Negros Oriental

UN distributes hygiene kits for storm-hit lactating,

pregnant mothers in Negros Oriental

by Rachelle M. Nessia

DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 19 (PIA) --- Some 335 pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who were affected by Typhoon Sendong received today hygiene kits from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo led the distribution of the kits held at the Dumaguete City Session Hall today together with UNFPA Program Officer Dyezebel Dado and Dumaguete City Vice Mayor Alan Gel Cordova.

The governor earlier requested the UNFPA for relief assistance after Typhoon Sendong, which struck the province on Dec. 17, 2011, left thousands of families displaced after their houses were either swept away or damaged by the raging floods.

Each hygiene kit, which comes in the form of a bucket, contains underwear, toiletries, batteries, and a malong which can be used either as a blanket or a bag, said Dado.

The kits distributed in Dumaguete City form part of the total 1,585 kits that are distributed to identified mothers in Negros Oriental.

“We will also be distributing these kits in Sibulan, Valencia and Tanjay City,” said Dado.

UNFPA provided the kits to address the urgent needs of pregnant and breastfeeding women especially in evacuation centers.

“During disasters, the focus of relief operations is on providing food for the affected families as it is their immediate need. But these women have other urgent needs, especially the pregnant mothers, who may suffer from health complications if these needs are not met,” said Arlene Alano, UNFPA information and communications officer, in an interview with Philippine Information Agency.

“We are giving them these kits to prevent disease and infections among the pregnant and breastfeeding women who are living in unsanitary environments,” she added.

UNFPA identified the mothers who will receive the kits based on records provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the health offices in said local government units

“These are pregnant or lactating women whose houses were damaged by Typhoon Sendong,” explained Dado. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)

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EDC launches Rural Health Building for better health service in Valencia

by Jennifer Catan-Tilos

DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 19 (PIA) The geothermal leader Energy Development Corporation (EDC) and local government of Valencia inaugurate today the new completed rural health building.

“We made sure that this rural health building will be built and ready for use in six months time because Valencia needs better health and medical services,” said Engr. Dwight A. Maxino, EDC’s Vice President for its Southern Negros Geothermal Production Field (SNGPF).

EDC Chairman Emeritus Oscar Lopez has led the unveiling ceremony together with Valencia Mayor Enrique Gonzalez; EDC Chairman and CEO Federico Lopez, EDC President and COO Richard Tantoco.

“Building this facility is not only part of EDC’s continuing efforts to provide sustainable social projects to improve the lives of our host communities in areas where we operate. It is also aligned with our health and wellness advocacy,” according to Lopez.

At 81, Lopez is considered as the wellness guru of the Lopez group of companies. Aside from climbing mountains even in his senior years, he has led their companies’ wellness programs—from monthly walkathons to various sports activities and seminars for the employees’ optimal health.

In the same manner, all Lopez companies including EDC strive to provide better health and wellness programs as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Groundbreaking for the new two-storey 742 sq.m. rural health building in North Poblacion, Valencia took place on June 15last year and was symbolized by a time capsule-laying ceremony.

The new building replaces the dilapidated structure of Valencia’s old rural health center. Its 21 medical staff will provide immediate medical attention to patients from the town.

The local government of Valencia will manage and maintain the building operation as stipulated in its memorandum of agreement with EDC.

EDC’s health programs in Southern Negros focus on training barangay health workers and providing medical supplies to Barangay Health Centers aside from the usual medical and dental missions.

This project is one aspect of the company’s CSR program, however, EDC also has comprehensive educational, livelihood and environment projects for its host communities. (PIA/JCT)

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DSWD7 calls on would-be 4Ps beneficiaries in Tanjay City to register

by Jennifer Catan-Tilos

DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 19 (PIA) The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) has called on potential family-beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Tanjay City to verify at their respective barangays for validation.

DSWD Information Officer Aileen Lariba said as soon as it is validated, the household will be registered as beneficiary of 4Ps.

The deadline for registration would be on January 27, failure to register would mean forfeiture of their right to be beneficiaries of the program, said Lariba.

Over 300 families are unregistered potential beneficiary households from barangays Bahi-an, Pal-ew, Sto. Niño, and Novallas in Tanjay City.

The 4Ps of DSWD had earlier identified more than 300 potential household beneficiaries in four barangays in Tanjay and encouraged to sign up for the conditional cash transfer of the government for health and education needs.

The DSWD initial list revealed poor families in each barangays including Bahi-an -55; Pal-ew -38; Sto. Niño- 202; and Novallas- 40.

For details and confirmation, please contact DSWD Information Officer Aileen P. Lariba (0917-381-5555) or Asela Bella Tse at nos. 0905-403-0386. (PIA/JCT)

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Dumaguete City state workers ordered to comply with smoke-free policy

By Rachelle M. Nessia

DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 18 (PIA) --- Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria has issued a memorandum banning city government workers from smoking in identified smoke-free areas at the City Hall.

