SSC IN-HOUSE REVIEW INTERFACES RESEARCH, EXTENSION

SORSOGON CITY — Sorsogon State College (SSC) Research and Development Services and Extension Services held recently its annual in-house review assessing research outputs and providing venue for researchers to discuss the results of numerous researches works and studies carried out by the institutions.

Professor Susan Janer, SSC Research and Development director, said the research outputs would be the bases for the college’s formulation of policies, program enhancement, curriculum enrichment and improvement of deliverables.


Janer said that “for on-going projects and proposals, the review aims to guide or provide directions for the conduct of our research through an extensive scrutiny and evaluation of works by invited experts.”

She added that some projects then can be pursued further and technologies that can be transferred are identified through research and enhanced through extension and production works.

The activity also provided a venue to screen entries for various symposia or fora at different levels--regional, zonal, national or international levels-- which are sponsored by Bicol Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (BCCARD), Philippine CARRD, Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and development (PCIERD) and other sponsoring agencies.

Panel of evaluators was composed of Dr. Milagros S. Esparrago, Dr. Teresita N. Borromeo, Dr. Amparo D. Binamira, Mr. Nestor A. Nava, and Prof. Lester M. Narvaez.

Researchers, extensionists, coordinators and staff, faculty, student researchers from SSC and interested individuals participated in the said interfacing activity.

Janer further related that by strengthening research in SSC, interventions significant to the promotion and development of the institution’s production works can be realized effectively. (SSC/BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)


DPWH BRASS CITES LABO EXECS FOR TOWN PROGRESS

LABO, Camarines Norte — Undersecretary Rafael Yabut of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has credited the administration of Mayor Winefredo Oco for hastening progress and development in this municipality.

Yabut, on behalf of DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr., graced the street dancing competition in line with the 11th Busig-on Festival marking the 209th foundation anniversary of Labo town last September 7.

He said Oco’s commitment towards good governance and support to major programs of the national government have greatly contributed in moving Labo town forward for the benefit of his constituents.

He related that the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has since 2001 carried out more than 2,000 major projects worth P10 billion like roads and bridges, among others, in the entire country.

He said that the money spent for these projects came from the taxes of the people.

Yabut stressed that constructing roads and bridges are among the SONA targets of the President to link islands through nautical highways and RoRo ports adding that this will help people in this time of economic crisis.

He also sought the support of the public to maintain cleanliness and safeguard all roads and bridges and other infrastructure projects of the government.

The 11th Busig-on Festival of Labo town was held from August 27 to September 8, 2009. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)


VEGGIES BETTER THAN VACCINE TO PREVENT A H1N1

MASBATE CITY — Vegetables instead of vaccine.

This is the solution Provincial Board Member Silas Laurio came up to address the swine flu pandemic.

According to Laurio, Masbateños can cope with the recent declaration of the World Health Organization (WHO) of the A (H1N1) spread by just eating green and leafy vegetables.

He said while governments and scientists around the world ramped up the hunt for a vaccine to battle the swine flu virus, Masbateños only have to eat vegetables to boost their resistance to the virus, which has killed more than 700 people worldwide.

“(The source of) immunity to sickness, (aside from the) vaccine still being sought against the A(H1N1), is just around us,” he told a recent session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, referring to vegetables which according to him, abound in backyards and farms.

The hunt for a vaccine accelerated as swine flu—declared a global pandemic by WHO—continued its spread.

Most of those hospitalized had underlying medical conditions that included lung disease, heart disease and weakened immune systems.

The virus, which spreads easily and causes mostly mild disease, has been diagnosed in over 24,000 people in 64 countries (as of this writing), killing more than 700, according to the WHO.

Laurio said although H1N1 swine flu appears mild, it affects mostly older children and young adults, and experts worry it could change into a more dangerous form.

But the pandemic is not a reason for Masbateños to panic, stressing that vegetables could provide them a natural armor against the virus.

He also echoed the age-old advice of experts: practice personal hygiene and keep the surroundings clean. (EADelgado, PIA Masbate)


4 REBELS KILLED IN CAMSUR ENCOUNTER

LEGAZPI CITY – Four members of the New People’s Army were killed in a fresh encounter today at the hinterlands of Bula town, Camarines Sur, the Philippine Army report said.

