BREAKING NEWS : Pres. Aquino to visit Cebu on Labor Day

President  Benigno S. Aquino III is expected to fly in to Cebu tomorrow to grace three events in Mandaue City and City of Naga.

Pres. Aquino will kick-off his visit here with a tour of the booths at the Jobstart Philippines Forum on the Filipino Youth in the Labor Market event at J Center Mall in Mandaue City.

JobStart Philippines is a new project borne out of a partnership amongst the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), CanadianInternational Development Agency (CIDA), and the Asian Development Bank.

Press briefing at PIA 7 by Cebu Infocen Manager Rachelle Nessia today.

The project provides full cycle employment bridging package to youth-beneficiaries from life skills training, accessible labor market information, career counseling, on-the-job training and other employment facilitation services.

JobStart is now being rolled out in Visayas and Mindanao after a successful run in Luzon where it was piloted.

While going around the booths tomorrow, the President will be briefed by Labor Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz and he is expected to interact with the JobStarters, youth program beneficiaries, and employers participating in the JobStart event.

Afterwards, the President will proceed to University of Cebu(UC) Medical Center for a tour and inspection of the new hospital facility.

The P2-billion center is a 12-storey, 300-bed, Level 2 hospital situated on a one-hectare property along Ouano Avenue, Subangdaku, Mandaue City.

It has the first 3D Mammography with Tomosynthesis in Southeast Asia and the first fully-integrated 3D Endoalpha Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) Operating Room in Southeast Asia and the most Endoaplhas than any other hospital in the country.

UCMed is expected to spur increase in economic activity in the area through the ancillary businesses it will generate.

During his visit, Pres. Aquino will inspect the center’s Catheterization Laboratory, Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit, Coronary Care Unit, and the Operation Room.

From the hospital, the President will board a chopper going to CEMEX Philippines in the City of Naga where he will lead the unveiling of the New Mill Facility Marker before going on a plant tour.

CEMEX is a growing global building materials company that produces, distributes, and markets cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates, and related building materials to customers in over 50 countries while maintaining trade relationships with more than 100 nations.

 It recently completed a P3-billion new mill facility located in its Apo Cement Plant in the City of Naga covering around 3,433-square meters. The new mill facility increased capacity of Apo Plant by 1.5 million metric tons per year or an additional 40% increase in total capacity of CEMEX.

After the plant tour, Pres. Aquino will proceed to the Gymnasium for a program attended by an estimated crowd of 500 officials and staff of CEMEX and Apo Cement Corporation, businesss partners, local and national officials, and other invited guest.

Distribution of media pass

This is the first visit of the President in Cebu for this year. The last time Pres. Aquino visited Cebu was in February 2014 when he led the 28th Anniversary of the First Edsa People Power revolution which was held for the first time in Cebu.  (rmn/PIA-7 Cebu)

- See more at: PIA website or at PIA Cebu page 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) reiterated that a permit to cut is needed over the cutting of trees within private lands.

According to DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo Montejo, this is in line with Executive Order No. 23 or the moratorium on the tree cutting throughout the country.

“We are preserving a good balance of forest for perpetuity by shifting timber harvesting in tree plantations only,” said Montejo in a press statement.

In a memorandum dated February 13 signed by Montejo, provincial and community environment and natural resources officers in the four provinces are instructed to implement the order requiring a ‘permit to cut’ on requests on the cutting of trees within a private land.

Requirements for the issuance of clearance for a permit to cut are the following: letter request, local government unit clearance, inventory of tree requested to be cut with global positioning system (GPS) reading per tree, stand stock table, copy of land title or tax declaration, geotagged pictures, sketch plan, and tree chart.

“We will not issue a clearance unless these requirements are complied with and attached to the application for a permit to cut,” Montejo said.

He pointed out: “You cannot harvest what you did not plant.”

Natural and residual forests are forests composed of indigenous trees, not planted by man.

