Cebu Int’l Airport is certified 1st safest airport in PHL by CAAP
By: Juju S. Manubag-Empuerto
CEBU CITY, August 10 (PIA) --- Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) now holds the distinction of being the first airport in the whole Philippines to be certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) as the safest airport today.
The Aerodome Certificate No. AGA-C-01-2011 was awarded by CAAP Director General Ramon S. Gutierrez to MCIAA’s Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Nigel Paul C. Villarete during the MCIAA Board Meeting last July 29.
“The Aerodrome Certification issued to MCIAA is a testament to the dedication of the Authority to constantly upgrade its services to the riding public. Since the MCIA is now the safest airport in the Philippines, it will attract more people to come to Cebu. And since the certification was given in accordance to the International Civil Aviation Organization standards, the Mactan Airport is now globally competitive” Gutierrez had said.
Villarete explained that the achievement is a step towards the realization of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s marching order to upgrade the country’s entire aviation industry.
Villarete bared that they made an application for the certification of the MCIA aerodome last January 19, 2010 and received the approval last July 14, 2011.
The following are the criteria to be certified: a) the aerodome’s facilities service and equipment are in accordance with the standards specified in the Manual of Standards for a certified aerodome b) the aerodome’s operating procedures make satisfactory provision for the safety of the aircraft c) an acceptable Aerodome Manual has been prepared d) the applicant would, if the certificate is granted to be able to operate and maintain the aerodome and an acceptable aerodome Safety Management System is implemented.
Villarete vowed that MCIAA cannot sit back and relax since the certification is not forever. It will be constantly monitored and audited by CAAP and can be cancelled anytime if the MCIAA will not be able to maintain the high safety standards it has set, according to the MCIAA chief.
Airport officials assigned in the Operations Department were commended for a job well done by Villarete in the persons of Captain Romeo Bersond, Engr Sam Elle, Engr Manuel Lopez, Cesar Doña and Engr John Binamira for a job well done.
As required by CAAP, an ongoing training on Safety Management Systems is now conducted for implementation, Villarete added.
“With the certification, MCIA is now upgraded back to Category 1 and can now accept additional flights for the US and Europe. It is good for business, tourism and economy of the whole country,” Vilarete proudly disclosed. (FCR/JSME/PIA-Cebu)
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MCIAA safety management system passes CAAP standard
By Amor Saludar
CEBU CITY, August 10 (PIA) -- The Mactan Cebu International AirportAuthority’s application for Aerodrome Certification on Safety Management System has already been approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on July 14, 2011.
In a forum today sponsored by the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO-7), MCIAA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Nigel Paul Villarete informed the members of media of the certificate issued by CAAP to airline operators of MCIAA.
According to Villarete, following their application in January of last year, CAAP conducted a series of surveillance to verify if MCIAA has followed the standards set by the aviation industry’s safety manual by acquiring facilities and equipment, as well as by implementing operating procedures, that make satisfactory provision for passenger safety.
Other factors that CAAP considered, he said, is their acceptable Aerodrome Manual that has been prepared in accordance with aviation regulation and the capability of the airport staff to operate and maintain the Safety Management System.
Villarete clarified though that the certificate received by MCIAA is not only for the airport but for the entire aviation industry in the Philippines, since all airports must have CAAP certification.
He also said that MCIAA still have to get one additional certificate to attract more international flights and avoid being blacklisted by countries of the European Union.
Villarete also confirmed that President Noynoy Aquino has already given an order for MCIAA and the entire aviation industry in the Philippines to get these certificates.
At present MCIAA is conducting a Safety Management training that benefits more than 160 stakeholders to assure the public of a continuous implementation of the airport’s Safety Management System.
To complement this safety standard, MCIAA is expanding its international and domestic terminal for public convenience.
The said expansion project will be completed by December this year, Villarete informed. (FCR/AS/PIA-Cebu)
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Cebu PIOs to help educate public in fight against cyber pornography
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, August 9 (PIA) -- Education is the key to fight the emerging crime of cyber pornography as public information officers (PIOs) of the different local government units in Cebu are tapped to help in the advocacy drive against such an alarming concern in the province.
Members of the Cebu Association of City and Municipal Public Information Officers (CAOCAMPIO) in its regular monthly meeting slated next week will be briefed on cyber pornography with the end-goal of informing and education the residents in their areas down to the grassroots level not to be lured by money offered by operators of cyber sex dens to perform lewd acts in front of the webcam.
