BALIKATAN MEDCAP NOW IN FULL SWING

LEGAZPI CITY (17 April) – Medical practitioners from the United States and the Philippines expect to treat at least 1,000 villagers a day under the humanitarian aspect of the Balikatan exercises in Bicol.

Physicians, nurses, medical aides and dentists taking part in the medical and dental mission started arriving since Wednesday at Camp General Simeon A. Ola here.

“They were dispatched to the different barangays in the covered municipalities in the provinces of Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon to provide services to the local residents,” Col. Romeo Ayson of the Army’s Civil Military Operations for the RP-US Balikatan said.

Around 11,000 to 12,000 Bicol residents will benefit from the medical and dental mission of the Balikatan exercises.

To facilitate the Medical Civic Action Program (MedCAP), local health officers of the concerned local government units (LGUs) selected as beneficiaries would determine beforehand the illnesses to be treated.

Maj. Marlon Bayhon, pharmacist and aeronautics mechanic who serves as team leader of the MedCAP, said the US government has purchased the medicines from local suppliers after carefully selecting them with the approval of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).

The MedCAP will be held for two days in Irosin town and three days in Juban town, both in Sorsogon.

In Masbate, medical and dental missions will cover the towns of Bagacay, Marcella, Uson and Mobo; and, the towns of Libon, Camalig and Guinobatan and Ligao City in Albay..

Lt. Cmdr. Anne Roberts of the Joint Civil Military Operation Task Force, media relations coordinator for MedCAP, said the illness or diseases that will be treated during the mission include skin diseases, gastrointestinal problems, and other common ailments among the locals.

“Circumcision and optometric services will also be provided, however, patients needing major surgery will be referred to big government hospitals,” she said.

Roberts said 18 American and 19 Filipino doctors would be in the team.

Veterinary services, such as deworming of cattle and livestock, minor wound treatment, and anti-rabies vaccination of dogs will also be offered, she added.

Meanwhile, construction and rehabilitation of roads and school buildings are already underway as engineering projects had already started 15 days ago to ensure they will be completed by the closing of the Balikatan exercises on April 30.

Ayson said that at least 100 American military engineers and 300 from the Philippine Army, Navy, and Air Force are now involved in the engineering projects.

“These projects upon completion will be turned over to the LGUs at the end of the Balikatan,” he said

Mayor Juan Garcia of Guinobatan in Albay expressed appreciation for the humanitarian exercises, noting that the engineering projects as well as the MedCAP undertaken by the joint RP-US military personnel have significantly helped the local governments as much as the local citizenry.

For her part, Mayor Ma. Teresa Fragata of Juban in Sorsogon said that officials of the recipient barangays in her town were glad and thankful for the benefits that the Balikatan humanitarian mission has brought to them. (MALoterte, PIA RO V)


SORSOGON PPO POSTS IMPROVED CRIME SOLUTION EFFICIENCY

SORSOGON Province (17 April) – The police provincial office (PPO) here, led by PSSupt. Henry S. Rañola, Jr. (DSC), proved once again its tenacity to serve and protect through the conduct of intensified police operations evident in the down trend of crime volume and a corresponding up trend in crime solution efficiency manifested during this 1st quarter of the year.

Records of the Investigation and Detective Management Unit (IDMU) of the PPO show that a comparative crime statistics pegged that the crime volume for the 1st quarter of the year decreased to 95 incidents from 98 incidents of the same period last year.

On the other hand, crime solution efficiency of the province for year 2009 recorded a 6% increase tabulated at 89.47% crime solution efficiency compared to only 83.67% for 1st quarter of CY2008.

Index crime, which is categorized as crime against persons and properties and which is a good indicator of the prevailing crime situation in a particular area, registered a decrease from 61 cases in 2008 to 52 cases for 2009.

Non-index crime on the other hand, which is labeled as crime committed under special laws, depicted an increase from a total of 37 incidents for the same period this year. Further, the average Monthly Crime Rate (AMCR) manifested a drop off from 4.23 last year to 4.10 for this year.

Also, significantly remarkable for the 1st quarter of this year compared to the same period last year are the tapering off in cases of crime against persons, particularly the crimes on homicide and physical injuries which exhibited a decrease from 9 cases to only 4 cases and from 14 incidents to only 5 incidents relatively.

