Archive for April, 2009
Written by anyajulia on 30 April 2009
WALA pa may risgo sa Mexical swine flu ang Pilipinas, wala magpatuyang ang mga tinugyanan sa nasud aron kapugngan ang paghasi niini.
Suspindido na sa Department of Agriculture ang tanang produkto gikan sa baboy nga naggikan sa mga nasud nga kmpirmadong apektado sa sakit samtang gimandu na ni Sec. Yap ang pagpalig-on sa serbisyong kwarantina sa mga pantalan ug tugpahahan aron pugngan ang pagsulod sa mga posibleng makadala sa kagaw dinhi.
Gipalihok na usab sa Department of Health, taho ni Secretary Francisco Duque III, ang iyang mekanismo sa surveillance ilabi na ang pagsusi sa mga pasaherong mosulod sa nasud human gi-butyag sa WHO ang pahimangno batok sa Mexican swine influenza.
Ang pasaherong mamatikdang may hilanat ilain ug dalhon derecho aron tambalan sa Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, sa San Lazaro Hospital o sa Lung Center of the Philippines.
Timailhan sa nahisgutang sakit sa tawo mao ang: hilanat, kakapoy, kakulang sa gana mokaon, pag-ubo, sip-on, sore throat, pagkalipong, kalibanga ug pagsuka-suka. (rachiu/PIA)
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Written by anyajulia on 30 April 2009
WALA pa makaabot sa nasud ang gikaintapang sakit nga swine flu nga nanghasi na sa mga panghayopan sa Mexico, Amerika ug Canada, butyag sa National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).
Gipasabot ni NDCC Chairman Gilberto Teodoro nga ang nasud wala pa malakip sa mga nasud nga may-impeksyon sa Mexican swine flu.
Gani, gidason ni Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap nga luwas pa gihapon ang pagkaon ug baboy dinhi sa Pilipinas ug wala pay angay kahadlokan kabahin niini.
Gani, dugang niya, wala pay nakitang ebidensya ang Animal Health Organization nga magmatuod nga ang pagkaon sa karne makapakatap sa sakit.
Hinuon, may mga taho na nga nagsulti nga ang kagaw sa Mexican swine flu mahimong madala sa tawo ug manakod pinaagi niini.
Sa Mexico, ang unang gikataho nga nasakit sa flu, walay tukmang exposure sa baboy, mao nga gidudahang kini nakuha gikan sa tawo nga kontaminado sa kagaw. (rachiu/PIA)
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Written by anyajulia on 30 April 2009
BOHOL hosts this Wednesday some 150 youth participants to the ‘Urdaneta Camp and Cruise’ which brings them to Bohol from Cebu.
The camp and cruise, one set to introduce to the youth the person of the Spanish navigator, Augustinian missionary Fray Andres Urdaneta, builder and responsible for spreading Christianity in the Visayas.
Urdaneta, along with his cousin captain Miguel Lopez de Lagaspi landed in Cebu on April 28, 1565. That fateful day, Urdaneta rediscovered the image of the Santo Nino in a hut in Cebu, which later would be enthroned in the Basilica Minore de Santo Nino de Cebu.
In honor of his contributions to the Philippines and the world, the Augustinians in the Philippines, the Urdaneta 500 Cebu and the Philippines as well as the National Commission for Culture and the Arts brings the camp and cruise for the country’s future leaders.
The camp and cruise would allow the youth to know the great man and emulate his leadership skills and values, says organizers.
The activity forms part of the 5th centenary celebration of Urdaneta’s coming to the Visayas and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has issued Proclamation 1423 recognizing the man’s substantial contribution to history and culture and nodded to the 5th centenary celebration.
Urdaneta, along with his cousin Miguel Lopez de Legazpi came to the Philippines leading the expedition sent by King Phillip II of Spain. Both sailed from Spain in November of 1564 with a fleet led by flagship Capitana along with San Pedro, San Pablo and the smaller tenders San Juan and San Lucas.
The expedition at one time landed in Bohol in March 25, 1565 where Fray Urdaneta stood as witness to the blood compact between his cousin captain Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and a local chieftain Sikatuna.
While in Bohol, the cruise participants visit Baclayon Church, the shores of Loay where Legaspi’s fleet once replenished their provisions, the old town of Loboc to hear the singing and musical groups there and the Chocolate Hills.
