DENR-7 intensifies anti-illegal logging campaign
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU, March 13 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) in Central Visayas has intensified operations of the National Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force (NAILTF) that claims all logs and lumbers confiscated and found to have been derived from the natural and residual forests of the country are considered property of the state.
Natural and residual forests are forests composed of indigenous trees, not planted by man, DENR explained.
DENR-7 regional executive director Maximo Dichoso said the full implementation of this resolution began on March 1, 2012.
Dichoso explained that in the resolution DENR officials or employees are not authorized to issue any processing, milling, and transport permits for logs and lumbers derived from the natural or residual forests except those duly exempted under Executive Order # 23, dated February 1, 2011.
The NAILTF chaired by DENR secretary Ramon J.P. Paje, was created under Executive Order No. 23 issued by President Benigno Aquino III.
It is composed of the secretaries of the DENR, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of National Defense (DND), the PNP Chief, and the AFP Chief of Staff.
Dichoso recalled that DENR granted a 90-day extension period for timber licensees from November 28, 2011 to February 28, 2012 to transport their products, provided they had paid the necessary forest charges prior to May 21, 2011.
The implementation of EO-23 in Central Visayas yielded the confiscation of 439.2205 cubic meters of undocumented forest products with an estimated cost of P13,545,942, and the apprehension of 30 conveyances, tools and equipment in 2011.
Cebu had the most number of seized forest products of 250.6671 cubic meters with an estimated cost of P12,669,179.26 while Negros Oriental with 59.1924 cubic meters costing about P547,377.74 and Bohol with 129.361 cubic meters estimated to cost at P329,385.89.
Dichoso added that the confiscated forest products are turned over to the Department of Education for conversion into school chairs, desks and other fixtures.
Dichoso stressed that DENR’s anti-illegal logging campaign has shifted to “a more razor-sharp” focus on strengthening DENR’s in-house capabilities to fight illegal logging and citizen participation in the advocacy on reforestation and community-led management of forest resources.
Dichoso said under the new system in forest resource management and development, the move to tree plantations is being pushed and is recognized as the most viable and sustainable source of timber in the country. (mbcn/hfg/PIA-7 & DENR-7)
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Increase in premium of land-based OFWs deferred to January 2013, PHIC 7 says
By Juju Manubag-Empuerto
CEBU CITY, March 13 (PIA) --- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) has deferred the implementation of the P2,400 increase in annual premiums of Philhealth contributions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) under the Overseas Workers Program (OWP) to January 2013.
Atty. Karisma Agraviador, head of the Public Assistance Unit of Phil Health 7, said the deferment, contained in Philhealth’s Circular No. 7-2012 is in consideration of the many requests from civil society and non-government organizations to defer the increase of annual premium payments of OFWs.
Agraviador said the appeal came amid the occurrence of a global crisis that resulted to the repatriation of a number of OFWs.
The PhilHealth official, however, said the increase in annual premium to P2,400 per year for members under the Individually Paying, Sponsored and Overseas Workers programs (sea-based) will take effect July 2012.
But for land-based OFW members under the OWP, the increase has been deferred to January 2013, according to Agraviador.
Agraviador added that land-based OFWs pay an annual premium of P900. This was their premium rate under the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Medicare program.
It was in the year 2005 that the Medicare function of OWWA was transferred to PhilHealth and since then, PhilHealth retained the premium rate of P900 per fiscal year, Agraviador claimed.
It was only in January this year that Philhealth increase the annual premium of OFWs to P1,200, the Philhealth 7 official disclosed.
However, Philhealth gives a leeway by still accepting the usual annual premium of P900 from OFW members but the amount will only cover nine months worth of premium payments instead of 12 months, Agraviador explained.
The OFWs are obligated to pay the balance of P300 upon renewal of their coverage so as to complete the P1,200 annual premium in order to ensure the continuity of their Philhealth coverage and benefits’ entitlement, Agraviador reiterated.
Agraviador added that this year, the OFWs have the option to pay for more than one year’s worth of premium computed at P1,200 per annum.
PhilHealth’s decision to adjust the premium rate of members in all member categories is in response to the thrust of the Aquino Administration towards ensuring the realization of the Universal Health Care (UHC) and the attainment of health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015, Agraviador bared.
PhilHealth will be prioritizing enhancement of benefit packages to improve financial risk protection, added the Phil Health 7 official.
Agraviador said that this year, their agency rolls out that every Filipino is to be assigned to a Primary Care Provider, and for all members and their qualified dependents to have the option to avail of the No Balance Billing (NBB) health care services. (FCR/JSME/PIA-Cebu)