Montejo added that under a new regime in forest resource development, the country’s shift to tree plantation development has been given the needed push in recognizing the sustainability of tree plantations as a viable source of timber. (rmn/PIA7-Cebu with reports from DENR-7)

- See more at: PIA website 

Cebuano News: Mga bag-ong opisyal gitudlo sa nasudnong panggamhanan

Ang Palasyo mipahibalo niadtong adlawng Lunes nga adunay napiling 18 ka bag-ong opisyal sa nagkalain laing ahensya sa gobyerno.

 Sa gihimong press briefing, namahayag si Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda nga si Corazon Davis ug Marcial Amaro, Jr. ang milingkod isip Assistant Secretaries sa Department of Environment and NaturalResources (DENR) ug si Danielle Marie Rieza isip Acting Assistant Secretary sa Department of Finance.

 

Corazon Davis ASEC-DENR

Laing napili nga mangulo sa Department of Transportation andCommunications sila si Ramon Jumawan, Director IV, Amante Caluya, Jr. isip Captain sa Hydrography Branch sa National Mapping and Resource InformationAuthority; Fidelis Cañada, Acting Director ll sa Office of Civil Defense ubos sa Department of National Defense.

Laing napili nga mangulo sa Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries, si Ariel Cayanan nga Acting Executive Director lll ug Josefina Rico, Director ll sa National Meat Inspection Service. Ang maong mga ahensya parehong ubos sa Department of Agriculture.

 

Josie Perez, Deputy-NCTCO

Si Josie Perez napili nga Deputy National Statistician sa Censuses and Technical Coordination Office, Estela de Guzman, Deputy National Statistician sa Civil and Registration and Center Support Office, PhilippineStatistics Authority nga ubos sa pagdumala sa National Economic and DevelopmentAuthority.

 

Marcial Amaro Jr. ASEC/DENR

Mga bag-ong napili nga mga Registers of Deeds ll sila si Arthur Abamonga, Julie Mae Monique Abela, Casiano Arcillas, Consuelo Filog, Dinna Lao, ug Maria Elnora Puday sa Land Registration Authority sa Departmentof Justice.

Si Raul Fajardo Marcelo napiling miyembro nga mo    representar sa pribadong sektor sa Board of Directors sa Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, samtang si Jose Suan napiling miyembro nga mo representar sa labor sector sa Board of Directors sa Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority. (LEANDRIA P. PAGUNSAN/PIA-Negor)

- See more at: www.pia.gov.ph

One more holiday in April- 73rd Araw ng Kagitingan

For the month of April 2015, Filipinos will have one more day break from work as the entire nation will commemorate National Heroes Day "Araw ng Kagitingan".

In April 9, 1942, over 60,000 Filipinos and 11,000 Americans were forced to walk 140 kilometers from Bataan to San Fernando by the Japanese invaders. Along the way, many prisoners were murdered and died starving, sick and dehydrated.  It was also called the "Death March".

April 9 is among the 11 regular holidays in Presidential Proclamation 831, the list of all holidays observed in the Philippines for 2015.

The Civil Service Commission on the other hand, mandates all government units and agencies to observe the event in a week long commemoration from April 5 to 11, 2015 in various forms.   These include enjoining activities of the Veterans and holding flag raising ceremonies; putting up of tarpaulins and info materials about the history of the event. 

According to Executive Order 203 of the Department of Labor and Employment, the following pay rules will apply on that day:

1. If it is an employee's regular workday
   • If unworked - 100%
   • If worked
     • 1st 8 hours - 200%
     • excess of 8 hours - plus 30% of hourly rate on said day
    
2. If it is an employee's rest day
• If unworked - 100%
• If worked
• 1st 8 hours - plus 30% of 200%
• excess of 8 hours - plus 30% of hourly rate on said day
• 
  The remaining Regular Holidays are :
  

  Labor Day	-	May 1
  Independence Day	-	June 12
  National Heroes Day	-	Last Sunday of August
  Bonifacio Day	-	November 30
  Eidul Fitr	-	Movable Date
  Christmas Day	-	December 25
  Rizal Day	-	December 30

Cebuano News: Aduna ra'y tambal og bakuna batok sa rabies

CEBU CITY (PIA)--- Mga medisina alang sa rabies sa tawo og sa hayop anaa na sa mga publikong pasilidad.

