ORMOC CITY- The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will impose a no-billing charge in this city and nearby town of Kananga.
This was declared by Renato Limsiaco, PhilHealth regional president, as their agency’s assistance to the residents of the areas hit by the 6. 5 magnitude tremor.
“We will impose the policy until the situation normalizes,” Limsiaco said.
Covered under this policy are those who will be confined or treated of injuries related to the earthquake.
During her visit to this city last July 13, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said that their department has shouldered all the medical expenses of those who were confined or treated in various hospitals due to the earthquake that hit this city and Kananga town.
Ubial reported that of the 351 patients that received assistance from the DOH, 17 remained in three hospitals for further treatment.
They were admitted at the Ormoc District Hospital, Ormoc Doctors’ Hospital, Clinic Gatchalian and Hospital and OSPA-FMC (Ormoc Sugar Planters Association-Farmers Medical Center).
Ubial was among the Cabinet members who briefed President Rodrigo Duterte who visited the city on July 13 on the actions taken by various government departments in the aftermath of the 6.5 magnitude tremor.
Pres. Duterte gave P20,000 to the families and beneficiaries of Gerry Movilla and Rhissa Rosales who both died after the quake.
Liezel Anison, who suffered injuries, was given P10,000 assistance.
All the injured were promised a cash assistance of P10,000 from the Office of the President.
Also, the Department of Social Welfare and Development also gave assistance of P10,000 each to the families of Movilla and Rosales including burial expenses were shouldered by the agency, while the injured were given P5,000 each.
(VICKY C. ARNAIZ)
PhilHealth implements no-billing scheme to quake-hit areas
Eastern Visayas’ regional convergence initiative cited during a summit in Ilocos Norte
TACLOBAN CITY- The Regional Convergence Initiative (RCI) of Region-8 was awarded a plaque of recognition during the 2017 National Convergence Initiative for Sustainable Rural Development (NCI-SRD) Summit held in Vigan Cultural Center, Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
Director Leonardo Sibbaluca of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 8 received the award on behalf of the RCI Region 8 told reporters that RCI Region 8 was awarded as one of the seven regions in the country that pioneered in the preparation of the Convergence Area Development Plan (CADP).
Sibbaluca said that last January 24-27, 2017, RCI-8 conducted a four-day CADP workshop at the Leyte Park Hotel, Tacloban City for the municipalities of Javier, Abuyog, MacArthur and Mahaplag, all in Leyte.
To date, the CADPs prepared by these municipalities are being reviewed by the 14 RCI member agencies for possible inclusion of the proposed projects from the four RCI municipalities into their respective agencies’ plans, programs and activities.
Sibbaluca said that this year’s summit aimed to provide an overview of NCI-SRD to the new administration and present success stories of convergence sites at different stages of implementation.
On the other hand, Francisco Rosaroso, chief Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section (RAFIS), DA-RFO 8 told reporters in an interview that since 2010, RCI Region 8, through the DA-RFO 8, DENR-8 and the Department of Agrarian Reform has piloted several programs and projects in Javier, Leyte.
In 2015, the DILG was added was added to the RCI as another participating agency.
“In 2016, the 3 nearby municipalities of Abuyog, MacArthur, and Mahaplag, Leyte were included. Javier, Leyte now becomes a model of convergence for the province of Leyte,” Rosaroso added.
Rosaroso explained that the National Convergence Initiative for Sustainable Rural Development (NCI-SRD) has been conducting the NCI summit once every two years in its efforts to mainstream its programs and projects and eventually raise awareness towards inclusive holistic sustainable countryside growth.
This summit is regarded as an effective tool in conveying the gains and insights on the different convergence schemes being implemented as well as the successes of the convergence sites nationwide. (RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)
One of the country’s fast-rising boxers is from Catarman, Northern Samar
ORMOC CITY- One of the country’s fast-rising boxers is a native of Catarman, Northern Samar who recently knocked down an undefeated champion from Panama.
Recky “The Terror” Dulay handed the first defeat of Jaime Arboleda during their July 15 lightweight bout at The Forum, Inglewood, California.
The 23-year Catarman native stopped the undefeated Arboleda during their 3rd round by delivering a counter right cross square to the head to his opponent.
Duly, a super featherweight prospect, notched up to the lightweight division to take on the offer of facing the Panamian knockout sensation.
Instead, Dulay shocked the crowd when he delivered the counter haymaker and dropped Arboleda face first to the canvass.
Arboleda tried to get up but his wobbly legs failed to support him, prompting the referee to waive the fight off, 2:03 on the clock.
The victory spoiled Arboleda’s US debut after signing with Golden Boy Promotions (GBP).
GBP originally locked the Dulay-Arboleda tussle Friday (July 14) night as part of its LA fight night at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles.