Elements of the 42nd Infantry Battalion of the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, led by Lt. Ronald Jimenez, had chanced upon some 20 suspected rebels and exchanged fire for about 30 minutes at barangay Itangon in Bula at around 7:25 A.M. today.

“Government troops recovered from the scene one M-16 rifle and one M-653 rifle left by the fleeing rebels in the area,” Major Harold Cabunoc, spokesman of the 9th Infantry Division, said, adding that the investigators have yet to identify the fatalities on the part of the rebels.

No casualty was reported on the government side. (MALoterte, PIA V)


PHILHEALTH COVERS CONFINEMENT OF MEMBERS ABROAD

LEGAZPI CITY — Overseas confinements of members and dependents OF Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), regardless of their membership category are still covered by the agency’s health insurance program

PhilHealth members and dependents are covered by the program whether he/she is abroad for a vacation or is a permanent resident in any particular country.

This is made available through the portability feature of your PhilHealth benefits. As long as a member has maintained an updated membership record and updated premium contributions, regardless of his/her location, PhilHealth shall continue to deliver its services.

If confined abroad, a member shall be paid based on the benefit rates of a Level 3 hospital. To facilitate processing of reimbursement, the following documents must be submitted within 180 days after discharge at the nearest PhilHealth office:

1. PhilHealth Claim Form 1 (signed by the employer, if locally employed)
2. Member Data Record/supporting documents and Proof of Contribution (if applicable)
3. Original Official Receipt and Statement of Account (translated in English)
4. Medical Certificate indicating the final diagnosis, confinement period and services rendered (translated in English)

Meanwhile, claims with deficiency requirements should still be complied with and re-filed within 60 days from receipt of the notice of deficiency. (PhilHealth V/PIA)


PGMA explains her travel expenses

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, for the first time, breaks her silence regarding her foreign travels from 2001 to 2009 on Tuesday and insisted that her office only used P187 million from the contingent fund.

President Arroyo said in her one-on-one interview with Ely Saludar of RMN-DZXL held at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in Quezon City, a total of P187 million were used by her office during her incumbency from 2001 to 2009 for the local and foreign travel.

” You know how to travel in different parts of the country, this is not only for the foreign travels where the budget goes and by law, we can get the budget from the line item of travel, from the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) of the Office of the President and contingent fund, all of these were allowed under the law and explicitly including the travel and talking about contingent fund, in my 9 years in office as President, we only used P187 million from the contingent fund over nine years with an average of P20 million a year, in fraction, which is smaller compare to my predecessors,” Mrs. Arroyo said.

"We must explain the importance of our local and foreign travels which is for the benefit of our economy, protection for our OFW’s, protection for our national security, trade opportunities and invite investors to put investments in the Philippines, " President Arroyo said.

President Arroyo also said that because of the global engagement, the country had 34 uninterrupted quarters of economic growth, which did not happened before her administration. (PIA V Release)


Fulfilling a vision: PGMA builds/improves 51,985 kms. of roads in RP

MANILA –- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) from 2001 up to the present provide and manage quality infrastructure facilities and services responsive to the needs of the Filipino people in the pursuit of national development objectives.

Thus, the DPWH, under the leadership of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo beginning 2001, has improved and built 51,985 kilometers of roads nationwide costing P177.791 billion.

At the same time, it constructed 238,851.29 linear meters of bridges all over the country.

The DPWH constructed different flood controls in the Philippines with a length of 8,912 with a cost of P32.001 billion.

Other infrastructure was undertaken by the department with a length of 77,230 with a total cost of P64.157 billion. For school buildings (classrooms) , the DPWH made a total of 40,645 with a total cost of P15.676 billion.

For farm to market roads, in tandem with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the DPWH completed 3,373.03 kilometers of roads with a total cost of P6.842 billion.
On the other hand, the Department finished 2,763,978 kilometers of roads together with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) with a total cost of P10.566 billion.

