accurate passenger list as travelers surge for Lenten break
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, October 25 (PIA) -- With the surge of travelers going back home for the long holiday break this Lenten Season, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Central Eastern Visayas directed passenger vessels to submit an accurate manifesto of actual passenger list to prevent overloading and avert accidents.
PCG – Central Eastern Visayas Commander Commodore Cecil R. Chen asked passengers to expect slight delays in the departure of vessels because of their strict requirement in checking passenger manifesto.
“We appeal for the understanding of passengers as we are doing this for their own good. We do not want accidents to happen,” according to Chen.
With the long weekend ahead, strict security preparations have been put in place by concerned government agencies as thousands are expected to troop back to their hometown provinces to be with their families for All Souls Day and All Saints Day.
Chen advised passenger and cargo shipping firms to prepare their passenger and cargo manifests early so as not to delay their trips.
The Coast Guard will also be monitoring motorboats and will conduct inspections of vessels to determine their seaworthiness, this is said.
Meanwhile, at the Mactan International Airport, help desks will be set up from October 27 until November 2 to cater to concerns of passengers.
Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority General Manager Paul Villarete said they are expecting a 20 to 30 percent increase in the volume of domestic passengers for the coming break. (PIA-Cebu)
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CEBU City LGU steps up security preparations for All Saints, All Souls Day
by Amor Saludar
CEBU CITY October 25 (PIA) -- Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama instructed barangay officials to step up its own security preparations for the upcoming All Saints, All Souls Day annual observance to ensure that peace and order is maintained in their respective areas.
Rama’s move runs simultaneous to the initiatives of the Cebu Provincial Government to also intensify security measures on places mostly crowded with people during the Lenten Season.
“Aside from the PNP, we also need the cooperation of the barangay officials that will designate barangay tanods to be posted in the cemeteries nearest to their respective barangays,” Rama explained.
Earlier, the city council already urged public and private cemetery owners to maintain cleanliness in the surroundings of their respective cemetery.
The council also reminded the owners to always put a signboard inside the cemetery that will serve as guide to the people visiting the grave of their dead relatives.
Mayor Rama likewise told the public to properly observe proper waste disposal and segregation inside the cemetery in order to maintain cleanliness.
In response to the call of the mayor, Barangay Guadalupe, the city’s biggest barangay committed to start their clean- up drive inside the Calamba cemetery situated within the barangay and to include the area in Good Shepherd where some Chinese were buried.
Guadalupe Barangay Captain Miichael Gacasan said that “it has been a regular practice in our barangay to extend help during these times. The barangay tanods will man the flow of the traffic as well as monitor the peace and order inside the cemetery.” (FCR/AS/PIA-CEBU)
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Phil. Coast Guard to require vessels to submit
accurate passenger list as travelers surge for Lenten break
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, October 25 (PIA) -- With the surge of travelers going back home for the long holiday break this Lenten Season, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Central Eastern Visayas directed passenger vessels to submit an accurate manifesto of actual passenger list to prevent overloading and avert accidents.
PCG – Central Eastern Visayas Commander Commodore Cecil R. Chen asked passengers to expect slight delays in the departure of vessels because of their strict requirement in checking passenger manifesto.
“We appeal for the understanding of passengers as we are doing this for their own good. We do not want accidents to happen,” according to Chen.
With the long weekend ahead, strict security preparations have been put in place by concerned government agencies as thousands are expected to troop back to their hometown provinces to be with their families for All Souls Day and All Saints Day.
Chen advised passenger and cargo shipping firms to prepare their passenger and cargo manifests early so as not to delay their trips.
The Coast Guard will also be monitoring motorboats and will conduct inspections of vessels to determine their seaworthiness, this is said.
Meanwhile, at the Mactan International Airport, help desks will be set up from October 27 until November 2 to cater to concerns of passengers.
Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority General Manager Paul Villarete said they are expecting a 20 to 30 percent increase in the volume of domestic passengers for the coming break. (PIA-Cebu)
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PhilHealth supports 1st PMAP People Run
A Run for a Child’s Brighter Future
CEBU CITY, October 24 (PIA) --- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth Cebu) partnered with the Personnel Management Association of the Philippines, Cebu Inc. (PMAP) for its first People Run held yesterday, October 23 at the Sumilon Road, Cebu Business Park, Ayala, Cebu City.
