(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 27 March 2024) Easterlies affecting the eastern section of the country. Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Easterlies / Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.


PIA News Service - Monday, April 8, 2013



DOH-CHD 13 strengthens implementation of RIACEH

By Nora L. Molde

BUTUAN CITY, April 8 (PIA) -- To safeguard and make the environment conducive to the improvement and maintenance of the health of the people, the member agencies of the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Environmental Health (RIACEH) Caraga region strengthened the implementation of its functions and responsibilities.

During the orientation of RIACEH stakeholders on April 4-5 in Butuan City, it was learned that because of the establishment of industries operating in the region like that of mining, palm oil and banana plantation, and other industrial establishment, the development of environmental health issues is expected as it operates along the way due to exposures with chemicals, pollution, improper waste disposal and contamination of water, there is a need for the RIACEH stakeholders to strengthen its functions and responsibilities and help determine practical ways & its application in protecting our environment & lives from the environment health problems.

Stakeholders were required to identify proposed actions in order to solve the environmental health issues brought about by the industries/plantations. Some of the identified proposed actions include the strengthen monitoring and enforcements of Republic Acts/Memorandum Order and the like to the local levels.

Engr. Luis F. Cruz of DOH Environmental and Occupational Health Office recalled that an Inter-Agency Committee on Environmental Health was created under Cabinet Resolution No. 3, Series of 1987, and institutionalized by an Executive Order No. 489 known as "Institutionalizing the Inter-Agency Committee on Environmental Health" dated Nov. 22, 1991.

Cruz said that pursuant to Department Memorandum 0rder 113, Series of 2007, or the Amendment to the Function of the RIACEH, functions were included to be done by its member agencies.

Also, according to Dr. Valeriano V. Timbang of DOH Environmental and Occupational Health Office Manila, the functions of its members are to: oversee the implementation of national policies, guidelines and programs relative to environmental health protection at the regional level; Coordinate, monitor and evaluate environmental health programs and development projects initiated by the government and private agencies to achieve environmental health protection; disseminate public information and issue advisories on environmental health hazards and their prevention and control; coordinate, assist and/or support in the conduct of researches and relevant studies for environmental maintenance and protection; provide technical assistance to local government units (LGUs) on environmental health concerns, particularly during emergency situation; issue resolution to direct/facilitate/recommend actions to be undertaken that required multi-agency participation and cooperation concerning environmental health problems; perform other tasks as may be necessary to carry out the purpose for which the committee has been established.

With all these functions and responsibilities of the stakeholders, there is also a need to strengthen its sub-sectors, namely: Solid Wastes, Water, Air, Toxic Substances, Occupational Health, Food Safety, Sanitation (SWATOFS) and Climate Change in order to make the committee capable of addressing issues and problems related to environmental health.

Engr. Dioscoro Navarro, Jr. of DOH-CHD Caraga stressed that a permanent and alternate agency representatives on for the RIACEH should also be observed and regular meetings of stakeholders must be conducted.

RIACEH is chaired by the Department of Health-Caraga Region. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: Palasyo mitaho nga sitwasyon sa Korean Peninsula pabilin nga normal

Ni Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Abril 8 (PIA) – Sumala sa Malakanyang ang sitwasyon didto sa Korean peninsula nagpabilin nga normal ug walay rason nga moisa og alert level ang gobyerno sa Pilipinas aron maseguro nga luwas ang mga Filipino didto sa South Korea.

Matud ni Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte niadtong adlawng Sabado nga ang Department of Foreign Affairs kanunay nga nagmonitor sa sitwasyon og matud nila nga nagpabilin nga normal ang sitwasyon mao nga walay angay kabalak-an.

Matud pa niya, nga ang DFA pinaagi sa embahada niini didto sa South Korea nagahimo og inadlaw-adlaw nga assessment sa maong sitwasyon ug andam kini nga mohimo og mga contingency measures kon ugaling mahimong delikado ang sitwasyon sa maong rehiyon.

Sumala ni Presidente Aquino adunay mokabat sa 50,000 ka mga Filipino ang nagpuyo ug nagtrabaho didto sa South Korea, ug mokabat sa 15,000 ka mga Filipino ang duol sa demilitarized zone diin maoy unang maapeektuhan kon ugaling adunay giyera nga mahitabo.

Dugang pa niya, kon ugaling motumaw ang kadaut, ang gobyerno sa Pilipinas andam mokuha sa mga Filipino didto sa South Korea. Ang C-130 cargo plane sa Philippine Air Force u gang naval ship sa Philippine Navy ang naka stand-by na aron maoy mohakot sa mga Filipino nga maapektuhan sa maong kagubot. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)