Forum on prostate cancer on June 22

CEBU, June 16 (PIA) --- The Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) will hold a forum on prostate cancer on June 22 at 2 p.m. at the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center located at Lopez Jaena St. , Cebu City .

The forum is organized in collaboration with the Urology Department of VSMMC in celebration of the Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in June.

           

According to Ronald delos Reyes, program coordinator of EJACC, the forum is a good venue to share the basic facts about prostate cancer and encourage people to do prevention through early detection.  

The forum is open to the public.

           

Prostate cancer develops when the cells of the prostate—which is found in the pelvis, under the urinary bladder and in front of the rectum, surrounding part of the urethra—mutate into cancer cells.

EJACC urges the public to undergo early detection measures—especially maintaining a healthy lifestyle and nutrition, exercise, proper hygiene, and avoiding stresses and vices—to prevent prostate cancer. (PIA-7 & RAFI)

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PAF celebrates 64th Founding Anniversary on July

By: Hazel F. Gloria

CEBU CITY, June 16 (PIA) --- The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will celebrate its 64th Founding Anniversary on July 1, 2011 with the theme, “Ang Inyong Hukbong Himpapawid: Kaakibat sa Kaunlaran at Kaisa sa Kapayapaan,” 

To highlight the anniversary celebration, the PAF in Mactan, Cebu sets pre anniversary activities that are in line with its commitment to serve the less fortunate people, save lives and protect the environment.

On June 18, the PAF will conduct an Advocacy Biking to promote “Peace and Good Governance” that will be participated in by people from various government agencies and the private sector. It will start at the Brigadier General Benito NEbuen Air Base, Lapulapu  City. 

There will be a medical mission at Brgy. Alegria, Cordova on June 28 and tree planting activity at Mt. Pul-ong, Sibugay, Cebu on June 30.(PIA-7/mbcn/hfg)

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U.S. congratulates PHL on its 113^th Independence Day

CEBU, June 15 (PIA) --- In a statement sent to the Philippines, US secretary of State, Hilary Clinton congratulated the people of the Philippines on its 113th anniversary of the declaration of independence on June 12.

“The United States and the Philippines are long-standing friends and partners.  We stood together during World War II to defend liberal democratic values.  Today, we are working together on many new fronts,” the statement read. 

Clinto said, whether we are working to find ways to catalyze economic growth, helping victims of natural disasters, combating extremism, or calling for greater protection of human rights, our two countries share a vision of a better world.

She said, America supports the Philippine government’s commitment to fight corruption, promote judicial reform, reduce poverty, and create opportunities for its people.

“Our two countries are cooperating in new ways on everything from the Partnership for Growth joint effort to boost prosperity in the Philippines, to the Open Government Partnership initiative to improve governance and transparency around the globe, Clinton’s statement continued.

Together through the Millennium Challenge Corporation compact “we are working to reduce poverty through economic growth.  The Philippines is a committed partner on so many issues,” she further noted.

“Please accept my sincere thanks for your friendship and best wishes for your continued success and prosperity on this special day,” Clinton concluded. (PIA-7/MBCNewman & reports from the U.S. Embassy)

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LGUs to exert vigilance over marine resources within jurisdiction

By: Minerva BC Newman

CEBU, June 15 (PIA) --- The Bureau of Customs Port of Cebu turned-over today some P15M worth of seized black deep sea corals to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-7) in the region after those were forfeited in favor of the government due to a fictitious consignee.

BFAR-7 regional director Andres Bojos said that those species were classified as endangered.  He said he is alarmed at the gravity of the environmental plunder.

“I am asking the help of everyone, specifically the local government units to be extra vigilant over marine resources within their respective areas of jurisdiction,” Bojos told the RDC-Economic Dev’t committee, in a meeting recently.   

 Bojos lamented that the destruction of corals in our oceans may mean the destruction of the breeding ground, nursery and hospitals for fisheries.  “In other words, we have destroyed the homes of the fishes,” he added.

The degradation of the coastal areas has long ceased to be merely an environmental issue.  It pushed poverty deeper in the coastal communities through losses in livelihood, vulnerability to natural hazards, hunger and food insecurity.

