NEGROS-P.M.H.A. M.O.A.
BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental (PIA) — The Negros Occidental provincial government signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) Bacolod Chapter for a project named “Bringing Mental Health Services to the Community,” with the latter providing at least one psychiatrist and one psychologist for consultation treatments and follow up mentally-ill indigent patients at core referral hospitals at least once a month, while the provincial government will provide for honorariums and psychotropic medications for patients. The Provincial Health Office will supervise the project implementation in the Vicente Gustilo District Hospital, Escalante City; Cadiz District Hospital; Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City; Valladolid District Hospital; Gov. Valeriano Gatuslao Memorial Hospital in Himamaylan City; and the Lorenzo Zayco District Hosipital in Kabankalan City.
RESPECT CEASEFIRE
ILOILO CITY, Iloilo — The Philippine Army in Western Visayas is asking the New People’s Army (NPA) to respect the agreed ceasefire agreement this Christmas season. “The suspension of offensive military operations (SOMO) that started December 16 until January 2, 2013 should be honored,” said Major Enrico Ileto, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) who expressed disappointment over the NPA’s failing to honor the agreement when it attacked a platoon of the 82nd Infantry Battalion (82IB) in Miag-ao, Iloilo last December 17, resulting in the death of a soldier. (Tara Yap)
P.D.P. ADVOCACY
CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — Stakeholders from different sectors in Cebu City will gather today, Dec. 21, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the RAFI–Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center here for a Mega Cebu Communications Planning Workshop organized by the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) Research Program and Organizations Development (RPOD) and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI). The activity is aimed at formulating and realizing the vision, brand and planning process of making Mega Cebu a smart, inclusive and sustainable city. Participants include government, private, business and private/civil society sector representatives.
SOGOD BRIDGE
SOGOD, Southern Leyte (PIA) — A new bridge spanning the Subangdaku River here was blest and opened for motorists last Friday, December 14. Gov. Damian Mercado and Rep. Roger Mercado along with other local government officials joined Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Director Rolando Asis in a drive-through the 136 linear meter-long bridge after it was blest, with the convoy of vehicles passing through the 1.4 km.-long cemented road that formed an integral part of the bridge.
BOHOL PROGRAM
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PNA) — Col. Rafael Valencia, new commander of the Philippine Army’s 802nd Brigade said military units here have been ordered to replicate Bohol's “Development for Peace” program in their areas of responsibility. Valencia said during a Central Command conference last week in Cebu, that orders have been issued to “look at Bohol as model and try to replicate Bohol's experience in other Visayas areas to achieve peace and development."