Legazpi hosts 2012 Nat'l Conference for Youth Ministers

By Aida A. Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct. 2 (PIA) -- October is the month when the flock of the Diocese of Legazpi and visitors embark in the journey through faith via various church events including the 2012 National Conference for Youth Ministers NCYM), the Year of Faith, and Year of Mission.

Most Reverend Joel Zamudio Baylon, bishop of the Diocese of Legazpi, announced in Saturday’s press conference that the bishopric is host to the gathering of the nation’s youth ministers and diocesan directors.

Once every two years, this conference is held and this year, has adopted the theme, "Youth Ministers Chosen by Christ, living the faith, fruitful in mission."

According to Fr. Kune Garganta, executive director Episcopal Youth Commission of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, around 500 participants are expected to attend with 310 confirmation as of Friday, September 28.

NCYM secretariat said that these delegates started coming in yesterday and registration is until this morning.

Albay Philippine National Police has already deployed their personnel in the airport, seaports, and bus terminals. A team has been assigned at a Daraga, Albay gasoline station to meet those arriving from Mindanao and Visayan areas.

Foster families in coordination with the parishes in Legazpi City and Daraga, Albay are ready to welcome the delegates, said Bishop Baylon. Delegates will be billeted in foster homes like the St. Agnes Academy, Concourse Convention Center, Aquinas Professional School, Albay Astrodome, and immersion sites.

The conference will formally start at 3 p.m. October 1 through an opening mass at the St. Gregory the Great Cathedral followed by a parade to the St. Agnes Academy after which an opening program ensues.

For the next three days, different activities will be guided by the daily sub themes: October 2 sub-theme is Youth Ministers, Chosen by Christ with lecturettes on Intimacy with God; Real Strong Men; Redefining Beauty; Yearn, Learn, Discern; The Good Steward; Through the Father’s Eyes and Perfect ties.

On October 3 with sub-theme Youth Ministers, Living the faith, workshops will be organized on topics affecting the young, like Ka-Lakbay the Catholic Youth Ministry in the Philippines; Reaching Out to Facebook generation ; Babad tayo: Immersion Youth Style; Txt Nya for Lyf: Creative Bible Sharing Methods for the Young; Ka:PAmilya: Developing Family-based Youth ministry; Game na! Animating Youth through Games; Live Pure! Love Fully! Teaching Sexuality and Love to the Youth; Greening the Youth: Mobilizing youth for the environment; Politically Aware, Socially Active Youth: Developing Youth for Good Governance; Kapatid, Kapuso: Youth and Inter-religious dialogues

October 4 is youths getting in touch with the life and realities of the community following the sub-theme Youth Ministers, Fruitful in Mission. These sites that will include school, market place, urban poor area are found in the parishes of St. Raphael and Daraga (Albay) particularly an encounter with street children in San Roque (Legazpi City), the special education class in Pagasa Rawis (Legazpi City) and rural barangays of Bigaa (Legazpi City) and Tagas (Daraga, Albay).

A Fellowship Night hosted by Albay Governor Joey Salceda is set on October 4 at the Albay Astrodome while a night with the Legazpi City Mayor Geraldine Rosal is scheduled on October 3.

The NCYM 2012 culminating activity on Octber 5 will be capped by the presentation of activities for the next two years until the next NCYM on 2014 that will be announced during the closing program. This time it will in Visayas following the assignation of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Last 2010, the conference was held in Mindanao (Malaybalay, Bukidnon).

To many of the delegates, the closing ceremony is not the conclusion of the event as a third of them will attend a two-day conference with the National Youth Coordinating Council in Sorsogon while others are expected to join the Albay Marian Youth Pilgrimage.

The Marian Youth Pilgrimage is now on its 30th year and will be going to Joroan, Tiwi town where Albay’s Patroness Our Lady of Salvacion is enshrined. The event will start 5:30 a.m. at Barangay Baño, Legazpi City. According to Bishop Baylon, youth participation grows each year.

Fr. Garganta pointed out during the presscon that like the NYCM from October 1-5, October 11 is the start of the Year of Faith until November 2013 or the commemoration of 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines brought by the Spanish missionaries. The month of October is also the opening of the year of mission to which the Philippine Mission Society is on its 80th year of providing ministers to the worlds. (MAL/AAN-PIA5)

Regional winners in Bicol of Gawad Kalasag 2012 cited

By Sally A. Atento

The Gawad Kalasag awardees in the Bicol region during the Awarding and Fellowship night. (Photo credit to OCD V)

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct 2 (PIA) -- The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)-5 lauded Tuesday the regional winners of the Gawad Kalasag Award for their contribution in the disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) program and initiatives in the Bicol region.

Sherry Ann Berjuega of OCD 5 announced during the Ugnayan sa Bicol radio program of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) regional office here the 12 winners in the region for the Gawag Kalasag award.

