Inflation rate in Eastern Visayas declines to 1.6% in May 2019

By PSA-8
June 19, 2019

TACLOBAN CITY – The Inflation Rate (IR) in Eastern Visayas continued to drop to 1.6 percent in May 2019. This is 0.4 percentage point lower compared with the 2.0 percent IR a month ago, and 4.2 percentage points lower compared with the 5.8 percent IR recorded in the same period last year. The regional inflation rate is 1.6 percentage points lower than the 3.2 percent national average in May 2019.

The provinces of Biliran, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar and Samar registered lower IRs in May 2019 compared with their figures in the previous month. Samar recorded the biggest drop of 1.5 percentage points, from 1.3 percent in April 2019 to -0.2 percent in May 2019. On the other hand, 0.3 percentage point and 0.2 percentage point increases in IRs were noted in Leyte and Southern Leyte, registering 3.8 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively in May 2019. Biliran posted the lowest with negative IR at 2.9 percent, while Leyte recorded the highest IR during the month in review at 3.8 percent (Table 1).

Among the commodity groups, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels commodity group registered the biggest drop of 1.3 percentage points, from 0.2 percent in April 2019 to -1.1 percent during the month in review.

The heavily weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages declined by 0.2 percentage point to 2.3 percent in May 2019 from its previous month’s rate of 2.5 percent. Higher inflation rates noted in fish; sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery products; corn; vegetables; oils and fats; and milk, cheese and eggs were offset by slower price increases in rice; non–alcoholic beverages; bread and cereals; fruits; meat; and food products not elsewhere classified. Rice registered the highest decrease of 1.5 percentage points, from 0.2 percent in April 2019 to -1.3 percent in May 2019. Fruits index continued to register a negative inflation rate at 5.7 percent.

Slower IRs were also exhibited in the commodity groups of alcoholic beverages and tobacco; clothing and footwear; furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house; and communication.

On the other hand, transport IR increased to 5.9 percent during the reference month, 0.4 percentage point higher compared with the 5.5 percent IR in April 2019. This can be traced to higher IRs in the index for transport services.

IR for the commodity groups of health and recreation and culture increased by 0.1 percentage point each, both settling at 3.6 percent, during the month in review.

Restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services and education, meanwhile, retained their previous month’s rates of 2.3 percent, -16.4 percent, respectively.

The Purchasing Power of Peso (PPP) of the region remained at P0.80 in May 2019. This PPP implies that goods and services worth 100 pesos in May 2019 only cost 80 pesos in 2012.

All provinces retained their previous month’s PPP, except for Samar, which posted a 0.01 centavo increase in PPP. Biliran recorded the strongest PPP at P0.84. Southern Leyte ranked second at P0.82, followed by Leyte at P0.81, Eastern Samar at P0.79, and Samar at P0.77. Northern Samar posted the weakest PPP at P0.76.

Working together to protect health care across Asia-Pacific

By ICRC
June 18, 2019

MANILA – Representatives of health ministries, medical associations, academia, military and aid organizations from nine countries have committed to work on ensuring that health care is safe from disruption and violence in the Asia-Pacific region, affirming there is an urgent need to strengthen the preparedness of health-care systems in this regard.

The first regional meeting, held in Makati City from June 13 to 15, gathered 65 participants who reaffirmed their collective responsibility in a declaration to enhance the protection of health-care services from various forms of violence. While the process needs to be led by States, there are many opportunities for other stakeholders to contribute to the effort.

“Every day, medical personnel, nurses and health responders are confronted with situations of violence and other actions that disrupt provision of health care to those who need it the most,” said Maciej Polkowski, head of the Health Care in Danger (HCiD) initiative at International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). “This can range from deliberate attacks in cases of conflict, to violent verbal abuse from a patient. These regional meetings concentrate on the ground realities in Asia-Pacific and are aimed at moving towards improved protection of health care in a very concrete, defined and hopefully, inspiring manner.”

The HCiD initiative was launched globally in 2011 by the ICRC and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to improve the protection of health care. It is a multifaceted initiative that encompasses partnerships, advocacy and an operational approach. The recent Asia-Pacific meeting was organized by the ICRC in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross. It brought together participants from Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines.