Senator Loren Legarda, chairperson on the senate committee on the environment and climate change called on local government units (LGUs) all over the nation to be at the forefront in the crusade for the protection of the country’s marine resources.

“We have to bear in mind that this 15-kilometer stretch often holds the most precious marine ecosystems that sustain our oceans, rivers and seas,” Legarda said.

This is the stretch where we find the mangroves, the fingerlings, and the corals. Whale sharks also graze to feed on plankton, dolphins play and feed in the middle of straits and where turtles also feed on the seagrass, she explained.

Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code clearly defines municipal waters as those within 15 kilometers from the shore at low tide, the management of which has been delegated to the LGUs.

Legarda has proposed the Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) Act under Senate Bill 1370 that seeks to create a comprehensive framework that will promote the sustainable development of the coastal and marine environment and resources.

This will provide the direction, support and guidance to the LGUs in the development of their respective programs.

Another is Senate Bill 1337 that would create the Philippines Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Agency (PAFEA).  This will unify all agriculture and fisheries extension system and ensure maintenance of the high standards of extension programs.

It shall orchestrate, provide national direction, set standards of performance, and provide institutionalized financial and technical support to the LGUs.

Senate Bill 2616 on the other hand bans the catching, sale, purchase, possession, transportation, importation, and exportation of all sharks and rays in the country.

Through these proposed measures the senator hopes that there will be a comprehensive and integrated approach in the management of the marine resources. (PIA-7/mbcn & reports from the office of Senator Legarda)

"Forests, Nature at your Service"

By: Hazel F. Gloria

CEBU CITY, June 16 (PIA) --- "Forests: Nature at your Service," this is how the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) describes the forests in the world and in celebration of June as Environment Month, it is aptly used as this year's theme.   

It has been said that forests cover one of the earth’s land mass, performing vital functions and services around the world which make our planet alive with
possibilities.

According to DENR data, 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods.

Forests play a key role in the battle against climate change, releasing oxygen into the atmosphere while storing carbon dioxide.

Forests feed our rivers and are essential to supplying the water for nearly 50 percent of our largest cities. They create and maintain soil fertility, they help to
regulate the often devastating impact of storms, floods and fires.

Part of the features of the environment month 2011 celebration, the DENR-7 has lined up a series of activities for the month starting with a Mangrove tree planting and coastal clean-up on June 21 at Olango Island, Lapu-lapu City.

The environment office will organize a mine tour with the Apo Cement Corporation in Naga City in southern Cebu on June 23 to familiarize the people and the media on the details of the mining industry.

On June 25, DENR-7 launches the National Greening Program (NGP) with the Run to Plant and Greenin Philippines in barangay Jaclupan, City.  This is in partnership with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., Metro Cebu Water District and the various national government agencies.(PIA-7/mbcn/hfg)

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DepEd official says implementation of universal kindergarten successful
By Eli C. Dalumpines

CEBU CITY, June 16 (PIA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) here claimed that the implementation of the universal kindergarten program is quite successful.

Cebu Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Arden Monisit, in a recent radio interview 
over DYRC, said that based on DepEd’s initial assessment, the holding of kindergarten classes in the province of Cebu went on smoothly.

According to Monisit, he has not received reports from the field on any major hitches encountered by his teachers with regards to the implementation of the program.

Monisit informed that during their executive conference last June 2, they were able to establish close coordination with the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) in initiating measures to secure school campuses in the province in its first month of classes.

The PNP, he cited, set up police action centers in designated areas in the province to secure students from bad elements who are seeking to victimize them.

He, however, said he is planning to request CPPO Chief S/Supt. Patrocino Comendador to extend the operation of their police action centers up to the end of the classes on March to ensure the safety of the students throughout this school year.

Meanwhile, Monisit informed that they have yet to receive the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) from the Office of the Secretary of Education for the salary of the kindergarten teachers.

But he clarified that this will not yet affect the salaries of teachers up to this point since a large number of them are contractual and are locally paid while only few are nationally funded. 

The school official admitted that DepEd resorted to employing contractual teachers to address the shortage of pre-school teachers for the first year of the implementation of the universal kindergarten for lack of funds.

