(L-R): NORDAPC Action Officer Fernando Martinez, PDEA Assistant Team Leader PO2 Glenn Corsame, P/Insp. Jerry Camarador of PNP-OrNeg, CIty Police Chief Col. Dionardo Carlos and PIA Infocen Manager Jenny Catan-Tilos.
NORDAPC Action Officer Fernando Martinez
City Police Chief Col. Dionardo Carlos
(L-R): PO2 Corsame of PDEA and P/Insp. Camarador.
OrNeg, Dgte at high risk of teeming with illegal drug activities
Young people need to be monitored – Carlos
If you’re single, below 30 years old, receiving an income or allowance of at least P4,700 and live in an urban area like Dumaguete City, then you’re at high risk of becoming a drug addict.
City Police Chief Col. Dionardo Carlos warned that based on the profile of current Filipino drug users released by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), chances are high that an urban center like Dumaguete City will soon teem with illegal drug activities.
Carlos, quoting data released by PDEA, said that majority of the young people living in Dumaguete City and Oriental Negros fit the profile of the current Filipino drug users in the country.
According to PDEA, most of the drug users are between 22 to 29 years old, single and have access to money of at least P4,700.00 whether from allowance or income.
A study done in 2004 pegs the total illegal drug users in the country at 6.8 million, a big leap from the 3.4 million recorded in 1999.
Of the total, more than 80 percent live in urban areas.
“Based on that data, Dumaguete City is at high risk. A lot of people here are young, have access to income or allowance and the selling of shabu exists in the city,” said Carlos.
Being a university town of which 1/3 of the total population are students, student population can reach up to 100,000 during daytime, said Carlos.
From Carlos’ observation, the way the students spend their free time is not helping either. “The favorite pastime of teens here is this: going out on gimmicks on Wednesday and Friday nights, smoking cigarettes and drinking liquor or beer. These two are gateway drugs,” he stressed.
Carlos explained that cigarettes and liquor are dubbed as gateway drugs because it will lead to the use of illegal drugs.
This situation is aggravated by the absence of neither parents nor guardians as most students here are from far places. “If they are not monitored…the possibility that they will be involved in illegal drugs is medyo mataas,” he added.
The police chief cautioned parents to see to it that their children here are monitored if not by them then by their guardians. “Even if the parents are far, dapat ma-monitor ang mga bata. Because of these conditions, it’s a big possibility that we here will be highly affected by (illegal drugs),” said Carlos.
Carlos, who was speaking during the Kapihan forum conducted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), sounded the alarm in an effort to contain the illegal drugs problem in the city.
He warned that the four critical entry and exit points of illegal drugs shipment identified by PDEA exist in the city – airports, seaports, mail system, and shoreline. “We have all these critical entry and exit points here. The problem is these points are not properly guarded,” disclosed Carlos.
The police chief said that the police, PDEA and the local government units are doing all they can to crack down on the illegal drugs activities here.
“The point here is not the number of arrests we do in a year, but more on community involvement and how we can work hand in hand…we have to raise our guard,” he stressed.
Meantime, police authorities raided a suspected “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) laboratory inside an activated charcoal factory owned by a family in Barangay (village) Sinawilan, Digos City recently, Mayor Arsenio Latasa said.
Latasa, who joined the raiding team composed of elements of the city police and the 103rd Provincial Police Mobile Group, said they confiscated about a kilo of a processed substance believed to be “shabu,” chemicals, and equipment suspected to be used in manufacturing drugs.
He said the substance and chemicals had been sent to the police crime laboratory for analysis.
He said six persons, including a son of the factory owner, were arrested.
104 barangays in OrNeg drug-affected
The number of drug-affected barangays in Oriental Negros comprise 33 percent of the total drug-affected barangays in Region 7.
This was bared by City Police Chief Dionardo Carlos as he quoted the figures released by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in a recent forum conducted by the Philippine Information Agency here.
