Sorsogon, Philippines

by Bennie A. Recebido

Sorsogon Province (28 May) — The Local Government Unit of Casiguran, in this province, true to its mission of putting the welfare of children on top of their priorities, has signified interest for the first time to join the 2008 Presidential Award for Child Friendly Municipalities – Regional Level.

Municipal Mayor Ma. Ester Hamor said that Casiguran, though a fourth class municipality, envisions a full development and promotion of children’s welfare, addressing every child’s rights through delivery of varied services.

Hamor said that their desire to be a child-friendly municipality is one among the many manifestations of their true and sincere resolve to give nothing but the best for their children. “After all, they are the future of this nation,” she added.

Highlighting its programs for children is the “Oo Para Sa Kaakian” (Yes For Children) which was implemented to ensure that the children’s basic rights to education, clean environment and recreation are protected.

She said that with the municipality’s meager available resources, it even provided free uniform, school bags and supplies, free snacks and financial subsidy to public school pupils. Optimistically, the program resulted to.92% average annual decrease in absenteeism and 2.35% annual decrease in drop-outs.

“Given also the power by the local government code to contract loans, we have facilitated a loan agreement with LOGOFIND for the construction of 12-classroom 2-storey school building which now provides favorable learning environment to school children,” Hamor added.

The LGU’s RHU, being the first and only RHU facility in the entire Bicol region to become a Sentrong Sigla Phase 2 facility with complete benefit package from PhilHealth, is a proof of its sustained maximum effort to provide health services especially for children, not to mention its being adjudged as the cleanest and greenest municipality in Bicol region. Also indicative of its relentless desire to provide a healthy environment for its constituents, Casiguran town has also recorded a zero maternal mortality rate in the past year.

To ensure parent’s awareness of children’s rights and their responsibilities toward them, intensive information caravan and “Ulat sa Magulang” Program are regularly undertaken in all barangay levels. (PIA Sorsogon)

Legazpi City (28 May) — Malaria cases and deaths in the country are going down, the Department of Health (DOH) said.

The DOH in an advisory said “We are giving due recognition to six local government units for maintaining their provinces malaria-free, bringing the total of the country’s malaria-free provinces to 22.”

Among the Bicol provinces cited by the DOH as malaria-free are Albay and Sorsogon aside from Samar, Eastern Samar, Marinduque, and Surigao del Norte. Out of the country’ 81 provinces, 59 are endemic for malaria.

DOH Bicol regional director said malaria-free means having no locally transmitted malaria cases.

Per assessment of the DOH, Samar has reported no malaria case in 1995 and since then, continuous case-finding, stream-learing and seeding, mosquito collection, and information dissemination has maintained its malaria-free status until now.

Albay’s last indigenous case was in 1997 in the towns of Manito and Rapu-Rapu. Vector control activities (such as seeding of streams with larvivorous fish, focal spraying) and mosquito collection were done to ensure that no case of malaria will occur.

On the other hand, Marinduque and Eastern Samar has not reported any malaria case since 1999 and 2000, respectively. However, regular activities (such as stream clearing, distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets) are still being conducted coupled with vigilance against suspected cases to maintain their status.

In 2002, Sorsogon reported their last case of malaria in the munciaplity of Donsol while Surigao del Norte did not have any case to report. Blood smears from different barangays were taken and remain negative.

Data in 2006 from the DoH shows that there were 35,405 cases and 122 deaths from malaria in the country, a 23% and 18% reduction, respectively compared to the 2005 malaria report.

Malaria is a disease common in the rural areas and is one of the mosquito-borne diseases affecting 11 million people living in hilly or mountainous, remote areas of the country where access to and availability of basic health services and correct information are difficult for the people at risk.

These areas are among the poorest in the country and belong to the 5th-6th class municipalities with meager financial resources to implement the program.

Commonly affected population groups are farmers relying on forest products, migrant workers, indigenous cultural groups, soldiers, communities affected by armed conflicts.

“Although the Philippines does not contribute significantly to the global death toll of malaria, this does not mean that we can be complacent at our task; it means that there are still a quite a number of our countrymen who are at risk or suffering and this situation is unconscionable,” DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said. (DOH)

At least one suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed while another was wounded in a one-hour firefight with government troops in Irosin town in Sorsogon in Bicol Friday.

Bombo Radyo Legazpi reported that Col. Ariel Bernardo of the 901st brigade said the military troops did not suffer any casualty during the firefight.

He said another was taken into custody and is now undergoing tactical interrogation.

Recovered from the site were a laptop computer, firearms and personal belongings.

GMANews.TV

SORSOGON CITY, Philippines — Just a month after a shellfish ban in Sorsogon Bay was lifted, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) issued an advisory saying shellfish there is again not safe for human consumption.

According to the advisory dated May 8 and signed by BFAR director Malcolm Sarmiento Jr, “shellfish from Sorsogon Bay — which is surrounded by the towns of Pilar, Castilla, Magallanes, Juban and Casiguran, and Sorsogon City — is positive for the red tide toxin.”

The advisory was “based on the results of red tide monitoring activities of the BFAR and the provincial agriculturist office (PAO).”

BFAR warned against eating, gathering or harvesting, transporting and marketing shellfish from Sorsogon Bay, to avoid paralytic shellfish poisoning caused by red tide. By Dunhill Jasareno

INQUIRER.net

by Bennie A. Recebido

Sorsogon City (May 20) — The Aquing Bicolnon, a conglomeration of territorial and multi-sectoral leaders and organizations of farmers, fishermen, urban poor, formal and informal workers, transport, women, senior citizens, youth and students, and cooperatives in the Bicol region in partnership with the National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL), Lady Local Legislator’s League of the Philippines (4L), League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), National Youth Commission, Sangguniang Kabataan National federation (SKNF) and various LGUs in Bicol region is set to hold the joint Bicol Youth Congress at the Sorsogon State College, this city, on May 27-30, 2008.

Revor J. Lasay, Aquing Bicolnon President, said the congress is in support to the present administration’s effort to put much positive economic actions and people’s participation into the last two years of President Arroyo’s term.

According to him, the youths are very potent instrument toward political and economic development and one among the civil society sectors that genuinely desires progress, hence, best services must be provided for them.

With the theme: “Aquing Bicolnon: Kilos-Kabataan Labanan ang Kahirapan!” the congress aims to help guide Bicol region’s youth sector aging 15 — 35 years representing the In- and Out-of-School, Working, SK and Youths With Special Needs, as they embark upon the challenges of bringing the youth sector to greater heights in the next five years.

Among the highlights of the Congress are the drafting of an Integrated Youth Development Plan for 2008-2013 for Bicol Region and the creation of an Integrated Youth Development Council which will serve as the implementing body for the Integrated Youth Development Plan (IYDP).

Lasay also said that invitations have already been forwarded to barangays officials, SK officials and Aquing Bicolnon Youths, however, interested youth groups/delegates are still encouraged to attend.

Further details may be inquired at the Aquing Bicolnon BYC Secretariat Office with the following contact numbers: (056) 421 — 5575; 09104277433 (Revor); 09104183091 (Red) or may visit at CCDI Bldg., Rizal St., Sorsogon City. (PIA Sorsogon)