ILOILO CITY (PNA) — Iloilo City is now open to private water concessionaires. Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog issued the statement following his announcement that he will refrain from meddling into the issues of Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) which until now has failed to deliver its promised bulk water supply to its clients. He said there was already a Supreme Court decision that allowed private concessionaires to operate in Cebu. MIWD is the sole franchise holder to operate water generation and distribution in the city and several neighboring municipalities. Mabilog said that only 20 percent of the city’s population has been provided water connections by the MIWD.
U.N. PROJECT
ILOILO CITY (PNA) — Eighty informal settlers from Barangay San Juan, Molo district here are beneficiaries of a United Nations-supported project aimed to mitigate hunger and poverty in poor communities. The project called Millennium Development Goals Family-based Actions for Children and the Environs in the Slum (MDG-FACES), is under the United Nations Center for Human Settlements or UN HABITAT. It was launched here recently by the city government led by Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog. “The MDG-FACES project will center on improving the lives of children and informal settler families in urban areas,” he said.
NEGROS HOSPITAL
DUMAGUETE CITY (PIA) — The construction of the Out-Patient Department building at the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital (NOPH) will be completed before the year ends to serve a greater number of clients in the province. This was revealed by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Dante Domingo in a report to Gov. Roel Degamo. The construction is currently on the final phase with the installation of fixtures like aircon, water, and drainage system, said Adrian Sedillo, capitol information officer. The governor also ordered to expedite measures to repair the modern equipment at the imaging and diagnostic department of NOPH.
DOCTORS’ VISIT
DUMAGUETE CITY (PIA) — A team of more than 15 doctors from Manila will visit Negros Oriental for a series of activities to mark the provincial celebration of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Day. The team of medical doctors and physical therapists are from the Philippine Orthopedics Center, Philippine Orthopedic Pastoral Care and the Physicians for Peace. The team is led by Rev. Fr. Arnold Abelardo, chaplain of the Philippine Orthopedics Center, and Dr. Josephine Robredo-Bondoc. The team will conduct the “Alay sa mga PWDs (Amputees)” activity on Nov. 30 at the Negros Oriental Convention Center where more than 100 amputees will be measured for fitting of prosthetic legs.
FEEDING PROGRAM
ILOILO CITY (PNA) — Preparations are underway for the 120-day Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Food Authority (NFA) 2013 Supplemental Feeding Program (SFP). National Food Authority Iloilo Assistant Manager Jose Pacificador said their early preparation is necessary so they could deliver the rice to the respective Day Care Centers in Iloilo early. “We need to iron fortify the rice before its delivery,” Pacificador explained.