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DILG to public: Start disaster preparedness in your own homes

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TACLOBAN CITY-This National Disaster Consciousness Month, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael D. Sueno urges the public to start disaster preparedness in their own families and homes.  “More than anybody else, families should know their roles and understand practical tips in disaster preparedness, that is why we have the Gabay at Mapa para sa Listong Pamilyang Pilipino,” he added. The Gabay at Mapa is a family guide to action before, during and after a disaster. It requires families to make a household plan determining their evacuation routes, family meeting points, and safe places in their home. DILG in Eastern Visayas likewise joined in the launching and exhibit last July 4, 2016.

The program started with a mass at the Leyte provincial capitol, followed by a motorcade around downtown Tacloban City and nearby areas. DILG Tacloban City Director Atty. Darwin Bibar, in his welcome speech in behalf of Regional Director Pedro A. Noval Jr., mentioned the efforts of the agency to promote disaster preparedness among LGUs, communities and households themselves.  DILG highlighted in its exhibit the features and procedures in Operation Listo, projects completed under DILG- Recovery Assistance on Yolanda (RAY), Build Back Better Operations Manual produced with the Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID), the coffee table book on After Yolanda, and various technical assistance by the department on DRRM and Climate Change Adaptation.

The Office of Civil Defense announced that this year’s theme highlights the core intention of this annual observance to make people own DRR a personal responsibility and that surviving, outlasting the ravages of any hazard and making communities resilient is a duty of every Filipino. Executive Order 137 s. 1999 declares the month of July of every year as the National Disaster Consciousness Month which aims to increase the awareness of every Filipino on natural and man-made disasters for a better appreciation of the government’s disaster preparedness programs. (PR)

DOH eyes P1-B outlay for new drug rehab centers in PH

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TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) is eyeing about P1 billion budget from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to establish treatment and rehabilitation centers for an estimated 1.8 million drug dependents in the country. “We need new facilities that can cater about 15,000 dependents. That would mean building new facilities that will cater to three times the current capacity,” Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial said during a press conference on Saturday (July 16).
Sec. Ubial was in the city to attend the 100th year founding of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC). The country has 20 existing drug rehabilitation centers managed by the DOH and local government units with combined capacity of 5,000 people. Here in the region, the lone government-run rehabilitation center is located in Dulag, Leyte which is not fully operational after it was damaged when supertyphoon “Yolanda” pummeled the province in 2013.

Citing estimates of the Dangerous Drugs Board, Ubial said that of the 1.8 million drug dependents in the country, 18,000 of them needs in-house treatment. Given the existing number of rehabilitation facilities, the health department requires P270 million to carry out recovery initiatives for thousands of self-confessed drug dependents.
The requirement is expected to triple next year. This year’s budget request will mainly be used for capacity building for local government units to implement outpatient program for drug users with less serious addiction problem. “We asked our staff in DOH-Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers to multiply their capacity as we strengthen our support to local government units for them to lead in the community-based rehabilitation,” Ubial added.

Aside from local government units, the DOH also solicited the support of the Department of Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Development, psychiatrists’ group and academe to assist drug dependents. “The idea is to have cadre of health workers that are trained to do the assessment. They will evaluate each drug personality if they are fit for outpatient program or residential program,” Ubial added. The DOH intends to standardize the assessment form they use for drug dependents who surrender to the authorities. President Rodrigo Duterte earlier identified Pagcor’s earnings as the source of funds for health-related programs, including drug rehabilitation.  (SARWELL Q.MENIANO)

Philhealth studies possible inclusion of drug dependents among its insurance coverage

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TACLOBAN CITY- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) is now studying the possibility of including drug rehabilitation as part of their insurance coverage. Walter Bacareza, PhilHealth Eastern Visayas vice president, said that this is in response to the huge number of drug-dependent individuals who have surrendered amid government’s program to end the country’s problem on illegal drugs. Bacareza, representing PhilHealth and the Department of Health(DOH0, signed a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of PhilHealth Z Benefit Package at the EVRMC which now include cases of cancer and serious illnesses as among Philhealth coverage. “We’re working on it and looking at the possibility of coming out with a package. (Our) central office is the one making it,” he said.

