231 families benefit from Army's medical, dental mission
by: Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, April 20 (PIA) --- A total of 231 poor families from two villages in the town of Siaton, Negros Oriental availed of free medical and dental services given by soldiers of the Philippine Army's 302nd Infantry Brigade on April 17, 2011.
A statement from the brigade said that a medical and dental team led by 302nd Brigade Deputy Commander Col. Christopher C. Estella conducted their humanitarian and community assistance mission together with the Bright Lights Community Learning Center in the villages of Siit and Bonbonon in Siaton.
According to Assistant Civil Military Operation Officer 1st Lt. Win Love G. Bag-ao, the medical and dental teams attended to 133 residents from Brgy. Siit and 98 from Brgy. Bonbonon.
Among the free services extended by soldiers were dental check-up and tooth extraction, free circumcision and free massage.
The mission was also sponsored by the Oriental Negros Children’s Advocacy Network (ONCAN), Alliance of Young Nurses Leaders Advocates, Philippine Nurses Association,Happy Tooth Dental Clinic, Rubio-Heniel Dental Clinic, Municipal Health Office of Siaton, Negros Oriental, Lingkod ng Panginoon, Cebuana Pawnshop, Eversure Company and 79th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.
On the same day, another medical team from the brigade extended free circumcision services at Piapi High School Compound in Dumaguete City to 193 children from Barangays Bantayan, Daro, Piapi and Lo-oc.
Said activity was held in coordination with the Rotary Club of Dumaguete City, Dumaguete City Health Office, 2nd District Cong. George P Arnaiz, Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Saggarbaria, Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital and Association of Young Nurses Leaders and Advocates. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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Sibulan women council plant trees the "women way"
by: Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, April 20 (PIA) --- Members of the Local Council for Women (LCW) in Sibulan town launched in March this year a program geared at fighting climate change dubbed "Love a Tree the Women Way."
According to Sibulan Information Officer and LCW Chairperson Connie Zamora-Rosales, the program was held to mark the Women's Month celebration in Sibulan town.
Rosales said each LCW member was given one fruit tree of rambutan or lanzones and was asked to plan them in their backyard. "Planting a tree is like caring for a child and adult, of which women are experts at and the women are poised to take care of the trees that they have planted in similar manner that they care for people," she said.
The LCW chair said she urged the women to take care of the trees they planted because the council will periodically check on their growth after one year.
Rosales said she got the idea from a similar activity in the island of Guimaras where every household has a mango tree.
“In Sibulan, thru LCW and the Municipal Agriculture Office, Fruit and Vegetable Section, every family should have a fruit tree," she stressed.
The council members planted the trees during the Women’s Month celebration at the vicinity of Lake Balinsasayao thru the help of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) personnel.
Rosales said the tree-planting will be done year-round as "planting and caring for trees shall be a year round activity." (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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PCWC validates LGUs for child-friendly award
DUMAGUETE CITY, Apr 20 (PIA) The Negros Oriental Council for the Welfare of Children (PCWC) sets to validate the provincial entries for the Presidential Search for Child-Friendly local government units (LGUs) next week.
Apart of the criteria that the council would like to look into is the functionality of the barangay council for the protection of children (BCPC) in the local level.
Child development programs implemented by LGUs will also be validated by PCWC members representing from government agencies and a non-government organization.
Provincial Social Welfare & Development Officer (PSWDO) Alice Lagarde said some of the functional BCPCs may be found established in the LGUs that were recipients of the Early Childhood Care for Development (ECCD) program.
The search, now on its 19th year, continues to advocate children’s rights and activate the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC), said Lagarde.
The evaluators may also review the implementation of the program and its ECCD centers, health and nutrition of the children, and local ordinances essential for the children.
The search for Child-Friendly LGUs supports the Philippine Strategic Framework for Plan Development for Children, otherwise known as Child 21.
Along with ECCD which provides for the implementation of an integrated early childhood care and institutionalize a national system for ECCD that is comprehensive, integrative, sustainable and that involves multi-sectoral and interagency collaboration at all levels. (PIA NegOr/Jennifer Catan-Tilos)