For 2001 up to June 30, 2009 the DPWH also made projects under the regular program totaling 9,942 with a total cost of P36.718 billion The number of flood control and drainage made under the regular program are in 2001, 1,336 projects; 2002, 396; 2003, 1,126; 2004, 2,171; 2005, 916; 2006, 1,013; 2007, 1,647; 2008, 1,329; and 2009,six. (PIA V Release)


Record 1.25-M Filipinos get free medical treatment in a day from PCSO

MANILA -- The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) reported to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today that a record 1.25 million Filipinos were given free medical treatment in just one day.

The President was the guest of honor at the 75th anniversary celebration of the PCSO at its main office on E. Rodriguez Avenue in Quezon City this morning.

PCSO general manager Rosario Uriarte attributed the success of last Sunday’s “100 Percent in One Day” free feeding and medical and dental mission to the thousands of volunteers who trooped to medical mission sites nationwide.

Uriarte said thousands of doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, and health workers from both the public and private sectors responded to the President’s call for volunteers.

In her call, the President said there is a pressing need for the private sector to join the government in the effort to cushion the impact of the financial crisis on the poor and the needy.

Uriarte said the 1.25 million figure represents only 60 percent of the one-day health services program accomplishment.

She told the President PCSO is still awaiting the reports from Western Visayas, Northern and Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog and Bicol areas.

“I am very confident, Madam President, that the beneficiaries from your project may reach more than two million,” Uriarte said.

The beneficiaries in the one-day mission even surpassed the total number of patient/beneficiari es of the medical, dental and special missions under the Community Outreach Program of the PCSO from 1995-2008 recorded at 1,026,719. Eighty-three percent of these patients, or 851,254, were served in 2001 to 2008.

At the PCSO grounds, the President then conferred the President Medal of Merit on Uriarte for her outstanding service since she became vice chairman and general manager of the PCSO.

The President, assisted by Vice President Noli de Castro and PCSO Chairman Sergio Valencia, also distributed certificates of lot allocation (CELAs) to the 624 qualified employee-beneficiar ies of the PCSO housing sites in Taytay, Rizal and Antipolo City.

The President also awarded three ambulances to Escalante City Mayor Melecio Yap; Bulacan 1st District Representative Ma. Victoria Alvarado; and Kalayaan, Laguna, Mayor Teodoro Adao Jr. (PIA V Release)


Comelec hails SC ruling on poll automation

MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) hailed on Tuesday the decision of the Supreme Court junking the petition filed by the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) for the nullification of the P7.2-billion project to automate the May 2010 elections.

Comelec Chairman Jose Melo said that with the ruling of the High Court, the poll body will continue implementing the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines that will be used in next year’s polls.

The machines will be supplied by the consortium of Total Information Management Corp. (TIM)-Smartmatic, which was declared the winning bidder last July 10 by the Comelec.

Lawyer Harry Roque, representing the CCM, earlier asked the SC to stop the implementation of the multibillion- peso poll automation contract.

Among the reasons cited by the CCM were: the PCOS system "has not been tested" and that the "consortium or the joint venture is questionable." (PIA V Release)

LGUs to continue receiving government assistance

MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured today local government units (LGUs) of assistance despite the devolution of basic services to the provincial level.

The President gave the assurance during the inauguration and turnover ceremonies of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Hospital in Manticao, Misamis Oriental.

In her short message after a tour of the recently completed MOPH-Manticao, the President said that basic services, particularly those involving health, would still receive financial assistance from the government.

“We inaugurate this joint project despite the devolution of health services, including the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), (to the provincial level), the President said in the local dialect.

“Health services will still receive contributions from my administration so that we can upgrade the other hospitals in the province and thereby increase their ability to serve more of our countrymen,” she added.

The President cited the nursing staff of the MOPH-Manticao who will undergo further training for six months to improve their chances of landing better paying jobs.

“I wish to extend my warmest welcome to our nurses and nursing trainees who in six months will undergo a rigorous training schedule to hone their skills while waiting for their permanent working contracts to be employed as full-pledged nurses,” she said.

The President lauded workers here who have availed of the government's emergency employment program and have become valued citizens of the province for the income they bring to their respective families.

“I am glad that our emergency employment has helped not only our nurses in rural services but the province's workforce in general and has been instrumental in bringing down unemployment despite the downturn and recession affecting the world's economies,” she said. (PIA V Release)