DepEd's policy, according to him, is to employ teachers who have regular-permanent items as much as possible but with the shortage of teachers they have to hire contractual teachers to fill in the gap.

The basic monthly salary for the Teacher I item, he said, is P14,000 while a teacher with a contractual item is only receiving a monthly salary of P6,000.

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Free Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) for males

40 y.o. & above on Sat., June 18 at VSMMC

By: Juju S.Manubag

CEBU CITY, June 16 (PIA) --- The Philippine Urologist Association (PUA), Cebu City chapter will hold a one-day free digital rectal examination (DRE) at the Out-Patient Department of Vicente Sotto Medical Memorial Center (VSMMC), Cebu City this coming Saturday, June 18 from 8:00 in the morning up to 4:00 in the afternoon.

Dr. Michael Aponesto of the Urology Department of VSMMC in an interview with Philippine Information Agency (PIA) – Cebu said the free DRE is in line with the Department of Health (DOH)’s observance of June as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men. According to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), prostate cancer develops in 19 out of every 100,000 Filipinos while the DOH has already recognized this alarming number and declared June of every year as “Prostate Cancer Awareness Month”.

Digital rectal examinations are considered a must for all males aged 40 and above. Through the test, urologists are able to confirm if the patient has lower urinary tract symptoms associated withBenign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).

Studies point out that BPH, if left untreated, could lead to prostate cancer.

Increasing the awareness and submission of the populace to the free DRE can improve treatment outcome and lessen the mortality of prostate cancer, Aponesto said.

Factors that affect early consultation resulting to late stage diagnosis are financial, non-awareness of the gravity of cancer upon first presentation and fear of being diagnosed with cancer, this is learned.

Aponesto however, said that as with many kinds of cancers, prostate cancer may be more easily cured with early detection.

Twelve (12) urologists all over Cebu who are members of PUA,Cebu Chapter namely: Dr. Bonifacio Cabahug, Dr. Ernesto Cabahug, Dr Melonil Cabahug, Dr Jose Rizalito Catipay, Dr. John Mata, Dr Alan Mejarito, Dr Emmaneuel Barcenas, Dr Kristoperce Eugenio, Dr Victor Cabrera, Dr. Angelo Linawagan, Dr.Enrique Tenazas and Dr. Edwin Lim will  be around that day to give the free DRE as part of their community service.

According to Dr. Aponesto, more that 20 pharmaceutical companies have signed up in support to this activity.

These companies will be giving out starter doses that will last from three to five days for the patients with prescription from the urologist. Aponesto said that the medicines will be good until supply lasts. (FCR/JSM/PIA-7 Cebu)

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PAG-IBIG, PBSP ink accord for water system

project to benefit upland sitio in Cebu City

CEBU CITY, June 15 (PIA) -- For years, inhabitants of this mountainous sitio have to walk for hours just to access water from a natural source. Today, residents of Sitio Sayaw in upland Barangay Tabunan, Cebu City can heave a sigh of relief with the construction of a new potable water system.

Over 30 households from mountainous Sitio Sayaw in Cebu City will now have improved access to water through the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) or Pag-IBIG Fund’s Potable Water System Project.

This project was made possible through an agreement between Pag-IBIG Fund Cebu South Branch and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), which involves the establishment of a Level 2 potable water system in Sitio Sayaw, Tabunan, Cebu City.

PAG-IBIG, PBSP and the Sayaw Farmers Group signed the project MOA last June 2 at the PAG-IBIG Fund-WT Corporate Tower in Cebu Business Park, Cebu City. Signatories of the MOA were Pag-IBIG Fund Cebu Branch Officer-in-Charge and Department Manager III Rio Teves, PBSP Visayas Regional Operations Manager Jessie Cubijano and Sayaw Farmers Association President Ricardo Labora.

“As a financial institution that largely deals with housing projects, we know how important water is to every household,” Teves stated during the MoA signing.

The Pag-IBIG Potable Water System Project, worth P60,000.00, will take the form of spring boxes that collect water from springs and other natural water resources in upland areas and keep stored water safe from contamination. The project will allow for two distribution stations for the households within the area. 

