TACLOBAN CITY- In a bid to stop the recurrence of drug abuse, the Department of Health (DOH) will come up with a database of drug surrenderees who have completed rehabilitation.
DOH Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial said they have been consulting with the World Health Organization and other international non-government organizations to establish the registry.
“Through the database, they can be monitored easily by health professionals anywhere in the Philippines,” Ubial said during a press briefing Thursday (Sept.21) at the Tacloban City Convention Center here.
Ubial was in the city as the guest of the Change Summit 2017, highlighting the collective effort of various sectors to stop illegal drugs in the city.
Ubial said it will take time to complete the registry, taking into consideration the public stigma towards former drug dependents.
She declined to disclose the timetable to complete the registry.
“We have to be very careful to protect the privacy of drug users,” Ubial said.
The government will also tie up with the United States Agency for International Development and Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Citing latest reports, the official said at least 2,563 drug users have been treated through state-run Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers (TRC) nationwide since last year.
About 1.36 million drug personalities have turned themselves in as of July 2017. The health department estimated that 13,000 of them require treatment inside health facilities.
Ubial said the government is addressing the need for rehabilitation centers. Construction of eight mega TRC is now ongoing funded by the government and private donors. The P2.6 billion projects will be completed before the year ends.
The existing TRCs have a combined bed capacity of 6,000, way below than the need for 13,000 beds based on the number of surrenderers.
The DOH is eyeing additional 4,000 beds after the completion of eight facilities.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)
DOH: Registry needed for drug rehab graduates
Masseur falls to Ormoc city police
ORMOC CITY- A masseur was arrested by police authorities here after hiding for almost three years in Quezon province.
Jason Dapola, 25, was arrested on Monday (September 18) at their house in Barangay Lao, this city, as he was alleged to have committed rape in January, 2014.
His arrest was done by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Girlie Borrel-Yu, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 35, Ormoc City issued on December, 2016.
The court did not recommend bail for the temporary liberty of Dapola.
Supt. Joel Camacho, chief of the City Public Safety Company (CPSC), said that the arrest of Dapola was the result of the directive of Chief Supt. Gilberto Cruz, police regional director, to arrest suspects who have outstanding warrants of arrest.
It was learned that Dapola, who is an orphan, went into hiding in Quezon province after the alleged rape took place.
But Dapola denied that he raped his alleged victim, also a resident of Brgy.Lao.
“I am wondering why I was charged when I only showed gratitude by escorting her home”, the suspect said.
He narrated that it was the victim’s mother who filed the case against him.
He also said that he went into hiding after he learned that a warrant was issued against him but decided to return to Brgy. Lao after he was persuaded by his relatives to answer the complaint filed against him. (ELVIE RAMON-ROA)
Leyte town mayor asks NHA to hasten construction of housing units for ‘Yolanda’ survivors
SAN MIGUEL, Leyte- More than 1,000 housing units are needed in this town for the relocation of residents living along the five coastal communities and identified as danger and flood-prone areas.
However, the National Housing Authority (NHA) only allocated 117 housing units for the town, Mayor Cheeryl Enrica Esperas said.
“May be we’re less priority because of the number they allocated to us but our residents badly need these housing units for them to have a safe house to stay during rainy and typhoon season,” Esperas said.
“I hope that they can prioritize us now,” she added.
Esperas said that they want that all relocation sites should be within or at least near where the beneficiaries get their sources of income to avoid being economically dislocated.
The town mayor disclosed that the bidding for the construction of housing units in San Miguel held at the central office of NHA failed with the second bidding has yet to be calendared.
And if this second bidding will fail again, they might ask the NHA for them to do the construction of these housing units, Esperas said.
“If downloading the fund is the only way for the project to be implemented, we don’t have any choice but to accept the challenge and we will coordinate with the NHA and (the) Commission on Audit,” Esperas said.
Almost four years since super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ battered San Miguel, only 86 families were relocated to their permanent housing units located in Barangay Cayare.
