TACLOBAN CITY- After they have stayed and had been treated, indigent patients need to process still their bills before going home, not for their families to pay for it but for the hospital to complete the documents for submission to Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) for reimbursements.
This was how Dr. Salvador “Buddy” Evardone, chief of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) put it in a brief interview.
Evardone’s statement was in answer to a post that went viral which, according to him, could be a product of misinformation, inadequate to no information at all.
“In adherence to the policy of the Duterte Administration, EVRMC just like other hospitals, have not been charging indigent patients, contrary to the FB post, except of course when one opts to be admitted in a private or semi-private room. When so, hospital will charge and compute billings, but otherwise, hospitalization is free”, Evardone explained.
An example he cited on a Myoma operation of which P26,000 is paid by PhilHealth of the total P56,000 expense.
“If the papers are not complete and receipt is not retained at the Accounting Section, we shall have no document to submit to PhilHealth for payment, and with more reasons that we can hardly collect reimbursements, to help us in the sustenance of hospital operations”, Dr. Evardone said.
Thus, he appeals to non-paying patients to be responsible also and be cooperative and not just step-out immediately of the hospital once treated, all because they are fully aware of the “No Balance Billing” policy of the government.
“Let us help one another, EVRMC is imposing complete documentation because other patients are awaiting equal assistance from government through this “No Balance Billing”. When PHILHEALTH payment is delayed due to incomplete papers, other patients needing assistance, will be sacrificed also”, he pointed out.
Similarly, he appeals that for minor ailments, patients can go to rural health units (RHUs), district and provincial hospitals where drugs and medicines for minor diseases are made available by the Department of Health (DOH).
“A simple diarrhea may not be brought anymore to EVRMC because RHUs can treat it and medicines of the disease are available there”, he added.
The level up care he mentioned when level 1s and 2s could be done in provincial hospitals and RHUs while EVRMC takes charge of diseases that might be needing help of doctor-specialists.
On the “visiting hour” issue, Dr. Evardone seeks understanding on the limited space of the hospital.
“EVRMC has 450-beds but daily admission would not go less than 800. This is how congested our hospital is”, he further cleared out.
With the kind scenario, EVRMC implements the “one patient, one watcher” policy instead of more than two or three. Only one gate pass is issued to a watcher which entitles him to go and fro his patient’s bed, and when 8 pm strikes, all watchers are sent down to the waiting area at the lobby, until morning but “Visiting Hour” resumes at 9 am.
“This is also to protect the watchers from infections and give a peaceful environment of the in-patients who need ample and more time to rest and recover”, Evardone stressed.
This is only temporary, it was learned from Evardone because once the other two buildings are completed construction, more spaces can be provided for more rooms and beds of EVRMC’s patients.
Asked how true that cadavers are subjected to bidding process among operators of funeral parlors in the city, Evardone said it might have happened before but knowing the issue, he immediately met the people concerned and resolved the matter.
To effect immediately, ordered for security guards not to meddle in the affairs of the hospital because as outsourced, they are not part of the operation.
Only the nurses concerned and the doctor charge of the laboratory unit of the hospital are the only authorized persons to contact funeral parlors and never, a security guard, on duty or not. (PIA08-)
EVRMC clarifies “No Balance Billing” policy, cadaver for sale issues
Tarsier turned-over to DENR, released into the wild
TACLOBAN CITY-A coconut land owner residing in Abucay, this city, turned-over a tarsier (Tarsius syrichta) to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Office 8.
Salvador Peliño and four other companions found the tarsier in his coconut plantation in Villa Magsaysay, Babatngon, Leyte. He said, “We were clearing the area of tall grasses when we saw the tarsier which we initially thought was a rat”.
He also disclosed that there were local residents who showed interest to take the tarsier as pet, but he refused. “I told them it’s best to turn-over the tarsier to authorities for it to be handled well”, he adds.
Per DENR Administrative Order No. 2004-15 dated May 22, 2004, Philippine Tarsiers are classified as “Other Threatened Species”.
This means that said species is under threat from adverse factors, such as over collection and is likely to move to the vulnerable category.
