Navales calls on public to avail of free CHO services

DR. Nelita Navales called on parents to let their children seven months to six years old join the Garantisadong Pambata on Oct. 18. The City Health Officer said they conduct the program twice a year, the first time of which was last April. In that activity, children are administered with Vitamin A and de-worming drugs like Albendezol. There are dental services, too wherein children are taught the proper way of brushing their teeth.

November will be filariasis-awareness month wherein the City Health Office will also administer Diethylcarbamazine citrate (DECC) to people two to 65 years old. DECC is the most widely used drug for the treatment and control of human lymphatic filariasis which is endemic in Leyte. Filariasis is caused by a mosquito bite and leads to elephantiasis which is the enlargement of the extremities, legs and lymphatics.

Meanwhile, Dr. Navales urged poor families who are beneficiaries of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) to take advantage of their Philhealth cards. Beneficiaries can avail of discounts on medical services including deliveries up to the 4^th child. There are 5,654 families covered by Philhealth in Ormoc or 30,000 members.

 

Dr. Navales takes pride that the city’s five district health centers are all Philhealth-accredited. She encourages low-income Ormocanons to avail of other services extended by the district health centers like newborn screening which examines an infant’s blood to check for any congenital defect like hypothyroidism or mental retardation. The city government has invested on filter papers worth P600 each for the newborn screening but patients don’t have to pay for this. by Felix N. Codilla III

(Issue of Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2011)

Cemetery to charge new burial fees

THE local government unit (LGU) will charge a P500 service fee for burials at the Catholic cemetery once the ordinance revising and updating the civil registry fees and charges takes effect on January next year. This was learned at the public hearing for the purpose on Sept. 28.

According to Civil Registrar Dr. Archilles A. Silva, the P500 service fee will go to the cemetery caretakers. Sec. 5 of the proposed ordinance also increases the fees imposed for the issuance of permits on cemetery activities. The issuance of burial permit is raised from P20 to P50 while the removal/transfer/entrance of a cadaver is raised from P100 to P150.

Exhumation of a cadaver is increased from P100 to P150 (excluding the P50 permit to open charged by City Health Office). Silva also informed that the LGU has constructed more than 100 new apartment-type niches at the cemetery. Sec. 5 of the ordinance sets the rate for the niche rental.

A cadaver can occupy a niche for five years at P5,000 and P100 annually after the first five years. In case of non-payment of P100 for three consecutive years, the cemetery in-charge may recommend to the mayor or civil registrar for the transfer of the remains to the ossuary depository with or without the consent of the family or relatives of the deceased. by Felix N. Codilla III

(Issue of Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2011)

No birth certificate copy causes school dropouts

THE requirement for a copy of the birth certificate is seen as a cause for school dropouts among children. This was the sentiment aired by a participant at the public hearing on a proposed ordinance revising and updating the civil registry fees and charges on Sept. 28.

Sec. 6 of the ordinance requires the Local Civil Registrar Office (LCRO) to issue free of charge certified copy of birth certificate of a child reaching school age as a requirement for admission to primary grades at a public school in Ormoc. The participant said even if this is free of charge, many dirt poor parents in the hinterlands don’t have money to go to the LCRO to fulfill this requirement.

As a result, their children drop out of school. The participant proposes that a system be adopted so that the burden of securing copies the pupils’ birth certificates be transferred to the school administrations to free poor parents from miscellaneous costs.

Meanwhile, Councilor Filomeno Maglasang, chairman of the committee on education, proposes that instead of primary grades as mentioned in sec. 6 of the proposed ordinance, the LCRO issue free copies of birth certificates to pupils from kindergarten to grade 6. by Felix N. Codilla III

(Issue of Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2011)

Culture & Arts night highlight Tourism Month

THE Ormoc Culture and Arts Council led by Vice Mayor Nepomuceno P. Aparis staged the first Local Songs, Dances and Talents on the night of Sept. 27 at the Superdome. The culture and arts night is part of the Tourism Month celebration. The show featured talents from different schools.

Jarry Espendi and Jeriza Tomada of Eastern Visayas State University (Evsu) presented a cha cha and rhumba dance number while the Department of Eduction Dance Group presented a pop jazz number. New Ormoc National High School’s Christien Leigh Sebidos presented a song number.

