DENR V conducts orientation on integrated coastal management for LGUs of Sorsogon

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, JULY 25 (PIA) -- A total of 60 participants attended the two-day orientation training here this week at the Tentyard Hotel on the Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) for Local Government Units in the province of Sorsogon.

Spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) RO 5, the training intends to capacitate the participants on how to harmonize the existing ICM plans of the 16 local government units in a more integrated manner through the identification and integration of certain new policies with regards to tourism opportunities, climate change mitigation and adaptation mechanisms and come up with a common ICM vision as stipulated on the new ICM guidlines, the EO 533.

Identification of the existing resources, practices, threats, and opportunities for development in a more long-term sustainable development plan were given a very significant consideration focusing in the areas for development that will form part of the LGU's vision to formulate an integrated coastal management working draft.

"We are here to guide our planners and various stakeholder specially the local governments units of the province of Sorsogon to assess, formulate and come up with a more long-term sustainable ICM plans that will incorporate and see the value of the coastal resources they have here in the province of Sorsogon" Director Robert Jara, Philippine representative to the Partnership for Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEM-SEA) said.

Director Jara explained that the two-day training is one of the several steps initiated by DENR V to eventually gather needed basic information, data and situation of the current coastal resources state,also in relation to the implication of solid waste management and how this can be integrated in the ICM plans properly by the stakeholders in the LGUs with the new provided issuance of EO 533.

"One of the main goals of this training too is to find out how these existing plans now being implemented by our local LGUs in the management of their coastal resources be assessed and evaluated on the premise ot the EO 533', Jara said. (IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

11 infrastructure projects underway to support 4Ps beneficiaries

by Rosalita Base-Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, July 25 (PIA) -– Some 11 infrastructure projects worth P15.5 million are underway in support to the health and education needs primarily of 2,983 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the town of Paracale this province.

In an interview during the media tour, DSWD Paracale Area Coordinator Luz Buenaobra said that the 11 infrastructure projects are the 4 school buildings, 2 water system (level 2), 2 day care centers, 2 health centers and 1 barangay road.

She said that of the P15.5 M , P10.8 M was under the PODER y Prosperidad de la Communidad while the remaining P4.7 M was funded by the local government of Paracale.

She said that the 4 school buildings are being constructed in barangays of Tugos, Lagnig, Malaguit and Poblacion Sur; in barangay Batobalani and Poblacion Norte are the 2 day care centers, barangay Bagumbayan and Bacal for 2 health centers, barangay Malacbang and Gumaos for 2 water system (level 2) and 1barangay road in Casalugan all in Paracale town.

DSWD Regional Information Officer Evelyn Jerusalem said projects will served as supply side of the 4Ps where DSWD adopts a community driven and development processes and principles of the KALAHI-CIDSS and now PODER y Prosperidad de la Communidad funded by Agencia Española de Cooperacion International para el Desarollo (AECID) in partnership with the government. (RBM/PIA Camarines Norte)

Justice on Wheels in Naga City

by Lizel S. Macatangay

NAGA City, July 25 (PIA) -- As part of the Department of Justice’s effort to render a speedy and swift justice to all, especially to the members of the marginalized sector, the enhanced Justice on Wheels program veered its direction to Naga City to finally put a closure to various unsolved cases.

During the one-day deliberation inside the bus that resembles a court room, sixty accused were finally handed down their respective sentences based on the merit of their individual cases. No less than the Deputy Court Administrator and member of the Committee on Justice on Wheels of the Supreme Court, Hon. Nimfa Cuesta Vilches spearheaded the said activity.

Executive Judge Jaime Contreras of RTC Branch 25, together with other prosecutors and members of the regional trial court, also served as local counterparts during the court hearings and mobile court-annexed mediation which was held at the City Hall Compound at J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City.

The Justice on Wheels and the Increasing Access to Justice by the Poor Program is meant to prove that class and social status should not be a hindrance in handling down swift justice to all.

Poverty either should not be a deterrent to achieve a fair dealing during a court trial.

A medical-dental and legal aid activity was also conducted at the Naga City District Jail at Del Rosario, Naga City. Part of the activity is also an information dissemination campaign for the barangay officials, judges, prosecutors, lawyers and other segments of the society to raise their awareness on their rights and how to exercise it.

In between the lectures, various concerns were also raised, like the different laws concerning women and children, mediation, conciliation, small claims settlement and rules governing the environment.

The government is confident that with the presence of the courts driven to serve the populace better, through the mobile courts dubbed as justice on wheels, the much elusive cry for truth and the poor people’s plight to be heard, will finally find its way in our justice system.

It aims to prove that a conspiracy to suppress justice has no place in our legal system. (LSM, PIA Camarines Sur)

Provincial Health Office recognizes top 5 LGU Measles- Rubella implementors

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, July 25 (PIA) -- In an evaluation-conference meeting held here today at Jane's Restaurant, the Sorsogon Provincial Health Partnership Team (SPHPT) gave the evaluation on the implementation of the province of Sorsogon in the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Implementation Activity (MR-SIA).

According to Charito Diaz, MR-SIA coordinator of the Provincial Health Office here, said that the purpose of the meeting was also to update all health implementors of the milestones gained in the implementation of the program and also to share and exchange experiences regarding the issues and concerns ventilated during the implementation of the activity.

She also said that this meeting is also a call for celebration and commendation to all health workers specially the 5 top local government unit - implementors who will be given recognition.

According to Diaz, this years 5 top local government implementor of the MR-SIA program with 100% accomplishment were the municipalities of Matnog and Sta Magdalena followed by the municipality of Juban with 99% implementation and the local government of Donsol and Pilar with 98% implementation coverage.

The office of Sorsogon 1st district representative, Congressman Salvador Escudero III have provided gift inventives to the 5 top LGU implementor together with the Sorsoganon Kita group, a non governmental organization who will handle this year's Kasanggayhan Festival activities.

The top performers were also made to share their experiences in the implementation of the program. Their sharing showed that several of the best practices implemented in the success of the program were more on the full support of the local government executives especially regarding logistics, manpower and mobility.

Dr. Edwin Garcia, provincial health officer of the Sorsogon Provincial Health Office (PHO) also commended the commitment of all the Vaccination Teams (VTs) who conducted regular daily assessment of what transpired during the day after their activity.

Meanwhile Dr. Liduvina Dorion, assistant provincial health officer explained that the target of the provincial health MR-SIA showed some disparity in the implementation because of the difference between the target population provided by DOH as against the actual population in the barangays or in the local government unit as to the projected clientile vis-a-vis the actual clientile.

"This has to be corrected and given right accurate data", Dorion said.

Diaz also shared that the Bicol Region ranked third in the national level implementation while in the regional level Sorsogon has satisfactorily carried out the program. (IAG, PIA Sorsogon)