QC EXTENDS ENVIRONMENTAL DRIVE TO SCHOOLS

The Quezon City government is bringing to the city’s public schools the intensified campaign to lessen the effects of climate change and global warming.

This year, the QC Environment Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD) headed by Ms. Frederika Rentoy will be mobilizing the public schools in information dissemination that will raise the awareness of the students on environmental protection issues and concerns and the effects of climate change.

As part of this effort, there will be awarding ceremonies to be led by Mayor Herbert Bautista at QC Hall on Monday (April 18)    for the top participating schools under the Hakot Bulasi sa Eskwela Project.

Three schools at the elementary and high school level that have generated  the most number of recyclables for school year 2010-2011 will be given awards, including their principals who will be given certificate of recognition.

Topnotchers from the elementary level are Diosdado Macapagal Elementary School with 2,049.88 volume of recyclables redeemed worth P13,305.27; P. Bernardo Elementary School with 1,980.58 recyclables worth P13,963.91; and Payatas A Elementary School with 1,559.40 recyclables worth P11,202.80.

High school level awardees are Lagro High School with 6,174.26 recyclables worth P32,825.07; North Fairview High School with 2,188.70 recyclables worth P14,671.63; and Commonwealth High School with 1,471.85 recyclables worth P12,772.80.

The QC government will also give certificate of appreciation to IPM-ESI, Green Light Environmental Services, QC Environment Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Linis Ganda), Rotary Club of Quezon City and the partner junkshops of the winning schools for their unwavering support in the implementation of the project.

The Hakot Bulasi sa Eskwela Project was first implemented in 2008 with the goal of raising student’s environmental awareness and encouraging the school-based practice of waste segregation and recycling, which are considered effective in contributing to efforts at protecting the environment.

Under the project, which was able to teach the students that waste is a valuable resource that should be recovered,  groceries and school supplies were given to students in exchange for recyclable waste.

Rentoy noted that during the first phase of the project, an average of more than 1 metric ton of recyclable waste was collected from each of the 6 pilot schools, then up to 113 metric tons the following years.

To date, around 21 percent of all public elementary and high schools in the city are already included in the project. -30- Maureen Quinones, PAISO

1ST PRO-POOR QC HOUSING TO BENEFIT 500 FAMILIES

An estimated 500 families, especially those living in danger areas, will soon be awarded decent and comfortable housing units in Quezon City.

Quezon City Mayor Herbert M. Bautista signed a memorandum of agreement with Pag-Ibig Fund Chairman Darlene Marie B. Berberabe and Habitat for Humanity managing director Ricardo N. Jacinto for the city’s massive and socialized housing and resettlement program.

The signing of agreement coincided with the first meeting of the newly created QC Housing Board led by the Mayor as chairman, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte as vice chairman, Majority Floor Leader Jesus Suntay and Minority Floor Leader Eufemio Lagumbay as members, Urban Poor Affairs Office (UPAO) as secretariat, and urban poor organizations such as Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Magkapitbahay ng Manresa, Alyansa ng MAralita sa Nova (Almanova), Doña Lualhati Cojuangco Homeowner’s Association, and Urban Poor Council of Leaders of Quezon City.

The city government’s move is in line with its plan to develop two new major housing projects this year to address the problem of urban settlements in the city. Providing pro-poor housing is a flagship program of the Bautista’s administration which was announced during the Mayor’s first day of office last year.

To date, the QC government has acquired a 1.58 hectare site in Barangay Payatas for the project that will house 300 to 500 families from danger areas such as sidewalks, roadways, waterways, under transmission lines, and on water pipelines.

At the same time, the city government will invest P23 million funds for the construction of roads, drainages, streetlights and other infrastructure works in the so-called QC eco-village.

The Home Mutual Fund or Pag-Ibig is set to provide an easy financing scheme for the beneficiaries over a 30-year period with an average P2,000 monthly amortization. The Habitat for Humanity, on the other hand, is committed to assist in housing construction, as well as in sourcing additional funding for the dwelling units.

The affordable housing units are designed for  26 square meters to 40 square meters of  row houses. Beneficiaries will include the city’s homeless public school teachers and informal settler families.

QC government believes that the partnership with Pag-Ibig and Habitat for Humanity will foster sustainability of the administration’s housing project, by ensuring the return on investment that can finance the next round of low-cost houses.

