Cruz says this will erase allegations of police abuses

CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, PALO, Leyte-Starting this week, operations on illegal drugs and other criminalities in the region will be on video recordings.
This after 20 body cameras were distributed to the six provinces and seven cities police headquarters and stations in the region by Chief Supt. Gilberto Cruz, regional police director, after their flag ceremony on Monday(Sept.18) at their regional headquarters, this town.
The provincial police headquarters are to receive two body cameras while the seven city police stations will receive one unit each.
The remaining one body camera will be used at the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional headquarters.
Chief Supt. Cruz said that the body cameras were donated by his friends from Metro Manila and not a single centavo was used by their headquarters or from their national headquarters.
“These body cameras will be used during our anti-drug operations and other criminalities. This will dispel allegations that the police are committing abuses, planting of evidences and even EJK (extrajudicial killing),” Cruz said during an interview.
He also said that aside from the body cameras, he would also encourage the members of the media to join their operations and see for themselves “the risks and sacrifices being made by the policemen” as they carry out their duty.
He said that next week, another 30 body cameras are to be distributed to other police stations in the region until all police stations will have at least one unit.
There are 121 police stations in the region.
Cruz said that the body camera will be an advantage for both police operatives and the subjects of the operations as everything will be recorded.
“We want to be transparent in our operations. We want to provide protection both to our policemen and the suspects,” he said.
Meantime, while other police stations have yet to have their own body cameras, he asked them to record their operations using the camera of their mobile phones.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

MAASIN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has kicked off this week the P27 million rock netting project meant to curb rock fall in San Ricardo, Southern Leyte.
The project, which will utilize Switzerland’s rock protection netting technology, is located in Sitio Bil-atan, Brgy. Camang, San Ricardo town where rock slides occur during rainy days, making the road impassable.
“Erosion and rock slides issues would likely continue if the problem will not be addressed. With this rock netting project, we can lessen the damages incurred by rock fall and soil erosion in the area,” said DPWH Southern Leyte district Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia.
Rock netting is used on unstable rock faces and slopes to contain and control rock fall, protect against the effects of erosion, and to improve stability.
Aside from rock netting, other works include installation of stone masonry crib, wall slope protection, and metal guardrails.
DPWH Southern Leyte will fast-track mitigation works in Bil-atan since the road leads to farm-producing communities in the southernmost tip of Leyte Island.
The road section is part of the highway that is being developed into a circumferential road linking San Ricardo and Liloan towns.
The ongoing road opening project is designed to provide buses and big trucks safer routes to Benit port in San Ricardo town instead of traversing the landslide-prone and accident-prone road sections in San Francisco and Pintuyan towns. Benit port is the region’s exit point to Mindanao.
“We have to consider and ensure the safety of the traveling public since many are passing through this road section. Also, whenever there are rock fall, our maintenance workers are having a hard time removing debris and rocks during clearing operations,” Junia said.
Rock netting system is a key element in the design and maintenance of infrastructure networks with direct impact on safety. Rock slope netting is used to safeguard against rock slope failure and progressive degradation.
The DPWH will also kick off next year a similar project dubbed as slope stabilization control system near the foundation of Agas-Agas Bridge to avert a collapse of the country’s tallest bridge. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY-Generic medicines offer substantial health and economic benefits to patients, their families, and the national health system according to Angelica Marie Bolos of the Department of Health Regional Office- 8.
“Despite the affordability of these medicines, it contains the same active ingredients and therefore should work as well as the more expensive branded products provided that they have passed the safety and quality requirements of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA),”Bolos said.
Health authorities assured that a generic drug is a pharmaceutical drug that is equivalent to a brand-name product in dosage, strength, safety, and quality.
Bolos advised to “Always ask for the generics name of medicine every time you buy in a drugstore.”
However, patients or consumers are advised to buy medicines only from FDA-licensed outlets which are properly authorized to dispense medicines.
September of every year is generics awareness month. Hence, DOH strengthens its advocacy campaign to educate patients on the benefits and rational use of generic drugs in accordance with the provisions of the generics law.
Bolos, a pharmacist of the Department of Health Eastern Visayas, was the guest during DOH-PIA on AIR program aired over a local radio station in the city. (PIA8)