Friday, December 20, 2024

Tag: CORD

OCD equips regions with water filtration, communication systems for emergencies

Posted on by cmn

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (August 20, 2024/PIA) — The Office of Civil Defense enhances its disaster preparedness and response capabilities by investing in water filtration systems and reliable communication technologies

According to OCD-10 Director Antonio Sugarol, these initiatives are part of a broader strategy of OCD’s Administrator, Usec. Ariel Nepomuceno, to modernize and equip the organization with the resources necessary to effectively address emergencies.

He said OCD has initially equipped its regional offices with water filtration units, recognizing the critical role of clean water in emergencies.

The regional director also shared plans to acquire additional units similar to those used by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) that can rapidly purify contaminated water, providing a vital lifeline to affected communities.

“At the moment, we have two mobile water filtration systems. It is in our office,” he stated.

Sugarol said the OCD has also implemented a regional collaboration policy that allows neighboring regions to share resources during emergencies.

“For example, in Region 10, we can anticipate that Region 9, Region 12, and Region 11 will contribute their mobile water filtration systems to the OCD Region 10,” he explained.

In addition to water filtration, the OCD addresses the equally critical need for reliable communication channels. Sugarol said the recent experience in Misamis Occidental, where cellular networks were disrupted following a shear line, underscored the importance of alternative communication systems.

To augment the communication capabilities of local government units, the OCD is working in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to provide satellite phones and VISAT systems. These technologies will ensure uninterrupted communication during disasters, facilitating coordination between local governments, government agencies, and emergency responders. (Apipa P. Bagumbaran/PIA-10)

Bukidnon logs over 5,000 dengue cases since January 2024

Posted on by cmn

Over 5,000 dengue cases have been recorded in Bukidnon from January to August 2024

According to the Provincial Health Office (PHO), the 5,099 dengue cases recorded in the province are higher than the 4,000 cases logged in the same period in 2023.

PHO said at least 17 people have died from dengue in the province. However, there is no outbreak of the disease just yet.

Authorities have also yet to discuss the declaration of a state of calamity.

PHO said Malaybalay City has the most cases, with 926, followed by Valencia City, with 508. These cities have two reported deaths each.

With the rising number of dengue cases, the local government of Malaybalay City has conducted fogging operations in areas where dengue cases were reported.

PHO also distributed treated mosquito nets to some schools to fend off dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

“Kung di ka mag-cleanup unya mag-fogging mao ra gihapon mobalik ra gihapon ang lamok kay di man kasulod ang aso sa tubig, so clean up gyud ta,” Bukidnon PHO Dengue Coordinator, Sergio Flores, said.

Health authorities reminded the public to practice the 5S habit against dengue, which includes search and destroy, self-protection, seeking early consultation, supporting fogging, and sustaining hydration. — (James Paolo Yap/GMA Regional TV/August 19, 2024)

800 NorMin families to get food credits under ‘Walang Gutom’

Posted on by cmn

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (July 16, 2024/PNA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Northern Mindanao (DSWD-10) on Tuesday started the implementation of the Walang Gutom Program (WGP), which will initially benefit 800 families

During the launch, DSWD-10 Director Ramel Jamen said the initial beneficiaries were identified as those from Talakag, Bukidnon, and Iligan City.

Each family will receive PHP3,000 worth of food credits monthly through the electronic benefit transfer card that DSWD-10 will issue.

Suppliers who are also beneficiaries of the Sustainable Livelihood Program will accept the food credits.

“We would need constant communication for this program to prosper. If we have a problem in our supply distribution, we can look for alternatives,” Jamen said.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, 1.4 million Filipino families are categorized as food-poor In Northern Mindanao.

The WGP targets to serve over 9,000 beneficiaries in Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte, including Iligan City.

The program aims to reduce involuntary hunger and malnutrition in low-income households and empower them to become productive citizens. (Nef Luczon/PNA)

Malaybalay receives eBOSS commendation from ARTA

Posted on by Melchor Madera

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (May 21, 2024) – The city government of Malaybalay has received a commendation for implementing the electronic Business One-Stop Shop (eBOSS) system