At present, the city government is also continuously working with the National Housing Authority (NHA) to avail of its ready- to- occupy dwelling units in Southville 8, Barangay San Isidro in Rodriguez, Rizal and in San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan. -30- Maureen Quinones, PAISO

QC TO PENALIZE HOSPITALS VIOLATING R.A. 9439, 8344

Posters regarding detention of patients on grounds of nonpayment of hospital bills and other medical expenses, and the law that prohibits hospitals from demanding deposits or advance payments for the confinement or treatment of patients will soon be visible in all medical establishments within Quezon City to inform the public of their rights to medical treatment.

This after Quezon City 2^nd District Councilor Alfredo Paolo D. Vargas III filed two  measures requiring all hospitals, medical clinics, health centers and similar medical institutions in the city to post copies of Republic Act 9439 which prohibits the detention of patients in hospitals and medical clinics on grounds of nonpayment of hospital bills or medical expenses, and Republic Act 8344 that penalizes medical establishments that refuse to administer appropriate initial medical treatment and support in emergency or serious cases due to lack of amounts for deposit unlawfully imposed on patients.

Proposed Ordinance Nos. 10-123 and 10-124 aim to inform the public of their rights as mandated by law and to ensure that proper communication as to such rights is provided among QC constituents in simple yet effective ways.

According to Vargas, a considerable number of QC residents availing basic health services appear to be uninformed or misinformed as to their rights under R.A. No. 9439 and R.A. No. 8344. Most are unaware that patients who are discharged cannot be detained merely due to non-payment of hospital fees; provided that such patients were not confined in private wards. Most do not know that in serious and emergency cases, the hospital cannot refuse treatment on the mere basis of lack of deposit.

Under these Vargas measures, the posting health institution shall be responsible for ensuring that the posted information are not tampered with, vandalized or permanently removed in any manner. It is the sole responsibility of such institutions to replace damaged, tampered, vandalized or removed posters within a period not exceeding 15 days upon discovery.

To put teeth to the measures, violators of the said ordinances, according to Vargas, shall be penalized with a fine of P5,000 and imprisonment for a period of one(1) year. Violators of such measures may be the heads of the institutions themselves.

According to Vargas, through such simple measures, he hopes that the local government can help alleviate the burden of a number of our constituents, who cannot avail of their right simply because they do not know them.

“Unfortunately, in our great city, not only are the urban poor, financially poor but informationally poor as well. The least we can do as public servants is to tell them how they can make their lives easier and better.” Vargas said. -30- Rico/ Maureen Quinones, PAISO

ASIN NA HINDI IODIZED IPAGBABAWAL SA QC

Tanging mga iodized o fortified na asin ang maaaring ibenta sa mga palengke at tindahan sa Quezon City.

Ito ang nilalaman ng panukalang ordinansa na inihain ni 4^th district Councilor Jessica Castelo Daza, na nagbabawal sa pagbebenta ng “unfortified” na asin sa lungsod.

Ayon kay Castelo-Daza, layon ng kanyang panukala na maisulong ang paggamit ng iodized/fortified salt sa lungsod at gawing mas madali itong hanapin o bilihin sa mga tindahan at palengke.

Ang iodized salt ay ginagamit para mabawasan ang iodine deficiency. Ang iodine ay isang uri ng micronutrient na ginagamit ng katawan ng tao para sa mental at physical development.

Ang kakulangan sa iodine o iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) ang pangunahing sanhi ng mental at physical retardation, pagkawala ng IQ points, mabagal na mental response at thyroid gland problems, kabilang na ang endemic goiter.

Sinabi ni Castelo-Daza na isang madaling paraan para maiwasan ang IDD ay ang paggamit ng iodized salt o asin na hinaluan ng iodine.

Isinabatas ang Republic Act 8172 o “An Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide (ASIN)” para maisulong ang paglalagay ng iodized salt sa pagkain at malabanan ang micronutrient malnutrition sa bansa.

Subalit, sinabi ni Castelo-Daza na sa kabila na may batas ukol dito at mataas na awareness o kaalaman sa benepisyo ng iodized salr ay mababa o kakaunti ang gumagamit nito dahil sa ito ay mahirap hanapin sa mga tindahan at palengke.

Ang iodized salt na ibebenta sa siyudad, maging ito ay gawa dito o imported, ay kailangang makasunod sa standard ng Bureau of Foods and Drugs (BFAD) ng Department of Health (DOH).

