DOST-Caraga enjoins researchers to come-up with health-related studies
by Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, May 13 (PIA) – Citing the need to develop researches that focuses on health, Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Caraga Asst. Regional Director for Technical Operations Dominga Mallonga today enjoined researchers in Caraga to come-up with researches that resolves health-related issues in the region.
Speaking before the public and private stakeholders during the forum on aligning research to local health needs and research agenda, Dir. Mallonga said “now is the right time for researchers in Caraga Region to focus on health-related issues as the scope of their researches”.
Mallonga presented seven research priorities identified by the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA), as follows: health financing, health governance, health regulation, health service delivery, health technology development, health research ethics, and health information system.
Researches under the health financing areas will have to find ways for the optimal mobilization of financial resources for health care and ensuring that every citizen has access to effective public health and personal health care.
For health governance, Mallonga said researches must focus on how to improve health system’s performance and capacities in managing the health sector in addressing the health needs of the population.
Also, the official said that in the area on health regulation, the scope of the researches must ensure access to quality, effective, safe and affordable health care products, devices, facilities and services.
In the area of health service delivery, Mallonga said the researches must focus on improving the accessibility and availability of basic and essential health care for all, particularly the poor, in both public and private facilities and services.
“Under the health technology development, research objective must support the health services delivery through generation of safe, appropriate, and accessible technologies to address urgent health needs and likewise support the growth of small and medium scale entrepreneurs on health bio-industry,” Mallonga said.
As to the health ethics area, Mallonga stressed the importance of research to ensure health research accounts for Filipino culture, norms and traditions and assessing the practice of ethics in health research.
Lastly, Mallonga said health information system researches must form a functional and effective information system for relevant and quality information to support evidence based activities like health planning, decision-making, policy formulation and conduct of researches.
The forum is one of the highlights marking the 3rd anniversary celebration of the Caraga Health Research and Development Consortium (CHRDC), a consortia of 18 member-agencies that includes the academe, health service providers, regional line agencies and the tri-media, envisioned to have a dynamic health research community for a healthy Caraga Region.
Meanwhile, NUHRA sets research directions and areas where policy makers, funding and donor agencies as well as researchers from public and private sector including the academe should invest to enhance the health, environment, labor and social services sector in the region. It also ensures health and productivity of the country’s citizenry and contributes to the national development. (PIA-Caraga)
Armed men burn heavy equipment in Surigao City
by FEAbkilan
SURIGAO DEL NORTE, May 13 (PIA) – Around 20 suspected members of the rebel New People’s Army torched several heavy equipment last Thursday evening, May 12 in Surigao City.
A spot report from the Surigao City Police Station (SCPS) said the incident occurred around 9:49 p.m. at the quarry site in Sitio Looc in Barangay Luna. Damaged in the incident were one ISUZU dump truck, one KOMATSU backhoe, and one TCM pay loader owned by a certain Enrique Baguio and hired by Tinio Construction who was working on the construction of Gaisano Capital Mall.
The local police authorities suspect communist terrorists were behind the attack, saying that when the armed men burned the back hoe which was situated near the dump truck, they all shouted “NPA Kami” and “that they burn it because the equipment have caused destruction in the area,” a police report revealed.
After learning the incident, SCPS personnel led by PC/Insp. Rudy Elandag immediately ordered the deployment of personnel to conduct investigation and security in the area. Additional troops from the Surigao del Norte Police Provincial Police and Provincial Police Public Safety Company were also deployed to conduct hot pursuit operation to the withdrawing perpetrators.
All line and 30the Infantry “Python” Battalion units were also alerted for possible diversionary tactics of the perpetrators upon withdrawal.
It was learned that the Surigao City Fire Station and the City’s Quick Action Response Team also responded to the area to help control the fire and prevent further damage to the equipments. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Surigao guv condemns rebels’ burning of heavy equipment
By FEAbkilan
SURIGAO DEL NORTE, May 13 (PIA) – Reacting to the recent burning of several heavy equipment in Surigao City, several local officials are one in condemning such an awful event.
