DOH-7 promotes traditional and alternative health care
By: Hazel Gloria
CEBU CITY, November 24 (PIA) -- The Department of Health in the region (DOH-7) is now promoting traditional and alternative health care through the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) led by Dr. Jocelyn Abellana, Visayas Coordinator.
Abellana said, PITAHC promotes and advocates for the use of traditional/alternative health care modalities that have been proven safe, effective, cost-effective and consistent with government standards on health care practices.
It also helps improve the quality and delivery of health care services to the Filipinos through the development of traditional and alternative health care and its integration into the national health care delivery system, Abellana added.
According to Abellana PITAHC-Visayas will hold its first convention and exhibit on November 26 at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City. The convention and exhibit will showcase products in the Visayas to promote traditional and alternative health care.
Abellana added that 50% of the 100 expected delegates have already confirmed their attendance while eight exhibitors have also listed up for booths in the exhibit.
PITAHC is a government program set up in 1997 by the Department of Health to accelerate the development of traditional and alternative health care in the Philippines.(PIA-7/mbcn/HFG)
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Mining stakeholders to meet for geo-hazards assessment
By: Hazel Gloria
CEBU CITY, November 24 (PIA) --- Nearly 200 participants from the local government units, non-government organizations and other stakeholders are expected to attend the Stakeholders’ Forum on Small Scale Mining and Quarrying and Results of Geohazards Assessment on November 24 at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-7 in partnership with the Provincial Government of Cebu.
The activity is an information, education and communication campaign on geohazards; provide an assessment and review on the salient features or results of the study conducted; and discuss the environmental, social, health and safety components of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
MGB-7 regional director Loreto Albuso said the forum also aims to present existing practices in small-scale mining/quarrying; point out and explain complementary roles of local government units in small scale mining/quarrying operations; and discuss the functions and responsibilities of Provincial/City Mining Regulatory Boards (P/CMRBs) and Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committees (MRFCs).
PAGASA Regional Services Division-Visayas Chief Oscar Tabada will talk about “Rainfall Data and Hydrological Forecasts” and Office of the Civil Defense-7 Regional Director Minda Morante will present “Early Warning Systems and Response”.
“This will also be an opportunity to hear from our stakeholders particularly the local government units on how we would be able to assist them in terms of policies related to small scale mining or quarrying,” Alburo added.
Topics for discussion and presentation include: Functions and Responsibilities of Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committees and Provincial and City Mining Regulatory Boards; Community Development and Management Program and Potential Environmental Impact Report; Complementary Roles of Local Government Units; Dynamics of Mineral Reservations; and Apprehension, Confiscation and Seizure of Illegally Transported Minerals and Mineral Products.
DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Maximo Dichoso emphasizes the need to consult and solicit issues and concerns from all partner agencies and other stakeholders for better implementation of environmental programs and projects.
“This is a very significant activity as we try to address climate change concerns as it has caused every imaginable changes in our environment,” Dichoso said.(PIA-7/mbcn/HFG & DENR-7)
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Industries in CV to lead the 2011 Regional Skills Olympics
CEBU CITY , November 24 (PIA) -- Various industry sectors in Central Visayas will lead the 2011 Skills Olympics on November 28 at the Parkmall in Mandaue City .
TESDA-7 regional director Rosanna Urdaneta invites individual companies and institutions to give their full support to the skills Olympics as a corporate social responsibility in sustaining the global competitiveness and employability of workers in this part of the country.
Urdaneta is confident that the said undertaking will draw the best from each contender.
"We anticipate a healthy competition that will demonstrate the knowledge and skills of competitors in their respective trade areas," Urdaneta said.
The contenders will compete in three major categories that include open, trainers, students/trainees/workers/TVET graduates.
According to Jomar Marmol of TESDA-7 and the 2011 RSC advocacy committee, trade areas to be covered in the skills Olympics include the following; mechatronics; mechanical engineering design; IT/Software applications; welding; plumbing; industrial electronics; web design; electrical installation technology; masonry; cabinet making; hairdressing; beauty therapy; automobile technology; restaurant service; heating, ventilation, refrigeration and air-conditioning; graphic design technology; cooking and others.
Under the theme: “TESDA Specialista, ikaw and bida”, the 2011 regional skills Olympics is designed to ensure that its objective of maximizing the employability of Filipinos while promoting inclusive economic growth in the region in particular and the country in general, is achieved, Marmol said.
The 2011 Regional Skills Olympics is a yearly event co-undertaken by the various industries in Central Visayas that serves as a venue in recognizing the world-class competencies of young industry skilled workers and graduates of technical /vocational schools and training centers and institutions.
One of its objectives is to give due recognition and bestow honor to brilliant and highly competent young skilled workers, as they are placed on a national and international competitive setting.
TESDA-7 encourages support from all government line agencies, industries and the public that may be shown by displaying the Regional Skills Olympics tarpaulin in their respective places and to advocate for the activity and share time, equipment, tools, materials, efforts and small amounts of funds to the event.
Committees have been created to handle the technical concerns of the competition and they will closely work with other committee heads, particularly with the coaches, competition administrator and trainers of various categories/trade areas during the event, Marmol said. (PIA-7/MBCNewman & TESDA-7/Jomar Marmol)
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DOH-7 urges public to beware of fake drugs
By Fayette C. Riñen
‘Nov. 21-25 is Nat’l Consciousness Week Against Counterfeit Drugs’
CEBU CITY, November 25 (PIA) -- As the country observes the National Consciousness Week Against Counterfeit Medicine every third week of November, the public is urged to be vigilant against fake drugs in the market.
Elizabeth Tabasa, head of the Licensing Regulation and Enforcement Division of the Department of Health (DOH) 7 asked the public to always ask the assistance of the pharmacist and to ask for an official receipt every time they purchase their medicines.
“Never buy medicines from peddlers just found in the street especially those with foreign markings,” Tabasa stressed.
Tabasa advised the public to only buy their medicines in FDA (Food and Drug Administration)-licensed pharmacies or drug stores “because one is assured that the drug they buy is genuine and not fake.”
Tabasa also said to check the written information on the label whether this is written in English. “Under the law, the label should be in English. If not, then it must be a counterfeit drug,” according to the DOH-7 official.
Usually, counterfeit tablets are not uniform in color so one must always check if the drugs have the same color, Tabasa added.
“One must also check with suspension drugs that in mixing the powder with water, no solid particles are seen,” Tabasa disclosed.
Tabasa said their office is regularly conducting spot inspections on pharmacies and drug stores for counterfeit drugs.
“If one is dubious, one can call our office here or e-mail to i.report.fda@gmail.com,” Tabasa ended.
Under RA 8203 or the Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs, violators will be meted with a fine ranging from P100,000 up to a maximum of P500,000 and imprisonment of six months to 10 years. (PIA-Cebu)