DSWD’s family dev’t sessions now on air

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Field Office VII expanded its media coverage reach for its Family Development Session (FDS) in partnership with the National Nutrition Council’s (NNC-7) Nutriskwela community radio stations in Central Visayas namely; Radyo Kaigsoonan in Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental; Radyo Kahimsug in Barili, Cebu; and Radyo Kalampusan in San Francisco, Cebu.

According to DSWD-7 regional information officer Leah Quintana that on March 27, the Radyo Kalampusan started its pilot airing with the Pantawid Municipal Links (MLs) in San Francisco, Cebu that discussed the FDS topic of the month, “Pinansyal nga Pagplano alang sa Hamugaway nga Pagpuyo.” The discussion was also livestreamed on its official Facebook page.

“The other two Nutriskwela community radio stations will start the FDS On-the-Air in April and DSWD-7 also partnered with DYMR Radyo Pilipinas for the monthly broadcast of FDS On-the-Air,” Quintana bared.

The Nutriskwela community radio stations is an initiative of NNC-7 to empower the community through the dissemination of correct, relevant, and up-to-date nutrition and health as well as educational and developmental information from various sectors in the community, government agencies, and non-government organizations.

FDS is one of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) conditions that gathers partner-beneficiaries once a month to discuss various development topics. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, DSWD-7 looked for alternative ways in delivering the different FDS modules instead of the face-to-face FDS session.

 The new approaches are through text blast message, social media infographics posting on DSWD Region VII Facebook page, home delivery of printed materials by the Pantawid City and Municipal Links to the 4Ps beneficiaries, and the broadcast of the FDS On-the-Air together with partner television and radio stations, Quintana said.

The FDS aims to enhance the knowledge of 4Ps partner-beneficiaries for them to acquire new skills performing their parental roles and responsibilities, particularly on the health and nutrition, education, protection, and psychosocial needs of children; promote positive family values, strengthen marital relationships, and active citizenship for community empowerment among others. (Photos: DSWD7/NNC)

 

Limasawa Quincentennial historical marker unveiled

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – The National Quincentennial Committee (NQC) led by Undersecretary Anthony Gerald Gonzales of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) with other government officials unveiled on March 29 the Quincentennial historical marker located at the Municipal Grounds in Barangay Cabulihan, island municipality of Limasawa.

Aside from the religious celebration, the NQC has more things to highlight about the role of Limasawa in the story of the first circumnavigation of the world, 500 years ago, Gonzales said during the unveiling ceremony.  He also attended the celebration of the Catholic faithful to the 500th anniversary of the Easter Sunday Mass held in Limasawa.

Limasawa Mayor Melchor Petracorta noted the significance of Limasawa in the country’s history and the first circumnavigation of the world. He said it is a great honor that the town is one of the places that completed the significant breakthrough of science and humanity.

The circumnavigation of Magellan’s fleet had been a milestone in the world’s history,” Petracorta said.

According to DepEd-Limasawa Schools Division Superintendent Genis Murallos that the circumnavigation affirmed a very important truth that the world is a sphere.

 Revisit history

The island municipality of Limasawa plays a historic role in the first circumnavigation of the world history as one of the places visited by the Spanish expedition first led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and later by Juan Sebastian Elcano.

After leaving Homonhon, the expedition sailed southwest towards northern Mindanao, but they dropped anchor after noticing a fire on the island of Limasawa.

“Most likely they were excited to meet another group of our ancestors after the cordial and warm reception they experienced in Homonhon Island, in present-day Guiuan, Eastern Samar. Or simply they just wanted to look for anybody who could bring them to their destination—the Maluku, or the Spice Islands in present-day Indonesia, south of Mindanao,” Gonzales said in his speech during the unveiling ceremony.

 The records on the expedition showed that at the time, Rajah Colambu of Limasawa could converse in Malay language with Enrique, Magellan’s Malay servant.

Gonzales pointed that according to Antonio Pigafetta’s chronicles, the rulers in pre-colonial times were polyglot, meaning they knew different languages which was expected of them owing to their trade networks and busy connection with various places, cultures, and nations.

That contact here in Limasawa speaks a lot about our ancestors: they were indeed friendly, conversable, and most importantly exposed to different traders and nationalities, he added.

The Magellan-Elcano expedition also met Rajah Siaui of Butuan, brother of Rajah Colambu. Pigafetta described Rajah Siaui as the finest looking man that we saw among those people… tawny and tattooed all over and very grandly decked out… [according] to their customs, Gonzales said.

