Cebu City LGU to send 100 caskets to CDO, Iligan
by Amor Saludar
‘Cebu Province, Mandaue City to send aid too’
CEBU CITY December 22 (PIA) --- The Cebu City government committed to send a total of 100 caskets to typhoon stricken areas in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro (CDO) as the estimated casualties of Typhoon ‘Sendong’ is currently placed at 957 with others still to be accounted for.
Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said the City Council will immediately conduct a special session to fast track the approval of the requested budget to extend financial assistance to both typhoon-ravaged areas.
City Assistant Treasurer Emma Villarete on the other hand, said a special session should right away be conducted by the City Council so that the bidding of caskets can be immediately done and the much needed caskets be sent.
Local officials of CDO and Iligan City have asked for help as funeral parlors can no longer accommodate the increasing dead bodies due to shortage of formalin and coffins. Because of the shortage of caskets, some of the dead bodies were just simply wrapped with blankets and plastics, this is reported.
Other local government units have also extended assistance to the typhoon-devastated areas.
Earlier, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said that the city will allocate P5 M of its budget to Iligan and Cagayan including some areas in Negros Oriental that were greatly affected by Typhoon Sendong.
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes meanwhile, decided to cancel the Christmas Party of the City Hall personnel and instead decided to give the P3M budget to the victims of Typhoon Sendong in CDO, ILigan City and Tanjay City in Negros Oriental
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Mandaue City Information Officer Roger Paller said the resolution to give the Christmas Party budget to the victims of Typhoon Sendong was immediately approved by the City Council after a special session.
Paller added that P 1.5 M of the allotted budget will be given to Cagayan de Oro City while Iligan and Tanjay City will receive P750, 000 each.
The various departments of the Mandaue City Hall are also launching its own fund raising campaign for the typhoon victims. Donated items include money, canned goods, foods, used clothing and other basic household items.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia are also sending 80,000 bottled waters to the affected areas and additional bottled waters will also be delivered in the following days. (FCR/AS/PIA-Cebu)
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Cebuano student wins 3rd in 41st Int’l Letter Writing Contest for Young People
By: Juju S. Manubag-Empuerto
CEBU CITY. Dec 22, 2011 (PIA) -- Charlette Alessi F. Inao, a grade 5 student of Ateneo de Cebu in H. Abellana St. , Canduman, Mandaue City won the Third Prize in the 41st International Letter Writing Competition for Young People.
Inao was awarded with P5,000 plus a plaque and stamp album.
The competition aimed to develop young people’s skills in composition and the subtlety of their thoughts and to foster affection for letter writing.
Top winner went to Cherilyn Patrocinio Sta. Ana, a fourth year secondary student from Ateneo de Naga University High School in Naga City while Bianca Marie Ferrel came in second place from Ateneo de Davao University in Matina, Davao City .
The winners were bared by Philippine Postal Corporation (PPC)-7 Regional Director Robert Mondeñedo.
The theme of the competition was “Write a letter to an athlete or sports figure you admire to explain what the Olympic Games mean to you”.
Mondoñedo said to watch out for next year’s Letter Writing Competition.(FCR/JSME/PIA-Cebu)
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Cebu church leaders laud Cebuano Martyr Pedro Calungsod’s canonization
by Amor Saludar
CEBU CITY December 22 (PIA) -- After the announcement from the Vatican, Cebu Church leaders expressed tremendous joy over the upcoming canonization of another Filipino and Cebuano Martyr Blessed Pedro Calungsod for the sainthood.
Pope Benedict XVI recently approved the promulgation of decrees for the canonization of Blessed Calungsod along with other six candidates for sainthood, after the seven martyrs were able to show miracles.
The greatest miracle done by Blessed Calungsod was in 2003 when a 17 year old girl who was declared clinically dead for two hours due to a heart attack in a hospital here was able to regain life after the family offered fervent prayer to Blessed Calungsod.
Cebu Episcopal Vicar Msgr. Esteban Binghay said that he along with Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and other priests will attend the canonization rites.
Binghay said they want to witness the canonization rites more so because Calungsod is a Cebuano.
Cebu Church leaders are hoping that the canonization of this teenaged martyr who offered his youthful life in the service of God, will serve as model for the youths.
Blessed Pedro Calungsod was a 17-year old catechist who was persecuted to death during a missionary work in Guam. He was then declared a martyr and in 2000, he was declared Beato by the late Pope John Paul II.
Although no fixed date has been given as to the canonization of the Cebuano martyr, Cebu church leaders are however, eagerly waiting for it.