The DENR poses a stern warning against the collection, possession, and other acts contrary to the policy of the State to conserve the country’s wildlife resources and their habitat.
“Charges may be imposed to violators pursuant to RA 9147 or An Act Providing for the Conservation and Protection of Wildlife Resources and Habitats”, the Environment Department emphasized.
The tarsier identified by the DENR as female measures 33 cm. It was immediately released back into the wild to ensure that it will have the habitat necessary for survival.
In region 8, the Philippine tarsier is found in some parts of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar.
(MAITA REINA G. SUCGANG/PR)
Vice Gov. Loreto nixes congressional ambition; seeks reelection instead
BAYBAY CITY- Had someone filed for the position of vice governor, he could have submitted his certificate of candidacy (CoC) for Leyte’s fifth congressional district.
Thus said Vice Gov. Carlo Loreto who is sure to have his third and last term having no rival for the position he has been holding since 2013.
Loreto, a cousin of Gov. Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, filed his CoC at the last minute at the provincial office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on October 17, the last day of the five-day filing of CoC for those running for the May 13, 2019 elections.
He was accompanied by his wife, Joane Karen and daughter Margarette, and former Energy Sec. Carlos Jericho Petilla, also a cousin and the acknowledged political kingmaker of the clan, when he filed his CoC for vice governor.
Rumors swirled that the vice governor was eyeing the congressional seat of the fifth district to be vacated by another cousin, Jose Carlos Cari.
Cari fielded his son, Carl Nicholas, currently federation president of the Association of Barangay Chairmen in Baybay City, as his possible successor.
The vice governor, in an interview, said that there was a ‘clamor’ from the mayors in the district for him to seek the congressional seat.
While he was pleased and encouraged of their clamor, which he said an indication of their trust and confidence in him as a political leader, Loreto said that he has to set it aside in order for him to avoid any possible ‘vacuum’ in the vice gubernatorial position as one has filed for said position.
“I was waiting for somebody to file for vice governor but since no one filed, it is unacceptable for me that there will be a vacuum in the vice gubernatorial post (if I will not file for the post),” Loreto said when asked why he did not pursue his reported plan to run for Congress.
Loreto said that had he chose to run for Congress, he would follow the footsteps of his father, Jose, and grandfathers Domingo Veloso and Eriberto Loreto.
The vice governor visited the tombs of his late father and grandfathers at Baybay cemetery to pay his respects to them.
Loreto, who is a lawyer by profession and an environmental advocate, is the current national vice president of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines (LVGP) for Visayas.
He also served as board member representing the fifth district for nine years before he was elected to his current position.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
Calbayog City Mayor Aquino to deliver his Soca
By: Jennifer D. Sumagang-Allegado
CALBAYOG CITY- Mayor Ronaldo Aquino of this city is to deliver his State of the City Address (Soca) on Monday (Oct. 8) as he will report to his people what his administration has achieved and what he intends to accomplish.
Aquino, who is serving his second term as mayor of this city, is expected to deliver an hour-long Soca to be held at the Calbayog Sports Center at about 8 in the morning.
Aquino’s delivery of his Soca coincides with the celebration of the city’s 70th founding anniversary on October 16.
Expected to be given focus by Mayor Aquino on his Soca is his campaign to attract more investors to the city as this could result to employment for the local people.
He boasted that it was under his term that shopping malls opened in the city which generated not only additional income to the city government but more so, employment to its people.
Super Metro and Grand Gaisano have opened their businesses in Calbayog hiring in the process thousands of local workers.
Mayor Aquino, in an interview days before he delivers his Soca this Monday, said that the number of investors in Calbayog is expected to increase as many investors have signified their intention to put up their businesses in the city, considered Samar’s gateway.
Seacat, a fast craft will soon operate in the city which will ply the Cebu-Calbayog route.
Mayor Aquino added that Glacier storage facility will also operate in the city as he disclosed that another investor is also interested to put up a storage business in Calbayog.
“We need this kind of business as this will be a big help especially to our fishermen,” Aquino said.
The city mayor also said that he would also further develop the city’s tourism attractions by improving road access leading to these sites.