The rajah also had a covering of silk on his head and wore two large golden earrings fastened in his ears, the chronicler wrote.  He “wore a cotton cloth all embroidered with silk, which covered him from the waist to the knees…” and “[at] his side hung a dagger, the haft of which was somewhat long and all of gold, and its scabbard of carved wood, Gonzales added.

“Is this a description of a savage people? Remember, we were educated thinking our ancestors were uncivilized before the coming of the Spaniards and that the discovery of Magellan of these islands saved us from barbarity,” Gonzales stated.

The NQC wants the Filipinos of today to appreciate the world of our ancestors and draw inspiration from it, he noted the need to balance the exercise and expression of faith with the responsibility of being a Filipino.

“Like me, a Catholic Filipino, we can all celebrate the 500 Years of Christianity and the 500th anniversary of the Philippine part in the first circumnavigation of the world without pitting us Filipinos against each other,” Gonzales stressed.

During the unveiling ceremony, the signing of the Certificate of Transfer of the historical marker from the NQC to the municipality of Limasawa was also conducted.  The Limasawa historical marker is among the 34 markers put up in sites of the Philippine route of the Magellan-Elcano expedition.

“In behalf of the people of the island-municipality of Limasawa, I profoundly accept this historical marker of the First Circumnavigation of the World, with great honor and pride as we took part in its 500-year celebration,” Petracorta said in his acceptance speech. (Photos: NQC/OPAV)

 

 

Breast cancer awareness program for teachers on webinars

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY—City Savings Bank, Inc. (CitySavings) Project Pink: Breast Cancer Awareness Program for Teachers went digital when it held two webinars on March 18 and 26 with more than 500 educators from all over the country joined the discussion in its celebration of National Women’s Month.

According to Paula Ruela, AVP- Reputation and Brand Management Head that Project Pink is one of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs specifically designed for public school teachers to raise their level of awareness on the prevention and early detection of breast cancer.

Ruelan said that the webinars proved that despite the current challenges the pandemic has brought about, CitySavings continues its service-oriented CSR initiatives while going above and beyond the Bank’s vision of helping people of moderate means.

“While we have been supporting DepEd through our various CSR initiatives to ensure education continues beyond the classroom walls, another gap that needs to be addressed is our educators’ health and wellness.  More Project Pink webinars are lined up for the rest of the year to promote breast cancer awareness and self-care for teachers,” Ruelan added.

Previously all seminars nationwide were held as on-ground but this year, the event was held online for the first time as a Zoom webinar in partnership with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. - Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (RAFI - EJACC).

The event’s keynote speaker Dr. Amabelle Gerona, an Oncologist based in Cebu City discussed how our teachers can detect, confirm, prevent, and treat breast cancer.  She emphasized that a part of the reason why breast cancer cases are high here in the Philippines is the stigma.

“We want to remove that by educating as many people as possible so that this can be prevented earlier on,” Gerona added as she answered questions from the teachers during the Q&A portion.

 

Ronald de los Reyes, Program Coordinator of RAFI-EJACC spoke about how the organization has been helping Filipinos in the province of Cebu combat the "Big C".

“RAFI - EJACC fosters wellness through its programs in cancer advocacy and education, screening and early detection, and treatment assistance,” he added.

Reyes said that its flagship programs include cervical and breast cancer screening training for rural health units, mass cervical and breast cancer screening, cancer treatment patient assistance, and establishment of cancer patient support groups.

Edna Magsoling, an assistant principal and a breast cancer survivor from Bogo City, Cebu, shared her experience with her fellow teachers.  “With the help of God, and my loved ones who were there for me, I was able to overcome the challenges.”, she said.

Another guest speaker was Mary Ann Sacristan - Bojos, one of the founders of Cebu Pink Paddlers Dragon Boat Team, the first-ever breast cancer survivor dragon boat team in the Philippines whose advocacy is to spread awareness on early detection of breast cancer. She faced discouragement and frustration along the way but managed to pull through.

“There is hope! Kailangan ko bigyan ng chance ang sarili ko dahil binigyan ako ng Panginoon ng pangalawang pagkakataon. (I need to give myself a chance because God gave me a second chance at life.]” Bojos said.

Bojos is now an active member of the iCanServe Foundation’s activities, giving hope to women battling this disease. (Photos: CitySavings)

 

EDC turns over P4.16M electrification fund to NORECO1

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

DUMAGUETE CITY – The Energy Development Corporation (EDC), a Lopez-led geothermal company turned over some P4.16 million to the Negros Oriental 1 Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NORECO 1) for its electrification fund under Energy Regulations (ER) 1-94 benefits as host to EDC’s 222.5 megawatts (MW) Southern Negros geothermal facility including its Green Core Geothermal, Inc. (GCGI) subsidiary in Valencia, Negros Oriental.