Gov. Sol Matugas, in a press statement, described the burning by suspected communist rebels of several quarry equipment Thursday evening, May 12 at the quarry site in Sito Looc, Barangay Luna as a "shocking event."
“I condemned the shocking event as this greatly affects business in the city and province. They are now creating a climate of fear (in Surigao del Norte).”
Matugas then appealed to the perpetrators to help build a progressive city and province. “As the governor, I appeal to those involved to help build a progressive and peaceful city and province.”
Among the properties razed by the fire were one ISUZU dump truck, one KOMATSU backhoe, and one TCM pay loader reportedly owned by a certain Enrique Baguio and hired by Tinio Construction, a contractor of Gaisano Capital Surigao.
In a radio interview, Luna Barangay Captain Alfredo Dacuron was also saddened with the incident. He said that the burning of the heavy equipment is a big blow to the socio-economic development aspirations of the people in the said barangay.
As of press time, the 30th Infantry “Python” Battalion and the local police have joined hands in conducting combat operations against the perpetrators. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)
DOH-CHD Caraga spearheads observance of Safe Motherhood Week 2011
by Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, May 13 (PIA) – To ensure the safety of pregnant women and post partum mothers, the Department of Health – Center for Health and Development (DOH-CHD) Caraga observed this year’s Safe Motherhood Week by launching programs such as ‘Ligtas Buntis,’ pregnancy tracking, birth planning and establishment of Barangay Health Team.
According to DOH-Caraga Information Officer Sunshine Alipayo, the observance of the Safe Motherhood Week is conducted every second week of May as per Presidential Decree No. 200 signed by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2002.
“The proclamation seeks to draw public attention to the need to promote maternal health and nutrition, giving particular attention to illiterate and disadvantaged women in depressed and hinterland communities, in order to reduce maternal mortality,” Alipayo said.
The four (4) pillars of Safe Motherhood—antenatal and postpartum care, emergency obstetric care, clean and safe delivery, and family planning or planned pregnancies—are tackled in lectures are conducted, and information materials distributed by the DOH-CHD.
Participants in the said program launching included pregnant women, personnel from the Rural Health Units from different provinces, barangay captains, and some heads/representatives of local hospitals.
With this, the DOH-CHD is hoping for the support and cooperation from the pregnant women, barangay officials, and rural health units of different provinces in the region in this annual advocacy and communications campaign to inform women of the importance of giving birth in a hospital or health center, where all the necessary care services and facilities are available to ensure a safe delivery and thereby prevent maternal mortality. (PIA-Caraga)
DOH-CHD Caraga to strengthen women's health teams in every barangay
by Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, May 13 (PIA) – The Department of Health – Center for Health and Development (DOH-CHD) Caraga headed by Regional Dir. Leonita Gorgolon will strengthen the Women’s Health Teams (WHTs) in every barangay being chaired by the barangay captains and co-chaired by Rural Health Midwives that is also supervised by doctors in the Rural Health Unit (RHU).
According to Dr. Grace Lim of DOH-CHD Caraga, the WHTs guarantee an efficient support system in the implementation of the Maternal Newborn Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) strategy.
Lim said that among the functions of the WHT are, to wit: 1) track every pregnancy in the community; 2) assist pregnant women in accomplishing the birth plan; 3) provide quality maternal care, family planning, STI prevention and HIV control and adolescent and youth health services appropriate at community level; and 4) make accurate recordings.
She also emphasized that their priorities are as follows: 1) to ensure every pregnancy is wanted, planned and supported; 2) every pregnancy is adequately managed throughout its course; 3) every delivery is facility-based and attended by physicians; 4) every mother and newborn care secures proper postpartum and postnatal care with appropriate package of services.
With this initiative, DOH-CHD looks forward to the full support of barangay officials for this program.
