Combined Balikatan exercises back in PHL
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 7 (PIA) -- Members of the Armed Forces from the U.S. Pacific Command will participate in the Balikatan combined military exercise with the Armed Forces of the Philippines on April 16-27, this year.
Approximately 4,500 U.S. personnel and 2,300 Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel from all services are expected to participate in the exercise.
Balikatan which means “shoulder-to-shoulder”, is a regular schedule multi-service combined exercise hosted annually by the Philippines.
Balikatan 2012 is the 28th event in a continuing series of exercises designed to promote regional peace and security by ensuring interoperability and readiness of Philippine and U.S. forces.
In a press statement released to media, U.S. Ambassador Harry Thomas, Jr. said, "I’m delighted to announce the United States’ participation in the 28th exercise of Balikatan. The longevity of this bilateral exercise speaks to the health of our alliance as we stand shoulder-to-shoulder next to our Philippine allies."
This exercise will build meaningful relationships not only between our militaries, but also among communities and first responders, Thomas added.
Training will consist of a computer-simulated command post exercise (CPX), multiple field training exercises (FTX), and medical, veterinary, and engineering humanitarian and civic assistance (HCA) projects, the release read.
According to the release, this year's exercise is unique because it is the first time that Balikatan includes multilateral engagement: an additional 20 participants from ASEAN and 15 colleagues from partner nations that plan to contribute to the CPX. In addition 385 local health professionals will support the HCA activities.
“As our military forces train together, our civil and military leadership will practice planning and decision making during a natural disaster scenario,” said Thomas.
Thomas said he is especially proud that U.S. and Philippine engineers and medical professionals will improve infrastructure, treat patients, and vaccinate livestock and pets against diseases as part of the joint exercise. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)
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US grants $500T medical equipment for PHL veterans hospital
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 7 (PIA) -- The U.S. Embassy and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs has announced the approval of a $500,000 grant for the purchase of medical equipment for the Philippines Veterans Memorial Medical Center.
In a press statement released to the media, Director of the U.S. Veterans Affairs Office Jon Kelly said that the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office has identified equipment to establish an Eye Center as the top priority this year, and this grant will cover roughly 70 percent of their equipment needs.
This grant-in-aid is one of a series of medical equipment donations that the U.S. Government has provided to the Filipino veteran community and their families since 2003.
“We are so pleased to help out Filipino veterans of all ages as well as their families with this donation,” said Ambassador Harry Thomas, Jr.
According to Thomas this is a great program in which the U.S. Government partners with the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Manila to provide assistance to Filipino veterans.
It is one more way to honor the bravery and heroism of all Filipino veterans who have put their country ahead of themselves and fought to preserve freedom, Thomas said.
Since 2003 the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) Manila has provided $6.5 million in equipment grants to the Philippines’ only Veterans hospital -- the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.
The U.S. Government works in partnership with the leadership of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center to determine what equipment is most beneficial and will best meet the needs of the veterans and their families.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs oversees the purchase, installation, and maintenance of all equipment donated through the program. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)
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Guihulngan District Hospital's CMONC worth P21M deferredrepair of district hospital to be prioritized
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 7 (PIA) -- The Negros Oriental government will prioritize the restoration of the Guihulngan District Hospital, over the construction of a new unit for obstetrics and newborn care.
NegOr Governor Roel Degamo said it was unfortunate that the hospital was damaged the recent earthquake, which has caused the delay in the construction of the Guihulngan District Hospital’s Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care (CEMONC) unit. The new facility already has an allocation of P21million for construction.
Gov. Degamo said the bidding was already done and the construction of the project is supposed to start soon.
The restoration of the district hospital facilities will be prioritized so that it can be used and the resident-patients in the area can avail at once, Degamo added.
The CMONC is in line with the efforts to reduce the maternal and child mortality rate in the province, and improve the health services at the Guihulngan District Hospital, this is learned.
With the continuous aftershocks, the damages of the hospital had been extensive. Thus, local health officials were obliged to transfer the patients to a temporary safe place outside the hospital.
With this, the governor directed the Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO) to inspect and assess the extent of the damage of the tertiary hospital and check the structural integrity of the building.
The assessment of the PEO also included the facilities and medical equipment so that the local government can look for some means to replace them, said Degamo. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)
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Stamp exhibit to inspire women ongoing in Dumaguete
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 7 (PIA) -- A former high-ranking official of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has organized a stamp exhibit to inspire competence and confidence among women in Dumaguete City.
Former NTC Deputy Commissioner Atty. Kathleen Heceta is the philatelist responsible for the current exhibit at Silliman University’s (SU) Robert B. and Metta J. Library where over 700 commemorative and special edition stamps from 60 countries are displayed.
The stamps are displayed in clusters based on five administrative regions, namely: (A) Americas, (B) Western Europe, (C) Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, (D) Africa and (E) Asia and Australasia.
Highlighting the exhibit is a special collection of stamps from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Heceta partnered with the university’s Christian Women Association (CWA) to mount the exhibit in celebration of International Women’s Month this March.
Through the stamp exhibit, Heceta and CWA hope to educate and inspire women, especially the younger generation, to develop the needed competence and confidence in achieving one of the Millennium Development Goals of promoting gender equality and women empowerment.
“Different cultures, local histories and stories on struggles for national identity and pride are reflected in the stamps on display,” said a statement from SU’s Office of Information and Publications (OIP).
The organizers also envision the collection to facilitate connectivity among women across the globe.
Heceta’s ties with SU started when she obtained her Bachelor of Laws from the University in 1962.
An active member of CWA, she has also served as an elected chairperson of the Council 2000 of the International Telecommunications Union.
The stamp exhibit, which opened on March 1, is hosted at the American Studies Resource Center on the ground floor of the library. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)