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Senator Manny Pacquiao will still go boxing even as a lawmaker?

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Observer

The statements revealed last week to media by Senator Manny Pacquiao is quite a revelation. It can be seen as the real feeling of someone who may have discovered inner trouble and may now entertain some second thoughts, doubts and probably a feeling of insecurity of what is in store for him in the next few months or years when he shall already be sitting as one of the nation’s elected lawmaker -Senator of the Republic of the Philippines. Quoted hereunder is his plan to go back to the boxing ring while in the Senate. “Boxing is my only means of livelihood to support my family and to help those who are in need.”
-oOo-
The neophyte senator may have been interacting lately with some lawmakers and may have discovered that the incomes of Senators are just a pittance compared to the billions he has acquired literally earning these billions through the sweat of his brow to include body pains in boxing. This also gives us an idea that legislators may have extra incomes aside from their salaries and other perks because no legislator exists economically depressed lives. Congressmen and Senators are wealthy by any and all standards of living. So why he says that he cannot support his family as Senator reeks unbelievable.
-oOo-
It may also be a possibility that the famous world-boxing champion may have opened his eyes lately and is convinced that he is a square peg in a round hole to be a member of that august body -the legislative branch of government whose main task is lawmaking. As an active and healthy individual it would be uneasy and boring for him to simply be sitting down warming his Senate seat just watching his peers perform their functions, and who will be actively and intelligently participating in open debates in the session hall, which Senator Pacquiao may not have the adequate competence to join.
-oOo-
To quote Bob Arum, his boxing promoter, “He likes to fight and he likes the attention.” He will miss that in the Senate. He will be another Lito Lapid or a Bong Revilla and other fence sitters in the Senate who will not be noticed. In boxing definitely he will be! Manny Pacquiao was also quoted as saying that he will accept a boxing bout but he will make his job in the Senate as his priority. Really? Again, how?

Be redeemers for the surrenderees

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Eileen

In his weekday mass homily, parochial vicar Rev. Fr. Noel Lao of the Sto. Niño Parish in Tacloban City stressed a point that should be a guidepost for Christians in these days that the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte is dead serious in the war against drug menace. He exhorted the churchgoers to be redeemers like Christ for the drug personalities who surrendered and promised to reform. It is not right to just criticize the surrenderees but instead empathize with them. Noting the unprecedented number of those killed in the course of the arrest of hundreds of suspected drug pushers and an even more overwhelming number of those who admitted being drug users and pushers, he cautioned the people not to condemn them. The people should rather ask their own selves, “What have I done for them and for this change?” His query poses a challenge that penetrates beyond sheer comprehension, but the conscience of man now that “change is already here.” “Be a redeemer to them like Christ,” he egged on.
Lao, along with fellow parochial vicar Rev. Fr. Fritz Francis Del Pilar, were among the spiritual leaders, advisers and counsellors who were invited to a meeting with other interfaith church representatives held at the Tacloban Astrodome very recently. The role of the church could not be overemphasized in the holistic struggle to help the drug personalities who surrendered to truly change to a “illegal drug-less” life. Simple counselling and prayer for them are highly appreciated as gesture of morally supporting the surrenderees attempt to be better citizens.
Del Pilar, however, disclosed in an informal conversation that the Tacloban vicariate will still have to meet to synchronize efforts towards same end. He underscored the need for synchronicity. This is to at most make the intervention effective. At the Archdiocesan level, plans for rehab intervention of the church must likewise be underway. As of today, according to the Archdiocese’s spokesperson and secretary of Archbishop John Du, none of these plans have come to his knowledge. In a social media post, Tacloban City Vice Mayor Jerry “Sambo” Yaokasin expressed the significance of prayer and counselling in the transformation of surrenderees. While no rehabilitation facilities are ready to welcome the surrenderees, alternatives could be had, such as instilling Values formation upon these drug personalities. “For now, we will seek the help of the church through their pastors, priests and minister in counselling, the PNP for monitoring and the support of the private sector and NGO for the program,” he elaborated in an inquiry.
The city government embarks on a program called “Inside Out Transformation” for the surrenderees that includes prayer, counselling, community service and eventually livelihood. Absence of rehabilitation center does not seem to be an obstacle for the city government to push for the reformation of the drug personalities who surrendered. What is vital is sustaining the program and helping the surrenderees get over what hook them to the vice. To the surrenderees, this is what Yaokasin could advice, “If you are willing to change, the city government is ready to help…Do it for yourself, your family and for your future.”

