Guv orders inspection of billboards in the province
By: Rachelle M. Nessia
Governor George P. Arnaiz has ordered the inspection of all billboards in the province to prevent loss of lives and damage to property in the event another ‘killer typhoon’ strikes.
With PAGASA estimating around seven more typhoons to hit the country, Arnaiz wants the billboards across the province checked if the owners and advertisers have the necessary permits.
Arnaiz in a recent press conference said billboards located along national highways will be inspected by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) while local government units will check the billboards in their jurisdiction.
The governor said billboards without permits will be dismantled while those with substandard structures will be brought to the attention of the advertising company or the owner.
The City Engineer’s Office in Dumaguete has already started inspecting the permits of billboards in the city as part of the regular yearly inspection of all commercial and industrial building permits, said Engr. Rainier Enario
It can be recalled that The killer typhoon Milenyo have toppled around 40 giant billboards in
Pres. Arroyo wants hazardous billboards off the streets as the government has started dismantling those found in gross violation of public safety.
Oriental
By: Jennifer Catan-Tilos
The colorful spectacle of Oriental Negros’ unique BUGLASAN festival of festivals will formally kick off on Friday, October 13, 2006 with a Mass and opening of the different local government units and corporate booths along with an array of mini restaurants at 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon at the Capitol Area, this city.
At 8pm of the same day, the Organization of Cultural Artists of Special Events in Oriental Negros (OCASEON) will perform as an opening salvo with grand fireworks at Freedom Park Stage, Capitol area.
This year’s Buglasan Festival annual celebration banners the theme, “ Buglasan: Intensifying Oriental Negros Multi-Sectoral Tourism Development Initiatives” which showcases some 78special events and performances.
This include showdown and streetdancing, rodeo and horse show competition, lutong garbo, fireworks display, dance and singing competition among others.
The first and one of its kind in the country, Buglasan festival brings together the best contingents of the province’s more than ten established festivals for a unified celebration and present its distinctive indigenous elements and legendary stories.
The Buglasan showdown and streetdancing represents the local fiestas in the municipalities and affords an opportunity for the public to witness the colorful activities in one place at one time which will be routed along Dumaguete’s main thoroughfares and presentation per contingent at the Lamberto Macial Sports and
The celebration will stretch for 17 days from October 13 to 29 with a lot of exciting special events, sports and trade fairs that enliven the tourism industry of the province. Expected influx of local, national as well as foreign tourists will bring in cash flow and economic surge during the Buglasan period.
The Administration is working doubly hard to make the
Ongoing programs that develop the infrastructure and shore up Government efficiency and cut corruption at all levels has already been put in place to complement the present economic gains of the country.
Non-working day in Oriental
By: Rachelle M. Nessia
Malacañang has proclaimed October 20 as a special non-working day in Oriental Negros in line with the province’s celebration of Buglasan Festival of Festivals.
The Office of the President has issued Proclamation No. 1151 signed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita declaring October 20 as a non-working day in the province to give people here the “full opportunity to celebrate the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.”
The Buglasan Festival of Festivals in Oriental Negros is touted as the biggest and longest-running festival in the country, bringing together the different festivals of the 25 towns and cities in the province for a unified 17-day non-stop celebration from October 13 to 29.
Now on its 4th run, this year’s Buglasan Festival banners the theme, “ Buglasan: Intensifying Oriental Negros Multi-Sectoral Tourism Development Initiatives.”
Suicide rate on the rise worldwide
Slow down, mental health experts advise public
By: Rachelle M. Nessia
As people nowadays are subjected to more and more stress inside the home, at work and the environment, local mental health experts are urging the public to slow down and deal with stress effectively.
“Men and women face different levels of stress everyday and because of this each of us is prone to certain levels of mental health ailments,” said Glynda Descuatan, manager of a local cable company who also sits as Vice-Chairperson of the board of management of the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) Oriental Negros Chapter.
Descuatan said that it’s common nowadays for working people to take on two or more jobs in their desire to achieve financial security, causing a lot of stress.
This was echoed by Dr. Betsy Joy Tan, Chairperson of the PMHA board of management, who, along with Descuatan, was one of the guest speakers during yesterday’s Kapihan forum conducted by the Philippine Information Agency in observance of Philippine Mental Health Week this October.
Tan said students, even at the elementary level, are already suffering from stress due to the vast number of assignments and projects with too-close deadlines to meet.
“This is why we have asked the teachers that if it’s possible, they can reduce the load of projects and assignments at school and give students enough time to beat deadlines,” said Tan.
A formidable leader in the field of mental health in the
According to Dr. Perpetuo Jose Lozada, a known psychiatrist in the province, the World Health Organization defines mental health as not just the absence of disease but to be healthy physically, financially, socially, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually.
He said there are biological as well as psychological causes of mental illness. “Even during the conception and pregnancy stages, the parent’s rejection or acceptance of the unborn child can already affect the child’s development inside the womb,” Lozada explained.
Strained relationships within the family can also lead to mental illness. “Is the child given enough opportunities in the home? Is he or she loved or rejected by the family members? Reassured and respected?” he added.
The World Federation for Mental Health has earlier set October 10 as World Mental Health Day with focus given this year to “Building Awareness- Reducing Risk: Mental Illness and Suicide.”
