Davao Light's text broadcast through 3913572 out of service on June 20-21

Davao Light and Power Company announces that its ASKDLPC BILL text broadcast will be out of service on June 20, from 10:00 p.m. up until 8:00 a.m. of the following day, June 21, but only to those customers who will inquire through 3913572.

The said service will not be able to cater customer queries on electric bills using this number during this period to facilitate the scheduled system maintenance to be conducted by the SMART Communications for a more improved service to its customers.

The ASKDLPC BILL service will become available as soon as the said maintenance will be finished.

For the meantime, these customers may use the 09229993572 to inquire. Regular rates apply.

The electric distribution utility apologizes to those who will be affected by the temporary unavailability of this text messaging service.

Phoenix launches Balik-Eskwela fuel promo

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines is offering fuel discount in all Phoenix stations from June 18 to 25. Off the pump discount of Php 0.80/liter on diesel, and Php 1.00/liter on gasoline can be availed by Phoenix customers nationwide as part of the Balik-Eskwela Price Discount Promo.

To qualify for the discount, a customer should purchase a minimum of 1 liter of gasoline or diesel in any Phoenix station nationwide. No commercial drumming or any large container is allowed other than the vehicle’s own internal fuel tank.

The discount is valid for cash or credit card transactions.          

                                                    

Employees of Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc., participating Phoenix stations, advertising agencies, Phoenix retailers, suppliers and contractors and their relatives up to second degree of consanguinity or affinity are disqualified from joining the promo.

Promo runs from June 18 to June 25, 2012. Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 3993 Series of 2012.

Phoenix Petroleum is the leading independent and fastest-growing oil company in the Philippines. It is engaged in the business of trading refined petroleum products, lubricants and other chemical products on a wholesale basis, operation of oil depots and storage facilities, and allied services.

ComVal intensifies dengue awareness program

Compostela Valley Province--- Joining the nation in celebrating the Dengue Awareness Month spearheaded by the Department of Health (DOH), the provincial government through the Provincial Health Office (PHO) intensifies its advocacy on preventive measures against dengue through disseminating health advisories, lectures, and other forms of community orientation and self-protection measures.

With the idea that cleanliness is still the key to prevent such mosquito-borne disease, everybody is encouraged to practice proper health sanitation and maintain a clean environment.

Another continuing service is the distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLIN) to the municipalities.  In 2011, a total of 43,304 LLINs were already distributed in the province.

A program is also hosted by the provincial government on June 15 to support the ASEAN (Association of South East Asia Nations) Dengue Day, an annual advocacy campaign day for dengue prevention and control.

On its Malaria Control Program, the province is now busy preparing for the coming visit of “Biyaheng Kulambo” (Travelling LLIN), a DOH new advocacy campaign.  It is a public health intervention against malaria aiming to heighten public awareness in preventing and eliminating such disease.

The caravan started roaming from province to province on April 25 and to culminate on August 17, 2012.  ComVal expects it to drop by on July for the ceremonial transfer and acceptance of LLIN as a manifestation of the province’s support and participation to the campaign.  (grace almedilla, ids-comval)

VP BINAY OFF TO SAUDI, CONVEY PHL CONDOLENCES TO KING ABDULLAH ON DEATH OF CROWN PRINCE

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay will leave Tuesday for Jeddah to personally convey the country's condolences to King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz al-Saud on the passing of Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He will be President Benigno S. Aquino III's representative.

Binay said Prince Nayef was instrumental in the anti-terrorism drive against al-Qaeda's branch in the Kingdom.

"Through his successful anti-terrorism campaign, the people living in Saudi Arabia, including millions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) were kept safe and out of harm’s way," the Vice President said in a statement.

"As Presidential Adviser on OFW concerns, I am grateful for Prince Nayef’s efforts to secure the welfare of our kababayans," he added.

The Crown Prince died of an unspecified lingering illness on June 16 at a hospital in Switzerland. He was 78 years old.

Binay will leave Tuesday, 6:25 p.m. via Emirates flight EK 333 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport I. (pr)

Freedom from poverty: new Filipino struggle

TAGUM CITY,  Davao del Norte, June 18 (PIA):   Fighting for freedom from poverty is the new struggle that Filipinos nowadays are waging ,  Tagum City Councilor Mylene Baura said in her keynote address  during  Tagum City’s 114th Independence Day celebration.

The chair of Tagum City Council Committee on Women, Children and Family Welfare,  Atty. Baura pictured the differing faces of freedom during the foreign colonization time  and the post-liberation era of the Philippine history.

While early Filipinos put their life at stake for the country to gain liberty from foreign control,  the present-day Filipinos  are struggling to free their families from poverty and deprivation.

She talked about the Filipino overseas workers (OFWs) who courageously leave their families to work in foreign lands and send home their hard-earned.