According to EDC that under DOE Act of 1992 ad EPIRA of 2001, energy generation companies and/or energy resource developers are required to directly provide their ER1-94 benefits equivalent to one centavo per kilowatt-hour (P0.01/kWh) of the total electricity sales to their host communities for socio-economic development and more efficient utilization of funds.

 The law said that 50 percent of the P0.01/kWh benefit or P0.005/kWh of the electricity sales shall be allocated to the host area’s electrification fund (EF) that are applied to the host barangays, municipality, province, region, and distribution utility’s (DU) other prioritized areas, as approved by the DOE.

The generation companies are required to turn over the EF to the DUs, which is responsible for opening a trust account and for administering the fund.

“We are grateful for the generosity of EDC and GCGI and for the fast delivery of these benefits. This is a big help in funding crucial projects in our areas,” said Jose Jovileo Acabal, General Manager of NORECO-1.

EDC- Negros Team corporate social responsibility head, Norreen Bautista said that being able to directly disburse to the partner communities’ benefits as hosts to the geothermal facilities provides them with the opportunity to forge a stronger partnership with them as “we work together to not only provide reliable, clean, stable power to more Negrenses but to also help them thrive even during this COVID-19 pandemic.”

EDC’s over 1,480MW total installed capacity accounts for 20 percent of the country’s total installed renewable energy capacity. 

 Its geothermal facilities in Valencia, Negros Oriental has been providing clean, renewable, reliable power 24/7 to Negros Island and other parts of the Visayas region for almost 38 years. (Photos: EDC)

7,200 doses of Sinovac arrive in Cebu today

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – Some 7,200 doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Cebu Tuesday as part of the 2^nd batch of vaccines intended for Cebu and Central Visayas.

According to Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, spokesperson of Department of Health (DOH-7), in her briefing Tuesday streamed live via Project Balik Buhay and Office of the Presidential Assistant or the Visayas (OPAV) Facebook pages that Cebu get a total of 21,600 Covid-19 vaccines with the new arrival of the Sinovac and Astrazeneca vaccines in the country.

Loreche said that of this number, 7,200 doses are from Sinovac while 14,400 doses are AstraZeneca and these are used to inoculate 10,800 individuals.  The additional vaccines are part of the 1.4 million total doses of Sinovac Biotech that have arrived in the Philippines.

Office of Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino is looking forward to the arrival of additional doses of the Sinovac vaccines in the region.  He said that the arrival of the second batch of Sinovac vaccines donated by China is another major milestone in the government’s national vaccination program.

Dino gave assurance that there would be no delay in the vaccine rollout despite the vaccine supply woes globally and he added that more deliveries of vaccines from other sources are expected to arrive in the country in the coming weeks and months, under the National Vaccine Roadmap, he pointed out.

Updates on government’s vaccination program

On March 29, President Rodrigo Duterte personally welcomed the arrival of one million doses of Sinovac Biotech vaccines at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City while Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go also welcomed the arrival of 400,000 doses of Corona Vaccines earlier.

This is the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines that costs P700 million and paid for by the government.  The Philippine government plans to buy a total of 25 million doses of Corona Vaccines.

The said doses are part of the one million-dose donation committed by China. The initial 600,000 doses have already been delivered late last month.

Go on the other hand said that health workers need to be prioritized for the vaccines to protect them against the virus while doing their job of containing the pandemic in the country.   The Philippine government is working very hard to inoculate 1.7 million frontliners and that the target should be met to attain herd immunity, Go added.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian meanwhile said that he hopes the second batch of donations will help the Philippines speed up the rollout of the national inoculation campaign in its efforts to address the current resurgence of cases.

“No one is safe until everyone is safe. In the face of the spread of new COVID-19 variants across the globe, and the resurgence of cases in the Philippines, we need to race against time in our efforts to speed up the mass inoculation process,” the Chinese envoy said on his official Facebook page.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III also noted that the additional vaccine would be a great help with the rise in COVID-19 cases.  “We are grateful for the arrival of additional donated vaccines. The arrival of these vaccines could not have occurred at a more opportune time considering the continued rise in cases, which in turn increases the need to inoculate more high-risk individuals as soon as possible.”

The additional donated CoronaVac vaccines will boost the country’s ongoing COVID-19 vaccination program, especially with the increased cases.  Initial doses from Sinovac and AstraZeneca are currently being rolled out in the country, DOH said.

