PIA Dispatch - Tuesday, September 1, 2009

‘100 PERCENT IN ONE DAY’
Nationwide medical, dental, feeding and information-gathering mission

Two million patients. 100,000 volunteers. 2,000 medical mission sites.

On September 6, 2009, a Sunday, more than 100,000 doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, health workers, medical professionals and concerned Filipino citizens from the government and private sector leave the comforts of their home to perform the biggest act of charity in the country, so far.

These Good Samaritans, in a massive display of collective volunteerism, offer their services for free as partners of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in providing medical and dental services to more than two million Filipinos— all in a single day.

Dubbed as the “100 Percent in One Day” project, the PCSO’s nationwide medical, dental and information- gathering mission aims to cover all of the country’s 41,995 barangays.

“This is a first-of-its- kind project in the Philippines that provides fast access to medical and charity care from PCSO and its partners to poor Filipinos all over the country in one day,” explains PCSO General Manager and Vice Chair Rosario Uriarte.

The project is envisioned to be both a celebration of the 75th Anniversary of PCSO, and a window for marginalized Filipinos from all over the country to access medical care and organized charity assistance.

For the medical and dental missions, the PCSO expects to cover 25,197 barangays in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, representing 60 percent of the total number of barangays in the country.

There are more than 2,000 medical mission sites to be set up all over the country on September 6, each site capable of providing service to 1,000 to 1,500 patients.

A medical mission site is manned by four doctors, two dentists, four nurses and one pharmacist. These health professionals are assisted by 30 to 40 volunteers who are in-charge of physical set-up and security.

Aside from general checkups, minor surgeries like the removal of cataracts and lumps, dental services, eye examinations, bone scan and ear check monitor will be available in selected medical mission sites located in government hospitals and rural clinics.

Medicines to be distributed free to patients at the sites include amoxicillin drops, capsules and suspension; metropolol tablets; mefenamic acid, paracetamol drops and tablets; and ascorbic drops, tablets and syrups.

“PCSO has been doing monthly medical and dental missions for several years now,” says Uriarte. “But this is the first time we’ll hold it in large scale in one day, targeting more than two million patients.”

In Metro Manila alone, more than 150,000 beneficiaries are expected to avail of free medical and dental services offered in some 100 mission sites spread throughout the National Capital Region.

The medical sites in Metro Manila are manned by volunteers from the seven Catholic diocese affiliated with Caritas, which mobilized lay leaders and church workers to assist the health professionals in the medical mission sites.

The information- gathering mission, on the other hand, is expected to cover 100 percent of the 41,995 barangays.

Under this component, barangay health workers and residents are encouraged to send to the PCSO through Short Messaging System (SMS) or text message the name and profile of a patient in their community who intends to seek financial assistance from the charity agency.

This would allow the PCSO to maintain a database of prospective beneficiaries whose cases would have to be evaluated to determine who may qualify for the medical assistance.

The feeding missions would be conducted in selected barangays, mostly in depressed areas, in coordination with church-based groups and civic organizations.

The “One Hundred Percent in One Day” project, according to Uriarte, is envisioned to be an annual activity that will serve as a vehicle for spreading the “charity virus,” and make organized and systematic sharing coupled with volunteerism as a way of life for Filipinos.


PGMA mourns Ka Erdie’s demise

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today joins the Filipino nation in mourning the passing of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) Executive Minister Erańo (Ka Erdie) G. Manalo Monday afternoon.

President Arroyo likewise extends the condolences and prayers of her family and Cabinet members to Ka Erdy’s son, Deputy Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo, and to all pastoral leaders and members of the INC.

INC, which celebrated its 95th anniversary last July 27, is the larget independent church in Asia. With a membership of millions, it is politically influential.

In a statement, Executive Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Eduardo R. Ermita said “this country and the world have lost yet another great leader in this generation, (one) who has touched the lives of multitudes by his life and his teachings.”

Deputy Spokesperson Anthony Golez, on the other hand, described Ka Erdie a “giant in the social religious and political life of the country.”

He added that the INC’s late leader guided millions of Filipinos on the path of righteousness and attended to social and economic needs of his flock.

Asked if the President, who is currently in Libya, will attend Manalo’s funeral, Golez said the Palace needs to check first on President Arroyo’s schedule when she comes home.

Manalo took over the church upon the death in 1963 of the founder, his father Felix Manalo.

Manalo was born on Jan. 2, 1925. He was INC founder Felix Manalo's fifth child.