PDEA records show a total of 104 barangays in Oriental Negros have been identified to be drug-affected, which is 33 percent of the total 367 drug-affected barangays in Region 7.
On the other hand, around 367 drug personalities are in the watch list of local law enforcers, a number that has been increasing in the past years, according to Fernando Martinez, action officer of the Negos Oriental Drug Abuse Prevention Coucil (NORDAPC).
NORDAPC has been undertaking efforts to shore up drug abuse prevention activities in the province as well as support the local law enforcement in cracking down on illegal drugs operations here.
From January to November in 2005, more than 100 illegal drugs-related arrests have been made in the province but this fell to only around 82 ant-narcotics operations in the same period this year, revealed PO2 Glenn Corsame, assistant team leader of PDEA here, in the same forum.
PDEA is the lead agency in the campaign against illegal drugs here.
Corsame urged the public to pitch in their share in solving the drug problem. “Success does not rely solely on the enforcers. Just give us the information we need, we’ll do the rest,” he said.
Carlos warned that Dumaguete City and the province are at high risk of a worsening drug problem as he ticked off the conditions that make the city and province vulnerable to an illegal drugs crisis.
The first condition, according to Carlos, is the presence of “consumers” of illegal drugs in the city. “Young people here have access to money and they are single, so the possibility of having a high demand is here,” he said.
PDEA, in a recent study, described the profile of current Filipino drug users as between 22 to 29 years, single, have access to at least P4,700 either from income or allowance and majority live in urban areas like Dumaguete City.
“Secondly, our market is open. Our entry and exit points here – seaports, airports, mail systems, shorelines – are not totally guarded. So the opportunity to flood the market with illegal drugs is high,” he stressed.
Aside from this, approximately half of the drug cases filed in court have either been dismissed or acquitted, according to Martinez.
Of the 143 cases filed this year, Martinez said roughly 76 have either been dismissed or acquitted.
The NORDAPC action officer said the council is set to conduct trainings and enhancement and education programs for police personnel to guide them on how to properly handle drug cases.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested recently the alleged operator of the "shabu [methamphetamine hydrochloride] tiangge [market]" raided in Pasig City last February and one of his wives.
NBI-National Capital Region Chief Ruel Lasala identified the suspect as Amin Imam Buratong, 34, a native of Marawi City, and his wife Sheryll Molera, 22.
The suspects were presented at the Presidential Security Group compound to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who called the arrests a "breakthrough" in the government's drive against illegal drugs.
OrNeg’s malnutrition rate dips to 11.4%
The nutritional status of children in Oriental Negros continues to show a marked improvement after the province’s malnutrition rate dipped to 11.4% this year from 14.1% last year.
The province’s malnutrition rate in 2004 is 18.9%, a decrease by 7.6% compared to this year’s figure.
Based on the Operation Timbang conducted by the Provincial Health Office this year, Mabinay showed the most number of malnourished children with a rate of 22.2% for Mabinay I and 19.2% for Mabinay 2, ranking 1st and 3rd for each area, respectively.
Mabinay has two health stations, owing to its vast area and population.
Vallehermoso ranked second with 19.6%.
Last year, Mabinay 1 also registered the highest malnutrition rate followed by Vallehermoso and Manjuyod.
According to Dr. Bernarda Cortes, consultant for the province’s nutrition program, although they are slowly starting to notice a small improvement in Mabinay’s nutritional condition, much still needs to be done.
“The Mabinay local government is very supportive in the province’s nutrition programs. But, sadly, the parents there are not too supportive of it,” said Cortes.
She noted that Mabinay have vast sugar cane areas and the incidence of child labor in the town are some of the factors that hinder the children in the area from getting the nutritious food that they need.
In view of this, Cortes revealed that Mabinay 1 and 2 and Vallehermoso are this year’s recipients of the province’s milk feeding program.
