TESDA allots P5M to train NegOr quake victims
scholarship for construction-related training
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 17 (PIA) -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has a P5 million scholarship fund for construction-related training to benefit the earthquake victims in badly hit areas in the first district of Negros Oriental.
TESDA Provincial Director Toni June Tamayo said the program is intended to help fast track the rehabilitation and repair efforts of essential infrastructures damaged by the strong quake such as roads and bridges and even houses.
Tamayo made the announcement during the ANOPIO (Association of Negros Oriental Public Information Officers) briefing. He added that the TESDA Central Office has designed the services and qualifications for the said scholarship program.
In Guihulngan City, at least two teams composed of experts in welding and metal fabrication services and home repair services were immediately dispatched to the affected areas and provide services to those in need.
More groups will be organized if the need arises, according to Tamayo.
The scholarship slots available are for the following areas: Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC II (200); Carpentry (50); Masonry (50); Plumbing (25); HEO Payloader (25); HEO Backhoe (25); Commercial Cooking (50); and, Enterprise Information Management (50).
The TESDA, meanwhile, issued an advisory for the immediate inspection of TESDA schools and training centers in Central Visayas particularly those that are being used as evacuation centers.
The same advisory also covered all private technical and vocational institutes (TVIs) with registered programs with TESDA in Regions 6 and 7. There are 225 TVIs in Region 6 and 268 in Region 7.
TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva also called on TESDA specialists to band together and offer their services in the continuing repair and rehabilitation efforts in Negros Oriental.
"We condole with the victims of the earthquake. We hope these scholarships will give them hope and encourage them to rise above this calamity," said DG Villanueva. (FCR/JCT/PIA NegOr)
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558 quake victims receive free medical service
By Jennifer C. Tilos
NEGROS ORIENTAL, Feb. 17 (PIA) -- Through the provincial government's efforts, 558 residents of Solonggon, a quake hit barangay of La Libertad were able to avail of free medical health service yesterday.
Of the total the recipients of the health assistance, 233 availed of free medical consultations, and 92 had dental check-up and tooth extraction. Other recipients received free haircut and body massage, while 92 individuals provided toothpastes and toothbrushes.
The medical and dental mission under the “Mag Degamo Ta” program of Governor Roel Degamo of Negros Oriental aimed at helping the residents in the areas severely affected by the landslides brought by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that recently hit the province.
The Medical and Dental Civic Action Program (MEDCAP) of the army’s 302nd Brigade led by brigade commander Col. Francisco Patrimonio participated in the medical health assistance and served the families who are severely affected by the landslide incidents in barangay Solongon.
The 302 Brigade Medical and Dental Team headed by 1Lt. Roel L. Morales Jr, the brigade dental surgeon also joined the mobile surgical team of Governor Degamo composed of the volunteered doctors and nurses who offered medical consultations and dental services with free medicines, haircut, body massage and distribution of toothpaste and toothbrush to the victims.
The Philippine National Red Cross, Negros Oriental Chapter also distributed rice and water container to quake victims.
Col Patrimonio said this collaborative effort was indeed very successful and supports the AFP Internal Peace and Security Plan “Bayanihan”. (mbcn/jct/PIA-NegOr)
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EDC assists quake victims in NegOr
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 17(PIA) -- Geothermal leader Energy Development Corporation (EDC) has donated P1 million worth of relief goods to victims of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that rocked Guihulngan, Tayasan and Jimalalud, Negros Oriental last February 6.
“Employees from our Southern and Northern Negros sites lost no time in helping the earthquake victims. A day after tragedy struck these areas, they already volunteered to pack and distribute bags which contained rice, canned goods, bottled water, blankets and flashlights so we could begin distributing as early as February 08,” said Engr. Dwight Maxino, EDC Vice President for its Southern and Northern Negros Geothermal Production Fields.
EDC has distributed another batch of relief goods on succeeding days after packing are being done.
The distribution is in coordination with ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya with its TV station in Bacolod City became the headquarters of EDC’s relief operations.
The company would have done it in their Southern Negros office in Valencia but roads leading to the three towns were impassable due to typhoon Sendong so they opted to get help from their Northern Negros office in Bago City.
EDC’s corporate social responsibility program (CSR), the Community Partnerships has been a cornerstone program for EDC.
With health, education, livelihood and environment as its CSR modules, EDC aims to uplift the lives of the residents in its host communities in areas where it operates.
Notwithstanding, the company still reached out to the earthquake victims in Guihulngan, Tayasan and Jimalalud, Negros Oriental through its relief operations. (mbcn/Jct/PIA-NegOr)
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Army troops, rescue teams continue search and retrieval operations in NegOr
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb 13 (PIA) -- Newly installed commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division based in Camp Peralta, Jamindan, Capiz vowed to continue the search and retrieval operations in two different landslide locations in Negros Oriental.
During his visit to the province, Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, directed the Negros Oriental based Army Commanders to continue the search and retrieval operations in Barangay Solonggon, La Libertad and Barangay Planas in Guihulngan City.
Mabanta also gave the assurance that the 3rd division will continue to provide assistance to the subordinate units in the conduct of search and retrieval operations.
After the conference MGen Mabanta and an army team conducted an ocular inspection by land since the priority of the helicopters is rescue and retrieval operations. The group rode motorcycles to reach the severely affected areas.
Meanwhile, soldiers from the 302 brigade and its operationally controlled units including reservists and CAFGUs were deployed in the severely affected areas and in the landslide areas were still conducting search and retrieval operations to the missing persons.
As of 4:00 p.m. Feb 12, seven victims were rescued in La Libertad town and transported by the helicopters of Tactical Operations Group 6 (TOG-6) of the Philippine Air Force headed by Col. Rene Raoul Romel Honasan to Dumaguete City for proper medical treatment.
Likewise, relief operations are ongoing and team of doctors, nurses and emergency medical technicians from the Office of the Civil Defense (Team Albay) was sent by Governor Salceda to assist the operations and conduct medical mission.
Relief goods from the GMA Kapuso Foundation were also hauled by the army troopers of 302 Brigade, 79th Infantry Battalion and 1st Scout Ranger Company to the Navy Patrol Gunship 140 headed by Commodore Fuentes and were ferried to Guihulngan City for distribution to the victims.
Another rescue team from Makati City led by Anthony Melendres was transported by two helicopters to conduct rescue and retrieval operations in Barangay Planas, Guihulngan City.
Usec. Benito Ramos of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) and Bernadette Sembrano of ABS-CBN “Sagip Kapamilya” were transported by two helicopters to Guihulngan City for relief operations and giving of financial assistance to the bereaved families of the victims in the landslide areas. (mbcn/jct/PIA-NegOr)