Part of community health initiatives promotion

SAN JORGE, Samar– Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has once again reminded Filipinos to strengthen bayanihan efforts in their communities and prioritize their health and well-being amid challenging times.

On Saturday, August 3, Go visited San Jorge as part of the province’s week-long festivities in anticipation of its Araw ng Samar celebration.

During his visit, Go joined a gathering of community health frontliners to promote the importance of access to healthcare especially for disadvantaged sectors in the grass roots.

Gathered at the San Jorge Municipal Covered Court, Go partnered with the provincial government to provide much-needed support to healthcare frontliners.
In his speech, the senator reiterated the importance of working together for the betterment of their communities.

“Ang importante po dito ay magtulungan lang po tayo at magmalasakit. Huwag tayong mawalan ng pag-asa dahil andito lang ang gobyerno palaging magseserbisyo at magmamalasakit sa inyo. Hindi namin kayo pababayaan,” reaffirmed Go.

“Pakiusap ko sa mga local officials, huwag ninyong pabayaan ang mga kababayan natin diyan, lalung-lalo na ‘yung mga mahihirap, dahil kayo lang ang matatakbuhan nila,” he continued.

Go and his Malasakit Team distributed grocery packs, shirts, basketballs, volleyballs, vitamins, and snacks to 1,000 individuals, composed of Barangay Health Workers (BHW), daycare workers, and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS). The senator also gave away bicycles, shoes, mobile phones, and watches to select beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, through the collective efforts of Senator Go in partnership with fellow Senator Robin Padilla and the local government led by Governor Sharee Ann Tan, Congressmen Stephen James “Jimboy” T. Tan and Reynolds Michael Tan, Vice Governor Arnold Tan, Mayor Leoncio De Guia, and Vice Mayor Jay G. Bisnar, among others, financial assistance was given to each beneficiary.

Go’s advocacy also extends to the indispensable role of community health frontliners who act as the first point of contact for healthcare in their communities. To ensure fair compensation and benefits for these frontliners, he introduced Senate Bill No. 427, also known as the Barangay Health Workers Compensation.

The proposed law aims to improve compensation benefits for BHWs if enacted into law and recognizes their invaluable contributions in delivering primary healthcare services, raising health awareness, and safeguarding the well-being of the community.

It aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s call to prioritize the welfare of BHWs, especially given their significant contributions during the nation’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. (PR)

ORMOC CITY-Operatives from the City Drug Enforcement Team of the Catbalogan city police seized ten sachets of white crystalline substances suspected to be shabu from a construction worker in a buy-bust operation in Brgy. Canlapwas in the said city on Friday at about 9:43 pm.

The suspect, identified as alias “Jojo,” 30, single, and a resident of Canlapwas, was apprehended by the police.

Initially, one sachet of the suspected shabu was recovered from Jojo, which had been purchased by an operative for P500.

A subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses, led to the discovery of nine additional sachets of suspected shabu inside a green plastic container.
The suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and was advised of his constitutional rights in a language he understood.

Charges for violating sections 5 (selling illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of Article II of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, have been filed against the suspect at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

The suspect is currently detained in a locked-up cell of the Catbalogan city police station.
(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) will soon issue notices to local government units (LGUs) that have yet to comply with Republic Act 11032, also known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

“By August 15, we will send out notices to explain why certain LGUs have not complied. Before that, we have instructed our offices to conduct inspections and require these LGUs to submit their action plans,” ARTA Secretary Ernesto Perez stated in a press conference on Tuesday, August 6.

Out of the 1,634 cities and municipalities nationwide, 48 LGUs have been recognized by the agency for their compliance with the law. Recent additions to this list include the city government of Ormoc and the municipal government of Palompon.

“If these LGUs fail to provide a valid explanation for their non-compliance, we will have no choice but to conduct investigations and file appropriate charges with either the Office of the Ombudsman or the Civil Service Commission,” Sec. Perez added.

He emphasized that being a low-income municipality does not exempt LGUs from implementing the law.

For example, Guinsiliban, a 6th-class municipality in Camiguin, and San Roque, a 4th-class municipality in Northern Samar, have successfully complied.

“It really requires political will from the mayor. If the mayor is committed and directs the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) and barangay officials, compliance will follow,” Perez noted.

Although ARTA has recognized only 48 compliant LGUs so far, Sec.Perez clarified that this does not imply that others are non-compliant.

ARTA is working with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to align their data with the list of compliant LGUs.

Regarding connectivity issues, Sec.Perez mentioned that a joint memorandum circular involving the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), DILG, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and other relevant agencies will address permitting processes for shared passive telecommunication infrastructure and fiber optic pole construction.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)