Berjuega cited the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) of Albay as the Hall of Famer for being the Best PDRRMC for the past three years.

Also hailed as winner in the said category this year is the PDRRMC of Camarines Norte, which will be the region’s entry to the national level.

Mayor Geraldine Rosal received the award for Legazpi City as the best in the city category.

For the municipal category, Calabanga, Camarines Sur and Libon, Albay were proclaimed the bests among first to third-class municipalities, while Sto. Domingo was best among the fourth to sixth-class municipalities category.

The best barangay DRRMC was Lamba village in Legazpi City.

The Child Sponsorship for Community Development, Inc, Legazpi was chosen as the Best non-government organization with special citation given to their director, Pio C. Salvador.

The Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital was acclaimed winner in the hospital category, while Daraga National High School and D.Q. Liwag National High School were declared as the Best School for the urban and rural category, respectively.

Berjuega said the incentives for the said winners include plaques of recognition, cash prize of 50,000 for the first prize and 30,000 for the second prize.

She added that the said regional awardees have likewise qualified for the national level.

Also cited in the said awarding ceremony is the Naval Forces Souther Luzon for its unending support to the DRR efforts of the region.

The Gawad Kalasag award is an annual Presidential Award given to individuals, nongovernment organizations, private sectors and government organizations in recognition of their initiatives in helping the government uplift the DRRM standards in the country. (MAL/SAA-PIA5, Albay)

Placencia to represent BJMP 5 in BJMP’s Ten Outstanding Jail Officers of the Philippines (TOJOP)

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct. 2 (PIA) -- Jail Warden, J/CInsp. Metz Milton Placencia was officially chosen to represent the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Regional (BJMP) regional office here to the annual search for the Ten Outstanding Jail Officers of the Philippines (TOJOP).

The awards program aims to recognize jail officers who possess the highest degree of professionalism and competence in the performance of their duty as jail officers and at the same time, as active members of the community.

The Search is open only to all uniformed personnel of the Jail Bureau.

Placencia is a multi-awarded personnel, had been adjudged the Best City Jail Warden five times during his tenure as warden of Masbate City Jail in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2012.

He was also awarded Junior Officer of the Year in 2006 and Provincial Administrator of the Year in 2011.

This year, he was again awarded Best City Jail Warden for his service at Legazpi City Jail during the recently concluded BJMP 21st Anniversary Awards Program held last July 20 at the Alicia Hotel.

The Diocesan Prison Ministry under the leadership of Marilyn Duka endorsed the nomination of Placencia, saying that he has shown remarkable display of professionalism and competence especially in bringing goodwill and linkages to draw support from other organizations to improve the living conditions of jail residents.

Assistant regional director for administration J/Supt. SAmson A Penilla said that the Legazpi City Jail warden is most fitting to represent the region in the Search for TOJOP.

He said that it is not all the time that a personnel would show that kind of caliber in the service as he brings pride to the penology workforce of this region,” Penilla added.

Placencia is a graduate of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Class Magilas of 2000. (MAL/JO1RMCastor-OCRS BJMP 5/PIA5)

State universities, colleges gear up for global challenges in education

By Sally A. Atento

The presidents of state universities and colleges in the Philippines during the Executive Course in Education and Management and Leadership at the Oriental Hotel (Photo credit to Bicol University)

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct. 2 (PIA) -- Around 100 presidents of state universities and colleges (SUCs) all over the country gathered at the Oriental Hotel here from September 27 to 29 for the first session of the Executive Course in Education and Management and Leadership (ECEML) entitled “ Thinking Globally, Acting Locally: The Context of Educational Management and Leadership."

Dr. Fay Lea Patria M. Lauraya, president of Bicol University and chairman of Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) in the region, said that the ECEML aims to strengthen the capacities of the SUC in the country to provide quality education and respond to the global challenges of our times.

“Quality education is a must in building a quality nation. Education in turn is run by SUCs. Thus the need to provide SUC presidents with new insights and ideas as administrators of education to match the changing conditions in our country and the whole world,” Lauraya said in the Ugnayan sa Bicol radio program of the Philippine Information Agency here.

“Leaders must be trained anew to have competitive education not only in the Philippines but in the world,” Lauraya added.

Lauraya stressed the need to improve professional competencies in the country through changes in education.

She cited in particular the preparations needed by the SUCs for the Asean Community 2015 or the goal of one vision, one identity and one community of the 10 countries comprising the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) by the year 2015.

“Under the Asean Community 2015, transglobal competition will impose tougher demands on the competencies of our professionals since the competition is not only with the professionals here but also from other countries,” Lauraya explained.

Although the government has implemented reforms which improved the country’s global competitiveness as it leaped to the 65th spot this year from last year’s 75th rank in the Global competitiveness ranking conducted by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Lauraya further noted the need for the government to implement further improvements in education.

“There is a need for deeper and wider reforms in education,” Lauraya stressed.