PGMA hopeful stalled talks with CPP-NPA-NDF will resume soon

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed hope today that peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) will resume soon.

In her message for the celebration of the National Peace Consciousness Month this September, the President vowed to continue exerting efforts to achieve lasting peace for the Filipinos.

“I welcome the observance of the Peace Month with a happy note regarding the progress of our peace process. Peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are on track while our negotiations with the CPP-NPA-NDF have suffered some kinks, which, hopefully, can be ironed out. These are indeed breakthroughs in our determined efforts to achieve a just and enduring peace for all Filipinos,” she said.

“At the same time, we continue to engage stakeholders in the communities through dialogues and collaborative endeavors to ensure that our peace agenda is reflective of the sentiments, aspirations and values of our people,” the Chief Executive added.

Stressing that peace remains a top priority of her administration, the President also called on everyone to support and cooperate so that gains in peace and development could be sustained.

The resumption of the peace talks stalled after the CPP-NPA-NDF demanded the withdrawal of criminal charges against the rebels’ negotiators and consultants.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Avelino Razon Jr. said the government will exhaust all legal means to allow the rebels’ negotiators to attend the scheduled Oslo talks on Sept. 5.


RP to train Somali coast guard

Economic and cultural relations between the Republic of the Philippines and Somalia may soon include naval and civil service training after leaders of the two nations discussed the possibility of undertaking these types of “institution building” measures to address the occurrence of pirate attacks off the coast of the African nation.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo told members of the Filipino Community in Libya that she had met with Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed at the sidelines of the African Union’s Special Summit on the Settlement of Conflicts in Africa to discuss ways to once and for all rid the region of pirates.

In a pre-departure statement before boarding a chartered flight bound for Tripoli, Libya Monday, the President cited the importance of maintaining peace and stability in Africa, saying this has a direct impact “on our energy security, but more importantly, on the safety and welfare of our overseas Filipinos, including our seafarers.”

According to the President, the occurrence of pirate attacks, specifically off the coast of Somalia at the end of the East African monsoon, has been a source of concern. She expressed confidence, however, that “this is an issue where Africa’s collective efforts to bring stability and order to the affected areas will be crucial.”

“Kanina, nakipag-usap ako sa Pangulo ng Somalia na abala din sa mga teroristang gingugulo ang mga barkong dumadaan sa Suez Canal,” “ Earlier I talked the President of Somalia who was also busy with the terrorista attacking Ships that passes through the Suez Canal,” the President said.

“Isa sa paraan kung papaano sagutin ang problema (of pirate attacks) ay institution building – halimbawa, palakasin ang kanilang civil service at Coast Guard,” “One of the solutions to solve the problem of pirates attacks is institution building. An example this is to strengthen the Civil Service and the Cost Guardshe added.

“Dahil mahalaga ito sa ating mga seafarer, pinag-usapan namin kanina na tutulong ang Pilipinas sa pag-train sa kanila,” “Since this is very vital among our seafarers, we discuses earlier that the Philippines will help in giving them training the President said.


Palace assures SSS will be run well whoever sits as its leader

Funds managed by the Social Security System (SSS) will be well-protected and managed well, whoever sits as its leader as pensioners’ welfare is the government’s primary concern.

The government assured that any transition in SSS will not adversely affect its funds’ status as this has been secured by the government since the start of the present administration in 2001.

“SSS will not be affected. Whoever sits will only improve SSS,” Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Anthony Golez Jr. said.

While the Ombudsman has recommended the filing of graft charges and the imposition of a six-month suspension against SSS administrator Romulo Neri, Golez said it is unfair to already “float names” on his replacement.

“He’s been very loyal to the President, and he (in turn) enjoys the trust and confidence of the President,” he said.

Neri announced last week that SSS has been able to reverse a potential reduction in revenue, particularly from members’ contribution of the pension fund.

Contributions totaled P36.3 billion as of the first half of the year, a 6.5 percent increase from the same period last year, despite some factory shutdowns and retrenchments.

This still outpaced benefit payments amounting to P35.65 billion during the same period.

SSS’s investment income also grew in the first half to P11.18 billion, which is higher by 24 percent compared to the targeted investment income for the same period.

During the term of President Arroyo, SSS has been able to reverse a potential depletion of the pension fund through an intensive revenue collection effort and a minimal increase in members’ contribution.

This extended the life of the pension fund. As of 2001, SSS’s pension fund was projected to have a life of just 10-15 years. As of 2007, its life span has doubled to last up to 2038.