The housing units were donated by the San Miguel Corporation and implemented by the Habitat for Humanity.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
S. Leyte gets P375-M for asphalt overlay
MAASIN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) field office here will embark on a P375 million asphalt overlay project for major thoroughfares in the province constructed more than four decades back.
Recently, the Road Board approved the budget for major asphalt overlay in Southern Leyte for roads with pavements that started peeling off or scaling and forming potholes that pose danger to motorists.
DPWH Southern Leyte District Engineer Ma. Margarita Junia said they received the special allotment release order(Saro) for the P375 million asphalt overlay from the Road Board meant for four road sections with damaged pavements.
Asphalt overlay is a paving method of applying a new layer of asphalt to a deteriorating surface.
These projects are the P150 million asphalt overlay in Sogod, P150 million in Liloan, P40 million in Macrohon, and another P35 million also in Liloan town.
“The major concern now of the department is the safety of the travellers, so we are working double-time for a faster implementation of these asphalt projects,” Junia said.
Aside from the above-mentioned budget, another P48 million fund was initially approved for the same road works near the tall Agas-Agas Bridge in Sogod town.
The Road Board also approved P16 million additional fund for the thermoplastic painting of this road section.
The major asphalt overlay is seen to provide a safer and convenient flow of traffic in the said road sections and will improve the road rating of the province, monitored and evaluated by the Road Board.
Established under Republic Act 8794, the Road Board is mandated to ensure the efficient utilization of the Road User’s Tax, a special fund solely used for road maintenance and improvement of road drainage, installation of efficient traffic lights and road safety devices, and air pollution control. (PR)
80 firearms holders granted provisional licenses
CAMP CARLOS DELGADO, CATARMAN, Northern Samar- A total of 80 expired firearm license holders came to the Northern Samar Provincial Police Office (NSPPO) on September 15 to avail of the provisional license to own and possess firearms or LTOPF.
The grant of provisional license is valid within nine months and it covers expired firearm licenses prior enactment of RA 10951 otherwise known as “Comprehensive Firearms Law’ which was approved last May 19, 2013.
The caravan was jointly facilitated by NSPOPB and RCSU8 that directly monitor all firearm license holders, as well loose firearms, in the province and entire region, respectively.
With the caravan, the opportunity to renew the license was more beneficial and practical to the holders as their processing expenses were being defrayed.
Applicants secured the indispensable requirements such as application form, proof of payment and proof of billing before approval of the license.
Supt. Jesus S. Miranda said that the caravan is very much important as expired licenses of firearms were given opportunity again to legally possess and own their firearms.
He added that mere carrying of unlicensed firearms amounts to a crime already, as such, owners are encouraged to acquire a license.
Meanwhile, S/Supt.Felix Diloy expressed his gratitude to all firearms holders who participated in said caravan and surrender all loose firearms which may not be covered by the provisional license for the proper accounting.
“The campaign to account all loose firearms is one of the steps to curb criminal activities as a lot of unlicensed firearms are utilized by the criminals,” he clarified.
He expects that more firearms holders would come to NSPPO in the succeeding caravan and avail of the provisional license. (PR)
U.S.,Philippines participate in counterterrorism crisis response drill
MANILA-The governments of the Philippines and the United States will embark on a bilateral, interagency counterterrorism drill, Tempest Wind, in mid-September intended to test and improve the ability of both nations to rapidly plan, coordinate, and conduct counterterrorism operations.
The whole-of-government drill will be augmented by additional military assessments, national level engagement, and subject matter expert exchanges. These events will take place in the Philippines and Hawaii and are designed to create a realistic environment to exercise counterterrorism strategy, including senior decision-making and tactical responses, while deepening the bilateral partnership.
In addition to important information exchanges, Tempest Wind is recognized as a way to test force readiness and exercise interoperability. These assessments will help to focus future bilateral training efforts to enhance the crisis response capabilities of both nations.
The Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board approved Tempest Wind in November 2016, highlighting the enduring commitment of both countries to the U.S.-Philippine alliance.
The United States is a proud ally of the Philippines and will continue to provide support and assistance to Philippine counterterrorism efforts and work jointly to address shared threats to the peace and security of both countries. (PR)