The municipal police stations of Barcelona, Bulan, Bulusan, Castilla, Donsol, Gubat, Magallanes, Matnog, Pto. Diaz and Sta. Magdalena are among the police stations in the province which recorded a hundred percent crime solution efficiency for the 1st quarter of 2009.

Nevertheless, the Sorsogon City Police Station also recorded 82.14% crime solution efficiency, a fairly solid progress from only 68.18% for the same period last year.

According to Rañola, this major accomplishment could be attributed to the fact that the PNP personnel of Sorsogon PPO are really performing their police duties and functions as well as the role of a leader in reaching the goal of a peaceful and progressive community.

He further states that equally invaluable in this juncture are also the constant cooperation of the local government units and the whole community.
(PPO Sorsogon/PIA Sorsogon)


SEARCH FOR ECO-FRIENDLY SCHOOLS 2009 EXTENDED

LEGAZPI CITY(17 April) — The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has extended the deadline for submission of entries for the National Competition for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Schools from the original date of April 30 to May 15, this year.

“This is to invite more participating schools from elementary to tertiary levels to showcase their outstanding accomplished projects committed on pro-environmental advocacy,” according to regional director Engr. Gilbet Gonzales.

The national search is a joint activity of the DENR-EMB, the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Smart Communications.

The nationwide contest is open to all elementary, high school, and tertiary school levels which aims to encourage school/academic institutions to become more responsive to environmental issues and concerns as well as to develop skills and understanding among students, faculty, and school administrators regarding environmental protection.

Gonzales said school entries should revolve around the theme “Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Initiatives” and will be rated according to five criteria such as environmental-related aspects of school’s policy (20 points), environmental-friendly school operations and presence of environmental programs (30 points), environmental-related features of the school curriculum (30 points), presence of vibrant eco-organizations in campus (10 points), and presence of partners and linkages in environment programs/projects (10 points).

All winning entries for each of the three categories, together with selected entries will be displayed during the national awarding ceremonies in November 2009 coincides with the National Environmental Awareness Month celebration. (EMB release/PIA)


PHILHEALTH APPROACH TO FIGHT FRAUD
This is “our” fight against fraud

LEGAZPI CITY — As PhilHealth pursue its mandate to provide a responsive, adequate and more equitable benefit package, employees of the corporation and members of the program should hand in hand tag on the ways to safeguard our PhilHealth contributions.

The PhilHealth Bicol Regional Office here has programmed 10 ways to be observed in order to hinder possible fraudulent claims and dishonest transactions with regards to PhilHealth benefit claims. The following are practices to observe:

1. Never land your PhilHealth ID. Your PhilHealth ID is a proof of your identification, thus the only person who can use said ID in any transaction with PhilHealth is Yourself only. Never let unauthorized individuals get hold of your PhilHealth ID.

2. Do not forget to Ask for a Copy of Your Statement of Account. (Where the actual charges and Medicare deductions are itemized) Before paying your hospital bill because this is your right.

3. Do not Forget to Ask for an Original Receipt from the hospital and the doctor after clearing your bill in case of direct filing of reimbursement and do not forget to attach these to your claim.

4. Do Not Sign a Blank PhilHealth Form. If you do this, anyone can fabricate the information stated in the form.

5. Do No Give False Information. Give the exact details of the patient’s/member’s record and ensure that names are spelled accurately.

6. Do Not Sign More Than One PhilHealth Form 1, 2, and 3. PhilHealth requires only one copy of these from the hospital.

7. Read What is Written on PhilHealth Claim Form 2 (the Claim Form Filled in by the hospital regarding the medicines, laboratory test, and supplies given to the patient) Before Affixing Your Signature. Double check if these were actually given to the patient during confinement.

8. Report Immediately to PhilHealth Any Doubtful Transaction/Incident that you think you or anyone you know are involved in.

9. Assert your Rights as a PhilHealth Member. If you think your PhilHealth contributions are not being deducted from your salary b your employer, or worse, are not remitted to PhilHealth after being deducted from your salary, don’t hesitate to inform PhilHealth about it.

