Belgium, UNDP-assisted core shelter community project completed in Albay

LEGAZPI CITY, August 29 (PIA) -- Two separate sites for the core shelter community project, funded by Belgian government, Department of Social Welfare and Development and the United Nations Development Programme have been completed in the province of Albay.

The provision of low cost housing and installation of electric and water facilities has benefited 70 households located in Barangay Joroan, Tiwi and 80 households in Barangay Caratagan, Pioduran, all of Albay.

Tiwi Mayor Jaime Villanueva said these beneficiaries were moved from their respective dwellings due to the hazards that they face in their previous houses.

“Since then, we had been thinking ways to make their stay in this resettlement area easy or much better than their previous status. It will make their household chores easy and simple,” the mayor said.

Villanueva said that it is the policy of Albay governor Joey Salceda to resettle those families who are at risk, adding that "human capital is very important to us – to invest for the safety of our people.”

During the visit of Belgian ambassador Christian Meerschmar and UNDP country director Renaud Meyer to Tiwi last August 25, Villanueva said that the water and electric facilities is a symbol of the flowing of assistance from various development stakeholders of the municipality.

“May these blessings continue to inspire the recipients to be productive citizens of our locality,” she said.

“This is the only way that we wanted them to pay us back from these assistance that we had been extending to them,” Villanueva added.

He also reported that a new site for core shelter project for 60 family beneficiaries at Mayong is being developed by the National Housing Authority and the local government unit.

The purchase of the site is the responsibility of the local government unit while the NHA will take care of the development.

On the other hand, Pioduran Mayor Dante Arandia has assured the UNDP and the Belgian government that, together with the beneficiaries, they will cherish all assistance extended to the displaced families.

“Rest assured that we will make it a better community,” he said.

In Pioduran town, 80 households have benefited from the Core Shelter Assistance Project by the Belgian government, the DSWD and the UNDP under the Bicol Recovery Program.(MAL/MDR/LGU Albay)

Sorsogon dengue cases remain low, thanks to authorities' campaign,residents' awareness and support
by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, August 29 (PIA) -- The number of dengue cases in Sorsogon remain low as health authorities credited intesified campaign and residents' high awareness and full support yo prevent and control the dreaded disease from spreading among communities.

Cleanliness of surroundings and following the 4 S against dengue has helped a lot." Dr Maricel Fajardo explained in an interview conducted by the Philippine Information Agency office here Friday.

Fajardo explained that the "advocacy of fear" has become a very significant strategy of the Department of Health (DOH) V and Provincial Health Office (PHO), barangay officials and health workers

"People have been very afraid of what dengue can cause to a one's health that can even claim one's life. With the very high incidence of dengue last year, we have really intensified our efforts to inform the public on how to combat collaboratively this incidence" she said.

She also thanked the support provided by the media community in heightening the awareness of the public against dengue through the constant messages or reminders provided to them.

She said the information dissemination campaign provided to the public through radio and print has created in them the right attitude to do what is needed specially in locating and destroying breeding places of mosquitoes

For the past seven months, PHO has recorded only 12 dengue cases as against the recorded 101 cases last 2010 which also reported one death.

"It is very significant that the awareness of the public in the campaign against dengue has been very high.In fact, our medical team and barangay health workers have started the awareness campaign, monitoring and surveillance since the start of the rainy season since dengue is a water borne based illness caused by a mosquito identified as "aedis egypti".

"The dramatic drop in dengue cases is very commendable and hopefully no more cases be added to the current record " she said.

"There is no let up still in our campaign against dengue since we are still on the rainy months. What we would really hope to achieve is that the public should have a change in behaviour which is self protection and cleanliness, these are what we hope the public should really do: Fajardo stressed.

"Proper coordination with the Philippine Red Cross has also been done so that the public can also be assured of blood supply in case patients need blood transfusion", she said.

"We have also intensified our coordination with the Department of Education, the barangay officials and almost all stakeholders in the communities so that all efforts to combat dengue be well implemented", she said.

"With the collaborative effort of all agencies and all stakeholders, hopefully we can really minimize the incidence of dengue cases here in the province", Fajardo expressed. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

100 tribal children benefit from mining firm's educational assistance program

RAPU-RAPU, Albay, August 29 (PIA) -- A red backpack that contains a complete set of school supplies with a matching pencil case according to grade level—all that 53 elementary and high school students from the Taboy tribe of Lagsingan, received on Thursday, August 25, from the mining firm based here.

As beneficiaries of the CDAP-REACH (Rapu-Rapu Educational Assistance for Children’s Hopes), a major program line of the Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP), they will also be fitted for a pair of slippers and a set of school uniform with matching pair of shoes, which will be distributed early next month.

CDAP-REACH of the Rapu-Rapu Minerals and Rapu-Rapu Processing, Inc., the two companies that manage and operate the copper-zinc mining project, the Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project (RRPP), on the island of Rapu-Rapu in the town of Rapu-Rapu, Albay.

Part of RRPP’s social responsibility is to assist the youth of Rapu-Rapu for a better future through education.

RRMI President, Rogelio E. Corpus, led the distribution of the school bags and supplies, together with CDAP-REACH Coordinator, Rosalie Mendioro. Tribal Chieftain Ruben Sorro and the principal of Rapu-Rapu Central Elementary School (RRCES), Mrs. Erlinda Arao or “Ate Inday”.

The Taboy tribe of Lagsingan in Poblacion, Rapu-Rapu is an indigenous people who settled on the island of Rapu-Rapu many years go. Many of them have intermarried with the locals although most retain features that show their ancestry such as dark-brown complexion, curly hair, small-frame physique, fine facial features, and shorter than the average Filipino in height.

This local tribe lives at the outskirts of Barangay Poblacion, beyond the cemetery, by the shorelines and mangroves. Their main livelihood is fishing and scavenging recyclable trash. Considered the poorest of the poor, they exist at the fringes of society and seldom avail of government programs and assistance. Most children do not attend school regularly and very few attain higher education. They are registered with the National Commission of Indigenous People (NCIP) and are usually represented by their own tribal council headed by the tribal chieftain.

Earlier this month, CDAP-REACH provided the same benefits to all 47 Taboy school children from Nagcalsot, Batan Island, Rapu-Rapu, Albay. Distribution of footwear, school uniform, and school supplies was facilitated through their tribal chieftain Salome Barrameda. (MAL/RRMI/RRPI/PRCA)