ISSUE NO. 48, November 30, 2006

CHO warns against HIV/AIDS

The City Health Office here warned against the possible entry of HIV/AIDS virus in the city during the recent Kapihan forum conducted by the Philippine Information Agency here.

According to Dr. Ralph Borromeo, medical officer of the City Health Office (CHO), the existence of commercial sex workers in the city heightens the risk AIDS cases in the city.

There are currently no reported HIV/AIDS cases in the province, disclosed Flordeliza Dublas, HIV/AIDS Coordinator of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO).

Borromeo explained that HIV or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is not transmitted only via sexual contact but also by blood transfusion, breastfeeding from an infected mother, or through a needle prick.

The medical officer expressed concern over CHO’s lack of proper facilities to check for HIV and hepatitis.

He said that these facilities are available in private hospitals here at a cost of around P100, which he says local commercial sex workers cannot afford to pay during regular check-ups.

HIV tests are done every 6 months, says Dr. Jonathan Erasmo, Regional HIV Coordinator of the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 7.

In the same forum, Erasmo disclosed that 25 new HIV Ab seropositive cases have been reported in September 2006, bringing to 2,655 the total number of HIV Ab seropositiv cases reported from January 1984 to September 2006.

Surveillance of HIV cases at DOH’s National Epidemiology Center started in 1984.

The center’s records show that of the total, 1,913 (72%) are symptomatic while 742 (28%) are AIDS cases.

Majority or 57% of the cases are in the 25-39 year age group and 64% of the persons infected are males.

Sexual intercourse (87%) remains the leading mode of transmission, of which heterosexual contact (1,659) ranked high on the list, followed by homosexual contact (497) and bisexual contact (148).

Of the AIDS cases reported, 290 (30%) were already dead at the time of the report due to AIDS-related complications.

Statistics also show that of the total HIV cases reported from 1984, 35% (929) are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), of which 34% (313) are seafarers, 17% (162) domestic helpers, 9% (81) employees, 8% (72) entertainers and 6% (58) health workers.

Around 73% of the affected OFWs are males and majority (56%) are in the 25-39 year age group.

Toll on oil tankers sought

The Regional Development Council (RDC) has passed a resolution referring to MARINA for study and appropriate action the proposal to institute toll on oil tankers passing through inner seas yesterday during the RDC full council meeting here.

The proposal was an offshoot of the Guimaras Oil Spill, considered the country’s worst environmental disaster that was affecting the health and livelihood of people in the island.

The funds collected will be used for clean-up activities in the event of another oil spill and for marine disaster mitigation. This proposal could be included among the preventive measures under discussion at the national level upon the direction of President Gloria Arroyo to prevent another oil spill.

Therefore, MARINA as an appropriate maritime government authority is tasked to evaluate the proposal in formulating plans, policies, standards, procedures, rules and regulations which include enforcing rules for the prevention of marine pollution in navigable waters of the Philippines. MARINA will also undertake researches, studies and submitting reports and recommendations to the council.

The RDC also cited that the proposed toll on oil tankers may also require the support of the local government units. Section 155 of the Local Government Code of the Philippines provides that the sanngunian may prescribe the terms and conditions and fix the rates for the imposition of toll fees or charges for the use of any public road, pier or wharf, waterway, bridge, ferry or telecommunications system funded and constructed by the LGU concerned.

Meanwhile, President Gloria Arroyo has expressed alarm over the recent oil spill in Misamis Occidental.

The barge Ras carrying thousands of sacks of oil debris from the Guimaras oil spill has sunk in rough seas off the coastal town of Plaridel, Misamis Occidental late Monday island of Mindanao.

The President has demanded an explanation from Task Force Guimaras as to what really happened.

The DOTC and other concerned agencies have already started the investigation and Task Force Guimaras is mapping out measures to contain any damaging effects to the communities and the environment.

According to Philippine Maritime Industry Authority enforcement chief Arnie Santiago, the barge was being towed by tugboat Vega when huge waves caused it to sink.

The Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) Oil Spill Response Team is now headed to the area where the barge carrying nearly 630 tons oil debris sank. PCG spokesman Lt. Commander Joseph Coyme said the team is tasked to analyze the effects of the incident and to identify solutions.

The PCG will also probe if the MARINA approved the barge's sail.It is unfortunate that this tragedy occurred while we are still striving to fully recover from the Guimaras oil spill.

OPAPP, UNDP, PIA hold media dialogue on peace process

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) is spearheading a multi-sectoral media dialogue on the peace process at the South Sea Beach Resort, Brgy. Bantayan on November 30.

The dialogue here is the second since a similar one was held in Pampanga last November 23.

The media dialogue aims to orient journalists on overall principles and strategies adopted by the Philippine Government and other sectors in pursuing peace while seeking to clarify current and emerging policy issues affecting the peace process and their implications on media reporting.

It also aims to define the role of mass media as a major stakeholder in conflict prevention and peace building and seeks to revisit policy options and guidelines on media coverage of the peace process from past forums.

Invited speakers in the dialogue include Secretary Jesus G. Dureza, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, who will speak on the Peace Agenda and Dr. Crispin Maslog and Ramon R. Tuazon of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication.

Dr. Maslog will talk on the topic Peace Journalism.

The other speaker/panelists are Chief Supt. Sammy Pagbilao of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Jose Pavia of the Philippine Press Institute (PPI), and Rey Hulog of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas.

Meanwhile, Camp Guillermo Nakar, Lucena City-NPA members belonging to the combined group of Plager Magtanggol and Komiteng Seksyon sa Platun (KSPN) Buela of Kilusang Larangang Guerilla 41 were cornered in the Bondoc Peninsula recently.

Dyno Nobel changes corporate name

Dyno Nobel is now ORICA Nitrates Philippines, Inc. after the company’s ownership changed hands, disclosed Engr. Arthur Ylaga, resident manager of Orica Nitrates Philippines in Bacong, this province.

Ylagan said the former Dyno Nobel Philippines, Inc situated in Brgy. San Miguel, Bacong town, is now a member of ORICA, one of the world’s two largest manufacturers of commercial explosives and initiation with head office at Melbourne Australia.

“We also have a new logo, but our office address, telephone and telefax numbers remain unchanged,” said Ylagan.

The change of name followed the filing of the Certificate of Amended Articles of Incorporation approved and adopted last March 8 by a majority vote of the Board of Directors and by the vote of the stockholders owning or representing at least two-thirds of the outstanding capital stock.

Merle P. Cunanan, director of the Cebu Extension office of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), signed her approval of the certificate filed on October 31.

Orica is the world’s leading provider of commercial blasting solutions that are safety-focused, cost-effective, accurate and flexible, according to its website.

Its products range into broad segments including initiating systems, ammonium nitrate, bulk explosives, and packaged explosives.

Orica’s acquisition of parts of Dyno Nobel’s commercial explosives business was completed in June 2006.

The acquisition is seen as highly complementary to Orica’s services and operations and provides significant opportunities for synergy and growth.

TESDA urged to focus on 3 in-demand courses

TESDA NegOr soon to offer welding course

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants the curriculum being offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development (TESDA) under its Training for Work Scholarship Project (TWSP) to focus more on training skilled welders, call center agents and butchers.

The President said she wanted the shift to these three courses due to the growing demand for employees skilled in these crafts.

As of now, the TWSP has courses in Hotel and Restaurant Management (housekeeping, commercial cooking, food and beverage services, front office, bartending), Nursing (caregiving, healthcare services and midwifery), Communication and Information Technology (PC operation, computer hardware servicing and programming).

In Oriental Negros, TESDA has finished training 50 trainees, or equivalent to two batches, for call center agents at ACSAT, the registered call center training center here under the TWSP.

“We are now preparing for the training of the third batch which will possibly start on the first week of December,” said Tubog.

The training on slaughtering operation for butchers here is also likely to start in the same period. Tubog said they are looking at holding the training for the first and second batches simultaneously.

Each batch will be composed of 25 trainees.