“Bakit ko ito nabanggit?  Dahil sa aking palagay, ang kalayaan na ipinaglalaban natin ngayon ay kalayaan sa kahirapan.  (Why do I mention this?  Because I think that the freedom we are fighting for today is freedom from poverty)”  she said.

As she pondered on a question on who would lead the Filipinos in the fight for freedom from poverty, she debunked common belief that  changing the political leaders would be an answer.

Citing elections had failed to deliver such answer,  she  encouraged everyone to start the change in  each individual self.

“Para isipin natin na isang tao o lider ang pwedeng magdudulot ng pagbabago sa isang bansa na may 97 million na populasyon, ay isang malaking kabaliwan.  (For us to think that only one leader can bring change to a country with 97 million population, is foolishness.),”  she said.

Citing the Independence Day Theme, “ Kalayaan: Pananagutan ng Bayan Para sa Matuwid na Daan,” she  exhorted every Filipino to take part in finding solutions to present concerns while she discouraged  anyone from engaging in divisive actions.

Meanwhile,  Atty. Baura shared  some thoughts taken from  the “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do to Help Your Country,” written by Atty. Alexander L. Lacson who believes that “ each Filipino has the power to change the country for the better.”

In the book, Atty. Lacson suggested Filipinos to follow the traffic rules and the law;  to always ask for an official receipt; to avoid buying smuggled goods but only Filipino products; to speak positively about Filipinos and the Philippines; to respect  the traffic officer, the policeman  and other public servants; to throw garbage properly as well as segregate, recycle and conserve it

Other 12 Little Things that Filipino can do to help the country are to support one’s church; to do the solemn duty (of casting votes) during elections; to pay employees well; to pay taxes; to adopt a scholar or a poor child; and to be a good parent who teaches children to love the country.  

Addressing the Tagumenyos, Atty. Baura said that they still had time to do introspection , and to think of something they can do to contribute to desired changes that would lead the country towards achieving the true meaning of independence.  (PIA-11/Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)

Cacao seedlings distribution to benefit Comvalenyos

COMPOSTELA VALLEY PROVINCE -- Nurturing cacao production as a potential industry in the province, Governor Arturo T. Uy has continuously supported the agriculture programs with more funding allocations and production efficiency strategies through the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office (PAGRO).

One area of concentration is on the High Value Commercial Crops (HVCC) wherein cacao seedlings were given to the farmers.

In January of this year, more or less 108,000 cacao seedlings were distributed for free to the barangays.  The first barangays to receive  are Brgy. Saosao and Brgy. Sawangan in the municipality of Mawab , Brgy. Mayaon and Brgy.

Prosperidad in Montevista, Brgy. San Jose of Monkayo, and Brgy. San Roque and Brgy. San Isidro of Nabunturan.  Each barangay received more than 12,000 seedlings during the ceremonial turn-over. Other barangays are allocated also with such seedlings.

The province’s partner in this endeavor is the Department of National Defense (DND) through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) under the program “Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan” or PAMANA.  (grace almedilla, ids-comval)

Six Davao Region LGUs agree to become collecting agents of PhilHealth

By Carina L. Cayon

DAVAO CITY, June 18 (PIA) – Six municipal local government units in Davao Region have agreed to become collecting agents of Philhealth Regional Office XI in an aim to bring the latter’s services closer to the public.

The municipal LGUs of Bansalan, Sta. Cruz and Sulop of Davao del Sur, Banaybanay and Lupon of Davao Oriental, and Mawab of Compostela Valley have signed a commitment to support PhilHealth’s advocacy to accredit LGUs as Accredited Collecting Agents (ACA).

Dennis B. Adre, Philhealth-XI regional vice president, said tapping LGUs as ACAs will serve as alternative windows for collecting premium contributions from Philhealth members, especially from far-flung communities. 

“We don’t have banks in far-flung areas, and Philhealth members have to go to Davao City to pay for the premium,” Adre told the media in an interview during the commitment signing on June 15 at the Marco Polo Hotel.

He said accrediting LGUs as ACA will address this particular concern, and will provide accessibility and convenience for Philhealth’s individually paying members.

The accredited LGU will receive from Philhealth a service fee equivalent to 1.5 percent of the total collections every quarter, Adre stated.

He, however, said that they have proposed at Philhealth central office for a 3% service fee just like the existing fee of the accredited collecting banks.

He added that the proposal is likely to be approved.

According to Philhealth, a non-bank ACA that opted to collect Philhealth premiums through over-the-counter and has conformed to the prescribed Collection and Remittance Agreement (CRA) shall be required to provide Philhealth a bond (surety/fidelity).

An ACA is also required to use prescribed forms such as Philhealth Agents Receipt (PAR) and the Philhealth Premium Payment Slip (PPRS) which were devised to efficiently monitor collections and remittances of all ACAs.

Adre said they are hoping to cover all LGUs as ACAs next year.

Among Philhealth’s existing accredited collecting partners include Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB), LBC, Bayad Center, MLhuillier, Remittance by Air, Philpost and SM malls. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)