Health officials urge persons at risk to take HIV test

By Jorie C. Valcorza

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, November 26 (PIA) – Submit to HIV testing! This is the battle cry for all government and non-government groups working to trim down the increasing number of HIV cases reported.

Dr. Teodulfo Joselito Retuya, Cagayan de Oro City Social Hygiene Clinic Physician urged persons, especially those with risky behavior to submit for HIV testing.  

He said early treatment can greatly help in prolonging the HIV from multiplying.

“It can spread very fast, in few months time it will begin to affect the immune system but if treated early, persons living with HIV (PLHIV) will have higher chances of containing it and live a long life like any other healthy individual,” Retuya explained.

With very little improvement on changing the discrimination and stigma attached to the disease, the government has devised measures to reach out to more PLHIV, providing secured system and facilities, that they may come out and seek help from proper government agencies.

The social hygiene clinics, blood banks, TB DOTS center, among others help facilitate early referral of suspected cases.

As of this year, more than 400 persons have submitted for voluntary HIV examination at the Cagayan de Oro Social Hygiene Clinic and some these were also referred to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center for treatment.

Retuya said the CdeO clinic is open even after the five o’clock schedule up to around eight in the evening to accommodate those who are working during the day. (JCV/PIA)

Zamboanga siege suspect captured in CDO

CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City, November 26  --- An alleged MNLF suspect in the Zamboanga siege was arrested at West Bound Terminal, Brgy Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City on November 26 at around 3:00 a.m.

Joint Intelligence Operatives from 4^th and 1^st Infantry Division and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Region X effected the arrest of the suspect at the vicinity of bus terminal in barangay Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City by virtue of Warrant of Arrest under Criminal Case No. 28212 and 28213 for violation of Section 4b of Republic Act #9851 and Criminal Case 28214 for rebellion issued at Regional Trial Court (RTC), 9^th judicial region br 15, Zamboanga City.

He is now undergoing  documentation at the CIDG 10 Office at Camp Evangelista, this city. He was involved in the Zamboanga incident last September where several hundreds died and paralyzed the economic activity of the city.

A.k.a. Salahudin Ibrahim Jaffam was personally introduced by Nur Misuari during different gatherings in Sulu before the Zamboanga siege. Recovered in his possession are 1 laptop, 3 cellular phones, and several fake IDs as a UN representative, Diplomat aide from the US embassy, US Navy (seal) ID among others.

Brigadier General Ricardo R Visaya, Commander 4ID, commended the arresting team.

“I encourage all our citizens to be vigilant in protecting our democracy by giving relevant information to proper authorities. We need your full cooperation to serve justice to all victims of unnecessary violence brought about by the self-motivated organization which brought us chaos’ and sufferings.” (DPAO/4ID/PIA)

NFA Bukidnon urges farmers to sell palay produce to the government

By Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon, Nov. 26 (PIA)—The National Food Authority (NFA) is encouraging farmers in the province to sell their palay (unhusked rice) to NFA in either freshly threshed or dry state.

Victoria R. Duray, NFA provincial manager, said they are now buying clean and dry palay at P17.00 to P18.00 per kilogram inclusive of drying, delivery, and cooperative development incentive fees.

Likewise, Duray said NFA buys the so-called wet (newly threshed) palay with price ranging from P14.00 to P17.00 per kilogram depending on the moisture content, which is determined using NFA’s equivalent net weight factor matrix.

“We have a team deployed to pick up palay of farmers who could not afford to transport their produce to NFA buying stations,” she said.

NFA also provides post harvest facilities and equipment as vital components of agricultural production such as mechanical dryers, testing device to determine grains quality on purity, truck scales, and buying stations with 1.1 million bags capacity, among others.

For further queries for details, information and/or schedule, farmers may contact the National Food Authority Bukidnon provincial office through cellphone numbers 09154243705 and 09265646090. (RLRBalistoy-PIA10, Bukidnon)

DOE encourages use of alternative fuel, new energy technologies

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Nov. 27 (PIA) – The Department of Energy (DOE) during its “Alternative Fuels Stakeholders Forum” here encouraged stakeholders to consider using alternative fuels and new energy technologies in public transport.

According to Engr. Virgilio B. Arzadon of DOE, 2011 study showed that in terms of fuel consumption the transport sector consumes most energy with 34.7% followed by residential with 26.1%, industries 25.9% and commercial with 11.9%. Meanwhile, he said that of the fuels available, oil products are most consumed with 48.6%, followed by biomass with 21.1%, electricity 21%, coal 8% and biofuel 1%.

