Allied Bank now accepts PhilHealth premiums of OFWs
CEBU CITY, July 12 (PIA) --- Premium payments of land-based Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) are now accepted in Allied Bank branches nationwide.
Allied Bank is a PhilHealth-accredited collecting agent for the premiums of individually-paying members and the contribution of employees.
With Circular 8-2011, it can now receive premiums of registered-OFWs. The circular details how OFWs and other members, including employers, can pay premium at the bank.
Documented land-based OFWs are required to secure PhilHealth coverage before leaving the country. As such, they shall be enrolled under the Overseas Workers Program (OWP) where they pay an annual premium of P900, also equivalent to a year’s worth of coverage counted from the date of payment.
When paying premium at the bank, OFWs must present a copy of their current employment contract, work permit, visa, or passport with visa.
Premium payment must be updated on or before expiry of its one-year validity to ensure continuous coverage.
OFWs and others paying PhilHealth premium at Allied Bank must fill out its bills payment slip. The bank-validated bills payment slip shall be recognized as proof of payment for the purpose of availing of benefits.
OFWs may also pay premium at any of PhilHealth’s partner banks abroad such as the DBP Remittance Center in HongKong and the Philippine Veterans Bank foreign tie-ups in London (United Kingdom), Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) and Doha (Qatar); and in iRemit Centers in Taiwan, HongKong, Australia, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
Also, a relative or representative of the member may pay at PhilHealth offices in the country by presenting any of the documents mentioned above proving the member’s status as OFW.
PhilHealth Region 7 reminds OFWs and their representatives that there is a PhilHealth desk in the POEA Cebu one-stop processing center that can process their registration and premium payments.(PIA-7/mbcn/HFG/PhilHelath)
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PIA-7 signs MOA to promote VAW-C Programs
By: Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, July 12 (PIA) --- The Philippine Information Agency in the region (PIA-7) with the Share-A-Child Movement, Inc. (SACMI) and the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO) signed recently a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in implementing Communities Learning to Stop Abuse and Nurture Social Empowerment (CLEANSE) project to promote greater awareness to the Violence Against Women and Children (VAW-C) program including Anti-Trafficking, Pornography, Cybersex and Pedophilia.
CLEANSE project was created to re-orient its operations to be more client-oriented and to prioritize addressing violence against women and children and other related issues on women, children and family.
This agreement will undertake a multi-media campaign and exposure on the campaign Against VAW-C and other related issues and concerns in the region through print, radio, TV and internet blogs as well as interpersonal communication.
SACMI Executive Director Atty. Nina Valenzona said there is a need to create awareness, understanding and educate Filipinos on coping strategies to address VAW-C.
Tri-media and other alternative media are effective channels in bringing the messages of VAW-C, trafficking and ways to cope with the current global situation on Cybersex, pornography and pedophilia.
Meanwhile, the Share a Child Movement Inc. is a child focused non-government organization based in Cebu City. It is accredited with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and with the Cebu City Government.
It’s goal is to provide access to education, both formal and non-formal, to poor and needy children in need of special attention.
The organization also promote rights of children to survival, development, protection and participation and to develop the capacities of families for self-reliance. To provide access to micro-finance facilities and trainings for livelihood.
The MOA signing was led by Atty. Nina Valenzona, SACMI Executive Director, RD Minerva Newman of PIA-7 and Eddie Llamedo of AGIO during the meeting held at PIA-7 Regional Office.(PIA-7/mbcn/HFG)
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Cebu City to be launched as ASEAN City of Culture on July 15
By: Juju S.Manubag
CEBU CITY, July 12 (PIA) -- The ASEAN Ministers of Culture and Arts Plus Three (AMCA+3) will formally launch Cebu City as an ASEAN City of Culture this Friday, July 15 at the Sta. Maria Ballroom of the Radisson Blu Hotel, this city.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama proudly bared the announcement in a recent press conference hosted by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc (RAFI) at the Casa Gorordo Museum .
The forthcoming event will also witness the arrival of 22 ASEAN Ambassadors to the Philippines and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)-ASEAN members, this was disclosed during the same presscon.
Rama expressed his pride, gratitude and happiness upon knowing of the city’s designation as ASEAN City of Culture by AMCA+3 and to be the first city to host the program.
“Such honor will carry with us forever and such recognition will bring Cebu City to the global map,” Rama said and thanked the ASEAN for such recognition.