The group also goes to PuntaCruz in Maribojoc, to watch the Sandugo Reenactment and a special show of the Tawag sa Bantayan. (rachiu/PIA)
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Written by anyajulia on 29 April 2009
GOING pro-active against the swine influenza scare and keeping people from any respiratory illness, the ASEAN Secretariat Working Group for One Health (ASEC-ONE Health) comes out with a ten-points tip.
“These are general precautionary measures in Asia to prevent any type of influenza or any respiratory illness now capable of spreading from person-to-person from hitting,” the group explained.
First, they said, there is no substitute for hand washing. Frequent hand-washing with soap and water many times of the day and then drying your hands after washing should do the trick. However, when water is not available, the use of alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers will be enough.
Second, touching eyes, nose or mouth may be bad practice. Influenza viruses are often spread when a person touches surfaces that are contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
Third, people must avoid close contact, especially with people who are sick. This should mean temporarily refraining from shaking hands with or kissing other persons while there are reported outbreaks of influenza.
Fourth, it is always good to stay at home when you are sick. If possible, avoid crowded places when sick. This helps prevent others from catching the illness.
Fifth, when sneezing or coughing, covering of mouth and nose with a tissue or a handkerchief is recommended. This helps prevent the spread a tissue. If one doesn’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into upper sleeve, not in the hands.
Then, discard used tissue into the waste basket immediately. A surgical mask may be polite and keeps you from contaminating others, the group added.
Sixth, keep your distance when you are sick, this protects others from getting sick too.
Seventh, nothing beats practicing good health habits, stopping from smoking, getting enough rest, having regular exercises and being physically active. Managing stress also helps, while drinking plenty of fluids and juice or taking in nutritious food also keeps one insulated from infection.
Eighth, when one feels he is sick, he must consult a doctor. ASEC One says seeking medical attention can help arrest the illness, and when one feels the symptoms: difficulty of breathing, confusion, severe vomiting, seeking medical attention is the best.
Ninth, if one feels sick, he must defer travel. Refraining from getting on an airplane or other forms of public transport to travel helps contain the viral spread. If one must travel by plane to a country reported to have swine influenza outbreaks and feeling ill after returning from it, doctors must immediately be consulted.
Finally, ASEC one says it pays to listen to local health authorities and keep updated of the situation on the influenza outbreak (rachiu/PIA)
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Written by anyajulia on 29 April 2009
WORKERS called for duty today, May 1, gets 200% more of his regular pay for the first 8 hours of work and another 30% of the hourly rate for the day when he works more, the local labor office says.
Bohol labor office, through Teri Salas said May 1, traditionally celebrated as the international Labor Day is also a regular holiday in the country and has not been moved as practiced in other holidays.
And pursuant to Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Memorandum Circular No. 1, issued March 2004, and citing Executive Order 203 as amended by Republic Act 9177, she said workers for the day, even if they do not go to work collect 100% of their pay rates.
If the day falls on the workers’ rest day and he is called to render duty, he collects 30% more of the 200% rate he gets for the day. He shall not be held for absence if he chooses not to work and can even collect 100% of his day pay, the law states.
Moreover, if the day happens to be the worker’s rest day, and if he works and renders more than his mandatory 8 hours, he gets 30% of his hourly rate on that day.
Employers in the private sector shall also observe the same policy. (rachiu/PIA)
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Written by anyajulia on 29 April 2009
CO-OPERATING with a power cooperative in Bohol, Sevilla may now have enough to pay for additional benefits to its town-paid teachers, says information officer Walter Pondoc.
Sharing this information during the recent Association of United Development Information Officers (AUDIO) in Danao town last week, Pondoc revealed that it was the town leaders’ decision that placed them in a better position to earn revenues from the power generated by the power plant.
Sevilla is the only local government unit partnering with a private power cooperative to operate the power plant, he beamed as he added that the power plant has since generated P30M after its full operations.
Under the leadership of Mayor Ceferino Digal and Mice Mayor Carlito Fernandez, Sevilla has struggled to keep good use of its resources, one especially with the river which has been identified as a strong potential for hydro-power.
Putting up l5% capitalization while Bohol Electric Cooperative I puts up the remaining 85%, Sevilla is also entitled to the shares generated by the power plant, he explained.
The Sevilla Hydro Electric Plant located in Ewon Sevilla has also generated as much as P1.3M in real property taxes, enough source for the town to extend its honoraria for locally paid teachers.