He explained that the government has created the Alternative Fuels and Energy Technologies Program where they intend to reduce and diversify the country’s fuel resources while providing solutions to air pollution caused by vehicle emissions.

These programs include the Auto-LPG or Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Electric Tricycle Project or E-trike and Natural Gas Vehicle.

Engr. Loreto Moncada of DOE said Auto-LPG is beneficial in the environment and health since it has lower photo-chemical smog or “ozone” forming potential which usually causes cancer and respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis and so on, lower greenhouse emissions affecting climate change and less urban pollution.

On the other hand, the Electric Tricycle Project or E-trike is designed with the goal to save 90 million liters of petroleum per year, a total of 260, 000 tons of less carbon dioxide per year, and much better quality of life for drivers and operators and passengers.

Further, E-trike is estimated to increase driver’s daily net income to 34%, since there is no need to pay for fuel said Engr. Moncada.

To implement these programs in cities and provinces, the Local Government Unit (LGU) must coordinate with the DOE and send them letter of intent, he added.

Meanwhile Natural Gas Vehicle program will ensure the stable supply of energy in the transport sector, according to Jeannie Dy.

DOE urges both public and private sectors to use or apply these new technologies and develop market and supply infrastructure to help the environment and more importantly lessen dependency on imported oil. (JMOR/PIA10)

Human trafficking hotline 1343 rescues 259 victims

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Nov. 27 (PIA) --- Two hundred fifty-nine (259) victims were rescued through the help of the government’s human trafficking action line 1343 as of July 31, this year.

This was disclosed by Ariel T. Cruz of the Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO), during the ‘Talakayan sa PIA” held on November 23 at the Philippine Information Agency Regional Office 10.

Cruz said 241 actual cases were brought to the action line and handled by the members of the Inter Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).

He said 71 of the cases were on human trafficking, 66 cases on illegal recruitment while eight were mail-order bride cases.

The 1343 action line, he said, is a 24/7 hotline that attends and responds to calls requesting for assistance or reporting suspected human trafficking activities.

Data from the CFO shows that the 1343 action line has registered over 17,000 calls as of July 31 this year since its inauguration in 2011.

Those who want to report trafficking-related cases can dial 02 then 1343, Cruz further said.

The guesting of CFO representatives in “Talakayan sa PIA” was one of the activities under their annual community education program in the region to assist prospective migrants in making decision regarding settling abroad and prevent them from becoming victims of human trafficking.

The CFO as a member of the IACAT disseminates information to raise public awareness on the various issues concerning migration, intermarriages, illegal recruitment, and scheme of human traffickers, Cruz said.

Aside from the “Talakayan sa PIA,” the CFO also conducted school symposia, pulong-pulong with non-government organizations, local government units and community leaders in the provinces of Camiguin and Misamis Oriental. (APB/PIA-10)

Ozamiz CDRRMC develops plan to achieve zero casualty during disasters

By Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

OZAMIZ CCITY, Misamis Occidental, Nov. 27 (PIA) – The Ozamiz City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRMMC), here, has conducted a Planning Formulation Workshop to achieve Zero Casualty during disasters.

Held from Nov. 25-27, 2013, the workshop seeks to develop a Local DRRM Plan that encompasses the four (4) thematic areas of DRRM, namely: disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery and rehabilitation.

Such plan would serve as guide for the local government unit (LGU) in the performance of the different DRRM activities, Mark Vincent C. Israel, City DRRM Officer, said.  

Meanwhile,  the activity aims to properly program the allocation and utilization of the Local DRRM Fund as embodied in Item 3.0 of the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 2013-1 issued by the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Israel said the workshop likewise looks at the National DRRMC which prescribes  that the release of said fund must be based in accordance with the formulated Local DRRM Plan.

On the other hand, the salient features of Republic Act No. 10121 otherwise known as the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010” and an Overview of the DRRM Plan of Northern Mindanao were discussed during the workshop.

Also included among the workshops were the Local Environment Scanning and Disaster Risk Assessment, Result-Based Approach to Planning: The Local Framework Approach and the CDRRM Annual Work and Financial Plan. (RCA/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

Tangub City prepares for the Christmas Symbols Festival 2013

By Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

TANGUB CITY, Misamis Occidental, Nov. 26 (PIA) – Preparations are on-going for the Christmas Symbols Festival 2013, here, with its grand opening on Dec. 1, to be highlighted by a fireworks display.

