DOLE-7 provides P.5M project fund to 38 “paaling” fishing victims

by Jennifer Catan-Tilos

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Aug. 24 (PIA)     Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)  Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga of Central Visayas has turned over a project grant of P524,000 to the 38  “paaling” fishing victims from Ayungon, Negros Oriental.

The DOLE handed over the funding assistance through the Visayan Forum recently at the DOLE field office in Dumaguete City.

Visayan Forum, a non-government organizationengaged in anti-human trafficking activities, has partnered the DOLE with livelihood assistance activities. 

DOLE has relied the experience and competence of its partner, Visayan Forum, to implement the project so that the victims will immediately start their chosen livelihood project, Sr. Labor and Employment Officer (LEO) Efren Vito said.

Labor Officer Vito added, the Visayan Forum acknowledged that the task of rehabilitating their broken dreams cannot be prolonged for they need the healing process to start, through them, and for them to re-start their lives with the livelihood project assistance.

Director Sarcauga reported that the assistance for the paaling victims is part of DOLE’s  commitment to promote a better alternative livelihood to fish workers.

“Our project grant symbolizes a new hope for them. A start of an informal employment that is safe, humane and sustainable.” Director Sarcauga explained.

In accordance with the President’s Social Contract to the people to be more responsive to their needs, DOLE promptly acted on the request for assistance while litigation is on-going, said Sarcauga.

As earlier reported, the 38 paaling victims filed a formal complaint before the DOLE against Pesca Maharlika Marine Resources Inc., the Navotas, Malabon based fishing company that recruited them as its crew from the hinterland   barangays in Ayungon town.

Upon its filing, a team of Labor Inspectors surprised the alleged paaling operator with a complaint inspection and found several violations of the Labor Code provisions.

Representatives of the victims lauded DOLE for the timely assistance in as much as some of the victims are contemplating in accepting the settlement offers of the operator. (PIA NegOr/JCT)

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Valencia LGU supports PNRC campaign

by Jennifer Catan-Tilos

VALENCIA, Negros Oriental, Aug. 23 (PIA) The municipality of Valencia in Negros Oriental leads among local government units (LGUs) in the blood donation campaign having institutionalized the activity for the past ten years now.

The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) in Negros Oriental has indentifiedValencia town as having the highest number of blood donors in the province with its blood-letting campaign conducted twice a year.

Valencia Mayor Ricky Gonzalez said Valencia is the lone government unit in the province to institutionalize blood-letting activities every February 14 and August 13 of every year.

Its recent blood donation campaign collected a total of 106 bags of blood from donors coming from the 24 barangays of the town.

PNRC awarded Valencia town and nine other LGUs and institutions during the recent World Blood Donors Day celebration, as having the highest number of blood units collected in a blood donation campaign.

Valencia made this initiative in response to the continuing requests from relatives of medical patients in need of blood, Mayor Gonzalez said.

He said this is Valencia’s participation in the noble cause of blood donation by the Red Cross.

Valencia maintains the title of having the highest number of blood donors in one campaign of PNRC in the province when it recorded 106 donors in this month’s campaign.

Simultaneous with the blood-letting was the medical and dental mission conducted in coordination with the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) where a total of 326 availed of the free medical services.

Inspired by the initiative of Valencia, the inter-local health zone of Negros Oriental has encouraged other towns in the province to conduct their own blood-letting to support the PNRC.

PNRC recently intensified its campaign and called on LGUs to initiate blood letting activity due to the rising number of dengue cases in the country. (PIA NegOr/JCT)

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P2.5-M earmarked for NegOr brgy health workers’ livelihood projects
By Rachelle M. Nessia

DUMAGUETE CITY, August 23 (PIA) --- Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo has set aside a total of P2.5 million for the livelihood projects of barangay health workers (BHW) in the province. 

The funds will be given to each of the 28 total BHW federations across Negros Oriental, with each federation to get P100,000 for the implementation of livelihood projects, said Capitol Information Officer Adrian Sedillo. 

