ARMM passes free birth registration law

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Feb. 19 (PIA) -- A law allowing for easier birth registration has been passed in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman signed into law last week the Muslim Mindanao Autonomy (MMA) Act 293 otherwise known as the “Free Birth Registration Act of ARMM.”

The new law enhances the usual process of birth registration in the region, including late registrations, removing the accompanying fees that often discourage parents from securing birth certificates for their child.

It also calls for the promotion of the importance of registering births among ARMM residents.

The law was authored by Assemblywoman Rahima Datumanong Alba of the 2nd district of Maguindanao, who said MMA Act 293 is part of the commitment of the ARMM government to the country’s millennium development goals (MDG).

“We want this law to be instrumental in securing some of the principal rights of every child in the ARMM,” she said.

It is also expected to help address problems that resulted from lack of authentic birth certificates among a considerable number of residents in the ARMM to allow the regional government to get a good evaluation of its population.

Governor Hataman said in the past, a previous policy allowed a number of employees in the regional government who are believed to have reached or are beyond retirement age to continue in the service.

“We hope the law will address problems like this in the coming years,” he said.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and the United Nations Higher Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) supports the free birth registration in the region.

Trevor Clark, chief of Unicef’s Cotabato City Field Office, said they have provided and will continue to provide technical assistance to the ARMM government on the free birth registration.

He said they will support the agenda being championed by the ARMM government that gives more rights to children. (armmcommgroup/APB/PIA10)

PhilHealth run draws 10,000 participants in Northern Mindanao

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 19 (PIA) -- Around 10,000 sports and fun enthusiasts in Northern Mindanao participated in the first nationwide run, held for the protection of mother and children.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) led the run dubbed “PhilHealth Run 2013: Nationwide Run for Mother and Child Protection,” last February 17 to mark its 18th anniversary.

The fund-raiser was held simultaneously in more than 18 areas in the country, including Cagayan de Oro City and Tubod, Lanao del Norte in Northern Mindanao.

Participants in Cagayan de Oro were led by PhilHealth Regional Vice President for Northern Mindanao Datu Masiding M. Alonto Jr., along with local PhilHealth officials, representatives Rufus Rodriguez and Maxi Rodriguez, and Vice Governor Norris Babiera.

The main beneficiary of the run is the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), a national referral hospital which admits patients with illnesses requiring subspecialty care such as childhood cancer.

Aside from PCMC, PhilHealth also identified the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) as the regional beneficiary of the event. (Irene Joy Dayo/APB/PIA-10)

Several projects set for Kalabugao Plain

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 19 (PIA) -- The Regional Peace and Order Council of Region 10 (RPOC-10) held a “Bantulaay” or Peace and Development Convergence Program for Kalabugao Plain on February 13-14 in Brgy. Kalabugao, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon.

During the programs validation and stakeholders’ forum, Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno, chairman of the RPOC 10, said the convergence is an ambitious project because Kalabugao Plain has seven barangays and its total land area is 51,000 ha.

Kalabugao Plain is situated within two regions, particularly Region 10 and Caraga and the three provinces of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, and Agusan del Sur.

Based on the existing Ancestral Domain Sustainable Protection Plan and Barangay Development Plans (BDP), there are five identified sectors which the convergence intends to develop. One is the economic sector where livelihood, organic agriculture production, agro forestry, irrigation canal, animal dispersal, fisheries or fishponds among others, are seen to provide sustainable income to community members.

Second is the environment sector. Under this classification would be the purchase of land for farmers, establishment of barangay nursery, maintenance of crops, medicine for animals and rejuvenation of coffee production and others. There is also a proposed greening program or reforestation, landfill for solid waste, tree growing and greening program, establishment of dump site and eco-tourism and community awareness of environmental protection.

This project also aims to preserve Pulangi and Kalabugao River by regulating fishing activities, reforestation along watershed areas and barangay water source, assist natural regeneration (ANR) and National Greening Program (NGP), develop eco-tourism along Pulangi River/PITAGBIDAN/TAPUL and preservation of the Philippine Eagle.

The third sector is infrastructure. Community leaders, through a series of consultations and forums with RPOC 10 and Balay Mindanaw Foundation Inc. have pointed out what they wish to accomplish in the project. These include rehabilitating roads, building bridges, repairing corn mills, building farm to market roads, developing level 2 potable water systems, electrification programs, tribal tulugan (sleeping) buildings and constructing health and nutrition outposts and day-care centers.

In the social aspect, the convergence identified activities and programs to help community members in education like scholarships, medicines for health centers, livelihood projects, Alternative Learning School (ALS), Community Learning Center, opening of integrated school, playground apparatus, opening of high school, construction of cell sites, establishment of low-cost housing project and others.

The fifth and last sector is institutional, where training and seminars will be held for the youth, barangay officials, tribal organizations and the tribal justice system will be strengthened. (JMOR/PIA10)

Army, LGU conduct joint outreach programs

SAN FERNANDO, Bukidnon, Feb. 19 -- Hundreds of indigent and local folks from sitio Salumayag, Halapitan, this town, benefited from the free basic services brought by the joint medical-LGU mission, outreach program, operation haircut and pulong-pulong on February 7.