Val Gabriel Noya of Manlilinao Elementary School wowed the audience with his poem on the vernacular (balak) about his love for his barangay Manlilinao. Pupils of St. Therese the Little Flower showcased their talent of playing indigenous musical instruments while the a group of young violinists called Allegretto String serenaded the audience.

Another cultural dance number featuring oasiwas, curacha, bulaklakan, maglalatik and tinikling was presented by Evsu students. The last presentation was a song number by PO2 Jonillee Abad, in charge of Precinct 2’s Women and Children Concerns Division, accompanied by 7^th Dawn, a group of musicians made up of city government employees.

(Issue of Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2011)

In-love si Manang

Dear Inday Ruby,
Maayong adlaw kanimo ug sa tanan mga suking magbabasa ning imo column. Ako si Delia, 49-anyos. Taga-dinhi ra ko sa Ormoc ug nagtrabaho sa usa ka tindahan. Usa ako ka byuda ug bag-o pa lang nakakita og usa ka batan-on nga uyab. Bata pa gyud intawon siya kaysa akong mga anak.

Usa siya ka tinun-an sa kolehiyo apan ingon siya nga lain ang iyang gibati kay sa una niyang uyab nga batan-on usab sama kaniya. Ang ako lang kay medyo hilasan man gud ko kay kabata pa niya, apan masuko siya kon dili ko moingon og “I love you,” mura’g kalisod tubagon, murag manlibawot gyud ako balhibo.

Kausa niana gihangyo ko niya og phone sex. Matabang mo na ‘day? Mao may among hinongdan sa away ug hangtod karon mao lang gihapon kami, wala pa gihapon nako madawat kon unsa ang iyang batasan sa pagkadali gyud masuko ug dili nako tubagon sa iyang isulti sa iyang gibati, kay lagi kahilas gyud. Unsa ang angay kong buhaton niani kay dili gayod siya makigbulag nako kay karon pa daw siya nahigugma og tinud-anay? Unsa may anagyan kong buhaton ani niya? Intawon tambagi ako.        

Matinahoron,

Delia

Hala oy, pagbasa nako sa imong sulat, gikilig gyud ko. Kay imagine mo na, byuda ka na apan nakakaplag ka pa og love life uban sa usa ka batan-on. Wala nimo masulti kung nagduol ba mo o long distance ba ang inyong relasyon. Ang imo lang geingon kay gusto niya makipag phone sex, so I presume nga toa ni siya sa layo ug ang inyong relasyon nagsubay lang sa linya sa telepono.

‘Nang, naa na ka sa hingkod nga pangidaron so kahibalo ka na unsay tarong ug dili. Apan kay tengale nakilig ka kay nakauyab ka’g batan-on, wala nimo mahuna-huna sa makadaghan unsa ang sangpotanan niining tanan. Tinuod age doesn’t matter kung gugma ang hisgotan. Naa tay mga nabasahan ug nakit-an nga mga telenobela nga nagpakita kuntahay nga magkadayon ang mga nag-uyab nga layo ang agwat sa edad. Pero istorya lang na.

Tambag nako obserbahe lang usa ang inyo relasyon ug ayaw pakasiguro. Ayaw pagpalabi og padala anang mga kakilig nga imong nabati karon. Kini bayang mga batan-on tagsa ray tarong, hilig sila og trip sa buhay labi na og naa silay makuhang ganansya. Unya ang mga matured maoy himuong magtutudlo nila aron sila maka-experience.

Huna-hunaon og maayo ang imong kahimtang. Lisod baya ning masakitan ta. Maayo lang unta og kotob lang diha, unsaon na lang kung nahukasan na gyud ta? Hehe. Salamat sa imong sulat ug kinsa kadtong adunay prolema sa kinabuhi ipadala i-email lang sa: espina_ruby@yahoo.com o sa westleyte_express@yahoo.com.

(Issue of Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2011)

Kon mohugpa na ang kilum-kilom sa kinabuhi

NAKADUNGOG ka nab a sa panultihon nga moingon sila nga ang kabaw ray matigulang? Ug sa lain pa gayod nga panultihon nga Linatin: “tempura mutantur, et nos mutamur in ilis” nga sa ato pang Binisaya – “Ang panahon kanunay nga nagaisdog, ug kita mouban pag-isdog sa panahon.”

