by anyajulia | Sep 4, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
HEALTH authorities in Bohol vow to activate nine more Hospital Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Core Team (HACT) after taking the cue from Bohol regional hospital.
According to Board Member Cesar Tomas Lopez, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Health, after the reactivation of the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital HACT and Center, other government hospitals would follow suit.
In fact, there is already a step to identify more government and private hospitals for possible HACT Centers, Lopez, who is also a doctor, added.
The move, one of the more proactive steps by local authorities against the threat HIV AIDS however dents less over the large misinformation about the disease.
AIDS, a disease that could be fatal to people affected by it, stigmatizing to their families can be preventable provided people practice healthy and safe sex and blood transfusions.
But operating on the context of largely migrating Boholanos, local authorities have drafted anti-HIV AIDS measures to map out a local response to the disease and other sexually transmitted infections.
Lopez, who, along with the Provincial HIV AIDS Multi-Sectoral Council (PHAMSC) he chairs, has lobbied for the activation of the HACT in the rural health units of Ubay, Talibon and Carmen this time said next in line would be government hospitals.
A HACT is a team of doctor, a nurse, medical technologist and a social worker basically equipped the respond to the proper management in the onset of a possible case of infection, says Provincial HIV AIDS coordinator Mila Israel.
These personnel based in hospitals undergo at least two weeks of intensive training in disease control and management and would be the patient’s support team before they could be referred to the regional treatment hub at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in nearby Cebu, she explained. (PIA)
by anyajulia | Sep 4, 2009 | Headlines, National News
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday assured World War II veterans that her administration is continuously working to provide and secure their long-overdue benefits, including the US$ 190-million compensation package from the United States government.
The President made the assurance to some 200 war veterans during the Filipino World War II Veterans Assembly this afternoon at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
Among those present were National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Victor Ibrado, national president of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) Col. Emmanuel de Ocampo and Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) Administrator and DND Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina of the Department of National Defense.
During her visit to the United States, the President said she told US Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki that many Filipino veterans look forward to the speedy implementation of the $ 190-million compensation package, which was signed into law by US President Barack Obama this year.
“And he (Shinseki) replied that his department, if needed, will hire additional personnel to fast track the claims,” the President said.
The US Embassy in Manila started accepting applications for the lump-sum payments of $ 15,000 for veterans who have become US citizens and $ 9,000 for non-US citizens.
The President noted that the first payment was already made last April 8 but more than 31,000 filed their claims at the PVAO compared to the US estimate that only about 18,000 Filipino veterans are still alive and eligible.
The President said Secretary Teodoro will follow up with Secretary Shinseki to expedite the processing of the claims of Filipino war veterans.
The President said Secretary Shinseki also told her that the U.S. government is already providing some $ 17 million a month to Filipino war veterans and their families.
“Outside of the new veterans’ benefits, his (Shinseki’s) department is also disbursing funds to veterans and their families, including death pensions totaling $ 17 million a month,” the President stressed.
She told the Filipino war veterans that the US government is also providing an MRI facility to the Philippine Veterans Hospital.
The President likewise instructed Secretary Teodoro to study the possibility of establishing vital medical equipment in areas where many war veterans reside.
According to the President, she has instructed Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya to pay the total administrative liability, including pension arrears, to World War II veterans for this year.
In closing, the President thanked Shinseki, U.S. Senators Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka and everyone who made contributions to facilitate the passage of the $ 190-million lump sum package. (PIA)
by anyajulia | Sep 4, 2009 | Headlines, National News
The Philippine economy, as measured by the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), is likely to grow 2.5 percent in the third quarter and 4.5 percent in the last quarter of the year, according to First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) and University of Asia and the Pacific’s (UAP) Capital Markets Research.
GDP is the amount of final goods and services produced in a country in a given period.
“The relatively strong numbers in June and July confirm our expectation of clearly positive GDP growth figures for the second semester,” the research note said.
The FMIC-UAP said remittances of Filipino workers overseas continued to provide the country with hopes of growth as flows continued its positive streak climbing by 3.3 percent in June.
In the second quarter, the economy grew 1.5 percent from 4.2 percent in the same period last year.
The government projected GDP to grow between 0.8 percent and 1.8 percent this year.
“Exports are also likely to post positive growth in the fourth quarter due to base effects and consistently rising monthly exports as East Asia (especially China) and the U.S. Recoveries gain traction.” FMIC-UAP said.
FMIC-UAP also sees positive growth in the electricity, fast foods, retailers sales and residential property sales sectors and a “muted” inflation.
“These would tend to offset the still negative exports picture and a deceleration in National Government (NG) spending,” it said.
FMIC-UAP projected a 0.9 percent inflation rate in September; 1.7 percent in October and 2.7 percent in November.
“Inflation remains muted, as other prices other than petroleum products, have been quite stable in the last three months. The only remaining risk is for a severe El Nino to hamper rice harvest in October to November, as crude oil prices are unlikely to make a strong upward move until mid-2010,” the research note said.
For the full year, FMIC-UAP expects inflation rate of 3.3 percent. From January to July, inflation rate was 4.3 percent.
FMIC-UAP said that government tax take would improve, as the economy turns more positive in the second semester, and fiscal discipline will enable the NG to meet its P250- billion deficit target (PIA)
by anyajulia | Sep 4, 2009 | Headlines, National News
Globe recognizes the achievements of successful overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) through its full support of the search for the Model OFW Family of the Year Award (MOFYA).
The award aims to give honor and recognition to outstanding OFW families and promote best practices in achieving success in all aspects of life in the face of overseas migration of one or more members of the household.
For more details and nomination forms, interested parties may call the DOLE 2917 Hotline for free (Globe & TM Subcribers). Deadline for nomination period is until August 15.
The DOLE 2-917 Hotline was put up by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in partnership with Globe for the local workforce and OFWs seeking immediate information on either local and overseas jobs and other relevant updates and services.
The DOLE 2917 Text Services is also available, simply text DOLE to 2917 or DOLE ASK to 2917. (Menchie Osial, Globe Telecom)
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by anyajulia | Sep 4, 2009 | Headlines, National News
Throughout the country, September is commemorated as the National Peace Consciousness Month . This is in pursuant to Proclamation No. 675 issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2004.
The Proclamation embodies the call to unify the nation and to make everyone aware of his or her role in the promotion and attainment of peace.
This year’s theme is “Una sa Lahat, Kapayapaan: Putting the Peace Agenda at the Forefront.”
The celebration enjoins all to initiate and participate in meaningful activities aimed at instilling greater public consciousness and appreciation for the culture of peace.
The celebration is also primarily intended to create awareness among the general public on the overall comprehensive peace process and gain support to all endeavors relative to the peace and development agenda. It also hopes to effectively convey the importance of peace in nation building and development. (PIA)
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