“I hope that this situation soon changes, so maybe next year we hope to see an improvement in the malnutrition rate in these areas,” she said.
Operation Timbang weighed a total of 188,446 pre-schoolers aging 0 to 71 months out of the total target of 221,792 in the province’s 22 towns and three cities.
Among the cities, Bais City tops the list of those with high malnutrition rate at 14.7 percent, followed by Canlaon City with 11.8 percent, and Tanjay 1 health district with 9.8 percent.
Meanwhile, the country, as a matter of national policy, supports and promotes breastfeeding and adheres to reasonably strict standards for the entry of infant milk formula products in the Philippines.
The Secretary of Health is the point person on this issue and is acting in accordance with national interest without straining the diplomatic and trading ties with any nation.
The IRR being questioned is already undergoing a review to address the comments of the US Chamber of Commerce.
The public is assured that all milk products sold in the market have been inspected and passed quality control checks by the BFAD.
Sibulan puts up 3-bed dispensary unit
The Sibulan municipal government is putting up a three-bed dispensary room at the back of the municipal health center in a bid to further enhance the municipality’s health services.
According to Sibulan Mayor Antonio Renacia, the said project will facilitate the municipal health center’s services to Sibulan residents, particularly those from far-flung areas who need immediate urgent treatment or medication.
“Once Sibulan has is own dispensary unit, there is no more need for patients with minor health problem to travel to the Provincial Hospital ,” said Renacia.
Construction of the dispensary unit, which started in November 2, 2006, is pegged to be completed by the end of November this year.
The project worth P180,000 was sourced out from the municipality’s PhilHealth Capitalization Fund, said Sibulan Information Officer Connie Rosales.
Rosales said Sibulan has a Municipal Health Doctor, Dr. Merlina Papas, serving a town population comprised of more than 40,000.
Meanwhile, the dengue outbreak at a relocation site in Cabuyao, Laguna – a pet project of Vice President Noli de Castro – is now "under control", Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Thursday.
The health secretary said that they have put measures in place at Southville to protect from the mosquito-borne disease some 8,000 families relocated from communities that lined railways.
Duque noted that the health department recorded 11 dengue cases, including three deaths, at Southville, one of De Castro’s projects as concurrent Housing Secretary.
The health secretary also said they have asked for P11 million from the National Housing Authority (NHA) to build a health center in Southville. Part of the requested fund would be used to fund the expenses of patients who would be referred to hospitals outside of the relocation site.
Union Bank urged to open more branches in Central Visayas
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is urged to negotiate with Union Bank to open branches in areas in the region that do not have a Union Bank branch or automated teller machine (ATM).
The Regional Development Council in CARAGA is seeking the support of the Regional Development Council (RDC) here in its call for GSIS to arrange with Union Bank for the opening of branches or ATMs in strategic areas in the region to service GSIS members’ E-Card transactions.
GSIS has earlier implemented the E-Card where all loans, claims and other GSIS proceeds are released through the E-Card facility, which functions among others as an ATM account.
GSIS awarded the E-Card servicing to Union Bank, which the CARAGA-RDC notes has limited number of branches and ATMs in some areas in the country.
In its resolution, the CARAGA-RDC said there are only 11 Union Bank branches in Central Visayas; 10 are located in Metro Cebu and one in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
The ATMs of Union Bank, on the other hand, are available only in Metro Cebu, while there is no Union Bank branch in Oriental Negros and Siquijor provinces.
Should GSIS or Union Bank not respond to the RDC’s call, the resolution recommends that GSIS or Union Bank should absorb the service charges now being shouldered by GSIS members when they transact through other banks in areas without a Union Bank branch or ATM.
GSIS members in areas without a Union Bank branch or ATM are forced to make a transaction in the ATMs of other banks affiliated with the same electronic network.
However, members are charged a service fee for every transaction, which is deducted from their account.
The CARAGA RDC sees the service charge as “unfair since the same service is available for free in areas covered by the Union Bank.”
