DILG TO LGUS: ENSURE COMPLIANCE OF COMPANY, SCHOOL HEADS WITH SMOKING BAN

Local government units (LGUs) should ensure the support and compliance of company and school heads and other persons-in-charge to the nationwide smoking ban or the latter will be held liable and face corresponding sanctions if they fail to do so.

In a directive, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said local chief executives should undertake efforts to inform persons-in-charge of their key role in the implementation of Executive Order No. 26 as well as their duties and obligations under the said law.

EO 26, which took effect last month, mandates the establishment of smoke-free environments in public and enclosed places.

A "person-in-charge", as defined under EO 26, may be a company, corporation, partnership or association's president/manager; owner/proprietor/operator of a single proprietorship; or the administrator of a government or private property, facility, office or building; and the city/municipal schools superintendent, school president, dean or principal in case of a school.

The EO has outlined the duties of the “person-in-charge”, which include the following:
• Prominently post and display the “No Smoking” signage in locations most visible to the public in the areas where smoking is prohibited as well as in the most conspicuous location within a public conveyance
• Prominently display the “Designated Smoking Area” or “Smoking Area” signage with a graphic-based health warning on the effects of tobacco usage in areas where smoking is allowed
• Report to the nearest Smoke-Free Task Force of the concerned city or municipality any tobacco product selling, advertising and/or promotion within 100 meters from the perimeter of schools, public playgrounds, youth hostels and recreational facilities for minors
• Post the “Sale/Distribution of Tobacco Products to Minors is Unlawful” along with a graphic-based health warning at point-of-sale establishments
• Remove from the places where smoking is prohibited all ashtrays and other receptacles for disposing of cigarette refuse
• Establish internal procedure and measures within the area he/she is in-charge including compliance with the smoking, sales, distribution, advertising and promotions restrictions, and ensure that all employees in the establishment are aware of said measures
Under EO 26, a person-in-charge who knowingly allows, abets, authorizes or tolerates prohibited acts under the order or fails to fulfill his duties and obligations may be subjected to corresponding sanctions.

At the same time, a person-in-charge who violates EO 26 shall be liable and may be punished with the governing provisions of Republic Act No. 9211, the law regulating the packaging, use, sale, distribution and advertisements of tobacco products.

The EO provides that smoking may only be allowed in a designated smoking area (DSA) or an area of a building or conveyance, which can be an open space or separate area with proper ventilation, subject to specific standards.

The Order also states that no DSAs should be established in public places such as centers of youth activity, playschools, preparatory schools, elementary schools, high schools, colleges and universities, youth hostels and recreational facilities for minors.

DSAs should not also be seen in elevators and stairwells, as well as in locations in which fire hazards are present including gas stations and storage areas for flammable liquids, gas, explosives or combustible materials.

Moreover, DSAs should not be established within the buildings and premises of public hospitals, medical, dental and optical clinics, health centers, nursing homes, dispensaries and laboratories as well as food preparation areas. # Source – www.dilg.gov.ph

TULONG TI NADADAELAN ITI SUPER TYPHOON LAWIN (HAIMA), NARUK-ATAN

Cabugao, Ilocos Sur - Naaramid ti pannakaited iti Cash Assistance kadagiti nadadaelan   ti pagtaenganda nga umili manipud iti 33 a barangay ti ili a Cabugao, Ilocos Sur. Naaramid ti Pay-out idi Agosto 16-18,  2017.

Ti Ahensia ti DSWD-Region 1  ket rinuk-atanna nga immuna ti tulong iti tunggal nadadaelan ti balayna  a residente (partially/totally damaged).

Iti second batch, immawatda iti nainayon a Cash Assistance ti partially damaged  ken  iti totally damaged dagiti nabiktima.

Ti nadakamat  a Cash  Assistance a maited ket  mangtulong kadagiti nabiktima iti supertyphoon a mangbangon kadagiti pagtaenganda a dinadael ti maysa kadagiti karanggasan  a bagyo a nangsaplit ti pagilian ti Pilipinas idi Oktubre 2016.

Sakbayna, nakikaysa  dagiti Supertyphoon Lawin Beneficiaries ditoy nga ili iti  naaramid a panagrehistro/panagenrol  iti Landbank  Cash Card/Prepaid Card Form nga inwayat ti MSWDO ti Cabugao ditoy Munisipio iti kallabes  babaen iti panangidaulo ni MSWD Officer Mrs. Lydia S. Gazmen tapno maestudiar dagiti papelesda  dagiti nadadaelan sakbay a makualipikarda nga umawat iti Cash Assistance nga ited ti DSWD. # (Web In-Action)

ANTI-DENGUE CAMPAIGN, AGTULTULOY KADAGITI MATUTUDO A BULAN

Cabugao, Ilocos Sur – Nupay makunkuna a “zdero dengue incidence”  ti kaaduan a barangay ti ili ket agtultuloy  latta ti Anti-Dengue Campaign ti  LGU-Cabugao babaen iti panangiwardas dagiti Personnel ti Cabugao Municipal Health Office nga idauluan da  Dr. Mark-Lawrence T. Tirao ken ni Public Sanitary Inspector Jeanette Garcia kadagitoy a bulan  a matutudo.

