FG's condition improves
“This is the second day of confinement of the First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo.
Clinically there is a marked improvement in the level of his back pain, so the pain reliever will just be given on an as-needed basis.
His blood pressure, which was elevated yesterday, has now been lowered and is stable. Hypertensive medicines are gradually being decreased.
We are now gradually putting him on progressive diet, and he has started to do bedside rehab.
While his overall condition is remarkably improved, we still have to closely monitor him as he could still encounter some possible complications of this re-dissection of the thoracic aorta.
The marked improvement of the First Gentleman’s condition is supported by his laboratory and imaging results.
Juliet Gopez-Cervantes, MD Attending Physician
Gary Lopez, MD Cardiologist
Rommel Carino Cardiovascular-Surgeon.”
‘One
"Majority of the mayors (here) are with Gibo and Gov. Gwen(dolyn) Garcia," assured Samboan Mayor Raymond Calderon on Friday.
Gibo was due to arrive late Friday afternoon here for an evening rally in Argao.
Calderon said he and majority of the mayors in the province will attend the rally to show their "unwavering" support for the former Defense Secretary.
"I think Gibo will make the best president among all the presidentiables. He is best prepared to be the next president," said Calderon.
Other local government leaders in Cebu province --among them Mayors Arlene Zambo of Toledo City and Sun Shimora of Daanbantayan -- also affirmed their unwavering support for Gibo, who is banking on the formidable machinery of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD and his apparent lock on the youth vote support to win in the May 10 polls.
Saranggani Gov. Miguel Dominguez, who is also the Lakas-Kampi-CMD president, said that he had already talked to Governor Garcia.
He said Gov. Garcia had assured him that "One Cebu is intact for Gibo."
Garcia and at least 50 more provincial governors in the vote-rich provinces of the country have given their full backing to the Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential bet.
Former Justice Secretary Silvestre "Bebot" Bello III, a senatorial candidate of the administration party, earlier said that "anybody loyal to the party can call it a good ridance, but we respect their decision to leave.
He, however, said "we will make sure that the move was something regrettable."
Pacquiao expresses readiness for another try in political arena
”I’m prepared since 2008. I’m ready and I’m not worried,” the boxing superstar declared in a press conference held upon his arrival at the
Pacquiao will be facing Roy Chiongbian for the congressional seat in the lone district of Sarangani. Chiongbian is the son of former Congressman James Chiongbian and brother of incumbent Rep. Erwin Chiongbian.
”I just have to work hard and let our people in Sarangani know that I have a good intention which is to help them,” Pacquiao said.
When asked what he can offer to his provincemates if he gets elected, Pacquiao said he will focus in providing livelihood and more medical services, especially to those who cannot afford to visit hospitals.
”Not only that our people can’t have medical services but our hospitals have no necessary equipment. I want to address this problem,” Pacquiao said.
If he has Freddie Roach as his boxing coach, Pacquiao has also good partners in his bid for congressional seat in the lone district of Sarangani composed of seven towns.
Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Manuel Villar and his runningmate Loren Legarda vowed to support the candidacy of Pacquiao whose first bid in Congress was delayed by Congresswoman Darlene Custodio in the 2007 elections.
”Me and Loren are here to personally support Manny Pacquiao not only as our partymate but a friend. This is just the start of our efforts to help Manny,” Villar said.
”The fight of Manny is not only in politics but against poverty and we are here to give the support that Manny deserves,” Legarda said.
Villar revealed that he is contemplating to do political ads with Pacquiao, a proposal that is expected to boost the candidacies of both Villar and Pacquiao.
For his part, Pacquiao said his endorsement for Villar has no money involved, stressing, “I voluntarily endorsed him because he has experience and leadership to lead the country.”
Accompanied by Villar and Legarda, Pacquiao and his wife Jinky received a hero’s welcome organized by the local leaders of Sarangani and
Wearing a red People’s Champ jacket, Pacquiao's mother, Aling Dionisia welcomed her son and promised to support the latter's political career even as she reiterated her appeal to Pacquiao to stop boxing.