10. Should You Need to Clarify Anything About Your PhilHealth Membership, Contributions or Benefits, Immediately Get in Touch With PhilHealth. When it comes to these, PhilHealth knows best.

All these are practices to help uncover dishonest transactions, discover people and
institutions who keep on cheating as far as the health program is concerned. (PhilHeatlh release/PIA)


POLICE NETS 2 SUSPECTED DRUG PUSHERS IN MASBATE

MASBATE Province (17 April) — Milagros Police Station operatives have arrested two persons for peddling prohibited drugs.

Senior Inspector Elliot V. Vasquez, chief of police of Milagros, said they had the two suspects, Johnny A. Silva of Barangay Bagumbayan, Masbate City and Henry C. Dalinog of Poblacion, Aroroy, under watch after being tipped off by information of their drug deals.

Vasquez said they were informed of a drug deal Silva and Dalinog had arranged last Friday in Barangay Bacolod, Milagros. He immediately ordered his men to conduct an entrapment.

At around 11a.m. that Wednesday, Silva and Dalinog arrived in tandem in Bacolod on board a Kawasaki Bajaj motorcycle and handed over shabu to police agents who posed as buyers.

As soon as the exchange was done, Vasquez’s team approached the suspects and announced the arrest.

Arresting officers confiscated nine packets of the illegal drug estimated to cost some P8,000 and cash consisting of a 1,000-peso bill and two 500-peso bills from the suspects motorcycle, with plate No. 7374 EG.

Shabu, a highly addictive synthetic stimulant, is the most commonly abused substance in Masbate.

Drugs charges were filed on the same day before the Provincial Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice against Silva and Dalinog. (EADelgado, PIA Masbate)


RP CALLS FOR DRASTIC REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

MANILA — The Philippines has urged the international community to adopt the necessary measures to reduce drastically global greenhouse gas emissions by much as 80 percent if low-lying and archipelagic countries like the Philippines are to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

Presidential Adviser on Climate Change Secretary Heherson Alvarez said this was the instruction of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo given to him before he left last month for the March 29-April 28 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bonn, Germany.

“The President has given me instruction to move for an 80 percent cut (of greenhouse gas emissions) which we filed and re-substantiated with the resolution we filed in Bonn recently,” Alvarez said.

The Bonn proposal will be presented and voted upon by nations at the Conference of Parties (COP-15) in Copenhagen this December.

Other archipelagic countries, including Vietnam and Indonesia, have expressed strongly support for the Philippine proposal, Alvarez said.

He said it has been observed that recent typhoons that hit the Philippines were stronger and more devastating than previous ones. The annual damage wrought by typhoons in the Philippines from 1975 to 2002 was placed at P7.9 billion.

Alvarez briefed the President on the Philippines’ call for the international community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions during her visit to the Quezon City Controlled Disposal Facility at Barangay Payatas this morning which was attended by 142 barangay chairmen of Quezon City.

Also with the President was Environment Secretary Lito Atienza.

The president was also briefed by Mayor Feliciano Belmonte on the operations of the Quezon City waste disposal facility which boasts of a Biogas Emission Reduction Project.

The project also provides free electricity to two major streets in Barangay Payatas and the Plantsahan ng Bayan, where residents iron their clothes for free.

Belmonte said Quezon City generates 1.7 metric tons of garbage daily, 30 percent of which are segregated and recycled immediately.

The biogas project harnesses energy from biogas produced from waste comprising mostly of methane and carbon dioxide.

“The President said methane is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide, the number one contributor to climate change,” Alvarez said.

The Quezon City biogas plant has become one of the “best practices” being replicated by other LGUs in the country.

Atienza said the President has been conducting Friday visits to different parts of the country to underscore the urgency of protecting the ecosystem, and at the same time check on the compliance of LGUs with Executive Order 774, which directs LGUs to put up materials recovery facilities (MRFs) ) to help reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emission by as much as 50 percent this year.

“Our laws said that every barangay should have its own MRF,” Atienza said.

So far, Atienza said the National Capital Region (NCR) has the highest rate of compliance with EO 774 at 42 percent compared to the national average of only 8 percent.

