Local dad, sectoral leaders in Camarines Norte impressed with PNoy’s SONA

By Rosalita B. Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, July 25 (PIA) -- Daet Mayor Tito Sarion and other sectoral leaders here were impressed with the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of the President delivered Monday.

“Generally I am convinced with the services given to the people and impressed in his pursuit and accomplishment in agricultural development particularly tha the country is able to attain rice sufficiency, wherein we have high hopes that we will become exporter of rice in 2014,” he said.

The Mayor also said that he believed government must invest much in education because the youth is the future of our nation.

Fr. Edwin Visda, executive director of the Socio Pastoral Action Center Foundation Inc., said it was a good speech.

It was also commendable for the President to recognize the accomplishments of his Cabinet specially the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), where changes in the system has been done for the better.

It was also good to know that the backlogs in paving and rehabilitating the national and secondary roads are ongoing until all have been cemented and reconstructed.

He also cited changes in education where classrooms were constructed as well as the increased of beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Filipino Program (4Ps) and other social developments are very significant.

A barangay official, Wilfredo Golez, said that he rated the President an “8” because of his accomplishments in graft and corruption, 4Ps, increased in number of PhilHealth beneficiaries, and because he delivered his SONA in Filipino which all Pilipinos understood.

“The accomplishments are good, I will rate him '8,'" said Helen Abordo, assistant chief of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg)of the SONA. (RBM-PIA 5, Camarines Norte)


New OIC for MGB 5

LEGAZPI CITY, July 25 (PIA) -- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) regional office here has a new officer-in-charge.

Engineer Theodore Rommel E. Pestaño assumed his new post last July 19 in a simple turnover ceremony at the MGB regional office, replacing OIC Guillermo A. Molina IV, who retained his post as OIC of the Mining Environment and Safety Division.

Prior to his new post, Pestaño was the OIC of the Mining Technology Division of the MGB Central Office in Quezon City and also served as an Associate Professor at the Mapua Institute of Technology’s School of Earth and Material Science and Engineering.

He is a licensed mining engineer and has a Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Master of Science Degree (Environmental Science) from Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia.

Pestaño vowed to continue, if not exceed, the good works of his predecessor in striking a balance between mining and environment in the region. MAL/MGB5/PIA


NCF and DOH leads emergency obstetric training

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, July 25 (PIA) -- Doctors, nurses and midwives from several rural health units and district hospitals in Camarines Sur are undergoing intensive training on Basic Emergency Obstetric Neonatal Care since July 17 until July 27.

The training was spearheaded by the Naga College Foundation, in partnership with the Department of Health and Bicol Medical Center.
Another batch is set to train from August 17 to 27.

Maria Concepcion T. Aslor, chief of the Maternal Child and Health Care, said the training is imperative for health care workers to avoid complications during childbirth and ensure the mother and child’s safety.

“Globally, it is estimated that each year, half a million women die from complications of pregnancy and delivery. Four million babies 0-28 days old die every year due to prematurity, infection and asphyxia,” Aslor said.

She added that in the Philippines, it is estimated that 4000 mothers and almost 3400 neonates die annually.

“This means we have to work hard so as lower the number of statistics,” Aslor said.

The improvement of maternal health care services is embodied in the country’s Millennium Development Goal commitment, which specifically aims to reduce maternal mortality ratio by three quarters and achieve universal access to reproductive health by 2015.

The training includes discussion of the principles of good care, which consists of basic facts on counseling and its application, mobilizing community support, process flow of antenatal care and skills necessary for it, labor and delivery, among others.

Issues concerning care for new born were also discussed. These include immediate care of the newborn, newborn resuscitation, demo-return demo on newborn care, newborn examination and newborn care until discharge.

A practicum orientation will also be conducted towards the end of the training and will be highlighted with the graduation on the last day.

The activity also endeavors to promote the advocacy of raising the awareness of the mothers and strengthen the health system in an efficient and cost-effective way. (MAL/LSM-PIA5, Camarines Sur)


DENR holds consultation for 2013 P23.6-B proposed budget

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, July 24 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) held a consultation for its 2013 P23.6-billion proposed budget with the Budget Initiative Environment Cluster (ABIEC) of the Social Watch Philippines (SWP).

ABIEC is a network of civil society organizations (CSO) advocating social development through budget reforms.

DENR-5 Chief Engr. Gilbert C. Gonzales said the consultation is part of the Budget Partnership Agreement (BPA) between DENR and ABIEC to gather suggestions and recommendations and come up with a consensus in further improving budget allocations for environment and natural resources sectors.

The output of the consultation will also serve as reference for the continuing effort of the DENR is making its budget more responsive especially to the changing environment concerns.

Among the organizations comprising ABIEC are Ecowaste Coalition, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, Haribon Foundation, Aksyon Klima, Partnership for Clean Air, Sibol ng Agham at Teknolohiya and Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities.

Highlighting the consultation are the presentation of proposed 2013 budget by the national executive committee headed by DENR Secretary Ramon Paje and the dialogue proper with representatives from various civil society organizations.

The P23.6-billion proposed budget of the DENR for 2013 is part of the expanded participatory budgeting process under the National Budget Circular (NBC) No. 536 released by the Department of Budget and Management early this year.

The amount is equivalent to approximately 1.5 percent of the total proposed national government budget for 2013 to be submitted for approval to the congress on July 24. (Sally Atento/MAL/PIA5 Albay)


Bangko Sentral sets Pawnshop Briefing and AMLA Seminar in Legazpi City

LEGAZPI CITY, July 25 (PIA) -- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will be conducting the Pawnshop Briefing and Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) seminar at the Multi-Purpose Hall of BSP in this city on July 26 and 27.

Sharon Moyano, BSP-Legazpi research specialist, said the event is open to pawnshop operators, foreign exchange dealer, money changers, remittance agents and other financial institutions.

"Anyone planning to set up their own pawnshop and other finance-related ventures are also invited since they can also benefit from the information to be discussed including guidelines for starters," Moyano added.

The seminar, scheduled this year in various BSP branches in the country, aims to update the participants on the amended Pawnshop regulations and anti-money laundering act.

Interested participants can go to BSP Legazpi Branch to enroll and pay the training fee pursuant to Monetary Board Resolution NO. 533 dated 7 April 2011.

Payment for the Pawnshop Briefing and AMLA Seminar is P500 and P300 for AMLA Seminar only.

For further details, contact Ms. Asela Ayala of BSP Legazpi Branch at 052-4805519 local 103. (MAL/SAA-PIA5, Albay)