Sakbayna, nayeskediul ti  information drive-da  kadagiti pageskuelaan-sekundaria iti ili a kas iti Lipit National High School; Sisim  National High School;  Pug-os  National High School; ken ti Cabugao National High School (Turod) ket naipaganetget iti panagaramidda kadagiti aktibidad a  mangprebentar iti panagraira daytoy a naranggas a sakit.  

Nagitedda pay iti material  a pangkontra iti  dengue  a kas iti O/L  (Obcidal/Larvacidal) Trap.

Buklen ti nasao nga estratehia iti pananglaban ti dengue  babaen iti panangadaptarda iti DOH 4s Kontra Dengue: Search and Destroy, Seek early consultation, Self-protective measures and Say no to indiscriminate fogging.

Panagdaldalus iti aglawlaw ken madalusan  dagiti nasamek a disso iti arubayan ti posible a pagyanan  ti lamok iti kaskenan pay a maaramid. Sumarsaruno ti defogging a mausar   a pangkontra iti makadangran a lamok no kumaron  ti situasion.

Dagitoy nga aksion ken inisiatiba ket gubuay iti nasamay a programa iti pananglapped ti  nadakamat a sakit  ita a panawen ti panagtutudo babaen iti panangitandudo ti Gobierno Munisipal nga idauluan ni Mayor Josh Edward S. Cobangbang tapno masalbar dagiti umili nangruna kadagiti ubbing iti pannakakagat iti agdangran a lamok. # (Web In-Action)

MATH CLASS ITI TUNGGAL SABADO, OKEY MET

Cabugao, Ilocos Sur – Maang-angay  ti Math Class iti Cabugao DepED District iti intero a Munisipalidad ti Cabugao iti kada aldaw ti Sabado  iti   bulan ti Agosto  2017. Dagiti dua  a pageskuelaan ket   iti Cabugao South ken North Central School iti  pakaisentruan  ti Math Class kadagiti pageskuelaan  iti ili a Cabugao, Ilocos Sur.

Iti pannakiuman ti Web In-Action idi Agosto 19, 2017, imbatad dagiti kaaduan a nagannak/guardians kadagiti napili nga ubbing a naanus a nagbantay iti ruar ti klase a maragragsakanda ta maipamaysa a masanay dagiti annakda iti Subject a Math.

Kadagiti met ubbing a nairaman kadaytoy a panagsanay ket kayatda met a takuatan ti kabaelanda ken maibilang a parte ti pannakadisiplinada daytoy nga aktibidad nga paiwayat ti DepED.

Innayon dagiti mangisursuro a maobserbaran  a kaaduan kadagiti nagenrol nga agbasbasa ket pagduyosanda ti Matematika ken isuda ti kaaduan a maikonkontes iti sabali pay nga asignatura kas iti Science Subject iti benneg ti Distrito ken iti Division ti DepED-Ilocos Sur.  # (Web In-Action)

PHILHEALTH CALL CENTER IS NOW 24/7

MEMBERS of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) who have questions on membership or benefits may now call the 24/7 hotline, (02) 441-7442 to get answers to their questions immediately.

The PhilHealth Call Center started operating round-the-clock last August 8 to address stakeholder concerns, especially those needing immediate responses. The 24/7 operation is supported by Pilipinas Teleserv, Inc., one of the country’s leading call centers handling major government accounts.
“We proposed the partial outsourcing of our Corporate Action Center (CAC) in a bid to truly respond to the numerous questions, suggestions, complaints and recommendations of our members and other partners in the National Health Insurance Program,” said Delio A. Aseron II, Head of the PhilHealth CAC.

He emphasized that the outsourcing project, which was procured through public bidding, is a major step towards boosting initiatives to enhance responsiveness in government service. “We see this move as particularly helpful to our overseas Filipino worker-members who may have PhilHealth concerns while working abroad,” he said.
PhilHealth Call Center is Now 24/7  PhilHealth Call Center is Now 24/7 PhilHealth Call Center is Now 24/7 

At present, Pilipinas Teleserv Inc. has deployed 20 call center agents to handle simple, structured questions ranging from status of benefit claim reimbursement to PhilHealth identification number concerns and the basics of membership registration, among others. These agents also handle inquiries through such channels as electronic mail and short messaging system (SMS). On the other hand, the CAC has nine (9) call center agents who handle complex and complicated questions and concerns needing further coordination with program offices, regional, local or branch offices.
At any given day, the CAC averages 2,000 inquiries received through the hotline. With the expanded operating hours and resource complement, the number of dropped calls is expected to go down from 50 percent to 10 percent.

