DOH Caraga intensifies campaign versus Zika virus
By Nora C. Lanuza Molde
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 8 (PIA) – In relation to the
first confirmed Zika case for 2016 in the country, the Department of Health
(DOH) Caraga region has intensified its campaign against the virus.
DOH Caraga regional director Jose R. Llacuna, Jr.
during a press conference held on Thursday appealed to the media to help the
agency in disseminating the public on how to prevent Zika virus from spreading.
Dr. Llacuna said that inorder to prevent Zika, the
public are advised to practice over-and-above efforts in the prevention of the
virus by practicing the 4S.
The 4S stands for Search and Destroy mosquito
breeding sites like stagnant waters, old tires that accumulate water;
Self-Protection Measures by wearing long sleeves and application of mosquito
repellant; Seek Early Consultation for fever of more than two days or presence
of skin rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis must be consulted to the nearest
health facility for proper assessment by a doctor; and Say No to Indiscriminate
Fogging – say yes only during outbreaks or when as needed.
Llacuna further said that Zika is primarily
transmitted through the bite of Aedes mosquito although some countries have
reported it to be transmitted through sexual contact.
The mosquito-borne disease is usually not
life-threatening bus has been linked to a rise of birth defect called
microcephaly “babies with small heads”, and in some cases, ascending paralysis
of the body.
The same mosquito is responsible for Dengue and
Chikungunya, which is why the public is requested to increase vigilance in the
avoidance of mosquito bites and the practice of 4S, Llacuna said.
(NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
Winners of 3rd Bugsay Power Tournament bared
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Sept. 8 (PIA) -
Antonio Elisan and Julie Ann Elisan grabbed the top prize in the couple
category during the 3rd Bugsay Power Tournament held on Wednesday at the Tandag
River, this city. Bugsay is a visayan term, which means to paddle.
The couple received a brand new 5HP engine while
the second and third prize winners received a cash prize amounting to P3,000
and P1,500, respectively.
According to event organizer Manny Lumanao, this
year’s competition has three different categories: the single, double, and
couple. “In the couple category, the wife gives direction to a blindfolded
husband,” Lumanao said.
For the single category, Ernesto Tahum got the 1st
prize with P3,000 cash; Reynaldo Cuarteron for the 2nd prize with P2,000 cash;
and Junieboy Vintazal as third placer with P1,000 cash prize.
While for the double category, the winners are the
following: Mario Rubi and Benjamin Rubi got the 1st place with P5,000 prize
money; Marcelo Rubi and Luiz Rubi for the second place with P2,000 cash prize;
and Rosendo Rubi and Arnel Cuarteron for the third place with P1,500 cash
prize.
All the contenders received grocery packs from city
councilor Philip George Azarcon.
The spectacular event was first launched in 2012 by
the Tri-Media Association in Surigao Sur (TRIMASS) in line with the city’s
annual fiesta celebration. (FEA/NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Feature: Sustainable water supply within the
community’s reach through Kalahi-CIDSS
By April Mae N. Waban & Marko Davey D. Reyes
A bright smile is reflected on the face of a
village woman in Barangay Bacay 2, Veruela, Agusan del Sur, while she gently
swishes her laundry through the sudsy water she had collected and stored in the
tank days ago with their rainwater harvesting system. A few years back, doing
the laundry with such convenience for residents in the area would have not been
possible.
Before, the community endured and suffered the lack
of sustainable water supply and access to safe drinking water. Some residents of the barangay were forced to
walk a few kilometers since the nearest water source is distant. Because of
this, they sometimes fetch water from dug wells. Without access to clean
drinking water, residents were susceptible to water-borne diseases.
When the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa
Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services
(Kalahi-CIDSS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) came into their barangay, the community unanimously decided to propose
this sub-project as solution to their needs.
Now, with their rainwater harvester the community
has an improved water supply and a sustainable source of potable water since
each facility can store up to 2,000 liters of rainwater which they can use for
their daily consumption.
Residents of the barangay are jubilant since they
will be able to utilize their 146 installed rainwater harvester for domestic
uses such as drinking, bathing, washing clothes and many others. The said sub-project is funded through the
Kalahi-CIDSS program. (Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office
Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
AgNor supports Civil Service 116th anniv
By Aimee B. Sienes
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 8 (PIA) - The provincial
government of Agusan del Norte is fully supporting the 116th Philippine Civil
Service (PCS) Anniversary celebration for the month of September 2016.
With the theme: "Sigaw ng Lingkod Bayani:
Malasakit Para Sa Taumbayan, Kapwa Kawani, at Kalikasan," several
activities are in store for the month of September and these are: Display of
PCS banner – September 1-30, 2016; Simultaneous Flag Raising ug Renewal of Oath
of Office - September 19, 2016; Laro ng Lahi with prizes - September 19-21,
2016; OPLAN Kalinisan (within office premises) with prizes - September 27,
2016; Family Day - Last week of September; and Culmination Program - September
30, 2016.