The said resolution is set to be taken up during the RDC Full Council Meeting on November 28 in Dumaguete City.
Governor George P. Arnaiz currently sits as the RDC chairman.
PCA urges LGUs to pass ordinances for prevention of coconut pests, diseases
The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is urging local government units in Region 7 to brace efforts to prevent the entry of coconut pests and diseases into the region.
PCA 7 Regional Manager Atty. Deodiro B. Ravelo, in the Regional Development Council-Economic Development Committee meeting held November 16, said that local government units that are at risk of an attack of coconut pests and diseases in the region should pass ordinances that would prevent the entry of coconut pests and viroids.
Cadang-cadang disease is a viroid that can potentially wipe out a vast hectarage of productive coconut trees. The disease has triggered the ban on the export of coconut products to Taiwan, particularly fresh buko, while Bicol provinces and parts of Eastern Visayas have also been affected.
PCA warns that Central Visayas is at risk of being affected due to its proximity and transport accessibility to the affected regions.
Another coconut pest is brontispa longgisima, a new strain of pest that has invaded the country particularly in the Luzon areas. According to PCA, losses to the world coconut industry from this pest is placed at US$17.8 million in 1999 to 2002.
PCA-7 strongly urged the local government units in the region which are located in areas fronting the affected provinces to pass ordinances preventing the entry of the coconut pests and diseases.
The coconut authority is also set to conduct information and education campaigns in the provinces and assist LGUs in drafting and implementing the ordinances.
Meanwhile, the Philippines will get €1.3 million of the €7-million that the European Commission (EC) has allotted as humanitarian aid to help the 1.5 million most vulnerable people in Southeast Asia on disaster preparedness.
A statement from the Delegation of the EC to the Philippines said the country’s allocation will be for four projects involving the reduction of the impact of floods, landslides and typhoons in the country’s most exposed communities, where some 70,000 people live.
These projects will identify recurrent hazards, undertake mapping and help the communities prepare for these disasters and mitigate their effects.
The €7-million assistance to Southeast Asia seeks “to improve the capacities of communities at risk to better prepare for and protect themselves against natural disasters.”
Siquijor gets P5M initial release for ECCD program The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children (PCWC) here released last month some P5,036,770.40 to support expansion of existing Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program and establishment of ECCD system in Siquijor province based on the 2006 work and financial plan.
Ready for release to the municipal local government units (LGUs) here, the initial release is part of the P20,625,000 budget for the province’s ECCD program that calls for 80-20 percent sharing from the council and the local government. Based on the sharing P16.5 million comes from the council for the welfare of children and P4.125 million from the LGUs as their counterpart.
Earlier, Siquijor Provincial Governor Orlando B. Fua committed to shoulder the P2 million out of the P4.125M required counterpart. The remaining amount will be equally shared by the six municipal local government units (LGUs).
So far, the six LGUs has put up a total of P946,184.99 – P201,184.99 of which comes from the municipality of Maria, P200,000 from Lazi, P175,000 from Enrique Villanueva, P132,000 from San Juan, and P120,000 from Larena.
Approved project for 2006 are barangay health stations (BHs) upgrading, procurement of medicines, equipment, supplies and materials, micronutrients supplement, training, supplemental feeding, deworming, Day Care Centers upgrading and/or construction and expanded pre-school, among others.
Also part of the ECCD program, livelihood project for 30 mothers of malnourished children in one barangay willl be implemented soon, Evelyn Senajon, ECCD regional coordinator said.
Meanwhile, Senajon urges LGUs to strengthen the barangay councils for the protection of children (BCPC) and make good in the implementation of projects for the children in each municipality to qualify for the search for child-friendly LGUs. One of the indicators, she said, is the BCPC.
Meanwhile, the different government agencies are taking aggressive action to carry good tidings directly to the people as part of the administration’s caravan for national unity.