The Philippine government is involved in ongoing negotiations with different pharmaceutical companies to ensure that the country secures enough doses to vaccinate 70 million of the population. This number is needed to achieve herd immunity.

The country expects the arrival of 979,200 doses additional AstraZeneca doses donated through the World Health Organization’s COVAX Facility, DOH bared. (Photos: OPAV/Google files)

DSWD-7 releases over P13M livelihood assistance to 1,360 beneficiaries in Cebu

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7)-Regional Field Office VII released more than P13 millions worth of Livelihood Assistance Grant (LAG) through the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) to 1,360 beneficiaries from the town of Tuburan, Balamban, and Asturias in Cebu province.

DSWD-7 regional director Rebecca Geamala encouraged the beneficiaries to use the grant they received from the government for its intended purpose and thanked the people and the officials for the opportunity to serve them and for their trust of the agency.

Each beneficiary received P10,000 start-up capital to recover from the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the family's livelihood.

The DSWD-7 monitors the beneficiaries who are given seven days after receipt of the grant to liquidate it to ensure that it was used for its purpose.

The LAG is part of the recovery and rehabilitation program under the Bayanihan 2 Social Amelioration Program. (Photos: DSWD-7)

Some 20 private institutions to assist government’s vax program in Cebu

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – Some 20 private sector institutions composed of  hospitals, malls and hotels are expected to assist the government in its national rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination program here in Central Visayas after they signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on March 29 with the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV), the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF)-Visayas and the Department of Health (DOH-7) under the Project Balik Buhay (PBB).

The PBB is a Cebu-based inter-sectoral group initiated by OPAV last year to help in the campaign against COVID-19 and the goal of the agreement is to enable the safe and successful implementation of the National Vaccination Program for the local economy to recover fast from the pandemic, OPAV secretary Michael Lloyd Dino explained during the signing ceremony, Monday at the Visayas COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center at Oakridge Business Park in Mandaue City.

“The government has forged this partnership with the private sector to help the latter in the vaccination process, especially that some companies are procuring their own vaccines for their workers.  We need the cooperation of the private sector to fast track our vaccination. Time is of the essence in order to defeat COVID, we need to be fast,” he added.

Dino is confident that Visayas has slowly developed the know-how in implementing the vaccination program despite the challenges the government experienced in rolling out the vaccination program.

The MOA signing paves the way for the establishment of private sector-led vaccination centers to help facilitate the rollout of the National Vaccination Program, focusing mainly in helping vaccinate the employed sector to help revive the local economy as fast as possible, Dino stated.

These vaccination centers are to be accredited by DOH but funded and managed by the private sector to help augment the capacity of the government-led vaccination centers.

 The MOA signing was attended by OPAV secretary Dino, IATF Visayas Chief Implementor Lt. Gen. Melquiades Feliciano, DOH-7 regional director Jaime Bernadas, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, PBB chairman and businessman Edmun Liu, Regional Development Council-7 chair Kenneth Cobonpue, PBB co-chair and DOH-7 spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, and infectious disease specialist Dr. Albert Lim.

Signatories of the MOA included Chong Hua Hospital, CebuDoc Group, Visayas Community Medical Center, Mendero Medical Center, UCMed, ARC Hospitals, Belmont One, SM Group, Robinsons Land Corp., Toyota Team Cebu, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Visayan Electric, Archdiocese of Cebu, Sacred Heart School and University of San Carlos.

The other vaccination medical partners include Cebu Velez General Hospital, Perpetual Succour Hospital, St. Vincent General Hospital, UP Medical Alumni Society, LH Foundation Inc. and Bayanihan Cebu. (Photos: OPAV)

 

 

 

NQC unveils Hinunangan, Gibusong markers to commemorate circumnavigation history

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY -- The National Quincentennial Committee (NQC) unveiled two Quincentennial historical markers in two separate sites in Hinunangan town in Southern Leyte and in Gibusong Island in Dinagat Islands on March 25 to commemorate the circumnavigation history.

Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) Undersecretary Anthony Gerard Gonzales represented the NQC in the unveiling of the historical marker in both sites which are  part of the marking of 34 sites of the Philippine route of the Magellan-Elcano expedition and the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the country.

This is in solidarity with the international project of tracing the route of the unprecedented achievement of humanity and science, which proved that the world is indeed round.

As the country marks its 10th day of the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations on March 25, Gonzales urged the Filipino people to ponder upon the contribution of these localities to the first-ever circumnavigation of the planet.

“In reading the history of the first circumnavigation of the world, it is necessary for one to familiarize himself/herself with Philippine geography. It helps one imagine well how interconnected what seems to be divided. And do not forget: water connects us more than dividing us,” Gonzales said.

