ILOILO (PIA) — The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) will terminate Hospital Insurance Plan (HIP) and Family Hospitalization Plus Plan (FHPP) by December 31, 2012 because GSIS’s findings reveal that the Philippine Health Insurace Corporation (PhilHealth) offers better benefits compared to those offered by GSIS under both plans. Notices have already been sent by the GSIS to agency heads and executives of local government units in Iloilo, Aklan and Antique provinces covered by the Iloilo branch, to inform GSIS members there about such termination date. GSIS will no longer renew existing policies after Dec. 31 and will no longer accept premium payment due on both plans; GSIS  will still accept and process claims as long as they are filed within sixty days from the last day of confinement in 2012 and uf the policy still remains in force till end of 2012.

DISKWENTO CARAVAN

ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA) — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is asking Capiz residents to avail of the agency’s “Diskwento (discount) Caravan to be held at the Roxas City Plaza Nov. 15-16. Some 18 firms, 10 of which are micro, small and medium enterprises and eight either distributors or manufacturers, have already confirmed their participation. The caravan will sell basic and prime commodities like egs, chicken, bath and laundry soaps, noodles, sausages and other food products, beverages, home care products and “noche Buena” products at low prices, some carrying as much as 50 percent discount.

AKLAN DENGUE

KALIBO, Aklan (PIA) — Aklan’s Provincial Health Office has noted a downtrend in dengue cases in Aklan in October although deaths caused by dengue in the province January to October this year has reached 13, with Malay town having the highest number with four; while Kalibo, Numancia, and Ibajay had two each; and Banga, Libacao, and New Washington towns one each. Meanwhile, for the same 10-month period, July listed the highest number of cases with 213, followed by August with 156, and September 109, while all the other months had two-digit number of cases each.

JOB FAIR

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — Over 4,000 job opportunities for overseas and local employment will be offered during a two-day recruitment activity Nov. 28 -29 at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Center here. Trioceanic Manning and Shipping Inc. alone is looking to hire 4,000 18-30 year-old physically fit male fishermen for work on accredited Chinese vessels bound for Argentina, Japan, Cape Mauritius, Fiji Island, and other neighboring Asian countries. Applicants should bring bio-data with recent 2x2 ID photo, National Statistics Office-authenticated birth certificate and latest NBI clearance.

MILK FEEDING

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte (PIA) — The National Dairy Authority (NDA) and the Southern Leyte provincial and Maasin City governments is undertaking a 120-day milk feeding activity for severely underweight children in the province to initially benefit 350 Grade I pupils from public elementary schools with severely underweight students in Maasin City. The program will be expanded to other towns in the province in the next three months, with the NDA expressing willingness to extend it to three months more if need be.