”For me, it is better for him to concentrate in politics. I will support my son because he is now more ready to run,” Aling Dionisia said.
From the airport, the Pacquiao entourage on board a 50-vehicle convoy traveled to Maasim, Sarangani, where more than 3,000 people attended the proclamation of the local candidates.
Villar and Legarda spearheaded the proclamation of Pacquiao and other local candidates belonging to People’s Champ Movement (PCM), an affiliated local political party of the NP.
Sarangani gubernatorial candidate Juan Domino and Maasim mayoralty bet Fortunato Albores thanked Villar and Legarda for gracing the mini-rally right at the opening day of the election campaign for local candidates nationwide.
In his speech, Pacquiao expressed appreciation to his provincemates for their prayers and support in his recent victory against
”Thank you very much for you prayers and support,” said Pacquiao, receiving loud chanting “Manny!..Manny!” from the crowd in front of the municipal hall of Maasim which has more than 28,000 voting population.
Pacquiao also said he is not worried by the disqualification case filed against him by Chiongbian.
”I have complete documents that will show that I’m from Sarangani, where I grew up and studied elementary,” Pacquiao said.
Albores said that Pacquiao has “a very good chance” to win in the May 10 elections. (PNA)
DOH urges integration of HIV/AIDS in school curricula
In order to implement a more effective campaign against HIV and AIDS in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) strongly urged that information on the modes of transmission, prevention and control of this disease be integrated in the curricula of all institutions of learning. The country’s HIV and AIDS situation has reached alarming proportions as it is now described as “expanding and growing”, from the previous “low and slow” and “hidden and growing” phases.
Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral noted that risk behaviors are high among males who have sex with males (MSM), people in prostitution and people who inject drugs (PWID). This was reflected in the 2009 Integrated HIV Behavioral Serologic Surveillance results. These groups are considered the most-at-risk populations (MARPs), while young adults, overseas Filipino workers, persons with multiple sex partners, and partners of those in the MARPs are considered as vulnerable. “Education is a potent weapon in combating this disease, hence the integration in school curricula is vital”, Cabral stressed.
To address the present situation, the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have all integrated HIV/AIDS issues and concerns in their respective plans and activities. Local government units are assisted by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in establishing Local AIDS Councils and launching AIDS awareness activities. The DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and DILG have also entered into a Joint Memorandum Circular to operationalize the Regional AIDS Assistance Teams that will provide technical assistance to HIV prevention and control activities of LGUs. People living with HIV or the “Positive Community: are also conducting HIV education initiatives and forming support groups to other HIV-positive Filipinos and their families. Among the organizations leading this effort are the Positive Action Foundation Philippines Inc. (PAFPI), the PinoyPlus Association and BabaePlus Association.
Rule 2, Section 6 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 8504 or the National AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998 provides the rationale of HIV-related education and information campaigns. It indicates that “the provision of timely, adequate, appropriate and relevant HIV education and information shall empower persons and communities to think and act in ways that protect themselves from HIV infection, minimize the risk of HIV transmission and decrease the socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS”.
Stronger Coops seen in latest NEA categorization results
More electric cooperatives are stronger than ever. This is shown in the latest results of the 2009 Categorization and Classification of the ECs released by the National Electrification Administration (NEA).
The categorization results show that the number of Category A+ and A ECs increased to 80 from 74 in 2008 while only 10 remained under Category E or non-complying. Eighteen ECs improved in their respective categorization while 82 and six maintained and retrogressed, respectively.
All 27 ECs belonging to Regions VII (Central Visayas), X (Northern Mindanao), XI (
“We congratulate the electric cooperatives for a remarkable performance for Calendar Year 2009. We are inspired by the impressive ratings of the ECs. It is, to a great extent, a demonstration of NEA’s commitment to service excellence and public governance as the agency aims for breakthrough results in the rural electrification program,” said Administrator Edita S. Bueno.
The criteria for the review and evaluation include amortization payment, system loss, collection efficiency, payment to generating companies and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), non-power cost, level of barangay energization and number of consumer-connections and result of financial operation.
