PIA Dispatch - Friday, August 7, 2009

PGMA leads groundbreaking for Meycauayan Water District Project

MEYCAUAYAN CITY, Aug. 7 -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the groundbreaking and time capsule-laying ceremonies formally starting construction operations for the Meycauayan Water District Water Supply System Improvement Program (MWDWSSIP) at St. Francis Village, Barangay Malhacan here this morning.

Joining the President for the occasion that will provide fresh potable water to residents were Bulacan governor Joselito Mendoza, Meycauayan mayor Jo Ann Alarilla, Local Water Utilities Administration chairman Prospero Pichay and MWD general manager Mariano Sangalang, Jr. The MWDWSSIP consists of the construction of three deepwell water sources in the barangays of Iba, Pandayan (St. Francis Village) and Lawa and the subsequent replacement and rehabilitation of old and dilapidated pipelines throughout the city.

To be built at a cost of P57-million, the MWDWSSIP will reduce the incidence of water loss and improve water distribution through the development of additional water sources to supply abundant, fresh and potable water to every household in the city.

Sangalang, Jr. told the President that he hopes to complete the deepwell construction component of the project by the end of the year. By this time, Sangalang, Jr. said, almost all households will have running taps in their homes.

The President welcomed this development telling the residents who braved the inclement weather just to see the Chief Executive. Hopefully by New Year, when you open your faucets, there will be water flowing from them.


PGMA signs CARPer bill into law in Bulacan

MANILA, Aug. 7 -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday signed the consolidated version of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) extension with reform bill into law which extends the program for another five years.

Witnessing the signing of the CARPer law were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senator Gregorio Honasan who is the principal author of the Senate version, House Speaker Prospero Nograles, Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Bulacan Governor Joselito Mendoza and other national and local officials.

The signing of the CARPer law was held at the Don Cesario San Diego Gym in Plaridel, Bulacan at 10 a.m. today.

President Arroyo chose to sign the CARPer bill into law at Plaridel because her father, former President Diosdado Macapagal, signed the first land reform law 46 years ago, also in Bulacan.

Under the CARPer law, there will be a five-year extension for the implementation of the program, with a P100-billion allocation for land acquisition and distribution, support services, agrarian justice delivery and other funding requirements during the extension period. The new law covers all public and private agricultural lands as provided in Proclamation 131 and Executive Order No. 229, including other lands of the public domain suitable for agriculture.

The measure stipulates that prioritization of coverage "is not necessary" and that after June 30, 2009, the modes of acquisition will be limited to voluntary offer to sell and compulsory acquisition. The CARPer law further provides for the creation of a joint congressional oversight committee to be composed of three members each from the Senate and the House.


CLEEP funding commitment hits PhP7B

MANILA, Aug. 7 - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's administration already committed for its Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) over half of the PhP13.58 billion it pledged for this undertaking.

According to the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), the agency overseeing government's pro-poor initiatives, the CLEEP funding commitment as of early July 2009 had reached PhP7 billion. This funding support will help generate more jobs and livelihood for more marginalized folk nationwide particularly amidst the ongoing global financial crunch, NAPC noted.

Forest patrolling, rehabilitating areas prone to or damaged by flood and replanting denuded areas are among CLEEP jobs people have availed of.

Through CLEEP, marginalized people were also able to engage in livelihood activities like raising and dispersing swine and other farm animals, producing fishnets, culturing fish and seaweeds, growing vegetables and operating "sari-sari" stores.

"CLEEP generated new jobs for some 237,611 workers throughout the archipelago," NAPC reported, describing the program's accomplishment as of early July this year.

This program is the Cabinet's response to Memorandum Circular 168 which President Arroyo issued on Oct. 23, 2008.

MC 168 directs Cabinet members to generate emergency work and livelihood opportunities for the marginalized.

Emergency work requires little or no skill or education, engages the worker for less than 40 hours weekly or less than 45 days and allows this person to obtain additional jobs.

Livelihood activities aim to provide long-term income for those who engage in these.

For Rizal province, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) reported releasing last December PhP1.85 million for work and livelihood opportunities there.

A total of 740 residents in Rizal's Baras and Jalajala municipalities as well as Antipolo City benefited from this move, DILG reported. The amount is part of PhP5 million DILG released to Rizal and Quezon provinces that month for such purpose.

This developed as Malacanang designated DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno CLEEP steward for both provinces.

DILG's release for Quezon then totaled PhP3.15 million, benefiting 1,260 people there.

The agency said it sourced from its 2008 savings funds for such releases.


PGMA mobilizes NDCC, PNRC to assist flood victims in Zambales

MANILA, Aug. 7 -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo mobilized today the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) to assist the flood victims in Zambales in coordination with the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).

Reports reaching Malacañang said floods submerged eight villages in Botolan, Zambalez on Thursday after continuous rains caused the nearby Bucao River to overflow.

In an earlier report to PNRC chairman Senator Richard Gordon, the PNRC Zambales chapter said the eastern part of the dike situated in Barangay San Juan, Botolan was eroded, causing floods in Barangays Carael, San Juan, Paudpod, Batonlapoc, Paco, San Miguel, Capayawan and Tampo.

The PNRC Zambales chapter Disaster Response Team (DRT) and volunteers of PNRC Olongapo chapter joined forces in helping in the evacuation of 260 families affected.