Members of the WHTs also include Barangay Health Workers, Barangay Nutrition Scholar, Day Care Center Workers, volunteers and others. (PIA-Caraga)
DILG officers assemble to assess 2011 programs, projects
by Mary Christine Anthonette M. Salise
BUTUAN CITY, May 13 - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Caraga regional office conducted an Assembly of Local Government Operations Officers (LGOOs) recently in one of the local convention centers here to assess the department’s projects, programs and activities (PPAs) for 2011.
DILG-Caraga Regional Director Rene Burdeos underscored the importance of DILG’s flagship PPAs such as the full disclosure policy, seal of good housekeeping/ local government performance management system, EXCELL, comprehensive development plan, capdev.
Burdeos also encouraged the LGOOs to popularize Sec. Jesse M. Robredo’s banner program which promotes transparency of LGUs financial transactions which is the full disclosure policy (FDP).
“Our PPAs serve as the cornerstone of this administration so we should institute ownership of functions when it comes to their implementation in the city/municipal level,” Burdeos said.
“Let us serve as point persons to make LGUs follow the DILG directives and instruments for LGUs to excel in local governance,” Burdeos added.
The participants were also given inputs on leadership competencies using the newly introduced ‘A-bility, B-uild, L-ink, E-nable (ABLE) framework’ and the ‘M-indset, P-rocess, A-ction, R-esult (MPAR) tool’ strategies.
Also, they were made to identify the issues and concerns with regards to the PPAs implementation and come up with solutions on how to improve their performance in ensuring that the PPAs are being properly implemented to attain transparent and accountable governance.
To put balance between work and health, Dr. Flordeliz Llesis, Department of Health (DOH) program coordinator on healthy lifestyle introduced strategies on how to manage stress and discussed topics on wellness and healthy lifestyle.
Dr. Llesis emphasized that if one aims to become a good leader, he has to maintain a work-life balance first and be physically fit and healthy. (DILG-XIII/PIA-Caraga)
17 nabbed on illegal drugs
by PSupt Joseph B. Boquiren
BUTUAN CITY, May 13 - An early-morning-hour raid yielded seventeen persons arrested for either selling or possessing methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) at Barangay San Ignacio, this city, recently.
The raiding team, composed of the personnel of anti-illegal drugs special operations task force (AIDSOTF) of Butuan City police office, police station 1, and Butuan City public safety company (BCPSC) headed by PSupt. Francisco D. Dungo, Jr., Deputy city director, under the close supervision of PSSupt. Jose V. Carillo, City director, Butuan City police office, swooped down on the respective houses of the suspected drug pushers armed with seven search warrants.
Two of the arrested suspects were booked for possession and selling of suspected shabu, namely: Mark Sol Mangatong y Gumbay alias Sol, 21, and recovered from his possession and control three sachets of suspected shabu and Taas Sultan y Ampaso alias Tatskie, 25, for possession of five sachets of suspected shabu and assorted drug paraphernalia and the marked money used by the agents during the buy bust operation prior to the conduct of the raid.
Two other suspects, Mokalidin Mangatong y Gumbay alias Moks, 24, and Kaddafi Casan y Lumayon alias Mandapi, 32, apprehended for possession of two sachets and nine sachets, respectively, of suspected shabu and several drug parapheranalia. The four suspects are facing drug-related charges in inquest proceedings and are temporarily detained at BCPO Detention Cells.
The above suspects were arrested following a buy bust operation and simultaneous implementation of seven Search Warrants issued by Judge Godofredo Abul, Jr. of RTC Branch 4 against the seven suspected drug pushers in the area known only by their respective aliases, to wit: Alias Benz, Mama, Mandapi, Mar, Moks, Sol, and Tatskie.
Three other suspects were arrested for allegedly throwing away to the ground sachets of suspected shabu upon the approach of the lawmen. They are Saidani Ampaso y Masaronay, Sinoding Saumay, and Abduljabbar Macarimbang y Diranguin. The three are being investigated separately and cases are being prepared against them.