Sedillo said the Governor allocated the funds in recognition of the BHW’s contribution to “bring the necessary health services in areas where they are needed most.”

Based on data from the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), there are 3,900 total BHWs in Negros Oriental. 

Each worker is receiving from the provincial government an honorarium of P300 each month or P3,500 per year based on a P13-million annual budget. 

“The provincial government cannot easily increase the honorarium of the BHWs. Instead, the governor thought of giving the money to the BHW federations for them to implement livelihood programs,” he added.  

Meanwhile, medical kits are now being distributed to each of the 557 barangays in the province. 

Sedillo said each kit contains the basic health tools such as a sphygmomanometer. 

The provincial government started distributing the kits in May this year under Gov. Degamo’s Health, Education and Livelihood Program (HELP). (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)

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PNP promotes 232 policemen in NegOr by Jennifer Catan-Tilos DUMAGUETE CITY, Aug. 23 (PIA)    A total of 232 Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel in Negros Oriental have been promoted to the higher rank in a simultaneous Pinning of Ranks held yesterday at Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO), Agan-an headquarters. PNP Provincial Director, Sr. Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas led the Pinning of Ranks to the newly promoted PNP personnel assigned from different local government units. The promotees include 228 police non-commissioned officers (PNCOs) and four police commissioned officers (PCOs) in the province. PNP Information Officer designate and then one of the national outstanding policemen, Edilberito Euraoba III also promoted from Police Officer 3 to Sr. Police Officer 1. According to SPO1 Euraoba promoted PCOs include Eduardo Oira of Dumaguete City police station; Gregorio Ramos and Loreme Baldao, both assigned in the headquarters from Police Sr. Inspector to Chief Inspector. While Chief Inspector Carlos Lacuesta Jr. is promoted to Police Superintendent currently the chief-of-police in Guihulngan City. The PNCOs were composed of 38 personnel promoted to SPO4, three to SPO3, two to SPO2, 96 to SPO1, 64 to PO3, and 25 to PO2. The newly promoted police officers are expected to be assigned of another field of duties to train them to become leaders, said SPO1 Euraoba. Euraoba added, “the officers to remain steadfast in abiding by the PNP core values and to inspire others to become model police officers.” A thanksgiving Mass was held after the Pinning of Ranks ceremony in the provincial police headquarters. (PIA NegOr/JCT)

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NegOr’s 2nd mobile surgical mission successful

by Rachelle M. Nessia

DUMAGUETE CITY, August 22 (PIA) --- More than 500 individuals received free surgical and other medical care during the second round of mobile surgical mission held August 17 to 19, 2011 at Bindoy District Hospital in Bindoy, Negros Oriental.

The surgical team performed a total of nine major operations and 65 minor operations involving fractures and lumps during the three-day surgical mission, according to Capitol Information Officer Adrian Sedillo.

Other medical services rendered during the mission were the following: 313 consultations; 50 dental services; 48 for both haircuts and massage; and 16 circumcision, 9 pterygium and 27 cataract procedures.

Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo lauded the surgical mission, saying that it is an effective tool in reaching out to Negrenses with ailments without having to travel all the way to the province’s capital, Dumaguete City, to seek medical help.

Degamo reiterated his appreciation to all the private and public agencies who took part in the surgical mission in Bindoy, such as the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, Philippine Academy of Medical Specialists, Association of Cebu Eye Specialists, mayors of Bindoy, Ayungon and Tayasan and the chiefs of government hospitals and the provincial government medical personnel.

Sedillo said the third round of surgical mission is slated to be held at the Bayawan District Hospital targeting residents within the Sta. Catalina, Bayawan City and Basay inter-local health zone or STA. BAYABAS.

“The mission will either be done by end of October or early November,” said Sedillo.

The governor launched the mobile surgical mission early this year with the aim of expanding the customary medical mission. 

During the surgical mission, a team of government and private doctors and health personnel goes around the province to conduct free surgical procedures in district hospitals. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)