DENR-7 to close 130 wood processing plant and lumber establishments in CV
CEBU CITY, June 15 (PIA) -- Over 130 wood processing plants and lumber dealer establishments in Central Visayas are now facing closure for failure to secure the necessary permits from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7.
This developed after the community environment and natural resources offices (CENROs) in the region conducted another set of inventory to verify if the operators were able to obtain permits needed to continue their operations.
DENR-7 regional executive director Maximo Dichoso signed the notice of closure on June 6 that gives order to voluntarily close their establishments immediately upon the receipt of the notice or else the DENR will take the necessary legal action and be compelled to undertake the closure of the establishment through the aid of law enforcers.
“You can only resume operation when necessary permits to operate are secured and duly approved by this Office,” the notice read.
Earlier this year, Dichoso issued a notice of violation to 307 wood processing plant operators and lumber dealers without appropriate permits and gave them until March 2012 to fully comply with the requirements of the forestry laws.
Of the 307, only 169 have complied with the necessary permits to operate. Bohol obtained the highest rate of compliance at 66 percent or 33 out of 50. Negros Oriental got 59 percent or 42 out of 63 extent of compliance.
Cebu registered a rate of compliance of 51 percent or 88 out of 174, and Siquijor with only six out of 20 or 30 percent compliance.
“After giving them until March 2012, they still failed to secure the necessary permits needed for their operation, this time DENR shall implement the closure of these establishments for non-compliance,” Dichoso added.
In Cebu City, 40 out of 60 have gained compliance or a difference of 39 percent.
“The law must be followed and we do not hesitate to crack the whip to anyone who has been served a notice of violation or closure and yet continue to ignore the order,” Dichoso said. (mbcn/hfg/PIA-7 & DENR-7)
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DENR-7 welcomes new regional director
CEBU CITY, June 15 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-7 has welcomed its new regional executive director (RED).
DENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje issued Special Order Number 2012- 422 on June 8, designating Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo as OIC-Regional Executive Director in Central Visayas.
Montejo replaced Director Maximo Dichoso who is now reassigned as Regional Executive Director of the DENR region 3 in Pampanga.
DENR-7’s newly installed Regional Executive Director Isabelo R. Montejo said the reassignment of key officials is part of the continuing organizational development instituted by DENR Secretary Ramon Paje to pursue its various flagship or priority programs and projects on environmental protection and management.
Montejo is a holder of a doctorate degree in Management in Public Administration in 1997 and a master’s degree in Business Administration in 1995, both at the University of the Visayas (UV).
He earned his BS in Forestry at the Visayas State College of Agriculture, now Leyte State University (LSU) in 1982. He rose from the ranks from a forester in 1983, and lately a Regional Technical Director for Forestry before his assumption as head in region 7.
In a turnover ceremony speech held yesterday, Dichoso regarded his stay in region 7 as short but a very fruitful one. “It is a very big opportunity for me to work with the best region in the Philippines,” he said.
Dichoso also expressed his confidence that the region is in good hands under the administration of the new DENR-7 Executive Director Montejo.
On the other hand, Montejo promised to enforce the “matuwid na daan,” particularly on governance, technical and policy aspects and urged everyone to join him hand in hand in continuing the reforms instituted by Secretary Paje for better and enhanced delivery of public service.
“We will make a difference and I need all of you to support me so that we can all deliver our tasks on time with effectivity and efficiency,” he added.
He also emphasized the priority programs of DENR as espoused by Secretary Paje, such as eliminating opportunities for graft and corruption, Clean Air, Clean Water, ensuring compliance to environmental regulations, National Greening Program and Cadastral Survey.
Meanwhile, Montejo created a 13-member Executive Committee (EC) with DENR-7 Regional Executive Director as chair to deliberate, discuss, strategize and decide relevant environmental issues and concerns.
The members are Regional Directors of two line bureaus, four Regional Technical Directors, four support division chiefs and chiefs of Regional Public Affairs and Human Resources Development.
The EC will meet every Mondays, and the Planning and Management Division will act as its secretariat.
He also ordered the creation of an Expanded Executive Committee (EEC) to include the Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Officers (P/CENROs). (DENR7/MBCN/HFG-PIA7)
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Over 40 mining rights holders attend Geohazards Mapping program
CEBU CITY, June 15 (PIA) -- More than 40 existing mining rights holders attended the Stakeholders’ Meeting on the Geohazards Mapping Program on June 7 organized by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-7).
MGB-7 regional director Loreto Alburo said the forum presented the details and upcoming activities towards disaster risk management and climate change adaptation strategies as a priority program of Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon JP Paje.