Following the implementation of the Search Warrants to the seven suspects, ten persons were also arrested for being suspiciously present within the immediate vicinity of the suspected places where the search was conducted. They were also brought to Butuan City Police Office for further investigation and questioning.
Further, after being subjected to drug test, nine of them showed positive of methamphetamine hydrochloride in their urine samples at the PNP crime lab in PRO 13 and appropriate charges of RA 9165 is now being prepared. (Butuan City Police Office/PIA-Caraga)
RDRRMC encourages LGUs to actively participate in the yearly conduct of the Search for Gawad KALASAG
by Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, May 13 (PIA) – Local government units need to submit annually their accomplishments report on Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Change Adaptation (DRR-CCA)/Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) focusing on Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Rehabilitation as basis for the selection of the regional nominees for the annual Search for Gawad KALASAG (Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan, Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan).
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) Caraga led by the Office of Civil Defense issued this reminder recently.
According to Loraine Catedral of OCD-Caraga, Gawad KALASAG aims to recognize outstanding performance of LDRRMCs, private/volunteer organizations, local, national and international NGOs, donor agencies, and the communities as major stakeholders in implementing significant DRM projects and activities and, in providing humanitarian response and assistance to affected communities. It also aims to recognize individuals, groups or institutions that have shown extraordinary courage, heroism, self-sacrifice, and bravery in times of natural and human-made emergencies and disasters.
It was learned that KALASAG was initiated in 1998. It is NDRRMC’s current recognition scheme in its search for excellence on DRM and humanitarian assistance. It provides the mechanism in obtaining sustained commitment and support from the highest level of government by recognizing the exceptional contributions of the various DRM practitioners in rebuilding the resilience of nations and communities to disaster.
Also, Gawad KALASAG is guided by a set of principles, to include among others: stakeholders' participation, transparency, innovativeness, partnership, self-reliance, and the spirit of volunteerism. It encourages the active participation of key stakeholders throughout the conceptualization stage to the actual implementation of the program. Through the years, Gawad KALASAG's selection process is kept transparent and the evaluation result is consistently reliable. In the light of the most recent development on DRR at the global community, Gawad KALASAG expands its award categories in order to be more responsive to the priorities set in the HFA implementation. Building on the existing scheme, Gawad KALASAG henceforth gives emphasis on DRR.
It can be recalled that Surigao City was the only city which submitted the necessary requirements for the competition as the DILG extended the deadline for the submission of entries last year 2010 and was one of the awardees of the said search.
RDRRMC technical working group will work-out a resolution with DILG urging LGUs to submit their accomplishments report annually so that LGUs will be recognized in their best practices related to Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Rehabilitation, it was gathered.
Kalasag is the Filipino term for "shield" used by early Filipinos as a means of protection from attacks of enemies or harmful animals.
For more details or inquiries, Catedral encourages interested parties to call OCD-Caraga at telephone numbers: (085) 342-8753, 341-8629. (PIA-Caraga)
DOH-Caraga launches ‘Ligtas Buntis’
by Diamond Year Cupay
BUTUAN CITY, May 13 (PIA) – In time with the celebration of the Safe Motherhood Week, the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga in cooperation with the Center for Health Professionals (CHP) launched ‘Ligtas Buntis’ on Thursday, May 12, 2011 at Almont Inland Hotel, this city.
The event aims to give importance to mothers and to ensure their safe pregnancy and birthing.
The event gives awareness to the mothers on the rising number of maternal mortality rates annually. “In fact there are 536,000 reports about maternal deaths every year and 99 percent of this comes from the developing countries which includes the Philippines. As a result, there are over 1 million children left motherless,” according to Dr. Florminda Tejano, Chief Administrative Officer of the Regulatory Licensing Enforcement Division (RLED) of the DOH.