The result on system loss is quite notable. Twenty-three ECs posted a single-digit system loss level, an increase from 19 in 2008. Cebeco III registered the lowest system loss of 4.08, the lowest recorded of an EC. Likewise, 71 other ECs recorded system losses which are within the cap of 14%, 22 of which are single digit.
On collection efficiency, 22 coops attained 100% level on top of the 63 which were within NEA standard of 95%. The marked improvement in collection performance resulted in an increase in the national average level of 95% from 94% in 2008.
It is worth mentioning that for the first time since the NEA restructuring in 2004, Lasureco, Tawelco, Suleco and Magelco of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are now included in the assessment for having complied with NEA requirements.
Meanwhile, 83 ECs are current in the payment of their power accounts, including five with restructured payment scheme while 88 ECs are current in their payments with NGCP of which seven have restructured accounts. All ECs in the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), Regions VII, X, XII and Caraga are current in their power account payments.
In 2009, there are 91 ECs which achieved the 100% barangay energization level.
There are 99 ECs which earned the maximum point score of 10 for maintaining their expenditures within their approved non-power cost level. And, 85 ECs registered net margin before reinvestment.
On the classification of the ECs, the number of Mega Large increased to 57. Two Extra Large ECs, Laneco and Cagelco II, improved to Mega Large but one Mega Large, Quezelco I, retrogressed to Extra Large. Also, one Large, Fleco, became Extra Large and two Medium, Ifelco and Siarelco, progressed to Large. There are now six ECs that fall under Small Classification. ECs are classified according to the number of consumers they serve, sales they make and kilometers of line that they have constructed.
“All things considered, the NEA and ECs should remain as steadfast partners to ensure continuity of program implementation and to respond to the fast-paced environment in the energy industry. The Committee on EC Categorization and Classification shall undertake a review on the criteria to be more responsive and reflective of the obtaining circumstances in the cooperative operations. And finally, the 2009 result shall serve as basis for upward and downward implementation of per diems and allowances which shall take effect on 01 April 2010” Administrator Bueno added.
EL NIÑO DISPATCH
Fondevilla orders D.A. regional heads to prepare for wet crop
Secretary Bernie Fondevilla of the Department of Agriculture has ordered DA regional officials to start preparing this early for the wet planting season in May and closely coordinate with farmers and other stakeholders in overcoming the effects of the El Nino on standing crops.
Fondevilla said the DA will continue to distribute water pumps, seeds, fertilizers and other inputs to farmers to help them tide over the impact of the El Nino on the agriculture sector.
He said the DA will closely work with the local government units (LGUs), which now have primary responsibility over the farm sector in their respective areas of jurisdiction, to provide subsistence farmers with the necessary assistance they require, including emergency employment, diesel subsidies and additional farm inputs should they decide to shift from rice and corn to other crops.
"Small farmers and fisherfolk will be given priority when it comes to hiring workers for irrigation repair and the construction of farm-to-market roads," Fondevilla said during the recent Management Committee (Mancom) meeting at the DA central office in
He said employing farmers for the repair of irrigation canals and the construction of farm-to-market roads form part of the preparations for the wet cropping season.
The DA task force dealing with the latest El Niño onslaught has earmarked an initial P882.18 million for the accelerated implementation of mitigation measures for farmers and fisherfolk in 14 provinces in
The slew of mitigation measures range from cloud seeding to the provision of shallow tube wells (STWs) and open source pump irrigation systems to crop shifting and close monitoring of a possible drought-triggered outbreak of pests and diseases.
The DA's regional field units (RFUs) in the El Niño-hit regions have drawn up with LGUs their respective master lists of affected farmers eligible for food aid under the Emergency Food Assistance Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Separate master lists have also been prepared by RFUs and LGUs for farmer-victims qualified to enroll in skills training programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) or for possible emergency employment for the construction or repair of farm-to-market roads (FMRs) and irrigation facilities.
The affected provinces are Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino in Northern Luzon; Bulacan and Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon; Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon in the MIMAROPA area or Region 4-B; Masbate in Bicol; Antique, Guimaras and Negros Occidental in Western Visayas; and provinces of North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat in Region 12 or SOCSKSARGEN. (DA Press Office)