With an improved tourism road access, it would now be easy for tourists to visit these sites, the city mayor added.
“How can we attract potential tourists if we don’t have facilities; if we will not develop our tourism sites?” Aquino said.
In particular, he cited the ongoing development works of roads and facilities in Malajog Beach, Tarangnan Falls and Bangon Falls.
Records of the City Tourism Office has shown a remarkable increase of tourists visiting the city for the past months.
Last year, about 115,995 tourists arrived in Calbayog of which 109,242 were local tourists with the 6,753 were foreigners.
And for the first semester of this year, at least 72,351 guests, both local and foreigners, visited the city, providing additional income to the city’s tourism-related establishments.
The city mayor added that with the redevelopment of the Calbayog City Airport, more tourists and investors are to be expected to come to the city as it would now be easy for them to travel to Calbayog City, now considered among the country’s fast growing cities.
“If given the chance to serve the city again, I will continue all the projects and programs that the city deserves, to attract more tourists and investors to come and do business in Calbayog,” Aquino, who is serving on his second term, said.
Aquino also bared that once completed, the P200 million development of the Aquit-itan Development Project will be an additional attraction of the city for investors as it was designed as the city’s new commercial area.
With this project, a resettlement site, located in Barangay Basud, will be developed to relocate the 71 families who will affected by the project.
A new government center will also be constructed in Brgy. Bagacay where presently a terminal and a public market are located.
Mayor Aquino also said that cacao production will also be improved considering its increasing demand in the market.
“Cacao is very demanding, as of now, we have at least 200 hectares of land cultivated for cacao, and we are thankful to Calbayognons for the response and support to the program,” he said.
Aquino likewise shared that the city fully supports the commercial fishing ban being implemented in the Samar Sea.
“The alliance created with other LGUs surrounding the Samar Sea was cited in the national level, and we will continue to protect the Samar Sea,” the city mayor said.
His administration is also giving focus in the education sector by addressing its needs, Mayor Aquino said.
For one, his administration has initiated a project dubbed as Project Shuttle All Kids and Youngsters Needing Assistance (SAKAY NA) which is now operating for almost 12 years and has contributed to high enrolment rate of the Department of Education Calbayog City Division.
The city government hired buses to transport students from their barangays to the nearest school where they attend classes.
Aside from that, the city government continue in supporting the sports program of the division.
Just this year, Calbayog City successfully hosted the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet.
“We fully support the needs of our schools. We allocated P5,000 for each school, elementary and high school, as a support to the Brigada Eskwela that is every year,” the city mayor said.
He was happy to share that under his administration a lot of integrated schools have been created.
Meantime, city planning and development officer Reo Marquez, in a separate interview, said that the present administration of Mayor Aquino has followed the programs and projects that were identified in the master plan made by former city mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento.
“The projects that were implemented by Mayor Aquino was same as those in the master plan prepared during the administration of then Mayor Mel Sarmiento and we just conceptualized a program for the implementation under his administration,” Marquez said.
The administration’s focus, he said, would be Responsive Programs for Advancement: Projects for Urban Renewal and Expansion for Calbayog Now and Onward.
Marquez said that Mayor Aquino will focus on urban renewal which include road opening, making it accessible for people coming from remote villages reach the city center.
Teacher brings innovation, inspiration in a remote Leyte public school
JARO, Leyte- Honeny Algein Liporada, 27, loves her teaching job and her pupils so much that she didn’t think twice of spending about P200,000 from her own pocket just to innovate the teaching and learning environment in her school located in an interior barangay of this town.
In a span of five years, this public multi-grade school teacher literally transformed the ordinary appearance of her classroom with instructional materials and photos using recycled materials coupled with information and communication technology tools which are all new to her pupils who lives far from a city.
Photos of her creative classroom design have gone viral in social media while her innovative teaching strategies have earned her awards from the Department of Education (DepEd) thrice in a row starting in 2015.
“My source of inspiration for that was my teaching experience in an international school. I really believe that I can bring an international standard to a barrio school,” said Liporada, who previously worked at Center for International Education (CIE), a Cambridge-standard private school in Tacloban City.