The medical outreach mission successfully treated 779 beneficiaries: 224 residents benefited from medical consultations and check-up; 122 patients received free medicines; 122 residents had their blood pressure taken; 110 availed of weighing/operation Timbang; and 28 got free haircut.

A pulong-pulong (forum) was conducted to address the issues and concerns of the residents. It appears from records and verbal accounts, that members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Fontrebels harass residents to join the armed group.

Basilio Anuat aka Datu Bantolisan, tribal chieftain, said, “My heartfelt gratitude goes to our army, especially to the officers and men of 8th Infantry (Dependable) Battalion, for facilitating the government’s programs and services to reach this sitio. The program of the army is very beneficial to our constituents especially to our poor families. I would also like to thank the health office of San Fernando for their support.”

The 8th Infantry (Dependable) Battalion headed by Lieutenant Coronel Jose Maria R. Cuerpo II, commanding officer, together with the Health Office of San Fernando, Bukidnon headed by Dr. Angelina Ibon-Edma, merged to conduct this Free Medical Mission, Outreach Program, and Operation Haircut for the poor families especially the indigents of the said sitio.

The activity was also participated by the 3rd Platoon, Medical Company headed by Second Lieutenant Christine Jean S. Zamora and P/SInsp Edward Tagarda-Agpalza, Chief of Police, San Fernando Municipal Police Station.

“The Philippine Army, as part of the community, has long to serve and improve the health condition of our less fortunate brothers living in the depressed areas where social and medical needs are rarely felt by these communities,” Cuerpo said.

He added purely military operations remain inadequate solution to our decade-long problem on insurgency. We need complimentary and concerted effort to address the issues on poverty, injustice, illiteracy and illnesses to achieve a lasting peace in the province. (8IB/PA/PIA10)

Lanao health office gets 50 new nurses under RN Heals project

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Feb. 19 (PIA) -- The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) here recently oriented new nurses hired under the Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement and Local Service (RN Heals) project.

Dr. Amanollah Bantuas, chief of the Training Division of the Department of Health in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOH-ARMM), facilitated the training.

A background on the RN Heals project, family planning program, and maternal health programs were among the topics discussed during the orientation.

IPHO said 50 registered nurses in the province qualified for the project.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona said RN Heals aims to improve access of the country’s poor to quality healthcare with social services by creating a pool of registered nurses with enhanced clinical and preventive health management competencies that will increase the nurses’ employability.

The nurses, whether assigned in a hospital or health center, will receive a monthly allowance of P8,000 from the national government.

Hospital or rural health units where the nurses will be assigned are also encouraged to provide additional monetary or non-monetary incentives to nurses such as meal allowance, transportation allowance, communication allowance, and modest board and lodging allowance. (APB-PIA 10)

CdeO to implement web-based InfoBoard

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 19 -- City Hall will soon implement a web-based application called the InfoBoard which will allow particular offices or departments to instantly communicate with its constituents in Cagayan de Oro City.

The InfoBoard is a communication solution made possible through the city's partnership with Smart Philippines. It is currently being effectively used by Ateneo de Manila to keep their students informed in real time about important school activities and updates.

Laurence Dadua of Smart Philippines conducted an orientation last February 18 with some City Hall personnel, headed by Assistant City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Officer Eng'r. Armen Cuenca, regarding the InfoBoard and its uses for the city.

The InfoBoard requires however that its users use Smart or Talk n Text SIM cards in order to enjoy the 30,000 allocation of free messages per month. Messages sent to non-Smart users will be billed P0.70.

Among its uses is as an early warning communication tool for the people of the 80 barangays in the city in case of emergencies such as incoming typhoons, possible flooding, or any disaster for that matter.

With the InfoBoard, the 80 barangay captains can receive timely text messages through their cellphones from the City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (content provider) giving them updates and specific instructions, all at no expense to the city or its subscribers.

Aside from the CDRRMO, the City Information Office, the City Council, and other key offices may be tapped as additional content providers. (CIO/PIA10)

Day Care Centers in Camiguin continue to benefit from EHCP

By Jorie C. Valcorza

MAMBAJAO, CAMIGUIN, February 19 (PIA) – Sixty nine operational Day Care Centers (DCC) here continue to implement the Essential Health Care Program (EHCP) benefitting some 2,383 preschoolers.

For three years, adequate supplies of toothbrushes, fluoride toothpaste “poly paste”, lice shampoo and hand soap were provided to preschoolers.

The Barangay Councils on the other hand look after the needs of the DCCs in maintaining their respective center’s dental traps.

The project was initiated by Fit for School Foundation and has been sustained by the provincial government over the years.

It originally covers grade levels 1 to 4 elementary students, and later expanded to cover all pre-schoolers, as well.

Aside from receiving hygiene kits, the children likewise undergoes regular deworming activities.

The success of EHCP in the province has garnered recognition from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies.

Meanwhile, the DCCs here are also beneficiaries of the 120 days supplemental feeding program, last year, amounting to P2-million, excluding of kitchen utensils that were also provided for them. (JCV/PIA)