He added that unlike other towns which host power plants, Sevilla does not just collect real property taxes for the property where the facility sits, it also invested a sizable amount for the power facility.
He said from the generated power revenues, the town now is in a better position to allocate for its priority projects, all because their leaders had seen the investment potential right before them. (rachiu/PIA)
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Written by anyajulia on 29 April 2009
AUDIO is quite clear about it.
Members of the Association of United Development Information Officers (AUDIO) in Bohol say that Danao has indeed braved the way and pioneered in establishing a new niche for tourism in Bohol.
Far from the usual destinations where tourists see beautiful and amazing features, Danao dips one into an outdoor experience that tests his body strength and stamina against the natural forces of nature, all along, learning how it was then at a time when the place sheltered the rebels under Francisco Dagohoy.
Extreme eco-adventures in Danao include the country’s highest and longest (to date) zipline, 100 meter or 60 meter rappels, root climbing, bouldering, kayaking, rubber tubing, spelunking, river trekking, historical tours and village interaction.
“Here, we allow the guests to be filled with nature experience,” says Anna Loinda Saluan, town tourism officer designate, adding that it is precisely what EAT Danao means.
Danao is not for the weak hearted and soft willed, says AUDIO president Ric Obedencio, who took the liberty of documenting his members’ experiences.
And it is definitely exciting, agreed AUDIO members who had their skills enhancement and personality development workshop in Magtangtang Eco-Adventure Park April 23-24.
Working on ways to enhance and develop information officers’ skills to make tourism promotion agents for their respective towns, or government development writers, the AUDIO Bohol used the Danao experience as jump-off experience for the workshop.
After logging hours on write-shop inputs, members gathered details for their feature articles by experiencing extreme adventure.
AUDIO members took on the famed suislide here; a traverse 300 meters up and at least 900 meters far to get their minds into a working mode.
And just as Danao puts up this kind of high for tourists, the country reaped another international tourism accolade, it being the most popular and well-liked travel destination in Asia.
In this year’s World Travel Fair held in Shanghai, China, the Philippines won over popular public vote over other destinations participating in the fair.
“In spite of the global financial crisis, things continue going our way,” the President said as she cited some very encouraging developments that have raised the Filipinos’ optimism about the future of the country. (rachiu/PIA)
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Written by anyajulia on 29 April 2009
(DANAO,BOHOL) TOURiSM means jobs, and this time Tourism secretary Ace Durano doesn’t have to be the spokesperson.
Danao Mayor Thomas Louis Gonzaga is now quite convinced and has self appointed himself as speaker after his town has largely funded a program that pays for 44 casual workers to keep the activities in Magtangtang running.
The workers, hired by the Municipal Government which runs the facility at the extreme, educational adventure tour (EAT) Danao have been part of the “town’s liabilities” are now gainfully employed in at least ten outdoor activities Danao Eco-Adventure offers.
The new tourism stakeholders, from people’s organizations operating within the eco-park are now employed in the food and beverage services or as tour guides for rappel, suislide, caving, rubber tubing, kayaking, root climbing, bouldering, trekking, village tours and historical site tours, adds tourism officer Anna Loinda Saluan.
The workers also operate with a complement of regular government workers from the town who admits the job is an additional burden, but one lighter.
“It gives us exactly the opportunity to help our town move up and consequently serve our people more,” admits one regular employee who insists she should not be named.
Even then, the people in the nearby barangays have benefited, Gonzaga says as he added that people sell their produce to the facility restaurant and [the restaurant people] have been instructed to prioritize buying local products.
Danao operates an extreme eco-adventure facility which has also been claiming an entirely different tourism niche from the usual watch-and-see packaged by Bohol destinations.
The experience of trekking along mountain trails would never fail to allow one patriotic tourist the idea of retracing the steps of a revered Boholano hero who knew the place like the back of his hand.
In the place, which is now turned eco-park, was the heart of the Dagohoy rebellion which ran for more than a hundred years.
With the activities, the rampart of a revolution then has become the core of another revolution; that which should emancipate Danaoanons from poverty which had them at its grip since Dagohoy left them for good. (rachiu/PIA)
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Written by anyajulia on 29 April 2009
WHILE the government bundles job openings for the nationwide May 1 Labor Day fair, in Bohol, some 24,000 farmhand jobs would be opened in Governor Erico Aumentado’s single formal act.
