PDEA-7 and PRO-7 seized over P183T worth of dangerous drugs in CV for February
By: Juju S. Manubag
CEBU CITY, Mar 9 (PIA) ---The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 with the Police Regional Office-7 seized over P183T worth of dangerous drugs in the 122 joint operations they conducted in Central Visayas for February 2011.
Data shows that an increase of almost 72% is noted in the number of joint operations for the month of February as compared to last month’s 71 joint operations of the PDEA with PRO in Central Visayas.
Also noted that a decrease of 1.18% in the worth of dangerous drugs confiscated this month as compared to last month’s 400T worth of drugs seized.
According to PDEA-7 Intelligence Officer Muñoz, drugs’ worth is computed with the prevailing market prize in the streets.
PDEA-7 records showed that of its joint 122 operations with PRO-7, they have arrested 96 persons who are in the possession of dangerous drugs.
The profile of these 96 persons are 73 pushers, one cultivator, five possessors and 17 users.
All those arrested are now detained and cases have been filed against 87 males and nine female of which 26 of them are in PDEA’s order of battle and the rest of the 70 arrested are not in the watch list.
Seized are 13.6 grams of marijuana, 164 pieces drug paraphernalia, 23.85 grams and three pieces marijuana plants.
PDEA-7 data also showed that from its 122 operations, it has seized other non-drug evidences; one vehicle, 35 weapons, two communication equipment and twenty 23 other evidences. (PIA-7/jsm)
PHL dev’t plan must be climate change sensitive
Manila (PIA) -- The country’s development plan must be climate change-sensitive and responsive to sustain the gains that the government wants to achieve in the next six years.
Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change said it clearly established the imperative to mainstream disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in our poverty-reduction and development strategies.
According to Legarda this is one concrete approach that was identified during discussions with World Bank officials During the Senate briefing on the United Nations-World Bank Publication“Natural Hazards, Unnatural Disasters” in February.
Legarda and National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Cayetano Paderanga Jr. agreed to establish a multi-sector committee to review the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP 2011-2016) and ensure that the government’s strategy is climate change-sensitive and responsive so that progress will not be hindered or stunted due to weather-related occurrences.
Legarda pointed out that having a disaster-resilient development plan would significantly reduce government expenditure on rehabilitation after every disaster.
She noted that the damage wrought by Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in 2009 already require reconstruction fund of Php227 billion.
“A huge amount that could be used instead for other government priorities such as education, health, public infrastructure development, or agriculture and rural development, Legarda added.
Furthermore, the World Bank and UN joint report “Economics of Effective Prevention” says that annual global losses from natural hazards such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and flooding could triple to US$ 185 billion by the end of the century, even without calculating the impact of climate change. Climate change could add another US$28-68 billion from tropical cyclones alone.
These figures all the more support the demand for more and better spending for pro-active measures. Disasters maim and kill, Legarda said.
They devastate the environment and set back economic development. Yet disasters can be prevented if we have the political will to invest in risk reduction, the Senator added.
“For without effective disaster prevention, hundreds of lives, thousands of homes, billions worth of properties and livelihoods, even government's growth and revenue targets, specifically our development goals, can be at the mercy of a single extreme weather event,” Legarda concluded. (PIA-7/Minerva BC Newman with reports from the Office of Senator Legarda)
DOH-7 intensifies campaign against measles
By: Hazel F. Gloria
Cebu City , March 9 (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) in Central Visayas intensifies its Door-to-Door Measles-Rubella campaign that will start on April 4 – May 4, 2011.
Measles-Rubella Campaign Point Person Center for Health Development Dr. Nayda Bautista told reporters during the AGIO-7 Forum that measles is an alarming disease to the public because it is contagious.
Dr Bautista revealed if one person is affected with measles it could transmit to 18 – 20 persons.
Early this year, there are five reported confirmed cases of measles in Central Visayas, one in Negros Oriental and four in Cebu province, she added.
This year’s cases decreased to 50 percent compared to last year in the same period of time, she continued.
Dr Nayda explained that this year’s measles cases decreased due to the intensive mass campaigns of routine measles immunization and giving booster doses to those who have already received measles immunization in order to fight against measles disease.
The health official said a population requires that 95% of children be vaccinated in order to confer 'herd immunity' to people in the general population who have not been vaccinated.
In Central Visayas , DOH-7 targets 1.4 million of children to be vaccinated with 1,300 vaccination teams that will go door-to-door immunization campaign.
This campaign is dubbed as “Iligtas sa Tigdas ang Pinas.” (PIA-Cebu/HFG)
PBSP celebrates its positive contribution to reduce poverty in the country
By: Hazel F. Gloria
Cebu City, March 9 (PIA) -- The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in Visayas celebrates today its 23 years of positive contributions of its 260 member companies in the reduction of poverty at the countryside through projects on livelihood and enterprise, education, health and environment.
