Soldiers become 'instant heroes' during school graduation rites
by: Rachelle M. Nessia

DUMAGUETE CITY, April 7 (PIA) -- A simple act can go a long way, especially in the eyes of children.

On April 4, the Don E. Villegas Elementary School in Vallehermoso, a fourth class municipality in Negros Oriental, Philippines, was holding its graduation rites for 50 elementary students out in the open air and, as the ceremony progressed, under the blazing heat of the summer sun, too.

Soldiers from 11th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army stationed in Guihulngan town 20 kilometers away from Vallehermoso and were attending the graduation in said school immediately installed a collapsible tent to shield the students from the sweltering heat.

Vallehermoso District School Supervisor Brenda Pasquil in her speech during the graduation thanked the soldiers for being the children's "instant heroes" during the activity as she expressed her support for peace and development efforts in the area.

Meanwhile, 11IB Civil Military Operations Officer 1Lt Angelito Luna in a statement said that the Army is likewise thankful to the school teachers and the parents in the community for having been their active partners in peace-oriented activities.

He also warned the parents to keep a close watch over their children once they step into high school "because they are prone to the recruitment of the CPP/NPA/NDF."

Soldiers of the same unit were also on hand to witness the graduation ceremony of Linantuyan Elementary School in Guihulngan on the same day, during which 11th IB Battalion Executive Officer Maj. Jesus Pagala stressed the important role played by barangay officials and teachers in peace, security and development of the village.

11IB troops have been constantly visiting schools in the area to conduct information drives to insulate the students from insurgency. (RMN/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from the 11IB/PA)

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EHCP’s success- the Negros Oriental way

by: Jennifer Catan-Tilos

DUMAGUETE CITY, Apr 7 (PIA)   Negros Oriental has visited by international health and education officials recently for its success implementation of Essential Health Care Program (EHCP) complemented with free noon meal- the Negros Oriental way. 

With the "Free Noon Meal Daily Feeding Program" of the province not only offers nutritious lunch consisting of rice, mongo, dilis and sardines to school children but showed parents’ strong participation in taking turns in cooking of the lunch which tag –the Negros Oriental way. 

The Department of Education’s (DepEd) EHCP has been complemented with this meal package because the washing and brushing of teeth were actually done in school, Schools Division Superintendent Milagros Vellez of DepEd said.

In their study tour, representatives from different Southeast Asian countries later learned from local government officials and parent-teacher groups that strengthen commitment and multi sectors participation help in the feat of the project despite different political colors.

Third District Congressman Henry Pryde Teves said, “for the project to be successful the “Bayanihan Spirit,” the unique Filipino way of life working together is always there as applied in this particular endeavor.”

All parents, teachers and stakeholders have pulled their resources together for the welfare and development of the school children, such as parents bringing extra vegetables and even chicken for a day’s lunch, it is said.

To reinforce the EHCP, Provincial Governor Roel Degamo informed the group that the provincial government has allocated P4million in time for the opening of classes this year.

Governor Degamo said it is a tradition of the province to adopt a noble program especially those that helps enhance their efforts to take care and develop all aspects of school children.

For her part, Representative Josy Limkaichong of the first district said part of her priority programs include health and education, which led her to allocate some additional funding for the construction of water facilities among others in the school.

Representative Limkaichong has challenged the group of foreign delegates to replicate the program in their respective areas base on their learning during their study visit. 

Foreign visitors include Ministers of Health and Education in Cambodia, Indonesia,Laos, Uzbekistan, Germany, USA, Afghanistan and DepEd officials from the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in the Philippines will (PIA NegOr/JCT)

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RP government 'doing its best' to reach MDG as deadline looms
by: Rachelle M. Nessia

DUMAGUETE CITY, April 7 (PIA) --- A lady solon here has stressed that the Philippine government is doing its best to make sure that the country would meets the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG) before the 2015 deadline.

Troubling speculations are rife that the country will not achieve the MDG before the deadline in view of reports indicating that the Philippines has not made much progress in several of the goals under MDG. 

Negros Oriental First District Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong said that the government is keen on achieving the MDG targets thru its various poverty-reduction programs. "We have the Pantawid Pamilya, the Essential Health Care Package and the Free Noon Meal programs which are all geared towards reaching the MDG," said Limkaichong.

Pantawid Pamilya is a government program that distributes monthly cash grants to selected poor families while the Essential Health Care Package implemnted by the Department of Education is aimed at addressing high-impact childhood diseases among Filipino children. 

The Free Noon Meal program is aimed at reducing malnutrition among school children wherein free lunch food consisting of rice, fish and vegetables are served to schoolchildren particularly in hinterland villages. 

Limkaichong, however, admitted that there is a need to fast track the implementation of these projects if the country hopes to meet the goals, which the Philippines pledged to achieve in 2000 during the United Nation's Millennium Summit. 

She warned that the consequences are dire if the country fails to live up to what it committed to achieve. "If we don't meet these goals, it will give a bad signal to the international funding agencies and affect our country's image, that we are not serious about mitigating hunger and addressing health issues in our country," said the congresswoman.

A progress report released by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) showed that the country lagging behind in the following categories: elementary participation, survival and completion rates, maternal mortality ratio, access to reproductive health services and combatting HIV and AIDS.

The report described the probability of achieving the targets in these categories as "low."

The same report, on the other hand, pointed to a high probability that the Philippines will achieve the targets in the following: food poverty; gender equality in education; child mortality; malaria; tuberculosis case detection, treatment success and cure rates; and access to sanitary toilet facilities.  (RMN/PIA-7 Negros Oriental)