CHR: Human rights should prevail

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TACLOBAN CITY-While they support the campaign, they will make sure that the rights of the alleged drug users and pushers who reportedly surrender voluntarily are not violated. In fact, they are set to conduct some inquiries on certain cases involving anti-drug campaign being waged by police authorities in the region, lawyer Paquito Nacino, regional director of the Commission on Human Rights(CHR), said. “We are throwing our full support on this campaign of our government which is to end the proliferation of the illegal drugs,” Nacino said. “However, we will also make sure that the human rights of these individuals who are surrendering are not violated,” he added. Nacino said that police authorities, who are carrying out their “Operation Tokhang,” could not just barge to the houses of the alleged drug users or pushers if they are not in possession of a court order or warrant.

“The mere fact that they knock on the houses is an indication that they have to seek first the permission of the owner regardless if he is claimed to be in the illegal drug trade,” Nacino said. “Now, if the owner of the house refuses to allow them to enter, they cannot force themselves in. Otherwise, they will be committing violation against the owner,” the CHR regional director said. He said that the right to domicile is being upheld and respected by the Constitution. Thus, even police authorities are expected to also observe the constitutional right of the owner.

An alleged drug suspect in one of the barangays of Tacloban came to their office to ask support, Nacino said. The owner, who was not identified by Nacino, reportedly decline for the police men to enter at his house. However, the police authorities still went inside despite the resistance of the owner. The Operation Tokhang, taken from the Visayan words “knock and appeal” is the code name used by the authorities in encouraging alleged drug users and peddlers to voluntarily surrender to them.

Since the campaign started in July 1, a day after President Rodrigo Duterte formally assumed the presidency, there were already over 6,000 drug personalities in the region who reportedly voluntarily surrendered before the authorities. However, there were instances of resistance like what happened in Sogod, Southern Leyte involving a former police officer who was said to be in the illegal drug trade. Killed was Emmanuel Solon who chose to engage police authorities in a gun battle. This particular incident will be investigated by the CHR, Nacino. He clarified that their inquiry is just part of their constitutional mandate. Meantime, Nacino said that those who surrender ed and were asked to sign an “affidavit of surrender” does not constitute to any human right violations.

EVRMC marks 100th years in operation

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Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial signs, on July 16, a memorandum of agreement with EVRMC chief of hospital, Dr. Gerardo Aquino, Jr (seated left) for the latter’s expanded coverage of diseases treated in said hospital. Philhealth Regional Vice President Walter Bacareza (seated, third from left) looks on. Story on page 2. (EILEEN BALLESTEROS)
Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial signs, on July 16, a memorandum of agreement with EVRMC chief of hospital, Dr. Gerardo Aquino, Jr (seated left) for the latter’s expanded coverage of diseases treated in said hospital. Philhealth Regional Vice President Walter Bacareza (seated, third from left) looks on. Story on page 2. (EILEEN BALLESTEROS)
Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial signs, on July 16, a memorandum of agreement with EVRMC chief of hospital, Dr. Gerardo Aquino, Jr (seated left) for the latter’s expanded coverage of diseases treated in said hospital. Philhealth Regional Vice President Walter Bacareza (seated, third from left) looks on. Story on page 2. (EILEEN BALLESTEROS)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC), the region’s end referral hospital, celebrated its 100th anniversary on Saturday (July 16), renewing its commitment to enhance its health services. Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial, who served as the hospital’s acting chief from October 2015 to February 2016, said that 100 years is a very long time for an institution to survive. “Reaching the centennial mark for an institution is indeed a reason to celebrate. It is something that we should be happy about and we should be honored to be part of this,” Ubial said.

“After all the calamities and problems that have beset this institution, it is still recognized as end referral and best hospital of Region 8,” she added. The P200 million rehabilitation of the state-run EVRMC has just completed, making a radical change of the health facility that has been operating since 1916. The government has set aside P50 million to upgrade the building and P150 million for the acquisition of modern equipment after it was damaged by supertyphoon “Yolanda” in 2013. The upgrading has increased its bed capacity from 250 nearly three years ago to 450 at present. Even with the drastic rise of hospital beds, occupancy rate has been more than 100 percent in the past few months. After Yolanda, the EVRMC management converted all rooms into a patient area to increase bed capacity, except the chapel and library.
Specifically, the regional hospital has either established or expanded the intensive care unit (ICU), pediatric ICU, surgical ward, out-patient department (OPD) and pay patient room.

The OPD building is being upgraded through the public-private partnership scheme. The EVRMC today is a modern, tertiary level four teaching and training hospital conveniently located along Magsaysay Boulevard, this city. Its 15 buildings occupy a total land area of 25,639.36 square meters on land owned by the Leyte provincial government. Part of the modernization program is to transfer the entire facility to a storm surge-safe area in Barangay Cabalawan, a village located around 13 kms away from the city proper.

The transfer will start March 2016 and will be completed by 2018. The project involves the construction of a new 6-storey hospital and ancillary building at the new site. It has a total floor area of 30,000 square meters with 420-bed service wards and 180-bed private rooms. The modernization program is expected to enhance the quality of services of the medical center, improve health outcomes and achieve equity in access to healthcare in the region.