PBSP Commissioner Officer in the Visayas Reggie Marie Barientos said it has been 23 years since PBSP has helped more than one million households become self-reliant communities all over the Visayas
.PBSP is looking forward for another year of service to see what else the business sector can do for our beloved country, Barientos continued.
Due to the recent flooding in Metro Cebu and the rest of the Visayas, the sector invites Archt. Felino “Jun” Palafox, Jr. to present the most efficient practices in urban planning and development that businesses can adopt for their own Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs and disaster risk management, Barientos said.
This may help the business sector know its roles on how to assist the communities affected with calamities and map out disaster risk reduction programs, Barientos added.
“We in PBSP have proven that when business unites, we can make a difference. Now is the time to move more relentlessly in our effort to bring better Visayas and a better Philippines for all,” Barientos declared.
Today is PBSP’s 23rd Visayas Annual Membership Meeting (VAMM) that anchors on the theme “Business United, Lives Uplifted.” (PIA-Cebu/HFG)
Talisay City, Naga City are finalists for 3rd GeRL Search
By: Juju S. Manubag
Cebu City. March 8 (PIA) – Talisay City and Naga City are the two component cities’ finalists that vied for the 3rd Search for the Most Gender-Responsive Local Government Units (GeRL) in the Province of Cebu.
Provincial Women’s Commission GAD Officer, Ms. Hedda Largo bared this in a telephone interview with PIA recently.
Largo also revealed the first and third class municipalities’ finalists for the search are Asturias, Balamban, Barili, Consolacion, Cordova, Liloan, Medellin, Pinamungajan and Tuburan while finalists for the fourth and fifth class municipalities are Alcoy, Catmon, Oslob, Pilar, Santander, Sogod Tabuelan and Tudela.
Largo added that only one (1) component city, five (5) first and third class municipalities and another five (5) fourth and fifth class municipalities are to be declared winners for the GeRL Search.
Plaques of Recognition for Exemplary Performance will be presented to the two (2) non-winners from the first and third class municipalities and another two (2) from the fourth and fifth class municipalities’ non-winners, Largo said.
Largo added that three (3) trophies will be given to the Most Gender-Responsive Local Government Units in Cebu Province for the following categories: Component City category, First-Third Class Category and Fourth-Fifth Class Municipality Category.
The winners of the GeRL Search will be announced and awarded on March 25 during the 11thCebu Womens’ Congress at the Cebu International Convention Center, Mandaue City, Largo concluded. (PIA-7/jsm)
Sec. Robredo to keynote 11th Cebu Women’s Congress
By: Juju S. Manubag
Cebu City, March 8 (PIA) -– Department of Interior Local Government (DILG) Secretary, Jesse Robredo will Keynote the 11th Cebu Women’s Congress and Third Search for the Most Gender-Responsive Local Government Unit (GeRL) Awarding Ceremony on March 25 at Cebu International Convention Center.
Gender and Dev’t (GAD) Officer of the Cebu Provincial Women’s Commission, Ms. Hedda Largo bared this in an interview with PIA.
Largo said Robredo will talk on Gender-Responsive Governance: the Key to Effective Community Development and Economic Empowerment.
The other speaker is Honorable Aurora Javate de Dios, the former Chairperson of the National Commission on the Role of the Filipino Women and Executive Director of the Women and Gender Institute (WAGI) Mirriam College, Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
Honorable Jose Ribomapil Holganza, Commissioner of the Philippine Women’s Commission and Chairperson of the Federation of The Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) and member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cebu will also give the Welcome Message of the Congress while Honorable Agnes Magpale, Co-chair of the Cebu Provincial Women’s Commission and Chairperson of the Sanggunaing Panlalawigan Committee on Women, Children and Family will give a report on the Provincial Women Council’s Accomplishments for 2010.
After Robredo’s message, Atty. Lolita Lomanta, Chairperson of the Search will announce the winners of the 3rd Search for the Most Gender-Responsive Local Government Unit (LGU) of Cebu Province.
Governor Gwendolyn Garcia who is the Chairperson of Cebu Provincial Womens Commission to be assisted by its Asst Chairperson Agnes Magpale will award the trophies, plaques of recognition and performance incentives to the participants of the 3rd GeRL search.
Part of the Congress will be the awarding of plaques of recognition as participating LGU in the Implementation of Grameen for Women Empowerment Now to the municipalities of Argao, Badian, Balamban, Bantayan, Madridejos, Minglanilla, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Poro, Sogod, Tabuelan and Tuburan.
Plaques of recognition will also be given to Argao, Badian, Barili, Carmen, Consolacion, Cordova, Pilar, Samboan and Talisay City.as LGU-aspirants in the Search for the Most Child Friendly LGU.
There will also be distribution of computers and printers from the Cebu Provincial Women’s Commission in cooperation with Early Childhood Care Development Council for Children of the Provincial Social Welfare & Development Office to the 13 Early Childhood Care Development Program-Pilot LGUs of Argao, Badian, Balamban, Bantayan, Madridejos, Minglanilla, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Poro, Sogod, Tabulen and Tudela.