FORUM@PIA features Human Organ Donation

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Feb. 15 (PIA) -- In support of the information dissemination regarding the prevention and treatment of renal diseases and promotion of human life, the Philippine Information Agency-Camarines Sur invited Naga City Councilor David Casper Nathan Sergio to guest in its monthly program dubbed FORUM@PIA, Friday at the Naga Science Centrum Conference Hall, here.

Sergio, the main proponent of “Organ for Life Ordinance of Naga City” has also invited officials of the Philippine Network for Organ Sharing (Philnos) to give supplemental information on the importance of organ donation. The team will be spearheaded by Dr. Antonio Paraiso, Philnos program manager.

Joining Paraiso are Philnos transplant coordinators Claudio Balles Jr, Maricel Nabuab, and Abigail Raposas with Chief Transplant Coordinator Helen Rose Baclig and Jennifer Rabino, Philnos administrative officer.

Sergio, in his proposed ordinance aims to oblige certain government offices to educate or inform their clients that they can be donors of organs or tissues. He also emphasized in his ordinance to make it mandatory to these offices that a briefing or orientation on human organ donation will be given to all marriage license applicants from City Hall and applicants for driver’s license in the District Office of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

The forum has also invited members of the tri-media to cover the said event and be the programs partner for information dissemination. After the forum, Paraiso and his team was also invited by Sergio to discuss the salient concerns of the human organ donation before the members of the Committee on Health.

Philnos is the main coordinating program for all the activities under the deceased-donor program of the Department of Health (DOH). It is in charge of promoting organ donation from deceased donors and will implement a system of timely referral and processing of potential multiple organ donors.

The said activity is also in consonance with the government;s campaign on the promotion of Organ Donation Act of 1991 (RA 7170), as amended, and the latest Department of Health (DOH) Guidelines or Protocol on Human Organ Donation, Administrative Order No.2010-0018.

FORUM@PIA will also serve as a venue to tackle significant issues concerning the human donation program.

FORUM@PIA is a regular monthly program of PIA-Camarines Sur and serves as the government’s information arm in the promotion and dissemination of its programs. (LSM-PIA 5, Camarines Sur)



Diocese of Legazpi leads fun walk for honest, orderly, peaceful elections

By Sally A. Atento

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 15 (PIA) -- The Diocesan Commission on Family and Life (DCFL) of the Diocese of Legazpi will lead a fun walk tomorrow, February 16, as part of its advocacy and support for an honest, orderly and peaceful election (HOPE) in the upcoming election this May.

The advocacy walk dubbed as “Walk for Life, Walk for Love” will be commenced by a celebration of the Holy Mass at 5 a.m. at the Albay Cathedral and the march from the church to the Daraga covered court.

The advocacy is supported by the PBN Broadcasting Network , the Commission on Elections, the Department of Interior and Local Government , the Department of Education, and the Philippine National Police.

Interested participants can register for P200 which includes a free souvenir t-shirt. Group participants with a minimum of 30 members can also have the name of their group, office or organization printed at the back of the shirt for an added P15.

Proceeds for this event will be used for the implementation of pastoral programs, projects, and activities of the DCFL and part of the proceeds will also be given to victims of typhoon Pablo in Compostela Valley.

“The project is a very timely gesture of support to our less fortunate brothers and sisters who were left homeless and lost the lives of their beloved family members due to the devastation of typhoon Pablo,” said DFCL Chair Brenda Locsin.

For further inquiries, call PBN DZGB at 480-5509, 09486380728, 09175580768, or 09228201549. (SAA–PIA V)#




CamNorte mangrove site declared as sanctuary

By Rosalita B. Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, Feb. 15 (PIA) -- A 30-hectare mangrove rehabilitation and maintenance project of the Camarines Norte Water District (CNWD) in Barangay Manguisoc in Mercedes town was declared mangrove sanctuary by the Sanguniang Panlalawigan (SP) here recently.

Camarines Norte SP Resolution No. 357-2012 has adopted and confirmed the Municipal Ordinance No. 187-2012 of Sangguniang Bayan of Mercedes declaring Sitios Sagkadun and Libis of Barangay Manguisoc, Mercedes as a mangrove sanctuary and providing funds thereof for its effective implementation and reservation and providing penalties for the illegal cutting of mangroves.

General Manager Antonia BF Boma said that the CNWD has started the 30-hectares mangrove rehabilitation program in 2007 after it was awarded in July 2006 by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The project is one of the CNWD’s continuing environmental activities wherein they have organized the Kapit Bisig Para sa Kalikasan (Kabakas) to conduct patrol works in the plantation site.

The Kabakas is the recipient of a livelihood program called “Lapu-lapu fattening/raising” to provide the members an additional income while doing work at the plantation area.

The CNWD also tapped Manguisoc Elementary School, Manguisoc National High School, and other non-government agencies in the service area in its project implementation.

A total of 66,675 propagules have been planted in 15 hectares while the remaining hectares are still to be planted.

With the declaration of CNWD’s mangrove plantation area as Mangrove Sanctuary, illegal cutting and uprooting of the mangrove prapagules; illegal use of sakag, biakus, and pangka to catch fish which destroy the mangroves; the use of the mangrove sanctuary as a picnic ground; cyanide fishing in the vicinity and any other harmful human activity are now prohibited by the municipal ordinance.

A corresponding penalty will be imposed to violators of the said ordinance, she added.(RBM-PIA5, Camarines Norte).