DILG-7 to organize a reg’l economic transformation team
By: Minerva BC Newman
Cebu, April 15 (PIA) – The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG-7) in Central Visayas is set to organize and create the Regional Economic Transformation Team (RETT) today, April 15 at the Marco Polo Hotel, Cebu City .
DILG-7 regional director, Pedro Noval, Jr., explained that the creation of the RETT is the regional equivalent of the National and Local Economic Transformation Team (N/LETT) that will assist local government units in implementing local economic initiatives.
Noval said, the DILG is implementing the local governance support program for local economic development with funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
It is an eight year collaborative program of the Government of Canada and the Philippines in strengthening the enabling environment for good governance and supporting sustainable local economic development.
According to Noval under this program the DILG and CIDA have drafted the local economic development framework that positions alternative mechanism for national government agencies and other institutions to assist local government units in their economic development programs.
The framework also suggests a delivery mechanism for local economic development support services to bring about greater efficiency and effectiveness to existing LED services, Noval added.
The regional economic transformation team is expected to assist in all ways all local government units in their economic activities that will result in a more strategic, dynamic and synergy in working together for sustainable local economic activities. (PIA-7/MBCN)
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Wage board to consider possibility of a wage hike
By Eli C. Dalumpines
Cebu City, April 15 (PIA) – The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Central Visayas is set to hold another meeting on the last week of this month to explore possibilities of instituting another round of increase in the salaries of workers in the region.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Acting Regional Director Exequil Sarcauga, in a telephone interview this morning, informed the PIA that the board held an initial meeting Tuesday where they discussed the prevailing economic situation in the region following the series of increases in the price of petroleum products last month.
But according to Sarcauga, the board has yet to reach a conclusion pending the data of the recent oil price increases that took place after March 31which, he said, needs to be included.
“We actually have two rounds of increase on the price of oil early this month, one of which involves more than P1.00. We have to incorporate this data plus the effects it left on the prices of basic commodities,” Sarcauga said.
From there, the board will decide whether there is a sufficient ground to warrant a wage increase, he added.
He refuses to comment though whether there is already a ground to grant an increase for fear that he may preempt the decision of the board.
The DOLE official said it should be the board as a collegial body who will decide if the present economic situation in the region can already be considered as a “supervening condition” set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
Such factor, according to Sarcauga, is important in considering a wage increase at this point because the one-year reglamentary period set by the Labor Code has not expired yet since the last round of salary increase for workers in Central Visayas was implemented last September 1. (PIA 7/ECD)
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Metro Cebu Leukemia incidence rate among children is high
By: Minerva BC Newman
Cebu City, April 15 (PIA) – Metro Cebu Population-based Cancer Registry statistics from the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) showed that incidence rate of leukemia among children male and female aged 17 years old and below are high.
Within 1993 to 2007, about 170 female and around 201 male who are 17 and below were recorded to have the disease.
EJACC program coordinator Ronald delos Reyes said that many people are aware of leukemia but “we are not sure of the extent of their knowledge.”
That is why EJACC continues its educational campaign in the fight against cancer and, in the process, nurture the culture of learning, Delos Reyes added.
As the country celebrates April as Leukemia Month, EJACC urged the public to engage in early detection and prevention measures to fight Leukemia.
According to Delos Reyes, Leukemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of white blood cells.
It is a broad term, covering a spectrum of diseases as well as part of an even broader group of diseases called haematological neoplasm.
Delos Reyes further explains that the important thing to know about leukemia is subdivided into a variety of large groups.
Acute leukemia is characterized by a rapid increase in the numbers of immature blood cells, most commonly found among children.
Acute chronic leukemia on one hand is characterized by the excessive build up of relatively mature, but still abnormal white blood cells that takes months or years to progress.
Chronic leukemia mostly occurs among older people but can also happen in any age group, this is learned.
According to Delos Reyes, the most common symptom of chronic or acute leukemia is anemia that may cause dyspnea or shortness of breath and pallor.
Some patients may experience other symptoms like feeling sick—fever, chills, night sweats, and other flu-like symptoms.
All symptoms associated with leukemia can be attributed to other diseases. This type of cancer is always diagnosed through medical tests.
The common causes of leukemia are not yet known. Leukemia, like other cancers, results from somatic mutation in the DNA.
These mutations may occur spontaneously or as a result of radiation or carcinogenic substances.
Delos Reyes emphasized that Leukemia is preventable through screening methods, such as physical exam and Complete Blood Count, as well as second prevention measures, such as regular exercise and maintenance of a well-balanced diet.
“We must take a proactive approach in the fight against cancer. When we know about a certain cancer and engage in early detection measures then the possibility of preventing it is very high,” he said. (PIA-7/MBCN with reports from EJACC)