Last December, the President signed EO 774 calling on the LGUs, non-government organizations (NGOs) and the public in general to help protect the ecosystem by undertaking massive tree planting, coastal clean-up and marine protection, garbage segregation, composting and the establishment of sufficient materials recovery facilities (MRF) across the country. (PIA V Release)


DOLE FINDS JOBS IN QATAR FOR STRANDED BUS DRIVERS IN DUBAI

MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment DOLE) has found employment in Qatar for many of the 137 Filipino bus drivers recruited by a legitimately licensed local placement agency for allegedly high paying but non-existent jobs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). .

In a radio interview over DZXL-RMN Thursday (April 16), Press Secretary Cerge M. Remonde said Labor Secretary Marianito Roque has just informed him DOLE has found jobs in Qatar for many of the stranded bus drivers.

President Arroyo earlier directed Roque to attend to the problems of the duped drivers stranded in Dubai, including their accommodations and sustenance, as well as their return to Manila if they can find no jobs in the Middle East.

The President also ordered an investigation into the irregular recruitment of the 137 bus drivers by the CYM International Services and to file appropriate charges against guilty parties, including erring government officials found in cahoots with them, if warranted.

The drivers reportedly paid P150,000 each in placement fees for the non-existent jobs in the UAE. (PIA V Release)


PALACE FOCUSES ON JOBS CREATION, ECONOMIC MELTDOWN MITIGATION AND 2010 ELECTIONS

MANILA — Malacanang said Thursday (April 16) that it is now focused on job creation and placement for jobless Filipinos, mitigating the adverse effects of the deepening global economic meltdown, and preparation for a peaceful and credible elections in May next year.

In an interview over DZXL-RMN, Press Secretary Cerge M. Remonde reiterated an earlier palace declaration that there is no more time for the charter change (Cha-cha) initiatives in the House of Representatives and whatever actions its House allies pursue are strictly their own moves.

Remonde noted that there is indeed no more time for the cha-cha initiatives by certain congressmen as earlier articulated by Secretary Gabriel Claudio, Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs.

Malacanang, Remonde said, is instead focused on three major pressing concerns – job creation for Filipinos or their overseas placement, attending to the immediate problems of the economy and mitigating the adverse effects of the deepening global economic crisis, and ensuring that the 2010 election is peaceful and credible. (PIA V Release)


RP DOING ITS BEST TO HELP PINOY HOSTAGES IN SOMALIA

MANILA — The Philippine government is doing its best to help and rescue the Filipino seamen abducted and held hostage for ransom in Somalia by Somali pirates.

Press Secretary Cerge M. Remonde, in a radio interview Thursday (April 16), said the government has been working very closely with shipowners and manning companies, who employed the Filipino seamen, to ensure the safety and rescue of the victims.

The latest count puts at 120 the number of Filipino seamen being held hostage by Somali fishermen, who have made piracy a lucrative enterprise that is being bankrolled and encouraged by Somali warlords.

Remonde said the Philippine government has dispatched its own military experts to work with the Filipino seamen’s employers.

Due to the country’s limited capability in addressing international piracy, Remonde said the government focuses its efforts and resources in working things out with manning companies and shipowners employing the Filipino seamen.

He said the government is also working with the United Nations for a “more determined international response” to the Somali piracy scourge.

Remonde said the UN is now in the process of organizing a more comprehensive international response to the hijacking and hostage-taking in the high seas by Somali pirates who have victimized Americans, British, French, Filipinos and other nationalities. (PIA V Release)


MALACANANG ANNOUNCES NEW APPOINTMENTS

MANILA— Malacanang announced Thursday (April 16) the appointment of three new officials. They are:

• Andrew Michael S. Ong as deputy director general, Intellectual Property Office;
• Michael N. Mallilin as deputy commissioner, National Telecommunications Commission, Commission on Information and Communications Technology; and
• Roberto P. Santiago as deputy director general for administration, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency

A sixth place in the 1993 bar examinations, Atty. Ong is an educator, advocate and legal practitioner of intellectual property law.

On the other hand, Mallilin is a lawyer-CPA, a former prosecutor and law professor.

Santiago is a member of Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association (PMAAA) and former general manager of the Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club. (PIA V Release)