The PhilHealth official also lauded the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte for the strong campaign against proliferation of illegal drugs in the country.  Data from the regional Philippine National Police (PNP) shows that around 7,000 users and pushers have surrendered to various police stations and offices since the present administration started to intensify its campaign against illegal drugs on July 1. Meantime, with the big number of individuals voluntarily surrendering, police acting regional director, Chief Superintendent Elmer Beltejar urged local leaders to start proposing for the construction of a drug rehabilitation center at their respective areas.
“Rehabilitation is highly technical and medical. That is why ,we are asking governors and mayors that they should start proposing for the establishment of rehabilitation centers for these drug dependents,” said Beltejar.

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, in earlier interview, said that managing a drug rehabilitation center is a challenge for local government units, both in terms of manpower and funding. Petilla said that in order for a rehabilitation center to work, the national government should provide assistance to the LGUs.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Mayor Cristina bids farewell former SP colleagues

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TACLOBAN CITY- Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez bid farewell to her former colleagues of the 12th Sangguniang Panlungsod to take another role as the Chief Executive of Tacloban City during the inaugural session held July 13, 2016 at the session hall of the Legislative Building. Mayor Romualdez, the second lady mayor of Tacloban, told the council that during their 12th Sangguniang sessions, she had fond memories for the last three terms that they were together. With her now sitting as city mayor, as she faces another challenges, she asked them to support her for the interest and benefits of the Taclobanons. Mayor Romualdez asked the council to help her to help her advance all her programs and projects particularly on the aspect of Tacloban recovering fully after it was devastated by supertyphoon “Yolanda” on November 8, 2013.
After her short talk with the council, Mayor Romualdez was bestowed with a certificate of recognition from the Sangguniang members led by Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin for her outstanding commitment and tireless support to the city. When she was a council member, Mayor Romualdez served as the chairperson of the committees on finance and appropriation and tourism and cultural affairs. She was also credited for the passing of relevant ordinances and resolutions for the general welfare of the people she served. The current composition of the 13th Sanguniang Panlungsod as headed by Vice Mayor Yaokasin are Councilors Jerry Uy, Edward Frederick Chua, Edwin Chua, Willy Domingo, Eden Pineda, Evangeline Esperas, Rachelle Pineda, Jose Marie Bagulaya, Aimee Grafil, Raissa Villasin and Elvie Casal.(GAY GASPAY)

PhilHealth extends free coverage policy for all ‘Yolanda’ survivors

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TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has extended the “all can avail policy” until December 31, 2016 for survivors of supertyphoon “Yolanda” in the region. The national government recently approved the extension noting that many disaster victims are still reeling from the impacts of the 2013 typhoon that caused much destruction across the region. “This means that all PhilHealth members and even non-members who are residents of Region 8 can avail of the health insurance benefits,” Walter Bacareza, Philhealth vice president for Eastern Visayas, said. Under the policy, the state-run health insurance firm applies exemption from the 45-day benefit limit and single period confinement, submission of claims within 120 days upon discharge (by the facility to PhilHealth), and extension of the accreditation validity or submission of application of healthcare providers. To avail of the benefits, all patients have to fill out a PhilHealth Member Registration Form (PMRF) and submit it to the hospital before discharge. The PhilHealth benefits will be deducted from the total hospital bill. In 2015, benefits payments of PhilHealth Eastern Visayas have reached P4.39 billion, representing a 48.7 percent increase compared to previous year. About 85 percent of patients in the region have availed the benefits from their office last year with most of them Yolanda survivors. (SARWELL Q.MENIANO)

Leyte board members to resume “sesyon sa bayan”

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TACLOBAN CITY -Members of the provincial board of Leyte will soon resume their “Sesyon sa Bayan”, an innovation of the provincial board to help residents of different towns in the province familiarize with their duties as local legislators. Sesyon sa Bayan was first implemented during the term of former Vice Governor Mimiette Bagulaya and was continued by her predecessor, current Vice Governor Carlo Loreto.

However, after the province was pummeled by supertyphoon “Yolanda” in November 8, 2013, it was temporarily suspended to give way to rehabilitation efforts. Sesyon sa Bayan is an activity of the provincial board conducted once a month where they visit a locality to check and talk with people on what their problems while they are doing their regular session.

“We are talking about it at the provincial board. However, the budget of the Sanggunian is still the same budget that we use to operate in 2004,” Loreto said. “That is why we have agreed that each member of the board will contribute by using our personal money to conduct Sesyon sa Bayan,” he added. The vice governor said that going to the towns is a good move as they will personally see and assess the actual condition and situation of the people and would not rely on information that they could get from the fields. “You can feel what they feel and see what they see in their towns while the people, for their part, will know that government exists and ready to listen to their plights,” he added. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

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