Coming from a family of teachers, Liporada started teaching at Notre Dame of Jaro, a private school in her hometown, shortly after graduating in college in March 2011.
After a brief stint in private schools, she was hired by the DepEd as a multi-grade teacher, handling Grades 5 and 6 classes.
“These children in the barrio school still tickle my heart and inspire me to continue believing that my vision of a world-class education even in small barangays still has hopes because dreams do come true,” she said.
While Liporada said that the DepEd is beset with various challenges, she urged fellow teachers to “continue to work hard and give our best in everything we do because giving up will never be the solution.”
From her previous assignment as a multi-grade teacher at Pange Elementary School, Liporada has been appointed as officer-in-charge at her present school assignment, Sari-Sari Elementary School, some 15 kilometers away from her the town proper where she lives.
Despite the rough terrain and the distance going to her school, Liporada said she found no reason to quit from her job.
“We are still starting this time. But I hope to share the same thing in my present station. That’s why I requested for transfer because I already achieved my vision at Pange Elementary School. I think I am most needed now in this school,” said Liporada, whose positivity and enthusiasm became a source of inspiration for other teachers.
“I really saw how my co-teachers worked when someone shows the initiative. And I hope this will also work in my new station,” added Liporada, who finished her education at Leyte Normal University, the premier institution for the teaching profession in the region` based in Tacloban City.
With her two other teachers and 54 students in the school, Liporada continues to encourage other teachers “to love their work, their pupils and their teaching environment, and to give the best that they can to produce a better education for the Filipinos.”
“Teaching is not just a job. It is definitely a vocation. It has been five years since I started in public service, and I’m glad I still feel the same today,” she said.
“Yes, there are a lot of issues that our department is currently facing. These issues must be faced and addressed. I am not saying that teachers’ salary is already enough with its workload. What I am trying to say is behind all the issues and controversies, I do believe and hope that teachers will be recognized, and valued by its worth,” Liporada said.
Meanwhile, Liporada thanked the DepEd Leyte Division officials through schools division superintendent Ronelo Al Firmo for their “guidance and inspiration.”
“Truly, the innovations and well-managed programs and projects of our division motivate us teachers to give our best in our profession,” she said.
“Indeed, an outstanding division hones outstanding teachers. I am really amazed by the strong leadership I see in our Division. I will always be proud to be a part of DepEd Leyte Division,” Liporada added.
(RONALD O.REYES)
Naval’s ‘Tsinelas Party’ brings unity and equality among townsfolk
Now on its 11th year
NAVAL, Biliran- All is ready as this town is expected to come alive in music and excitement with the holding of the Tsinelas Party today (Oct.6).
Tsinelas Party, which is now on its 11th year, as its name denotes will have all those who will join the merriment clad in tsinelas.
The party serves as a sort of an ‘equalizer’ among the people of Naval, Mayor Gerard Roger Espina said.
“Rich and poor wear tsinelas. (The party) symbolizes unity and equality among Navaleños,” the town mayor said.
Today’s celebration will be held along the town’s main streets covering four blocks and will start from 7 pm and is expected to last at 4 am Sunday.
During the party, music of different genre and era are to be played for the participants to enjoy.
Espina said that there are areas identified within the party space intended for the ‘oldies’ and for the millennials and those in between.
And since it’s a party, there will be food galore with participants bringing with their own foods to savor and partake among partygoers.
The holding of the Tsinelas Party serves as one of the socio-cultural activities lined up for the town fiesta.
The celebration is in honor of its patron saint ‘The Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.’
Mayor Espina said that the Tsinelas Party is already considered among the most sought -after event as part of its annual fiesta celebration.
According to him, people coming from other place, to include those coming from Tacloban City, come to Naval to enjoy the street party.
Last year, about 6,000 people were estimated to have joined the party and the participants for this year are expected to increase.
Thus, with an expected jampacked crowd, security will be strict, said its town police chief, Supt. Estanislao Corpin.
“Security will be tight to ensure the safety of the people who will join the party,” he said.
For one, only transparent bags are to be allowed for one to enter the party area.