Cebu Provincial Police Director S/Supt. Patrocinio Commendador has been invited to be the resource speaker to talk on the topic ‘Cyber Pornography: How Alarming is the Problem and How We Can Help Prevent It?’ from the end-point of the police including the measures being done to address the problem.
The briefing initiated by the Philippine Information Agency – Cebu aims to increase public awareness targeting PIOs who can be partners in the communication advocacy drive to educate and warn the public against an emerging crime.
On top of being information partners, the PIOs can also help the police report any suspicious occurrence in their neighborhood so people behind its illegal operations can be apprehended.
Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Regional Directoir Gen. Ager P. Ontog previously bared that children or minors and mostly girls who are susceptible victims of cyber pornography with foreign pedophilia as clients.
“We appeal to parents to watch over their children closely less they be lured to do vulgar acts in exchange for money. These operators target children who come from poor families and can easily be swayed by money or food,” Ontog said.
But the controversial cyber sex den raided by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) here last June in the town of Cordova had parents who instigated their own children into performing lewd acts which shocked the Cebuano community.
Ontog admitted it is not easy to arrest operators of such dens especially if the victims are their own kin and raiding without concrete evidence is tantamount to trespassing without the issuance of a court order.
“This is very difficult because the police might be charged here,” according to Ontog.
Ontog said there are factors to determine that cyber pornography operations exist which he urged the public to be vigilant and report to the police at once. These factors include the presence of many young girls that frequent a certain house and the house is located in a secluded area, this is learned.
Various local government units in Cebu have tasked their police to strengthen its monitoring against cyber pornography as well as internet cafes. (PIA 7-Cebu)
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DOH warns against complacency against Dengue
by: Hazel F. Gloria & Jesson Morata
CEBU CITY, August 9 (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) reiterated its warning to the public and the various local governments not to be complacent against Dengue.
Latest report show that nationwide cases from January to July 23 2011 reached 38,876 which is 25.85 percent lower compared to the same period last year (52,428) as outbreaks in the province of Batanes and Aurora are now contained.
The number of deaths reported was at 226 , this is half of the reported deaths last year for the same time period, DOH said.
"We have succeeded in bringing down the cases of dengue but we must avoid complacency. Instead, our gains should encourage us to keep up the good work in combating Dengue" said Sec. Enrique Ona in the weekly briefing with reporters.
He called on the local governments, community leaders, and the public in general to maintain its efforts against Dengue. "As the rainy season continues, we need to continue organizing clean-up campaigns in barangays to destroy every possible dengue breeding site." added the health chief.
Secretary Ona reported that most cases came from the National Capital Region (9,229), Central Luzon (6,365), and CALABARZON (5,649), Ilocos Region (3,432), and Cagayan Valley (2,737).
In the National capital Region, Quezon City (2,574) and Manila (1,040) had the most number of cases followed by Caloocan (1,104), Pasig (804), and Valenzuela (664).
Ages of cases ranged from less than a month to 92 years old. Majority (54%) of the cases were male. Most of the cases belonged to the 1-10 years age group. Most deaths occur also in the 1-10 years age group.
The health chief also noted clustering of cases in some barangays in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, isabela, Quirino, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Palawan, Albay, Camarines Sur, Iloilo, Negros occidental, Cebu, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental. The same is true in Davao City, Davao Oriental, Cotabato City, General Santos City, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Abra, Baguio, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountan Province, Surigao del Norte, and Metro Manila.
Clustering of cases is considered when there are three or more cases in a barangay for the past four consecutive weeks.
Hot spots were likewise observed in some areas in Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Benguet, and Metro Manila. An area is considered a hotspot when there are clustering of cases with increasing number in two consecutive weeks.Dengue outbreaks were also detected in Basco, Mahatao, Sabtang, Taal, Uyugan, and Itbayat in Batanes and Dingalan in Aurora.
Health authorities confirmed that said outbreaks were already contained.
Dengue is a disease caused by the bite of Aedes aegypti mosquito. These mosquitoes bite during daytime.
The disease is characterized by headache, fever, muscle and joint pains and skin rashes. In extreme cases, bleeding of the gums and nose may occur.
In the latest update from the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU) on the 31st Morbidity Week, July 31- August 6, 2011, total of 2601 cases with 18 deaths were reported from different disease reporting units (DRUs) for the period January 1 to August 6, 2011.
This is 84.92 percent lower compared to the same period of last year with 4,810 cases and 37 deaths.(PIA7mbcn/hfg & DOH-7/Jesson Morata)