RDC-7 to ship relief goods to Luzon flood victims this month
By Amorganda A. Saludar
CEBU CITY, Aug 16 (PIA) -- The Task Force ‘Tabang’ (TFT) for Habagat victims in Luzon of the Regional Disaster Council (RDC)-7 said it targets to ship the collected relief items for flood-stricken victims in Luzon before the end of August.
Timogen Arellano of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) 7 in a recent PIA Kapihan said they are still accepting donations, in cash and in kind, from the public and RDC 7 members so these could be repacked in the case of relief goods for shipment to Manila.
Arellano said the TFT was just formed late last week and they are giving time to collect all relief goods before transporting them. The NEDA 7 serves as the secretariat of the RDC 7.
Arellano again appealed to the public to share what they have to “our unfortunate brothers and sisters” in Metro Manila and nearby areas hit by severe flooding due to non-stop rains.
“RDC 7 Chairman Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama sent a representative to Manila to determine the urgent needs of the flood victims in the affected areas,” Arellano bared.
Among the needed items by the flood victims are bottled water, ready-to-eat food items, choco bars, tetra pack milk for infants, towels that could be used also as blankets and used clothing.
Identified drop-off centers are the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development 7 which is open 24/7, Provincial Capitol, Talisay and Lapulapu City Hall, all police stations in Central Visayas and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The NEDA representative said the TFT is composed of different regional government agencies, local government units and the private sector particularly the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rotary Club of Cebu and Philippine Span Asia Carrier (PSAC). The PSAC committed to ship the relief goods free of charge, this is said.
“The different members of the TF Tabang have different tasks in our efforts to help flood victims in Metro Manila and Luzon,” disclosed Arellano.
The Department of Health -7 and the Department of Social Welfare and Development -7 lead in the collection of the relief items while the Philippine National Police – and the Armed Forces – Central Command are focused on security assistance.
Arellano further said the creation of the TFT is also aimed at putting the necessary mechanism in place just in case such a similar calamity would happen in Central Visayas. (FCR/AYS-PIA 7 Cebu)
============
Media groups join forces to support FOI Act
By Amorganda A. Saludar
CEBU CITY, Aug 16 (PIA) -- Several media organizations and editors joined forces in its efforts to push for the immediate passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
The Philippine Press Institute (PPI), the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas and the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition decided yesterday, August 15, to be marked as "FOI Day" to place emphasis on the importance of the said act.
The said activity also served as the beginning of the organizations’ plans in observing August 19 as the 1,000th day after the Maguindanao massacre of November 2009 while part of the activities for the day will be an evening vigil-prayer rally at the Bantayog ng Mga Bayani.
Different organizations involved in yesterday’s event have certain tasks and role for the realization and success of the activity.
The PPI members are tasked to publish and upload the pooled editorial (in English and Filipino) while the KBP on their end is in charge of producing a public service advocacy plug for radio broadcast and its member stations are scheduled to air the plug starting Friday, August 17.
Other online media agencies expressed their willingness to upload this pooled editorial, while citizen journalists have promised to post and pass it around Facebook, Twitter and other social media networks.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines have also made the rounds of press corps in major beats yesterday and today, their members will start wearing "Right to Information, Right Now!" button pins at their worksites. (FCR/AYS-PIA7 Cebu with PCIJ PR)
==============
DSWD-7, Jolibee nominate model families for its 2nd Jollibee Family Values Awards
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, Aug 16 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – 7 in cooperation with the Jollibee Foods Corporation, Inc. will choose a Filipino model family for its 2nd Jolibee Family Values Awards (JFVA) next month.
Jollibee asked the DSWD-7, the government’s welfare arm, to nominate any Filipino family who have demonstrated positive Filipino values from among its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries in Central Visayas.
Five Filipino families will receive a cash prize worth P100,000, a trophy designed by renowned Brass Sculptor Michael Cacnino and will be included in the roster of JFVA.
The winners will be picked by an esteemed panel of judges chosen by Jollibee Foods Corporation, Inc.
Nominees must be a Filipino citizen of good standing with no criminal record.
Nomination forms may be downloaded in Jollibee’s official website. For details, one may visit JFVA page from http://www.jollibee.com.ph-family-values-awards.
Deadline for the submission of entries is on August 31. (RMN/HFG-PIA7, DSWD-7)