CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — In its aim to aid members of media in tackling delicate health issues, the Department of Health (DoH) through the National Center for Health Promotion (NCHP) will be conducting a seminar for said purpose.

The seminar will run December 8 to 10 and will be attended by various media representatives in the country which will be done in this city’s Montebello Hotel.

Sensitive issues to be tackled include family planning, child health, substance abuse and suicide. DoH7 Regional Director Susana Madarieta said such issues can be challenging and difficult to write especially if the reporter does not have full grasp and understanding on the subject matters.

“It is critical to involve the media in this advocacy for health,” she said. Madarieta added that the three-day seminar will also be a venue where the DoH will seek media’s help in promoting advocacy programs for public education. (Phoebe Jen Indino)

CITY TO EMPOWER URBAN POOR

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines (PNA) — Atty. Joshua Alim, Chairman of the Committee on Urban Poor at the Sangguniang Panlungsod here, wants to empower the urban poor sector starting with the establishment of a cooperative.

Instead of just relying on the assistance that may be extended to them by the city government, the urban poor can seek other options available if they are duly registered with the Cooperatives Development Authority (CDA).

Alim said the national government and even senators are extending livelihood grants as long as members of urban poor communities are organized into a registered cooperative.

"Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and my committee want all our (urban poor) communities to have a livelihood component,” he said. The sector, he said, has already completed the required orientation by the CDA and are now processing their documentation and membership papers.

"We saw that members of the sector are very cooperative and willing to put up an association," he added. The Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (ICUPAO) headed by Wilfredo Jurilla has registered some 19,311 urban poor to date and already, 7,214 were accommodated in 22 in site and off site housing projects of the city government.

CEBU COPS FEED 550 KIDS

CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — Instead of bringing pistols and bullets, policemen from the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) armed themselves with bread and refreshments during a feeding program for some 550 children in Barangay Inayawan last Sunday.

The feeding program was part of the CCPO’s community outreach program dubbed “Pulis Ko, Amigo Ko,” which is intended to convey to children the message they should not be afraid of policemen.

Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, Head of the City Intelligence Branch (CIB), said the children they were able to gather were mostly scavengers; their parents were also allowed by the police to join the gathering.

Santander said their target was 500 children but they were able to feed 50 more. The activity was attended by the CIB team, Police Community Relations personnel and Barangay Intelligence Network members.

It was held from 10:30 A.M. to 12 P.M..Santander said it was the first feeding program he initiated since he assumed his post as new head of the CIB. The children, who were given bread and juice drinks, were between one to eight years of age. (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr.)