In the meeting, the participants discussed and shared concrete experiences in the task of making health-care services accessible, safe and free from violence. By adopting the “Manila Declaration on the Protection of Health Care,” they agreed that:

- Weapon bearers must strengthen their respect for safe and secure delivery of health care through practical measures such as training manuals and standard operating procedures;

- Authorities must undertake appropriate measures to train and educate civil servants, health-care workers and the public on domestic laws protecting health care;

- There is a need to strengthen the resilience and preparedness of health-care systems to face attacks, with focus on the physical security of facilities, training of staff to prevent and manage violence and to strengthen coordination mechanisms.

For the meeting’s host country – the Philippines – protection of health care is highly relevant in the southern island of Mindanao due to decades of internal armed conflicts that presented various challenges for health professionals.

“We have to be concerned with the safety and protection of health-care workers deployed in areas affected by conflict as these are the places we also cater to,” said Dr Rolanisah Dipatuan-Dimaporo, chief of staff in the ministry of health of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). “But we also realized during the meeting that health staff in contexts other than conflict are exposed to different risks.”

Moving forward, participants of the Asia-Pacific meeting agreed that by supporting the declaration, they commit to consolidate the good intentions and ideas into action by discussing and incorporating HCiD initiatives in their respective agencies’ strategic planning.

The ICRC is a neutral, impartial and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance. It has an international mandate to promote knowledge for and compliance with international humanitarian law.

ECCD-IP implementation in ASAPP areas evaluated

By JACK C. GADAINGAN, Nation Builder
June 17, 2019

TACLOBAN CITY – In three years of its implementation, the Early Childhood Care and Development - Intervention Package (ECCD-IP) for First 1000 Days (F1K), has really made some impact in the nutritional status of local people in the pilot area.

ECCD program coordinator Jennibeth S. Cañete, who headed the Regional Technical Assistance Monitoring and Evaluation (R-TAME) team, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with Nation Builder.

An R-TAME team composed of Cañete and Janice Bael of National Nutrition Council Region 8 (NNC-8) together with Saloma Guisulga, Elena Monteroso and Melodina Edullantes of the Visayas State University - Barangay Integrated Development Approach for Nutrition Improvement (VSU-BIDANI), conducted a monitoring and evaluation of the ECCD F1K implementation, down barangay level in the city of Baybay and the towns of Abuyog, Mahaplag and Hilongos all in Leyte 5th district on May 28-31, 2019.

“There has been a significant decrease of malnutrition in this city since the implementation of the Early Childhood Care and Development!” Baybay City Mayor Carmen L. Cari claimed in a State of Nutrition Address (SONA) on October 24, 2018.

The local government units (LGUs) of Abuyog, Mahaplag, Hilongos and Baybay are covered under the Accelerated and Sustainable Anti-Poverty Program (ASAPP) of the national government, a three-year intervention package being piloted in selected cities and municipalities (10 provinces nationwide) considered poor.

Health and nutrition is only one component of ASAPP, which aims to accelerate poverty reduction and boosting economic growth in the identified localities through public-private interventions, among which by tapping the skills and resources of the poor in enabling private enterprises to expand their production capacities and markets.

Meanwhile, focus on First 1000 Days congruent with the Early Years Act (RA 10410) refers to full range of health, nutrition, early education, and social services development program for the holistic needs of young children. It further narrows down the age-group on First 1000 Days of life, referred as “golden window of opportunity” for the child’s growth and development--that includes the time of conception (pregnancy), until the baby is born and two years of age.

The primary and immediate objective of ECCD-IP F1K is to reduce maternal and child undernutrition, specifically at normal times: a. Promote optimum infant and young child feeding; b. Nutrition services in ante-natal care; c. Health services (prenatal, prenatal, immunization, management of childhood illnesses, reproductive health).

In emergencies: d. Vitamin A, iron, and iodine supplementation; e. Food fortification with vitamin A, iron, and iodine; f. Diet diversification; Increase food supply and improve physical and economic access to nutritious and safe food; and g. Early child learning and psychosocial stimulation.

Rehabilitation of access road leading to Naval port completed

By DPWH-Biliran
June 17, 2019

NAVAL, Biliran – An access road leading to Naval seaport has been improved by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) -Biliran District Engineering Office (DEO).

From a bumpy and narrow existing concrete road, travellers along Vicentillo Extension to Naval port is experiencing a great difference of travel with the completion of DPWH-Biliran DEO access road project.

Mr. David Julian Culibra, who frequently pass along this road section in going home said that he now enjoys riding his motorcycle along this road.

Before the rehabilitation project of DPWH, the road along this section had intermittent big potholes, posing danger to the travelling public.