Committed to corporate social responsibility, PhilHealth showed its support to the run’s cause of providing a brighter future to underprivileged children through a sponsorship and by participating on the event itself.
Some of PhilHealth’s employees joined the run while others set up a service desk. About 45 individuals were served by the PhilHealth Mobile Team and 24 of them were able to get their PhilHealth IDs as well as copies of their Member Data Record (MDR).
The MDR is a primary document in availing of PhilHealth benefits. Members should keep a copy of this ready in case of hospitalization. Members are also advised to make sure that their MDRs are updated in order to avoid added hassle during hospitalization. And, in compliance to the Anti-Red Tape Act, PhilHealth reminds members that there is no processing fee for the issuance of IDs or the MDR at PhilHealth offices.
PhilHealth continuously finds ways to make its services more accessible to the public. The PhilHealth Mobile Team provides offsite registration and other services, especially in remote locations.
Public offices, private establishments, associations and others can request for a PhilHealth Mobile Team to provide offsite services and hold information and education campaigns to help members understand their benefits, rights and responsibilities.
Interested individuals or entities can address their communication to Mr. William O. Chavez, Regional Vice President, PhilHealth Regional Office VII, 8/F The Golden Peak Hotel and Suites, GorordoAve. Corner Escario St., Cebu City, or send it through email at wochavez@philhealth.gov.ph.(PIA-7/HFG/Philhealth)
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NYC Calls for Culture of Peace and Tolerance in Mindanao;
Mourns the Loss of Lives in Basilan Encounter
CEBU CITY, October 24 (PIA) --- In light of the recent incident in Basilan involving government soldiers and the MILF, the National Youth Commission expresses its sympathy to the families of those who died during the prolonged encounter that claimed at least 20 lives.
NYC Commissioner Representing Mindanao Earl P. Saavedra, who also hails from Basilan, says it is imperative to promote lasting peace in Mindanao.
“To address this concern, the NYC together with the local government agencies regularly holds a series of peace advocacy activities involving young people in Mindanao. We recently celebrated the Peace Month, culminating in a Peace Parade and a Commitment Activity on September 29, 2011 in Butuan City, where Mindanao stakeholders signed a manifesto for Peace calling for support in the peace process as part of social development,” Commissioner Saavedra adds.
NYC calls for a culture of peace and tolerance among the Filipinos, especially the youth, as part of its new peace and development banner which is the Mindanao 2020 youth agenda.
NYC also pledges its support to government efforts in establishing an all-out peace in Mindanao and at the same time in championing the voice of young Mindanaoans.
“It is important that we value the voice of the youth in Mindanao. The youth plays a vital role in ensuring a peaceful and developed society in the future where principles, beliefs, and cultures are respected," Saavedra said.
In his closing statement, Saavedra said "Let us ensure that this incident will not compromise the welfare of our people in Basilan and in Mindanao.” (PIA-7/HFG/NYC)
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DOH-7 urges public to boil drinking water to ensure safety amid La Niña weather
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, October 24 (PIA) -- Amid frequent weather disturbances bringing heavy downpour that might affect water sources, the public is advised to bring drinking water to a rolling boil for at least two minutes to be certain it is safe for drinking consumption.
The Department of Health (DOH) 7 in its “Weather-related Health Advisories,” listed the common health problems that occur during the typhoon-season and especially as the country is currently experiencing La Niña which brings down heavy rains and what the public should do.
Common diseases during the rainy season relative to contaminated water due to flooding are acute gastroenteritis, typhoid fever, cholera and hepatitis A while leptospirosis surge during this period due to wading in floodwaters contaminated with urine of infected animals such as rats.
The DOH-7 also called on the public to continuously clean their surroundings as dengue and malaria cases are expected to swell in such weather conditions.
The health advisory contained that apart from boiling drinking water, water chlorination and had washing habits must be regularly done.
In disinfecting water suing chlorine, one must prepare a stock solution by dissolving one level of powder (65 to 75 percent available chlorine) to one liter of water. Next is to add two teaspoons of stock solutions to five gallons (20 liters) of water then mix thoroughly and let it stand for at least 30 minutes before using, the advisory said.
The public is also advised not to wade in floodwaters or to simply wear rubber boots as not to get infected with leptospirosis among other related illnesses. (PIA-Cebu)