“We called this forum to urge our mining rights holders for a possible public-private partnership in fast tracking the detailed geohazards assessment and mapping at 1:10,000 scale as they have the resources to expedite the process,” he said.
He mentioned that the geographic and geologic setting of the Philippines, which is part of Pacific Ring of Fire and Earthquake Belt and with around 20 typhoons per year entering the Philippine area of responsibility, make it prone to various hazards.
Among the geological hazards are typhoon or rain-related such as landslides and flooding, earthquake-related including tsunami, and volcano-related.
“The poor site selection of settlement sites and other human interventions also trigger occurrence of geologic hazards,” he said.
Mining rights holders include Mineral Production Sharing Agreement, Exploration Permit, Industrial Sand and Gravel Permit, and Mineral Processing Plants.
The National Geohazard Mapping and Assessment Programme aims to identify areas in the country that are susceptible or vulnerable to various geologic hazards and increase public awareness in order to lessen or mitigate the negative impacts of these events.
The 1:10,000-scale geohazard map is expected to be completed in 2014 and it intends to assess the 218 cities and municipalities in the country in 2012 and by 2014 it shall have mapped around 1,462.
Out of 218 cities and municipalities to be mapped this year, 12 are targeted from Central Visayas.
“We are trying to see the implementation of this joint partnership with mining rights holders in August 2012 after we shall have finalized the terms of the memorandum of agreement with mining companies and private geologists,” Alburo added.
“So far we are getting positive feedback from our partners or mining rights holders in pursuing this activity,” he said. (mbcn/hfg/PIA-RO7 & DENR-7)
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PhilHealth expands outpatient benefits for sponsored members
CEBU CITY, June 15 (PIA) -- PhilHealth now expands its Outpatient Benefit (OPB) package for sponsored members to promote healthy behavior and ensure utilization of services paid for under the package and provide incentives to providers who perform better.
Now, the Primary Care Benefit 1 (PCB1) package for sponsored members is consistent with the health care reform objectives of Universal Health Care. It is also designed to help achieve the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDG) of the country.
The old OPB package covers specific primary preventive care and diagnostic services in rural health units (RHU) or health centers (HC) for a particular period that PhilHealth pays through a per capita payment scheme.
The amount of coverage per capita is P300 and the basis for payment depends on the number of sponsored members in a local government unit (LGU).
Under PhilHealth Circular 10-2012, the PCB1 package covers primary preventive care and diagnostic services that now include tests for lipid profile and fasting blood sugar, and drugs and medicines for outpatient treatment of asthma, upper respiratory tract infection or low risk pneumonia, acute gastroenteritis with no or mild dehydration and urinary tract infection.
Three primary preventive care services are now considered obligated under the package: clinical breast exam, visual inspection with acetic acid and blood pressure measurement, the PHIC said.
PCB1 still covers sponsored members under the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) and sponsored members subsidized by legislative, local government and private sponsors.
But this time, coverage now extends to PhilHealth members under the Overseas Workers Program (OWP) and organized group (OG) members. OWP members are land-based overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who pay an annual premium of P2,400, while OG members are individuals enrolled as a group under PhilHealth's Individually Paying Program (IPP).
Previously, only RHUs or HCs are considered providers of the OPB package, except in cases where an LGU's RHU is not PhilHealth accredited, in which case, the outpatient department of an accredited government hospital in that city or municipality may apply as provider.
With the PCB1, however, any qualified and capable government facility (hospital or non-hospital) can apply as provider.
Further, capitation payment under the PCB1 is now a per family payment rate (PFPR) so that the amount of payment now depends on the number of members and qualified dependents served.
Provider performance is also now significantly linked to capitation payment. PhilHealth pays the PCB1 provider based, not just on the number of sponsored members assigned to a provider, but on the number of members they are able to enlist and profile (initial and updated health profile), and the number of members actually provided with the obligated services.
PhilHealth urges local chief executives to encourage better performance through the proper disposition and allocation of 20 percent of the capitation payment as honoraria of the health and non-health personnel involved in the delivery of PCB1 services.
The remaining 80 percent of capitation payment is allocated for drugs and medicines, which should be no less than half of that percentage; and the other half for reagents, medical supplies, equipment, IT, capacity building for staff, infrastructure, or any other use related and/or necessary for the delivery of the required services, including referral fees for diagnostic services if not available in the facility.
PhilHealth encourages all sponsored, OFW and OG members and qualified dependents to approach the RHU or HC nearest them and enlist on or before June 30 so they can be profiled and apprised of their entitlements under the package. (PhilHealth/MBCN/HFG-PIA7)