Sa ilalim ng panukala, ipagbabawal sa sinuman na magbenta ng unfortified salt sa Quezon City.  Ang sinumang lalabag sa probisyon ay pagmumultahin ng P1,000 sa bawat paglabag.

Sa ikatlong paglabag, maaaring irekomenda ng QC Health Department sa Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) ang kanselasyon ng business permit ng tindahan na nagbebenta ng unfortified salt. -30- Divine/ Maureen Quinones, PAISO

QC HALL ANG GAGASTOS SA LIBING NG NAMATAY SA SUNOG SA CULIAT

Ipinag-utos ni Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista na sagutin ng QC government ang funeral at burial expenses para kay Joven Ogsimer, 1 taon at 4 na buwang gulang na batang nasawi sa sunog sa Barangay Culiat, nitong Lunes ng hapon.

Ang tulong ay idadaan sa social services development department ng lungsod.  Ang  bangkay ng biktima ay nakaburol sa isang chapel sa Purok Uno at ililibing sa Bagbag cemetery.

Ayon kay Jocelyn, ina ni Joven, naiwan ang bata kasama ang limang taong gulang nitong kapatid sa bahay nang magkaroon ng sunog. Nagawang makaligtas ang kapatid ni Joven sa sunog.

Tinatayang nasa 156 mahihirap na pamilya ang nawalan ng tirahan sa nasabing sunog sa Culiat na pangalawa na naganap sa siyudad noong nakaraang Lunes. Marami sa mga ito ang pansamantalang nanirahan sa flyover construction site sa Luzon Avenue.

Inalok naman ng gobyerno ang Culiat High School bilang evacuation center para sa mga biktima ng sunog. Naglaan din ang pamahalaan ng food assistance sa mga ito.

Nagbigay din ng ganitong tulong ang pamahalaan sa may 405 pamilya na nasunugan nitong Lunes sa BIR Road at Barangay Central. Pansamantala muna silang naninirahan sa PAGASA covered court at lumipat din  malapit sa lugar na nasunog.

Nanawagan naman si Secretary to the Mayor Tadeo Palma sa mga biktima ng sunog na samantalahin ang relocation program na inaalok ng National Housing Authority (NHA) sa Rodriguez, Rizal.

Ang Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), na nagmamay-ari ng lupa na kinatitirikan ng mga bahay ng mga nasunugan, ay may nakalaang 140 housing sites sa relocation site sa Rodriguez. -30- Divine/ Maureen Quinones, PAISO

MARAMI PANG EQUIPMENT ANG KAILANGAN NG QCPD

Upang mapalakas ang pulisya at maprotektahan ang kaligtasan ng buhay at ari-arian ng mahigit 2.9 milyong residente ng Quezon City, hiniling ng dalawang konsehal sa QC Police District (QCPD) na isama sa kanilang panukalang taunang badyet and sapat na alokasyon para sa pagbili ng kinakailangang modernong kagamitan sa kanilang operasyon.

Naniniwala sina Konsehal Anthony Peter Crisologo at Jose Mario de Leon na kailangang magsagawa ng imbentaryo ang QCPD sa kanilang mga kagamitan upang malaman kung ano pang kulang na gamit at armas.

Pagkatapos, anila, ng imbentaryo ay dapat isama ng QCPD sa panukalang badyet ang mga kailangan nitong kagamitan.

“The QCPD should take all necessary steps to ensure public safety, investigate and prevent crimes, effect the arrest of criminal offenders, bring offenders to justice and assist in the prosecution,” anang dalawang konsehal.

Naniniwala pa ang mga ito na dapat mabigyang prayoridad ang pagbili ng kinakailangang police equipment para mapalakas pa ang pakikipaglaban ng pulisya kontra krimen at pagbibigay proteksyon sa mga mamamayan.

Kabilang sa mga kagamitan na kailangang bilhin sa susunod na taon ay investigative vans, SWAT vans, command vans, complete SWAT requirements, bagong mobile patrol cars, disaster equipment, mobile base radio Motorola, handheld radio Motorola, battery packs  Motorola, unit laptop, desktop computer sets with printer, fax machines, heavy duty xerox machines, basic load ammunition para sa 380 cal. rounds, cla. 9mm-51,500 rounds, cal. 40 – 6,500 rounds, cal45 – 4,600 rounds, cal5.56/M16 – 22,800 rounds, cal7.62/M14 – 500 rounds at 12 G shotshell – 2,500 rounds. -30- Divine/ Maureen Quinones, PAISO

RELOKASYON NG QC INFORMAL SETTLERS NAGSIMULA NA

Sinimulan na ng Quezon City government ang paglilipat ng mga informal settlers.