Gibutyag sa mga opisyal sa Department of Health og sa Department of Agriculture nga anaa na dinihi sa Sugbo ang mga nagkalain laing mga medisina alang sa pagbatok sa rabies og ang pag ayo sa mga nataptan niini.

Matod ni Dr. Eugenia Canal, ang Program Coordinator sa Regional Medical Rabies sa DOH, sukwahi sa mga miaging tuig, ang mga tambal sa mga napaakan ania na dinhi sa Sugbo.

Gipakatap na kini sa mga Animal Bite Treatment Centers og ingon man sa mga pribadong mga botika, matod ni Canal.

Nasayran nga ang gobyerno muabaga sa duha sa upat ka  tira o shots alang sa kumpletong treatment sa usa ka tawo nga napaakan og iro.

"Ang nabling duha mapalit na sa pasyente sa mga botika og dili na kinahanglan nga muadto pa og laing lugar" matod ni Canal.

Mitumaw ang pangutana sa dihang usa sa mga mitambong sa "Bloggers Forum" nagkanayon nga sa dihang napaakan siya kaniadto gikinahanglan pa nga kuhaon ang maong bakuna gikan sa laing probinsya.

Si Canal mipasalig nga adunay 18 ka mga Animal Bite Treatment Centers ang anaa sa probinsya sa Sugbo diin ang mga pasyente nga muduol niini makatagamtam sa benepisyo sa Philhealth.

Sa laing bahin, gipasalig usab Dr. Mary Ann Gabona, sa Cebu Provincial Veterinary Office, nga libre ang pagpabakuna sa mga iro ngadto sa mga veterinary offices sa mga local government units.

Lakip sa mga libreng serbisyo mga ang pagpakapon sa mga iro aron di kini magdaghan og maghatag na unya og kadaut sa tawo og property.

Dinhi sa syudad sa Sugbo giawhag ni Dr. Pilar Romero nga ipa rehistro ang mga iro sa mga tag-iya ngadto sa ilang opisina.

Lakip kini sa adbokasiya nga "Respobsible Pet Ownership".

Ang buwan sa Marso gi declarar nga "Rabies Free Month". (mbcn/fcc/PIA7-Cebu)

- See more at: PIA website. 

Bloggers join info campaign on rabies

The Philippine Information Agency –Cebu conducted a bloggers' forum recently for rabies advocacy in time for the celebration of rabies awareness and prevention month.

Invited guests were health and animal authorities from the region, province and Cebu City and several bloggers who were already part of recent PIA-Cebu initiated activities.

DOH-7 regional rabies program coordinator Dr. Eugenia Canal described to the group the nature of rabies when acquired by a human.

“Usual symptoms include fever, sore throat, body malaise after the incubation period and then followed by the neurologic symptoms,” Canal said.

The dog has to be observed from one to two weeks, she added.

Canal said DOH-7 noticed an increasing trend of rabies infection on the human side however these are treated because of the availability of medicines at the Animal Bite Treatment Centers.

“We have 18 certified rabies centers in Cebu and Philhealth benefits can be availed by the patient,” Canal said.

She also emphasized that the distance of the wound to the brain matters a lot in the infection.

“The nearer the wound to the brain, the more it is fatal,” Canal said.

Balbino Guerrero of www.binoguidecebu.com and who was a rabies survivor asked if just like other illnesses, if there’ll be a recurrence of the infection.

“No, once you completed all the rabies infection treatment, then you are declared clear, “ Canal said.

Unlike before, Canal also assured the audience that the medicines are already available in the pharmacies in Cebu.

On the other hand, Dr. Pilar Romero of the Department of Veterinary and Fisheries, Cebu City said stray dogs are mostly the source of rabies.

Dr. Eugenia Canal explains nature of rabies to bloggers

“Stray dogs mean, these are dogs with owners but are just left to stray,” Romero said.

She said the City has been all out in campaigning for responsible dog ownnership.

The City according to Romero encourages all dog owners to have their dogs registered at their office.

“When the dog is registered, it can make pet owners liable for medical expenses in case of accidental bites and the dog can also avail of services,” Romero said.

Romero also said, other than dog registration, the city is also into dog adoption.