Tejano added that through this activity, the mothers will be assured of good quality health care and that they will be referred immediately to a health facility where they will be attended by medical experts and skilled health workers.
With these developments, the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga established the Health Facility Enhancement Program for those geographically isolated areas where there will be a ‘half-way house,’ where pregnant woman can stay while in labor.
The said event was attended by officers and staff of different health sectors as well as the different barangay captains in Caraga region. (PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: Pagpalaganap ng ligtas at inuming tubig pinaigting
by David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Mayo 13 (PIA) – Walong barangay ng Agusan del Sur ang nakinabang sa malinis at ligtas na inuming tubig sa pamagitan ng programang pagpapaunlad sa mga batis na pinapatupad ng Pangkalusugang Tanggapan ng Lalawigan (PTL) sa taong 2010 at kung saan, itutuloy ang katulad na programa sa taong ito ng 2011.
Ayon sa ulat ng PTL, ang naturang proyekto ay kabilang sa “Convergence Development Program (CDP)” na sinimulan noong taong 2005. Ito ay pagpapatuloy ng programang HSRP.
Ayon kay Nanette Cabanos, hepe ng technical na tanggapan ng PTL, ang naturang proyekto ay isa sa mga nangungunang programa ni Gob. Adolph Edward Plaza para lubusang makinabang ang mga kabahayan at pamilya sa lalawigan sa ligtas at malinis na tubig, kasama na ang pagpagawa ng malinis na palikuran sa buong lalawigan lalo na sa mga liblib na lugar.
“Mula ng tanggapin ng lalawigan ng Agusan del Sur ang CDP…pinagtibay din namin ang pagpapagawa ng mga botika... Ang totoo nyan, naging matagumpay ang aming pagsisikap at nakapagpagawa ang ating mga kababayan ng 420 tama at malinis na palikuran sa buong lalawigan, at plano pa ng pamahalaang ito na ipagpatuloy ang naturang proyekto sa taong ito, 2011,” sabi ni Cabanos.
Dagdag pa ni Cabanos, hindi lamang pagpapaunlad sa mga batis at pagpagawa ng palikuran ang kanilang pinagtuunan ng pansin kundi pati na ang lahat ng serbisyong kanilang magagawa para sa hospital, pamamahala ng kalusugan, mga gastosin para sa pangkalusugan at ang pagbibigay kaalaman tungkol sa pangkalusugan.
Ayon sa ulat ng PTL, sa pagtatapos ng taong 2010, ang walong proyekto na pagpapaunlad sa mga batis ay nagkahalaga ng P2 milyon at ito ay bigay lamang ng European community, na inambagan ng teknical at mga manggagawa mula sa pamahalaan ng lalawigan. Ang walong proyekto na ito ay matatagpuan sa mga barangay ng Maligaya, bayan ng Rosario, Barangay Sta. Isabel ng Sta. Josefa, Barangay Tandang Sora ng Esperanza, Barangay San Andres ng Bunawan, Barangay San Isidro ng San Francisco, Barangay Sabud ng Loreto, Barangay Don Alejandro ng San Luis at Barangay Kapatungan ng Trento. Lahat ng patubig ay nasa level 2, at inilagay sa pinaka tamang lugar sa barangay. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Tagalog Feature: Gaano kahalaga ang 4Ps sa Barangay Sta. Irene?
ni David M. Suyao
Malaki ang pinagbago ng buhay ng mga bata sa Barangay Sta. Irene simula nang tumanggap ng buwanang subsidy ang kanilang mga pamilya galing sa Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Ito ay isang programa ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) upang punan ang pangangailangan ng mga kapus-palad na pamilyang Pilipino.