“The existing substandard concrete road shows rutting and depressions and it was difficult to drive because the road is uneven,” explained Culibra.

In convergence with the DPWH and the Department of Transportation (DOTr), DPWH-Biliran DEO has included the rehabilitation of this project under its 2017 Regular Infrastructure Program with a contract cost of P37.13M.

According to District Engineer David P. Adongay Jr., the project was prioritized because of the traffic congestion along this route during peak hours due to its damaged surface.

The said project involves the rehabilitation of damaged substandard local road with a width of 6.10-meter and a thickness of 0.23-meter and with a length of 1.390-kilometer two lane road. It also involves a construction of 754-meter length of drainage canal and payment of Road-Right-Of-Way (RROW). Application of asphalt overlay with thermoplastic pavement is also included in the scope of work.

At present, it has already a smooth surface and is much safer for the traveling public.

“This is the kind of road I like to travel every day,” said Culibra.

ACT on doubled salary of teachers in 20 years: Cabinet member pay rose 5 folds

Press Release
June 16, 2019

QUEZON CITY – ACT countered DepEd's claim that teachers are taken care of with the doubling of their salaries in 2 decades by raising the fact that salaries of cabinet members increased by 570% and the president’s basic pay by 606% since 2000.

DepEd Sec. Briones reportedly defended in a recent cabinet meeting that teachers are taken care of by presenting historical data on teachers' salaries and benefits.

“Sec. Briones forgot to mention that in the same period, salaries of top government officials increased 5 to 6 times. Now, whose welfare are truly taken care of?” asked Joselyn Martinez, ACT National Chairperson.

ACT study on government pay scheme since 2000 revealed that cabinet members pay rose from P38,500 in 2000 to P257,809 in 2019 while the president's salary increased from P55,000 in 2000 to P388,096 this year.

“Clearly the principle of equitable and sustainable pay is not reflected in the government salary scheme. The government is the foremost violator of the constitutionally mandated principle of social justice as the gap between rank-and file and top officials continue to widen, ' added Martinez.

Nothing special in doubled salaries in 20 years

Martinez lambasted DepEd for ‘deliberately obscuring the entire picture’ when the agency claimed that teachers’ salaries have doubled since 2000 while failing to mention its context, and the fact that all other salaries as well as the costs of living also rose to around the same rate.

“There is nothing special with the doubling of salaries in the span of two decades. Salaries of all workers have been chasing after the rising cost of living through the years but never managed to keep up,” said Martinez.

ACT cited that the 119% increase in teachers' pay since 2000 are approximately the same, if not lower than those received by minimum wage earners in the public and private sector.

The minimum wage in NCR rose by 140%, from P223.5 in 2000 to P537 at present. Salary Grade I government employees had 130% pay increase, from P4,821 to P11,068 this year.

Better benefits?

ACT also belied Sec. Briones’ claim in ‘pushing for reforms and initiatives’ that allegedly resulted in improved benefits, citing that benefits received by teachers are largely the same as those received by other government employees such as the 13th and 14thmonth pay, and their clothing allowance.

The chalk allowance, ACT said, is a special benefit for teachers for having the distinct situation of needing to buy their own supplies needed in the performance of their duty. ACT also raised that even the benefits that are yet to be received by teachers such as the P500 medical allowance and P1,000 World Teachers’ Day (WTD) bonus are already mentioned by the secretary to make it appear that teachers are better off than other government employees.

“The grant of medical allowance is actually 50 years delayed since the 1966 Magna Carta provided for it, and now it hangs by a thread as the president placed it under conditional implementation. Even the WTD bonus is P500 short of the P1,500 amount promised by Sec. Briones last year,” Martinez explained.

The teachers’ federation further argued that it was the ‘uncompromising pursuit for better pay and benefits’ that gained teachers these rightful compensations.

“The government did not give these benefits out of their own will, these are hard won by teachers together with our partners in Congress, especially the ACT Teachers Partylist,” said Martinez.

ACT detailed that the increase in chalk allowance from P700 to its current amount of P3,500 was campaigned by teachers inside and outside the parliament. The same goes for the additional P2,000 in their uniform allowance and the newly included P500 annual medical allowance for teachers. These amendments were made possible by legislation principally authored and pushed for by ACT Teachers Partylist. Even the official celebration of World Teachers' Day (WTD) was a product of a law passed by ACT Teachers Partylist, which allowed for DepEd's recent move to provide a WTD bonus.