Malacanang officials said the government is making sure each Filipino benefits from the country’s economic growth -- pump priming in the countryside through massive infrastructure in line with the super regions scheme, investing in education and health, giving pay hike for state workers, and fast tracking agricultural modernization. (pia)
Volunteerism strong in Siquijor; basic introductory course for VPAs held
At least 25 enthusiastic people in Siquijor province signified a strong support to the Volunteer Aid Probation Program of the Parole Probation Administration Office.
They were the participants of a two-day seminar conducted by the office which served as a basic introductory training course for Volunteer Probation Aides in the province.
Speakers during the training were Senior Parole & Probation Officer and Cluster Coordinator for NegOr-Siquijor VPAs Rene Remollo, Reg’l Coordinator Bernadette Garcia, SPPO Juanita Tia of Dumaguete City and SPPO Maria Marillo of Bayawan City . The speakers talked on the legal basis of the program in the context of the Adult Probation Law of 1976, the Criminal Justice System, and the Concept and Process of Restorative Justice, qualifications, duties/functions of VPAs, etc,
According to the speakers, the VPAs will serve as the deputized representatives of the Parole & Probation Office. The program, they said, envisions the development of peace and reduce incidence of criminality in the country through a community-based treatment which is probation.
This therapeutic community will help rehabilitate the clients and promote human and social transformation, the speakers said.
The training ended with the election of set of officers for the year, as follows:
President -Ferdelina Achay; Vice President-Victor Rubi; Secretary-Marna Rocamora; Treasurer-Alberto Ocay; PRO-Renan Ansing; Board of Directors- Siquijor: Bernabe Ledesma; San Juan-Dario Ocay; Maria-Wilmar Sarupan; Larena-Leonardo Lingcay; E. Villanueva-Cesario Alcala; Liason Officers/Sgt.at Arms: 1st District (larena, E. Vinnaueva & Siquijor): Pabio Balingit; 2nd District (Maria-Lazi-San Juan): Wenceslao Suan; Adviser: PPO II Mario Q,. Rocamora..
Inducting Officer was Mayor Gold Calibo of Larena.
DTI strengthens consumer empowerment drive
With the inevitable increase in prices of most basic commodities, the Department of Trade and Industry here is intensifying its consumer welfare and protection program in order to become an effective watchdog against unfair trade practice.
The DTI said the effort is aimed to empower consumers and to continue to provide effective linkages as well as information network system to consumers,.
According to the DTI, the agency continues to strengthen and intensify the educational and information campaign as well as the effective implementation of Fair Trade Laws through the Bantay Presyo/Bantay Bilihin Program.
In line with this is the estanlishment of consumer welfare desks established in cooperation with the private sector and local government units in Siquijor.
Likewise, ConsumerNet, a networking of organization of government agencies and private sector organizations involved in consumer advocacy, was a brainchild of the DTI to speed up actions on consumer issues.
In protecting consumers against substandard products, DTI strictly enforces laws on intellectual property rights through the organization of the Bureau of Patents, Trademark and Technology Transfer (BPTTT) into Intellectual Property Office (IPO).
The DTI Provincial Office also conducted more consumer education and seminars designed to make people aware of their rights as consumers.
To strongly push for consumerism, DTI formed the consumer welfare group composed of the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS), Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection (BTRCP), BPTTT and related divisions from its regional offices.
Meanwhile, Malacanang officials said that the predictions on the world economy can go up and down, but the Government believes that the Philippines can beat the odds and keep the momentum already gained.
Increasing political and economic stability, steady growth of trade and investment, aggressive and balanced diplomatic offensives, and Philippines as a niche of excellence in the world are the factors that will continue to come together to keep confidence and growth up amidst any bearish trends.
The Philippines ’ resilient and diverse economy, a people gearing for the prize in world competition, and the momentum carried by the solid stewardship of the Administration backed by the people can no longer be stifled.