This after the mayor received reports from the public that city government employees are seen smoking “right in the City Hall backyard,” said City Information Officer Steve Gabriel.

Gabriel said Memorandum Circular No. 04 issued by the Mayor on Jan. 9, 2012 states that the city government’s implementation of the smoke-free ordinance should start with the city’s state workers setting an example for the public.

Areas tagged as smoke-free zones in the City Hall are its premises and “other city government premises/properties including, but not limited to, offices, hallways, comfort rooms, grounds, parking spaces, compounds, parks/playgrounds, city government vehicles, and other places enumerated in the Smoke Free Ordinance.”

“Employees are also enjoined to refrain from doing the prohibited acts specified in pertinent provisions of the aforementioned ordinance, but instead help in calling the attention of violators, employees and non-employees alike,” said Gabriel.

Violators of said memorandum will be subject to disciplinary actions.

The Dumaguete City government launched its smoke-free ordinance banning smoking in all public places in the city on July 15, 2011, with the aim of making Dumaguete a smoke-free city. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)

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EDC to hand over P20-M Rural Health building to Valencia town

by Jennifer Catan-Tilos

DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 17 (PIA) The newly constructed Rural Health Building will be formally turned-over from Energy Development Corporation (EDC) to local government unit of Valencia on January 19 at 9:00 a.m. in Valencia town.

EDC Chairman Emeritus Oscar Lopez will lead the unveiling of the building together with President and COO Richard Tantoco and Vice-President of Southern Negros Geothermal Power (SNGP) Dwight Maxino of EDC; and Valencia Mayor Enrique Gonzalez.

Valencia residents expect to benefit from a modern Rural Health building that provides better health services delivery.

Mayor Enrique Gonzales said barangay residents can have access to proper health care services with the completion of the health building.

The building lies on a 742 square meter floor area that cost not less than P20M--considered the more modern rural health in the province.

Valencia LGU manages and maintains the building operation as stipulated in the memorandum of agreement signed by the two parties.

Under its corporate social responsibility program, the EDC constructed the building to improve local health infrastructure and access to quality health and medical services in the rural communities.

Valencia which hosts the geothermal facility of EDC receives royalty taxes from the company.

EDC is also engaged in various projects such as education, livelihood development, infrastructure and the environment to benefit the host communities and Valencia town.

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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Valencia LGU, EDC inaugurate rural health unit

by Jennifer Catan-Tilos

DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 19 (PIA) --The geothermal leader Energy Development Corporation (EDC) and the local government of Valencia inaugurate today the new completed rural health building.

“We made sure that this rural health building will be ready for use in six months time because Valencia needs better health and medical services,” said Engr. Dwight A. Maxino, EDC’s Vice President for its Southern Negros Geothermal Production Field (SNGPF).

EDC Chairman Emeritus Oscar Lopez led the unveiling ceremony with Valencia Mayor Enrique Gonzalez; EDC Chairman and CEO Federico Lopez, EDC President and COO Richard Tantoco.

In the same manner, all Lopez companies including EDC strive to provide better health and wellness programs as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Groundbreaking for the new two-storey 742 sq.m. rural health building in North Poblacion, Valencia took place on June 15, 2011 and was symbolized by a time capsule-laying ceremony.

The new building replaces the dilapidated structure of Valencia’s old rural health center. Its 21 medical staff will provide immediate medical attention to patients from the town.

The local government of Valencia will manage and maintain the building operation as stipulated in its memorandum of agreement with EDC.

EDC’s health programs in Southern Negros focus on training barangay health workers and providing medical supplies to Barangay Health Centers aside from the usual medical and dental missions.

This project is one aspect of the company’s CSR program, however, EDC also has comprehensive educational, livelihood and environment projects for its host communities. (mbcn/jct/PIA-NegOr)

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DSWD7 calls on would-be Pantawid beneficiaries in Tanjay City to register

by Jennifer Catan-Tilos

DSWD Information Officer Aileen Lariba said as soon as it is validated, the household will be registered as beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program.

The deadline for registration is on January 27. Failure to register would mean forfeiture of their right to be beneficiaries of the program, said Lariba.

Over 300 families are unregistered potential beneficiary households from barangays Bahi-an, Pal-ew, Sto. Niño, and Novallas in Tanjay City.

The Pantawid of DSWD had earlier identified more than 300 potential household beneficiaries in four barangays in Tanjay and encouraged to sign up for the conditional cash transfer of the government for health and education needs.

The DSWD initial list revealed poor families in each barangays including Bahi-an -55; Pal-ew -38; Sto. Niño- 202; and Novallas- 40.

For details and confirmation, please contact DSWD Information Officer Aileen P. Lariba (0917-381-5555) or Asela Bella Tse at nos. 0905-403-0386. (mbcn/jct/PIA-NegOr)

Thursday, January 19, 2012