“The same resolve of teachers and partners who recognize the value of education will also win us our much-deserved salary increase,” declared Martinez.

‘Enough with the propaganda’

ACT urged DepEd to stop trying to ‘deodorize the government’ and instead work with teachers in fulfilling the overdue pay hike promise.

“The propaganda has to stop. More time should be spent on actually resolving the crisis in the pay of teachers and other rank-and-file employees, instead of on manipulating facts. Teachers are fighting for decent living and working condition, heed us instead of delegitimizing our struggle,” pressed Martinez.

Senior high school in Leyte gets new classrooms

By DPWH 2nd LED
June 11, 2019

JULITA, Leyte – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte field office here has recently completed the construction of a three-storey six-classroom school building at Julita Senior High School in Julita, Leyte.

According to Erlinda Daya, school head, the new facility will be used as regular classrooms while the old vacated buildings will be utilized as laboratories and office for teachers. The school has a total of 308 enrollees for this year.

The high-rise building is worth P15 million funded under the Basic Educational Facilities Fund (BEFF) of 2018. BEFF is an annual budget for school building program, which covers the improvement and maintenance of school facilities in the country.

“This building is provided with standard toilet and sanitary facilities, storage rooms and proper ventilation, each classroom installed with two oscillating ceiling fans. It is also equipped with fire alarm system and fire extinguisher,” said Gerald Pacanan, DPWH Leyte 2 district engineer.

He added that with the addition of junior and senior high, the number of students in high school has increased prompting the government to allocate more funds for school facilities.

“This is in support to the government’s strengthened education program. We, at the DPWH and in coordination with the Department of Education commit to provide more conducive learning facilities for students,” he ended.

For 2018 BEFF, the district is tasked to implement 25 school building projects worth P371.39 million.

Gift-Giving activity of GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc. in partnership with DepEd and 14IB in Eastern Samar

By 14th Infantry Battalion, 8ID PA
June 10, 2019

BRGY DAO, Oras, Eastern Samar – The 14th Infantry (Avenger) Battalion, under the leadership of its Commanding Officer, LTC Jasper Justito M. Pecson INF (GSC) PA, Commanding Officer, participated in the conduct of gift-giving activity of GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc. with the theme “Unang Hakbang sa Kinabukasan 2019” spearheaded by Ms Amabelle Rusiana, Eastern Visayas coordinator of GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc. with the Department of Education (DepEd) Eastern Samar last June 4-8, 2019.

The four (4) day gift-giving activity of foundation is composed of complete school supplies with backpacks that were distributed to the kindergarten and Grade I pupils in the different barangays of the Municipalities of Dolores, San Policarpo and Arteche, all of Eastern Samar. About 3,300 children were benefited from the said activity.

The said gift giving activity recognizes the burden of less fortunate families in providing school supplies for their children. It also creates an impact to the community in order for the people to support the government’s mandate in sustaining the promotion of peace and development of the community and at the same time to bring happiness to the people, making them feel that they are not forgotten. It further encourages the children to continue to go to school and learn for a better future.

The unit expressed its gratitude to the foundation in collaboration with the DepEd for the successful conduct of the gift-giving activity, which contributed to the sustainment of peace through the efforts of the different stakeholders in the province of Eastern Samar.

DPWH-Biliran DEO implements additional flood control projects under 2018 fund

By DPWH-Biliran
June 10, 2019

NAVAL, Biliran – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)- Biliran District Engineering Office (DEO) is implementing additional two flood control projects under its 2018 fund. These flood control projects are implemented at Brgy. Mapuyo in Kawayan town and Brgy. Busali in Biliran town.

District Engineer David P. Adongay Jr. said that these projects are currently on-going with an accomplishment of 50% and 20%, respectively as of May 31, 2019.

“The funds for the additional flood control projects are late release of the 2018 budget under the local infrastructure program, hence also the late in implementation” said Adongay.

According to Adongay, these flood control projects were prioritized to protect the community and agricultural products against flooding and damages.

“There is an urgent need for the completion of these projects especially that it is already rainy season,” said Adongay.

The P9.63M construction of Busali Flood control project entails the construction of a 156-linear meter length on both sides of the river with a height of 3.5-meter. This project is target to be completed on June 30, 2019.

Meanwhile, the Mapuyo Flood Control project entails the construction and reconstruction of revetment structure with a total length of 192-linear meter on both sides and a height of 3.5-meter with a contract cost of P14.46M. This project is set to be completed on September 23, 2019.