Yet, in the thirst of putting their newest fighter on bigger exposure, GBP moved the fight to the undercard of the Miguel Berchelt vs. Takashi Miura’s WBC world super featherweight fight at The Forum. Instead, the fight showcased Dulay’s punching prowess.
Dulay improved to 10-2, 7Kos while Arboleda dropped to 10-1, 8Kos.
(JOEY VINCENT MOTEL)
SAF 44 widow welcomes Ombudsman ruling on filing rap against ex-Pres. Aquino
TACLOBAN CITY- It could be the start of their quest for justice.
That’s how Kristine Clemencio summed up the decision of the Ombudsman to charge former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino over the killing of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members of the Philippine National Police.
Clemencio’s husband, PO1 Mark Lory Clemencio from Carigara, Leyte, was among those SAF members killed in what is known as Mamasapano massacre.
“I am happy with this development. Hope this will be the first step for us to achieve justice that we have been seeking for all this time,” Clemencio, reached on her mobile phone, said.
She, however, remain apprehensive that considering that Aquino was a former president and remain influential, the case filed against him may not end as they want it.
“He is a (former) president. The case might just be white washed. I am only pinning my hope to President Duterte who personally gave his assurance to us that justice will be served to us and our loved ones(who died due to the encounter),” Clemencio said.
Aquino was charged by the Ombudsman not for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and physical injuries but only for usurpation of authority and graft over the controversial incident.
Aside from Clemencio, SAF members who were from the region who were killed during the botched operations were PO3 John Lloyd Sumbilla from Sulat, Eastern Samar; PO2 Glenn Bedua from Dulag, Leyte; PO2 Noel Balaca from Oras, Eastern Samar;PO2 Rodel Ramacula from Rosario, Northern Samar and PO1 Joseph Sagonoy from Silvino Lubos, Northern Samar. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
Visayas Power Restoration Advisory
NGCP continues its Visayas restoration efforts for facilities affected by the July 6 earthquake.
As of July 17, 3 out of 6 transformers (two 138/69kV and one 230/138kV transformers) are now energized, with Transformer 4 online at 849AM today. The remaining three 230/138kV transformers are still under observation.
In light of information from test results of Ormoc transformer 6 and additional need for testing and corrective repair, technical experts do not recommend energization on July 19. The new target is set to July 23, still subject to satisfactory test results.
The islands of Leyte, Samar, Bohol, and Biliran will still continue to experience rotating power interruptions, particularly during peak hours, due to Ormoc Substation transformer limitations.
NGCP’s Ormoc-Tongonan 138kV line has been ready since July 8 to transmit as much as 112MW from Greencore. Greencore committed to supply 40MW out of its 70MW pre-earthquake capacity by July 19.
Power situation in Cebu, Negros, and Panay will also improve with the synchronization of KSPC after its scheduled maintenance and the increasing generation output of EDC geothermal plants.
All other parallel strategies, particularly the hauling of transformers from Cebu and reconfiguration of 230kV to 138kV lines, are ongoing and ready for implementation, respectively.
NHA: No single house was damaged at the Tacloban resettlement sites due to 6.5 quake
TACLOBAN CITY- National Housing Authority (NHA) is dismissing claims that houses located at the resettlement sites here sustained damages after the city was hit by a 6.5 magnitude earthquake.
Rizalde Mediavillo, NHA regional manager, said that they have inspected these houses right after the quake and based on their inspection, they did not notice any damage to these houses.
This assertion of the NHA official is in contrary to the claims of city engineer Dionisio de Paz.
de Paz said that several housing units located in Ridge View in Barangay Cabalawan and Guadalupe Heights in Brgy. Suhi were seen to have developed cracks after the jolt.
With the damaged sustain by these housing units, the city official alleged that the building of these units could be substandard, a claim that has been previously made.
“On the inspection that we conducted after the earthquake, there were no reported housing units that were damaged,” Mediavillo said.
“What was observed was the fiber cement board that was used was not integrated with the concrete cement. If it is not integrated, there is a tendency that it will not stick with the cement because it is only a form work. But that doesn’t mean that it is substandard because if you say that it is substandard, the materials you use is not within the standard,” the NHA official added.
Ridge View and Guadalupe Heights are among the 11 resettlement sites constructed by the NHA for families who totally lost their houses after Tacloban was pummeled by super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ in 2013.
NHA is tasked to construct more than 14,400 housing units but has only so far built more than 8,000 units.
Cracks on walls or what they call hairline cracks are natural to appear in any concrete structure and are not dangerous, added Mediavillo.
“All housing projects are safe because before it is implemented by the NHA, it must be approved first by the Department of Public Works and Highways for resiliency approval,” Mediavillo stressed.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)