AFP-CENTCOM places 120-soldiers on standby
in case of disaster amid incessant rains
by Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, June 6 (PIA) –- About 120 soldiers in the Armed Forces of the Philippines – Central Command (AFP-CentCom) based in Cebu are placed on standby alert in case of emergency situations amid the incessant rains being experienced with the onset of the rainy season.
CENTCOM Spokeperson Lt. Col. Christopher Tampus said one company composed of 120 soldiers is put on reserve whose main task is for rescue and evacuation operations.
Though Central Visayas will not be affected by the tropical storm ‘Chedeng,’ based on the PAGASA advisory but it is “better to be over prepared than be caught unaware of any eventuality arising from too much raining,” Tampus said in a press statement.
Tampus said they are anticipating more rains to come with the rainy period officially setting in.
“WE are closely coordinating with the local government units to let them know that we are ready and prepared to assist them in case of any eventuality,” according to Tampus.
Tampus emphasized that their troops and equipment are all ready just in case the local government units would need immediate assistance.
Meantime, AFP Chief of Staff General Eduardo Oban has ordered the AFP to brace for Typhoon Chedeng. (PIA 7-Cebu)
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P339T from PDAF help 115 displaced families through DSWD-7
By: Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, June 06 (PIA) --- Some P339T from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of the lawmakers from the Cebu City South and North district representatives Tomas Osmena and Rachel Marguerite del Mar respectively have been disbursed to assist the displaced families who used to live along the river banks of Mahiga Creek as well as in the squatters area of Raja Jumabon St. at the North Reclamation in Cebu City.
Over 115 families who are victims of disasters recently received P1,000 to P8,000 cash donation from Cebu City Representatives Tomas Osmena and Rachel Marguerite del Mar through the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the region (DSWD-7).
Each of the affected families formerly residing along the river banks of Mahiga river received P5,000.00 from Osmena and additional P3,000.00 from del Mar.
In a separate development, legislator del Mar also released another 1,000.00 each to the 83 displaced families from Raja Jumabon St. at the North
Reclamation area.(PIA-7/HFG and DSWD-7)
In a separate development, legislator del Mar also released another 1,000.00 each to the 83 displaced families from Raja Jumabon St. at the North
Reclamation area.(PIA-7/HFG and DSWD-7)
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Cebu distributors already warned against contaminated
food, drink products from Taiwan, DOH-7 says
by Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, June 6 (PIA) - Commercial establishments in Cebu selling Taiwanese food and drink products have already been advised to remove these items from their shelves as the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered a massive recall of such products due to fears of contamination with a harmful chemical.
“The Bureau of Food and Drug Administration here has already sent an advisory to concerned establishments and the public in general warning the dangers of consuming Taiwanese food and drink products that may contain Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP),” according to Suzette Limbaga, public information officer of the Department of Health (DOH) – Central Visayas.
Limbaga urged the public to refrain from buying Taiwanese products for their own safety as theFDA warned that even those not in the list of products found to be contaminated with the damaging chemical shall likewise be withdrawn from the market pending lab analyses.
Among the 165, 505 products from Taiwan that were positive with the DEHP are Togo Oolong Tea, mango green tea bag, plum green tea, mint green tea, Mulberry jam, peach fruit Cheng’en Food Enterprise Co. Ltd., hazelnut tea, almond jelly immortality line, Zhufang vegetarian dishes almond jelly material line and candy apple green thick paste.
“The public may check the entire list via the website www.fda.gov.ph,” according to Limbaga.
Late last month, Taipei had warned the Philippines that the DEHP could have been illegally added to the Taiwan-manufactured food and drink products which were exported to the country, this was reported.
Limbaga said the BFAD-7 here is continuously monitoring whether distributors, importers and retailers have adhered to the government’s directive to the massive recall of said products.
Meanwhile, an updated progress on the BFAD-7 report on the issue will be disclosed during the weekly KAPIHAN SA PIA slated this Wednesday at the DOH-7 compound. (PIA 7-Cebu)