After the launching, there will be a series of activities and events that will take place relative to the ASEAN City of Culture Program which will run until July of next year, this is said.
Cebu City Councilor Margarita Osmeña, head of the city’s organizing committee on the declaration of Cebu City as the City of Culture said that after the formal launching, an exhibit showcasing the best of Cebu ’s fashion, jewelry, furniture and virtual arts will be held at the SM City North Wing at 3:00 in the afternoon.
“There will also be a cultural show at 5pm at SM City covered terminal and the Party at the Park entitled “Kasadya sa Sugbo” which are all open to the public,” Osmeña said.
The next day, two activities are lined up namely the Heritage Walk or Pasiyo sa Kabilin and the unveiling of the marker of the ASEAN City of Culture at the ASEAN Friendship Garden , Family Park in Talamban.
A tour to Cebu City ’s heritage sites will follow the unveiling rite that will start at 10:00 in the morning.
The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc (RAFI) on the other hand, will host an exhibit on Philippine Nationhood that will focus on Cebuano heroes that is slated in August The following month, RAFI will also
organize a Lecture-Forum on Southeast Asian civilizations and cultures at the University of San Carlos (USC), this is learned.
In September, the Cebu City Government will hold the first Korean Festival and Moon Cake Festival while RAFI in October will again host a series of lectures and fora on ASEAN arts and literature.
The following are the activities lined up until 2012:
January 2012: Sinulog; ASEAN Spirits Festival; Miss Cebu
February 2012: Art in the Plaza; Xin Nian
March to May 2012: ASEAN Food Festival; Gabii sa Kabilin
April 2012: Mountain Festival; Holy Week
April to May 2012: Cebu City Free Cultural Summer Dance Workshop for the Children
May 2012: Cebu Sports Festival
June 2012: Cebu City Drums and Percussion Festival “Tambolero sa Sugbo”
July 2012: Launching of Guidebook for Tour Guides of Cebu City’s Landmarks
December 2012: Pasko sa Sugbo
Year-round: Balik Cebu Project
Rama said it will not be easy to maintain the culture of excellence bestowed on the city and that there’s a lot of work to be done to sustain such image. (FCR/JSM/PIA 7-Cebu)
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Feature: Explore Camotes Island , Cebu ’s ‘iconic’ destination
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, July 12 (PIA) – Foreign and domestic tourists visiting Cebu are urged to also explore the natural wonders of its new “iconic” destination --- Camotes Island --- located northeast of the province which proudly boasts of its white sugary beaches, spectacular fresh water lake and amazing caves among others.
Camotes Island has already been identified by the Department of Tourism (DOT) as the new “Iconic product” in Central Visayas because of its natural attractions with a tremendous potential of luring high-end tourists. As an iconic destination, the island will be given more promotional assistance from the DOT.
The entire island is actually composed of four low-lying islands with four municipalities which are Poro, Tudela, San Francisco and Pilar. The total population is 89,324 based on the 2007 census with farming, fishing and agriculture as the main livelihood sources but with the tag of being a promising premier island haven, tourism development is a huge potential that could fast track economic progress to this not-so-popular tourist destination.
Cebu’s 5th District Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano IV whose jurisdiction includes Camotes Island has acknowledged its huge potential of drawing more tourists and has allocated a budget to establish a Camotes Island Tourism Information Desk at theDanao City Port.
”The tourists can inquire from the desk about the ferry trip schedule, resort rates, tour packages and other services available on the island,” Durano quoted in a local news report.
Tourists who are curious to check the island can travel via roll-on, roll-off (RORO) ferry service at the Danao City Port but in case of bad weather conditions, one could opt for air travel as there is an airstrip in the island that could accommodate chartered flights, this is learned.
A bill authored by Durano that has passed final reading in the Lower House seeks to declare 2,000 hectares in Camotes open to development for commercial, industrial, residential, agricultural and other expansion purposes.
But an approved Senate version of the bill, is needed before it can be signed into law.
Durano expressed optimism that his vision for a well-balanced developed Camotes island though the passage of his bill would increase investors’ confidence to pour money into the island because they can now acquire land titles compared to the tax declarations that is no guarantee for proof of ownership which claimants of lands there only possess.
In the meantime, Durano urged the local chief executives of the four island municipalities to unify their efforts in coming up with an aggressive promotional and marketing tourism campaign to sell the island. (PIA 7-Cebu)