The first session of the ECEML is conducted by the Development Academy of the Philippines, in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education and the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges. (MAL/SAA-PIA5, Albay)

Albay medical team validates Chikungunya fever cases in Rapu-rapu

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct. 2 (PIA) -- Medical team from the provincial health office of Albay rushed today in a village on Batan island in the coastal town of Rapu-rapu to validate cases and provide medical aid to 83 villagers said to be afflicted by Chikungunya fever.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda earlier today has directed provincial health officer Dr. Luis Mendoza to check on the reported sudden rise of Chikungunya fever cases over the last three weeks in Barangay San Ramon of Batan Island.

Chikungunya fever is a mosquito-borne disease similar to dengue but milder in form and without bleeding. Symptoms include on-and off-fever, rashes, and muscle and body pains, according to the Department of Health.

The governor related that municipal health officials reported that cases of the mosquito-borne disease in said villa stood at 70 in the middle of September and surged to 83 cases by the end of the month.

Salceda said he also directed the provincial health office to closely coordinate with the municipal health office employees due to the absence of a full time municipal doctor in the area.

Mendoza, meanwhile, said that this is the first reported Chikunguya high number of infections in the province of Albay.

The provincial health office chief explained that the disease is different from dengue, wherein the virus is transmitted from human to human by the bites of infected female mosquito.

Most commonly, the Aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus species are the carriers of this virus which also transmit other mosquito-borne viruses, including dengue.

The proximity of the mosquito-breeding sites to human habitation is a significant risk factor for the infection and spread of Chikungunya.

Mendoza furthered that after the bite of an infected mosquito, onset of illness occurs usually between four and eight days but can range from two to 12 days.

The health team final validation report on the status of patients and the intervention conducted in the affected areas will be done before sun down also today, according to Mendoza. (MAL-PIA5-Albay)


Catanduanes joins observance of 23rd National Statistics Month

By Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Oct. 2 (PIA) -- The National Statistics Office (NSO) provincial office here led the observance of the 23rd National Statistics Month (NSM) this October with the theme: “Monitoring Progress on Decent Work through Statistics: Pathway to Inclusive Growth."

The activity is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 647 “Declaring the Month of October of Every Year as the National Statistics Month."

The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) has issued Memorandum Circular No. 02-99 dated June 15, 1999 enjoining all agencies of government at the national, subnational level, including the local government units and the private sector to actively support and participate in this month-long celebration.

The observance of this event aims, a) to promote, enhance and instill nationwide awareness and appreciation of the importance and value of statistics to the different sectors of society and b) elicit cooperation and support of the general public in upgrading the quality and standards of statistics in the country. This year’s host is the Department of Labor and Development.

In the province, activities include: hanging of streamer, conduct of information dissemination fora in schools, and display of statistical exhibits in schools and government offices. (MAL/EAB-PIA 5/NSO Catanduanes)


Lakbay Buhay Kalusugan on Wheels promotes universal health care in Camarines Sur

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Oct. 2 (PIA) -- The Provincial Health Office (PHO) in Camarines Sur will spearhead a comprehensive health promotion caravan dubbed “Lakbay Buhay Kalusugan” or KP on Wheels , Walang Iwanan sa Byaheng Kalusugan tomorrow at the Provincial Capitol convention hall here in line with the health agenda of President Aquino to promote universal health care for all Filipinos,

The one-day activity will give stakeholders a chance to involve themselves in interactive exhibits, mini classes consisting of lectures, storytelling, and discussions about safe motherhood, child nutrition, and family health.

Thirteen municipalities have already confirmed their attendance, including local government employees, particularly the barangay health workers (BHW), and Municipal Nutrition Action Officers (MNAO) or rural health unit staff.

Young couples, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, couples with children whose age range from 0-5, fathers, and men and women of reproductive age are encouraged to join the activity.

The caravan fulfills the objective of promoting health services on pre-natal care, child health and nutrition, including family health in selected areas where the project will be implemented.

It is also consonant with the aim of bringing to fore the basic and necessary information and education to families residing in far-flung communities whose access to health services are most often than not hindered by distance and financial constraints.

The KP on Wheels also intends to seek the assurance of the chief executives of every local government here in the province to realize and sustain their own health services and mobile health events and apportion their time and resources to the health needs of their respective communities.

Local media were also invited to witness the unfolding of another health event which would focus more on the constituents’ active participation as the main program movers and not as mere audience. The activity aims to highlight each partaker’s participation as the most important key to realize and keep the program going until it becomes a part of the community’s daily routine.

Aside from the education and information dissemination, the organizers have also prepared games and entertainment shows for the participants. Freebies and other giveaways are also at stake during the day-long activity.

PNoy’s agenda on health is anchored on his vision of seeing every Filipino healthy, free from disease and infirmity, and have access to quality health services. (MAL/LSM-PIA5, Camarines Sur)