At the moment, the city’s different sectors are getting their acts together and working round the clock to put up their respective Christmas symbols/structures to catch up with the opening, said Atty. Philip T. Tan, City Mayor of Tangub, “The Christmas Symbols Capital of the Philippines.”

He said the festival aims to uphold the spirit of Christmas in the hearts of the Tangubanons and their neighboring communities and enhance their ingenuity, creativeness and resourcefulness, aside from promoting the city to be a tourist destination every yuletide season.

Meanwhile, he said to spice up the festival, the city has come up a contest in seven (7) categories: Category A for 16 clustered government agencies with the theme: Tangub City Celebrates Christmas Around the World, Part 2.”

Category B for the Arches Contest participated by 27, out of the city’s 55  barangays, of which 16 are highway and 11 are interior barangays with the theme: “Landmarks of Countries Around the World,” and Category C for the Lantern Contest which is open to all other barangays that did not participate in Category B.

Category D1  for the Most Lighted Business Establishment in the Public Market, particularly, the Dried Fish and Vegetable Section, Meat and Fish Section, “Tuba (Coconut Wine)” and Video-K Section, Dry Goods and Fruit Section, “Painitan (Snacks/Eatery) Section and Tobacco Section.

Category D2 for the Most Lighted Private Business Establishment to enhance their façade, Category E for the Most Lighted Barangay and Category F for the Most Lighted House in the Barangay, for all highway and interior barangays, which have entries under Category B or the Arches Contest.

Lighting of the Christmas symbols will start at 5:30 p.m. and turning off will be at  12:00 midnight, except on special occasions and  in case of rain, lighting will be done 30 minutes, after the rain stops.

Judging of the symbols will be done in three (3) separate occasions, Dec. 1, Dec. 16 and Dec. 30, with different sets of judges, using the ranking system, Mayor Tan added. (RCA/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

Pag-IBIG Fund CdeO West opens

CAGAYAN DEO ORO CITY, November 26 (PIA) -- Pag-IBIG fund had the soft opening of the Pag-IBIG Fund Cagayan de Oro West Office on November 25 located at the Ground Floor of the Stary building, Max Suniel Street, Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City.

Initially, the new Pag-IBIG Fund CdeO West Extension Office will provide services on the members with Provident Benefits. Therefore, members may verify their savings on the Pag-IBIG 1 and Modified Pag-IBIG 2 Programs. Members may also view their records on their Short-Term Loan (Multi-Purpose and Calamity).

Moreover, applications for the Multi-Purpose Loan and Provident Benefit Claims may also be pre-evaluated and filed, provided that the member-borrower’s account does not require over-the-counter payments.

Headed by Corporate Executive Officer and Officer-in-Charge Jonna P. Neri, Pag-IBIG Fund CdeO West will also facilitate the online registration for employers and members. They will also accommodate the printing of the Pag-IBIG Fund members’ transaction cards.

Currently, the CdeO Branch has 53,927 actively paying members from the Western area of Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental.

The same services are also provided at the Pag-IBIG Fund Service Desk located at the Lingkod Pinoy Center, 2nd level of Robinsons, Limketkai Center, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City.(RTP/PIA10)

City Govt turns-over P5M to DSWD for Yolanda survivors

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Nov. 27 – City government of Cagayan de Oro turned-over P5 million to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-10 for typhoon Yolanda survivors.

During the turn-over, DSWD-10 division chief for administration and support services Manuel Borres officially received from the City Government of Cagayan de Oro represented by CSWD officer Teddy Sabugaa and City Accountant Atty. Beda Joy Elot the amount as financial assistance for Yolanda survivors in Leyte.

In the transmittal letter to DSWD Sec. Corazon Juliano-Soliman, Mayor Oscar S. Moreno stated that the city government "is one with the Filipino people and the National Government's endeavor in rebuilding the hard hit areas."

The amount can be used for the proportionate distribution of relief goods to all Yolanda survivors subject to proper accounting and auditing as mandated by the Commission on Audit. Also in his letter, Mayor Moreno requested a timely liquidation of the fund.

Earlier, the city government had also sent 350 sacks of rice through the Province of Southern Leyte received by Gov. Roger Mercado and another 50 sacks of rice through the Religious Sisters of Mercy in Tacloban.(CIO/PIA)