“It is part of our health sector reform agenda to actually ensure that we have quality, available and affordable health services for our people. It is our dream and hope for this medical center will be a facility like the Philippine General Hospital,” Ubial told reporters during a press conference marking the 100th year of the EVRMC. The EVRMC, then known as the Leyte Provincial Hospital, first opened its doors to the public in July 16, 1916 at Jones Street with an authorized bed capacity of 14. With increasing demand, the hospital was relocated to its present site and a new building was constructed in 1925.

In 1936, the hospital was further expanded to 40 beds and the new building was inaugurated by President Manuel L. Quezon. In 2008, Leyte lawmakers introduced a bill that would increase the bed capacity of EVRMC, upgrading its service and facilities and professional health care, authorizing the increase of its personnel and appropriating funds thereof. It was later signed into law on November 19, 2009. (SARWELL Q.MENIANO)

DOH plans to put up treatment hubs in cities, provinces in EV

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TACLOBAN CITY- The regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) will establish a treatment hub for individuals who are suffering from human immunodeficiency virus-acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV-AIDS) in every provinces and cities. This was disclosed by DOH Assistant Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco who said that establishing a treatment hub will help address the increasing number of HIV-AIDS in the region.  The DOH will also open social-hygiene clinic in every province and city as part of the services provided by the HIV-AIDS treatment hub. At present, the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC), located in Tacloban City, is the only treatment hub for HIV-AIDS in the region. “As of now, the only treatment hub we have is the EVRMC. We will open treatment centers in provinces and cities for people with HIV-AIDS to have closer access to the treatment hub and we can examine more people at the social-hygiene clinic,” Sydiongco said. The same services offered at EVRMC will be offered at the treatment centers in provinces and cities, she added. Since 1984, the year the government started to track down on individuals who are suffering from HIV-AIDS, about 312 individuals have been confirmed to have acquired the virus and the ailment in the region. For this year, so far, the DOH has monitored 33 new cases. The DOH had confirmed five individuals from the region who died due to AIDS. Most of these cases were acquired through sexual contacts. Majority of those who acquired HIV-AIDS were males who were practicing male-to-male sexual intercourse. Only few sex workers were tested positive with HIV/AIDS. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Health Sec. Ubial seeks close coordination with LGUs on lack of rehab centers

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TACLOBAN CITY-Banking on the capacity of local government units to help address the rehabilitation needs of drug personalities in their areas, Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial emphatically cited the need of cooperation of the local government units (LGUs) and the Department of Health. Ubial, who was the guest of honor during the centennial anniversary celebration of Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) on Saturday (July 16), in a press conference, detailed plans of the national government in meeting the increasing demand for more rehabilitation facilities of the drug surrenderees. “We are talking to all local government units and it is our human resources from Salag that will actually train and help them to establish their own facilities,” she said. Salag (nest) is the lone drug rehabilitation in the region, located in Dulag, Leyte. However, the facility remains out of operations after it sustained damages due to supertyphoon “Yolanda” that pummeled the region in 2013.
From 50 individuals, it will be ready to accept 100 clients.

However, it still not enough to accommodate all the drug personalities considering that those who are giving up are in the thousands. Ubial stressed on the need to first assess the surrenderees they can be managed on a community-based program or should be in a residential-based program. She added that the expertise of Salag staff will be tapped in doing the assessment. DOH also consider getting the assistance of other mental experts who will effectively serve as force multiplier, such as the psychology society, psychiatry society and the education personnel who are trained on brief counseling and assessment. Ubial disclosed that, as of the moment, it is Southern Leyte that has a concrete plan on treatment and rehabilitation facility with the technical help from the Salag people. “That is what we also do in other provinces and cities like Ormoc City, which is thinking of putting up its own facility in a rented structure,” she said. The mayor of the said city, Richard Gomez, is a known crusader against proliferation of illegal drugs. At the national level, she said, DOH is conferring with other agencies, such as the Department of Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as well as private or professional organizations and the academe.
“The idea is to have a cadre of health professionals and non-professionals that are trained in doing the assessment,” she said which is the first step in the entire treatment and rehab of surrenderees.

DOH is networking with TESDA, DepEd and academic institutions because it intends to identify programs for drug surrenderees to undergo training and finish studies while they are in the process of rehabilitation, according to Ubial. EVRMC chief of hospital Gerardo Aquino Jr. said he will still have to check if the hospital’s psychiatry department can already provide services needed in assessing the mental state of the drug personalities. DOH Regional Director Minerva Molon said their office will support the people who already have the baseline skills in identifying psychotic among the surrenderees given their limited resources.  Meantime, Molon appealed to all operators of drug testing facilities to restrain from overpricing in the face of the huge demand for this service alongside the Duterte administration’s all-out war on illegal drugs.
(EILEEN BALLESTEROS)

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