As for welding, Tubog said this course will soon be offered as registration for the course’s training center, the newly-inaugurated Oriental Negros Provincial Integrated Skills Training Center, is still ongoing.

The President has earlier said that TESDA should focus more on training welders, call center agents and butchers because of the large demand for these workers.

She noted that there are 20,000 job opening for welders, 30,000 for butchers while the call center industry is in constant need of agents to fill their growing roster of employees.

Congress approves 2006 Biofuels Act

The Congressional Bicameral Conference Committee has approved the 2006 Biofuels Act, a move praised by Malacañang as it believes that the landmark legislation will generate huge savings for the country on imported fuel.

According to Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been pushing for the speedy congressional approval of the measure to wean the country away from its dependence on imported fossil fuel.

The Bayawan City government has been one of the local government units to respond to the President’s call for the promotion of alternative and renewable energy resources.

The local government unit earlier announced its intention to put up a biofuel equipment following the wave of oil price increases that hit the country early this year.

Bayawan City Mayor German P. Saraña disclosed in a previous interview that the city government’s vehicle, which previously ran on diesel, has been converted to 50 percent biodiesel.

The mayor made the announcement following the 1^st Biofuels Lecture and Demonstration recently conducted in the City, during which internationally-renowned Biofuels researcher and developer Dr. Rico O. Cruz demonstrated how to “concoct” biofuel from coconut crude oil, ethanol and a catalyst.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said that once the Biofuels Act becomes a law, the government could save up to P3 billion annually in oil import costs.

The Philippines currently imports 30% of its fuel requirements.

The Act ordains a minimum 1 percent of biofuel added to diesel within the first year of its effectivity and 4 to 5 percent within two years.

It also provides tax exemptions, financial assistance and other incentives to encourage investments in biofuels.

Aside from generating huge savings for the country, the Act would also lead to the reduction of pollution caused by fossil fuels’ emissions.

RDC endorses Camp Leon Kilat improvement

The Regional Development Council (RDC) has endorsed the proposed project on the improvement of Camp Leon Kilat in Tanjay City to the Department of National Defense for funding today (Nov 28) during its RDC full council meeting here in Dumaguete City.

Camp Leon Kilat is a military camp located in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Viejo, Tanjay City which needs improvement on the dilapidated facilities to enhance the capability of the military and police to maintain peace in the area.

The proposed improvement of the facilities of the camp will entail a total cost of P10 million which is requested to be funded by the Department of National Defense.

The camp housed the 703rd Community Defense Center (CDC), 7th Regional Community Defense Group (RCDC), Army Reserved Command (ARESCOM), Philippine Army (PA) and the Mobile Force of the Philippine National Police of the Provincial Command.

At present, most of the structures in the camp are in bad state and obsolete facilities such as the water and drainage.

The proposed project involves the improvement of the facilities and landscaping such as the construction of bachelor officers’ quarters, new drainage system, concrete fencing, rehabilitation of warehouse, mess hall and road improvement.

Hence, RDC resolution stated that Development Administration Committee determined the proposed project to be consistent with the strategy in the Regional Development Plan of improving the efficiency of the military and police by upgrading facilities, and thus recommended its endorsement to the DND.

Meanwhile, portions of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of some local government units and villages in Southern Luzon go to the coffers of the communist New People’s Army rebels, military officials alleged recently.

Maj. Ramon Rosario, commander of the Civil Relations Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Southern Luzon, said some municipal and village officials in the Bicol region have been allotting at least 10 percent of their IRA for communist rebels.

“But lately the NPA wants their share of the IRA to increase to 25 percent. The officials have resisted and most of them are now seeking the help of government forces to end the extortion,” Rosario said.

Lt. Col. Rhoderick Parayno, spokesperson of the military’s Southern Luzon Command based here in Camp Nakar, said they also received reports that portions of the IRA of some municipalities, and even villages, in some parts of Southern Tagalog were being used to pay taxes to the rebels.

“Those government officials kowtowing (sic) with the enemies should now think twice. The enemies are robbing their own people and yet they were all willing participants,” Parayno said. (JCT)