The flood victims were temporarily housed in four officially-designat ed evacuation centers, namely Botolan North Elementary School, Botolan South Elementary School, Botulan Gymnasium and Porac Elementary School.


Kiko to dump more rains during weekend

MANILA, Aug. 7 -- Residents of Metro Manila were urged to brace for more monsoon rains as typhoon Kiko intensifies and moves towards Taiwan, the state weather bureau said. "We are seeing more rains towards the weekend. Kiko is on its way to Taiwan but it will further enhance southwest monsoon especially in Metro Manila, Western Luzon, Visayas, Mindoro, and parts of Southern Luzon and Western Bicol," Nathaniel Cruz, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration Pagasa) deputy director said.

As of 10 a.m., the eye of typhoon Kiko was sighted 350 kilometers north northeast of Basco, Batanes. Signal number 1 is still hoisted over Batanes, Northern Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte where rains and gusty winds can be experienced until Sunday morning. Intermittent monsoon rains can be expected over Northern and Central Luzon while residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes were advised to take all the necessary precautionary measures against possible flashfloods and landslides, the Pagasa said. Cruz said that another weather disturbance, located 1,590 kms east of northern Luzon is being monitored for its development as tropical cyclone.

"But it is still far to directly affect any part of the country. It, nonetheless, will enhance southwest monsoon which will dump rains in Luzon and Visayas," he said.

Cruz said that if Kiko maintains its path and head towards Taiwan, rains will subside by Sunday.

Meanwhile, heavy downpour triggered landslide in Baguio that left three dead and three injured.

Power has yet to be restored in Baguio due to inclement weather, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said.

In Zambales, a dike was ruined when rainwater which accumulated in Mount Pinatubo gushed through it, in turn flooding residential areas in Botolan town, Zambales.

Reportedly, some residents in the area have sought refuge in the rooftop of their houses.

The Pagasa cautioned shipping industry and residents near the coasts against rough seas and storm surge over western and eastern seaboards of Luzon, the seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao.

Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves, it said.


NCSP holds 2009 Sight Saving Month Press Conference and Symposia on emerging Causes of Remediable Blindness
By: Bradley De Leon

In line with the celebration of Sight Saving Month and in support to the Department of Health’s program on eye health and prevention of visual impairment, The National Committee for Sight Preservation (NCSP) will hold the 2009 Sight Saving Month Press Conference and Symposia on Emerging Causes of Remediable Blindness at the Sentro Oftalmologico Jose Rizal RBE Auditorium, Fifth Floor of the Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila on August 17, 2009.

Aside from the said event, the NCSP will also conduct public service activities such as glaucoma screening, refractive error and vision screening.

Meanwhile, the NCSP, along with Hellen Keller, Internationa l (HKI), has ongoing activities such as cataract operation, eye screening and cataract missions in different hospitals, schools and municipalities nationwide. They will go as far as Bacolod and Surigao City to conduct the said activities.

For more information, those who want to participate can call 781-86-18 or email to ncsp_sec@yahoo. com.


DOH leads National Hospital Week Celebration

The Department of Health (DOH) today leads the nation in the celebration of National Hospital Week on August 6-12 with the theme, “Ospital: to DOH ‘K’ sa Kalusugan”.

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III disclosed that this year’s theme aims to further
promote the DOH hospitals as centers of wellness, excellence, safe and quality patient services.

In line with the said celebration, several hospitals will be providing free services as follows: the Amang Rodriguez Medical Center will provide free cataract and glaucoma screening, pap smear, bilateral tubal ligation, digital rectal exam (for men), ‘libreng kapa’ for suspect myoma (for women), ECG, FBS, cholesterol testing, and provide free reading glasses. It will also give lectures on Sangkap Pinoy-fortified food, breast cancer awareness, and smoking cessation.

The Rizal Medical Center will provide free services like non-cataract surgery screening, prostatic specific antigen, gallbladder ultrasound, pap smear, and breast examination. It will also give lecture on topics like breastfeeding, dental health, cervical cancer, nutriceuticals on eye care.

The Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center will provide free services like FBS and cholesterol exams, and give lectures on dental health, safe pregnancy, breastfeeding, asthma, tuberculosis, and brain attack.

The San Lorenzo Ruiz Women’s Hospital, on the other hand, will provide free services like bone density scan, RBS, ECG, tooth extraction, eye refraction, tetanus toxoid, and newborn screening.

Lectures on asthma, H1N1, danger signs of pregnancy, nutrition, and deworming will also be conducted.

Likewise, East Avenue Medical Center will also provide free laboratory services like blood chemistry, fasting blood sugar, hepatitis screening, etc.

Meanwhile, the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital will conduct lectures on different family planning methods, lactation management, kangaroo mother care, and human milk bank. “These activities will highlight our hospital’s best practices and services“, Duque said.


The DOH National Hospital Week celebration this year is spearheaded by Assistant Secretary Elmer Punzalan and assisted by Rizal Medical Center Chief Dr. Relito Saquilayan as the over-all chairman of the organizing committee.


DBP, PhilHealth sign accord for OFW contributions

State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines( DBP) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) signed a memorandum of agreement recently authorizing the Bank to collect PhilHealth premium contributions of OFWs under its National Health Insurance Program (NHIP).

The tie-up aims to provide OFW Philhealth members, prospective members and their dependents with a convenient way of availing of the services of Philhealth through DBP’s
accredited remittance partners/subsidiary offices abroad.