DSWD -7 allocates P92M for Flood Victims in NegOr
By Hazel Gloria
CEBU CITY, January 12 (PIA) --- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) in Central Visayas allocates P92M for families affected by the typhoon “Sendong.”
DSWD-7 regional director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre announced this recently and said, over 7000 families in the disaster stricken areas in Negros Oriental will soon start rebuilding their homes under the core shelters program of the DSWD.
Macapobre said the municipalities of Bacong, Amlan, Mabinay, Pamplona, San Jose, Sibulan, Siaton, Valencia and the cities of Tanjay and Dumaguete in Negros Oriental are currently working out its documentary requirements to effect the transfer of funds the soonest possible time.
The 1,398 families that totally lost their homes will receive P70T each for the construction of their Core Shelters (CS) while the rest of the 6,356 will receive P5,000 each for the purchase of construction materials to repair their homes in a form of Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA).
The Dumaguete City Government is currently considering leasing lots to accommodate core shelters for displaced families washed out by the massive flood.
In the meantime, more than 400 families are still staying at the 5 evacuation centers in Dumagute City as well as the towns of Valencia and Sibulan.
They are continuously being served with hot meals, relief goods, Noche Buena packages last Christmas and New Year and other donations in cash and kind from the generous public and other organizations.(mbcn/hfg/PIA-7 & DSWD-7)
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NGO observes Sinug tradition on Jan. 16
CEBU CITY, Jan 12 (PIA) -- A Cebu-based non-government organization invites the public to a celebration of the traditional "Sinug" the Feast of the Señor Sto. Niño.
The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation will hold a forum on. Jan. 16, at 10 a.m. on the traditional way that the the celebration is called-- “Sinug or Sinulog? A dance offering for Sto. Niño” that will be held at the Bryant George Plenary Hall, Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center, Lopez Jaena St., Cebu City.
The forum will guest Dr. Erlinda Alburo, a noted Cebuano historian to discuss and resolve the usage of the two popular linguistic references to the Cebuano dance and festival in honor of Señor Sto. Niño—the sinug and sinulog.
On the same day, at 3 p.m., the annual “Sinug sa Casa Gorordo” will be performed by Estelita “Nang Titang” Diola and her dancers.
Nang Titang, 87, the keeper of the sinug dance and beat has been doing the ritual since she was a child. It is believed that the sinug is the precursor of what may have been a remnant of an indigenous dance practiced by early Cebuanos.
The dancers will be wearing costumes that resemble the original outfits of the natives and the Spaniards.
Sinug sa Casa Gorordo is a house tradition of the Gorordo family that has been continued by RAFI as part of its commitment to preserve the house traditions in its original form.
These two activities on Jan. 16 intend to foster the awareness of Cebuano cultural heritage and history among the local and international community.
An exhibit of the sinug is also displayed at the prayer room of the Casa Gorordo Museum starting Jan. 10. The exhibit traces the rich history of the Sinulog before it became the huge festival it is today. It will be open to the public until the end of January. (PIA-7/Minerva BC Newman)
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DOH-7 to set up medical teams during Sinulog
By Hazel Gloria
CEBU CITY, January 12 (PIA) --- The Department of Health (DOH-7) in Central Visayas will set up 22 or more medical teams in the Sinulog procession route on January 14 and Sinulog celebration on January 15.
Health Emergency Management program coordinator Dr. Expedito Medalla, said each team is composed of a doctor, nurse, paramedics, communicator and a driver.
"There are one hundred or more people joining the emergency medical teams," Medalla continued.
Aside from the medical booths, DOH-7 is also coordinating with the Cebu Medical Society and other private and public hospitals to monitor emergency situations during the feast of Sr. Sto Niño.
In yesterday’s AGIO-7 Forum held at DOH-7 compound, Medalla requested the people who will join the procession and watch the Sinulog parade to be careful with their health. They should bring food, water or juices, medicines and other things they needed to prevent any health problems.
“For those people who are not feeling well, I would suggest that they just stay in-house and watch the event on tv,” he added.
On the other hand, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) leads the emergency responding team which is composed of Philippine Red Cross, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF), Basak Pardo Emergency Response and other medical groups.
Medalla also informed the media that they sent letter requests to all hospitals in Cebu City and nearby places to implement code white starting January 14 to 15 for them to be ready in any emergency situations during the Sinulog celebrations.
The DOH-7 also reported that there were no big injuries that happened in last year’s Sinulog celebration and it hopes for a peaceful and injury-free Sinulog this year.(mbcn/hfg/PIA-7)
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PNP-7, Cebu Bankers Club meets to thwart off
robbery attempts during Sinulog celeb
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, January 11 (PIA) – With all eyes focused in Cebu City for the Sinulog Grand Parade on Sunday, the police conducted a meeting with the Cebu Bankers Club for them to also institute the necessary security measures to thwart off possible robbery attempts especially in areas outside the city.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Deputy Regional Director for Operations S/Supt. Louie Oppus disclosed that they had a meeting with the different banks in Cebu as part of their security preparations for the Sinulog Festival.
“Not only is the Cebu City Police Office is on full alert status but the entire province of Cebu and we are also placing Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor on heightened alert status in support of the Sinulog festivities,” Oppus declared.
Although the Regional Intelligence Division of PRO 7 said they have not received any reports on the movements of big-time robbery groups from other regions entering Cebu, Oppus said it is better to be prepared and to put in place the necessary measures to prevent any bank heist.
Cebu Provincial Police Director S/Supt. Patrocinio Commendador said that they are conducting a 24-hour checkpoint for the last two weeks now.
“There is one checkpoint for the south and one in the north and another police detachment is also established in the Transcentral Highway to filter and control the entry of dubious persons to Cebu City,” Commendador said.
Commendador also said he has ordered his men to conduct aggressive patrolling to ensure that peace and order is maintained during the Sinulog period.
Mandaue City Police Director S/Supt. Noel Gillamac likewise bared they are monitoring lodging houses in their area as most criminal elements would prefer to be in inconspicuous places.
“We are asking the public to be vigilant against questionable people in their neighborhood because community vigilance is the key to success of crime prevention,” Gillamac said.
Lapulapu City Police Director S/Supt. Anthony Obenza on the other hand, said they are also strengthening their police visibility especially in tourist areas as a large influx of tourists are expected to come to Cebu during the Sinulog festivities. (PIA-Cebu)