City Mayor Jay Warren R. Pabillaran took the lead in receiving the distinction recognition as one of the Philippines’ completely compliant local government entities with the eBOSS system.
Atty. Ernesto V. Perez, secretary of the Anti Red Tape Authority (ARTA), personally handed out the Certificate of Commendation to the local government.
On May 21, 2024, the award ceremony was conducted at the People’s Hall of the New City Hall in Malaybalay.
Perez confirmed that Malaybalay is the 31st recipient of the honor.
He stated that, as mandated by Republic Act 11032, also known as the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Law, eBOSS is a single online portal that provides clients with access to all necessary services and information for business registration, such as application submission, online payment, and electronic issuance of documents.
He said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. always reminded local government units to promote bureaucratic efficiency including the streamlining and digitization of all government processes as part of the Bagong Pilipinas campaign.
According to the director general of ARTA, the program is part of the Marcos administration’s eight-point socioeconomic strategy.
“The recognition signifies that Malaybalay City has met the needed requirements to receive the commendation,” Perez said.
He added that in Bukidnon, only Malaybalay City and the town of Manolo Fortich have complied with the digitalization of business transactions so far as monitored.
He said that Valencia City, Maramag, Kibawe, Quezon, Don Carlos, Impasug-ong, San Fernando, and other towns hope to receive the same recognition.
“RA 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business Law aims to eradicate red tape,” Perez stated.
He went on to say that one of the conditions for Ease of Doing Business is that the local government have an updated Citizen’s Charter to use as a guide for all transactions.
Mayor Pabillaran said that as mayor of Malaybalay, he is honored to accept the accolade.
He also stressed that the city is transparent in all government transactions, including bidding processes.
He also recognized the city employees’ efforts to the success of the eBOSS system.
Jutchel L. Dayra, regional director of ARTA regional office 10, stated that the inspection and assessment procedure for eBOSS in Malaybalay was just completed in March. (melbmadera)

DOH-10 urges LGUs to intensify tracking of dengue, measles, chikungunya virus

Posted on by cmn

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (March 29, 2024/PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH)-10 urges LGUs to ramp up the surveillance of dengue, measles, and chikungunya virus after cases soared from January to March

During the Northern Mindanao Disaster Risk Reduction Management 1st Quarter Full Council meeting, DOH reported that dengue, measles, and chikungunya had increased compared to the same months last year.

Its current data showed a 34.27 percent increase in dengue cases, from 3,032 to 4,071. Measles cases surged by 94.33 percent, from 53 to 103. Chikungunya cases spiked from 7 to 89, marking a staggering 1,171.43 percent rise.

Dengue and chikungunya cases

The disease surveillance data showed that Bukidnon has the most dengue cases in Northern Mindanao, with 1,121 cases (959 admissions with 153 confirmed cases); Misamis Oriental has 845 cases (591 admissions, 79 confirmed); Lanao del Norte reported 574 cases (450 admissions, 115 confirmed); Iligan City reported 319 cases (310 admissions, 114 confirmed); Cagayan de Oro City reported 222 cases (207 admissions, 6 confirmed); and Camiguin reported 89 cases (81 admitted and 47 confirmed).

Bukidnon reported the most dengue-related deaths (19), followed by Misamis Occidental (4), Misamis Oriental (3), Lanao del Norte (4), Iligan City (1), Cagayan de Oro City (2), and Camiguin (1).

Chikungunya, another mosquito-borne viral illness transmitted by the same Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitos that carry dengue and Zika, has significantly increased. Misamis Oriental leads the list with 50 cases, followed by Misamis Occidental (18), Bukidnon (12), Camiguin (4), Iligan City (4), and Cagayan de Oro City (1).

Measles cases surveillance

DOH-10 intensifies measles cases surveillance following the disease surge in a neighboring province. The tracking team reported 103 infected children aged 1 to 5. Lanao del Norte has 58 cases (54 hospitalized), followed by Misamis Oriental (14 cases, 11 hospitalized), Cagayan de Oro City (8 cases, 3 hospitalized), Bukidnon (8 cases), Iligan City (7 cases, 5 hospitalized), Misamis Occidental (6 cases, 3 hospitalized), and Camiguin (2 cases, 1 hospitalized).

“The sudden rise in measles cases can be attributed to children’s failure to receive vaccinations,” according to DOH-10 nurse Iris Christine Torralba.

She said COVID-19 disrupted vaccinations as the ‘No Vaccine, No Entry’ policy caused delays. Now, Lanao del Norte faces a measles surge. DOH-10 mobilized an outbreak team to Balo-i and Amai Pakpak Medical Center to stop the spread.

In addition to the response team, resources like viral transport media (VTM) and vaccines were strategically placed and boosted in LDN.