With Calungsod’s canonization, the Cebuano martyr will be the second Filipino Saint after Saint Lorenzo Ruiz. (FCR/AS/PIA-CEBU)
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NNC-7, RAFI urge public to observe healthy lifestyle during the holidays
By Hannah Reoma
CEBU CITY, Dec 22 (PIA) – With the coming holidays the National Nutrition Council (NNC-7) and Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc urged the public to observe healthy lifestyle as past records of the Department of Health showed an increase of the number of patients at the local hospitals after the long Christmas vacation.
In a radio program ‘Pagtuki’, NNC-7 nutrition officer, Dave Bargamento and RAFI-EADSC program coordinator, Ronald delos Reyes promoted healthy living and shared tips on how to stay healthy this yuletide season.
Bargamento explained that people, especially those who are always attending parties, should eat moderately and avoid eating high fat and salt content foods.
“Too much of fat and salt will always have a negative effect on one’s body," Bargamento added.
Both ‘Pagtuki’ guests promoted eating fruits and vegetables and lessening the use of seasonings.
Delos Reyes on the other hand advised people to exercise because it help burn excess calories. “The sweat helps release toxins from our body,” he added.
“Intake of water is also helpful, especially when you drink alcoholic beverages. Water can help dilute alcoholic drinks,” Bargamento said
They also advised partygoers to eat foods that are rich in protein before going to parties to minimize over-eating.
"Eating ham on noche buena should also be minimized. Ham is processed meat and is high on salt. One or two slices of it would be enough," Bargamento said.
He also urged parents to store the kids’ favorite, spaghetti properly since it “perishes easily” compared to other food.
Both Pagtuki guests pointed out that excess intake of food would lead to obesity that increases the risk of other possible illnesses, such as colon cancer. (mbcn/PIA-7 & RAFI/hr)
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Large scale mining companies in CV spend millions for environmental programs
By Hazel Gloria
CEBU CITY, December 21(PIA) --- Ten large scale mining companies in Central Visayas had spent over P186M for various environmental protection and enhancement programs (EPEP) within the areas of their operations from January to December 2011.
The large scale mining companies that spent hundreds of millions of pesos for environmental programs include Carmen Copper Corporation in Toledo City that topped the list with P156.737M followed by Apo Cement Corporation and Apo Land and Quarry Corporation in the City of Naga with P11.180M worth of environmental management projects.
Taiheiyo Cement Philippines Inc. and Solid Earth Development Corporation in San Fernando had spent P5.062M while the Philippine Mining Service Corporation and Dolomite Mining Corporation in Alcoy spent P5.865M.
The Philippine Mining Service Corporation and Bohol Limestone Corporation in Garcia-Hernandez, Bohol allocated P3.466M while JLR Construction and Aggregates Inc. in the City of Naga already disbursed P2.015M.
Other mining companies that had also done their commitments include Quarry Ventures Philippines Inc. with P779T; Heirs of Arturo Zayco/Goodyield Resources Development Inc.with also P799T and Lazi Bay Resources Development Inc., P295T worth of projects.
Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB-7) regional director Loreto Alburo said EPEP is the description of the expected and considered acceptable impacts of the 'out the life-of-mine' environmental protection and enhancement strategies based on best practices in environmental management in mining.
Alburo explained that these projects refer to the comprehensive and strategic environmental plan that includes post-mining land use potential for various types of disturbed land and extend to the completion of the commitments in the rehabilitation of the disturbed land in a technically, socially and environmentally competent manner.
Alburo stated every contractor is obliged to undertake environmental protection and enhancement programs covering the period of the mineral agreement or permit as stipulated in the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
Alburo articulated that DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje gave instructions to strictly adhere to its flagship program requiring a healthy balance of regulations and industry initiative, the integration of principles, practices, tools, systems, approaches in mining operations and active stakeholder participation in environmental management.
“It is emphasized that the EPEP is not a substitute for the requirement of environmental compliance certificate (ECC),” Alburo added. (mbcn/hfg/PIA-7 & DENR-7)
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PhilHealth celebrates Christmas with the people in need
By Hazel Gloria
CEBU CITY, December 21 (PIA) --- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation in region 7 (PhilHealth-7) and its employees celebrate its Christmas with the less fortunate people at the pediatric ward of Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) lead by its Christmas Committee chair and Planning Officer Maria Cristina Ramos.
In the spirit of giving, the employees brought gifts of joy with balloon makers clad as Santa and Santa dwarfs to entertain the kids who may be spending this Christmas in a hospital.
As a special treat, the little ones get to have balloons shaped just the way they want it.
The ward’s very young patients also received gifts and milk packs from PhilHealth and enjoyed a simple snack of arrozcaldo and spaghetti with their parents and guardians.
PhilHealth hopes that even in a small way it made Christmas a bit more special for the 80 young patients of CCMC.
Throughout this year and on to the next, not just on Christmas, the Corporation also intends to continue giving more than public service to the community and truly live out corporate social responsibility.(mbcn/hfg/PIA-7 & Philhealth)