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Official Publication of the Philippine Information Agency Bicol Regional Office, in cooperation with the RIAC-REDIRAS - RDC Bicol



Friday, April 19, 2013

Bicol's rice stock to last beyond December this year – NFA

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, April 19 (PIA) -- The National Food Authority (NFA) regional office said the agency’s rice stocks will last for 270 days.

As of April 15 this year, the NFA Bicol declared a total stock of 174,213 bags, each containing 50 kilograms of rice.

“Based on our grains stock position report, we also have 816,891 bags of palay stocks,” saio NFA Bicol information officer Nelsie Alcantara.

According to NFA Bicol, the region consumes 40,500 bags of rice daily.

Camarines Sur leads in rice consumption with daily requirement of 14,200 bags of rice, followed by Albay with 9,500 bags and Masbate with 5,860 bags of rice. Sorsogon also posted 5,400 bags of rice as its daily consumption requirement, Camarines Norte with 3,980 and Catanduanes with 1,560 bags of rice daily consumption requirement.

Albay tops other Bicol provinces in rice stock position with 73,594 bags.

“Albay supplies rice to the island provinces that explains its high number of stocks,” Alcantara said.

Catanduanes follows Albay with its rice stocks of 26,158 bags while Camarines Norte has 24,386. The province of Camarines Sur has 23,016 bags of stock rice while Masbate has 13,585 and Sorsogon with 13,474 bags of rice reserve, according to NFA.

However, Camarines Sur leads in palay stocks with 426,527 bags, followed by Albay with 137,030 and Sorsogon with 126,734 bags of palay stocks. Masbate has 95,572 bags of palay, Camarines Sur has 22,284 and Catanduanes with 8,744 bags of palay reserves, NFA reveals. (MAL/JJJp/PIA5-Albay)


DOH-CHD gives free immunization for influenza and pneumonia

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, April 19 (PIA) -- The Center for Health Development (CHD) of the Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol provided free immunization for influenza and pneumonia to indigent senior citizens in this city yesterday.

Dr. Gloria J. Balboa, DOH Bicol regional director, said the activity formed part of the series of vaccination drives across the region to boost immune system and resistance against influenza and pneumococcal infections of the elderly in the region.

The DOH Bicol, according to Balboa, targets some 95,000 indigent senior citizens for pneumonia Vaccination and 114,987 for influenza.

In 2012, the DOH Bicol has immunized a total of113,780 indigent senior citizens, including 10,365 against influenza and 10,415 against pneumonia.

Balboa explained Pneumonia was the second leading cause of death in 2011, while influenza was next in the region

Both diseases were responsible for hospitalizations, including deaths worldwide and complications occur among elderly especially those having underlying chronic medical conditions.

“Immunization remains the best preventive measure to fight cases of pneumonia and influenza,” Balboa revealed.

Balboa furthered that indigent senior citizens are given pneumococcal immunizations only once while influenza vaccine is being provided yearly. This is because pneumococcal vaccine provides lifetime immunity for senior citizens. On the other hand treatment for influenza depends on the strain of the flu virus prevailing for a given year.

DOH Bicol, in cooperation with all local government units in Bicol, has encouraged all indigent senior citizens to coordinate with the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in their respective localities for updates and schedules of vaccination.

Health authorities are optimistic that after the vaccination, indigent senior citizens will be more protected against the disease reducing the risk of contracting it. (MAL/Shar Ann Ballon-OJT-BU/PIA5)


Candidates’ forum on health, family planning and coop dev't held in Cam Norte


DAET, Camarines Norte, April 19 (PIA) -- A candidates’ forum on health, family planning and cooperative development was held April 16 at the Nazareth Development Center here.

The forum was sponsored by the Philippine NGO Council on Population, Health and Welfare Inc., Camarines Norte Coop Ugnayan Inc., The Forum for the Family Planning and Development Inc., SCAP, HAIN and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Among the issues raised during the open forum were illegal mining in the province, participation of civil society in the local governance and their stand on the anti-political dynasty and same sex marriage.

The forum was attended by representatives of the 59 cooperatives in the province and media persons.

The candidates who participated in the forum are the two (2) candidates from partylist, two (2) congressional candidates, one (1) vice gubernatorial candidate and three (3) Board Member candidates. (MAL/RBM/PIA5-Camarines Norte).


PNoy praises country’s social workers

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, April 19 (PIA) -- President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday, April 17, praised the county’s social workers for their vital contribution to uplift the lives of their countrymen.

“Indeed this group is a source of courage and strength for many of our people, especially the marginalized sector, in extending counsels and social support as they face life challenges,” President Aquino said in a message to the participants in the 17th National Social Welfare and Development Forum and General Assembly being held at the Oriental Hotel here from April 16 to April 19.

The forum formally opened Thursday morning.

The President’s message was contained in the souvenir program distributed to more than a thousand participants in the assembly, with its theme “Social Protection and Convergence: Opportunities and Challenges for Social Welfare and Development Stakeholders.”

The occasion aims to discuss current issues in ensuring social welfare and development services which are consistent with the vision, mission and goals of local government units towards nation-building.

Aquino said he hopes that the country’s social workers will remain among the reliable partners in carrying out social welfare and development programs, one of which is the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps that has already helped million Filipino families across the country.

Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda also expressed his warm greetings to the men and women of the Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Philippines, Incorporated (ALSWDOPI).

Salceda said the event augurs well with the current trend of inter-agency participation and involvement of all stakeholders in their plans in addressing current issues regarding improvement of the lives of the Albayanos, especially the disadvantaged or marginalized sector.

Albay, he said, implements the principle of team efforts to ensure smooth implementation of programs, projects and activities which are designed to reduce poverty.

Salceda presented the province’s best practices in terms of poverty alleviation and enhancing knowledge in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

He invited the participants to come back to Albay with their families and friends and spread the good news on matters of tourism and festivals in the province of Albay.

Meanwhile, convention organizers announced the 2013 National Gawad Parangal Awardees as follows: Batangas Governor Vilma Santos Recto for Outstanding Governor Award; Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario, Special Commendation; Mayor Socrates C, Fernandez of Talisay City in Cebu, for Hall of Fame-City Mayor; Mayor Jennifer Austria Barsaga , Dasmarinas City, Cavite, for Outstanding City Mayor; Mayor Librado C. Navarro of Bislig City, Surigao, for Special Commendation; Mayor Vicente B. Flores Jr. of Oton, Iloilo, for Hall of Fame-Municipal Mayor; Mayor Dahlia A. Loyola of Carmona, Cavite, for Outstanding Municipal Mayor; Nina Joy M. Tanada MSWDO of Oton, Iloilo, for Hall of Fame-Municipal Social Welfare Development Officer; Mildred A. dela Cuesta, MSWDO LGU Malungon, Sarangani, for Most Outstanding Municipal Social Welfare Development Officer; Outstanding Local Chapter is ALSWDOPI Leyte Provincial Chapter.

Special commendation for retiree went to Gloria L. Pabillore of Agusan Del Norte.

The code of ethics of the organization was presented by Jerwin T. Navarro, executive vice president of the association.
An intermission number was rendered by the Albay Mabuhay Chorale, followed by the opening remarks of Arsenio L. Alagenio, ALSWDOPI national president.

Salceda and Legazpi City Mayor Carmen Geraldine Rosal welcomed the guests.

The keynote speaker was Vilma R. Cabrera, DSWD Assistant Secretary for Institutional Development Group. (MAL/NIM-RnB Legazpi/PIA5)


First Daet Cooperative Congress set

By Rosalita B. Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, April 19 (PIA) -- Some 39 cooperatives in this town will meet on the First Daet Cooperative Congress on April 25 to strengthen the sector's collaboration and cooperation in pursuit for development of the community .

Daet Mayor Tito Sarion said that the activity also aims to provide updates to cooperatives on issuance and directives that will help improve livelihood program and enterprise initiatives.

He said that the local government supports livelihood programs of the cooperatives particularly in promoting the pineapple by products as the One-Town-One Product (OTOP) of Daet.

Sarion said that the theme for the activity is “Converging for a strong collaboration and cooperative communication”.

Among the topics include: cooperative updates by Erlinda N. Valera, Provincial Cooperative Development Specialist of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA); cooperatives and directives to be discuss by CDA Regional Director Atty. Maria Lourdes P. Pacao; strengthening cooperatives in the countryside by Congressman Cresente Paez, Representative Coop NATCCO partylist/Chairperson of Camarines Norte Cooperative Bank.

Newly appointed Cooperative Development Officer of Daet Ronnel C. Yu will lay down the local government's program and project updates for the cooperatives. (MAL/RBM/PIA5-Camarines Norte).


Comelec to strictly enforce checkpoints

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, April 19 (PIA) -- An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) here has sought the assistance of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strictly implement checkpoints in strategic parts of this city.

Lawyer Fatima Gados Gados, Comelec election supervisor, instructed members of the police force to enforce its on-sight inspection, particularly of four-wheeled vehicles entering and going out of the city’s vicinity, to ensure that no illegal firearms will be transported during the campaign period and the actual election time.

“We are continuously monitoring election-related incidents which could be a violation of Comelec rules and regulations. We would like also to focus on the checkpoints as we have noticed that most of the vehicles being flagged down in checkpoints are motorcycles,” Gados said in an interview.

The Comelec official added that the checkpoints are proven useful when it comes to the apprehension of individuals who are keeping illegal weapons or firearms in their cars.

Gados also said that her office is also keeping a close watch on posters and campaign paraphernalia illegally posted on prohibites sites, reiterating that under Republic Act 9006 otherwise known as the Fair Election Act, Section 3 has a specific provisions on Lawful Election Propaganda.

Meanwhile, Comelec Camarines Sur spokesperson Alex Marpuri said that only those technicians and Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) who have passed the qualifying examinations given by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have the authority to operate the Precinct Count Optical Scan or PCOS machines during the elections.

Last week, BEIs comprised mostly of teachers, trained to ensure that they are properly equipped with the necessary know how as they take the big task and responsibility of keeping the election tarnish-free.

Early last week, Marpuri that the first batch of trainees composed of 1,500 teachers from Camarines Sur have already finished and passed the qualifying examinations. One of the lectures that they have attended is about the Poll Automation law as provided under Republic Act 9369. (MAL/LSM/PIA5-Camarines Sur)


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