The DOH-10 coordinated with the integrated provincial health offices of Lanao del Sur and Marawi City. It collaborated with national immunization program coordinators to conduct outbreak response immunization in high-case areas.

“The regional office collects data from local government units (LGUs), contributing to our generated data. We are approaching the epidemic threshold and have advised LGUs to enhance their surveillance systems in recent weeks,” DOH-10 Regional Director Sulpicio Henry Legaspi said.

He recommended that local governments monitor movements, particularly in Balo-i, the epicenter of the measles outbreak, because 92 percent of recorded cases include unvaccinated or under-immunized children, indicating the need for focused immunization activities in high-case areas.

Legaspi said the DOH-10 is coordinating with Lanao del Sur to monitor Marawi City due to high population mobility, saying there is a risk of measles spreading to Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro City due to its contagious nature.

“We have enough vaccine supply and await the request for additional health workers needed for outbreak response immunization,” he clarified.

The health department assures the public they are addressing the situation, collaborating with LGUs to intensify measles case monitoring and urging parents to vaccinate children aged 0-59 months against measles and other diseases. (Jan Albert K. Araña/PIA10)

BPMC gets new CT scan machine

Posted on by Melchor Madera

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (March 28, 2024) – The Bukidnon Provincial Medical Center (BPMC) has received a new Fujifilm Healthcare Supria 32-slice CT Scan machine from the Department of Health (DOH)

According to the provincial government of Bukidnon (PGB), the turnover ceremony took place on March 26, 2024, at BPMC in Malaybalay City.

 

Dr. Ariel I. Valencia, assistant health secretary represented the DOH as the donor.

 

Valencia conveyed the goal of Health Secretary Ted Herbosa’s initiative, which aimed to make every Filipino feel well through cooperation.

 

He said, “In a hospital like this, it’s a big thing to have immediate diagnostic capacity to diagnose, and that’s lifesaving, the patient’s problem can be seen right away.”

 

Meanwhile, Provincial Governor Rogelio Neil P. Roque represented the PGB as the donee.

 

The Governor assured that the province of Bukidnon will take care of the CT scan machine.

 

The machine was provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as part of the Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit (HEAL) Project.

 

It was done through the office of Bukidnon 2nd District Representative Jonathan Keith Flores.

 

It was given to DOH, who eventually handed over the machine to BPMC.

 

Rep. Flores stated that the project is an excellent example of how things can be accomplished quickly when several government entities work together.

 

Dr. Gina Factura, BPMC’s chief of hospital, revealed that the state-of-the-art CT Scan machine is available for free to admitted patients through the PhilHealth program.

 

For outpatients, she stated that there may be a price to cover the cost of utilities and other expenses, which would be determined and finalized by the hospital.

 

Dr. Sulpicio Henry M. Legaspi, Jr., regional director for the Northern Mindanao Center for Health Development, also attended the occasion. (melbmadera)

Bukidnon claims top spot as Philippines’ leading agricultural area

Posted on by cmn

Bukidnon is the top agricultural area in the country, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed

Based on the survey of 82 provinces and 17 highly urbanized cities, it reported that Bukidnon had the highest gross value added (GVA) to agriculture, forestry, and fishing (AFF) in 2022 which stood at P125 billion.

 

The province contributed seven percent to the sector’s overall national GVA.

 

GVA is defined as the total of all revenues, from final sales and net subsidies, which are incomes into businesses; these incomes are then used to cover expenses, savings, and taxes.

 

It is also used to adjust gross domestic product, which is a key indicator of the state of a nation’s total economy.

 

Nueva Ecija comes after Bukidnon, with a GVA of P79.74 billion or 4.5 percentage share, followed by Pangasinan with P66.93 billion, Pampanga with P62.71 billion, and Isabela with P58.78 billion.

 

Completing the top 10 provinces outside the National Capital Region (NCR) that had the highest shares of GVA of AFF were Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Davao del Norte, Batangas, and Quezon.

 

On the other hand, the country reached over P1.78 trillion in GVA of AFF.

 

In terms of per capita GDP among provinces and cities outside NCR in 2022, Baguio City shared the highest per capita GDP of over P420 billion.

 

The per capita GDP is a measurement of wealth or poverty through the economic output to a per-person allocation.

 

Also sharing the highest per capita GDP were the cities of Cagayan de Oro (P343 billion), Lapu-Lapu (P313 billion), Iloilo (P306 billion), and Bataan (P297 billion).

