Saturday, October 31, 2009

COAST GUARD SORSOGON SETS UP DOTC PASSENGER ASSISTANCE CENTERS IN MAJOR PORTS

SORSOGON PROVINCE (October 31) – The Coast Guard Station Sorsogon (CGS) along with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) activated on October 28 until November 4, 2009 the Passenger Assistance Centers (PACs) in ports of Matnog, Pilar and Bulan, the province’s major ports.

“This is in line with the observance of All Saints’ and All Soul’s Day on Nov 1-2, this year, wherein the Department of Transportation and Communication – Philippine Coast Guard (DOTC-PCG) under its eagle-eye program “Oplan Kaluluwa 2009” would like to ensure an orderly, safe, convenient and secured sea travel of sea faring passengers through the major ports in the province,” said PCG Sorsogon Station Commander LtJG Ronnie T. Ong, Jr. in a press statement.

“CGS Sorsogon is working closely with local Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed forces of the Philippines (AFP) and shipping companies to emphasize integrated commitment to security and safety in water transport service by improving and enforcing safety standards and regulations such as inspection of baggage and implementation of security layers in the ports and passenger terminals to prevent hostile elements from perpetrating terrorist acts and likewise, to ensure no overloading of passengers,” Ong stressed out.

The PCG Special Operations Unit and K-9 Unit personnel are also placed on full alert status to implement stringent security in the ports to preclude any safety and security breach as well as protect vessel and the riding public.

Said personnel are likewise placed on standby status for immediate response to any maritime incidents.

K-9 Unit personnel are also tasked to conduct pre-departure inspection to baggage and cargoes for possible entry of illegal contrabands aboard ships.

Ong also explained that the center will have information/assistance and complaint desks where passengers could simply and easily ask for assistance and lodge their complaints related to their sea travel needs.

“Said PACs which are manned by a minimum of six personnel from PCG, PPA, MARINA and volunteers are strategically situated in areas accessible to the passengers. Personnel are detailed on a 24-hour basis with three shifts at four hours per shift daily or as practicable and necessary,” said Ong.

“PAC will also act as facilitators on the requests and complaints of the seafaring public to refer matters on hand to the office and/or shipping/boat operators concerned,” he further said. (RTOng, PCG Sorsogon/PIA Sorsogon)

Monday, October 19, 2009

DND SECRETARY TEODORO NAGING PANAUHING PANDANGAL SA PAGBUBUKAS NG KASANGGAYAHAN FESTIVAL 2009

SORSOGON PROVINCE – Naging matagumpay ang isinagawang opening ceremony ng Kasanggayahan Festival 2009 dito noong nakaraang Sabado partikular sa naging pagdalo at pakikiisa ni National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro sa selebrasyong ito ng mga Sorsoganon.

Sa naging pahayag ni Sec. Teodoro bilang panauhing pandangal, sinabi nitong napapanahon ang temang “Pangangalaga sa Kalikasan, Buhay ng Susunod na Henerasyon” lalo na’t ngayon higit kailanman dapat na mapangalagaan ang kalikasan sapagkat ramdam na ramdam na ngayon ng buong mundo ang mga epekto ng climate change.

Apat na punto ang tinutukan ng kalihi m sa kanyang pagtugon sa imbitasyon ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Sorsogon.

Una ay ang eco-tourism na siyang isinusulong ngayon ng lalawigan bilang isa sa mga potential for development nito. Aniya, sa pamamagitan nito, lalaki ang kapasidad ng Sorsogon, dadayo ang mga turista, lalago ang mga negosyo at magkakaroon ng trabaho ang mga Sorsoganon.

At dahil din aniya sa lalaki ang kita ng lalawigan, syudad at bayan dito, lalaki din ang budget nito para sa pagpapatayo ng mga imprastrukturang magagamit bilang proteksyon sa mga komunidad at matutugunan ang “build better, be better” program.

Ayon pa kay Teodoro, kung nilalayon ng Sorsogon na maging premier tourist destination, dapat na proteksyunan ang kalikasan para masustinihan ang paglago nito. Kung kaya’t binigyang-diin niya na dapat na maging maingat ang mga lokal na pamahalaan sa pagsusulong ng pag-unlad sapagkat lagi nang kaakibat ng pag-unlad ay ang pagkasira din ng kalikasan at mga komunidad.