Adongay revealed that the portion of the existing flood control structure in Mapuyo river was damaged during tropical storm “Urduja” in December 2017 due to the impact of the washed out debris, thus the need for a reconstruction of a 65-linear meter length on one side of the river.

Adongay said that with the additional project, Biliran DEO now has a total of 62 projects implemented under 2018 fund from only 60 projects.

Out of the 62 projects, 52 were already completed while 10 are on-going with an overall accomplishment of 91.97% as of May 31, 2019.

On-going projects includes four access roads leading to tourist destinations, one slope protection project, one bypass road, one bridge widening, one multipurpose building and two flood control projects.

289 new Candidate Soldiers took oath to serve the country

By DPAO, 8ID PA
June 6, 2019

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan, Samar – A total of 289 new Candidate Soldiers of the Philippine Army took their oath of duty and service to the country in a simple ceremony held at the hallowed grounds of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division Headquarters in Catbalogan City, Samar on Wednesday morning June 5, 2019.

The oath taking rite was immediately followed by the opening of the Philippine Army Candidate Soldier Course Classes 583 & 603 -2019 by no less than Major General Raul M Farnacio AFP, Commander of the 8ID in the presence of the candidate soldiers’ love ones; and Officers, Enlisted Personnel and civilian employees of the Stormtroopers Division.

The 4-month course is expected to transform and mold the new recruits from being “boys” into “men”. After completing and passing the rigid training, they will be then enlisted into the Philippine Army with the rank of Private.

Major General Farnacio in his remarks assured the candidate soldiers’ parents that their sons, after the training will be competent and disciplined soldiers. “’Ang araw na ito ay hudyat ng malaking pagbabago sa inyong kinagisnang buhay bilang sibilyan. Mula ngayon, sasanayin at tuturuan kayo ng ibat-ibang kaalaman at kakayahan. Ang inyong pagsasanay ay hindi magiging madali. Hindi lamang tatag ng katawan ang susubukin maging ang tibay ng damdamin at bilis ng kaisipan din.”

“Bilang Division Commander, aking inaasahan na kayo ay magiging mga sundalo na may mataas na antas ng disiplina, buo ang paninindigan, matapang, at tapat sa tungkulin na ngayon ay inyong sinumpaan”.

“Huwag ninyong bibiguin ang inyong mga magulang at ang lahat ng taong nagtitiwala at umaasang mapagtatagumpayan ninyo ang lahat ng hamon ng pagsasanay upang kayo ay magiging ganap na sundalo. Wala ng atrasan! Gabayan sana kayo ng Poong Maykapal,” Farnacio said.

The 298 candidate soldiers came from different provinces all over the country with the following education profile: 79 college graduates; 79 college level; 5 vocational graduates; 41 senior high school graduate and 85 high school graduate with special skills from TESDA.

Save the Children Philippines says children have a right to cleaner air

Press Release
June 5, 2019

MAKATI CITY – Save the Children Philippines called for a clean and healthy environment in schools and communities to protect children from diseases and premature deaths due to air pollution.

The group raised the issue at the World Environment Day on June 5, citing around seven million people die every year across the world due to health problems caused by air pollution, 600,000 of them are children.

Lawyer Albert Muyot, Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Philippines said learners spend an average of five to eight hours in schools, facing health risks from air pollution.

As classes opened last Monday, majority of children will be in schools for five days and will be exposed to air pollution and other health risks, said Muyot.

“Young learners have fragile bodies and exposure to tiny, invisible airborne particles from dirty air pose serious risks to their health,” said Muyot.

Save the Children’s End of Childhood Report 2019 ranked the Philippines 104th in the 176 list of best and worst countries to be a child due to high number of teenage pregnancy, malnutrition and child deaths before reaching five years old.

The report said malnutrition among Filipino children remains high at 33.4 percent – or 3.8m – children under five years not getting enough daily nutrition. It added that nearly three percent – or 322,000 – of children in the country die before their fifth birthday from preventable causes.

“Millions of children who lack daily nutrition are more susceptible to illnesses including pneumonia, bronchitis and asthma due to air pollution and face the risk of dropping out of schools,” said Muyot. These children also face devastating and life-long health risks as air pollution can affect the development of their lungs, brain and other organs, he added.

Last year, the Philippines recorded the 3rd highest number of deaths due to air pollution with 45.3 deaths per 100,000 individuals, next to China as first and Mongolia as second. “Save the Children Philippines makes sure children have a healthy start in life,” said Muyot.