New Army commander affirms peace, order efforts in NegOr
by: Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 18 (PIA) --- The new commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army affirmed his pledge to pursue the Army's peacekeeping efforts in the hinterlands of Negros Oriental.
Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, who recently assumed his post as the 3ID commander, gave his assurance to continue with the “Oplan Bayanihan” campaign to achieve peace during his May 18 courtesy call to Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo at the Capitol in Dumaguete City.
The general, accompanied by 302nd Infantry Brigade Commander Col. Manuel Ochotorena, sat down with the governor for nearly an hour and a half during which they talked about ongoing infrastructure projects in hinternland communities, the Army's Bayanihan campaign and the peace and order situation in the province.
Gov. Degamo, during the interchange, reiterated the provincial government's support to the Army's peace and order efforts. “We have always had a good relationship with the Army and also the police,” the governor told Gen. Bautista.
The discussion also touched on how the provincial government and the Army can work together to bring basic services to hinterlands. “Insurgency is not the solution to our problems,” Degamo said.
The general echoed the governor's statement in a media interview following his courtesy call, as he also stressed that insurgents need to put down their arms so that real development can take place especially in the far-flung communities.
Gen. Bautista, prior to taking over the post left by Maj. Gen. Vicente Porto, was the AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations during which he led the formulation of the new Internal Peace and Security Plan dubbed “Bayanihan” now being implemented nationwide by the Army. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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Valencia LGU to acquire a P20-M Rural Health building
by: Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 18 (PIA) Valencia residents expect to benefit a modern Rural Health building for a better health services delivery under the new administration of the municipality.
Mayor Enrique Gonzales said barangay residents can access to proper health care services with the construction of the P20 million Rural Health building.
The building lies on a 742 square meter floor area that cost not less than P20M considers the more modern rural health in the province.
Under its corporate social responsibility program, the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) pledged to construct the building to improve local health infrastructure and access to quality health and medical services in the rural communities.
Valencia hosts the geothermal facility of EDC, which receives royalty taxes from the company.
EDC also engaged in various projects such as on health, education, livelihood development, infrastructure and the environment to benefit the host communities and Valencia town.
The project is expected to finish before the year-ends wherein this will be formally turn-over from EDC to the local government unit of Valencia, which manages and maintains the operation. This is base on the memorandum of agreement signed by the two parties.
Some of the design features of the new rural health unit include recovery room, emergency land pad, among others. (PIA NegOr/JCT)
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NegOr insurance cards distributed to Canlaon City indigent families
by: Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 18 (PIA) --- Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo today led the distribution of around 1,000 insurance cards under the Provincial Health Insurance of Negros Oriental (PHINO), a unique insurance program implemented by the provincial government here.
The distribution of PHINO cards in Canlaon City is the 11th leg in the provincial government's campaign to enroll under PHINO all identified indigent families in Negros Oriental, said Capitol Information Officer Adrian Sedillo.
Sedillo said that after Canlaon City, the next stop for the PHINO card distribution is Ayungon town, which he said has signified their interest in enrolling the town's identified indigent families.
The PHINO program was created by the late Gov. Emilio Macias, who was a physician by profession, with the aim of giving free health insurance to indigent residents in the province.
Gov. Degamo said he continued to implement said program because he believes in it. “I believe this is a good program because insurance should be for everyone,” he stressed in an interview.
He added that signing up for the program is fast and easy, as the enrollment's processing is done at the Capitol.
The governor was, however, quick to say that PHINO does not in any way compete with Philhealth. “We are not competing with Philhealth, and the people are free to choose what health insurance they desire,” he stressed.
Dr. Ely Villapando, who oversees PHINO's implementation, in an earlier interview said that patients can be a member of both Philhealth and PHINO.