The WHO, according to Dr. Anders Nordstrőm, acting director-general of WHO, has called for improved treatment for mental illness to reduce suicide, which too often, represents a traffic consequence of failing to diagnose and treat serious mental illness.
Records from the WHO website show that an estimated 873,000 people commit suicide every year, which represents 1.4% of the global burden of disease. Suicide among young people is of significant concern: in some regions, suicide is the third leading cause of death in the age group 15-35 years.
WHO data show that as of May 2003, suicide rate among males is 2.5% and 1.7% among females in the
WHO warns that at any time, 450 million people worldwide are affected by mental, neurological or behavioral problems and the rate is steadily rising.
In the last 45 years, suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide, disclosed WHO.
More than 90% of suicide cases are associated with mental disorders such as depression, schizophrenia and alcoholism.
Lozada said one of the symptoms of depression is sleeping difficulty. “Either you can’t sleep, which is insomnia, or you sleep all the time which is hypersomnia,” he explained.
Appetite is also affected, with the depressed person either losing it (anorexia) or eating too much (hyperbulimia).
To manage stress effectively, Tan advises that a person should learn to listen to the body’s signals. “Do you have trouble sleeping? Feeling depressed often or drinking too much? Getting sick often? The body has different ways of responding to stress. Some develop stomach ulcers, allergies, migraine which may already be caused by stress,” she said.
Another way is to accept responsibility and to be objective. “No one can cope for you but yourself…Take a step back and look at your life’s situation as if it was another person’s. Know your inner resources and talk it out with friends. Don’t try to cope alone. And take a positive approach,” she said.
She said that flexibility will also help. “Look at your mistakes as positive learning experiences.”
Tan also stressed that suicide is never a solution. “Don’t expect too much of yourself. Be realistic and set attainable goals. Trust yourself and trust your God.”
Lozada said society plays an important role in the promotion of mental health, such as the provision of for the basic needs of life, proper education and nutrition and enough facilities for health.
PAO holds Buglasan Farm Family Congress on Oct 15-17
By: Rachelle M. Nessia
In line with the Buglasan Festival of Festivals, the Provincial Agriculturist Office is set to hold one of the biggest agricultural celebrations in the province.
Starting October 15 until 17, PAO will conduct the Buglasan Farm Family Congress to recognize the contributions of agricultural technicians and rural-based organizations such as farmers, fisherfolks, 4-H club and rural improvement clubs to the agricultural development in the province.
DA-RFU 7 Regional Executive Director Eduardo Lecciones Jr is expected to grace the event.
According to PAO Information Officer Nitz Bangay, this year’s farm family congress banners the theme “Intensifying Oriental Negros Civil Society and LGU Partnership in Organic Farming for Sustainable Development.”
Bangay said this year’s theme is in line with the provincial government’s efforts to make the local produce organically grown and its move to ban the use of chemical fertilizers.
The congress will kick-off on October 15 at the PAO Compound and a “Booth/Pinaka” contest will be conducted on October 16.
Other activities during the three-day congress include various sectoral activities through a contest of skills and method demonstrations, symposium on organic piggery and rice-duck farming, Search for Mr. and Miss 4-H 2006 and Farmer Association King/RIC Queen 2006.
Amid the continuing surge of investments in the electronics industry, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured today the sector of full government support, particularly in terms of insuring that the country’s business environment remains attractive to investors.
The President made the assurance during the roundtable discussion with electronics industry stakeholders in Malacañang’s Kalayaan press briefing room this morning.
"The government will do whatever it can with regard to the policy environment in order to attract more investments," the President said as she expressed elation over reports that total investments in the electronics industry in the first half of the year reached $310 million (P15.5 billion), a 15 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
By: Jennifer Catan-TIlos
Some 30 cabin crew of Cathay Pacific will arrive for a learning field visit in Oriental Negros on Monday (October 16) together with the officials of the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) as partners in the promotion and protection of children’s rights.
Oriental Negros is selected to showcase some of the success programs and projects for children and women among the 19 provinces and 5 cities under the 6th Country Programme for Children.
Dubbed as “Change for Good,” the field visit of Cathay Pacific cabin crew is designed to witness and perform volunteer work at a UNICEF-assisted health centers.
The week-long visit will bring them to DAuinat the Garantisadong Pambata health center, lying-in clinic on basic emergency obstetric care facility in Sibulan, Amlan and Tanjay day care centers, Pamplona Nutrition Post, Dumaguete rehabilitation center for children in conflict with the law, and Mabinay for children and families in sugar cane farms.
The stewardesses and stewards of Cathay Pacific will also interact with the youth reporters of the Kabataan News Network here and for them to witness the young journalist in handling the television production segment of KNN Dumaguete Bureau as part of the major child rights, the Participation Rights.
Along with the celebration of Children’s Month this October, around 1,000 children from the different schoolseight local government units (LGUs) in the province participated in this year's Children and Youth Convention at Bethel Guesthouse,
According to Jennifer Catan-Tilos, Information Center Manager of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) here, the convention was held to celebrate Children's Month this October, focusing on the Child and Youth Participation Rights, which is simultaneously undertaken with other partner agencies in the province.
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