Ayon kay Barangay Kapitan Rebecca Mancia, mula ng tumanggap ang mga pamilya ng biyayang 4Ps ang konseho ng Barangay Sta. Irene, kapuna-puna na tumaas ang bilang ng mga kabataang pumapasok sa paaralan. Layunin ng programa na maibalik sa pag-aaral ang mga batang nasa 6-12 taong gulang, at ang mga nasa una at pangalawang taon ng mataas na paaralan. Nitong 2010-2011, syento porsyento ng mga kabataan sa ganitong edad at antas ang naitala na bumalik sa paaralan.
Ang talaan na ito, ayon kay Mancia, ay halos di paniwalaan ng mga opisyales ng DepEd, dahil ang pinakamataas na naitala ng Sta. Irene Elementary School ay umabot lamang sa 94 porsyento.
“Kaming lahat ay halos hindi makapaniwala sa nangyari. Pero ayon sa ulat, bago dumating ang 4Ps, karamihan sa mga bata ay nasa bahay lamang o nasa lansangan, at walang ginagawa at halos hindi makakain ng tatlong beses isang araw. Pero sa tulong ng 4Ps, nakikita naming naging masaya ang mga bata, na lumalakad papunta ng eskwelahan tuwing umaga, na may bag na nakasukbit sa kanilang mga balikat at handang matuto para sa magandang kinabukasan,” pagmamalaki ni Kapitan Mancia.
Ayon sa ulat ni Mancia, hindi lamang ang partisipasyon ang lumago, pati na rin ang pagparehistro ng mga bagong silang na sanggol, ang mga buntis na inang nagpapasuri, ang pagpapabakuna at ang mga nanganganak sa birthing clinics. Ang bumaba ay ang naitalang paghinto ng mga bata na pumasok sa eskwelahan.
“Naranasan din naming magkaroon ng problema gaya ng mga reklamo ng mga magulang na marami raw ang mga tumatanggap na di karapatdapat pero ang problemang iyon ay naipaabot na namin sa DSWD. Pero napakalaki talaga ng dalang pagbabago ng 4Ps sa buhay ng mga tao doon sa amin. Sa parte ng pamahalaan, sinabi naming hindi kami magbibigay ng barangay clearances at iba pang dokumento na kailangan ng mga magulang kapag hindi nila naipakita sa amin ang kanilang talaan na natupad nila ang lahat ng kinakailangan ng 4Ps, tulad ng papapabakuna, pagpapasuri ng mga buntis, at ang pagpanganak sa birthing clinic sa tamang paraan. Kaya lahat ng serbisyong ito na di halos pinapansin noon, ay naging napakamahalaga na ngayon, para rin sa kabutihan nila,” Sabi ni Mancia.
Sa ngayon, ayon kay Mancia, nag dagdag pa sila ng isang botika sa barangay sapagka’t dumami na ang mamimili ng gamot sa barangay—salamat sa biyayang pera mula sa 4Ps. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Cebuano News: Intelligence workshop gipahigayon sa Surigao del Sur
ni Nida Grace B. Tranquilan
TANDAG CITY, May 13 (PIA) - Ang Philippine National Police (PNP) dinhi sa Surigao del Sur ug ang Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Caraga nagpahigayon ug usa ka inter-agency intelligence workshop dinhi ni’ng probinsya dili pa lang dugay.
Ang maong okasyon gikataho nga nagmalampusong gipahigayon sa Conference room, Police Provincial Office (PPO) dinhi ni’ng probinsiya tinguha nga makakuha ang nagkadaiyang ideya gikan sa mga partisipante tumong nga maghugpong batok kampanya sa ilegal nga droga.
Matud pa ni Police Provincial Director S/SUPT Julito Diray, kadto lamang mga pinili nga miyembro ubos sa iyang kamanduan ang gitugutan nga mu-apil sa maong panagtigum.
Atol usab sa maong panagtigum, si PDEA OIC Regional Dir. Joel Plaza mipadayag bahin sa Operational Guidelines sa maong ahensiya, lakip na ang pinaka ulahing taho (update) sa ilegal nga droga dinhi sa Caraga. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)
