LGU-Surigao Norte, SMPC ink MOA on universal
health care
By Susil D.
Ragas
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, June 29 (PIA) - The provincial government of Surigao
del Norte and the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City recently
signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the implementation of the program
“Boosting Universal Health Care via Formula One Plus or F1 Plus.”
The
partnership aims to address primarily the shortage of specialty physicians at
the Surigao del Norte Provincial Hospital (SDNPH), a well-functioning level one
50-bed capacity health facility situated in Sta Cruz, Placer town catering to
the health needs of all Suriganons especially the indigent and poor.
As
stipulated in the MOA, an P8-million fund will be allocated for the
implementation of the program to cover the charges of the SPMC.
The
fund also serves as a referral fund for the Medical Assistance Program (MAP), a
financial assistance intended for the indigent and poor patients referred from
SDNPH and other areas in the province to address issues on No Balance Billing
policy.
The
MOA is another local government unit-initiative on health services delivery
network and to facilitate the effective and sustainable delivery of basic health
care services.
The
said MOA was formally signed by Governor Sol Matugas and SPMC representative
Dr. Ma. Elinore Alba-Concha which was witnessed by provincial officials and
employees as well as barangay doctors during the Monday Morning
Sharing on June 25, 2018 at the Provincial Convention Center, Surigao City.
(PIA-Surigao del Norte)
PSA enjoins support for 2018 family income, expenditure survey
BUTUAN
CITY, June 29 -- The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Caraga will conduct
the 2018 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES 2018) with a sample of
around 8,448 households deemed sufficient to provide provincial level
estimates.
PSA
Caraga Regional Director Rosalinda C. Apura said about 335 Statistical
Researchers and Field Personnel will be involved in the conduct of the FIES
2018 in the region.
"The
FIES 2018 enumeration will be conducted twice," she said.
“The
first visit will be done in July 2018 with the first semester, January to June
2018, as the reference period. The second visit will be conducted in January
2019 with the second semester, July to December 2018, as the reference period.
The same set of questions is asked for both visits,” Apura added.
The
FIES is a nationwide survey of households undertaken every three years. It is
the main source of data on family income and expenditure, which include among
others, levels of consumption by item of expenditure as well as sources of
income in cash and in kind. The FIES results, according to Apura, provide
information on the levels of living and disparities in income of Filipino
families, as well as their spending patterns; provide benchmark information to update
the weights used in the estimation of Consumer Price Index (CPI); and provide
inputs in the estimation of the country’s poverty threshold and incidence.
Dir.
Apura then encourages everyone, especially the selected sample households, to
support and cooperate in the conduct of the FIES 2018.
“All
information collected by the hired Statistical Researchers from the sample
households shall be kept strictly confidential and shall not be used for
purposes of taxation, investigation or regulation as provided under Article 55
of Republic Act 10625,” Apura said. (PSA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
NPA commander, 2 more give up in SurSur
By
Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG
CITY, Surigao del Sur, June 29 – A New People’s Army (NPA) commander and two
other rebel leaders had turned themselves in to authorities in Tandag City on
Sunday, June 24, 2018.
Mayor
Alexander “Ayek” Pimentel, along with PNP and AFP officers, presented to media
Hermano Quezada alias Rado/Barad, commanding officer (CO) of Sentro de Grabidad
(SDG) platoon of Guerilla Front (GF) 30 under the Northeastern Mindanao
Regional Committee (NEMRC) together with two other leaders.
They
were identified as Donita Martinez alias Clara, medical team leader, and
Romanito Molino alias Tata, team leader of Team Baking, Squad Uno, all of SDG
platoon, GF-30 of NEMRC.
Cpt.
Al Anthony Pueblas, civil military operations (CMO) officer of the 402nd
Infantry (Stingers) Brigade, who acted as moderator during the press conference
held at Tandag City Police Station (TCPS) at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday,
June 26, narrated the surrounding circumstances prior to the surrender of the
rebel leaders.
At
the head table, Mayor Pimentel were flanked by PSupt. Joseph Boquiren, Deputy
Provincial Director for Administration (DPDA) and PCI Ray Sorreda, Chief of
Police of Tandag City Police Station on his right while on the left were Lt.
Col. Xerxes Trinidad, 36th Infantry Battalion Commander of the Philippine Army
(PA) and City Councilor Rey-Vic “Dodo” Geli, chair of the Committee on Finance
and Appropriation of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
The
CMO said what happened was a joint effort, citing the close coordination made
between and among local officials from Barangay Maticdum up to Mayor Pimentel,
as well as the top brass of the PNP and AFP here.
It
was learned from PCI Sorreda that it all started a couple of weeks ago from a
“concerned citizen tip-off” that some rebel leaders would want to get out of
the movement.
Ka
Rado confirmed that on top of the “hardships” being experienced and “false hope
in the organization” plus the “‘unfair treatment of senior and superior
cadres,” the imposition of Martial Law was pointed out to have been potent in
constricting their movement.
In
addition, the rebel leader stressed that he trusted the administration of
President Rodrigo Duterte.
Since
their organization was already tagged as a terrorist organization by President
Duterte, Ka Rado bared that their mass-based supporters had kept on “dwindling
down.”
During
the press briefing, Mayor Pimentel had given all three surrenderers personal
money amounting to Php40,000. It was learned that Ka Rado was handed
Php20,000 while the two others were each given Php10,000.
As
the city dad called on other active rebels to come down and return to the fold
of law, he likewise assured the new surrenderers not only of security and
safety but more aid from the Duterte administration and from the local
government of Gov. Vicente “BB” Pimentel, Jr. as well. (Radyo
Pilipinas-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