On that day, the governor signs a memorandum of agreement with Philippine National Oil Company-Alternative Fuels Corporation (PNOC-AFC) that would seal the fate for Project Jatropha here.
Project Jatropha, one that had Capitol and the PNOC-AFC huddling for quite some time promises to make Bohol jatropha source by making use of its idle lands into productive green-fuel source.
The MOA signing with Governor Aumentado and AFC Chief Executive Officer, retired Lieutenant General Romeo Tolentino, along with Petrogreen Holdings managing Director Poch Lamug would be witnessed by mayors from towns pre-identified as sites for the initial 3,000 hectares of jatropha curcas plantation, says Capitol spokesman Antonieto Pernia.
Speaking during the weekly The Governor Reports, Pernia said the signing also signals good things for Boholano farmers who now need not shell out any amount for the project.
He explained that the May 1 signing would be the governor’s gift to the laborers on that day, with the 3,000 hectares computed to generate no less than 24,000 farm hands in the towns.
The best thing, Pernia stressed is that a farmer would be paid P1.25 per plant and after 8 years when the plant bears, he still owns everything he could harvest.
The recent agreement has the PNOC putting up P23,000 per hectare as mobility fund, one that would be the source for planting materials, labor component and inputs, the spokesperson said.
Before the recent agreement, Bohol was supposed to allot P30M for the labor component as it was agreed that every jatropha planted would be paid P1.25 cents. Petrogreen, the source of the planting materials would also give P10 for every planting material. Now, we don’t spend anymore, he said.
Immediately after the signing and after Petrogreen hands in the check, Bohol would start the project.
One of the MOA provisions, Pernia points out, calls for the PNOC to buy jatropha from Bohol farmers in the next 25 years while considering the escalation costs. (rachiu/PIA)
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Written by anyajulia on 28 April 2009
SEVILLA local officials have contemplated on making the hanging bridge crossing at Sipatan one way.
That would also imply building another hanging bridge as exit from the display and activity area and back to the parking lot, says town information officer Walter Pondoc.
Many see the logical as it would assure tourist safety by decongesting traffic and lightening the carrying capacity of the bamboo bridge.
With two way traffic in a narrow foot bridge, people meeting at the center of the swaying bridge can be very difficult and make tourists uncomfortable, admits a tourist guide who think something should be done to avoid accidents.
Moreover, the town information officer said “We need to put up more worthwhile activities at the tourist center across the river and that should include cultural presentations, to make the stop more meaningful.
The move came after Sevilla started collecting P10 toll fees for tourists crossing the Sipatan Hanging Bridge since February 27 of this year.
The plan also incorporates a Tourists’ Holding Room where the local government can conduct briefings and activity orientation before letting them do the thrilling activity of crossing the swaying bamboo bridge, adds Pondoc.
The bridge, since the town started collecting toll fees averages P3T on an ordinary day, and has contributed a lot to the town income generation, he admitted.
The bridge, now reinforced with steel cables with the help of the Philippine Australian Community Assistance Program has become a teaser for the Bohol outdoor adventure.
It has also opened up employment opportunities for women and people’s organizations in the town while giving them additional income from selling native crafts, home decors and fashion accessories.
PACAP also helped finance a multi purpose building as display areas the local wares, performance venue and tourists’ resting station.
Wanting to regulate the operations of the tourist destination now, LGU Sevilla would also be building a restroom on the opposite bank to accommodate tourists, says Pondoc. (rachiu/PIA)
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Written by anyajulia on 24 April 2009
Earning at least P1.3M in the last three months, Danao Extreme, Eco, Educational Adventure Tour (EAT) Danao has surpassed the town’s annual market revenue of last year.
This news was reveled during the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) meeting when Danao Vice Mayor Jose Cepedoza welcomed the mayors to the Berinja Hall of the newly put up Danao Eco-Park in barangay Magtangtang.
The biggest income earners, the famed Suislide (from coined suicide and slide) and the extreme rappell charges P850 per head has been steadilly going up since both have been set up since December of last year, tourism designate Anna Loinda Saluan revealed.
Promoting the Dagohoy Historical Spot as a major strategy to create conditions of productive and creative enterprise as well as open employment opportunities has transformed a historical spot into a full extreme adventure destination with its own package of tests for the daring tourist. (PIA)
Click here for full article.
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