“A person who wants to adopt a dog will just have to be screened and pay the amount of P150 for dog ownership,” Romero said.

 Department of Agriculture's regional rabies coordinator  Dr. Teodoro Dabocol said, signs of dogs who are rabid include violent or unruly behavior, running without any direction, too much salivating, difficulty in eating and drinking and being uneasy.

A fine of 2,000 is given to a pet owner who fails or refuses to register and to vaccinate his dog for rabies and P500 every time the dog is caught outside.

Other bloggers who joined the forum include Jeph Flores of KIAT CEBU, Chanel Imperial of www.sugbosentro.wordpress.com , Johnn Mendoza of www.focalglass.com, www.foodincebu.com, www.wildlifephilippines.com  and Richard Bunabos of www.gizspec.com .

PIA and the Cebu Bloggers Society had tied up in several projects particularly in advocating social good.  PIA supports CBS project #iBLOGforSocialGood which aims to disseminate developmental things happening in society.

The official hashtag for the forum is #iBLOGforRabiesFreePH. (mbcn/fcc/PIA7-Cebu)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2441427783325/pia-cebu-conducts-bloggers-forum-on-rabies-#sthash.VYLoZC7S.dpuf

Cebu disaster councils urged to prepare for "Chedeng"

CEBU CITY, April 1 (PIA)--- Typhoon Chedeng may not affect Cebu but disaster response offices are still advised to be on guard for possible changes. 

Oscar Tabada, head of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysicaland Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA-Visayas) said as of press time typhoon “Chedeng”, internationally called “Maysak” is still 1,280 kilometers east of Guiuan, Samar.

The PAGASA head made a briefing to the core group of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office for the Pre DisasterRisk Assessment (PDRA).

PAGASA head Oscar Tabada with DSWD Jennifer Abastillas, PRO7 PSI Sandley Sabang and OCD7 head Olivia Luces 

Tabada said there is a greater probability that Chedeng will move more than Latitude 10 and will spare Central Visayas just like typhoonMario last year.

“All the numerical weather models from Japan, Korea, Beijing has the same trend, showing typhoon Chedeng to be leading towards Luzon into Aurora province, hitting Metro Manila," he said.

Typhoons happening in the first and early second quarter of the year usually spare Central Visayas.

“We are more affected by the typhoons in the last part of the year,” Tabada said.

Chedeng is considered as a Typhoon Category with sustained winds of 215 kph near center and gustiness of 250 kph. It is moving at 17 kph.

The typhoon is expected to enter tonight or early morning tomorrow.

Tabada said for now, typhoon Chedeng is gaining strength as it is still on waters.

“We know that typhoons get their strength on water but it is expected to weaken the moment it will make a landfall,”  Tabada said.

It will also bring rains at 17 millimeters per hour in the affected area.

“We have to bear in mind, typhoons will most likely move faster if these are tracing land as there is no more water to absorb,”  Tabada said.

PAGASA forecasted that Lent in the Visayas will still be sunny until Friday with light rains.

Office of Civil Defense 7 Olivia Luces said they are on guard for the typhoon and especially that it is Lenten season.

“Where there are more people or more crowd, there is greater risk of hazard, “ Luces said.

Police Superintendent Julius Gornez of the Police Regional Office 7 assured all units are on Red Alert as OPLAN LIGTAS BYAHE-SEMANA SANTA is enforced.

Jennifer Abastillas, of the Department of Social Welfare andDevelopment said they also have enough manpower to carry out possible relief here in Cebu.

“We are even on call as buffer suppliers to Luzon,” Abastillas said.

The core group of the PDRA include OCD, Philippine NationalPolice, Armed Forces of the Philippines – Central Command, Department ofInterior and Local Government (DILG), Department DSWD, PAGASA and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

In Cebu Province, Governor Hilario Davide III ordered all the departments and local government units to continue monitoring and coordinating for typhoon Chedeng. (FCC/PIA7-Cebu)

For other updates follow PIA Cebu Infocen , PIA Cebu Page on Facebook and @CebuInfocen on Twitter..

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2441427877929/cebu-disaster-councils-urged-to-prepare-for-chedeng-#sthash.K21wWNGp.dpuf