We at the PRC raise our appeal to our Good Samaritans out there, particularly individuals who can donate money and those who would like to share a little of what they have to cover the payment of blood processing fees of legitimate indigent patients,” Rodrigazo added.

PRC Camarines Sur chapter, continues to conduct blood donor education and recruitment in various communities,particularly encouraging companies, organizations and schools nationwide to serve the increasing demand for blood in the country.

These donor recruitment sessions aim to intensify the call for Voluntary Unpaid Donors to sustain the national blood requirement. (LSM-PIA 5, Camarines Sur)



Catanduanes State U study on biomedical waste in reg’l shortlist for research grant

VIRAC, Catanduanes, March 5 (PIA) -- A research proposal by a faculty member of the Catanduanes State University (CSU) was shortlisted for possible funding by external research granting institutions.

The proposal, "Biomedical Waste Management Practices in Government Health Care Facilities in Catanduanes," is among the six shortlisted research proposals in Bicol Region for possible funding by either the Regional Research Fund or the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development. It is chiefly authored by Joel Olfindo and co-authored by Dr. Alvin C. Ogalesco, Luz Manlagnit, Dr. Aurora Araojo, and Dr. Minerva I. Morales.

According to Dr. Alma S. Banua’s report in the BCHRD website, there were 16 research proposals that underwent the Health Research Proposal Packaging Process (HRPPP) by the Bicol Consortium for Health Research & Development.

The HRPPP consists of three phases: Basic Methods Training; Research Evaluation Training with Technical Review; and Proposal Packaging with Technical and Ethical Review. At the end of the process is a full-blown proposal ready for submission to the funding agency.

Other shortlisted researches, the report stated, were Total Financial Cost of Motor Vehicular Accident Patients Admitted at BRTTH by Elma P. Peralta & Marlyn A. Daguno; Wound Healing Properties of Guyabano Leaf and Malunggay Leaf Extract by Dennis B. Gogola & Carina Orden; Biological Activities of Pili Pulp Extracts by Jocelyn E. Serrano; Phytochemical Characterization, Antimicrobial Screening, and Histological Study of Orthosiphon aristatus (Balbas Pusa) by Joan Nace, and Feasibility of a Web-Based Health Status Monitoring and Decision Support System for Public Elementary Pupils of the Province of Albay by Michael Angelo B. Brogada.

Moreover, all researches shortlisted are aligned with the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA) and/or Regional Unified Health, according to the BCHRD.

The Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development was established in 2007 to address the need to establish a strong health research and development coordination system involving various institutions in Region V with interest in health research.(EAB/GSRubio/CSU PR and Information)