FOR MEDIA RELEASE, Infobytes No. 12 (June 23)

Four gov't agencies team up for Bright Child project
The Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education and the Department of Interior and Local Government have joined hands with the Council for the Welfare of Children to push the Bright Child campaign and implement it in barangays nationwide.

Bright Child is an umbrella that unifies all Early Childhood Care and Development initiatives in the country.

This multi-agency projects needs supportive community to raise healthy, mentally alert, physically able, happy and intelligent Filipino children.

According to Rose Camero, Senior Social Worker of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office in Negros Oriental, the Bright Child program has been incorporated in the long-term framework for children for 25 years dubbed as Child 21.

The Bright Child project started in 2003 and is one of the bases in coming up with a child-friendly society.

In the province, day care workers are already carrying out the campaign by focusing on the rights of children during their interaction with the day care children here.

As of 2004, there are 909 day care workers and 904 day care centers across the province, reports Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Alicia Lagarde.

The Bright Child campaign boosts the Child 21 program, which Camero says is "a legacy that we will leave for Filipino children of the 21st century to prepare them to face the challenges of the new millennium."
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PGMA should hang on, says local church leader
A senior Church official in Negros Oriental called on the people to "go straight" and continue working for the good of the country and not to be distracted by attempts of some political groups that threaten to thrust the country into another political crisis.

Msgr. Merlin Logronio said Pres. Gloria Arroyo is not the worst president we have had and she is not a stumbling block to the country's growth. "She may not be the best president we've had, but I'd rather respect her now for the sake of the country," says Msgr. Logronio who now sits as parish priest of Bacong town.

The Cebu Archdiocese has earlier slammed rumors of another "power grab" and called on the Cebuano faithful to pray for the country and its leaders.

Msgr. Logronio said the Filipino people is now "broken and splintered because we allow the opposition to do whatever they want," adding that in the process, "we're only destroying ourself."

The Church leader said the President should hang on for as long as she could since the opposition is trying to pull her down "without even presenting the best likely candidate who will replace her."

The monsignor said the opposition should instead wait for the next elections because "it is the people who determine the strength of the country and not the political leaders."

Msgr. Logronio's reaction came in the heels of the call of two senior Church leaders of the Roman Catholic Church pushing for changes in the government but not necessarily the ouster of the president who is under siege for allegedly taking part in wiretapped conversations to rig the results of the May 10, 2004 polls.
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Visayas governors call on PGMA to answer issues
Guvs reiterate unwavering support

Governors in Visayas called for the President to answer the issues that are hurled against her as their respective provincial boards contemplate on passing a resolution urging her to answer allegations that she rigged the results of the 2004 national elections.

Leyte Governor Carlos Petilla said that although the said provincial board resolution is underway, it is not the priority. "The pressing concern right now is how well his province can effectively and efficiently delivers the basic services to the constituents, like having potable water and convenient roads," he said.

However, Presidential spokesperson Ignacio Bunye in a statement said "the President has already given her word that time comes, the Filipino people could expect an appropriate response to the issues at hand."

Visayas governors, Gwen Garcia of Cebu, George Arnaiz of Negros Oriental, Gov. Petilla and Eastern Samar governor Ben Evardone however clarified that they still support the President despite the controversial issues hounding her.

Governor Arnaiz recently joined other local chief executives in Manila where he openly voiced his support for the President, saying that almost all mayors and all provincial board members here are behind the President.

He urged the people in Manila to stop the political noise, "that is already badly hurting the country."

Eastern Samar governor Ben Evardone for his part said it is better to focus on developing the region than be distracted with the "politicking" in Manila. "We are not wavering our support. We are against any forms of destabilization and any shortcuts to dislodge the Arroyo administration," Evardone added.

Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia said she hopes the Cebu congressmen get the cue that the unified approach taken by the local chief executives in the Visayas is meant to foster regional development. "Unity is the key to progress and development and not disintegration," Garcia added.

The Visayas local executives recently gathered in Cebu for a development workshop in order to formulate concrete initiatives to improve tourism, agriculture and infrastructure in their respective provinces. (MBCN/PIA-Cebu)
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More tropical cyclones up ahead- PAGASA
The local weather bureau is expecting around 15 more tropical cyclones to hit the country this year.

According to Provincial Meteorological Chief Edsin Culi of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) here, an average of 19 tropical cyclones go through the Philippine's area of responsibility each year.

PAGASA has embarked on a "text-a-typhoon" program recently as it expects more tropical storms to occur this year.

The weather office is also seeking more talks with airlines on its plan to charge fees for specialized weather information.

Early this year three tropical cyclones have already passed through the country, namely tropical storm Auring, typhoon Bising and tropical depressions Crising and Dante, says Culi.

PAGASA's latest seasonal climate outlook shows that eight to nine tropical cyclones are likely to occur from July to September, while four to 5 are expected from October to December.

Following the order of the English alphabet, Culi said the tropical cyclones that will cross the country's path in the following months would be christened as, namely: Emong, Peria, Gorio, Huaning, Isang, Jolina, Kiko, Labuyo, Maring, Nando, Ondoy, Pepeng, Quedan, Ramil, Santi, Tino, Urduja, Vinta, Wilma, Yolanda, Zoraida.

Malacañang has earlier issued Proclamation No. 823 declaring the third week of June as typhoon and flood awareness week to promote the conduct of awareness campaigns on typhoon and flood preparedness.
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