Hataman cites educational gains in ARMM

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Dec. 21 (PIA) -- Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman bared the concrete gains his administration has achieved to improve the quality of education in the region. 

In his first State of the Region’s Address on Tuesday, Hataman cited the educational reforms his administration has instituted that resulted to the eradication of ghost students and teachers and huge savings for the regional government. 

He said the ARMM Government boldly addressed the problems of teachers regarding the payment of loans and benefits from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) by talking to and forging an agreement with the GSIS management. 

The Department of Education (DepEd)-ARMM, he said, has settled the P5-million debts of the Marawi City Division and the P14-million debts of Basilan Division. 

Hataman said they are now in the process of paying the some P1.9-billion debts of the department to the GSIS. 

The Governor also announced that the DepEd-ARMM, in the implementation of financial reforms, has saved P224,227,269.90 which will be used in paying the salary differentials and backpays of teachers. 

DepEd-ARMM has also generated P135 million that may be utilized for the repair of classrooms and purchase of school chairs, he added. 

Citing statistics from the Enhanced Basic Education Information System, Hataman said the region lacked 5,057 classrooms, 3,479 teachers, and almost half billion of school chairs in 2011. 

He, however, announced that DepEd-ARMM has launched programs and projects dubbed “37 Firsts of DepEd-ARMM” to raise the quality of education in the region. 

Included in these are various support and training assistance from different organizations such as PLDT-SMART Foundation, SEAMEO-INNOTECH, Synergia, AMORE, AAI, UNICEF, GIZed-Fit For School, USAID and Ronald McDonald, as well as the construction of learning centers in remote areas by BRAC. 

Hataman said the Australian government is also actively supporting the region and has provided P3.97 billion through the Basic Education Assistance for Muslim Mindanao Program which includes early childhood and basic education, school health, techvoc training for out-of-school youth. 

The Governor also made mentioned that a total of 6,540 scholars are currently benefiting from the programs of the Technical Educational and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) while 607 are being served by the scholarship program of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). (APB/R10) 

NKTI, PIA conduct Kidney Disease Prevention advocacy in Bukidnon

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat

MALAYBALAY, Bukidnon, Dec. 20 (PIA) -- The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), in cooperation with the Philippine Information Agency 10 (PIA) and the Renal Disease Control Program (Redcop) of the Department of Health (DOH) conducted a media forum as an advocacy on Kidney Disease Prevention here, Dec. 19. 

Dr. Apollo A. Tenorio of the Internal Medicine said there are two types of Kidney diseases particularly acute and chronic. Acute kidney diseases can be acquired through bacterial infection such as Leptospirosis and can be reversed through proper medication. However chronic is for life. Persons affected by chronic kidney disease have two options to live longer; one is organ transplant preferred for young individuals and second is dialysis. 

There are set of parameters where such disease can be manifested. Indicators that a person may acquire or have kidney problem are anemia, hypertension, swelling of body, only lets out little amounts of urine, and skin have dark pigmentation among others. 

Patients who have severe chronic kidney disease can avail of Peretonial Dialysis and Hemodialysis. In Bukidnon, the Malaybalay Polymedic General Hospital can provide facilities for these types of dialysis. 

According to Rowell Feliciano, Hemodialysis nurse in Malaybalay Polymedic that there are normally 45 sessions of dialysis of a chronic kidney disease patient. Philhealth members can avail of discount paying only P600 to P700 per session. 

He added that various public personnel and organizations are also helping financially like the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). Without any monetary help form any of these groups, a patient will have to pay regular dialysis session from P2, 800 to P3, 500. Sessions depend from two times or three times a week, he said. 

Carmen Lubguban, Redcop coordinator in Northern Mindanao also revealed that such disease is one of the 10 leading causes of death in the country. In region 10, there are 138 patients recorded in the first quarter, 152 for the second and 147 during the third quarter. And it is ranked 7th deadly disease in the region. (JMOR/PIA10)