Karong bulana moabot na ang akong edad og 78. Tigulang na gayod. Apan lagi dili gayod nato kalikayan ang pag-abot sa panahon ug mohugpa ang kilum-kilom sa atong kinabuhi. Ang tinuod, dili angayan nga itago ang atong edad. Usahay kon adunay mangutana kanako, ako silang tug-anan nga hapit nako mo-78.

(Issue of Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2011)

Usahay may mga batan-ong babaye nga mangutana, ako silang tug-anan nga 78 na. Unya sila mosumbalik, “Tinuod noy nga 78 ka na? Mora man lang og 50 pa.” Mahibalo ko nga komedya lamang kining ilang gisulti dalang ulog-ulog, pero lalim ug maanindot nga huni sa atong paminaw.

Dako ang akong pasalamat sa Makagagahom nga gipaabot pa Niya ko sa maong edad. Kasagaran god sa mga batan-on karon tigulang na tan-awong sa edad nga 40-anyos gumikan sa droga ug abuso sa panglawas.

Karon nga may dako na kong edad, ubay-ubay na ang akong gimulo ug suki na nako ang mga sakit-sakit. Apan sumala pa sa Iningles, “life must move on.” Padayon tawo, padayon pagpanaw, padayon pagbaklay ning walog sa kaluhaan, antosa ang kasakit, kataspok isalikway kay kadaogan unya sa pag-antos maoy bugti.

Karon nga nagkatigulang ka na ug retirado na, may panahon ka na sa pag-atiman sa hmong hardin. May panahon ka na aron pagsud-ong sa pagbuswak sa mga bulak sa hmong tanaman ug makahigayon ka na paghanggap sa kahumot sa imong Sampaguita.

Ug sa akong mga utanon sa tanaman, makautan nako sa akong mga pechay, okra, talong ug mga galay sa kamote gawas sa akong mga kamatis ug mga tasal nga Hutton pagtuktok sa mga langgam ug manok. Kon kaniadto dali kang mosinta kon makadungog ka og mapait nga mga pulong, karon mapasayloon ka na, kalma ug dili na init ang ulo.

Lucy withdraws dev't project for Lake Danao

THE tourism plan of Rep. Lucy Marie Torres-Gomez for Lake Danao Natural Park (LDNP) is aborted after losing interest in pursuing her own brainchild. This was the impression gathered from an interview with two members of the Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB).

One of the members representing a mountaineering group said they were made aware of the congresswoman’s plan after Vince Rama of the congressional office showed them illustrations of the proposed structures. After that they never heard of anything else.

Late last year, Rep. Gomez boasted that she secured P15 million from the Philippine Tourism Authority to develop three tourism sites including LDNP. The plan for LDNP includes a floating pavilion with two guest rooms, a jetty, zipline and wakeboarding facilities.

Recently however, the camp of Rep. Gomez’s husband Richard has been telling Ormocanons in their barangay visits that they are no longer pursuing their plans for LDNP due to the obstruction of the local government unit (LGU). They will instead use the money to develop Sibugay Mountain Resort in neighboring Albuera town.

But the PAMB member clarified that the approval of projects at LDNP lies with them and not the LGU. “Proponents should identify areas where they will put up their development projects and comply with certain requirements,” she said, because the park is under the National Integrated Protected Areas System.

Another PAMB member who is based in Tacloban confirms that development projects must be thoroughly scrutinized and reviewed by the board. He sees no problem with Rep. Gomez’s plans except for the wakeboarding facilities which might contaminate the lake being a major source of potable water.

Rep. Gomez might have also been turned off by the Memorandum of Agreement (Moa) between PAMB and the LGU which designates three areas where the LGU can implement its development plans. This means the congresswoman will have to coordinate with the LGU if her plans fall on any of the three areas, the second source explained.

“Even if the PAMB members are excited of the project, a perspective (drawing) simply wouldn’t suffice,” he continues. But instead of going to the board, Rep. Gomez submitted her plan straight to the Environment Secretary but the latter still endorsed it back to PAMB for review. This was the last straw that prompted the congresswoman to pull out her plans for the lake.

City Tourism Officer Ira Bantasan confirmed that PAMB’s process is indeed strenuous but they have to follow to protect the environment. Even the construction of a simple comfort room (CR) has guidelines. Mayor Eric C. Codilla allotted P5 million for the Lake Danao’s development.