The People of Hinunangan are fortunate, for the town was mentioned as early as 1521 through the story of the first circumnavigation of the world by Antonio Pigafetta, chronicler of the expedition, Gonzales said during the unveiling.

Along with Gibusong, Hinunangan guided the clueless Magellan-Elcano expedition in the Philippine waters, he added.  The expedition was clueless because these places were not present in the available maps in Europe back then, according to Gonzales.

“But don’t be confused—this deficiency of European maps is not tantamount to non-existence of the territories of our ancestors, like Gibusong and Hinunangan. It does not also follow that the unfamiliarity of Magellan to these places meant our ancestors were nothing but savages before 1521,” Gonzales added.

Gonzales pointed out that centuries before Magellan arrived the areas along Surigao Strait had a bustling civilization, which was concentrated in Butuan. This is confirmed by the Chinese annals and the priceless archaeological finds, such as the gold ornaments, as well as the ancient colossal sea craft called balangay.

He added that the Laguna Copperplate Inscription dated AD 900 is a proof that the Butuan-Surigao region had connections with Tondo, Manila and with Medang in today’s Java, Indonesia.

Hinunangan and Gibusong may belong to different political units now but they share common historic space with Butuan which we need to imagine when we revisit the world of our ancestors before the Spaniards, Gonzales noted.

Gonzales said history explains why two historical markers were unveiled on the same day. Magellan and his crew had been staying in Suluan and Homonhon, Guian, Eastern Samar, since they arrived in the area on March 16, 1521.

On May 27, the expedition continued its search for the Maluku Archipelago, then known as the Spice Islands.  “Because the area was not on their maps, they became dependent to Gibusong, which is visible from Suluan and Homonhon, which from there they tracked the southward route and followed the coastline of Hinunangan,” Gonzales said.

While they were traversing the Visayan waters heading towards northern Mindanao, their attention was caught by a fire in an island, on the evening of March 27, 1521.  When they approached this island named Limasawa, a whole new journey happened there between March 28 and April 4, 1521.

Technically, the expedition entrusted their fate to Gibusong and Hinunangan as they navigated the unfamiliar Surigao waters on March 25 to look for any clues on the location of Maluku was, Gonzales explained further. (Photos: OPAV/FB/Google files)

 

Cebu Port Authority heightens alert for Holy Week

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – The Cebu Port Authority (CPA) is on heightened alert and step up all security and safety measures through the activation for the Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa 2021 from March 29 to April 6, 2021 with the deployment of additional Safe Distancing Marshals and Port Police Officers in ports with high passenger traffic.

CPA general manager Leonila Miole said that the CPA worked closely with its partner agencies and port stakeholders and convened them on March 25 to double its efforts to ensure the safety, security, order and convenience of the public and prevent overcrowding and heavy queuing inside the ports.

“As the government continues to ease travel restrictions and with the ongoing threat of COVID-19 we activated Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa 2021,” Miole added.

Miole urged the public anew to observe and follow strictly all safety/health protocols within the port premises and encouraged all outbound passengers to coordinate in advance with their receiving local government units (LGUs) or with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for the travel requirements they need to comply before coming to the port area.

For receiving LGUs with no imposed travel requirements, all passengers are encouraged to book their tickets in advance, he added.

From March 29 to April 6, port marshals/police officer are deployed in all ports to enforce port health and safety protocols such as the mandatory wearing of face shield and face masks, temperature check and physical/social distancing. Appropriate markers were placed on the floors and seats for proper guidance.

For added prevention and safety measures, disinfecting foot baths were placed at the entrance and exits of the passenger terminals and offices. Likewise, sanitizing hand rub dispensers and lavatories for hand washing are placed in prominent places of the passenger terminal.

Persons who refuse to comply with any directives of the Authority and other law enforcement agents inside the port premises are sanctioned with fines and penalties.

Fines ranging from P200 to P1,000 await individuals who are caught violating health and safety protocols. First-time offenders will be asked to pay a fine of P200, P500 will be imposed on second-time violators and P1, 000 will be imposed for the third offense.

Miole assured all port users that daily disinfection activities are being conducted in all Port Passenger Terminal Buildings, port entry and exit points, shuttle buses and all other areas within the port that are highly exposed to passenger traffic.

Miole also urged the public to report individuals who are selling fake RT-PCR Test Results to passengers outside the port area, this after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 conducted an entrapment operation last March 18, 2021 which led to the arrest of two individuals for selling these falsified documents. (Photos: CPA)