Other feedback channels being managed by the CAC include the official Facebook and Twitter accounts, SMS, e-mails and walk-in visitors at its office in Pasig City. The CAC also handles client concerns received through Hotline 8888, the Civil Service Commission’s Contact Center ng Bayan, Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and referrals from Malacanang and media partners.
PhilHealth Call Center is Now 24/7  PhilHealth Call Center is Now 24/7 PhilHealth Call Center is Now 24/7 

For now, members calling the hotline from outside the Philippines, from the regions or provinces will bear the cost of overseas or long-distance fees but the CAC is looking at procuring a toll-free access line for this purpose soon.  #  Source - PHILHEALTH

DEPED HIGHLIGHTS FINANCIAL LITERACY UNDER PROPOSED 2018 BUDGET

Empowering personnel and learners alike in managing personal finances, a significant initiative of the Department of Education (DepEd) under the leadership of Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, is getting a substantial enhancement under the proposed 2018 budget.

“It’s not only the learners that we aim to prepare with financial education through its integration in the K to 12 curriculum, and the implementation and institutionalization of financial literacy programs. We must equip our teaching and non-teaching personnel as well so that they may truly reap the fruits of their hard labor even before retirement,” the Secretary noted.

As a way of encouraging and educating its personnel against over-borrowing, the Department is introducing policy and operational improvements, and enhancing the guidelines for its Automatic Payroll Deduction System (APDS) Program. Based on data as of December 31, 2016, the outstanding loan receivables of APDS-accredited private lending institutions (PLIs) have amounted to P170.96 billion.

“More than 23,000 have retired without receiving a single centavo of their gratuity because even these are not enough to pay for the loans they have accumulated. We’d like to change the mindset of teachers and personnel when it comes to handling and managing their finances,” Finance Undersecretary Victoria Catibog stated.

Catibog further shared that DepEd has been in talks with several PLIs to extend their other services on financial literacy to teaching and non-teaching personnel of DepEd. In fact, a number of Central Office personnel have already participated in a practical wealth management initiative facilitated in May 2017.

The draft enhanced guidelines and the APDS memorandum of agreement (MOA) are currently for critiquing of the Regional Administrative and Finance Chiefs and members of the technical working group created for this purpose.

Aside from implementing Financial Literacy Program for DepEd employees, the Department has ongoing discussions with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) on the proposed Financial Assistance Program for DepEd borrowers. #  Source -  www.deped.gov.ph

WATER-BORNE DISEASES ADVISORY

Typhoons and heavy rains may cause flooding which, in turn, can potentially increase the transmission of water-borne diseases, or diseases transmitted through water contaminated with human or animal waste. These include typhoid fever, cholera, leptospirosis, and hepatitis A.

Typhoid fever is an infectious disease which is also known as enteric fever or just typhoid. It is caused by bacteria known as Salmonella typhi. It spreads through contaminated food and water or through close contact with someone who is infected. Signs and symptoms include high- and low-grade fever for several days, headache, weakness, loss of appetite, either diarrhea or constipation, and abdominal discomfort.

Cholera is an intestinal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Its incubation period ranges from less than 1 day to 5 days. The infection causes a profuse, painless, watery diarrhea that can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death if treatment is not promptly given. In extreme cases, cholera is a rapidly deadly disease. A healthy individual may die within 2-3 hours if no treatment is provided.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection transmitted by rats through urine and feces. It can contaminate the soil, water, and vegetation. It is caused by Leptospira spirochetes bacteria. Its mode of transmission includes ingesting contaminated food or water, or when broken skin or open wounds are exposed to floodwaters. Its incubation period is 7-10 days.

Hepatitis A, one of the oldest diseases known to humankind, is an infectious disease and caused by Hepatitis A virus (HAV). The most common mode of transmission is ingestion of food contaminated with human waste and urine of persons who have Hepatitis A. Its symptoms usually include fever, flu-like symptoms such as weakness, muscle and joint aches, loss of appetite and dizziness. Other symptoms may be so mild that they go unnoticed.

Climate change affects the increase in the intensity of typhoons. Thus, the Department of Health is issuing this health advisory, especially during these kind of weather events:

Water is a necessity in our daily existence. Make sure drinking water is from a safe and reliable source. When in doubt, it is a must to wait for 2 minutes or longer when the water reaches a rolling boil, or chlorinate drinking water to make it safe.

Food, same as water, is equally important to sustain us healthy and active. Remember that food should be well-cooked, leftovers should be covered and kept away from household pests, and food waste should be disposed properly.

Keep yourself dry and warm, especially during the cold weather. Always wash your hands before and after eating, and using the toilet; when sick, consult a doctor or go to the nearest health facility at once if you, or any household member, have any sign or symptom of infection.

Other safety reminders in times of typhoons include: do not wade or swim in floodwaters to avoid diseases, such as leptospirosis; dispose all waste properly; maintain good personal hygiene; and, put safety first. Stay away from hanging wires and unstable structures. # Source – www.doh.gov.ph