Gov. Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba issued a
memorandum circular directed to all department heads, chiefs of hospitals,
administrative officers and employees of the province for information
dissemination and participation to the lined-up activities.
Gov. Angel is hopeful that this year’s celebration
would remind the officials and employees of the core reason of being public
servants and emphasized that not to forget the oath to do good and honest in public
service. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
SSS opens on Saturdays to accept applications for
LRP
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 8 (PIA) - The Social Security
System (SSS) announces that 112 local offices and 14 foreign representative
offices are open on all Saturdays of September at 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. to
accept Loan Restructuring Program (LRP)
applications for members who have past due loans.
LRP is open to all members with past due loans for
at least six months as of April 28, 2016 and residing or working in places
declared as calamity areas by National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council (NDRRMC) or national government. Aside from easier payment terms, LRP
has conditional condonation of penalties features.
Members who want to avail of the LRP must submit
accomplished application form and affidavit of residency, which they can both
secure from SSS offices or download from the SSS website. Application for LRP
will be accepted until April 27, 2017.
For details on the complete list of SSS offices
which are open on Saturdays, visit the SSS website at www.sss.gov.ph or call
the SSS Call Center at numbers 920-6446 to 55. (SSS/PIA-Caraga)
Surigao Norte solon steps up pressure vs. illegal drugs
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Sept. 8 (PIA) - In
response to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s (PDEA) appeal, Surigao del
Norte 2nd district representative Robert Ace S. Barbers, chairman of the House
Committee on Dangerous Drugs, recently filed House Bill 3406 amending the
Anti-Wiretapping Law.
Thereby, including the wiretapping of conversations
of suspected drug lords, pushers, and protectors or coddlers, among the
privileged communications that may be wiretapped by the government in order to
bring suspected drug criminals to justice.
“This measure hopefully will plug a major loophole
on the antiquated wiretapping law. If
approved, this will give our law enforcers more ammunition to pin down these
criminals who have destroyed the future of our youth and thereby jeopardizing
the future of our nation,” Barbers said.
He also issued a stern warning to these drug
criminals to stop using children in their drug trade in order to evade arrest
and prosecution as he warned parents—particularly those living in depressed
areas, to be more vigilant as drug pushers are now tapping minor children on
the sale, distribution and/or procurement of shabu and other illegal drugs.
During a briefing conducted by the PDEA, record
shows that a total of 464 minors had been arrested for involvement on illegal
drugs from January to August 2016, compared to zero in 2008 and 2009.
“Children are exploited either as drug couriers or
dealers, and then 'paid' in drugs, such that they become addicted and further
entrapped. We could only surmise that minors are being exploited because law
enforcers are powerless against them under Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile
Justice and Welfare Act of 2006,” Barbers said. (AG, Congressional
Office/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
DSWD-13 ensures welfare of SurSur lumad evacuees
returning home
By Eunice G. Montaos
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 8 (PIA) - After a year of
staying in the evacuation camps in Surigao del Sur, the lumad
Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) finally decided to return to their respective
communities in the said province.
As part of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD)-Caraga’s commitment to ensure the welfare of the evacuees
and humanitarian assistance for them, the agency’s staff distributed a total of
940 family food packs amounting to P385,700.80 (each food pack amounts to
Php410.32) to the lumads on Sept. 1, 2016 at Provincial Sports Center, Tandag
City.
Together with the provincial local government unit
(LGU) team, the relief distribution was led by DSWD Caraga’s Chief of
Protective Services Unit (PSU) Chief, Angelita B. Amista.
Other assistance provided were P2,579,560-worth
non-food items such as plastic mats, blanket, mosquito net, tooth brushes,
slippers, toothpaste, laundry soap, underwear, plates, glasses, soup bowl,
mugs, kettles, forks, spoons, sanitary napkin, basin, etc.
On Sept. 2-3, 2016, the Disaster Risk Reduction and
Response Operations Unit (DRRROU) of DSWD-Caraga accompanied the evacuees
returned to their homes in KM 9 and KM 16 Brgy. Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del
Sur. They were transported by the provincial government.
DSWD-Caraga will also provide Emergency Shelter
Assistance (ESA) as necessary for the repair of houses that are left unattended
and those that were burned down.
Other than the ESA, there will also be
Cash/Food-for-Work assistance thru the Sustainable Livelihood Program’s Cash
for Building Livelihood Assets (CBLA) for a maximum of 11 days per person while
working or cultivating their agricultural land or any preparatory work for the
livelihood endeavor most suitable to the IDPs concerned.
As to date, DSWD-Caraga already provided a total of
P5.8 million-worth of assistance to the said evacuees. These are in the form of
food, non-food, burial, educational, transportation, medical, psycho-social
processing, and child/women-friendly spaces.
DSWD Caraga regional director Minda B. Brigoli said
that DSWD will continue to extend compassion and assistance to these IDPs.
“The DSWD as government’s lead welfare agency, will
do its part by providing what it can within its means and mandates to help the
lumads in Caraga who are facing crisis like our lumad brothers and sisters in
Surigao del Sur,” said Brigoli. (Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office
Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