Pangalawa ay ang peace and order situation. Aniya, bilang DND Secretary, naniniwala siyang walang puwang sa demokratikong bansa na isulong ang paggamit ng armas, bagkus ay mahinahong talakayan ang kailangan upang makamit ang kanya-kanyang mga adhikain.

Nanawagan din siya sa mga humiwalay sa pamahalaan na magbaba na ng armas at tumulong upang pagandahin ang Sorsogon, gayundin sa publiko na bigyang-puwang ang mga nalihis na ito na makabalik sa kani-kanilang komunidad at makapamuhay ng payapa at tahimik.

Pangatlo ay ang pagbati at paghahayag niya ng pasasalamat dahilan sa nakikita niyang pagbuhos ng suporta at sa pagiging bukas ng local government units sa pagbabahagi ng makukuha sa kanilang festival hindi lamang sa Sorsogon kundi maging sa Kabisayaan at Mindanao bilang tulong upang makabangong muli ang mga nasalanta ng nagdaang bagyo sa Central atNnorthern Luzon.

Nanawagan din siya sa mga LGU na tapusin o rebisahin ang kani-kanilang mga Zoning at Land Use Plan bago pa man tuluyang maging ganap na maunlad ang lalawigan ng Sorsogon.

Pang-apat at panghuli ay ang paghikayat sa mga Sorsoganon na sa kabila ng pagbibigay tulong ay dapat na makapagbigay inspirasyon din ito para sa agarang pagbangong muli ng ating mga kababayan pagkatapos ng bawat kalamidad.

Kaugnay ng selebrasyon ng Kasanggayahan Festival, sinabi ni Teodoro na ang adhikaing malinaw na nasasaad sa tema ng selebrasyon ng Kasanggayahan ang isa sa mga kadahilan kung bakit suportado pa rin niya ang pagdiriwang sa kabila ng kinakaharap na krisis ng marami sa mga Pilipinong nasalanta ng bagyong “Ondoy” at “Pepeng”.

Aniya, dapat lamang na may Kasanggayahan Festival upang tayo mismo ay maramdaman ang tunay na ispiritu ng pagdamay at pagdadamayan. (Bennie A. Recebido, PIA Sorsogon

Kasanggayahan Fest '09 Opening Ceremony



Monday, October 12, 2009

"Basura Mo, Sagip Buhay Ko" - a project of Coast Guard District Bicol

CGDBCL launches “Basura Mo, Sagip Buhay Ko”Project

The Philippine Coast Guard District Bicol (CGDBCL) launches in Sorsogon "Basura Mo, Sagip Buhay Ko" project on October 5, 2009. The devise is made of 2 empty plastic galloon (1 gal. capacity size), 1 empty galloon (1 liter capacity size), 1 ½ meter length (3/4” diameter) nylon rope, bolt and nut (size 5/16 x 3/4), 2 pcs, washer, marine epoxy adhesive and orange color paint.

CGDBCL personnel conducted the actual testing of the improvised life saving device that they personally made before it was initially distributed to their target beneficiaries, the fisher folks. In Sorsogon, CGDBCL has distributed the said makeshift buoy to at least eight marginalized fisher folks docked at Pier Site in Brgy. Talisay, Sorsogon City.

The “Basura Mo, Sagip Buhay Ko” Project, conceptualized and initiated by PCG Bicol Region District Commander Capt. Elson E. Hermogino aims at minimizing maritime incidences involving fisher folks who cannot comply with life saving appliance requirement such as life jacket due to financial constraints. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)

"Basura Mo, Sagip Buhay Ko" Improvised Life Saving Device


PCG's Improvised Life Saving Device




"Basura Mo, Sagip Buhay Ko" Project - PCG


"Basura Mo, Sagip Buhay Ko" Buoy



Coast Guard District Bicol Improvised Life Saving Device



New Year 2009 party at PIASIC


despedida party kay Marlon_PIASIC to PIAROV



buko party



Buko party at PIA SIC



Friday, April 3, 2009

News Release

DOH, NKTI INTENSIFY CAMPAIGN ON KIDNEY DISEASE PREVENTION

SORSOGON PROVINCE (April 3) – Renal or kidney diseases rank as the number 10 killer in the Philippines, causing death to about 7,000 Filipinos every year.