 

Rounding out the top 10 wealthiest areas outside NCR were Cebu City, Laguna, Mandaue City, Davao City, and Batanes.

 

The Marcos administration is targeting to achieve an economic growth of 6.5 to 7.5 percent target band this year and 6.5 to 8.0 percent in the next four years.

 

The country’s GDP is already above pre-pandemic levels in peso terms, according to Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort, however, it could be slowed by higher prices and interest rates. (Xander Dave Ceballos/April 2, 2024)

6.2MW hydro plant eyed in Kalilangan

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (March 1, 2024) – A 6.2 megawatt Canituan Hydroelectric Power Project is planned for the Municipality of Kalilangan, Bukidnon

According to the provincial government of Bukidnon, Oro Valle Energy, Inc. (OVEI) owns the proposed project.

 

The project is currently in the pre-development stage.

 

On February 26, the 27th Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) discussed the company’s letter of intent, addressed to Provincial Vice Governor Clive D. Quiňo.

 

Engr. Hanshel Z. Layaoen, OVEI’s director, presented the initiative during the SP’s Question Hour.

 

He explained the benefits that will be obtained if the project is realized, such as job creation and community share.

 

He stated that 80 percent of the workforce for the operation and maintenance of the plant will come from the community.

 

He also said that host communities can receive one cent per kilowatt hour of total electricity sales as a share under ER 1-94.

 

The project requires the approval of the barangay council, the Sangguniang Bayan (SB), and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. (melbmadera)

Philippine Eagle rescued in Bukidnon

Posted on by cmn

MANILA, Philippines (March 4, 2024) — A Philippine Eagle has been rescued in Pangantucan, Bukidnon

The eagle was found by a resident in Barangay Nabaliwa on Feb. 24, according to Dennis Salvador, executive director of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF).

The group appealed to Filipinos to help finance the eagle’s rehabilitation.

“The eagle was turned over to the Bantay sa Yutang Kabilin for safekeeping. The BYK contacted us through our partners in the Xavier Science Foundation,” Salvador said.

He said the PEF sent a team of animal experts to examine the eagle.

“X-ray examinations conducted on the eagle at Doc Bayani’s Animal Wellness Clinic in Davao City showed two air gun pellets inside the bird. The pellets were surgically removed and the eagle is now recovering at the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, Davao City,” Salvador said.

Experts said the eagle, which was named Kalatungan, could be between 1.5 and two years old.

“The bird’s crop was empty, which indicated it had not eaten for days,” the PEF said.

The group said the pellets were lodged above the raptor’s right collarbone and thigh.

“The pellets were lodged beneath the skin, and the absence of entry wounds indicates that it was shot a few months ago,” the PEF said. (Bella Cariaso /The Philippine Star)

 

The eagle was found by a resident in Barangay Nabaliwa on Feb. 24, according to Dennis Salvador, executive director of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF).

Malaybalay builds new OSCA building, Women’s center

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (February 26, 2024) – The city of Malaybalay has constructed a new multi-purpose building for the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA), as well as another structure to function as a Women’s Center

On the morning of February 23, 2024, the two structures constructed within the city hall complex at Brgy. Casisang were blessed and turned over, according to information from the city government’s official Facebook page.

The multi-purpose facility for which OSCA is the end-user has a project authorization of P8,436,000.00, while the actual project cost is just P7,752,561.19.

Meanwhile, the Women’s Center has a project budget of P4,456,037.40, but its real cost is P4,050,943.09.

City Mayor Jay Warren R. Pabillaran led the turnover ceremony.

Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), led by City Vice Mayor Estelito R. Marabe, also attended the event.

Rev. Fr. Andrew T. Boquilon presided over the blessing of the two structures in the presence of senior citizens federation officers, women’s presidents, and the kagawad in charge of each barangay.

In his message, Pabillaran congratulated the groups who had been waiting for these buildings for a long time.

He also stated that there is no need to be concerned about its maintenance because the city government has money set out each year for repair and maintenance, ensuring that it lasts for over 50 years.

In his welcome address, Vice Mayor Marabe expressed his gratitude that the Women’s Federation and the Senior Citizen’s Affairs Federation now have a permanent home that should be maintained by people who utilize it.

He also said that the current structures would serve as local tourism for other cities and municipalities, allowing them to benchmark right here on the city hall site.

The vice mayor is also optimistic that these two federations would expand and become more efficient in their operations. (melbmadera)