Under the LGU’s timetable, construction should have begun as early as last January or February. It submitted the requirements to the PAMB including the program of work and designs for review and evaluation. It is already September now but work hasn’t begun yet on the welcome signage, visitors’ kiosk, new CR and improvement of the existing view deck. Still, Mayor Codilla is willing to wait and make Lake Danao a premier tourist destination. by Gerardo C. Reyes, Jr.

(Issue of Sept. 12-18, 2011)

Ormoc is nat'l finalist for Presidential award

NATIONAL evaluators were in Ormoc on September 13-16 to assess the city’s worthiness in being named as a Presidential Awardee for Child Friendly Cities in the country. This is the first time for Ormoc to join but it is already Region 8’s bet for the search. Ormoc will be competing with General Santos and Naga.

The evaluators were composed of Jhoanne Mahilum of National Economic and Development Authority, Ma. Theresa Tan of Department of Education, Eric Lazarte of Plan International and Clark Neil Apuntar of the Council for the Welfare of Children.

They visited the five barangays that will showcase Ormoc’s child-friendliness. These are Tongonan, Camp Downes, Bantigue, Dist. 29 and Curva. Last Sept. 15, the evaluators conducted an exit conference wherein they were entertained by children beneficiaries of the city’s programs.

Last month, child-friendly cities team leader Yvonne Abonales who is the Department of Social Welfare and Development regional office technical assistance division chief gave Ormoc 90-93% as overall score after assessing its planning and policy formulation, resource allocation and utilization, service delivery, institutional building, child participation and community participation.

 
Mayor Eric C. Codilla that time showcased his accomplishments for safety, security and welfare of children. These include pre and post-natal care and free delivery, health and nutrition, free school supplies, scholarships, non-formal schooling and building of schoolhouses. He expressed confidence that the projects, which are meant for the, will meet the standards of the national search body.
(Issue of Dec. 12-18, 2011)

Women empowerment through gender equality

WHY is the Catholic Church against women's right to abortion under any circumstance? Gregory S. Paul has given the best answer in his book “The New Inquisition: the Roman Catholic Men Cult’s Modern War on Women's Right to Abortion.”  

 

Those who favor the rights of women would do better if they:

1. Take the offensive by labeling the anti-abortion movement for what it is: a new and dreadful inquisition.

2. A misogynist inquisition.

3. A modern form of evil inquisition.

Women should put the pressure back on the Church and demand that they (boy’s club) cease waging a war on average law abiding women and put their moral focus where it should be: on the miscreants Catholic Church which commits real crimes.

Social disadvantage for women created by the Church

Gender awareness in reproductive health is important because one finds health inequalities which result not only from the biological and genetic differences between men and women but also from the social disadvantages to which many women are subjected. In the Philippines, this social disadvantage for women is created by the Catholic Church. By depriving women of their basic reproductive rights, the Church creates an environment where women suffer considerable mortality and morbidity in relation to their sexual and reproductive health.

Fertility regulation, pregnancy, childbirth, sexually transmitted diseases, infertility and diseases of the reproductive system require health services for women through family planning clinics. These services are nonexistent in the Philippines due to the powerful lobby by the Church. 

Reproductive rights is one of the primary goals of gender equality. Women and young girls having control of their reproductive health (when to have children and how many children to have) is the key to make things better for everyone economically.

The United Nations on July 11, 2000 commemorated World Population Day, underlining the importance of reproductive rights for women empowerment and gender equality. “Too many women still cannot choose when or whether to become pregnant. Too many women resort to abortions that are not safe,” UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said. 

In a report entitled “Women's Empowerment and Reproductive Health” released on July 11, 2000, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said that reproductive health and reproductive rights are lifetime concerns that are essential to women empowerment and gender equality.

The UNFPA study also details the burdens and dangers linked to the reproductive health of young women. Half a million women are said to die each year due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth of which 99% occur in developing countries such as the Philippines. This catastrophe can be easily prevented if women have access to family planning clinics.

As stated earlier, empowerment in reproductive health is the key to gender equality. Having the ability to make strategic life choices, whether to have children, when to have them, how many to have and which sexual partners to have are central choices to everyone’s life.

 
It is particularly important in women’s lives because they bear the responsibility for biological and social reproduction. Providing women the opportunity to make these decisions is one pathway to empowerment. This is why the human rights conventions guarantee women the right to control their fertility and sexuality (UN 1994). Without this right, women cannot realize their equal rights— whether to obtain an education, work outside the home, run for office or participate in the cultural life of their community.
(Issue of Sept. 12-18, 2011)