By this alarming number, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) and the Department of Health (DOH) along with the Philippine Society of Nephrology (PSN) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) has intensified the campaign on the prevention and control of kidney diseases by developing core group of trainers and advocates from Luzon to Mindanao that would serve as information multipliers in disseminating knowledge on the prevention, control and treatment of kidney diseases to the community particularly the grassroots.

Resource persons headed by Dr. Remedios de Belen-Uriarte, who were, at the same time, the key implementers of the project and top brass from the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) converged to batches of trainings to train Renal Disease Control Program (REDCOP) coordinators and advocates from the Center for Health and Development, Department of Education, PIA and other stakeholders from the different regions and provinces of the country.

The series of trainers’ training which were conducted last March, provided the participants of the anatomy and physiology of human kidneys and their functions and has presented, as well, the possible diseases that may eventually lead to kidneys disorders.

Among these diseases are diabetes, chronic glumerulonephritis (CGN), hypertension, kidney stones and Urinary Track Infection (UTI) which, if not detected earlier would lead to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

Philippine Renal Disease Registry of DOH-NKTI-REDCOP statistics reveal that, at present, complications in the kidney from diabetes mellitus, CGN and hypertension are among the leading cause of ESRD.

CGN or swelling of small veins in the nephrons or “blood filters” used to be the most common cause of ESRD in the third world countries including the Philippines. It usually afflicts children, adolescents and young adults in their productive years. Children and young adults can escape detection for months or years, causing the condition to progress to a chronic stage.

According to Dr. Antonio Paraiso, NKTI nephrology consultant, these diseases are potentially preventable if diagnosed early in the course of illness.

“I also recommend a regular once a year urinalysis to detect the presence of such diseases, and development of healthy habits and practices in order to prevent having diseases in our kidneys,” he further stressed out.

Meanwhile, new REDCOP advocates and trainers are now deployed in their respective communities and areas of concern to implement their action plans which focus on empowering people so as to reduce the number of kidney disease patients and avoid the need for expensive ESRD treatments such as dialysis or kidney transplantation. (Bennie A. Recebido, PIA Sorsogon)
News Release

BALIKATAN EXERCISES’ HUMANITARIAN MISSION KICKS OFF

SORSOGON PROVINCE (April 3) – A simple ceremony yesterday, April 2, commenced the official and formal opening of the RP-US Balikatan Exercises’ humanitarian missions to be conducted this April in two priority towns here.

The simple program was held in Brgy. Guruyan, Juban, one of the identified recipient barangays of the joint military forces’ engineering and medical missions.

In Sorsogon, Brgy. Guruyan in Juban and Brgy. Patag in Irosin were among the identified priority areas to receive health assistance, school buildings and road component projects.

Aside from Sorsogon, the provinces of Albay and Masbate were also identified as concerned areas in the Bicol region and are also beneficiaries of said infrastructure and medical projects.

Juban Mayor Ma. Teresa Fragata said that officials of the recipient barangays were glad and thankful having in mind the benefits that the mission would provide for them. However, they are apprehensive of possible armed confrontations between military and communist terrorists in the midst of project implementation that may harmly affect or hurt civilians.

With this apprehension, she assured the local residents that the US-RP military groups who will be here are purely on a humanitarian mission and is non-combatant. “They will only stay here for a short period of time, and just like visitors, let us warmly welcome them,” she said.

Asked about her position toward protesters, Fragata said that she would not bar any groups or organizations from holding protests against the conduct of Balikatan Exercises. “I believe rights and beliefs of every individual or groups must be respected,” she added.

“In fact, I have issued permits to hold protests to some militant groups here, and my office remains open to issuing permits to anyone who desires to hold the same,” Fragata said.

However, she made an appeal to protesters to maintain sobriety and peace, and to New People’s Army (NPA) to ward off armed confrontations particular in areas where there are civilians.

She also calls for the public to be more candid, supportive but vigilant while the assistance projects are going on.

Meanwhile, the 901st Infantry Brigade of Philippine Army, is confident that following the massive information drive they conducted to the public, including as well to the Provincial Peace and Order Councils of Albay , Masbate and Sorsogon, and even during the recently concluded Youth Day Camp in Albay, more Bicolanos have understood and will become more generous to give their share in the conduct of RP-US humanitarian missions in the region.

The 2009 RP-US mutual defense treaty or Balikatan Exercises are inclusions under the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement, which will cover both humanitarian and civic assistance projects for one-month period to be conducted by both Philippine and American military forces. (Bennie A. Recebido, PIA Sorsogon)