Robredo’s remains finally home

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Aug. 21 (PIA) -- President Benigno Aquino personally sent home Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo’s remains to his family today aboard C130.

He was met by Atty. Leni Robredo, their three daughters- Aika, Trisha and Jillian, together with friends, colleagues and political supporters at the Pili Airport at around 12:40 noon today.

After DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas’ teary-eyed announcement on the television this morning that Robredo’s remains was already found by foreign technical divers at around 7:15am today, President Aquino immediately flew in to Masbate where he personally oversee the retrieval of Robredo’s body until it was placed in a metal casket.

From the airport, the convoy carrying the secretary’s body was showered with yellow confetti and flowers. Individuals lined up along the main thoroughfares , some with placards etched with the words “We love you Secretary Jesse”.

The party proceeded at Funeraria Imperial at Penafrancia Avenue, Naga City to transfer Robredo’s remains from the metal casket to a coffin of his family’s choice. The President was still with the family, personally consoling and making sure that Robredo’s remains is decently laid to rest before he left for Manila.

The family has yet to decide where the vigil will be held.

Yesterday, President was also here in Naga to personally brief Atty. Leni of the status of the ongoing search and rescue off Masbate Coast. The private conversation took place at the Pili Airport lounge for almost an hour.

With the President to console the family of Robredo are DSWD Sec Dinky Soliman, DBM Secretary Butch Abad, DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ricky Carandang and other national government officials. (LSMacatangay/PIA-Camarines Sur)


Naga Chamber searches for best Breastfeedinhg Center

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Aug. 21 (PIA) -- The Naga City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCC) launched on August 14 the Search for the Best Breastfeeding Company in Naga City.

The said endeavor is in support of the existing city ordinance authored by City Councilor Cecilia De Asis requiring all government agencies or offices, including private establishments in Naga to have in their workplace a breastfeeding corner or space for lactating mothers. This was enacted in 2011.

The occasion was attended by representatives from various business sectors, government line agencies and members of non-government organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders in line with their own campaign to promote programs for lactating mothers.

NCCC Director Charlie Sy Chong, said that they want to reinforce the government’s campaign to encourage institutions in the city to put up lactating or breastfeeding center in their establishments.

She said that this would allow not just the lactating mothers to breastfeed their infants while at work but would also allow mothers who are transacting at the establishment to carry their young with them while doing business.

NCCI seeks to encourage, protect and support the practice of breastfeeding through the practice of rooming in, in adherence to the national policy.

The National Statistics Office (NSO)-Camarines Sur already heeded this call when it inaugurated its breastfeeding center at their provincial office at Panganiban Drive here in March, to allow clients breastfeed babies while completing their transactions. Two other malls here in the city have also complied with the same ordinance.

Aside from the existing national and local ordinance on breastfeeding, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) together with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), local government units, and other government and private agencies are also in full support of the breastfeeding program.

Also in line with the breastfeeding program is the promotion of the infant and young child policies, including the Department of Health’s monitoring of the implementing rules and regulations of laws that protect breastfeeding and Presidential Proclamation No. 1113 mandating government agencies, local government units, schools and health facilities to observe international standard of ethics prohibiting milk company sponsorship. (LSM-PIA 5, Camarines Sur)


Remains of Robredo brought to Naga

By By MALoterte, EADelgado

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 21 (PIA) -- Remains of Interior and Local Government Sec. Jesse Robredo were placed in a metal casket and will be brought in a CI30 plane to Naga.

Accompanying the body are the President and some Cabinet members.

Transportation and Communication Sec. Mar Roxas stated during the media briefing immediately after the find said that divers found the body of Robredo underwater still inside the plane wreckage around 7:45 a.m. and brought to surface 30 minutes later.

"The body was pulled from some 800 meters off shore Masbate City and at sea depth of roughly 180 feet," he said.

Robredo's body will be directly brought to his hometown Naga City anytime soon.

“The President was informed of the developments who personally called Atty. Leni Robredo to relay the sad news,” Roxas said as he tried to fight off tears.

In Naga City following announcement of Roxas of the developments, Robredo’s family privately shared their grief for the loss while relatives, friends, colleagues, constituents and the media stayed nearby the residence to continue their continuing support.

Roxas meanwhile said retrieval operations for two pilots, Captain Jessup Bahinting and Nepalese flight student Kshitiz Chand, are still in progress.

The retrieval, according to him, of the remaining body is difficult as the fuselage had overturned but operations continue.

Roxas also has already conferred at the operation center the developments with the family members of the two others killed in the crash. (MAL/EAD-PIA5)