PAG-IBIG selected Sitio Sayaw as its community because of its difficult access to potable water and other basic social services. Sitio Sayaw is located approximately 10 kilometers from the Transcentral Highway, which is 25 kilometers away from the city proper.

“We are truly grateful to Pag-IBIG for this assistance. Now, we have a potable water facility we could call our own and the health of our children is secured,” Labora said.

Under the agreement, PBSP will serve as the implementing agency on the construction of the water system as well as take charge in the monitoring of the project.

“We want to make sure that our funds will go to projects that are more sustainable and our partnership with PBSP will ensure that these qualities are met,” Teves added. 

The potable water system project signalizes Pag-IBIG Cebu’s commitment to adopt Sitio Sayaw as its community for its following Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives through the Pag-IBIG 1-4-3 Program, a flagship initiative of the institution aimed at funding long-term projects to adopted needy communities as its expression of corporate social responsibility. 

Funds for the program, which was launched in January 2011, are obtained from P500 contributions of all Pag-IBIG employees.

The Pag-IBIG Fund is the country’s leading housing financial provider for three decades. In 2010, it remains to be one of the most profitable financial institutionshaving generated a revenue of P22.4 billion and assets worth P278 billion. To date, Pag-IBIG is operating nationwide with 35 branches and more than 17 extension offices. 

Last year, the Pag-IBIG Fund through its Employees’ Labor Association also partnered with PBSP for a supplemental feeding program that benefited 60 children in Babag, a barangay identified by the Lapu-Lapu City government as having the highest population of malnourished children.   

This is the first time, however, that Pag-IBIG embarked on a CSR program by permanently adopting a community, with its Cebu South Branch taking the lead.

Teves hopes that with the success of this project, other branches nationwide will follow suit or come up with their own sustainable projects applicable in their areas of jurisdiction. 

“This is our way of saying thank you to our stakeholders. With projects like this, we make sure that our funds go to something more worthwhile, which leaves a lasting effect to our community,” Teves said.

Aside from the construction of the potable water system, Pag-IBIG is also set to take part in the 2011 Reforestation Caravan kickoff on June 2011. Organized by PBSP, this activity aims to reforest at least 100 hectares of the denuded Cebu Hillylands within the year. (FCR/Reggie Marie Barrientos of PBSP/PIA 7-Cebu)

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Cebu City LGU grants P2M financial aid to Cebu biz group

in celebration of Cebu Business Month 2011 this June

by Fayette C. Riñen

CEBU CITY, June 15 (PIA) --- A more progressive metropolis can best be achieved with the support of every sector; more so the business community that plays a vital role in the local economy.

With this in mind, the Cebu City Government did not hesitate to provide financial assistance to the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), the leading business organization in Cebu, to defray the costs of the month-long activities this June in celebration of the Cebu Business Month (CBM) 2011.

Resolution No. 12-3090-2011 of the 12^th Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Cebu materializes the financial assistance of the city to CCCI’s annual celebration of the Cebu Business Month 2011.  

Last April 18, CCCI’s top officials paid a visit to Mayor Michael Rama and presented to him the planned programs and activities for the month-long celebration of the CBM 2011 in the areas of Information and Communication Technology and Business Process Outsourcing (ICT&BPO), Entrepreneurship, Tourism and Emerging Industries.

Mayor Rama on the other hand, also took the opportunity to discuss with the business leaders the city’s developmental plans for a possible Public-Private Partnership (PPP), an essential thrust of Pres. Aquino to fast track the country’s economy.

The city government and the CCCI will schedule a MOA signing for the release of the financial grant amounting to P2M for the latter to defray the costs of the CBM 2011, a statement form the CCCI stated.

The CCCI statement further said that this partnership only shows that the city government is in full support to any individual, group or organization that advocates programs and projects for the socio-economic development of Cebu City. 

Every Month of June, Cebu’s business community fires up for a month-long of opportunity where industry stakeholders in the areas of ICT & BPO, tourism, entrepreneurship, and emerging and growing communities gather to promote, share and provide a more dynamic and proactive direction for a sustainable business environment in Cebu.

This year’s CBM 2011 carries the theme ‘BUSINESS Beyond BOUNDARIES”while the CCCI has undertaken the CBM for 15 years now. (PIA 7-Cebu)