Kabilang sa mga unang inilipat ng tirahan ang mga informal settlers mula sa  Kalye 6 at 7 sa Barangay Mariana.

Umupa na ng shuttle bus ang local na pamahalaan, sa utos ni Mayor Herbert Bautista, para ilipat sila sa housing project ng National Housing Authority (NHA) sa Southville 8, barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal.

Bilang dagdag na tulong, siniguro ni Mayor na sasagutin ng pamahalaan ng QC ang bayad sa sub-electric meters na tinatayang P1,000 per family connection.

Sinisikap ni Bautista na maging magkakatabi ng tirahan ang mga magkakapitbahay sa lilipatan nilang lugar upang hindi naman sila manibago.

Tinatayang nasa 1,500 mahihirap na pamilya, lalo na yaong naninirahan sa mga sinasabing danger zones at high risk areas, ang maililipat bago magsimula ang pasukan sa Hunyo.

Ang mga naninirahan sa sidewalks at road right-of-way sa Barangay Santol, South Triangle at Central, kabilang na sa mga daang tubig sa Barangay Damayang Lagi at Tatalon ang unang inalok sa relocation program ng pamahalaan ng QC.

Maging ang mga mahihirap na pamilya sa may BIR Road na nasunugan kamakailan ay inalok din ng relocation slots sa NHA resettlement project.

Bago ang pagpapatupad ng mass relocation program ng Quezon City, nagsagawa ng dialogue ang socialized housing task force na pinamumunuan ni Secretary to the mayor Tadeo Palma sa may 142 barangay ng siyudad upang masigurong magiging maayos ang clearing operations.

Kabilang sa mga inimbitahan sa isinagawang consultative meeting ay ang mga kinatawan ng Simbahan para masolusyunan ang socialized housing program ng lungsod.

“The problem of poverty and informal settlers in Quezon City is huge. But, we can help make this challenge manageable through the pathways of collaboration and teamwork among ourselves,” ani Bautista.

Ayon kay Ramon Asprer, hepe ng QC urban poor affairs office, nasa 28,731 ang informal settler families na naninirahan sa mga danger areas sa QC. -30- Divine/ Maureen Quinones, PAISO

QCPL OFFERS FREE INTERNET SERVICE

FREE internet surfing, anyone!

This is the latest of the new services from the Quezon City Public Library (QCPL) network after Mayor Herbert Bautista made available for immediate distribution 26 flat screen computer units to all QC libraries in the city’s barangays.

To increase the updated-access to the outside world, according to Bautista, students and researchers must be provided with the latest device commonly used globally.

Bautista is determined to strengthen not only the city government’s battle against illiteracy but also in its bid to provide the QC students, particularly the less privilege pupils, free access to the outside environment.

QCPL provides free internet access to all public school students and library goers to make them knowledgeable in the operation of the universal machine commonly used in all research undertakings.

Aside from having more than 62,000 books available for book enthusiasts and library goers, city librarian Emelita L. Villanueva is confident that the acquisition of the e-machines will serve as an avenue that will encourage more students and the not-so-often library goers to visit the city’s 21 libraries more often.

QCPL serves daily more than 12,000 clients who visit the library and its branches in the city, most of which are high school students who have limited access to much- needed references and the internet due to monetary problems.

Villanueva added that 77% of the users of the library are students, mostly coming from different public schools in the city where books and reading materials are not sufficient to answer the reference-needing populace. Students who sometimes encounter additional burden of transportation expenses and time going to the library from their residence should grab the opportunity to have free access to the internet, she said.

QCPL also offers free trainings for computer basics, Windows basic, Internet, E-mail, Open Office writer, Open Office Impress and Information literacy to those who wishes to gain knowledge in using computers.

The city library provides the Lex Libris, a compilation of laws intended for law students and related reference searchers. QCPL uses Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) in search of the library’s bibliographic index to know whether needed research materials are available.

Villanueva also said that Mayor Bautista has proposed the construction of four modernized district libraries to accommodate the growing number of library users every year. -30- Rico/ Maureen Quinones, PAISO